Chapter 120
After catching Tsetsilia with wind magic as she fell from the balcony, Monica ran upstairs in search of the culprit who had cornered her.
When she reached the top floor, Monica stood frozen in the hallway, dumbfounded. The 〈Dream Mage〉, Kaspar Hütter, was sprawled on the floor, his nose bleeding, his hands and feet bound, and a gag in his mouth.
"W-what happened here...? L-Louis-saaaan..."
She called for her fellow Sage in a wavering voice, but there was no reply.
Groaning to herself, Monica tried to make sense of the situation.
There were two possibilities.
The first was that the culprit who had attacked Tsetsilia had assaulted the 〈Dream Mage〉 and fled, and Louis was chasing after them.
The second was that the 〈Dream Mage〉 had attacked Tsetsilia and Louis had defeated him.
Looking at the 〈Dream Mage〉, so carefully tied up, the latter seemed more likely.
If there were another attacker, there would be no reason to keep the 〈Dream Mage〉 alive and restrained.
(...But if that's the case, why isn't Louis here?)
Louis would normally stay behind and say something like, "Well, well, my fellow Sage. You took your time getting here."
(Could there have been another accomplice he went after...?)
As Monica seriously pondered why Louis wasn't there, it never occurred to her that her fellow Sage had rushed off to change because he didn't want anyone to see him dressed as a woman.
Still wondering where Louis had gone, Monica leaned over the balcony and peered down into the garden.
Below, Lionel and Tsetsilia seemed to be talking about something.
Should she hurry down to them? Or should she keep watch over the 〈Dream Mage〉 to make sure he didn't escape?
As Monica deliberated, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned and saw a blond Imperial Guard running toward her. She had seen him once before. His name was, if she remembered correctly...
"Oh, Monica Everett-chan, the 〈Silent Witch〉, nineteen years old."
"...Um..."
"Whoops, sorry. I was still in my off-duty mindset."
The Imperial Guard cleared his throat and bowed.
"I'm Einhart Berger of the Imperial Guard. On behalf of our country, I offer my heartfelt gratitude for saving Princess Tsetsilia."
"I-I'm honored..."
Monica bowed in return. Einhart crouched beside the 〈Dream Mage〉 sprawled on the floor and checked his injuries.
"Whoa, one of his teeth is broken... I guess he went pretty easy on me, huh?"
Muttering something Monica couldn't quite make out, Einhart hoisted the 〈Dream Mage〉 onto his shoulder.
"Silent Witch-dono, my master wishes to speak with you about what happened tonight. I apologize for the late hour, but would you please accompany me?"
"Y-yes, of course...!"
Carrying the 〈Dream Mage〉, Einhart strode ahead as though he weren't carrying a person at all.
He led Monica to Tsetsilia's private room.
Lionel and Tsetsilia were sitting on a settee. As soon as Tsetsilia saw Monica, she stood and bowed deeply.
"Silent Witch-sama... Thank you. I don't know how I could ever repay you...!"
"N-no, I mean, I didn't really do anything..."
Monica had only noticed something was wrong by chance, and she had Louis to thank for saving Tsetsilia.
For that matter, where had Louis gone?
As Monica fidgeted anxiously, there was a quiet knock at the door.
Einhart let the 〈Dream Mage〉 roll onto the floor, then looked at Lionel and Tsetsilia.
"Prince Lionel, Princess Tsetsilia, considering what comes next, I took the liberty of calling in someone to help us. He's a man we can trust. May I let him in?"
Tsetsilia looked bewildered by Einhart's words, but Lionel nodded as though he had guessed what was going on.
"Very well. Let him in."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Einhart bowed respectfully to Lionel and opened the door.
As Monica had expected, the person on the other side was Louis Miller, the 〈Barrier Mage〉.
Even though it was the middle of the night, his hair was neatly braided, and he wore his Seven Sages' robes and carried his staff.
"Um, Louis-san..."
As Monica opened her mouth, Louis began speaking fluently, as though to cut her off.
"Well, good evening, my fellow Sage-dono. I heard from the Imperial Guard here that you saw through the 〈Dream Mage〉's scheme right away and protected Princess Tsetsilia. As expected of our country's hero. Magnificent work."
Monica was dumbfounded. He spoke as though he hadn't grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and thrown her onto the balcony earlier.
"Um, but, at that time, Louis-san..."
Monica glanced at the 〈Dream Mage〉 lying on the floor. Louis raised an eyebrow as though he were genuinely surprised.
"Well, well. I see, I see..."
"U-um, well..."
The bruises on the 〈Dream Mage〉 were clearly not the result of a magical attack.
Did you do this, Louis-san? Monica asked with her eyes. Louis answered with a perfectly serious expression.
"So the villain who targeted Princess Tsetsilia was knocked out by the 〈Silent Witch〉-dono's full-force right punch. Goodness, I'm amazed. I never knew the 〈Silent Witch〉-dono had such a talent."
"Eeeh...?! N-no, that's not it! I mean, Louis-san did this..."
Before Monica could finish, Louis patted her on the shoulder. Gradually, his hand began to press down.
Louis leaned in toward Monica's paling face and smiled so pleasantly it was frightening.
"I was on vacation. Isn't that right, my fellow Sage-dono?"
His eyes shone fiercely behind his monocle, clearly telling her, "Nod."
Monica reflexively nodded several times. Louis removed his hand from her shoulder and looked at Lionel. "I'm glad you understand."
"Now, let's get to the main point. We're about to discuss something important that will determine the future of the Kingdom of Ridill and the Empire... Isn't that right, Prince Lionel?"
"Indeed."
Lionel nodded, and Louis gently pushed Monica's shoulder to encourage her to sit. Monica took the seat without protest.
Once everyone was seated, Tsetsilia spoke.
"First, I offer my heartfelt apologies to all of you. Everything that happened tonight was the result of internal strife within the Shubalgart Empire. The people of the Kingdom of Ridill are in no way at fault. I deeply regret the trouble I have caused you."
After bowing deeply, Tsetsilia slowly raised her head.
Her face was lovely and delicate... yet possessed the noble dignity of a flower blooming beautifully in the moonlight.
"Even so, I ask you to forgive me for exposing my country's shame. It all began when the ancient magical artifact 〈Mirror of Bern〉 rejected me. Ancient magical artifacts are tools with wills of their own. The 〈Mirror of Bern〉 rejected me outright, declaring that although it would form a contract with me, it would never lend me its power. I am its contract holder, but I cannot use the mirror."
At Tsetsilia's words, Monica drew a sharp breath.
Information about ancient magical artifacts was not widely known. Monica herself had only read about them in books.
(I've read that ancient magical artifacts have wills of their own and choose their owners, but...)
She had never imagined that an ancient magical artifact bound to a certain bloodline would reject someone of that very bloodline.
The pain Tsetsilia had suffered after being rejected must have been beyond imagining.
That was why she had always looked so weighed down by guilt and so lacking in confidence.
"My grandfather, Duke Achenvar, was distressed by this situation and decided to cast me aside. If I died, a new saint could be appointed... The 〈Dream Mage〉, Kaspar Hütter, was sent as an assassin for that very purpose."
The cruel truth was that her own family had wanted her dead.
As Tsetsilia spoke of it, her pale face did not twist with grief.
She must have struggled and suffered in ways Monica had never known... and then steeled herself to stand here.
"I once considered giving my life for my grandfather's sake. But... I want to devote this life, which was once saved, to the good of my Empire and the Kingdom of Ridill."
Tsetsilia looked around at everyone in the room, one by one.
Her pale violet eyes reflected the candlelight and burned brightly, like flames of life.
"I ask for your help so that I may become queen while keeping this secret."
"I ask as well. Please, lend us your strength."
Tsetsilia and Lionel bowed their heads at the same time.
As Monica fidgeted anxiously, Louis and Einhart grinned in much the same way.
Then the two of them stood and each gave the salute befitting a knight and a mage.
"Einhart Berger of the Imperial Guard. I understand. I swear to keep this secret and serve you."
"Louis Miller, one of the Seven Sages, the 〈Barrier Mage〉. I swear to serve for the prosperity of the Kingdom of Ridill and the Shubalgart Empire."
As Louis finished, he glanced sideways at Monica.
Monica hurriedly stood, set her staff down beside her, and gave the mage's salute.
"Um, Monica Everett, the 〈Silent Witch〉... I swear to protect Princess Tsetsilia's secret!"
It wasn't a very impressive declaration, but Tsetsilia smiled gently and said, "Thank you."
Then Tsetsilia rose from her chair and stood before the 〈Dream Mage〉, who was lying on the floor.
"You're awake, aren't you, Kaspar Hütter, the 〈Dream Mage〉?"
Hütter's tightly shut eyelids twitched, then opened.
Apparently, he had regained consciousness quite some time ago.
Still bound hand and foot, Hütter sat up and glared at Tsetsilia.
"Einhart, please remove the gag from his mouth."
"At once."
Following Tsetsilia's order, Einhart removed the cloth covering Hütter's mouth.
Even when a mage's hands and feet are restrained, they can still use magic as long as their mouth is free. That was why it was standard practice to gag them when restraining them.
Einhart rested a hand on his sword, ready to cut Hütter down the instant he began an incantation.
Hütter said nothing. He only glared at Tsetsilia with eyes burning with hatred.
Tsetsilia spoke to him in a calm, even voice.
"I can no longer return to the Empire. If I went back, Grandfather would not let me live this time. And the same goes for you."
Duke Achenvar would never let Hütter live after his failed assassination attempt.
The 〈Dream Mage〉, Kaspar Hütter, had nowhere left to run.
Yet there was no regret or fear on Hütter's face.
"Are you going to cut off my head and send it to Duke Achenvar?"
Tsetsilia shook her head at Hütter's sarcastic remark.
"Kaspar Hütter, the 〈Dream Mage〉. I order you to remain here in the Kingdom of Ridill and continue serving as my personal guard."
Only Monica and the 〈Dream Mage〉 were shaken by Tsetsilia's words.
Lionel, Louis, and Einhart didn't so much as change their expressions, as though they had known this would happen.
(W-why? He's the one who tried to kill her!)
As Monica worried to herself, Tsetsilia spoke to Lionel.
"Lionel-sama, would you allow me to speak with Hütter alone for a while?"
"Hmm. I'm afraid I can't leave the two of you entirely alone..."
Even while restrained, Hütter could use magic if his mouth wasn't gagged. Someone needed to keep watch over him at all times.
Tsetsilia seemed to understand that. She glanced sideways at Monica.
"Then, Silent Witch-sama..."
"Y-yes!"
"Would you stay with us?"
Monica wondered why Tsetsilia had chosen her, but she had no reason to refuse when asked.
"I understand."
Monica nodded, and Lionel, Einhart, and Louis all stood and headed for the door.
Just before he closed it, Louis raised his right fist and said,
"My fellow Sage-dono, if the 〈Dream Mage〉 gets rowdy, give him a right straight."
"Uh, um..."
"I'm joking. With your wordless magic, you should have no trouble subduing him."
With that, Louis closed the door.
Only Tsetsilia, the 〈Dream Mage〉, and Monica remained in the room.
Tsetsilia turned to Monica, straightened her posture, and spoke.
"Hütter's sister died protecting me from a villain who sought to kill a saint. I believe his anger at losing his sister while she protected a false saint is justified."
Monica was surprised by the circumstances the 〈Dream Mage〉 had been carrying with him, and then doubly surprised that Tsetsilia called his anger justified.
"B-but... even so, it's wrong for you to be hurt, Tsetsilia-sama!"
No matter how bitter or anguished Hütter felt, that did not give him the right to kill Tsetsilia. Shouldn't he hate the person who had attacked her instead?
As Monica desperately tried to continue, Tsetsilia smiled with softened eyes and said,
"Thank you, Silent Witch-sama. Your kindness makes me very happy."
Tsetsilia's smile was delicate, yet she had the supple strength of a flower standing tall and straight.
Delicate, but not weak.
"I am a saint with no power at all. Even so, I want to repay the kindness of people like you. That is why I will remain a symbol of peace between the Empire and the Kingdom of Ridill until the day my life ends."
Tsetsilia had accepted Monica's concern and still intended to see her resolve through.
She had already decided what she needed to do.
Tsetsilia's beautiful silver hair swayed as she faced Kaspar Hütter, the 〈Dream Mage〉.
"I will become a saint who contributes to peace. And your sister... Mia was a hero who protected a true saint. I will not let Mia, or those who died for me, have died in vain."
Hütter grimaced with loathing. Having been struck in the face, even moving his cheeks must have hurt terribly. Still, he endured the pain, bared his revulsion, and spat out,
"A symbol of peace is nothing more than an illusion. A fleeting fantasy."
"Hütter, when you use illusions, don't you look at them?"
"...What?"
Hütter furrowed his brows in suspicion as Tsetsilia spread her arms and declared,
"At the faces of the people who saw your beautiful illusions, shining with such joy."
Monica remembered showing off her illusion at the ball. The burst of cheers, the faces of the people lighting up.
Even if it was an illusion, that beautiful sight had surely remained in people's hearts.
"I will become a symbol of peace and make everyone smile, just as you made people smile with your beautiful illusions."
Tsetsilia spoke to the stunned Hütter in a voice as gentle as could be.
"Now, Hütter, it is time for a bargain. You will serve me until the day I die. And when I die, I will allow you to take your revenge on me."
"...What?"
"When I die, use your magic to make me see the cruelest nightmare imaginable. I will die with that nightmare in my heart."
Monica's eyes widened at Tsetsilia's proposal, and she cried out,
"Tsetsilia-sama...! You can't...!"
"Silent Witch-sama. This is my way of setting things right. And it is a just reward for this avenger."
Tsetsilia cut off Monica's almost anguished cry and declared firmly,
"I will allow you your revenge in my final moments, Kaspar Hütter. So lend me your power."
Hütter looked taken aback, but before long, he raised one corner of his mouth slightly.
It was a smile that looked as though he were pleased, yet also exasperated.
"...That's a more enticing reward than any fortune or honor."
With a low chuckle, Kaspar Hütter, the 〈Dream Mage〉, accepted Tsetsilia's declaration.
"Very well, Princess Tsetsilia. With all this hatred burning in my heart, I will serve you until the moment you die. And when your end comes, I'll give you the most extraordinary nightmare imaginable."
"I welcome it."
Tsetsilia nodded serenely. Her profile was that of a saint who was fragile, yet unyielding.