“Your Majesty, do you like the gift I presented to you?”
“It seems to be a precious item.”
“Haha. Thank you for recognizing it. Would you like to try using it?”
“Didn’t you just demonstrate it yourself?”
“Even so, it would be different if Your Majesty tried it personally, wouldn’t it?”
Just in case, Jayren took a risk and proposed it once more.
Although it might raise suspicion, he needed to confirm it with his own eyes.
If Delight continued to refuse, it would leave an unsettling doubt. At that point, Jayren would have to think about what methods he should use.
“Since you are sincere, I shall do so.”
Surprisingly, Delight willingly grabbed the pendant to use it himself.
Seeing this, Jayren raised the corners of his lips while persistently observing the scene.
“…Haha. Seeing that you seem to like it, I’m truly glad to have prepared the gift.”
Ultimately, nothing happened during the final dinner.
Delight remained calm until the end, even opening the magic tool pendant Jayren had given him several times.
He even recorded images of her and Blueny in the pendant.
It didn’t seem like he had noticed anything.
‘Was the information incorrect after all?’
They’re simply wrapped up the meal on a warm note and bid each other farewell.
***
“I told you nothing would happen, right?”
After the dinner ended, I proudly approached Blueny.
She, too, seemed relieved. Her expression showed signs of exhaustion, but she still flashed a bright smile.
“It really seems that way.”
“Hehe.”
“How did you manage it?”
Blueny, filled with curiosity, asked.
I had prepared two plans in advance for any possible situation.
The second and final method was to personally use magic to stop Delight from going berserk in the worst-case scenario.
I didn’t want to resort to this plan since it would inevitably reveal my identity, but I was prepared to do so since protecting Delight took precedence.
Fortunately, the first plan succeeded, so I didn’t have to take action myself.
That method was…
“Serdin helped me!”
“Are you talking about Serdin, the prince who is being held as a hostage in the imperial palace?”
Hearing an unexpected name, her eyes widened in surprise.
Moreover, she had already noticed that Serdin was secretly in contact with Jayren.
Because of that, she was even more cautious of Serdin.
“That’s right! Serdin is always on my side!”
The one who played a pivotal role in this plan was none other than him.
After listening to Blueny’s story, I told Serdin that he had to find out what plan Jayren was concocting to trigger Dad’s mana outburst.
And so, Serdin met with Jayren several times and checked out the magic tool pendant he had.
“He showed me this and asked me. He wondered if you’d be tempted if he involved you and presented this gift.”
“Involve me?”
“The magic tool pendant records scenes just like a picture. Since the emperor cherishes you, he’ll naturally want to capture your image…”
“If he can see me anytime he wants, of course, Dad would be interested, right?”
“Yeah. He said he was asking since I’ve been here for a long time.”
From that point, everything proceeded smoothly.
With Serdin’s keen observation, he remembered every detail of the pendant’s appearance and described it to me.
I then drew the exact image of the pendant.
After that, I handed the completed drawing of the magic tool pendant to Hiel.
Hiel crafted an identical magic tool with the same appearance.
‘Honestly, it was no different from mere scrap metal that looked the same.’
But as long as the appearance matched, nothing else mattered.
I could simply imbue the magic tool with magic to make it exhibit the same abilities.
With that, the fake pendant magic tool was complete, and Serdin took it and swapped it with the one Jayren had.
The process of switching them was the most nerve-wracking and dangerous part.
But Serdin stepped forward without fear and actively carried it out.
He even succeeded in deceiving Jayren and his aide.
Since Jayren was not a magician, there was no way he could recognize the swapped pendant.
Naturally, no matter how much the magic tool pendant was used at the dinner, there was no chance of Delight going berserk.
“Serdin swapped the magic tool with one that looked exactly the same.”
“Then what happened to the real magic tool? If you still have it, it might be dangerous.”
“That’s okay too. Zaire is keeping it safe.”
Currently, Zaire was in possession of it.
From the beginning, it was impossible for us to handle all of this in secret.
Even after the situation was resolved, Delight would surely find it strange.
So, we decided to approach Zaire first.
Besides, the magic tool was something Jayren brought to expose Delight’s weakness.
On the flip side, it was a valuable clue that could help us learn more about fake magic stones.
Handing it over to Zaire for research would undoubtedly prove useful.
“I didn’t mention the Empress. He thinks it was just me and Serdin who handled it.”
Blueny didn’t want it to be known that she had returned because of this matter.
Although I wished we could be more open and honest with each other…
‘This isn’t something I can force.’
Besides, seeing her spend time with Delight while pretending to have lost her memory didn’t seem bad at all.
I thought perhaps it might be best to continue pretending she had lost her memory.
With that thought in mind, I decided to respect her wishes and kept it hidden.
“Thank you.”
Blueny’s voice overflowed with sincere warmth.
“It’s about protecting Dad!”
I declared firmly.
After all, this was not only about protecting Delight but also about protecting Blueny.
Tonight’s dinner truly was the final supper.
It would also be the last moment when Delight could laugh off Jayren’s arrogant behavior.
Soon, Delight would make his move.
Jayren’s plan would be exposed, and the Soren Kingdom would be held accountable for producing counterfeit magic stones.
This wouldn’t resolve the counterfeit magic stone issue all at once, but eliminating the core production site would undoubtedly deal a significant blow.
Anyway, this matter would soon come to an end.
After that…
My gaze naturally shifted toward Blueny.
The task of helping those two understand each other’s feelings and grow closer still remained.
Hmm. I had mentioned it to Delight several times, but it didn’t seem like that alone would solve it.
A different approach was needed.
‘But I have no experience with this either.’
For now, I would have to create situations where the two of them could be together, even if it was forced.
Honestly, this problem was more challenging for me than dealing with the Soren Kingdom or Jayren.
Ugh.
***
Meanwhile, Jayrin returned to his room after the dinner, having learned nothing. An awkward conversation ensued between him and his aide.
“The Emperor didn’t react at all. It seems we were mistaken in thinking he had been tested.”
“But it seemed almost certain back in Ilnord.”
“It was a ridiculous suspicion from the start.”
Before coming here, there had been a secret message from Ilnord.
It said that the Promian Emperor’s mana might be abnormal and that, no matter what, it should be verified.
Though it seemed like a baseless suspicion, they couldn’t just ignore it, so they tried to confirm it in person.
“Someone with unstable mana wouldn’t be able to wield such monstrous power. We’ll leave early tomorrow morning.”
Since the task was done, they planned to leave without further delay.
Bam!
Suddenly, with a loud bang, the door swung open, and the knights of the Promian Imperial Palace burst in.
“What’s the meaning of this!”
Jayren staggered back, checking the entrance.
Since he had come under the pretense of being Blueny’s brother, he couldn’t openly reveal his vigilance or have his knights guard the door.
Having followed Delight’s suggestion, the knights of the Soren Kingdom had been stationed elsewhere within the palace.
As a result, there was no one nearby to protect him at that moment.
“Come with us quietly.”
In the blink of an eye, the knights surrounded Jayren and his aide.
There was no escape.
At that moment, Jayren instinctively realized—
Something had gone terribly wrong.
Jayren was dragged away with his eyes covered.
A short while later, he lost his balance and fell to the ground as the blindfold was removed.
Thud.
The sound of a door closing echoed behind him.
In front of him stood Delight, blocking his view.
“What’s the meaning of this all of a sudden!”
Jayren protested in fear.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
Delight’s response was chilling.
The moment Jayren raised his head and looked into those eyes, he instinctively realized how great a mistake he had made by arguing.
From the beginning, he had been mistaken in thinking he could stand against Delight.
To the author, he was nothing more than prey.
“Surely, you didn’t actually believe I wouldn’t know why you came here.”
With a sneer, Delight poured out the counterfeit magic stones in front of him.
“I’m returning the gift you gave me.”
“T-this is…!”
“Or, considering the effort you put into bringing it here, it might be better to use all of these to torture you.”
“K-Kuhh!”
“To dare walk into Promian with your head held high, you must have been prepared for this.”
He had deluded himself into thinking he had infiltrated the place as planned, but from the start, he had walked straight into the jaws of a mad mages.
“Did you really think you could deceive and betray me without paying the price?”
Delight had merely been observing, waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Naive, or just plain foolish?”
“…….…”
“Or… could it be that you underestimated me?”
His heavy, oppressive words bore down on Jayren’s mind like a hammer.
Delight remained cold.
And because he was cold, he was all the more dangerous.
A mind that was calm and rational was far more ruthless and merciless.
“I’ll tell you what you must do from now on. It would be wise to obey.”
“…………”
“That is, if you want to protect the Soren Kingdom rather than just your own pathetic life.”
Jayren’s resolve to resist had already crumbled.
Mentally defeated, he hung his head in front of Delight.
He had no choice. There was no option to refuse.
“I-I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever you ask, so please…!”
Jayren glanced at Delight’s icy face, struggling to squeeze out his words.
“Please spare me.”
He begged for his life.
