Chapter 53
The astrologer’s frail body swayed slightly as they stood motionless.
The sky was pitch dark, and the empty field was eerily silent. In the distance, attendants waiting in the shadows cast faint, circular silhouettes.
For a long while, the astrologer simply read the flow of celestial energy, saying nothing further about Edith.
Peyton found the astrologer’s drawn-out silence frustrating. He suspected it was a ploy to demand a higher fee.
“What about Edith? What’s so special about her?” he asked impatiently.
“She is…”
‘So what if this seer is skilled?’ Peyton thought disdainfully. ‘Still just a lowborn, dragging things out for a bit of coin.’
With irritation, he tossed a gold coin at the astrologer’s feet. The coin rolled and got stuck in some nearby weeds. Peyton hoped to see the blind astrologer grovel on the ground to find it.
But the astrologer paid no mind to the additional payment. Their pale eyes shimmered eerily as they remained fixed beyond the crystal ball, counting stars.
“Ah!”
“What is it now?” Peyton demanded.
“This is…”
“You’re wasting my time,” Peyton growled. “Keep this up, and I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Even as Peyton threatened, the astrologer appeared unfazed, their gaze still glued to the sky.
Suddenly, a sharp cracking sound echoed. The crystal ball in their hands fractured, a jagged line splitting it in two. The once-expensive-looking orb broke apart and fell into the weeds, utterly ruined.
The astrologer’s hands trembled violently, their voice quivering as though overwhelmed.
“She is someone of great significance.”
“Significance?”
“I couldn’t see it all, but she will be a great light to this world.”
“A light, you say… Are you claiming she’s destined to be some sort of hero?”
“I don’t know yet. But if I could meet her in person, I could read her aura more accurately.”
“Meeting her would be difficult. She’s a busy woman.”
The astrologer blinked, their unseeing eyes still trained on the heavens.
“Busy with important matters, I assume?”
“Hmph.”
“Is she working for the state?”
“That’s correct. You’re surprisingly good at this,” Peyton muttered dryly.
“That woman has… suffered greatly in life. She’s endured much hardship, taking on the burdens of others.”
Peyton was quietly impressed. It seemed the astrologer had discerned something akin to Edith’s struggles with her father’s debts.
Before the reading, Peyton had provided some basic information about Edith. However, he had not shared specifics about her career or personal life.
Curiously, this astrologer had an unusual method of reading a person’s aura. They always requested a personal item. For this reading, Peyton had handed over one of the letters exchanged during the marriage negotiations. Whether that was enough for the astrologer to sense anything significant was uncertain.
But if the prediction of Edith’s greatness was connected to her role as the crown prince’s closest attendant, it might lend some credibility to the astrologer’s skills.
Peyton found the thought not entirely displeasing.
The astrologer turned toward him, their blank eyes shifting vaguely in his direction, guided only by his voice.
“I will not charge you for this reading of her fate. I’ve only glimpsed a small part of it. But, if possible, I would like to meet her in person.”
“Why are you acting so strangely?”
“This is a first for me in my entire life. If I cannot meet her, could I at least receive another item belonging to her?”
“Another item? What kind of item?”
“A strand of hair or a nail clipping would suffice. Even better if I could sense her Omega pheromones.”
This astrologer, lauded as a once-in-a-millennium talent, had become famous for their extraordinary skill. Perhaps because of their reputation, they seemed utterly fearless, making such outlandish demands without hesitation.
“Isn’t that a bit much? What kind of astrology requires such things?”
“Please, I beg you. I don’t have much, but aside from what I need to replace my crystal ball, I’ll give you everything I own.”
Peyton let out a dry laugh, incredulous. He had come to inquire about his romantic prospects with Edith, only to find himself in this bizarre situation.
“Ridiculous. Do you think I’d be tempted by the meager scraps you call wealth?”
The astrologer’s tone was earnest.
“Then just tell me where she is. I’ll go and plead with her myself.”
No matter how skilled an astrologer was, they couldn’t pinpoint someone’s exact location. There was no way to use a reading to track Edith down.
To Peyton, the astrologer’s desperate insistence to meet Edith seemed strange and unsettling, as if driven purely by personal motives. Their interest seemed far removed from any professional duty to provide insights for the fee paid.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Suppressing his discomfort, Peyton paused to think.
The reason he’d sought out this famed astrologer was simply to check his romantic compatibility with Edith. Still, the revelations so far had been intriguing.
Of course, he wouldn’t make a marriage decision based solely on star charts. To him, this was just supplemental advice.
“So, according to the stars, Edith is destined to be a remarkable light, is that it?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then she’d make a perfect wife for me.”
Peyton had already assessed Edith as highly valuable and had been seriously considering her as his wife. If her future indeed held such brilliance, there was no reason to hesitate.
But the astrologer remained silent.
“…Why?”
“I didn’t check if she’s your ideal match. The crystal ball shattered before I could.”
“An astrologer claiming to read the stars with blind eyes, yet suddenly relying on a crystal ball? How convenient.”
“She is someone who must be. She isn’t ordinary, not like you or me.”
Peyton scoffed. The astrologer spoke as though they knew Edith better than he did, even though Peyton was fully informed about her qualifications as a potential wife.
“At this rate, you’re about to start worshiping Edith. Why the fuss over someone you barely know?”
“You don’t understand.”
Irritated, Peyton waved his hand dismissively, only to realize belatedly that the astrologer couldn’t see the gesture.
“Enough. If I manage to get a strand of her hair, I’ll come back.”
“Please do.”
As he turned to leave, Peyton nearly solidified his decision about Edith.
She was undoubtedly useful—whether as the crown prince’s trusted aide or as the mistress of the vast Green Horn Territory.
For some time, he had agonized over what to do with the option Edith represented. But if the astrologer’s words were true, claiming her was the right choice.
Still, he needed to factor in the current state of affairs.
Peyton had been working behind the scenes regarding the Gunner’s Tournament. His goal was to see it turn into a fiasco, disgracing the imperial family on an international stage. It wasn’t just an emotional vendetta to see the crown prince in despair; it was a matter of power struggles and the ensuing spoils.
However, there were plenty of ways to sabotage the tournament without harming Edith.
He resolved to carefully manage individuals like Count Victor and Count Ditrian, who were known for their aggressive tendencies. In particular, he needed to ensure that Count Ditrian didn’t pose any further physical threat to Edith.
After all, if she were to become his wife and join his faction, she couldn’t afford to be harmed.
* * *
The day of the Gunner’s Tournament finals arrived, and the weather was particularly gloomy.
Still, no raindrops fell. Perhaps it was thanks to the observatory’s meticulous selection of the date, as they had claimed. At least the worst-case scenario—gunpowder getting wet—was avoided.
Before participating in the finals, Edith agonized over her decision. She was terrified of another shooting incident occurring.
After much hesitation, however, she ultimately decided to join the team.
For one, the knowledge that this world was a novel helped alleviate her unease somewhat. Even if she were to be shot and killed, it would only be like waking up from a four-year-long dream.
There was also a slightly sentimental motivation. She wanted to contribute to the people of this empire, the Lagran Empire. She kept thinking of the child who had gleefully taken the bread she gave for lunch, or the market woman under the tarp who couldn’t stop smiling with joy.
As a contestant, Edith had a mission to monitor and observe inside the tournament grounds. Suspicious activities had been detected among the aristocratic faction, making her role feel even more critical.
The tournament had to proceed without incident. The imperial family needed to solidify its authority, and Clyde’s power needed to grow stronger to take a step beyond the current aristocracy-driven society.
At this point, Edith felt as though she might have reached at least a fraction of the dedication of the independence activists from her homeland’s history.
Of course, she had a heated argument with Clyde.
“You can’t participate, Edith.”
“I can do this. I’ll make sure to stay with the guards.”
“It’s dangerous. How could anyone stop a bullet that comes out of nowhere?”
“You said the culprit’s been lying low. They probably won’t attempt the same thing again this time.”
Though there was no hard evidence, circumstantial hints pointed to Count Ditrian as having hired the assassin. They had been monitoring his movements since they couldn’t hold him accountable for the previous crime.
“How can you be so sure? This is your life on the line!”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Edith, are you not afraid of dying? Why are you so nonchalant about this?”
“I am afraid… but I can handle it.”
Clyde, exasperated by her stubbornness, ruffled his hair in frustration.
“Edith, just making it through the preliminaries was more than enough. I can’t let you go any further. I’ll issue an imperial order to stop you if I have to.”
“Try it, and see what happens. I won’t take it lying down.”
“And what exactly will you do?”
Edith paused to think, then threw out the one thing she knew would make him hesitate.
“I’ll resign.”
Clyde visibly flinched at her words. She had only meant it as an offhand remark, but the evident distress on his face was unmistakable.
The thought of actually submitting her resignation in the near future left a lump in her throat.
“Edith, please… You might as well step over my dead body.”
“Stepping over you would be the easy part.”
“Edith, seriously.”
She sighed deeply and tried one last time to convince him.
“We already noticed their suspicious activity, didn’t we? Like the bullet-riddled target from before. How could I just stand by after seeing that?”
“I’ll assign someone else to handle it.”
“You’re the one who said there are things only I can do, Clyde.”
“They may not be as skilled as you, but I can send trustworthy guards to take care of it.”
“There’s no need. I’ll compete myself.”
Clyde was nearly on his knees, practically begging. He couldn’t bring himself to physically stop Edith, so all he could do was cling to her coat and plead with her not to go.
“Please… What would it take to make you stop?”
“Give up trying to stop me. Also, there’s no need for you to come to the finals, Clyde.”
“Why not?”
“Your arm hasn’t fully healed yet. What if it worsens after traveling long distances?”
“You care so much about my health, yet why won’t you listen when it comes to your own safety?”
Unable to overcome his frustration, Clyde’s head drooped toward the floor.
