TNM CH 87

Chapter 87

As Wilkins introduced her, the girl puffed out her chest with a proud expression, as if to say, “Now do you recognize me?”

Medea Rodis? The history of the Magic Association? That name sounded familiar.

“Looks like you’re surprised. Well, it’s understandable. I’ll forget about the rudeness earlier, so there’s no need to look so scared. Even though I look like this, I’m actually quite approachable…”

“Oh, that quirky magician…”

As the memory flickered in my mind, I immediately clamped my mouth shut.

What was I just about to say?

“Pfft… quirky… Ugh!”

Wilkins, stifling his laughter by covering his mouth, made Medea flick her finger at him.

Seeing Wilkins stifle a laugh with his hand over his mouth made Medea nod in amusement.

She approached me, stepping over Wilkins, who stumbled as if he’d been hit by something massive.

“Have you heard my name before?”

This little girl is Medea?

I was having a hard time processing it, but I straightened my posture.

“Please forgive my rudeness earlier.”

“Since I said I’d forgive you, answer my question: Have you heard of me?”

“I’ve heard about you from my teacher before.”

“Your teacher? Who is it?”

“The magician known as the Great Sage, Ezekiel Ross.”

“…You were that idiot’s student?”

Medea’s eyes went wide, and Wilkins, getting back on his feet, looked at me with surprise.

What’s so strange about that? I tilted my head in confusion at their unexpected reactions, and Medea let out a sigh.

Wilkins came closer, rubbing his stomach.

“Lady, this person is the teacher of the Great Sage, Ezekiel Ross. Ross is a surname taken from the Rodis family.”

Ah, I see.

Suddenly, I was impressed to think that the small girl in front of me was such a significant figure.

To be the teacher of Ezekiel Ross—it was hard to wrap my head around how remarkable that must be.

Medea cupped her chin thoughtfully for a moment before lifting her gaze to me.

With narrowed eyes, she stared at me for a while before slowly saying, “I can sense a strange aura of magic from you.”

“Oh, it must be because of this.”

I reached to remove the necklace around my neck.

As my hand slipped and the paper fell out, Medea skillfully caught it.

Wait, is it okay to show her that? If she’s related to the Magic Association, she might…

Just as I was trying to sort out my thoughts, I forgot to take off the necklace and reached out hastily.

“I’m sorry, but that…”

Medea deftly evaded my hand and stood with one hand behind her back, wearing a relaxed expression.

“This is the initial funding records of the Magic Association. Why do you have this? Is this what you were looking for in the library?”

“Well, that’s part of my family’s business…”

Caught off guard by the unexpected appearance of a significant figure and the absurd situation, I scrambled to come up with a suitable answer, but Medea didn’t give me a chance.

“Not just the funding records, but also documents about the contracts made between Bozebourne and Rippleton.”

Her eyes sparkled as she beamed at me, her cheeks puffing up with excitement.

“You’re chasing after dark magic, aren’t you?”

That was a direct hit.

* * *

“I’m well aware that trading monstrous creatures without approval from the Magic Association and the Empire is illegal, Duke Bozebourne. How do you plan to explain this?”

Lydia’s voice was filled with authority, making Gillard scowl.

She pointed at the documents I was holding, demanding an answer.

Watching Gillard struggle to respond made me wonder: had Bozebourne not considered this issue at all?

Or did he think he didn’t need to?

Considering the effort to erase all the documents, it was clear there was intent to conceal something.

If there hadn’t been any records, Rippleton would likely have denied making the contract, even if he had it on file.

The fact that Rippleton had records and still did this indicated there were spies planted even in Rippleton.

“Lady Brilloxen.”

I snapped back to reality at the sound of my name and stepped forward.

Lydia took a step back, as if handing the reins over to me.

I met the gaze of Belietta, who had been standing behind Gillard, and slowly began to speak.

“This document outlines the purchases Bozebourne has made from Rippleton over the past 50 years for monstrous creatures. And this document is the record of when Bozebourne began donating to the Magic Association. The dates match perfectly.”

“Nonsense. Those are all fabricated documents.”

“Are documents issued by the Magic Association fabricated?”

Gillard twisted his lips, showing he believed it was entirely possible.

Impressive, Bozebourne.

I can’t believe he would make such a statement against the Magic Association in this situation.

“What do you think?”

I turned my head to toss the question over my shoulder.

From the group of confused faces, Wilkins and Medea emerged.

Medea replied, her face filled with annoyance.

“Symbols and runes are the languages of agreements. A magician never tells lies, Duke Bozebourne.”

“…Medea Rodis.”

Turning back, I briefly added, “That’s what they’re saying,” prompting Gillard to look for his aide.

“Get those guests out immediately.”

“You were so bold a moment ago, so why the sudden change, Your Excellency? The banquet hasn’t even started yet. Are you hiding something…”

“Do it now!!”

Gillard’s shout echoed throughout the banquet hall.
Realizing that something was going wrong, the people began to hurry out with frightened faces.

I shifted my gaze from Bozbourne, who was ushering the nobles out through the doors, to Gilard. When the ears and eyes of the onlookers vanished, Gilard twisted his lips.

He took the documents I was holding, skimmed through them, and without hesitation, ripped them apart.

“It’s useless even if you do that. The copies are already made.”

“…You’re quite bold.”

Gilard spat out the words, loosening a button on his stuffy outfit. Then he pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and puffed out the smoke.

It wasn’t the kind of behavior to show in front of Princess Lydia, who was about to become the Empress, and Duke Rippleton.
But now that they had seen everything, he didn’t bother to keep up appearances.

“This is absurd. To be part of such a farce.”

“Duke Bozbourne…”

“Princess Lydia, I wasn’t addressing you. It seems my mistake.”

Gilard exhaled smoke, letting out a twisted grin.

At that moment, a loud bang echoed as the doors of the banquet hall closed.

Gilard twisted his cigarette in his fingers.

“Rippleton, Bertos, Brilloxen, Palieva, and the Magic Association. Do you know what is the common trait among these groups, which don’t quite belong together, is, Sierra?”

I narrowed my eyes at his baffling question, and Gilard squinted at me.

“They’re groups that were abandoned by Bozbourne and then saved.”

Gilard shook his head while holding the cigarette.

He looked somewhat bitter.

He glanced at Bellietta and spoke slowly.

“I warned Bellietta not to invite you because of this.”

“…”

“If it weren’t for your childish tantrums three years ago, both Rippleton and Brilloxen would be practically non-existent now.”

Three years ago was when Bozbourne staked everything he owned on Brilloxen.

Since that day, Brilloxen had recovered, but her mother had been bedridden and unable to rise.

“Who do you think is holding up the Empire? The royal family? Or the council? That’s just nonsense.”

He tossed the burnt-out cigarette onto the floor, grinding it beneath his shoe.

“The royal family has lost power and function, and Rippleton is cornered, scrambling to deal with the monsters, while Brilloxen and Palieva are merely merchants looking to make money. But Bozbourne is different.”

Just then, the doors opened as if on cue, revealing over a hundred knights.

The knights, clad in shining armor and wielding weapons and shields, exuded an imposing presence just by appearing.

“With just one order from me, 600,000 troops could head toward Rippleton tomorrow and overthrow the royal family. The only reason I don’t is that there’s no need to. Do you really think that head on your shoulders belongs to you?”

“You’re insane.”

Laughter erupted from below.

Gilard rolled his eyes and looked at Medea.

“Did you call me insane?”

“Do you really think you look normal right now?”

“… Medea Rodis. Truly, the saying that wizards are ungrateful hybrids isn’t wrong. To repay my dedication with betrayal like this.”

“Don’t try to deceive me with your words of dedication. Wasn’t it just your filthy greed?”

“That greed has saved you. How pathetic that you don’t even realize that. It’s not like you don’t know what would happen to the Association if Bozbourne stopped its support.”

Gilard took out another cigarette, nodding as if to agree.

Medea frowned, about to speak, but I interjected first.

“Brilloxen has agreed to support.”

“…”

Gilard froze for a moment, his cigarette halfway to his lips.

He looked at me with dry eyes, a mix of annoyance and disbelief as if he were staring at an object that bothered him by the roadside.

Gilard scowled and crushed the cigarette he was holding.

“So you’ve just become a pawn in my game. Bozebourne has turned into a joke. To be played by a little girl like you to create this mess.”

Even as Gilard continued, the knights formed a tight wall around us.

They seemed determined to leave no escape routes.

As the captain of the knights asked for orders, Gilard slowly raised his hand.

“Release them.”

“Excuse me? But…”

“Do you really think it’ll end like this against Rippleton’s monsters? And it’s not just one monster, but two.”

Gilard slowly turned his gaze to Medea, who seemed indifferent.

“Don’t make unnecessary moves. Just stay back.”

The captain hesitated but eventually nodded, loosening the encirclement.

Gilard let out a low breath as he watched the heavy knights.

“Can you handle what happens today, Sierra? Brilloxen will face many walls ahead. You will need to guard against all of them, and the moment you slip up even once, you’ll lose something precious.”

Gilard had pinpointed exactly who was the mastermind behind all of this.

I understood now why Gilard had come to my father and asked him not to send me away.

He must have been trying to eliminate variables from his plan.

He was a meticulous man with an astonishing ability to see far ahead.

“Your grace, you’re always late.”

“…”

“That question should have been asked when you called for me today. You should have asked it then, when everything wasn’t yet perfect.”

I tore my gaze from the silent Gilard and fixed it on Bellietta.

As I stepped closer, I locked eyes with her expressionless face.

Her gaze gathered on me like light converging.

I reached out and brushed my fingers along her luxurious dress, then took her hand.

“Are you starting to regret it now, Bellietta?”