The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 161

161. Looming Conspiracy

2024.04.09.

“Who is it?”

No answer came.

Duke Adrian composed himself, calmly assessing the situation.

‘Not an assassin? What was that, then?’

The presence he had clearly felt moments ago had completely vanished. He cautiously approached the window and looked outside, but not a single shadow was seen leaving the mansion.

However, it was too intense to dismiss as a mere illusion.

Duke Adrian summoned the commander of the knights.

“What is the matter?”

The knight commander was greatly surprised to see the Duke holding a sword.

“An assassin, sir?”

“I’m not sure. I definitely felt something for a moment, but then I saw nothing. It felt suspicious, not quite human. Increase security just in case, especially around Rose’s room.”

“Yes, as you command.”

Even after the knight commander left, Duke Adrian remained troubled and headed to Rosette’s room, just in case. Fortunately, everything was fine. Rosette was sleeping peacefully.

[Pii?]

“It’s nothing, Pipi. Just…”

Duke Adrian, calming Pipi who was looking at him, frowned slightly.

‘Its aura is similar to Pipi’s.’

The presence he had felt in his office earlier resembled Pipi’s.

“Pipi, come here for a moment.”

[Pii?]

Duke Adrian looked at Pipi, who fluttered over and perched on his finger, and asked,

“Were you in my office a little while ago?”

[Pii?]

Pipi tilted its head this way and that. Even Duke Adrian, who couldn’t understand Pipi’s words, could see that Pipi was bewildered.

“Then, is there another familiar bird besides you?”

[Ppit?]

Pipi tilted its head again. Blinking its black eyes, Pipi looked up at the Duke, full of curiosity.

Duke Adrian stroked Pipi’s head, reassuring it.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry. Now, go back and watch over Rose.”

[Ppit!]

Duke Adrian watched Pipi fly back to Rosette before leaving the room.

* * *

“So, Rose has woken up.”

Michael stroked Ferito’s head as the snake had come back from spying on the Adrian mansion, and muttered.

The white snake Ferito flicked its tongue, recounting everything it had seen.

“I see. The Prince is with Rose…”

Michael gritted his teeth.

Joshua Ernhardt. He hadn’t liked him from the start, and as expected, he kept interfering with his plans.

He had been annoyed by Joshua lingering around Rosette, so he had banished him to the north, but he had returned and wouldn’t leave Rosette’s side.

Recently, not only Joshua but also Rosette had been acting strangely. At this rate, he felt like he would lose Rosette to Joshua forever.

So, he had taken a drastic measure. In response to Duke Adrian’s request to save Rosette, he had demanded an outrageous price that even he thought was absurd.

Of course, he didn’t expect Duke Adrian to actually accept the marriage proposal. While it would be nice if he did, he knew the chances were slim.

He just wanted to declare war on Joshua. To warn him not to covet Rosette, as she was his. He also wanted the Adrian family to acknowledge his existence.

He had planned to save Rosette when the time was right. He had been searching for a way to do so for days.

But Joshua, that damned bastard, had gone ahead and saved Rosette first.

He didn’t know what method he had used, but thanks to that, Joshua and Rosette’s relationship seemed to have become even more affectionate.

“I wanted to be on Rose’s good side and do everything she wanted as much as possible.”

Since she cherished her family, he had tried not to harm them. He thought that would win Rosette’s heart.

But it seemed that wasn’t enough. He felt the need to push forward with his plan, regardless of Rose’s wishes.

He would have to remove Joshua and Adrian from Rosette’s sight and create a situation where Rosette could only cling to him.

“I guess that’s the only way.”

*Shhh*. Seeing Ferito agree, Michael stood up. Michael, who had melted into the darkness, headed to Sapphire Palace, where the Second Prince, Louis Ernhardt, resided.

“Who is it?”

Louis, sensing a presence, stood up. Michael smiled in the darkness.

“It seems you’re not entirely useless.”

Unlike Joshua, who excelled in both magic and swordsmanship, Louis had no outstanding abilities.

He seemed to have a sharp mind, but he couldn’t use magic at all, and while he had talent in swordsmanship, he wasn’t exceptionally skilled.

Perhaps because he had spent over a decade at the Lillis estate rather than the Imperial Palace, he captivated people with his approachable personality, unlike other princes.

Joshua was cold and distant, so Louis’s friendly nature stood out more in social circles.

But that was it. Recently, rumors had been circulating that the Emperor’s feelings were different from before.

Contrary to expectations that he would favor the Lillis heiress and actively support Louis, the Emperor’s reaction was lukewarm.

So, unlike his ambitious debut, Louis was not gaining as much support from the nobles as he had hoped.

He probably didn’t show it, but the Lillis Duke and Louis must have been burning inside.

“I asked who you are.”

“It would be best not to call the guards. I’m not here to harm Your Highness, but to make a proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“Yes. A proposal that Your Highness cannot refuse.”

Louis adjusted his grip on his sword, remaining vigilant.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but if you’re really here to make a proposal, shouldn’t you reveal who you are first? No, if you were confident, you wouldn’t have sneaked in like a thief in the middle of the night.”

Michael shrugged.

“There’s no reason to be ashamed, but this isn’t a story to be told in broad daylight where everyone can hear. Still, as Your Highness said, I should introduce myself first.”

In the darkness, Michael bowed, showing respect to the Imperial family.

“I am Michael Lischer from the Shelton Kingdom.”

“Lischer? Ah, I heard there was an envoy who stayed behind without returning home. So, it’s you.”

“That’s right.”

“What brings a person from the Shelton Kingdom to me at this late hour?”

Michael smiled meaningfully. Ferito, perched on his shoulder, flicked its tongue with a *shhh* sound.

“I know there’s something Your Highness desperately desires.”

Louis frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

“What the Lillis Duke wants, and what Your Highness has dreamed of since childhood.”

“…….”

“Don’t you want to be the Emperor?”

“That…!”

Louis raised his voice without realizing it, then checked for any movement outside the door. Fortunately, no one came in.

“You don’t have to worry. I’ve cast a soundproofing spell, so the guards outside won’t hear anything.”

Louis studied Michael’s expression in the darkness before speaking again.

“That’s presumptuous. How dare a person from the Shelton Kingdom say such a thing? His Majesty is still protecting the throne, yet you speak of me becoming Emperor. Are you telling me to commit treason?”

“I’m not telling you to commit treason. Even if you ascend the throne that way, you’ll only be unstable without any support.”

“Then?”

“It may take some time, but isn’t there a sure way?”

“A sure way?”

“Isn’t this chaotic succession battle all because there are two princes?”

“……!”

Louis swallowed hard, clenching the hand holding his sword. Michael smirked slightly at the sight, but Louis couldn’t see it because of the darkness.

“I will support Your Highness.”

“What power do you have?”

“Are you doubting my abilities even after I entered Your Highness’s palace without being detected by anyone?”

Louis swallowed hard. Michael was right. He had come here as if he were out for a night stroll, without being noticed by anyone.

Even Louis had only noticed Michael’s intrusion when he was right in front of him. Even then, he had only noticed because Michael had made a sound; if he had truly had impure intentions and silenced even his footsteps, he wouldn’t have noticed.

“Putting that aside, what can you, a foreign noble, do? It could even escalate into a diplomatic issue.”

“I don’t care what happens to the relationship between the Empire and the Shelton Kingdom. Even if the Shelton Kingdom’s relationship with the Empire is strained because of my actions, it can’t be helped.”

“What? Then what do you want and why are you doing this? Do you want an imperial noble title?”

“An imperial noble title? Me?”

Michael burst into laughter as if he found it amusing. The laughter was clearly mocking, yet the sound was so clear that Louis felt strange.

“I have no interest in imperial noble titles. Only those who have nothing themselves chase after such illusions.”

It sounded as if he were speaking directly to Louis. As if he were saying that he was clinging to the Crown Prince position because he had nothing.

In reality, it wasn’t wrong. Louis had royal blood, but he had lived quietly in the Lillis territory until he first appeared in society.

He certainly existed in this world, but he was a non-existent person.

But Louis didn’t care what Michael said. Rather than being offended by his words, he was more interested in what he had to offer.

“Then what do you want?”

“The Adrian heiress.”

“……The Adrian heiress? Are you talking about Adrian [family]?”

“To be exact, the second heiress.”