The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 162

162. Same Bed, Different Dreams

2024.04.10.

“If you allow me to take Rosette Adrian with me, I will ensure His Highness becomes the Crown Prince.”

“……!”

Louis barely contained his surprise, scrutinizing Michael’s face to gauge the sincerity of his words.

‘He’s serious.’

In truth, Louis had believed Michael harbored grander ambitions. He’d suspected Rosette was merely a pretext, and that Michael secretly aimed for the throne, masked by his supposed assistance.

However, Michael displayed no such indications. His eyes seemed to convey that Rosette was his sole desire.

‘Of course, he could be adept at concealing his true intentions.’

If this was genuine, it could mean gaining a powerful ally.

His grandfather, Duke Lillis, and his mother, Duchess Lillis, had both instilled in him that this was the path for the Lillis family’s survival. Indoctrinated by them, Louis’s lifelong ambition was, naturally, to become Emperor.

‘A Queen without backing won’t be able to actively support Joshua, and…’

It would have been far more advantageous if Duchess Lillis had been formally appointed Empress, but Ophelia’s existence wasn’t a significant impediment.

Rather, it was the Adrian family, particularly the Adrian Duchess, that troubled him.

He wished Marquis Dallas had dealt with her long ago, but there was no point in dwelling on the past.

Instead, he resolved to bring Rosette to his side. Marrying her and securing control of Adrian would ease his path somewhat.

However, Adrian and Joshua were closer than he’d anticipated, and Rosette cherished her family. Perhaps out of concern for her family’s well-being, she hadn’t even attempted to meet with Louis.

To compound matters, the atmosphere within the Imperial Palace was unsettling. The Emperor, who had once seemed willing to concede everything to his beloved Duchess Lillis, had grown distant of late.

– His Majesty has declined my audience again, citing pressing matters. I’ve lost count of how many times this has occurred.

– He must be preoccupied with affairs in the North. Don’t fret too much, Mother.

– But he never used to behave this way! Furthermore, he seems to be spending considerable time with the Empress. Just days ago, he dismissed me from his presence while I was with him to meet Joshua.

– He must have had his reasons. Joshua doesn’t visit the Imperial Palace without a valid purpose.

– Louis! Whose son are you? Are you defending Joshua before your own mother?

– Calm yourself, Mother. You know I’m not trying to defend my brother. I’m merely concerned that you might incur Father’s displeasure by making unnecessary remarks.

-…….

– Please don’t obstruct my path, Mother. If you persist in this behavior, I’ll forbid you from entering the Emerald Palace.

He rebuked the anxious Duchess Lillis, but in truth, Louis himself was even more anxious. It certainly appeared to him that the Emperor’s affections had shifted.

Even with Ophelia retaining her position as Empress, and Joshua excelling in both swordsmanship and magic, he had believed that with the support of the Lillis family and Duchess Lillis, securing the Crown Prince appointment would be straightforward.

‘At this rate, I’m truly going to lose.’

Just as he was frustrated that events weren’t unfolding as planned, Michael approached him.

Louis nervously moistened his lips.

His mind was in turmoil. Could he truly trust this serpentine man?

“If I agree, where do you intend to take the Adrian Duchess? Are you returning to the Shelton Kingdom? As you know, we cannot permit a potential source of conflict to remain within the Empire.”

“You needn’t concern yourself with that. I have no intention of remaining in the Empire either. Whether it’s the Shelton Kingdom or a third country, I’ll relocate elsewhere.”

That was a relief. But that alone wasn’t sufficient to reassure him.

“Then what are your plans for the rest of the Adrian family, excluding the Duchess? The Duke and the other family members will undoubtedly seek her out.”

This time, Michael offered a silent smile. He remained silent, but Louis felt as though he had received his answer.

If the Adrians became an impediment, he would simply eliminate them all.

A chill ran down his spine. He experienced a creepy sensation, as if the hairs on his body were standing on end.

‘What makes him so confident?’

He appeared to be skilled in magic. Given that he had infiltrated the palace undetected, he might be even more talented than he had initially anticipated.

But his adversaries were Joshua and Adrian. There was the Sword Master Duke, and Daniel, who was rumored to be on the cusp of becoming a Sword Master.

Above all, Rosette, the very person Michael was pursuing, was a prodigy who had summoned a familiar [a magical creature bound to a witch or wizard] at the tender age of eight. Hadn’t she repeatedly thwarted Duke Lillis’s schemes with her extraordinary abilities?

Was he intending to confront such individuals alone?

He wasn’t so much doubting Michael’s abilities as he was feeling uneasy about his inexplicable confidence.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

Even if Michael failed, he simply needed to ensure he had an escape route.

“Then how do you intend to hunt the wolves? No matter what transpires, it must not be discovered that I was involved in this. It could jeopardize my legitimacy.”

“You needn’t concern yourself with that either. Even if I hunt the wolves, His Highness will remain entirely uninvolved.”

“That’s a relief, then.”

“So, what is your decision?”

Michael’s crimson eyes bored into Louis. Louis’s mind remained in turmoil.

“Must I answer immediately?”

“I would appreciate it if you could. And it would be even better if this remained solely between the two of us.”

After a moment of silence, Louis nodded.

“Alright. As long as you bring me glory, I don’t care what you do with the Duchess.”

“I understand. Then, as the night grows late, I shall take my leave and contact you again.”

Michael bowed and vanished without a trace. Louis stared at the spot where Michael had stood moments before and erupted in laughter.

“Haha… Ahahaha!”

The laughter, initially tinged with bewilderment, soon transformed into elation.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness!”

As soon as Michael disappeared, the soundproofing magic seemed to dissipate, and a guard rushed in anxiously. Louis casually raised his hand to the guard who was entering the room.

“It’s nothing. I was merely thinking aloud.”

“Is that so? Are you certain nothing is amiss?”

Louis waved his hand dismissively at the guard, who was surveying the room with suspicion.

“Nothing is wrong, you may leave.”

“Understood.”

Even after the guard departed, Louis chuckled to himself.

The exhilarating sensation of obtaining what he desired without lifting a finger captivated him.

‘Of course, I’ll have to dispose of the hunting dog after the hunt concludes.’

Michael had stated that he would leave the Empire with Rosette after everything was resolved, but he couldn’t be certain. What if Rosette escaped his clutches and sought revenge?

Moreover, even if this proceeded smoothly, Michael could become an obstacle to Louis’s ascension to the throne in the future.

What if Michael leveraged the fact that he had collaborated with him to deal with Joshua as a means of blackmail?

It would be more prudent to simply seize the benefits and eliminate him.

He was merely one individual, while Louis had the backing of the Lillis family.

‘I’ll send word to my grandfather as soon as day breaks.’

Louis wiped the smile from his face and returned to bed.

It was the prelude to the full-scale succession battle within the Imperial Family.

* * *

“Why have you been staring at me like that, Brother? Is there something you wish to say to me?”

Rosette asked, observing Lucas, who sat across from her with his arms crossed and a disgruntled expression.

“What are you so unhappy about?”

“I refrained from asking yesterday due to Isabel’s presence, but what is the nature of your relationship with His Highness the Prince?”

She knew this question would resurface eventually. Rosette smiled silently, and Lucas frowned even more deeply.

“Do you truly harbor feelings for His Highness the Prince?”

“…….”

“Does His Highness reciprocate those feelings?”

Rosette continued to remain silent. But sometimes silence speaks volumes, and Lucas understood that perfectly well.

Lucas gaped.

“Kid, what are you planning to do!”

“Is there any reason why I shouldn’t have feelings for His Highness?”

“Of course!”

Lucas glanced around and lowered his voice. There were no maids or servants nearby, but he remained cautious.

“There’s no reason why you shouldn’t like him. Well, what reason does one need to like someone?”

Rosette was quite taken aback by Lucas’s unexpectedly mature words.

If it had been Lucas, who had been wary of Anthony Huxley since childhood, she had anticipated him lashing out, saying, ‘How could His Highness do this? Even if he is a Prince, he can’t take my sister away!’

Lucas, who had always seemed immature, was, after all, a member of the Duke’s family. He analyzed the situation with surprising composure.

“However, I’m concerned for you, Kid. Can a kid like you truly navigate life within the Imperial Palace?”

“You needn’t worry about that. I have no intention of entering the Imperial Palace.”

“What?”

Lucas looked bewildered.

“But you and His Highness…….”

“That’s right. Joshua and I have feelings for each other.”

“Joshua, you’re already on such familiar terms…….”

Rosette continued to explain to her brother, who was muttering blankly.

“But we haven’t made any promises about the future. As you said, Brother, I don’t wish to enter the Imperial Palace. Empress, Crown Princess, or Princess, none of those roles suit me.”

“Does that mean……?”

“For now, I’ve decided to simply focus on the present feelings. We’ll contemplate the future later…….”

Lucas’s shoulders trembled as he listened to Rosette’s words. He was filled with anger and stood up abruptly.

“Does that mean His Highness is merely toying with you and will abandon you?”