Ch.319319. ····We said we’d meet again, right?

“…So who is it?”

“It’s Selden Alphonse from the Eastern Continent.”

Prince Leonis raised his voice while touching the burn on his forearm.

“Why was someone from the Eastern Continent with Joanna?!”

Butler Brill’s cheeks trembled at Prince Leonis’s thundering voice.

“According to our investigation, he has a close relationship with Lord Callian.”

“With Callian? Then I should have known about him?”

“It seems the relationship was formed recently. Didn’t Lord Callian briefly leave his post after the war ended?”

“Yes… I found out later. What a waste. I should have occupied the Imperial Palace then.”

“He apparently went to meet Selden Alphonse in the Eastern Continent at that time.”

“He went all the way to the Eastern Continent…?”

BANG-!

As Prince Leonis flew into a rage, Butler Brill bowed his head deeply.

“I-I’m sorry! The spies we planted said the schedule was arranged so suddenly that they had no time to send a letter.”

“Hah… Why did he go to Lake Territory anyway?”

“We suspect Lady Joanna was hiding in Lake Territory.”

“…What evidence?”

“Remember the knights we had blocking the back door of the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes. Callian was probably planning to smuggle Joanna out.”

Butler Brill took several deep breaths before continuing.

“At the end of the war, Lady Joanna’s whereabouts became unclear, and after Lord Callian returned from Lake Territory, she suddenly reappeared.”

“Could be a coincidence, no?”

“The second piece of evidence is the annihilation of the knights who were waiting at the back door of the palace. They were an elite few, specially selected for their skills, weren’t they?”

Prince Leonis leaned back in his chair.

“…Indeed, this Selden Alphonse I encountered was a mage powerful enough to wipe out my knights and then some.”

“Yes, he likely smuggled Lady Joanna out and took her to Lake Territory. Additionally, there are widespread rumors that Lord Callian’s capture of the dark mage was greatly aided by information from Selden Alphonse.”

“But what kind of relationship does he have with Joanna that would make someone from the Eastern Continent interfere in a Western Continent war?”

“I-I’m not sure about that either. We should probably send a letter to Emperor Malius in the Eastern Continent.”

A person from another continent interfering in the imperial succession war is nothing short of a serious crime.

If Prince Leonis were to ascend to the throne, it would mean someone from the Eastern Continent had drawn a sword against the Western Imperial Family.

However.

Though this was an issue that could be handled lightly through correspondence, Prince Leonis was too pained by the burn etched into his forearm.

Enough to want revenge.

“…Brill.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Where is Selden Alphonse now?”

“He was staying at the Western Imperial Palace but departed for Lake Territory yesterday.”

“Do they still install control stones in mansions in the Eastern Continent?”

“Yes, that’s my understanding.”

Selden Alphonse’s magic was bizarrely powerful.

Though he didn’t know how the man came to wield such terrifying magic, one thing was certain: in a mansion with control stones, he wouldn’t be able to use magic.

Prince Leonis bared his white teeth.

“Select the three most skilled knights who are experienced in infiltration.”

“…Pardon? Surely you don’t mean to assassinate Selden Alphonse?”

“Isn’t it my principle to repay what I’ve suffered?”

“B-but even so, if we cross into the Eastern Continent without permission and assassinate Selden Alphonse, there will be many problems later.”

“Was I not the one attacked first?”

Butler Brill wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand before continuing.

“Even so, he is an Eastern Continent noble.”

“You don’t think I would be intimidated by a mere noble, do you?”

“Th-that’s not it. Couldn’t we just leave this to Emperor Malius rather than handling it ourselves?”

“I need to take revenge personally for my peace of mind. And trouble only comes if we get caught, doesn’t it?”

“That’s true, but…”

Prince Leonis impatiently scolded Butler Brill as he trailed off.

“Enough talk! Select assassins immediately and have them bring me Selden Alphonse’s head! Tell them they will be well rewarded, and if I ascend to the throne, they will be granted high positions.”

Butler Brill was about to say something more but looked at Prince Leonis’s face.

His expression was resolute.

It seemed his stubbornness would never bend.

Having been closest to him all this time, he knew this all too well.

Finally, Butler Brill let out a quiet sigh and bowed.

“I will follow your orders.”

*

“…I’ll impose on you for just a few days. I hear the Miracle Forest in Lake Territory is quite famous?”

I faintly heard Evander Alphonse’s voice.

I quickly gathered my wits and spoke.

“Wasn’t it originally the Forest of Death?”

“I know that. I hear it’s now so crowded with tourists there’s barely room to step.”

“Haha! It’s not quite that bad. And the Miracle Forest isn’t the only place to see—please visit the Academy as well. It’s one of Lake Territory’s proudest features.”

In the original story, when the protagonist Serion Lykus used the hourglass, he repeated every word exactly the same, except for what needed to be changed.

A single misspoken word could cause a butterfly effect without me even realizing it.

“Yes, well… I’m quite tired today and would like to rest a bit first.”

Then I called for Padericks, who was outside the reception room.

“Padericks.”

Creeeeak-! Clunk-!

“Yes, young master.”

As Padericks entered the reception room and bowed, I calmly suppressed the emotions that suddenly welled up.

“Please escort my brother to his bedroom so he can rest.”

“Understood.”

Next, after confirming that Evander Alphonse had left, I would also head to my bedroom.

I quietly followed them, checking the Raiden Sword at my waist once more.

Am I nervous?

No, rather, I feel rage rising within me.

I won’t let them die easily.

Although the time I experienced was brief, I won’t leave those who caused me such pain unpunished.

Evander Alphonse sensed my presence, turned around, and tilted his head.

“Oh? Selden?”

“Yes, brother.”

“Where are you going?”

“I wanted to escort you to your bedroom as well.”

Evander Alphonse wore a thoroughly confused expression.

“E-escort me to my bedroom?”

Evander Alphonse, who died calling himself “Selden Alphonse” to the intruders.

I will save him too.

This is actually better.

If I stay by his side, I can protect him even during a surprise attack.

By the way.

They’re certainly good enough that my subordinates haven’t noticed.

Even though the time is approaching, I still can’t sense their presence.

Clearly skilled assassins with excellent ki concealment.

If Evander Alphonse weren’t with me, other suspicions might have arisen, but the culprit has already been narrowed down to Prince Leonis alone.

He must have harbored resentment for the handling of his subordinates and sought revenge.

I truly feel like I’ve been blindsided.

In truth, my carelessness played a part.

I was confident I wouldn’t die even if all the traitors were brought against me.

But because of that, I lost Padericks and Evander Alphonse.

My arrogance spread once again.

They probably thought I was only skilled in magic and sent someone with excellent swordsmanship, keeping the control stones in mind.

It was a disaster brought on by carelessness.

Hah…

I had expected that if Prince Leonis learned of my existence, he would first send a letter to Emperor Malius…

Sending assassins caught me completely off guard.

I gave Evander Alphonse a faint smile.

“I haven’t moved much today, so don’t worry about it.”

Just as I was about to take another step, I faintly sensed a presence.

Then suddenly, the sensation rushed in like a wave.

‘They’re coming.’

CRASH-!

A second-floor window shattered, and daggers flew through the opening.

Shing.

CLANG-! CLANG-! CLANG-!

I immediately drew my Raiden Sword, deflecting the incoming daggers, and with my back to Evander Alphonse and Padericks, I raised my voice.

“Padericks, take my brother downstairs!”

Shing.

But.

Evander Alphonse also drew his sword and stood back-to-back with me.

“…My youngest brother never seems to have a peaceful day.”

“B-brother!?”

“It’s fine. What kind of shameful older brother would flee while his younger brother stands and fights?”

I quickly confirmed the three intruders with my “Eye of Insight.”

They were indeed difficult for Evander Alphonse to handle alone, but not opponents he would necessarily lose to.

Perhaps before turning back the hourglass, the factors in his defeat were the sudden attack and trying to protect Padericks while fighting.

Reassured, I stood back-to-back with him and murmured quietly.

“Brother, don’t kill them.”

“Don’t you know who’s behind this?”

“I do.”

“Then why keep them alive?”

“In my current mood, I don’t think I can give them a clean death.”

“…I don’t know what caused it, but my youngest brother is clearly furious.”

The three masked intruders, having failed in their surprise attack, looked at each other with somewhat bewildered expressions.

Resting the Raiden Sword lightly on my shoulder, I curled my lips into a wicked smile toward the male intruder whose presence felt quite familiar.

“…I told you we’d meet again, didn’t I?”