Chapter 91 – A Sensitive Day

“I’m going to kill Anton.”

“And?”

Silina’s face went blank at my response.

Meanwhile, Pina, apparently overwhelmed by our conversation, had slumped over on the table, completely out cold.

“And…? What do you mean, ‘and’?”

“Does this plan of yours have anything to do with what you know about the snake?”

“It’s… not entirely unrelated.”

“No. To me, it sounds completely unrelated. Stop beating around the bush and get to the point. How did you come by that information, and why do you have it?”

“Ha, haha… ha…!” Silina laughed, a hollow, disbelieving sound, and leaned forward.

“You really won’t concede a single point, will you? Eliaernes, what are you, really? You pretend to be indifferent to worldly affairs, you despise the way nobles converse, and yet, you’re somehow smoother than any of them.”

“You just answered your own question. I’m Eliaernes.”

“That’s not what I was asking. After hearing what I said, how can you remain so utterly unshaken?”

“Because it has nothing to do with me.”

Whether Silina kills Anton, the Emperor, or anyone else, it’s none of my concern.

Yes, Anton might be the biggest bastard to ever walk the earth.

And, as Silina said, he might be plotting to sell out the Empire by colluding with demons.

But, right now, I don’t care.

My mind is already overflowing with worries, thoughts, and considerations – a mountain of them. I have no desire to add another, even more complicated problem to the pile.

Besides, killing the First Prince?

Why tell me that? And in front of Pina, of all people?

She must be asking for my help.

That would explain why she’s helping me now.

Yes, that’s likely it.

She’s helping me now, and later, she’ll ask me to help her kill the First Prince.

Ugh, damn it.

Just thinking about it is a nightmare.

Of course… if it’s true that he’s colluding with demons to betray the Empire, he can’t be allowed to live.

But that’s not something to consider now.

I can’t even easily deal with a single black magician hiding in the capital’s underground. How am I supposed to kill the Empire’s First Prince?

…Hmm.

Uh… now that I think about it, it’s not impossible… huh?

No, but if I just went ahead and killed him, it would unleash a whole cascade of problems.

Even if I took all the blame, my father and mother—no, all of Eustetia—could be put in a terrible position.

So, Silina’s problem can wait.

Until the day my twisted personality and my power reach equilibrium, when I can do what I did in my past life without anyone daring to object.

Then, I’ll listen and act.

“Are you really saying this doesn’t concern you?”

“I phrased that too strongly. What I meant is, I can’t afford to be concerned with it right now.”

Silina narrowed her eyes.

“If you can’t be concerned now, does that mean you will be later?”

“Who knows? If my curiosity remains unsatisfied, who knows when ‘later’ will arrive?”

“…Hah. Fine. I’ll get straight to the point.”

With a sharp clink, she set down her now-cold teacup and leaned back, shedding the regal grace and poise she’d maintained until now.

“Anton de Hermann has been in contact with a black magician. I witnessed it. And even though black magic is tolerated these days, a royal having a private meeting with a black magician is a different matter entirely, don’t you agree? So, I did some digging.”

“For once, you’re making sense.”

“Quiet, and listen. Anyway, my investigation led me to that underground area.”

“And?”

“I continued investigating, through Uranos. That’s how I learned about the snake and the ‘gate’ that appeared down there. And, this is a secret, but I know more than just that.”

Silina paused, glancing at Pina.

I followed her gaze.

Still unconscious.

Not even a twitch.

She was breathing, though, so at least she wasn’t dead.

Seemingly satisfied that Pina was out of it, Silina exhaled softly and continued.

“Anton has been there, too. Specifically, to the gate at the end of the labyrinth.”

“…So,”

“Yes. The black magician Anton met is likely the same one you want to kill.”

“That’s why you’re helping me.”

I clicked my tongue and polished off Pina’s half-finished mint chocolate milk with a few loud gulps.

“Exactly. Originally, I planned to use this to put you in my debt for something bigger later, but that’s not going to work now, is it?”

This is precisely why I can’t trust people.

“If I kill that black magician, it benefits you… So, what, you act like you don’t care, but you secretly want the throne?”

“No. I have no desire to become Emperor.”

I looked directly into her eyes.

No lie.

Only genuine sincerity.

And a deep, palpable hatred.

“As I said, I want Anton dead. To do that, I need more power. Even as a fellow royal, even having climbed this far ahead of my siblings, Anton isn’t someone I can kill easily.”

Silina took a small sip of her cold tea, her voice a low growl.

“That’s why this is so crucial to me.”

For her, this was vital, but for different reasons than my own.

A black magician hiding beneath the capital, seemingly undermining Eustetia’s authority, and the Empire’s First Prince, Anton de Hermann, who had a private meeting with that very magician.

Of course, the black magician Anton met and the one hiding under the capital might not be the same person.

But when the Empire’s Second Princess says it, the words carry a different weight.

It might just be a rumor, but it’s enough to shake Anton’s position.

At the very least, Eustetia, the Empire’s closest ally, would doubt Anton.

And that’s not all.

Numerous noble families loyal to the Imperial faction would also begin to suspect him.

Rumors would spread that the First Prince had dealings with a black magician who attempted to destabilize the Empire.

“Hmm…”

Silina might seem foolish, but moments like these prove she’s a true royal.

And I’ve learned something new.

Silina isn’t politically inept; she simply never intended to play the political game.

She has only one goal:

To kill the First Prince, Anton de Hermann.

I don’t know why.

And until she chooses to tell me, I won’t ask.

Just as Silina doesn’t pry into how I know about the underground, I won’t pry into her motives.

That’s the appropriate distance.

Between me and Silina.

Between me and those around me, who all have their secrets.

“I know I already owe you my life, and it’s shameless to ask for more, but I will.”

Silina extended her hand.

“Eliaernes. I, Silina de Hermann, Second Princess of the Empire, will help you. So, please…”

Her voice was filled with earnestness.

“Help me.”

I gazed at her slightly trembling fingertips.

Was it an act? A calculated gesture?

I couldn’t tell yet.

But.

Even if her voice, expression, emotions, and movements were all feigned,

“Alright.”

I decided to take Silina’s hand.

With a princess’s help, this would be considerably easier.

It meant that even if I marched straight to Shibria and slapped her across the face, I’d have someone to cover for me.

…Not bad.

Should I go hit her?

While I’m at it, two or three hits would be even better.

“Hey, can you prevent me from getting expelled?”

“…What are you planning?”

“Answer the question first.”

“If you’re thinking of going to Shibria Eustetia and repeating what you did in the training grounds, I can’t help you.”

“…How did you know I was planning to punch that bitch?”

“Fabiana told me you weren’t just planning to punch her, you were about to crack her skull open. Anyway, something like that is impossible. You’d need Fabiana’s help. And to get Fabiana’s help, you’d have to explain everything.”

Tch. Clicking my tongue, I sank back into my chair.

“Then what can you help me with?”

“I’ll explain that now. I think you’ll be pleased.”

***

“…And that’s the plan I’ve devised.”

Silina finished her explanation and leaned back, a triumphant smile gracing her lips.

“What do you think? Isn’t it far more refined and sophisticated than whatever crude method you were planning?”

Looking at her, I let out a small sigh of admiration.

“If that’s what nobility considers refined and sophisticated, I don’t think I want to be a noble.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You’re such a piece of trash.”

“You know saying it three times stops making it a compliment, right?”

“I was planning to stop anyway.”

“Arrogant.”

Heh. Silina chuckled, stretching with a satisfied expression, clearly pleased with her own plan.

“Haaaa… So, what do you think?”

“It’s acceptable.”

“That’s it?”

She asked, her tone subtly expectant.

I sighed.

“Honestly, I’m a little surprised. I didn’t know you were running a trading company.”

“Of course not. I’ve been more meticulous and secretive about that than I am about revealing my naked body.”

It was somewhat amusing that a princess was so confident about running a mere trading company, but she had every right to be.

The trading company Silina ran was among the most influential in the capital—perhaps even one of the two most powerful.

“A seventeen-year-old kid managing something like that… how the hell did you pull it off?”

“I didn’t do it all alone. The person currently hiding within the cartel… he set it up, and I simply expanded it. And if I’m a kid, then so are you. What nonsense are you spouting?”

“So, was he originally a merchant?”

“Don’t call him a merchant.”

A sharp glare pierced me.

“…Fine. Was he originally a trader?”

“Who knows? I don’t even know his true identity. But… I do know he was highly capable in many areas.”

That’s an understatement. He must’ve been far more than just ‘capable’ to achieve something this significant.

“Alright… I understand.”

“So, what’s your answer? Can you do it?”

“I can.”

Silina was silent for a moment before speaking again, her voice cautious.

“…You answered too readily.”

“Yeah.”

“We’re talking about killing someone.”

“So? It’s not like I’m incapable.”

“What if I lied to you? What if this is all a scheme to deceive you?”

At Silina’s absurd question, I pulled out the device I’d placed on the table earlier.

On its screen, the word [Recording] blinked red.

“…Since when?”

“Since I walked in.”

Silina’s expression instantly crumbled.