episode_0083

Elia stared blankly at me as I continued my impassioned rant, as though gauging how much I truly knew.

“Is that a prophecy?”

“Huh?”

“That analysis of yours—the one that sounds like a sermon on perseverance. Is it based on a prophecy?”

“No. This is just what I wanted to say to you. The prophecy couldn’t see as far as your future. So for now, I’ll leave it at that.”

“Hmm?”

“No matter what I say here, you still wouldn’t be convinced, right? So just accept it as, ‘Oh, so there are people like this too.’ Not everyone needs talent or resolve to move forward.”

“…Then perhaps even you, back then—”

“What?”

“Never mind. Forget it. More importantly, it’s time for Chris and Cecilia’s surveillance. Leave it to me.”

“Got it. Let me know immediately if you find anything.”

I gave Elia a brief nod and exited her room.

“Wha—?”

“Ah, my apologies. I didn’t expect anyone to come out. You alright?”

“Yes. We didn’t collide, so it’s fine. More importantly…”

“You are…?”

“Ugh.”

“Tch. I wondered who it was—the disgrace of House Grave. Did you come crawling to that woman to beg for scraps too?”

I kept my mouth shut and silently lowered my head. Of all people, why did I have to run into him?

“Hmm? Why the silence? Don’t tell me you’re actually admitting it?”

“Nothing of the sort. I merely had personal matters to discuss. Now step aside, Your Highness, Crown Prince Elster.”

Elster Perial. Elia’s older brother and one of the many imperial successors. Of course, compared to Elia—or even Eltir, the First Prince, whose support barely matched hers—his influence was pitifully weak. Yet whether he was oblivious or willfully ignorant, his arrogance knew no bounds.

The moment he realized the person he’d bumped into was me, his demeanor shifted entirely.

In the original story, obsessed with usurping Elia, he launched a half-baked coup, only to be crushed and executed. But like master, like servant—every last one of the factions he’d rallied were scum: radical aristocratic loyalists, unscrupulous merchants, and worst of all, those he’d recruited purely for combat prowess—bandit chiefs, mountain brigands, ex-mercenaries, and criminals.

It wasn’t until after his execution that the truth of their nature became clear, but by then, it was too late. Most had slithered back into the underworld, leaving Elia’s large-scale purge with little to show.

But now, unlike then, she stood as one of the strongest candidates for succession, rivaled only by Eltir himself.

“Heh. Even a madman like you wouldn’t leave this place empty-handed. Did you really think anyone would buy that?”

“And what exactly are you implying?”

“Tell me everything you discussed. Surely House Grave isn’t foolish enough to back her, are they? A cunning shrew who isn’t even the primary successor—hardly worth your family’s support.”

“I understand exactly what you’re getting at, Your Highness. But this doesn’t sound like something a madman would say. Besides…”

“Besides?”

“Even if you are the Crown Prince, I am still the heir of House Grave. Kindly moderate your language. I doubt you’d want to antagonize our house before the formal trials even begin.”

“What?”

“Even a madman knows how to survive. If word got out that the Crown Prince openly called me a madman in the palace—well, I doubt either of us would find that amusing.”

“You bastard…”

“Rest easy. House Grave remains neutral. Our house will support whoever becomes Emperor—that’s the purpose of the succession trials, is it not?”

“What do you want? Money? Guarantees? I can provide either.”

“I already told you what I want. Step aside.”

“Step aside?”

“Yes. Even if my house considers me an embarrassment, there’s a stark difference between me insulting myself and others insulting me. Of course, I’d rather not reveal how discourteous I’ve been to you either. Chatting casually with Princess Elia while ignoring others? Suspicious, wouldn’t you say?”

“So we keep each other’s secrets, is that it?”

“Precisely. Unlike before, I now know how to use my head. Surely the Crown Prince understands something so simple?”

“Tch…”

Elster wasn’t foolish enough to miss the implication.

Though visibly irritated, he still stepped aside to let me pass.

“Thank you.”

“Disgusting. You wretched things really do flock together.”

At a loss for words, he scowled as I offered him a faint smile and strode out of the palace. If he knew whose grace was keeping him alive, he wouldn’t dare spit such venom.

What expression would he make if I told him that all those pitiful allies he clung to were nothing but pawns on Elia’s palm? The only reason he wielded more influence now than in the original world was because she allowed it—so that those criminal elements, instead of scattering back underground, would grow bolder, making it impossible for them to flee when the time came.

Of course, a few clever enough to stay hidden still existed, but even they would be trivial for Elia, who retained memories of past loops.

Yawn.

With nothing left to do, a yawn escaped me.

The group assignments were handling themselves, and no artifacts needed immediate retrieval.

Time for a nap.

——–

“What’s this about?”

“You’ve got quite the mouth when talking to him, Elia.”

“Expecting deference? Sadly, I’m not courteous enough for such pretenses. Go find Tyr or Dain—those two will give you the reaction you crave.”

“You damn brat—!”

“Either way, Eric didn’t give you the answer you wanted, did he? Not that it’s surprising.”

Elia stared at the intruder in her room with unmasked disdain. How could anyone be this incompetent? The thought that lineage alone once determined worth now struck her as almost cursed.

Not only unfit to lead an empire—he couldn’t even protect himself, forced to beg scraps from others yet distrusting even those outstretched hands.

Such was Elia Perial’s cruel judgment of her brother. And of course, Elster knew how she saw him.

His fragile ego, already inflated compared to the first loop, had only worsened now that she deliberately let his faction run rampant.

“Then you’re saying House Grave actually supports you?!”

“Stop deluding yourself. Thankfully, nothing like what you’re imagining happened. Keep scraping the dregs of society all you want.”

“Don’t you dare insult my proud subordinates…!”

“Proud? Corrupt merchants and murderers? At this rate, forget dark mages—you’ll recruit demons next. Racial unity, what a grand achievement. Perhaps you should compose hymns in advance. I hear you’ve been cozying up to the Church’s swine lately.”

“You—!”

“Don’t ask how I know. While I don’t track every move of every successor, I do know who meets whom.”

Clink.

Elia elegantly lifted a teacup from the table.

“Well then, anything else to say?”

“Grr—!”

Only now did Elster realize—no matter what he said here, Elia would twist it to her advantage.

“Scheming, cowardly wench. Every word out of your mouth is a trap.”

“And yet you lack the courage to speak to such a scheming coward. Still, I admit—I’m surprised you noticed at all.”

“Mocking me?!”

“No? A compliment. I was in a good mood until someone ruined it. So unless you’d prefer stronger methods…?”

SLAM!

Unable to endure her taunts, Elster stormed out without another word.

“Hmm……”

Staring at the still-open door, Elia sank into thought.

Eric had sought her out.

As he’d half-admitted, of all the Hero Party’s members, he trusted her most—enough to entrust her with secrets he’d never share with others.

But he wasn’t the only one with secrets.

Naturally, others would come seeking her too.

Step. Step.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Listening to the overlapping footsteps, Elia smiled. As if it were inevitable.