By now, the Emperor stood close by, his face expressionless. Hailon answered respectfully.
“It’s a seventh-tier magic circle. The spells layered inside it are ordinary alarm and protection spells commonly used in barriers, and there was nothing unusual about them. However, there was a problem with the magic circle that controlled them all.”
“What kind of problem?”
“Consumption of supernatural power.”
“……!”
At this unexpected answer, Rachel furrowed her brow. Consumption of supernatural power?
Hailon added,
“The Archmage of the Magic Tower has woven spells that continuously consume supernatural power throughout the entire magic circle. Of course, regularly consuming supernatural power can help its circulation and aid in training, but—”
“If it’s excessive, the person could die from overusing their supernatural power.”
The Emperor twisted his lips.
“……That’s correct. From what I’ve confirmed, there’s no limit to how much supernatural power it can consume. It wouldn’t matter under normal circumstances, but if she stays in this residence after using her supernatural power excessively, it will cause problems not only with her ability but also with her body.”
“Ha.”
The Emperor let out a dry laugh. When his eyes met hers, he paused for an instant, but—
He soon looked down at her calmly and spoke.
“At this point, I don’t think rumors are the problem anymore. My lady, we need to summon him and question him. You agree, don’t you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How dare he? I can’t imagine what he was thinking when he did something like this. And wouldn’t this be even more dangerous for a lady who has manifested a supernatural ability?”
“……”
At the unexpected mention of the issue, Rachel fell silent for a moment. What the Emperor had brought up was a rumor that had recently been spreading throughout the capital.
The rumor was that Rachel Ingrave had probably manifested an information-related supernatural ability, since she had provided crucial evidence in the fake heir incident, the attempted assassination of the Emperor, and the rebellion in the North.
She hadn’t been participating in social events lately.
More importantly, there was no obligation to reveal one’s supernatural ability, so she had simply ignored the rumor and let it fade away on its own.
If she had known the matter would come to light like this, she would have taken action much sooner.
“My lady?”
“……I suppose so.”
Anyone who wanted to know whether someone had manifested a supernatural ability could easily find out, so she couldn’t deny that she had manifested one.
Rachel curled her hands into fists without letting it show. Meanwhile, the Emperor turned to the commander of the Imperial Guard and ordered him in an expressionless voice.
“Summon Sein Marcus immediately. I want to know why he cast such a spell on one of my nobles, in my Empire.”
“I shall carry out your command.”
“Will you come with me, Acting Marquis?”
The Emperor looked down at her. Their eyes met, but unlike before, his expression didn’t move at all.
After meeting his calm gaze, she lowered her eyes.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Good. Come with me.”
As she followed the Emperor, who had immediately turned around, she tried not to clasp her hands together. Anxiety swept over her.
Would it be dangerous if people learned that she had manifested a supernatural ability?
Suddenly, she remembered how strangely Illya had been acting lately. Could she really attribute it all to his love for his only remaining family member?
“……”
When Illya had come with Nathan Valencia to save her……
—This time, I absolutely won’t do that.
—So please watch me, Sister. You may come to hate me, but I’ll wait until the day you can forgive me.
Tap—
As those meaningful words came back to her, something bumped against her forehead.
When she looked up, the Emperor, whom she had bumped into, was looking down at her with a somewhat complicated expression. Startled, Rachel hurriedly lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I was lost in thought and—”
“No. After something like this, it’s only natural that you’re confused. Take the Ingrave family’s carriage. I think that would be better.”
“……Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor boarded the carriage with its crest concealed. Rachel swallowed a sigh and approached the Ingrave family’s carriage waiting to one side.
Her mind was in turmoil. Not only had she rejected the Emperor’s advances, but the issue of her supernatural ability had suddenly come to light as well.
“And you’re back?”
“……Yes.”
She passed Becky, who had come out to greet her, and climbed into the carriage. Above all else, she needed to deal with the issue of her supernatural ability first.
And of all people, Sein Marcus had targeted her—
“……”
‘Could it have been intentional?’
Sein Marcus was definitely connected to Aisha Labelyn.
He was her teacher and friend, and according to the “Records,” their relationship would even develop into something more complicated in the future.
‘You can’t assume everything will happen the same way as in that life.’
In that life, Aisha Labelyn had also been known as a gentle and delicate person.
Rachel didn’t know whether her personality had always been like that or whether it had changed because her relationship with the Emperor had changed.
‘She destroyed a dress shop with magic.’
“……Sigh.”
The carriage left the Easton residence and soon reached the Imperial Palace, stopping at the southern side of the Sun Palace, where the Grand Assembly Hall was located.
“My lady.”
“……”
After getting out of the carriage, Rachel watched as the Emperor, who had stepped out ahead of her, gave some instructions to the chief attendant.
Then she slowly walked to the end of the corridor, where she could see the Grand Assembly Hall. This place was still the same.
The ceiling rose to an incredible height, and ancient myths covered the entire walls.
Even the gold reliefs extending along the corridor were enough to overwhelm anyone who set foot there.
“Is this your first time in the Grand Assembly Hall?”
“……”
Rachel glanced at the Emperor, who had approached without her noticing, then lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
“I see. It wouldn’t hurt to see it at least once. Shall we go?”
He raised his hand, then—
Lowered it again a moment later before striding ahead. Rachel quietly followed him. She tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but she couldn’t help slowing down at certain moments.
Rumble—
At last, the doors to the Grand Assembly Hall opened. Rachel briefly held her breath at the sight before her.
Then she followed the Emperor inside. The Imperial Throne stood atop a high flight of steps, and a red carpet stretched from it all the way to the entrance.
Sunlight poured through the round glass ceiling, while the Imperial Guards stood lined up on either side.
The familiar sight sometimes felt as if it were squeezing the breath out of her. She barely managed to stop in front of the steps when the Emperor’s low voice fell over her.
“Come up.”
“……”
She stepped onto the red carpet again. Just as her view gradually began to change and she felt herself able to breathe more freely—
The Emperor gestured to the spot beside him on the throne.
It was the place where Nathan Valencia had once stood.
Standing there, she turned around and could see the entire hall at a glance. The Emperor rested his arm on the armrest of the throne, propped his cheek on his hand, and slowly parted his lips.
“I understand your feelings now, my lady. You dislike me because I remind you of someone you deeply resent.”
“……”
“From my point of view, it’s deeply unfair, since I’m not that person. So I can’t accept you rejecting me for that reason. You need to look at me, not him, and—”
For a moment, her eyes met the violet gaze directed at her.
“……Make your judgment after you recognize that I’m different from him. Until then, I won’t accept your rejection.”
But they were the same person, after all.
After blinking quietly, Rachel lowered her head.
“Yes, I understand.”
“……”
The Emperor turned his gaze forward again. The brief sign of wavering in his eyes had vanished without a trace.
Perhaps worrying about being punished wasn’t her biggest concern right now.
If the Emperor had no intention of accepting any kind of rejection—
“……”
Rachel had unconsciously clasped her hands together when a servant standing by the entrance called out loudly.
“Your Majesty. Count Hailon Waker, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Mage Corps, and Sein Marcus, Archmage of the Magic Tower, have arrived.”
“Let them in.”
Rachel had wondered why Deputy Commander Hailon had disappeared at some point. It seemed he had gone to fetch Sein Marcus himself.
Rumble—
The doors opened, and Hailon Waker and Sein Marcus entered. The deputy commander of the Imperial Mage Corps stepped aside beside the carpet.
Meanwhile, Sein Marcus approached the steps and knelt on one knee.
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