“……I’m not really keen on it, but.”
If she didn’t want to be misunderstood, she should accept the invitation.
After letting out a brief sigh, Rachel reluctantly picked up her quill.
「Yes. Now that I think about it, there were things we needed to discuss. I’ll gladly attend, if only to celebrate your achievement, Princess.」
As she sealed the letter, Rachel asked Becky,
“What happened to the mana stabilizers and magic tools I asked you to find earlier?”
“We found them. I received word that they’ll arrive in the capital soon.”
“That’s good.”
After someone had tampered with the barrier around her estate, she had no choice but to take precautions.
He must have been involved in the attempt to assassinate the Emperor.
Perhaps things hadn’t gone his way, and he had developed a grudge against her.
In any case, she had obtained mana stabilizers and magic tools that could work even against an Archmage, so she wouldn’t be killed easily.
If something like that did happen, her <Regression> ability might activate.
“To the Labelyn residence.”
“Yes, Miss.”
A few days after accepting the invitation,
Rachel headed to the Labelyn ducal residence to attend the party. Just in case, she had brought mana stabilizers and defensive magic tools with her.
Like the other ducal residences, the Labelyn residence was located close to the Imperial Palace. It seemed that nearly every noble family had been invited. As her carriage approached the estate, the road grew more and more crowded with carriages. Just then, she caught sight of a familiar crest.
A golden ring, with a dragon coiled at its center.
It was the Valencia family crest. Was Nathan Valencia attending, too?
Of course, it was a major achievement for the only princess of the Labelyn family to reach the highest tier, and rumors were spreading that she would soon become the heir to the Labelyn family.
But it doesn’t seem like something important enough for the duke himself to attend.
“…….”
Rachel naturally thought of Sein Marcus, who was still staying at the Labelyn residence. She had brought mana stabilizers and magic tools just in case, but she couldn’t deny that having a swordsman who had reached the highest level nearby would make her feel safer.
Besides, if Nathan Valencia had started to grow suspicious, perhaps Sein Marcus would be stopped before he caused a series of incidents this time.
“……That sounds like a really good future.”
“…….”
Becky, who was already used to her mistress talking to herself, didn’t react at all.
Soon, it was the Easton family’s turn. When the carriage door opened and Rachel followed the butler toward the residence, the distinctive black rose decorations of the Labelyn family caught her eye.
The Labelyn family, which had produced countless Archmages and top-tier mages through their <Mana> ability, had long been famous as the Grim Reaper of the battlefield.
That was why the family’s symbol was the black rose, representing death and despair.
Just as Rachel arrived at the entrance—
“Acting Marquis.”
“Princess Aisha.”
Aisha Labelyn, who had been welcoming the guests who arrived before her, approached Rachel. As Rachel returned her greeting, she narrowed her eyes slightly without making it obvious.
Something feels……
The princess didn’t look well. Her face was still radiant and beautiful, but the area beneath her eyes seemed a little dark.
Just then, the princess smiled brightly.
“Why? Is there something on my face, Acting Marquis?”
“No. It’s just that you’re beautiful as always, Princess.”
“Ahaha, so are you, Acting Marquis.”
Aisha Labelyn stepped closer and whispered softly in Rachel’s ear with a smile.
“What do you think? I’ve reached the seventh tier now. I’m a top-tier mage. Does that show you how determined I am? I really pushed myself after hearing your advice last time.”
“…….”
Rachel suddenly remembered the banquet held to celebrate the peace agreement with the Borza Kingdom. Back then, she had said—
—Did you really think it would be easy to approach a man who wanted another woman? I’m actually disappointed in you, Princess. I never thought your determination would amount to so little.
—Please try harder, Princess. Otherwise, I might become the Empress. You wouldn’t want to see that happen, would you?
……When Aisha had come to blame her for the Emperor refusing to see her, Rachel had provoked her like that.
Is she throwing my words back at me?
She had seemed quite shocked at the time.
Apparently, she’d kept those words in mind. The unfortunate part was that Rachel had already settled things with the Emperor.
For now, Rachel congratulated her on her achievement.
“You must have worked hard. You’ve become a top-tier mage in just a few months. His Majesty will surely pay much more attention to you now.”
“Hehe, you think so, too, right? Ah, let’s talk more about it later. I’ll send a maid to fetch you.”
With a bright smile, the princess wrapped up their conversation and left to greet another guest.
This was the first time Rachel had seen her act so boastfully.
Whether her personality has changed or her true nature is showing, it doesn’t matter.
She had no reason to spend time with the princess anymore, so it made no difference to her.
“Announcing the arrival of Acting Marquis Rachel Ingrave.”
Just as the servant made the announcement and Rachel entered the first-floor hall—
“Acting Marquis Rachel!”
“……Ah.”
She was immediately surrounded by nobles. Come to think of it, this was her first social event since the Marquis and Marchioness Ingrave had fallen from power.
“Acting Marquis, how can you never attend a single gathering? Do you know how many invitations I’ve sent you?”
“I’m sorry, Lady Axel. There have been so many incidents lately that I wanted to take a little break.”
“It’s been a long time, Acting Marquis. It’s so hard to see you these days.”
“Oh my, Acting Marquis! So you came to this party, after all?”
Rachel calmly dealt with the nobles crowding around her while looking around the hall. Contrary to her worries, Sein Marcus was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Nathan Valencia.
I’m sure I saw the Valencia family crest earlier.
Had she been mistaken?
She wanted to look around more carefully, but—
“Acting Marquis.”
“Yes, Countess.”
It was her first social event in two or three months, and with her meeting with the Emperor also tied to it, Rachel couldn’t easily escape the nobles. Besides, only a month ago, the Emperor had sent the deputy commander of the Imperial Mage Corps to resolve the problem with the barrier around her estate.
As a result, rumors had recently begun spreading that Rachel was going to become the Empress, causing quite a commotion.
The excitement only died down after Aisha Labelyn stepped onto the platform.
Clink—
The princess lightly tapped her wineglass to draw everyone’s attention, then began her banquet speech.
“Thank you all for attending today to celebrate my achievement in reaching the highest tier. I’m especially delighted that His Majesty the Emperor has even sent the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Household Department to this small banquet to personally offer his congratulations.”
The Deputy Minister of the Imperial Household Department stepped forward and bowed.
Since the Imperial Household Department handled the Imperial Family’s official affairs, it was clear that the Emperor was paying attention to Aisha Labelyn, who had reached the highest tier in such a short time.
Rachel could hear the nobles around her whispering softly.
“Does this mean he separates public matters from private ones?”
“Perhaps His Majesty is still putting off his choice between Princess Labelyn and the acting marquis—”
“Shh, the acting marquis might hear you.”
“…….”
After continuing with a few more words of greeting, the princess introduced Sein Marcus.
“And now, I’d like to formally introduce my master, who is also a dear friend of mine. I’m sure many of you have heard of him. He earned the title of the youngest Archmage at the age of thirteen.”
A moment later, light flashed on the platform, and Sein Marcus appeared as if he had used teleportation magic.
Rachel had thought he wasn’t coming today.
It seemed he had been waiting somewhere else for a dramatic entrance.
“Allow me to introduce Lord Sein Marcus, the Archmage of the Magic Tower.”
“Greetings. I am Sein Marcus, an Archmage.”
The appearance of such a young Archmage from a noble family caused another stir in the hall.
The nobles were excited to have an unexpected opportunity to build a relationship with an Archmage, and they began talking eagerly.
“Marcus? I’ve heard that name before. Wasn’t it a count’s family belonging to the Kingdom of Keizar?”
“They were a family descended from a fallen royal house. Oh, I heard that their residence was attacked by unknown assailants long ago and burned down, with only one direct descendant surviving. I suppose that’s him.”
“Oh, isn’t he the one who placed a magic circle that consumed supernatural power on the Easton estate as a favor—”
“…….”
As Rachel listened to the nobles whispering, she lowered her gaze to avoid meeting Sein’s eyes.
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