Chapter 92

I did some quick mental calculations before responding in disbelief.

“That can’t be true. No wizards haven’t been born into the royal family for long.”

Unlike a hundred years ago, people’s perception of magic has somewhat improved. But it was still far from being seen as a good thing.

Magic remained in the shadows, and wizards lived isolated, building their towers in remote, barren lands of the east.

Even though people enjoyed the benefits of magic, they still feared wizards. They believed that if a wizard ruled the country, everyone would fall prey to their dark schemes. Therefore, the Empress or royal consorts were always chosen from families where no wizards were ever born.

“If Princess Abigail is a wizard, there are only two possibilities: either Empress Seria’s family was secretly capable of producing wizards, or Princess Abigail is not a true descendant of the imperial family…”

But neither possibility seemed plausible. Empress Seria came from a noble bloodline and would never have borne a child with anyone other than the Emperor, especially considering her pride and honor.

Moreover, Princess Abigail bore a striking resemblance to Prince Cain and the Emperor, making it clear she was indeed part of the imperial family.

“Besides, the Emperor wouldn’t have let her roam so freely if she had any magical talent.”

The Emperor cherished Princess Abigail dearly, and considering her status, she enjoyed a surprising amount of freedom outside the palace. She had even visited the Duchy of Zan, quite far from the capital, with no apparent reason.

Julian patiently waited for me to organize my thoughts. When I finally looked up at him, he shared his own opinion.

“Princess Abigail takes after Empress Seria in her intelligence. Being highly protective of her two children, Seria would have noticed Abigail’s magical talent early on and managed it carefully, ensuring no one else found out.”

“It’s also possible her magical abilities manifested late.“

“In your previous life…”

Julian trailed off, hesitating to mention my life before the regression. He seemed reluctant to bring up the past.

I gently stroked Julian’s cheek, the smooth, clean-shaven one I always adored. With a satisfied expression, I whispered, telling him what he was curious to know.

“Princess Abigail’s identity as a wizard was never revealed. She kept to the shadows even more than she does now, so no one could have known.”

“You mean no one saw her as a threat.“

“If things had stayed that way, she might have become the Empress… and married you.”

The thought of Julian marrying Princess Abigail made me feel a bit down. But Julian shook his head.

“I wouldn’t have done it.“

“Why not?“

“If I had entered a political marriage with the imperial family, I would have lost control over the Duchy of Zan and my mother’s estate. I didn’t marry the Princess simply because the Emperor interfered. I wanted Zan to remain free, to act as I wished.”

Silence fell between us for a moment. Julian seemed to have something on his mind, and I wanted to hear it.

After a brief pause, Julian furrowed his brow slightly, as if embarrassed, before revealing a secret.

“That’s why I liked you.”

His words sent a wave of warmth through me, making me feel almost giddy. With a playful smile, I asked, “Because I’m so free-spirited?“

“Yes. The daughter of the Count of Winsley, who is loyal only to the imperial family, could choose the Emperor, and so could Zan, who is bound only to the imperial family. That’s why I liked you.”

As Julian spoke, he leaned closer to me. I followed his lead and lay back, supporting myself on one elbow while using my other hand to gently block his lips.

“No, not now.”

A hint of disappointment crossed Julian’s face. Perhaps it was because we had been apart for so long, but his affection had deepened.

To be honest, I had missed him just as much, and I was tempted to indulge in this and that with him, but…

“Tell me more about Princess Abigail.”

Julian didn’t press further. Instead, he supported my waist and helped me sit upright again. My chest brushed against his as I looked up.

“You said Princess Abigail is a wizard. How did you find out?“

“Viscount Lessa must have realized that aligning with us was his only way of survival. That’s why he brought these documents.”

Julian handed me a file detailing the quantities of magic stones sent to Ravi Tower. Even at a glance, it was clear the amount was enormous.

I sat up straight, tossing my hair over my shoulder as I scrutinized the document.

“They say the princess ordered it.“

“What could she possibly need so many magic stones for?“

“After recruiting a wizard from the Ravi Tower to investigate, we found a portal within the tower, and the Princess, along with a few wizards, has been regularly entering it. Of course, with the magic stones.“

“With the magic stones…”

I pulled my legs onto the sofa, hugging my knees. Why was Princess Abigail using a portal to transport the magic stones? Was she selling them to foreign countries to raise political funds? It was possible. The empire’s magic stones were high quality, and merchants constantly sought after them.

But for some reason, I felt there was a more important reason.

“She hasn’t shown up for a while, apparently.“

“That’s because she’s been keeping a low profile. She barely manages to attend meetings, so…”

But was that all?

Princess Abigail still attended meetings despite lying low because it was something she absolutely had to do.

So, the reason she no longer appeared at the tower was likely that it wasn’t something she had to do anymore—something necessary before but no longer is… It couldn’t be political funds.

“When did the princess stop appearing at the tower?”

Julian seemed to have been waiting for me to ask that question, immediately responding.

“After the monster subjugation began.”

My eyes widened, and Julian nodded. I muttered, considering the various possibilities.

“Magic stones… monsters… the portal… things that no longer need to be done…”

There was only one conclusion when I combined all the clues we had so far. This wasn’t just about political funds.

“It was Princess Abigail who summoned the monsters to the Riar Plains. She…”

I was about to finish my sentence when a sudden knock stopped me. My voice sharpened as I addressed the visitor.

“Who is it?“

“It’s Hella.“

“Oh, Hella. Just a moment!”

Julian disliked disturbances and wasn’t ready to reveal that his curse had been lifted to anyone yet. So, I waited until he put on his mask before speaking up.

“Come in.”

Hella quietly entered the room and knelt on one knee. I stood up and introduced her to Julian.

“This is Hella, who has been protecting me here. She also keeps an eye on me for my father. Though Hella would deny it.“

“…I do not, Your Grace.“

“Right?”

I said teasingly, then told Hella to stand up. She rose perfectly straightly, crossing her arms over her chest as she delivered her report.

“A dispute has broken out among the Winsley soldiers. Normally, I wouldn’t bother you with such a minor issue, but I believe it could affect morale, so I felt it necessary to inform you.”

“What happened?“

“Do you know the squire, Garon?”

I nodded immediately. He was a young man with flaming red hair, known for his bold nature and many accomplishments, someone even my father favored.

He had been a soldier in our family’s service since he was a boy and had recently earned the title of squire. Hearing that someone like him was involved in a fight surprised me, but I kept my composure and asked.

“Garon? Who did he fight with?“

“Another squire, Mila. Mila is the most prominent figure, but it seems other squires and soldiers are also involved.“

“What? What on earth happened?”

I quickly put on my outer coat and stepped outside. Julian donned his cloak and followed behind me. Hella, walking slightly behind me to the side, continued her report.

“During the monster subjugation, there was a complicated creature. It was larger than a typical large monster but as fast as a smaller one. Garon claimed to have killed it and was praised greatly by the count. The count even promised to help him get promoted to knighthood once we returned. Garon has been proudly sharing the news.“

“And what’s the issue? Becoming a knight is a great honor, especially for Garon, given he’s of common birth.“

“The problem is that Garon wasn’t alone when he took down that monster. Squire Mila and other soldiers were also present. Mila, unconscious from the monster’s attack, woke up today and immediately confronted him upon hearing that Garon was being promoted. She accused him of stealing all the credit.“

“And the truth is?“

“Truth be told, Garon is a skilled squire, but he’s not yet capable of taking down a large creature alone. However, since the creature appeared in a densely forested area, there aren’t any witnesses to confirm what happened.“

“I need to speak with both Garon and Mila.“

“Yes. Some soldiers are now talking about fairness, saying that this favoritism is unlike Count Winsley.“

“That can’t be. My father is a fair and just man. Either Garon or Mila has deceived him.“

“I believe that too, but the soldiers who aren’t close to the count seem to harbor resentment.“

“Hella, you’re right. This is directly affecting the morale of the soldiers. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

Hella smiled as she replied, “You’re most welcome.”

I immediately arranged a private meeting with Mila. She maintained an unwavering demeanor, insisting that she was telling the truth and that Garon was an astonishingly dishonorable man.

After an hour of conversation, I found no gaps in her story, and she felt no guilt.

Next, I entered the room where Garon was waiting to speak with me.

“Squire Garon.”

When I closed the door and called his name, Garon immediately dropped to his knees.

“Your Grace, please forgive me!”

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