Chapter 3: Founding Anniversary Festival (5)

Chloe was slightly surprised by the unexpectedly serious voice. The face confronting her with shame showed signs of anxiety.

‘No wonder her gaze was strangely favorable.’

So, she admired mages.

Usually, people feel a sense of distance first, but this was unexpected.

Chloe found the Princess intriguing. Unlike the Crown Prince’s desire for talent, there was a different kind of thirst reflected in her eyes.

Ignoring the nobles who were murmuring about the unexpected development, the earnest gaze directed solely at her seemed desperate.

That must mean she really likes mages…

“Aren’t you angry that I took Tess from you?”

No matter how favorable her impression of mages was, how could she say such a thing to a rival?

The Princess shrugged her shoulders at the obvious question.

“I can’t say he was taken from me when he was never mine to begin with. Besides, why would I dislike having a high-ranking mage come to the Empire?”

Helena recalled her past entanglements with Tehis Escalante.

First, their initial meeting. The teenage boy who suffered many injustices within the Imperial Knights had lifeless eyes, even to her younger self. She was only ten years old at the time, so she later learned that it was her father who was tormenting him.

It was also the Emperor who summoned him to the capital during the war to make him do all kinds of dirty work, spread malicious rumors, and promoted Escalante from Duke to Grand Duke as a trap.

One, he dumped all troublesome territories near the North onto him. Two, he used the pretext of a hollow promotion to deny him any real rewards. Three, he increased the number of soldiers under his command but essentially put a leash on him. Four, he removed the checkpoints at the warp gate.

Helena was horrified to see her kind father offering invisible poison to Tehis. When she asked why, he never answered any questions related to Escalante.

Unable to accept the unjust treatment, she chose to help the Grand Duke in her own way rather than directly opposing the Emperor’s will.

Thinking her father might be lenient if it was someone his daughter liked, she began to approach him whenever she had a chance. He was a decent man in terms of looks, background, and ability, so she thought it would be good to marry him.

But she never expected him to avoid her with such distaste.

She was just Helena Harpeon, the most noble lady on the continent and the number one bride-to-be, receiving countless marriage proposals every year.

Tehis’s continued rejection, when no one had ever pushed her away before, was shocking. It was both absurd and infuriating.

She never imagined it would look like the enemy’s daughter was toying with him, so she scoffed at the baseless rejections.

At some point, she was determined to marry him out of sheer stubbornness, thinking he would eventually be grateful to her.

Then came the fateful day.

Helena was taken aback by Tehis’s sudden talk of love.

<Love? You? Grand Duke, don’t you think that’s too obvious a lie?>

She had been pursuing him for over a year. Knowing he hadn’t been seeing anyone, it was a ridiculous excuse to suddenly claim he was in love.

It would be fortunate if he wasn’t being used by a gold-digger.

Considering his notorious reputation, she couldn’t imagine a normal woman would attach herself to him. It was likely someone ruthless enough to risk death for money or power.

She felt a crisis that the North of Superia might waver if left alone.

When Helena, driven by her duty as a royal, was about to forcibly proceed with the marriage, someone appeared. Emerging from the dressing room as if she had just caused trouble, she shamelessly displayed affection with the Grand Duke.

A woman who possessed all the qualities he had once mentioned as his preference. A high-ranking mage whose identity she later discovered.

It was Chloe.

‘It was really shocking back then.’

Helena suppressed a laugh that nearly escaped. She held Chloe’s hand and conveyed her sincere feelings.

“Chloe, the North is struggling a lot. My father ruined it out of personal feelings, but I don’t want to see Escalante fall. After all, isn’t it part of the Empire that Crown Prince Kaishan will rule in the future? Your help is greatly needed. Please take good care of the Grand Duke.”

Chloe looked into her clear sky-blue eyes and then glanced at Tehis. He seemed stiffened by the Princess’s sincerity, which he was hearing for the first time.

‘Maybe we need to revise the contract……?’

Helena seemed more reasonable than expected. In hindsight, it appeared her marriage proposal was for Escalante’s sake.

Chloe roughly grasped the Princess’s character. Though her tone was still condescending, she didn’t seem as arrogant as previously thought. If she had grown up as the beloved youngest of the royal family, it was understandable that she spoke bluntly without considering others’ feelings.

‘She’s still young.’

In this case, she was rather cute. Chloe turned her gaze to Helena, who was swallowing nervously.

As long as Helena hadn’t directly harmed her, there was room for improving their relationship. Chloe wasn’t the type to hold grudges, and there was no reason to speak ill to someone who wanted to befriend her.

However, the situation and their relationship were ambiguous.

‘I need to discuss this with the Grand Duke.’

After pondering briefly, Chloe spoke before it was too late.

“Since the Princess has said so……”

Crash!

“Ugh……!”

“Ahhh!!”

An Imperial Knight crashed through the low window of the banquet hall, rolling on the floor. Someone’s scream echoed through the hall at the sight of his bloodied appearance.

The soft music stopped, and the nobles murmured while the injured knight shouted.

“Everyone, calm down! There is an attack, but it’s safer inside than outside!”

“Who’s behind this?”

The Grand Duke, who had briefly glanced at Chloe and the Princess, approached the knight and asked. The knight felt relieved at the presence of the Empire’s most skilled warrior.

“We don’t know their identity. They are a group of assassins in black robes, ugh…… We confirmed that there are also dark mages among them.”

Dark mages?

Tehis and Chloe’s eyes met for a moment. Before they could say anything, several more windows shattered.

“The Princess is over there!”

“Capture her!”

“Protect the Princess!!”

It had been noisy outside, and now the black-robed attackers had entered the building. The sound of the battle outside, previously unheard due to the soundproof nature of the ballroom, now came through the broken windows.

In the chaotic hall, Imperial Knights who followed the assassins focused on protecting the Princess. The knight who had first entered tried to join but collapsed, clutching his injured leg.

“Damn it……!”

“Hand over your sword.”

Before the man could respond, Tehis took his sword and joined the knights.

Buzz-.

The aura that clearly emanated from the sword neatly cut through one of the black figures. The Grand Duke, brushing off the splattering blood, deflected a dagger aimed at his side and took another life.

“Is it the Red Griffin Knights?”

“Yes, Your Highness. The Blue Wyverns, gasp! followed His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Tehis clicked his tongue inwardly. He had heard the Emperor was poisoned, and now everything was in chaos.

‘They seem to have prepared thoroughly.’

He was uneasy about not seeing the mentioned dark mage. If, as he suspected, Lucas was among them, it could put him in a very difficult position.

A terrorist attacking the palace on the founding anniversary is a friend of the Grand Duke’s lover.

Chloe might be able to explain, but knowing the Emperor, it wouldn’t be surprising if he pointed a sword at him without hesitation.

‘I need to gain as much merit as possible now.’

Narrowing his eyes, Tehis gripped the sword at an angle and fully activated his internal aura. Though it wasn’t his usual sword, it was more than enough to deal with the attackers.

Taking small breaths, he moved at high speed, slashing his sword, and blood splattered with each swing.

Behind the brutal scene, Helena pulled Chloe’s hand and moved back.

“Just in case, I’m asking, but can you help?”

“You know we avoid conflicts.”

“Even when your lover is in danger?”

“He seems to be handling it well to me.”

Helena groaned at Chloe’s calm response. She couldn’t refute the rapidly decreasing number of attackers.

Regretting missing the chance to witness the high-ranking mage’s skills firsthand, Helena smacked her lips. The banquet hall shook with a thud, startling her.

Whatever was happening outside, the repeated noise caused cracks in the walls.

“T-the building!”

“Ahhh……! Move away!!”

Panic-stricken nobles screamed and rushed towards the door. When the door burst into flames, they screamed again and retreated in a frenzy.

Chloe shook her head at their chaotic behavior. She understood their fear, but they seemed pathetic for leaders of the Empire.

“Everyone, quiet!! How long do you plan to run around aimlessly!”

Thus, Helena’s action of shouting with aura imbued in her voice surprised Chloe. She knew the Princess used a sword, but she hadn’t known she could wield aura to such an extent or that she would step forward like this.

Watching with interest, Chloe saw Helena extend an arm towards the window and command with charisma.

“Once the attackers are dealt with, we will exit through the windows! Everyone, act orderly! Red Griffins, finish off the remnants quickly and assist the nobles’ escape!”

“Yes, Your Highness!!”

Chloe witnessed the pride on the faces of the knights who answered in unison. Their pride in the one they served was palpable, and it slightly surprised her.

‘Indeed, they say the Empire is about to enjoy its greatest golden age.’

Even considering the Crown Prince, she hadn’t expected the haughty Princess to possess such leadership.

Well, if it’s capable arrogance, it’s no wonder she’s loved. Nodding lightly, Chloe saw the Grand Duke walking toward her, covered in blood.

She could feel the murderous aura gradually subsiding.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Aren’t I supposed to ask you that?”

“They were only mid-level experts at best.”

That’s equivalent to an Imperial Knight, isn’t it?

Chloe checked Tehis again. He didn’t seem injured, but she understood why it took so long to deal with the assassins.

“Anyway, you did well. We should start preparing to leave too……”

“Chloe!”

She didn’t immediately grasp the situation.