Chapter 33

The following day, Ruben the secretary visited Ivailo’s office.

 

“Your Highness. I have contacted the mages and came to report on it.”

 

Less than 24 hours had passed since Ivailo had given the order. A rare action that pleased the secretary brought a smile to Ivailo’s lips.

 

“Good. It would have been nice if you had done this before.”

 

“I shall take my leave now for other duties.”

 

“Go on, Ruben.”

 

Ruben bowed his head and left the office. As he descended the stairs toward the secretarial office, his face was flushed with elation.

 

“I’ve been acknowledged by the Crown Prince for the first time…”

 

He had stayed up all night to contact the mages.

 

“If he wasn’t pleased, my head would surely have been severed…”

 

Ruben closed his eyes at the mere thought, then happily crinkled his eyes into a smile.

 

“This is how I should proceed from now on. Then my family will be safe.”

 

He didn’t mind the harsh words the Crown Prince directed at him. He could endure such humiliation for his family. He had to endure it to feed the family who depended on him.

 

‘If I don’t work diligently, I can’t protect my family.’

 

Even if his lord looked at him with pity, even if he suffered this wretched plight, everything was fine as long as his family was happy.

 

‘I must work hard so I’m not uselessly discarded.’

 

The fact that someone with such a weak disposition as himself ended up beside the Crown Prince was all thanks to that person. He wouldn’t resent it.

 

“I can become His Highness’s foot wiper.”

 

He believed he could do anything if it meant protecting his family. But then, Ruben suddenly closed his eyes and slumped down onto the stairs.

 

“I don’t want to go that far…”

 

While his family was his first priority, he didn’t want to work by abandoning his emotions and devaluing himself. He resented his family. He wished they weren’t looking up to him, the eldest son.

 

“…I’m afraid.”

 

The Crown Prince’s sharp gaze always terrified him. The harsh words were also truly frightening. It was difficult enduring the constant moments where he didn’t know when the blade would approach his neck. Ruben nervously felt his own throat.

 

“It’s okay for now, it’s okay… I’m alive.”

 

How long must he live in this condition? He wanted to put his letter of resignation on the desk and flee immediately. Tears welled up in Ruben’s eyes.

 

“Sob.”

 

He buried his face in his knees and was wiping his tears when he heard laughter from below.

 

“Hahaha.”

 

The reason the Crown Prince’s palace was always silent was because His Highness was sensitive to noise.

 

‘If His Highness hears that laughter…’

 

The sensitive Prince would immediately expel the servant who made the noise from the palace. Such incidents were common.

 

‘No.’

 

He had seen countless times how the fired servants struggled to find work and earn money. Ruben wiped his tears and headed towards the source of the laughter.

 

“Even though you know His Highness dislikes noise…”

 

He encountered the maids chatting with an unfamiliar man with amber hair.

 

“…Who are you?”

 

“Oh! You must be Secretary Ruben!”

 

Looking closer, the man was dressed as a butler.

 

“I’ve heard a lot about you! They say you are indispensable in this place!”

 

Ruben flinched, taken aback by Jaybil’s greeting.

 

“So, who are you?”

 

“Ah! I am Jaybil, the butler who will be working at the Second Prince’s Palace.”

 

Jaybil smiled brightly as he spoke to Ruben.

 

“You are the butler of His Highness, Prince Freyer…?”

 

Everyone in the know was aware that the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince was strained. Ruben was immediately wary of Jaybil.

 

“I took the wrong turn and coincidentally arrived here! But they told me this is the Crown Prince’s Palace. Hahaha.”

 

Jaybil smirked, looking around the palace, and whispered to Ruben.

 

“I heard from the staff here that working next to the Crown Prince means getting a hefty salary? I was wondering if there were any open positions.”

 

Jaybil purely looked around, his eyes sparkling.

 

‘Is he an idiot, or is he innocent?’

 

A brilliant idea flashed through Ruben’s mind.

 

‘If I can manipulate this person well, I can be recognized by the Crown Prince again…’

 

Ruben gave a meaningful smile and said to Jaybil.

 

“You wish to work in the Crown Prince’s Palace?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Then, shall we talk for a moment?”

 

 

***

 

 

“Your Highness. I’m back.”

 

Jaybil entered Freyer’s study, grinning widely.

 

“Did you successfully coax the secretary?”

 

“Of course. He was a simple-minded person, just as expected. He seemed to think a good opportunity had fallen into his lap rather than being wary of a stranger.”

 

Jaybil deliberately approached the secretary to gain knowledge of the Crown Prince’s movements. His smooth-talking, easygoing personality made it advantageous to lure the secretary.

 

“So, what did he ask of you?”

 

“He asked me to report on Your Highness, the Second Prince’s every move.”

 

Jaybil said, shrugging his hands and shoulders.

 

“He promised me a massive salary and a position as the Crown Prince’s butler if I did.”

 

He chose the method of approaching first before the Crown Prince could plant spies around him. Since he had leaked the information about the territory war, the Crown Prince was surely scrutinizing him with wide eyes.

 

“As expected.”

 

As Freyer nodded, Jaybil spoke up.

 

“But, Your Highness. The secretary muttered something strange.”

 

“?”

 

“He said that once the plan of His Highness is executed, he won’t have to suffer any longer.”

 

Freyer frowned.

 

“Plan?”

 

“Who do you think I am? Jaybil, the operations captain of Silvertone. I’m an expert in these matters.”

 

Jaybil smiled broadly and took an object out of his pocket.

 

“I found this in Secretary Ruben’s office.”

 

“A magic stone?”

 

It was an ordinary intermediate magic stone. Since magic tools were widely used, it wasn’t strange to possess a magic stone.

 

“It’s a very ordinary magic stone. But its origin is quite interesting.”

 

“?”

 

“You must know the figure named Gortu.”

 

“The Grand Merchant?”

 

“Yes. The Grand Merchant who presented an artifact with the traces of the Founding Emperor, and in return, received the concession to mine a magic stone mine.”

 

By Imperial Law, one needed to obtain a magic stone mining concession to mine a magic stone mine. The Concession was held by the Magic Tower, and the chance of a commoner possessing the authority was close to zero.

 

The magic stone mine was geographically difficult to find, so it was judged that the concession would be useless even if the Grand Merchant held it.

 

“Surely the Grand Merchant didn’t find the magic stone mine.”

 

“Yes. The Grand Merchant has begun mining the magic stone mine. And this magic stone is from that location.”

 

It was too coincidental to be a mere accident.

 

“The secretary added, ‘The magic stones sold by Grand Merchant Gortu are essential for the Hunting Festival.’”

 

An expression of doubt blossomed on Freyer’s face.

 

“The Imperial Treasury should have the highest-grade magic stones for the Hunting Festival, so why would the stones sold by that merchant be necessary?”

 

There were many uses for magic stones, such as for video orbs, storage tools, and boundary magic circles, so the Imperial Family reserved magic stones for the Hunting Festival, which they hosted.

 

“I looked into it with the Imperial Household’s Treasurer, and they said the Magic Department has no highest-grade magic stones, and the Crown Prince’s side has taken the purchase budget.”

 

Instead of the ailing Emperor, the Crown Prince’s side had the authority to prepare for this year’s Hunting Festival.

 

“It’s still strange. Even if that were the case, they could have sought help from the Magic Tower.”

 

Most mages with the ability to read mana could find magic stone mines, and in return for granting the concession, the Imperial Family received magic stones as tribute from the Magic Tower.

 

“Suspicious.”

 

“I think so too.”

 

“This magic stone is not ordinary.”

 

Freyer and Jaybil stared intently at the magic stone. Clearly, an unknown secret was hidden within it.

 

“A private auction by Grand Merchant Gortu is set to open in a few days.”

 

“We should check what kind of plot they are hatching.”

 

 

***

 

 

I buried my face on the desk in the merchant guild office, recalling yesterday’s events.

 

“Why did he have my garter belt…”

 

It was clear that the mistake of that night had unintentionally influenced Freyer. But he didn’t seem to know that the woman that night was me. Even so, I couldn’t be relieved. The reason he had the garter belt, whether positive or negative, was a problem. I lay my face on the desk and said.

 

“I must take this fact to my grave.”

 

Since he didn’t remember me, I had to keep it that way.

 

“It’s best to keep a distance.”

 

He might remember me if I stayed around him. I couldn’t let Freyer know that the owner of the garter belt was me.

 

If Freyer even hinted in front of Nazlee that I was the one-night stand. I felt dizzy.

 

“Nazlee would surely be disappointed.”

 

Currently, Nazlee and Freyer liked each other.

 

“I can’t be a stumbling block for them.”

 

Even if it was a mistake without true feelings, a person wouldn’t be pleased to have this kind of issue with someone they liked. All I wanted was a happy ending for Freyer and Nazlee.

 

“Please, just forget the garter belt girl from your memory. That way, I can be happy.”

 

I clasped my hands together and prayed. I vowed not to interfere between them any further.

 

Knock-Knock-

 

A knock sounded.

 

“Mistress, it’s Kenny! May I come in?”

 

I picked up the documents on my desk as if nothing was wrong and said.

 

“Yes! Come in.”

 

As soon as I spoke, Kenny entered the office, smiling brightly.

 

“What is it, Kenny?”

 

“The magic lamp in your office was flickering, so I thought it would be best to replace the magic stone!”

 

Kenny showed me the magic stone in her hand.

 

“I’ll replace it for you!”

 

Judging by the size, it was an ordinary low-grade magic stone. But I felt a sense of déjà vu upon seeing this magic stone.

 

“The color of the stone…”

 

Unlike the usual violet color, it was a unique stone, white with a blue glow.

 

“They say high-purity magic stones have this kind of glow!”

 

Watching Kenny with a rapturous smile, my face gradually hardened.

 

“Kenny. Where did you get this magic stone?”

 

I asked, hoping she hadn’t gotten it from the place I suspected. Kenny opened her mouth, smiling brightly.

 

“Do you know about Grand Merchant Gortu, who recently came to the capital? He opened a stall in front of the merchant guild and was selling low-grade magic stones for 1 silver coin!”

 

As soon as I heard the Grand Merchant’s name, I closed my eyes tightly.

 

“It costs 1.6 times more if you buy it from the Magic Tower. It was so incredibly cheap that I bought it! But Mistress, why are you doing that?”

 

Kenny asked in a worried tone at my reaction. I wanted to scream, demanding she hand over the magic stone immediately.

 

“My eyes are just a little tired.”

 

“It’s because you’ve been looking at documents in the dark! I’ll quickly replace the magic lamp for you.”

 

“No. Give it to me. I’ll replace the magic lamp.”

 

I extended my hand towards Kenny.

 

“I can do it…”

 

“Kenny, you must be busy, I can handle this much.”

 

Kenny handed the magic stone she was holding to me, and I snatched it up.

 

“Thank you for even worrying about this, Kenny.”

 

“It’s what I should be doing! I’ll be leaving now, Mistress!”

 

“Okay!”

 

As soon as Kenny left the room with a cheerful smile, I tapped the magic stone with my fingernail.

 

With a small impact, a crack formed, and the white, blue-glowing magic stone instantly lost its light.

 

“The episode where Freyer gets hurt has returned after all.”

 

I ground my teeth, looking at the magic stone that had turned gray.