I Have No Intention Of Training The Male Leads - Chapter 12 Part 6

12. The Rough Emperor, the Anxious Grand Duke, and the Nobles Who Are Watching Them (6)

Translated by: ???

“Your Majesty, it may be taxing for you to walk.”

“Your Majesty, I will assist you.”

With eyes unfocused and muttering incomprehensible curses, the Emperor, who had been throwing everything in his grasp haphazardly, looked at the faces of the two women who gently held his arms. He took deep breaths and gradually regained his composure.

A tense silence settled like ice on a frozen lake. With bloodshot eyes and a flicker of recognition, the man turned to his daughter, who was supporting him, and slowly started walking as she led the way.

Eve felt as if she briefly met Amelia’s eyes, supporting the Emperor. For a fleeting moment, their gazes seemed to meet, but the princess quickly averted her head.

The Emperor left the banquet hall with Princess Amelia by his side. The atmosphere in the hall was icy, and only a chilling silence lingered. The musicians, who had stopped playing long ago, exchanged glances, unsure whether to resume the performance or not.

After wiping his face with a napkin and pushing his wet hair back, Edward, with a seemingly innocent smile, ordered to continue the banquet along with his apology, making it hard to believe that he had just suffered unreasonable violence.

The band, belatedly awakened by Edward’s mellow voice, began playing a gentle ensemble, and the frozen crowd managed to force a smile and started to move their utensils.

However, the atmosphere had already been shattered long ago. Due to the wine being spilled, Edward, who quickly left to change, was replaced by Lady Elizabeth and the Second Prince to continue the banquet.

However the atmosphere in the banquet hall couldn’t flow as smoothly as before, as the event was headed by the concubine who was not even the empress, and was seen as a breach of tradition by a few aristocrats who couldn’t help but feel offended.

After a while, Edward returned to pacify the nobles once again, but it was already after a bucket of ice water had been poured. As the servants hurriedly rearranged the table, Edward’s face showed the same gentle smile he had before receiving the wine baptism. However, in that situation, there was no one else besides the crown prince himself who could genuinely laugh so freely.

One of the main events of the game ended up in complete chaos. Of course, Eve had no intention of leading her life according to the original storyline, but she didn’t wish for it to turn into such a mess.

Avoiding William’s cold gaze occasionally darting in her direction, Eve forcefully spooned a scoop of apricot sherbet into her mouth for dessert and swallowed a deep sigh.

In conclusion, the banquet was a complete disaster. There was no way to salvage it.

?

“So it wasn’t just a baseless rumor that the Archduke went mad.”

Alberic and Eve, who were called to Edward’s private office shortly after the banquet, bowed to Edward, who was waiting for the two, sitting cross-legged on the guest sofa in the office.

After exchanging brief greetings, Edward gestured for them to sit comfortably. However, with a slight frown, he mumbled to himself as if speaking to his thoughts.

“He acted as if he was deliberately trying to provoke the Emperor. What kind of scheme is this?”

“Did you see the expression on his aide’s face?”

“Exactly. He looked paler than a freshly made sheet of paper.”

Eve could not bring herself to tell the two men who were speculating about the reason why William had ?gone mad? that it seemed to be because the Archduke’s soul had been replaced, so she quietly observed the maid pouring tea into the cup.

“By the way.”

As Eve raised the teacup filled with black tea to her lips, Edward’s gaze turned towards her.

“I think the young lady has a lot to tell me. Don’t you think so?”

“Pardon?”

“I ordered surveillance, but I didn’t say to make contact.”

“… During my search for the Archduke, I happened to come across him, so I thought I would casually inquire if he had any plans to meet someone and then part ways.”

“But he didn’t let you go.”

“Yes.”

Of course, it was a lie. Everything, from the part about encountering him ?by chance?. From the very beginning of their encounter to the moment the man grabbed her, it was all calculated. Eve had wondered why he didn’t move according to the ?character setting?, so she needed to approach him in a way that wouldn’t raise suspicion and engage in conversation.

Eve pretended to look apologetic for not successfully carrying out the order, while the bluish glass-like eyes gazed at her, revealing nothing about what they were thinking.

“You said you went as far as the promenade leading to the detached palace. What did you talk about?”

Eve calmly tilted the teacup in her hand and took a sip. She was aware that there were eyes watching near the garden. However, she didn’t sense any surveillance as she entered the promenade shaded by tall trees. Perhaps the observer only saw her entering the path.

“It wasn’t anything special, just casual conversation.”

We just had a little chat about whether he’s attending the hunting event and some tips on handling a magic gun. Eve added with a composed expression. Then, as she turned her gaze, she locked eyes with Castel, who stood behind Edward like a shadow.

Consciously or desperately pretending not to know him, Eve’s eyes twitched with a hint of embarrassment, causing a slight shiver. Naturally, Castel’s pupils shifted away from Eve’s gaze, and his nape turned slightly red.

Edward, who had been stubbornly scrutinizing Eve, didn’t miss her subtle facial expressions. Observing Eve’s face like an emotionless doll, Edward suddenly softened his gaze and smiled gently.

“Come with me for a moment.”

Then, he unexpectedly requested a one-on-one meeting. For Eve, who remembered what had happened during their previous private meeting, it was not a pleasant request. Not to mention that Alberic’s face was tense with worry.

However, just because she felt disgusted, she couldn’t rebel against the command of a man who held the status of a crown prince. Eve mentally rehearsed the areas where she could strike without showing any outward signs, and then slowly rose from the sofa.

“Sir Castel, you shall remain in your position.”

With attendants and knights trailing behind them, the two entered a nearby empty room. Inside, they were greeted by the sight of a magnolia tree in full bloom and a portrait of a woman.

“Take a seat.”

Edward smoothly led Eve to a chair in the drawing room. Without much resistance, Eve sat on the chair as directed by the man, but she frowned slightly at his impolite attitude of sitting right next to her instead of going to the opposite side.

“Give me some space. You’re making me uncomfortable.”

After making sure that there were no eyes watching them, Eve moved her hips in irritation, creating some distance and settling down at a more comfortable distance from him. Edward chuckled softly at her actions and replied. 

“You’re quite particular about personal space.”

“It’s not just about personal space, it’s about manners, manners.”

“I heard you’re quite wild for someone who values etiquette.”

As Eve glared at Edward with her thorns raised, wondering why he was picking a fight with her again, the man continued in a relaxed manner.

“I heard you managed to resolve the case safely. You gallantly rode your horse and caught up with the carriage.”

“Well, yes.”

“The level of your swordsmanship is quite excellent.”

Eve’s mouth twitched. The suspicions she had been vaguely harboring about the man’s words were now confirmed. The reason why the investigative team assembled to solve the case was woefully under-staffed compared to the scale of the case, and why Castel himself, a ridiculously big shot for a ragtag group of investigators, was working with Eve. She had a hunch, and while it seemed unbelievable, he wasn’t particularly interested in resolving the case.

“Are you satisfied with the test results?”

“Well, I suppose.”

Edward’s eye smile, as if confirming her thought, deepened slightly. Eve felt a sense of restraint in the man’s smile, which shone nobly like a saint in a masterpiece painting.

Eve sighed deeply with a frustrated look on her face as she stared into empty space, and then turned around to the crown prince, who was staring intently, trying to gauge his intentions. Rather than confirming what she already suspected, Eve believed that shifting the topic and asking for new information would be more productive.

“Since we have this opportunity, let me ask something.”

“Hmm.” 

Edward replied with a light smile, nodding in approval. Confirming that the crown prince allowed her to ask questions, Eve slowly thought of a new topic, bringing up a book with a blue hardcover book bound.

“A god whose name was forgotten and a mana of nature that often appears in magic spells. It’s written in the same notation here, so it’s not a coincidence, right?”

“I expected you to ask about that first. Let me see… Do you know anything about the roots of magic?”

“No, I don’t. I haven’t studied magic, so I know nothing about it.”

“Only a few people know this now, but the origin of the present magicians are actually the priests of the creator god who have existed since ancient times. Originally, only the priests who worshiped the gods could tap into the blessings of the god of creation, connecting the natural mana and inherent human mana to manifest phenomena contrary to reality. Even now, many magicians themselves may not fully understand their roots, but some spells still retain the words for the god and priest because they tried to maintain their identity as priests.”

“Sacerdos…”