Behind the Scenes II
A FEW DAYS after Sei joined Grand Magus Drewes to see a play, Johan, the head researcher at the Research Institute of Medicinal Flora, heard a certain rumor. Johan distanced himself from high society, so the rumor had to be rather significant to reach his ears.
The rumor pertained to Sei. It said that Sei and Grand Magus Drewes had swiftly become intimate.
The rumor stemmed from the events that had occurred when Sei went to see a play in the capital a few days prior. Yuri had invited her, and they had become drawn into a conversation during the performance.
The people who saw them had begun to speculate wildly about their relationship. Those who heard the tale had embellished the story, and it had continued to spread as a rumor. The rumors varied a great deal, with some saying that the two were simply good friends, while others said it wouldn’t be long before their engagement was announced. What all the rumors had in common was the claim that the Saint and the grand magus were very close indeed.
When these whispers reached Johan’s ears, he thought, I could have told you this would happen.
Johan had predicted this rumor would pick up as soon as Sei told him that she was going to the theater with Yuri.
I thought it was odd that the marquis had given the tickets to Yuri of all people, Johan pondered as he filled out documents in his office.
When he heard the gossip being circulated in the corridors of the palace, he thought back to what Sei had said when she told him she was going: that Yuri had invited her because none of his family members could go even though they had tickets.
This claim had immediately aroused Johan’s suspicions.
Yuri was exclusively interested in magic. He never wasted his time doing something that had nothing to do with the arcane. He even had his second-in-command acting as a secretary and doing his paperwork so he could better focus on his research. He simply wasn’t the kind of person who would go to the theater just because his family had given him tickets.
Furthermore, Marquis Drewes wasn’t the kind of man to act on his emotions; he was a logical fellow who was careful with every resource. He certainly wasn’t the sort of person who would let premium box seat tickets for a popular play in the capital go to waste.
Nevertheless, the marquis had given the tickets to Yuri, who very likely would have let those tickets molder in a corner. Then Yuri, who ordinarily would not have gone to the theater, had invited Sei to join him. The intersection of two unlikely events made it difficult to believe that there was no ulterior motive.
Johan believed that ulterior motive was these rumors in themselves. I suspect the marquis aims to have them wed.
It was easy to imagine why Marquis Drewes had spread the rumors if one considered the situation they had brought about.
As the Saint, Sei was of a rank equal to that of the king, so the palace was being careful in its selection of her future spouse. They were behaving no differently than parents of a noble house selecting a spouse for their daughter. However, in Sei’s case, they were prioritizing her personal feelings, so her closeness with a person contributed a great deal to the likelihood of their selection.
Naturally, if there were rumors that Yuri had grown intimate with Sei, his name would rise to the top of the list of potential matches. At present, Knight Commander Albert of the Knights of the Third Order claimed that spot for himself. Johan believed that Marquis Drewes was trying to manipulate the situation in his favor and steal Albert’s natural advantage.
Although Yuri was adopted, he was part of the marquis’s house and of good parentage. He was even the grand magus of the Royal Magi Assembly—the foremost position in his field. He was furthermore close in age to Sei, so no one would be surprised to see him become the most favored candidate if he grew closer with her.
But rumors are just that—rumors. And I doubt Sei feels that way about Yuri.
Johan believed that even if Yuri rose to the top of the list, Albert wouldn’t be toppled. After all, Albert was the only person for whom Sei had romantic feelings. Sei never voiced them out loud, but it was obvious in her behavior toward Albert.
Besides, Johan had heard a rundown of the real events of that night at the theater from Sei herself. It might have looked like she and Yuri were having an intimate discussion, but nothing romantic had transpired, nor had there been any talk of engagement. People were just inventing entirely made-up nonsense and running their mouths.
Nevertheless, he worried what his friend might think when he heard the rumors.
Johan sighed as he finished the final document. “Sorry for the wait,” he said to the attendant he had summoned.
“Did you need something, sir?”
Johan divided the documents based on their destination, then he instructed the attendant to deliver them where they needed to go.
“What about this one, sir?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll bring it myself.”
The document by Johan’s hand was to be submitted to the Knights of the Third Order. Ordinarily, he would have asked the servant to take it as well, but this time, he decided not to. He would deliver it himself so that he could check on Albert.
“Very well, sir.”
Johan did occasionally transport important documents himself, so the servant accepted his decision without comment and left the room.
After the servant was gone, Johan picked up the document and stood.
“It’s Valdec, from the Research Institute of Medicinal Flora. Is Sir Hawke in?” Johan asked the knight standing in front of the door to Albert’s office. He had come unannounced, so he wasn’t sure his friend was available.
“My apologies, but he has yet to return from the training grounds.”
The way the knight phrased that made it sound like Albert was overdue and that he would arrive very soon. “I see,” said Johan. “Would it be all right if I waited for him?”
“Indeed. In that case—oh, sir!”
Just then, Albert appeared. He was a little ways away, but Albert broke out in a grin when he recognized his friend. He raised a hand in greeting and seemed to be acting like his usual self.
I thought the rumors might have depressed him, but it seems I didn’t need to worry. Johan gave Albert a crooked smile as he raised a hand in turn. Perhaps he was being overprotective.
“What brings you here today?” Albert asked as he approached Johan, still smiling.
“There’s something I’d like to address personally.” Johan raised the document in his hand. Albert likely assumed that it was something important, just as the servant had.