Facing my office desk, I found myself completely lost in thought. This was the place I could concentrate best, after all. The reports detailing specific duties from almost all the ministries had been handed in. Regrettably, the Ministry of General Affairs had yet to submit one. I knew it would come in late, since the minster wasn’t cooperative.
I got busy comparing the ministries’ reports to the one from Gilbert and his students. It was pretty much as I expected. As for any discrepancies, I’d have the students of each ministry reassess the necessary tasks and personnel. And once that was ready, I’d begin negotiations with the ministries to reduce the excess staff.
A knock at the door snapped me back to the present. I granted permission to enter, and the marquess walked inside.
I immediately used Heart Realm on the maid beside me: “Don’t listen to our conversation.”
Her face slackened, and she stood in a daze. Satisfied, I turned back to my guest.
The marquess’s gaze rested on the maid, and he smiled. “As always, your magic is versatile.”
“Did you come here just to flatter me?”
“No. I will be returning to my region, so I’m here to bid you farewell.”
“Knowing you, I’m sure you heard about Lord Slade’s arrival and thought this was a good opportunity to visit.”
If this marquess was the only one to visit me, suspicions might arise that we were conspiring together. However, now that another marquess was in the capital, it wouldn’t seem unnatural for him to come.
“You guessed correctly, Your Majesty.”
“So, what’s the real reason for your visit?”
“I’m simply here to inquire about your well-being. Especially your condition.”
“Ha ha ha! My condition, really?”
“No one said you collapsed, but you did summon the Sacred Swords. Given your history, of course I’d be concerned about your health.”
“True enough. Anyone who knew about my mana veins might worry. But there’s no need for that. As you just saw, I can use my magic without issue.”
“It certainly seems so… It was worth waiting until you acquired the crown.”
My mana veins were fragile, though I wasn’t sure whether it was due to my previous injury or because I used Heart Realm too often.
I had lied to the marquess in the past, but even now I sometimes experienced pain similar to what I felt in my childhood. Had I summoned the Sacred Swords before I took the crown during my coronation, I probably would’ve collapsed afterward. Few people knew this, but the crown was an artifact that lessened the burden of summoning the swords.
My body, with its delicate mana veins, could not handle the full power of all the Sacred Swords without the crown, even though I possessed enough magic to summon them. That was why I’d hidden my abilities beneath my Doll Princess persona, patiently waiting for the coronation.
“Even though you’ve acquired the crown, please do not heavily rely on the swords. They consume a significant amount of mana. I doubt your body can handle it for too long.”
“What are you implying, Marquess?”
“Wouldn’t it be wise for you to undo the magic on Wilhelm Radford?”
I sucked in a breath. “I don’t understand.”
“You stabbed him with the Sacred Sword of Love to save him, didn’t you?”
I stared at the marquess, silently urging him to continue.
“All the swords are double-edged—capable of both good and evil. That is the nature of the sword passed down in my family. The Sacred Sword of Love adores the monarch. If its target feels the same way, the sword will protect them even as they’re run through. But if both parties hate each other, the Sacred Sword will bring forth destruction.”
I laughed. “You speak as if he and I are in love. You were there, too—Wilhelm loves another woman. And I’ve seen him with her constantly, so how could I possibly love him? How would the Sacred Swords help him when our relationship was over before it began?”
“There is no other explanation for why you sacrificed your health to wield the Sword of Love.”
“I…”
“You would have had enough evidence to prove House Radford’s treason using only the Sword of Sincerity. We would have been able to punish Wilhelm Radford by association. Yet you went out of your way to summon another sword… The bride stabs her own groom at her wedding, and now she’s feared by the nobility and considered evil. I can’t think of any other reason you’d do this apart from wanting to help Wilhelm.”
“What about wanting to be feared?”
“A flimsy excuse. As I said, the Sword of Sincerity alone would have been plenty. But if you intended to save Wilhelm, everything falls into place. ‘If one fails to overcome the trials given by these swords, he will perish. And if he survives, no matter what accusations are leveled against him, he will be granted forgiveness as a beneficiary of the monarch’s favor.’ In short, Wilhelm would’ve been exempt from punishment.”
“Knowing all that, you still want me to undo the magic?”
“I believe you will encounter situations where you must wield the Sacred Swords, Your Majesty. Continuously using your magic on Wilhelm will take an irreparable toll on you.”
“And just what do you think will happen after I release him?!”
“I’m not sure. He would be a free man, so he should be able to live as he pleases, no?”
“That’s not what I’m asking! I’m sure you know this, but I haven’t gained full control over the palace yet. If I let him go, people will flock to him, wanting to exploit his name. There’s no way I can set him free!”
“Are you afraid you might not be able to protect him anymore?”
I couldn’t answer his question. It wasn’t about protecting him; that would be too noble. I simply didn’t want to fight him. And yet, whether I wanted to or not mattered little. Everyone around us would drag us into the conflict and force us to oppose each other.
Unable to reply, I fired off a question of my own. “Are you aware that Nate has already made his own move with the Radfords’ bureaucrats?”
“Yes, I am.”
“What a headache… I’ve no intention of releasing my magic until I eradicate the opposition.”
“But—”
“Enough.” I glared at the marquess. I would not back down.
He held my gaze for a few seconds, then looked away. “Please, take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
“Now then, if you’ll excuse me.”
With that, the marquess left the room. As soon as he was gone, I slumped over with a sigh.
I thought no one would notice he was still alive… Well, it matters not. The marquess is on my side. As long as he doesn’t know where Wilhelm is, he can’t do a thing about it. Everything will be fine.
I convinced myself that it was true.