Interlude:
Failed Assassination
(Salas Lilium)
“WHEW. I’M EXHAUSTED!” After Claire and Rae left the room, Yu did a big stretch in his chair.
“Master Yu, such behavior is slovenly,” I chided. It was just the two of us in the audience room, but that did not mean he could be lax, even if he preferred to keep himself approachable to others in his day-to-day life.
“Don’t worry. I get it, Salas.”
“Do you? Sometimes you make me wonder.”
“You don’t want me getting any ideas, right?” Yu smiled broadly as I failed to find words to respond with. “I’ll admit, I did get my hopes up when they said they could do something about my body.”
“Master Yu…”
“But even if there was something that could be done…the royal court would never allow it.” He rested his chin against his hand, leaning on the arm of the chair. With a distant look in his eyes, he said, “I have been raised as this kingdom’s third prince and have an obligation to remain it. I cannot half-heartedly betray those who have supported me so far.”
“Your understanding is appreciated.”
“But you know…” His tone turned dreamy then. “It was nice to fantasize what it’d be like to live as a woman, as impossible as I know it is.”
“…Fantasize and nothing more, I presume?”
“Of course. While it would be nice, I cannot so easily cast off the duties that bind me as prince.”
“…I see.” Intuitively, I could tell: Yu was wavering. The suggestion that Rae Taylor woman had made was unrealistic. Given the status quo of the palace, it was something that could never be done. But that was precisely why it was so alluring. The impossibility of it all made the temptation all the sweeter to Yu. No matter how much he claimed not to be charmed by it, I knew the temptation would continue to haunt him.
Perhaps it was only a matter of time.
“Master Yu, I pray you do not let your wild fantasies trap you.”
“Don’t worry, Salas. I know better. You can leave now. I’ll leave to rest soon myself.”
“…As you wish.”
I bowed and made to leave. As I glanced over my shoulder to take one last look at Yu, I saw the look of a maiden lost amid a dream.
In the dead of night that same day, I was not in my room in the palace, but at a ruined manor outside of the capital.
“…It’s me. Let me in.”
I heard the sound of the door immediately unlocking. I’d likely been noticed the moment I approached the manor.
“What a treat. It’s not often you come by yourself.”
Receiving me was a man wearing a black mask. He was Alter, my masterpiece. He seemed to melt right into the darkness of the lightless room. While it was too dark to see, the spacious room should have been a disorderly, cluttered mess with a number of beds lined up.
“Something urgent has come up. I need you to send an assassin.”
“So suddenly? All right, who do you need dead?”
“The third prince—Yu Bauer.”
“…What?” he spluttered. “You’re kidding me, right? Weren’t you going to back that kid for the throne? I thought you had to jump through a whole lot of hoops to ensnare that poor Riche woman too.”
“Things have changed; I’m starting over from square one. Yu is useless to me now. Supporting him any longer will only backfire on me.”
Yu had been a valuable pawn in the past, but his worth was questionable now. I still had Thane in the wings, anyway, though I did almost lose him due to Alter’s rash actions.
“Is that right? Something happen?” Alter asked.
“Nothing that you need to be aware of.”
“Huh. Well, if you say so.” He shrugged with disinterest. “When do you need him dead?”
“As soon as possible.”
“We could do it tomorrow, then. Maybe. Depends on his schedule.”
“His schedule won’t be a problem. Tomorrow, he is slated to make a wellness visit to an orphanage.”
“Heh. How convenient.” He picked up on what I was implying right away. “Somebody procured from the Church would be perfect then, eh? Out of those that’re ready…maybe this one will do?” He flung off the sheet of a nearby bed. On it slept a nun. “Stocked this one just the other day. It’s a real challenge getting anything done lately, y’know? The royal family’s starting to get wise.”
“Enough boasting. Is she prepared?”
“’Course. It’s me we’re talking about. All that’s left is for you to input your commands.”
“Very good.” I neared the sleeping nun and touched her cheek. Her eyes faintly flickered open. I met her gaze as I cast my hypnosis magic. “My sweet, sweet daughter. Can you hear my voice?”
“I…can hear you…”
“I need something of you. Can you help me?”
“Yes…Father…”
I told her the objective and the means with which she would make the kill. Rather than make my instructions too precise, however, I left some room for her to make her own decisions. Such was the greatest secret to utilizing humans: letting them exercise their own will to an extent.
“And that’s everything. Do you understand?” I asked.
“Yes…Father…”
“Then repeat it back to me.”
“Firstly, I need to…” The nun correctly recounted the plan back to me. This should be enough.
“I’ll leave the rest to you, Alter.”
“Sure thing. Have yourself a good night now.”
Without responding to his insincere tone, I left the manor behind.
There was uproar in the palace in the afternoon of the next day.
“What about Yu?! Is Yu safe?!”
“Calm down, Queen Riche. It’s all right. The Prince is unharmed.”
“Do not tell me to calm down! Somebody tried to assassinate my boy!”
The assassination had been a failure. I didn’t know where the information leaked from, but somebody anonymously made a report, causing Yu’s guard to become stronger than usual.
I was infuriated. The key to a successful assassination was to make the first attempt work. Afterward, the target would be too vigilant. It would take time for their guard to slacken again.
“Salas…”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
L’Ausseil called out to me. Just what could he possibly want now of all times?
“Do you have any ideas as to who might have ordered such a thing?”
“I am ashamed to say I do not.”
“Perhaps someone from the Spiritual Church?”
“I am told the offender has been missing for many days. The Church is likely not involved.”
“Hmm…” He sunk into thought.
“We must demolish the convent that allowed this crime to happen and denounce the Church! No, not even that is enough!”
“Calm yourself, Riche.”
“Your Majesty, how can you be so calm now?! Somebody has tried to have your son killed!”
“And that is precisely why I must remain calm. I have to think why someone would want Yu killed, as well as what I must do from here on.”
“No, now is not the time to dally! We must—” Riche continued to have a fit for some time; it took great effort to pacify her. In the end, she began to feel anemic and had to be escorted back to her room by a maid.
“Salas…”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Do you think there will be a second attempt?”
The man didn’t have the slightest suspicion the one who ordered the assassination was me. I stifled a smile and humbly said, “I would fear the worst and be extra vigilant for the time being. We should increase the number of assigned guards, not just for Master Yu, but for Master Rod and Master Thane as well.”
“Indeed.”
“We should issue a gag order on this incident as well. It’d be unwise to let it become a scandal.”
“That’s reasonable. I’ll leave it to you, then.”
“As you wish. I shall get to it at once.”
I left to instruct the guards. The fool of a king didn’t even suspect a thing. Indeed, the one truly fit to reign was me alone.
“…But just what could push you to such drastic action, Salas…?”
L’Ausseil muttered something as I left, but his words did not reach my ears.