Chapter 391: Imperial Pieces
Cecilia drummed her fingers against the silken covers of her bed, the rhythmic taps blending with the faint hum of lights illuminating her dorm room. She lay sprawled across the mattress, her golden hair fanning out like liquid sunlight, an uncharacteristic yawn escaping her lips as she stretched her arms.
Life at Mythos Academy had taken on a strange monotony in Arthur's absence. Without him, the days dragged on, the challenges felt hollow, and even the other prodigies of the Academy seemed to fade into the background.
In truth, Arthur had caught her attention from the very beginning, far more than Lucifer or any of the other so-called elite students. And now? Now he had her heart.
"I shouldn't be like this," Cecilia muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Yet, even as she scolded herself, her fingers reached for her phone, her resolve crumbling like a poorly made rune array.
She tapped her screen, pulling up her messages with Arthur, her lips curling into a faint smile as her gaze lingered on his most recent text. It was absurd, really—her heart skipping at something as mundane as seeing his name on the screen.
"I feel like a lovesick idiot," she muttered, heat rushing to her cheeks. "This would suit that horny saintess more than me."
Still, she couldn't help herself. She had been messaging Arthur regularly while he was away at the Tower of Alchemy. She had even sent him a thought condenser when he asked for it—a trivial favor for the princess of the Slatemark Empire, but it had meant something more to her.
Cecilia sighed, rolling onto her side as her thoughts wandered. If he asked for more, she would give it. An Ancient-grade artifact, a battalion of Imperial Knights, even an entire research division—any of it. Yet Arthur never asked for more. He never demanded anything from her but her time. Perhaps that was what made him so compelling.
Her musings were interrupted by a sudden vibration. Her phone lit up with a notification, and her heart skipped. Arthur's name flashed on the screen, accompanied by the distinct hum of an incoming video call.
The abruptness startled her, and in her rush to answer, the phone slipped from her fingers, smacking her squarely on the face.
"Thank the heavens I've broken through," she muttered, rubbing her nose with a wry grin. Her body metamorphosis had significantly bolstered her resilience; otherwise, the mishap might have been embarrassing and painful.
She quickly answered the call, her face lighting up as Arthur's image appeared on the screen. "Hey, Arthur," she greeted him, a smile spreading across her lips despite herself.
"Were you heading to bed?" Arthur's voice was calm, his tone laced with that familiar steadiness that always seemed to ground her.
"Close, but not quite asleep," she replied. The time difference between Mythos Academy and Avalon City was considerable—one of the many inconveniences of being stationed on an island near the Northern Continent while the Tower of Alchemy lay in the heart of the Central Continent.
Arthur nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Good. I wanted to ask you for a favor."
Her heart leapt slightly at his words. "Anything for you," she said with a playful wink, though her sincerity was unmistakable.
"Could you come visit me at the Tower of Alchemy?" Arthur asked, his tone direct yet carrying a subtle warmth. "I know your schedule is packed, but you've got a long weekend, don't you?"
Cecilia tilted her head, her golden eyes narrowing playfully. "Aw, miss me that much already?"
"Well, yes," Arthur admitted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "But it's also about something important. I'll call you back to explain later if you are still going to be weak."
Her curiosity piqued, Cecilia nodded. "I will. At least you trust me enough now to involve me before jumping into anything reckless, Nightingale."
Arthur chuckled softly. "Well, you've reached low Ascendant-rank now, haven't you? That makes you just one mana rank below me."
"In terms of mana rank, maybe," Cecilia replied, her tone thoughtful, "but in terms of strength, I know I'm still far from your level." She spoke honestly, her usual confidence tempered by realism. The current her could hold her own against most high Ascendant-rankers, but Arthur operated on a completely different plane.
Arthur's expression softened. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, Cecilia."
"And you're far too good at flattery," she countered, though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
As the call ended, Cecilia leaned back against her pillows, her thoughts swirling like smoke in a gentle breeze. Arthur's invitation had been unexpected, but she couldn't deny the flicker of excitement it ignited within her.
He had asked for her. Specifically. And that, she thought with a quiet smile, was more than enough to make the restless nights at Mythos Academy worthwhile.
Moments later, her phone vibrated again. Arthur's name appeared on the screen once more, and she answered quickly, smoothing her hair as though he could see her through the simple voice call.
"Okay," Arthur began, his voice steady but serious. "I've wrapped up my schedule for now. Let's talk about what I need from you."
Cecilia sat up straighter, her expression shifting into something far more focused. His tone carried weight—whatever he wanted to discuss, it wasn't trivial.
"I've discovered something dangerous," Arthur said, his words measured but heavy. "There's a project underway in the Tower of Alchemy. It's catastrophic, and it has to be stopped. That's why I need your help. Not just your strength, but your status."
Her crimson eyes glinted as she nodded, absorbing his words without question. Cecilia didn't ask how he'd come across this information, nor why he deemed it so dangerous. Arthur didn't speak lightly about such matters, and that was enough for her.
"Do you think it will work?" she asked, her voice calm despite the gravity of the conversation.
"It has to," Arthur replied with quiet confidence. "In terms of strength, no one in the Tower of Alchemy can stop me if it comes to that. But this isn't about raw power. I need to create a distraction long enough to gather and deliver evidence to the Tower of Magic."
"The Tower of Magic?" Cecilia's eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion flickering across her face. "Why them?"
Arthur's lips curved into a faint smile, one laced with the kind of shrewd calculation that often left others scrambling to catch up. "I need something from your master."
Cecilia leaned back, understanding dawning on her like the slow burn of dawn. As the princess of the Slatemark Empire, she was more than familiar with Archmage Charlotte's ambitions. The Zenith of Magic had been angling for political dominance within the Empire for years, seeking to consolidate power by merging the Tower of Alchemy with her own domain. It was an open secret that Charlotte's position—while unparalleled in magical prowess—lacked the political weight of her peers.
Even the Martial King, for all his apparent disinterest in politics, still bore the title of "King" and carried the influence that came with it. Charlotte, meanwhile, was constrained by her role, unable to extend her reach as far as she desired.
"You want to leverage the Tower of Alchemy for her support," Cecilia murmured, her voice quiet but sharp. "And in return, she'll owe you."
"Exactly," Arthur said, inclining his head slightly. "Charlotte's attempts to pressure the Tower of Alchemy have stalled because of their current Tower Master. He's too competent to be toppled by anything short of a disaster. That's where this project comes in. If I expose it, it creates the perfect storm for her to act."
Cecilia frowned, her mind working through the implications. "But what you're asking for—what you want from Charlotte—it won't be something I can approve. Even as a princess."
Arthur shrugged, his tone unbothered. "This goes beyond your jurisdiction, Cecilia. Even you have limits. But Charlotte? She's the Zenith of Magic. She can make it happen."
Cecilia couldn't argue with that, as much as it irked her. For all her influence, there were lines even she couldn't cross. And Charlotte, with her singular ambition and authority, was one of the few people who could operate freely in the space Arthur was targeting.
"Do you trust her?" Cecilia asked after a pause, her crimson gaze searching his face on the screen.
Arthur's expression was unreadable for a moment before he replied. "I trust her interests align with mine for now. That's enough."
It wasn't an answer that inspired comfort, but it was one Cecilia understood all too well. The political game wasn't about trust—it was about leverage, timing, and aligning ambitions long enough to achieve your goals.
"Fine," she said, a small sigh escaping her lips. "I'll come. But Arthur," her tone softened slightly, a rare moment of vulnerability, "just… be careful. Even if no one in the Tower of Alchemy can match you, this isn't a game."
Arthur's smile softened, the edges of his usual calculating demeanor giving way to something more genuine. "I know. That's why I called you."
The line disconnected, leaving Cecilia staring at her phone for a moment longer. Her thoughts raced, weaving through the web of alliances, rivalries, and ambitions Arthur had just dragged her into.
He was playing a dangerous game. But then again, that was Arthur Nightingale's specialty.
With a resigned smile, she swung her legs off the bed and began preparing for her journey to the Tower of Alchemy. Arthur might have the strategy and the power, but it was her job to make sure he didn't burn everything down in the process. And she'd do it—not just because of the Empire, or the politics, but because he'd asked her.
And for Arthur, that was reason enough.
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