章節 21: Code Red
"That just now… I really didn't expect Master Ix to think like that…" Ren said, hanging upside down from the branch of an apple tree in the palace's sprawling backyard. His long black hair swayed like a curtain in the evening breeze.
"I didn't expect it either. Do you think he's just playing it safe or genuinely uninterested in the kingdom's political intrigues?" I replied, leaning against the tree trunk.
Ren swung back up and perched on the branch, one leg dangling lazily. "Could be. Considering his strength, Master Ix might be the strongest person in Emeraldine, yet he stays out of the power games. Instead of acting as the King's watchdog, he'd rather focus on magical research or creating spells that actually improve people's lives for this land's prosperity."
"That's true," I said thoughtfully. "I think a person like him is suitable for getting the title of a nobleman, compared to those nobles who only think of money and power."
"For sure," Ren chuckled, plucking an apple and biting it.
I then recalled my first meeting with Ren, where the boy had chosen not to follow his fate as William, the hero of Twilight's Chronicle.
"Hey. Your way of thinking is a bit like Master Ix's. Is everyone who dreams of becoming a magician like that?"
"Haha!" Ren just laughed. He tossed another apple he had just plucked to me. "Not everyone, but it takes a certain mindset." He leaped down beside me with feline grace, biting into his apple with a satisfying crunch. "One thing's for sure, when I grow up, I'm leaving this kingdom to see the world. No fucking royal orders, no court politics, or boring things. Just me, my magic, and the open road for a grand adventure!"
"Careful, Ren," I teased. "Keep talking like that, and people might mistake you for a philosopher."
"Better than a knight," he quipped with a smirk.
"What are you two talking about?"
Chrisola's voice broke the moment. She appeared behind us, her blond curls catching the last rays of sunlight. Her sapphire-blue eyes, filled with an air of suspicion on her delicate features, shifted between Ren and me.
"Oh, nothing much! Just some magic lessons," I replied quickly. "Do you have lessons today, Chrisola? Or are you free to join us?"
"Mother has guests, so I'm free," she said, stepping closer.
"Guests?" I repeated, my tone sharpening.
I glanced at Ren, who had stopped mid-bite, his ruby-red eyes meeting mine with silent understanding. If Shilien was entertaining someone, it was bound to be significant.
Ren straightened up, brushing apple crumbs from his hands. "I just remembered. I left a book in my room. You two go ahead and play without me."
Chrisola frowned as Ren retreated toward the palace. "Did I interrupt your time together? Is Brother Ren—I mean, Brother William mad at me?"
"Of course not," I said with a laugh. Although I knew that after Chrisola's tantrum about me spending too much time with Ren, he had started keeping some distance from me in front of Chrisola's presence to avoid making my little sister jealous. "He's just been busy with his training lately. And don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you, either. Are you still upset about me spending more time with Ren than with you?"
Chrisola hesitated before shaking his head. "Not really… Brother William is your training partner, after all."
"So you don't mind if I ask him to play with us?"
She nodded. "Besides, I like it better when we're all together. It's no fun spending all day with Mother or the servants."
Her candor tugged at my heart. Despite her pampered life, my little sister's world was a gilded cage. With no peers her age and a mother figure as manipulative as Shilien, Chrisola clung to me for companionship. Her jealousy was a pure symptom of her loneliness and I could understand it.
"Tell you what," I said with a grin. "Tomorrow, let's play together. We'll show you what kind of fun magic tricks we learned from our lessons. I bet you will love it!"
Her eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically. "Deal!"
***
That night, after Anna helped me into my pajamas, I leaned back in my chair, staring at the flickering light of the bedside lamp in my room. My mind wondered at my previous conversation with Chrisola.
Until our debutante, the age at which we could socialize, Chrisola and I couldn't interact with other children our age. But maybe, just maybe, if I could get my debutante sooner… I could help her get friends so I could focus more on my training and my plan on defeating Shilien.
"Anna, do you think I could have my debutante earlier than usual?" I asked, watching Anna's reflection in the vanity mirror.
Anna's brow furrowed slightly before she smiled while brushing my hair. "Of course, Princess! You're incredibly brilliant and far mature beyond children your age. If anyone deserves an early debut, it's you."
I let out a soft laugh.
Of course, I do. I am not a child but an adult reborn into this body, after all.
"Why do you ask about your debutante?" she inquired, setting the brush down.
"Oh, it's nothing," I said, shrugging. "I'm just curious about what it's like outside the palace."
It wasn't a lie, though. I need to know more about the political landscape and secure allies before Shilien's plans ensnared me. Otherwise, I'd end up as a villainess doomed to a tragic fate like in Twilight's Chronicle…
Anna bid me goodnight and left to retire to her quarters. The room was still, save for the faint chirping of crickets outside the window.
Then came a soft knock—no, a tapping sound—against the glass.
I frowned, glancing at the balcony. No one was there, but the tapping continued. Cautiously, I opened the window.
An invisible figure slipped inside, the faint shimmer of magic breaking as the figure revealed himself. Of course, it was Ren, using his Translucent Veil spell.
"What is it?" I asked, shutting the window behind him. "Why are you here so late?"
"Code red," Ren whispered, his face pale.
My heart sank. "What happened?"
"This afternoon, I followed Shilien. I couldn't ignore my gut feeling about her guest," Ren said, pacing.
"And?"
His ruby eyes locked onto mine, their usual glint of mischief replaced with genuine fear. "It was my father. And your grandfather, Duke Argenti."
"What!?" My voice came out as a hiss.
I had anticipated that my ploy to humiliate Shilien some time ago would provoke her to act, but I hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
"So, what are they planning?" I asked further.
"I don't know all the details," he admitted, his words tumbling out in a rush. "But they were discussing your upcoming birthday…"
"Huh? My birthday? What's wrong about it?"
Ren swallowed hard, clearly reluctant to continue. "They're planning to propose your debutante during the Kingdom's founding celebration… and betroth you to my brother, Christopher."
"Christopher, as in… Christopherus Lazarro?" I asked, stunned as I confirmed.
Ren nodded grimly.
The room seemed to close in around me. Christopherus Lazarro, the eldest son of Marquess Lazarro, was infamous for his arrogance and cruelty. In Twilight's Chronicle, he was a man as ambitious as Shilien herself. A betrothal to him would bind me to their faction, stripping me of any autonomy.
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. "This is worse than I expected. They're not just targeting me. They're trying to secure power over the entire Emeraldine line."
Ren nodded. "We need to act fast. Shilien's playing her hand, and she's not waiting for you to make the first move."
His words lit a fire in me. Shilien thought she could control me, but she would learn soon enough.
I am not a piece on her chessboard. I am the one playing the game!
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