Chapter 99
They had come in a position of asking for help to save the Nabel Empire’s crisis. The relationship had become awkward compared to the beginning, but they could still demand the same thing.
Since there were several S-Class Transcendents who didn’t have a pair yet, they could arrange a political marriage between Ibella and one of those who had royal blood, and in return, take Kasselard to the Nabel Empire.
‘Then Kasselard’s Guide will follow him too. Before a major battle and after a battle, guiding is always necessary.’
So when Kasselard left his post to close their rift… then they could take his Guide. Of course, after hiding her or killing her, they would have to lie to him.
Just imagining it was thrilling, but that plan had a major problem. Kasselard would return after closing the rift, notice he no longer had his Guide, and try to kill all of them.
“…We’ll have to make sure he doesn’t return from the rift, or trap him and kill him.”
At Jeremiah’s muttered words, Ibella, who had been lying flat, doubted her ears. What did she just hear?
All she had known was that she would lie about her rank and receive the help of an SS-Class Transcendent. Even if it was revealed after marrying him that her guiding ability was terrible, she thought she would keep her life with the status of being the Nabel Empire’s Princess.
From then on, she thought she could live somehow by acting as the Nabel Empire’s spy and having a child with Kasselard, but…
‘Isn’t that… about Karnan’s Crown Prince?’
Ibella suddenly felt a gaze boring into the top of her head. Jeremiah would know she had heard. She was right at his feet.
“…Did you hear what I just said?”
“Did you say something, Your Highness? I didn’t hear anything!”
When she desperately said that, Jeremiah’s eyes narrowed. He bent one knee and lifted Ibella’s chin, forcing her to look at him as her head hung so low it nearly touched the ground.
Ibella’s terrified gaze scattered to the side, unable to look directly at Jeremiah. As if he liked the way she trembled, he released her chin and stood up.
“Good. That’s the attitude. From now on as well, you must not forget that your life is held in the Nabel Empire’s hand.”
Only then did the crushing killing intent subside, and she could breathe again. As Jeremiah turned and left the room, Ibella curled her body into a ball.
It had been a long time since she left the prison, but it still felt like she was there.
* * *
Manipulating the magic device was something he had been doing for a long time. Unless the master of the mage tower, Sigmund, had been present there, no one would have noticed what Kasselard did.
‘Maybe… about sixty-four percent?’
Compared to Ephinia, it was absurdly low, but compared to other Guides, it was still a vastly higher match rate. Since the waves she gave off outwardly were S-Class, it was certain people around them would talk just from that.
That His Highness the Crown Prince had been too hasty, that as expected, marrying even an A-Class commoner couldn’t go as far as marriage, and so on. So he manipulated the magic device and lowered the number.
He set it to 38% because he thought it would be enough if it was only slightly higher than with Agnes. The sight of Jeremiah staring in shock was a delight.
‘He really was sure his match rate with her would be high.’
That alone was suspicious. The Nabel Empire and the Karnan Empire weren’t countries that shared information about Transcendents. Information about him was classified, so there was no way they could know.
Originally, Jeremiah wasn’t the type to show excitement or panic like that. He always wanted to stay calm and manipulate everyone from above.
Even Kasselard had never seen him look so aghast, so it was a little satisfying.
‘It would’ve been convenient if I could’ve plucked his eyes out while I was at it…’
He clearly remembered the way Jeremiah had leered at Ephinia as he entered the audience hall.
He didn’t know the details of what had happened between his mother and the Nabel Emperor, but he did know that the man had targeted his mother and done something horrible.
The Nabel Empire hadn’t changed from the past. They still held obvious malice and coveted their country.
Kasselard was certain from the look in Jeremiah’s eyes. That bastard was going to hurt Ephinia.
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