Volume 5, Chapter 11 – A Nocturnal Discovery and the Queen’s Message

Augustin?

Hearing the unexpected name, Yisi looked toward the center of the stage. Although the private room for nobles was completely enclosed, the side facing the stage was inlaid with magic glass. People outside could not peer in, but those inside could see out.

Unlike during the day, Augustin was no longer in his blue magic robe, but was wearing a simple, even shabby, linen tunic. If one didn’t look at his rather handsome face, he looked no different from a vagrant at first glance.

Is his standard of living so poor because he has no salary? Yisi wondered. He had been equipped with a magnificent magic staff and robe just that day.

Yisi focused her attention on the fight. Guided by a scantily clad female announcer, Augustin’s opponent, a beastman warrior over three meters tall with bulging muscles and powerful limbs, walked onto the stage.

Augustin was Level 37, while the beastman warrior was only Level 23. It should be an easy victory for him.

Yisi turned her head. “Are all the fighters in the arena selected by the officials?”

“The fighting arena follows a kind of tournament-style rule. Before it officially begins, the officials don’t tell the audience which fighters will appear. Only when the betting opens, which is two hours before the official matches, will the order of appearance be announced. The more consecutive wins a fighter has, the higher the prize money. At the same time, anyone who wins five consecutive matches will leave the stage and become the victor of the day.”

“Is that so…”

In other words, Edith’s thirty-win streak wasn’t achieved by defeating thirty people in a row, but by achieving a five-win streak every day for thirty consecutive days.

She really gave the officials a lot of trouble, having to pay high prices for fighters to throw their matches for thirty days straight. The “witch” nickname was probably the result of the arena officials’ own promotion.

While Yisi was lost in her internal drama, the battle between Augustin and the beastman warrior began. Yisi had originally thought Augustin would end it quickly with powerful magic, but instead, Augustin was consistently pushed back by the beastman warrior’s fierce attacks. Not only did he use only weak magic, but most of the time he chose to engage in hand-to-hand combat, almost like a fledgling magic chanter.

After brewing a cup of black tea for Yisi, Refina brought it to her. Her purple side-ponytail, paired with a frilled maid’s dress, exuded an indescribable feminine charm.

“Miss Yisi, please have some.”

“Thank you.” Taking the tea, Yisi looked at the arena with Refina. “What do you think of Augustin, Refina?”

“What aspect do you mean by ‘what do I think,’ Miss Yisi?”

“His personality.”

Refina shook her head regretfully.

“I’m very sorry, I have not had any contact with Augustin, so I do not know what kind of person he is. However, from the intelligence gathered this afternoon, there is an unconfirmed rumor circulating among the nobles that Augustin is actually a spy planted by Count Hillary at the Queen’s side.”

“That’s probably a negative rumor created by those nobles who are jealous of Augustin being close to the Queen. If Count Hillary really wanted to plant a spy by the Queen’s side, he would never choose someone from his own family who would obviously be suspected.”

“Yes, I think so too—ah.”

On the stage, Augustin was struck in the abdomen by the beastman warrior’s fist. His entire body flew backward and crashed heavily into the audience seats, drawing a huge cheer from the nobles. Having left the fighting area, Augustin was declared the loser by the referee and left the stage amidst a chorus of jeers.

Yisi couldn’t help but frown. Although there was a huge disparity in physical strength between Augustin and the beastman warrior, with his Level 37 strength, he shouldn’t have been defeated so quickly.

“Do you know Augustin’s strength, Refina?”

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“Augustin’s level has not progressed since he was expelled from his family. He is still only Level 30. However, because his understanding of magical theory far surpasses that of ordinary people, he was qualified to become Her Majesty the Queen’s magic tutor despite the objections of countless people.”

Level 30… So he had deliberately concealed his level.

Well, that was Augustin’s private business. Perhaps he had some unspoken reason for hiding his level. Her own interest in Augustin was just out of curiosity; she wasn’t deliberately investigating him for any particular person or reason.

“Would you like some dessert, Miss Yisi? The arena organizers provide desserts to nobles of high status. If you would like some, I can instruct the arena’s waitresses to prepare them.”

“Dessert?”

Yisi suddenly became interested. She had made a promise to Mary and Tiffany that as thanks for their cooking and cleaning, she would bring them dessert as a gift when she returned. As it turned out, she hadn’t found a pastry shop on the way and could only offer small trinkets as compensation. Although Mary had seemed happy, Tiffany had been sullen because there was no dessert.

“Do you know where there’s a pastry shop in the Royal Capital, Refina?”

Getting it directly from the waitresses was an option, but using Pepe’s name to get a gift for Mary and Tiffany felt somewhat insincere.

Refina placed her index finger on her cheek, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“There’s one next to the Noble Academy near the underground fighting arena, but the prices there are very high. A single ordinary cake costs five gold coins. Even young ladies from ordinary noble families cannot afford to enjoy them.” ¹ overpriceeedddd

“So it’s the best shop in the entire capital, right?”

“I suppose you could say that.”

“Thank you. I’ll be leaving for a bit. If Edith comes back before me, tell her not to wait for me and just go back to the mansion.”

“Understood, Miss Yisi.”

After saying goodbye to Refina, Yisi left the underground fighting arena.

…

Naturally, the night in the Blood Clan’s capital was more active than the day. The streets were filled with members of the Blood Clan, and the sound of hawkers’ cries rose and fell. What was different from Termi City in the Pescia Territory was that the Royal Capital was clearly more prosperous. After leaving the underground fighting arena, one could see torches set up on both sides of the street to serve as streetlights. When Yisi reached the wide street near the Noble Academy, the torch streetlights were replaced by magic lamps that emitted a faint white light.

“How extravagant… As expected of the Noble Academy’s standard…”

There were noticeably more young members of the Blood Clan on the street, both young men in flamboyant attire and young women in beautiful clothes. It reminded Yisi of passing by a school gate in the past.

Well, since my appearance is the same age as theirs, I’ll just pretend I’m a student too, Yisi consoled herself internally to avoid feeling awkward. ² pfft shortie

Soon, Yisi had bought what she wanted—a large bag of palm-sized cakes. Befitting the thirty gold coins she had spent, the cakes were exceptionally exquisite in appearance, and they were even frosted with cream, something Yisi hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Wow, this touching taste… I haven’t had this in almost a year.”

In a world where even sugar was a luxury item, cream was exceptionally precious. If she hadn’t happened to see it today, Yisi would have thought that cream didn’t exist in this world at all.

With an expression that almost brought her to tears, Yisi ate the cake in small bites.

“And this baked apple is also delicious. Mmm… it should have butter, pepper, red wine, sugar, and some other things… If I give it to Mary, she might be able to replicate it.” ³ pepper?!?!?!?!?

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Mary possessed a culinary talent that was hard for ordinary people to match.

However, the time for enjoying delicious food soon passed. For some unknown reason, the young Blood Clan men and women on both sides of the street were all looking at Yisi.

I know that buying out all the desserts in a pastry shop makes me look like a nouveau riche who’s never seen the world, but could you please not look at me like that?

Finishing the dessert and baked apple she was holding in each hand in two or three bites, Yisi wiped her hands and prepared to return to the fighting arena as if nothing had happened. However, a young nobleman walked up to her.

“A pleasure to meet you, beautiful pureblood lady. I am—”

…It seemed she wasn’t the center of attention because she had bought out all the desserts, but simply because of her exposed wings.

After a series of compliments praising Yisi, the young man began to ask for her name and class. This was to be expected. Yisi was a pureblood, her appearance was that of a school-aged girl, and she was near the Noble Academy. It was perfectly normal to be mistaken for a student.

I wonder if Edith ever attended school here.

While thinking about other things, Yisi politely declined the young man’s invitation. However, to her headache, as if the young man had started a trend, the other noble students who had previously been afraid of her, worried that striking up a conversation would anger her, all came forward, hoping to get on good terms with her. Among them were gentle, large-chested, older-sister-type girls who even extended invitations to their tea parties. ⁴ that’s quite an important point i guess

Although it was a pity, for the safety of these young men and women—mainly worrying that the cute older sister-types would be targeted by Pepe—Yisi declined the students’ invitations on the grounds that she was not a student of the academy and had no time recently.

Damn it, I really want to study at the academy.

By the time she had sent all the students away, nearly half an hour had passed.

“I didn’t expect purebloods to be this popular. Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. None of the students I just spoke to were purebloods.”

Shaking her head, Yisi glanced at the [Omniscient Map]. Edith and Refina were still in the underground fighting arena.

“Although there are some unexpected things I want to investigate, I should probably head back first.”

Withdrawing her gaze from a deep alley, Yisi left the Noble Academy. She had already identified the person to be wary of. From now on, she just had to avoid letting her companions be alone with him.

The dawn, symbolizing the start of a new day, gradually stained the sky white.

Yisi yawned. “I’ll have to sleep the whole day today.”

◇

When she woke up, it was already the evening of the next day. Because Edith hadn’t been able to see Andrea yesterday, she was going to the Royal Castle again today. At the same time, because of her promise to Andrea, Yisi also went to the Royal Castle with her companions, including Mary and Tiffany.

The group of six waited in the castle’s grand hall. Just like when they had come yesterday, the nobles swarmed around Edith like bees to a flower. Finding it troublesome, Yisi stayed in a corner with her companions.

Just as Yisi had imagined, the nobles began to discuss the assassination attempt on the Queen.

“Did you hear? Her Majesty the Queen was almost assassinated yesterday.”

“Yes, even Lord Faite has heard about it. It must not be a false rumor.”

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“They say the assassins were sent by the traitor, Count Hillary.”

“Hmph, those rebels have grown tired of living. How dare they declare war on Her Majesty the Queen? Aren’t they afraid of being eradicated along with their families by Her Majesty?”

“But Her Majesty has been unenthusiastic about sending troops.”

“This was an assassination attempt, an attempt to destroy the bloodline of the First Queen, Alvier. This time, Her Majesty will surely not shy away from war.”

This is tricky.

Yisi frowned at the nobles’ words. Andrea had originally wanted to suppress the news to prevent war sentiment from rising due to the assassination, but it had still turned out like this. Yisi didn’t know how Andrea was going to keep this matter under wraps.

Of course, for Mary and the others, who were not concerned with noble disputes, the Royal Castle was a different sight.

“So this is the Royal Castle… it’s so big.”

Coming to the solemn and magnificent Royal Castle for the first time, Mary’s mouth was slightly agape as she looked up at the high, vaulted ceiling. Unlike her usual casual clothes, Mary was dressed in a luxurious, princess-like outfit today.

In contrast to Mary, Camilla had a worried expression on her face.

“Onee-sama, are you going to bring Mary and Tiffany into the inner palace later as well…”

“No, I didn’t bring Mary and Tiffany to get them involved in political turmoil. Actually—”

Yisi leaned in close to Camilla’s ear and quietly told her about her and Andrea, including their exchange of blood and her promise to Andrea yesterday that she would bring her companions to her tea party.

Yisi’s whisper made Camilla’s cheeks flush, but the latter did not lose her senses due to shyness. Her ruby-like eyes were full of worry.

“But Mary and Tiffany haven’t learned noble etiquette. If they are disrespectful to Her Majesty the Queen, won’t Her Majesty consider it rude…”

Yisi smiled gently.

“If I hadn’t seen her true self, I would have had the same thought as you, Camilla. But I can assure you that it’s unnecessary. That queen actually prefers a direct way of speaking.”

After all, Andrea had rejected her even when she wanted to use the title ‘Her Majesty the Queen.’ Mary’s innocent and lively personality should allow her to become good friends with Andrea.

“Besides, the kind of dessert Tiffany had yesterday, there should be plenty of it at the tea party.”

“Mm, delicious.”

Tiffany, who had originally been expressionless, nodded eagerly after hearing about the dessert. The dessert she had brought back yesterday had been devoured by Tiffany and Mary in just one day. Thanks to that, she would have to go and buy out the pastry shop near the Noble Academy again tonight. She herself also liked the pastries with the precious cream.

Clank, clank.

The sound of neat footsteps and clashing armor.

The noisy grand hall gradually quieted down.

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“Her Majesty the Queen arrives!”

With the herald’s cry, all sound completely vanished. The nobles standing in the center of the hall bowed their heads and parted to the sides. The attendants knelt on one knee, facing the center of the path in a salute. The four of them, Yisi included, followed suit with a noble’s bow.

Tap, tap.

The sound of long boots hitting the floor echoed in the grand hall.

It should be Andrea.

Tap, tap, tap.

Although she couldn’t see her because her head was bowed, judging from the sound, Andrea was gradually walking from the entrance of the grand hall toward the conference hall inside. However, the source of the sound changed direction as it passed by Yisi, heading straight for her at the edge of the hall.

Then it stopped in front of her.

Don’t do anything unnecessary.

Yisi felt her heart leap into her throat. If Andrea were to say something like, “Lady Yisi, I have prepared the tea party,” at this moment, she didn’t know what kind of looks the other nobles would give her. And considering Andrea had used the honorific ‘Lady,’ the nobles might even think that she had threatened Andrea or done something bad to her—which she had, in fact, done.

It was just too troublesome.

As if hearing Yisi’s inner thoughts, Andrea said nothing and resumed her steps, walking straight into the conference hall.

The nobles followed closely behind.

Edith took the opportunity to come before Yisi, her face full of displeasure. In a questioning tone, she jabbed her index finger hard into Yisi’s chest.

“Why did Her Majesty the Queen stop in front of you?”

Yisi guiltily averted her gaze.

“Well… I’ll tell you after the meeting.”

“You… you didn’t force Her Majesty to do something with your strength, did you?”

Although she really wanted to say she absolutely hadn’t, she had, in fact, done it.

Yisi’s silence made the displeasure on Edith’s face deepen.

“Tch. Go back to the mansion right now, then take the carriage back to the Pescia Territory. Otherwise, it will be difficult even for me to handle this.”

“No… it’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Lady Loiswell, Her Majesty the Queen requests that you bring Lady Yisi into the conference hall as well.”

The attendant’s words put an end to Edith and Yisi’s conversation.