Chapter 27: The Court Mage Is a Contrary Soul
The sky was a flawless blue today.
Across a certain stretch of grassland within the Luxion Empire, a lavishly adorned carriage thundered forward. Four carefully selected warhorses pulled it, their powerful legs churning the earth in perfect rhythm. Several members of the Imperial Guard rode close at hand, forming a tight protective ring around the vehicle. And above all else, what most forcefully drew the eye was the imperial banner—proudly unfurled and fluttering atop the carriage, proclaiming unmistakably who traveled within.
First Prince Sirius rested an elbow against the window frame, gazing gracefully at the passing scenery.
He narrowed his eyes slightly against the brilliant sunlight and murmured, almost to himself,
“So it’s been five years since I last left the imperial capital… Somehow, it feels deeply moving.”
“You were just unconscious for those five years, that’s all,” came the blunt reply. munch munch
“Fufufu. We agreed not to say that out loud, didn’t we, Estella?”
Estella, just as always, sat perched comfortably on her fiancé’s lap, thoroughly enjoying her sweets.
And seated directly across from the two of them—
“…………” snooze
—was Al, sprawled across his seat as though it were the most natural thing in the world, sleeping soundly in broad daylight, his breathing calm and peaceful.
“He is supposed to be a bodyguard, isn’t he? Why is he abandoning the one he’s meant to protect and sleeping like a log…?”
“Hahahaha.”
“This is no time to laugh so carefree.”
“As long as he works hard when it truly matters, that’s more than enough. I was the one who dragged him out while he was in hibernation, after all.”
As they were chatting like that, one of the guards rode up alongside the carriage and offered a crisp salute.
Noticing this, Sirius opened the window.
“What is it, Selestaria?”
“Um, just to confirm… he’s awake, right? Our resident oversleeper?”
“Ah…”
Sirius shifted his gaze toward the front seat and gave a wry smile.
There was no need to explain what—or who—was there.
“…He’s sleeping, isn’t he?”
“Well, something like that.”
“Haa… I’m truly sorry. Haku, could you wake that idiot up for me?”
“Pii.”
Haku, who had been enjoying the breeze of the grasslands while clinging to Seles, slipped through the window and hopped onto Al’s face.
“Pii! Pii!” lick lick
“Mm… Haku? What’s wrong—did you want to sleep together?”
“Pii… zzz.” snooze
“…………” snooze
Rather than waking him, the familiar promptly joined its master and flew off into the land of dreams.
“Kah hah hah! They say a familiar takes after its master, and this truly proves it.”
“Ahahaha. They’re both such laid-back souls.”
The two watched the scene with gentle smiles, while Seles buried her face in her hands and let out a weary sigh.
“Haa…”
Yet the hand gripping her reins was trembling slightly. It required little imagination to picture a large bump appearing on Al’s head later.
For Sirius, aside from Estella, these two were the only people capable of drawing genuine smiles from him. And so, his expression was as bright and clear as the weather outside.
“Now then, let’s keep moving at this pace. Our destination is the trade city of Velheim.”
Yes—belated though it may be to mention it—they were currently en route to the trade city of Velheim.
…And the reason for that was—
◇◇◇
—Several days earlier, in the grand council chamber of the Imperial Palace.
With the Holy Flame Emperor seated at the place of honor, the round table was filled with every member of the imperial family: the empress, consorts, princes, princesses—each one waiting intently for the emperor to speak.
This was the monthly imperial family council.
Ever since the succession struggle had begun five years ago, these meetings had always carried a heavy, oppressive atmosphere. Yet on this particular day, the tension was even thicker, suffocating enough to make one’s chest feel tight.
At last, the emperor spoke.
“Thank you all for gathering. As you are no doubt aware, Sirius has finally regained consciousness after five long years of illness. …There could be no greater cause for celebration.”
As most of those present nodded happily, three individuals remained utterly expressionless: First Princess Liriane, Second Princess Isabella, and Second Prince Rain—the very ones standing at the heart of the succession struggle.
After routine reports and updates were concluded, the emperor moved on to the final topic.
“Approximately one month from today, a conference will be held in the trade city of Velheim with the Marquisate of Rian, a nation that has maintained friendly relations with us for many years. Needless to say, they are of lower standing. Therefore, I shall not attend personally. Instead, I intend to send a member of the imperial family as my representative to speak with the Marquis of Rian. Is there anyone willing to step forward?”
Someone swallowed audibly.
With the empresses excluded, the question became which prince or princess would volunteer—but those not participating in the succession struggle were naturally eliminated.
For the four contenders vying for the position of crown prince, this diplomatic mission was a rare and invaluable opportunity to earn merit. Unless one wished to make enemies of them, silence was the safest choice.
…To begin with, this was likely too great a burden for any imperial child outside those four.
Sirius glanced at the other three candidates.
(Hmm… no sign of movement. Well, that’s understandable.)
The potential rewards were enormous—but by the same token, failure would bring equally severe consequences. Without strong confidence in one’s diplomatic skills, it was not an easy matter to volunteer.
(It can’t be helped. I’ll do it. Diplomacy is my forte. …And even if someone sends assassins after us once we leave the capital, we have “him” on our side.)
Sirius raised his voice without hesitation.
“Your Majesty. Please entrust this task to me.”
“Very well. I commend your willingness. From this moment onward, I appoint First Prince Sirius as my representative.”
“There is one indulgence I would like to request.”
“Speak.”
“Please allow me to choose my own escort.”
“…Very well. Which knights?”
“The Orise Squad, my fiancée Estella, and— the court mage of the Dream Attribute.”
Every person present, including the emperor, widened their eyes.
It was only natural. On the day Al had gone on a rampage in the audience hall, every member of the imperial family except Sirius had been present. They knew firsthand just how terrifying his power was. And after recently driving off Crow, the former head court mage, rumors had begun to circulate that Al might well be the strongest individual in the empire.
Even setting Estella aside, it was widely said that moving a court mage was extraordinarily difficult—even for a prince.
As Al clearly demonstrated, court mages tended to be stubborn, willful eccentrics to the last.
“I will grant permission, but I will not take responsibility for whether he actually agrees to move.”
“Please rest assured. I’ve already secured his consent.”
“Oh? As expected of Sirius. You work quickly.”
“Hahaha. Just a fortunate coincidence.”
There was, of course, a clear reason Sirius had made this declaration so openly.
While it was common knowledge that Al belonged to Sirius’s faction, no one truly believed he would seriously lend his full strength. In other words, this was a calculatedly malicious announcement—an indirect warning to the other three contenders:
The dream-attribute court mage who defeated the former strongest of the empire is a force Sirius can deploy at any time.
Just as planned, the three wore expressions as though they had bitten into something bitter.
“Are there any further objections? …If not, this concludes today’s imperial family council.”
…And thus, Al found himself dragged into the First Prince’s diplomatic mission.
◇◇◇
—Returning to the present, inside the carriage.
While Al slept like the dead, Sirius had shamelessly claimed Estella’s lap as his pillow.
Estella gently stroked her fiancé’s head.
“You’re far more serious about this than I expected. You could simply withdraw from the succession struggle, receive land in some remote region, and live out your days in peace. I doubt anyone would object.”
“I did consider it briefly. But then I’d have no face to show Duke Levian, who believed in me for five long years. And more than anything—I want to make you empress.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I have no interest in power.”
“But if I become emperor, I can increase funding for pharmaceutical research—and have all sorts of delicious sweets brought in.”
“…Very well. I shall become empress!”
“Hahahaha. You’re so honest.”
Still, there was one lingering concern.
“Before you collapsed, you worked so hard to protect your younger siblings. Do you truly see the First Princess and the others as enemies now?”
Sirius sat up, his voice turning grave.
“Yes, of course. The struggle for succession is a blood-soaked and merciless battle handed down since ancient times. If they chose to step onto that battlefield themselves, I cannot show mercy. This empire has prospered precisely because of that. A ‘great ruler’ must possess cruelty as well. …However.”
“However?”
“Just as with this diplomatic mission—if I accumulate overwhelming achievements that leave no room for pursuit, I can reclaim the position of crown prince without resorting to killing.”
“Kah hah hah. Precisely so.”
(Yes. That is my Sirius.)
“Estella, I’ll do my best.”
“I shall assist you with everything I have. And so will that fool snoring over there.”
“………………………”