Volume 3 Chapter 8 (1/2)
Volume 3 Chapter 8
Translator: Kurehashi Aiko Editor: Queenie
「…… I see, I understand.」
The man answered briefly, holding a magic gem used for long distance communication in one hand. Once he made sure that its light had vanished completely, the man turned towards Klanven and I.
「The shadows are saying that she made that decision all on her own.」
「Hoo? Well, that’s a reasonable result.」
The man spoke in his usual emotionless fashion, and Klanven’s words were also devoid of any emotion whatsoever.
The maid was handed to the knights recently. Apparently, she was taken to the Blue Iris Court in a calm manner, without trying to protest or oppose them. Does that really mean she did choose to do that of her own volition?
None of us were saying anything, and the atmosphere in the room was becoming really hard to bear. So, in order to at least lessen this heavy atmosphere, I got up from my seat and started to prepare some tea for Klanven and that man.
Even though Klanven said he didn’t mind, it was hard for me to actually sit at the same table as those two. The man sat down as well and turned towards me, urging me with his eyes to take a seat a well. I nodded my head.
「…… This is……」
He then procured a certain item out of his pocket and placed it on top of the table. It was a mask that looked neither masculine nor feminine, with a symbol of the dove that was spreading its wings engraved upon its surface with great attention to detail. I recognized that item, for it was worn by the people who were trying to assassinate Klanven on more than one occasion.
What was the meaning of this, I thought to myself while looking at both the man and Klanven. Of course, the item wasn’t going to tell us anything in and of itself, and Klanven just kept on staring at the man while he was…… expressionless, as always.
「How about you stop beating around the bush and tell us what is really going on?」
「I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I don’t know what you are talking about. What is really going on?」
「Don’t get upset about it. I think you know as well as I do what this means, right?」
Klanven’s voice was as lighthearted as ever, but the man was not going to let him get away with it that easily. Realizing that, Klanven let out a heavy sigh.
At that moment, Klanven’s smile changed. It was still calm, but now all humor was gone from his eyes as he was looking at the man with a very serious expression.
For those who were unaccustomed to it, it must have been a really dramatic change, as even the man’s eyes seemed to have opened a little bit wider than usual.
「Fufu. So, it looks like you have it all figured out, do you now?」
「Yes. You see, I decided to do a little background research, namely in the old town where you used to live during your childhood, Your Highness. I am sorry for doing that in secrecy, but it had to be done.」
「Hmph, and here I thought you were just a young man with an absurdly high amount of magic at your disposal. I guess they don’t call you the Shadow Ruler of the Castle for nothing.」
As he said that, Klanven laughed loudly as he took the mask on the table in his hands. Then he brushed his hair aside and put the mask to his face, and it matched his features perfectly, creating the image of that mysterious person. He looked at us for a moment and then took the mask off.
「I knew it, so your really are that person, Your Highness.」
「Ahh, yes, that’s right. It would be the third time you have come into contact with that mask, right?」
「Third time?」
WhenI asked them about that, I saw a fire that was awakening in that man’s eyes. I saw that mask in the market the first time, and today marked the second time. So naturally I was curious to why he said I had seen it a third time.
「You were involved in the incident at the market, right? It was that person who helped me at that time.」
「…… Now that you mention it.」
Hearing that, I turned towards Klanven who removed the mask from his face.
「Your Highness. Your arm injury at that time……」
「Oh, if we’re talking about that time at the market, that thing was nothing that a little healing magic couldn’t take care of. Sure, it would leave a scar and all that, but it was nothing that Edilka couldn’t do on his own. With the spirit’s protection, something like that wouldn’t even happen.」
He said all that with relaxed expression, even though Edilka was right here, right next to him.
I didn’t know what to say. It was Klanven who injured Edilka-sama in such a way, and that fact alone was making me want to cry. However, Edilka-sama didn’t seem to care all that much about that, as his expression wasn’t changing in the slightest.
Healing wounds wasn’t that complicated of a process, but when we talk about wounds dealt with magic, you needed a specific type of magic to heal them properly. There were also things like the size and depth of the wounds, but essentially, the water spirits responsible for healing were not all that compatible with fire spirits.
Personally, I didn’t care all that much, but according to common sense, the evidence was all there, pointing towards Klanven, and showing that he was trying to set me against Edilka-sama. I wanted to see where this was going.
「Your Highness. Saying anymore will be considered as an attempt at seducing my wife.」
Even though Klanven was completely aware of the fact the man who was right in front of him was not really Edilka Vince but the court magician Agedilus Von Lancent, he was still laughing in an unscrupulous manner. He seemed to be as calm as ever.
「Oh, I’m so scared. Filmina, do you see the look in his eyes right now?」
In the meantime, Klanven seemed to be having the time of his life while he took a sip of his tea. But just like that man, I decided to stop being so lenient with him.
「Please stop trying to tease me like that. And you, Edilka-sama, please calm down and concentrate on your job. We still have much to talk about with him.」
The man looked as though he wanted to retort to my words, but ultimately he said nothing, yet again making his face seem expressionless.
Seeing that, Klanven laughs yet again and throws the mask back on the table.
「Oh well, it’s kind of like that. In addition to being a Priest, I have yet another face as one of the Shadows.」
I knew it. But even though I was kind of expecting that, I was still unable to stop myself from holding my breath. We silently urged him to continue and he opened his mouth.
「I feel kind of ashamed having to expose my secrets like that, but I guess I can trust the two of you, so it’s fine.」
–––– It seems that there are lots of people who wished Klanven unwell, even the ones he calls his friends and close family. It is said that even the Shadows, who usually swear total loyalty to the crown, are a constant threat to his life.
「That is why I wanted to disguise myself as one of the Shadows. You know, when you want to hide a tree, hide it in the forest.」
「I-I guess that is really convenient……」
He said that pretty lightly, but the idea was pretty clever and well-thought.
I was yet again at a loss for words, and I wondered if it was reflecting on my face. Klanven smiled gently at me, poking the Shadow mask that was now laying on the table in front of us.
「Luckily, I had a long history of sneaking out of the castle and temple and going to the old town to catch a few drinks, as you may have seen the other day. It’s a good example. Growing up in an environment like that, I needed to be able to take care of myself, and I am quite fond of that ability up to this day.」
「Yes indeed, we’ve seen that your friends were really quite fond of you. That’s why if they didn’t want to back away at that time, I was ready to take some drastic measures.」
「Oi, oi, what a horrible thing to say. Be that as it may, they are still my precious friends.」
「Excuse me then, that was indeed rude of me.」
Now this was truly an unpleasant situation. While the two of them were discussing the circumstances surrounding that mask, I was stuck in between them, forced to listen. It was like observing two atmospheric fronts clashing with one another –– a storm was approaching fast, and it was inevitable.
It was certainly unpleasant, but there was no way for me to do anything about it. I could only carry the cold tea to my mouth, hoping that the incoming storm wouldn’t catch me by accident.