"Ed Rothtaylor has value to us."
There is a lot of food at the meal.
Princess Phoenia, who has a small appetite, left most of it uneaten, but the dining table is always extravagantly laid out as a matter of royal prestige.
Such waste is distasteful, but with her status, she cannot have a modest meal either, so her feelings are complex.
After finishing her meal, Princess Phoenia headed towards the student council building in the professor's district, looking for an appropriate bench. A wooden bench with a table near the plaza. There could not be a better place to bask in the sun.
She had only sat down for a moment when her servants quickly brought a parasol to shade her and used the ready tea set to boil water with magic and promptly prepared hot tea.
"He may know something about the internal affairs of the Rothtaylor family. He's playing ignorant now, but with the right persuasion, he might speak. And if coaxed further, he could even act as a spy sent to the Rothtaylor' side."
Claire boldly spoke to Princess Phoenia, who was sipping her tea with poise. The conversation started at mealtime had not yet reached a conclusion.
"…"
There was still some time before the afternoon classes.
Princess Phoenia swept her platinum blonde hair with her delicate fingers and suddenly looked up at the bright autumn sky.
Princess Phoenia's insight screamed a warning about Crebin Rothtaylor.
His facade of a compassionate and dignified noble hid a sticky, dark madness.
However, there was no tangible evidence, so she couldn't quite move against him, but she was certain that the Sage's Seal must never fall into his hands.
"I heard the Rothtaylor family's negotiating team will arrive at Acken Island next week."
"It's strange. Selling the Sage's Seal is truly a disgraceful act, something they'd want to keep as quiet as possible. How would a third party like Crebin know about this and dispatch negotiators?"
"That boy… Ed may have reported it. He lives within the academy, so he might have heard rumors."
"Why would he do that? He's been expelled from the Rothtaylor family, so he has no need to be loyal to them any longer."
"If I were in that boy's shoes, I would do whatever it takes to be recognized and return to my family."
Claire said this and nodded.
Indeed, to a boy from the woods, the allure of the Rothtaylor family would be missed. It is said that he struggles to survive every day… he might want to return to his days of privilege.
'After being expelled, it seemed he had become indifferent to worldly matters, but perhaps the difference from the life he had lived as a noble was too much to bear.'
Princess Phoenia closed her eyes tightly, feeling a sense of irony.
"Well, who knows. Maybe it wasn't like that."
Another voice chimed in. Claire and Princess Phoenia turned their heads, and a girl with a familiar face sauntered over and sat opposite them.
Her alluring eyes and playful corner of her mouth resembled a mischievous little devil.
Her auburn hair, usually tied to one side and hanging in front, was spread out lushly today. While she usually wore her robe hat deep to hide her expressions in the shadows, today she had casually taken it off.
A headband with a blue rose motif harmoniously complemented her auburn hair, giving a settled feel.
Looking at her, one would not think of her as an inscrutable, wicked merchant, but rather just a girl full of vanity.
But everyone present knew that if they were deceived by her appearance and saw her as harmless, they would be bitten the moment they showed a weakness.
"Would Her Highness the Princess grant me the honor of sharing a cup of tea with a person of my humble status?"
A gleeful smile.
"…"
Princess Phoenia glared, and the servant brought an extra cup of tea and set it down opposite.
The aroma of high-quality herbs wafted up, but neither of them reached for their cups.
Lortelle Keheln, the real power behind the Elte Corporation and who is said to soon take the position of main head once she comes of age.
Having an audience with her was not planned, so Princess Phoenia felt slightly tense.
"It may be presumptuous of me to worry, but I wanted to make sure you knew that it's pure speculation to say that Senior Ed is siding with the Rothtaylor."
"That's unexpected, Lortelle."
Princess Phoenia's gaze narrowed. Reflected in her pupil was the sight of Lortelle sliding back the robe sleeve and slowly reaching for the teacup to enjoy its scent.
Princess Phoenia decided to speak plainly.
"I thought you disliked me."
"Oh my, that's unfortunate to hear, Princess Phoenia. If not, why would I come to you with such sincere advice?"
The level of her playfulness was almost artistic.
"It's Crebin Rothtaylor who involves himself in the envelope negotiations, not Senior Ed. It must be my father Elte's doing."
"What do you mean?"
Princess Phoenia had heard rumors about Elte as well. That he was nearly certain to fall from grace, losing almost all his power.
Despite her father being in such a tight spot, the fact that his adoptive daughter Lortelle was showing such a serene face was unsettling.
"The Elte Corporation wanted to purchase the Sage's Seal to sell it to Crebin for a higher price. Apparently, there was some agreement between my father, Elte Keheln, and Crebin Rothtaylor. Of course, I had no idea about it."
"… Then.."
"Even though my father has fallen from grace, there's no change in his plan to buy the Sage's Seal. The effort and time our Elte Corporation has invested in it are substantial."
Princess Phoenia quietly sat and listened to Lortelle's story. Without realizing it, she had started to talk less.
"It's about time to replace the 'sensitive' who will take responsibility for the Sage's Seal, so it's the right moment for the purchase negotiations. Our Elte Corporation will have to get busy. If we're not careful, the Rothtaylor family might snatch the envelope away."
"That's strange. Isn't the Elte Corporation ultimately planning to sell the Sage's Seal to the Rothtaylor family after purchasing it? It seems like the interests of the two groups align, so why does it appear that the Elte Corporation and the Rothtaylor family are competing to acquire the envelope?"
"That is… because I have no intention of selling the envelope to the Rothtaylor family. My current situation is a bit special, and it's better for me not to get too close to the business associates associated with my father."
Princess Phoenia was at a loss for words.
"After all, it was my father who agreed to sell the envelope to the Rothtaylor family, not me. And since it was a highly confidential agreement, appealing to the Elte Corporation now wouldn't do much. That's why Crebin Rothtaylor personally stepped into the envelope negotiations."
"Why are you telling me this internal information…"
"Because the enemy of my enemy is my ally."
With that, Lortelle smiled faintly, her eyes closed.
Only those who needed to know were aware of the college's financial pinch and that the sale of the Sage's Seal was under consideration. She never imagined that she would be told everything, including Elte Corporation's intentions and the position of the Rothtaylor family.
"If the Rothtaylor family is excluded, it's a win-win for us. I can acquire the envelope, which is good for me."
"…"
"We're friends, right? Aha. We share many classes as fellow students."
It was a pointed smile, sharp as an awl. Extending a hand too readily might lead to getting pierced.
Princess Phoenia was all too aware of this.
Lortelle Keheln and Princess Phoenia Elias Clorel… It's as if they stand on opposite sides of a mirror, and likely they will never understand or recognise each other until death.
"Besides, I had some concern that poor Senior Ed might suffer unreasonably. Perhaps it's worry as a junior."
"You're worried… about him?"
"Wouldn't it be unfair for someone who's already started a new life after leaving their family to suffer misconceptions about siding with the Rothtaylor family?"
Princess Phoenia's gaze narrowed once again.
The girl would never act out of pure goodwill to help someone, so it seemed certain that there must be an ulterior motive to her defense of Ed.
"Still, that boy… definitely has value."
At the present, the only person who might even vaguely know the inner workings of the Rothtaylor family is Ed.
Having lived as a member of the Rothtaylor family for a long time, even if he had been an incompetent and arrogant low-ranking member, he probably holds at least some information.
However, treating people as mere utilities, tossing them around like disposable tools… that's not Princess Phoenia's style.
"I'll try to ask for help, appeal to authority, issue commands… but if he still won't open up…"
"If he doesn't…?"
"Then… I'll have no choice but to 'use' him."
Princess Phoenia, the benevolent princess known for treating everyone with dignity, won't always lose sight of reality for the sake of idealism.
When necessary, she will cool her heart. She was not unaware of that fact.
Having heard Princess Phoenia's answer, Lortelle suddenly stiffened her expression, then abruptly raised her hand and slapped the robe hat back on.
Hiding her face in the shade, she bowed her head and intermittently shivered her body.
"Lortelle Keheln?"
What was that response? Was she lost in thought?
While Princess Phoenia stood dumbfounded, Lortelle kept her head down for a long while.
Suddenly, an ornate pigeon flew in and perched on Lortelle's shoulder. Yet, Lortelle continued to bow her head before eventually reaching out to the pigeon.
"Oh, from… the headquarters, a message…"
With a trembling voice, Lortelle struggled to continue speaking, but when she finally lifted her head, Princess Phoenia was momentarily disconcerted, and Claire next to her felt her blood surge.
Lortelle had been forcefully holding back laughter.
"The notion of deceiving and using others."
Unable to hold back, Lortelle continued.
"Who? Whom are you referring to?"
"You cretin! This insolent…! How dare you, before Her Highness in such a place…!"
"Princess Phoenia."
Although Claire was enraged, Lortelle boldly cut her off.
Lortelle Keheln had already finished assessing Ed Rothtaylor as a person.
Though he might be in a tough position, she couldn't imagine that Princess Phoenia, who had lived like a flower in a greenhouse, would manage to use him to her advantage.
Normally, she would laugh at Princess Phoenia's fruitless efforts from behind the scenes.
"Princess Phoenia. For this matter, we're allies, aren't we? For now, we need to push the Rothtaylor family out of this Acken Island as a common enemy. So I really want to give you genuine advice."
"…"
"Don't try to use him half-heartedly. You might end up being used instead."
Having said that, Lortelle picked up the message pigeon and stood up.
"Why are you leaving, Lortelle?"
"I have an appointment with someone. I came all dressed up, but the robe ruined my hair. Sigh. It's also impolite to disturb your rest any further, Princess, so I shall take my leave."
Lortelle offered a polite farewell.
"May peace be with you."
"Go on."
"Okay, okay."
Phoenia didn't enjoy asserting her authority, but that was certainly rude. Although she wasn't in the best of moods, there were too many other matters on her mind.
Above all, Lortelle's attitude towards Ed seemed to have drastically changed. Typically, Lortelle would show at least outward respect to her superiors, but she always had a tendency to weigh the worth of the other party.
And there was already enough confusion regarding Ed Rothtaylor's true intentions and assessments.
Despite being expelled, he seemed to be adjusting well to academy life, achieving commendable grades in various subjects, and often receiving evaluations as a solid individual.
Moreover, if even Lortelle, the fox of Elte Trading Company, was paying him such attention, it made Phoenia doubt her own insights.
"…"
Then, a slow and deep feeling started creeping into one corner of her heart.
Ed Rothtaylor.
She was the one who had expelled him. Even if he had intended it, the fact remains unchanged.
Ultimately, the emotion swirling inside her was guilt, albeit faint.
The difference in their statuses was enormous, and they weren't particularly close.
Being swayed by a momentary lapse in judgment for such individuals would only hinder her path as a monarch.
A ruler must know how to intentionally ignore such minor pangs of guilt.
"Claire. I've sent a letter, but still, please check. Make sure Ed is properly summoned to the royal quarters soon."
Regardless, Lortelle Keheln's movements needed to be monitored. The real threat was that woman.
Would it ever be possible to see her bewildered or at a loss?
That seemed like a distant dream, and Princess Phoenia sighed deeply.
The path of a ruler who manipulates people is long and arduous.
"… What?"
Lortelle, looking utterly confused, sat on the drawing-room sofa. She was clearly flustered.
"That's how it is."
"Hello, Lortelle. Long time no see, how have you been?"
Phoenia greeted her warmly with a radiant smile that seemed to scatter petals in the air.
The lavish drawing-room of Elte Trading Company's Sylvania branch, though neatly maintained, was seldom used.
With the limited space on Acken Island, there were hardly any distinguished guests visiting the branch, making it rarely used more than a few times a year. Despite being well-decorated, it was a shame not to use it more frequently.
Lortelle and Phoenia laughed facing each other, exchanging pleasantries with the world's kindest smiles.
"I'm sorry, Princess Phoenia. I didn't know you were coming, so I only prepared two cups of Phulanshan rosemary tea. Would you like some cold water?"
"Yes! That's fine! I thought I saw plenty stored in the company's commodity warehouse, but I guess those are merchandise and not for guests, right?"
"Yes, that's right! If only you had informed us in advance, we could have prepared sincerely. I was just thinking of having tea alone with Ed, so I didn't consider it."
"I'll have cold water. Phoenia, you have it."
Phoenia smiled and took the teacup with an "Okay!" while Lortelle, seemingly disgruntled, sighed heavily.
"I've checked the contents of the letter. It seems to concern Elte."
"Yes, that's right. It seems Elte's downfall has been smoothly executed by the company, but they seem too cool about it, which suggests they might have some ulterior motives."
The climax scenario of Act 2, leading from the Glast Subjugation to the contest for the Sage's Seal, remained unchanged in its broad outline.
However, Elte's early downfall and Crebin's involvement are certainly issues that need addressing.
Crebin Rothtaylor, wielding the power of the evil god Mebuler, is not someone who can be defeated at this stage.
The story must be 'deferred' until both mine and Taely's specs have improved sufficiently for the latter part.
Initially, Princess Phoenia, positioned to confront and defeat Crebin, is far too weak at this point.
Being watched by the first and second princesses, she cannot reach out to the royal power, nor has she risen to become the student council president to have a voice within the academy.
"I'm worried that Ed might be targeted. That's why I called him to check if there were any issues with his safety."
"I see. With Elte cornered, there's no telling what they might do, so we must always stay alert."
"Still, with the weakened force, there's a limit to what can be done. Oh right, would you like to take some magic engineering supplies?"
Lortelle said this and opened a cabinet, pulling out various crystal balls, magic books, engraving pens, and ink, among other things.
"These items haven't been moved for a long time, so feel free to take them without any burden."
"Lortelle. These are clearly brand-new items without a speck of dust. Giving away merchandise for free is against merchant ethics and could lead to criticism."
"Oh, Princess Phoenia. It seems you lack discernment. Look closely, all these items are defective."
Phoenia grumbled as she went to the display cabinet to check each item. The crystal ball had a tiny crack, the pen was slightly broken at a corner, and the magic ink packaging was slightly opened and leaking.
"It's obvious you made these defects on purpose! How can such shiny items have these flaws!"
"Well, that's not for me to judge. Ultimately, what matters is whether the items can be sold, right?"
"…"
"And whether they can be of help to Ed is also important."
As Lortelle spoke, Phoenia was left speechless.
"It's nice of you, but it feels wrong to accept these for free… I haven't even paid for the last batch of magic engineering supplies."
"Oh, I've transferred those payments to the next contract. It's easier for the receiver to pay all at once, and it's more convenient for you, the longer you delay payment, right? The more you postpone the payment date, the better."
"But hasn't the payment already been delayed four times?"
"Well, as long as you keep renewing the contract, it's not much of an issue for us. It's a small amount from our perspective."
As Lortelle grinned and shrugged, Phoenia suddenly puffed her cheeks.
"Wouldn't it be easier for both sides to just pay off and end the contract quickly? Ed also needs to plan how to use the remaining money, so it's best to clear all debts."
"That's something 'we' should discuss, isn't it?"
"Ah- really-!
Ignoring the bickering between the indignant Phoenia and the smoothly deflecting Lortelle, I reclined back on the sofa.
But still… Ed…
If the senior says so…
Once again, a familiar sensation seeps through my entire body.
It felt like swimming through water. Lately, I've been finding myself in this state more often.
The sounds around me echo as if from a great distance, and I let my body float in a state of weightlessness, momentarily setting my mind adrift.
Considering it, there's still a heap of tasks waiting for me even after visiting the Elte Trading Company.
I need to pack up the jerky I dried before Lucy gets to it.
The cabin needs another round of cleaning too. It's the final cleanup before bringing in chairs, desks, and bed frames.
I also have to make a mattress for the bed. While crafting a modern spring mattress might be out of reach, I could possibly stuff sewn cloth with feathers, leftover fabric, or miscellaneous textiles to make it soft.
The young deer I caught the day before yesterday needs to be processed. Skinning it, removing the innards, and then smoking the meat by cutting it into pieces is a time-consuming task.
I haven't finished the Elemental Studies assignment or the Intro to Advanced Magic homework. There's also the Herbology practical next week to prepare for.
I've run out of arrows too. I need to check if my workout clothes for tomorrow's jog to school have dried. The window work for the cabin needs finishing. Before winter arrives, I need to stock up on more firewood. I must also find a way to preserve food throughout the winter. It's crucial to find a method to procure proper winter clothing.
Ed, Ed!
Senior?
As I slowly organize my tasks, the drowsy feeling envelops me again.
Sinking into the sensation of swimming through water, I felt myself gradually sinking into the sofa.
….
....
[ You are falling into a state of altered consciousness! ]
That person seems to have gotten his act together compared to before.
He quietly attends classes, diligently completes assignments, and then heads home.
Kicked out of the dormitory, I wonder how he's managing to live. It must be hard to find decent accommodation on such a secluded island, especially without a penny to his name.
Surprisingly, he's quite good at studying. A real hard worker.
I didn't want to get too close because I remembered him being annoying in the past, but you have to admit he's diligent and follows a strict routine.
Was he really that bad of a person? Maybe my perception has softened over time.
I occasionally see him in class, and he doesn't say a word. Truly, it seems he's only focused on his studies. What a surprise.
"Could he have been a decent person after all?"
No matter how well someone pretends to have changed, they can only keep up the act for up to a month.
Usually, they revert to their true nature after about a month, but he's been living this unbelievable lifestyle in that camp for almost half a year.
"…"
In the royal quarters' private bedroom,
Princess Phoenia sat alone at her grand personal table and sighed deeply.
Is it finally time to truly acknowledge it?
His diligent fishing at the camp, his unwavering response during the Glast Subjugation, the students' testimonies that he's solely focused on his studies, and Lortelle's warning not to judge him hastily.
Intuitions and minor clues continuously whispered to Princess Phoenia.
Perhaps, her insight was wrong.
If that's the case, had she erred in expelling a decent and sturdy boy from the family, leaving him penniless and struggling for survival in the forest?
Regardless, she had sent a letter through Claire, instructing Ed to visit the royal quarters.
Since it's a royal command, Ed will undoubtedly come to the royal quarters.
That will be the moment to thoroughly understand the man's true intentions.
And if her judgment was mistaken… then it's time to fully accept that.
"Princess."
"Claire."
Lost in thought, the Guard Captain, Claire, knocked and entered. He must have something to report, and it's obvious what it might be.
"Is tomorrow's schedule set? When is Ed Rothtaylor expected to…"
"Princess, it seems he won't be able to visit for some time."
"Why? Even though it's a royal command… if he intends to refuse, he must have a valid reason, right?"
Phoenia didn't want to assert her authority, but a command sent personally by her is equivalent to a royal decree. If he refused, there must be a clear reason.
"… He collapsed due to overwork."
Always seemed like an iron man.
Hearing that news, she couldn't help but doubt her ears.
"Trying to balance survival activities and studies, he reached his limit. He's currently in a coma."
Even diligence has its limits, it seems.