The day after Prince Tesla's trial, Hetor visited Roxana's bedroom.
"Logan sent it."
A magic potion that temporarily erases burn scars arrived from the Principality of Aklatto on the Ravens.
"Really? Where is it?"
Roxana couldn't hide her excitement.
Hetor pulled a magic potion bottle from his uniform pocket and handed it to her.
"Are you going to drink it right now?"
"Of course! Then I can get rid of this cumbersome thing."
Roxana threw the veil hat she had been wearing to hide her burn scars onto the bed and immediately uncorked the magic potion.
She hesitated a bit as she tried to drink it.
"Are you sure this is the potion that will hide burn scars?"
"If you're even the slightest bit worried..."
Before Hetor could finish his sentence, Roxana downed the magic potion in one gulp.
“He wouldn’t have messed around with the Empress of the Lapion Empire’s drinking place, would he?”
“Yes, so he must have made the potion you asked for and sent it to you. Here’s a letter, too.”
Bellos paused, studying Hetor’s complicated face.
After the Magic Tower Lord left the office, it was time for tea with the concubines, so he slowly got up.
“I’ll take it too.”
He stopped me as I was heading to my quarters.
“Keep your dignity.”
“That’s long gone. There are two things I can’t keep from you. One is my desire for you, and the other is my dignity.”
He spoke as if in prayer, clasping his hands.
“...So what?”
“I’m asking you to save me.”
“What are you doing joining in on the ladies’ chatter?”
“I’m just trying to make you a cup of tea so you don’t get thirsty while chatting. Why?”
“Ugh.”
I can’t live like this.
I finally burst out laughing and held out my hand to him.
He quickly took my hand, suppressing his joy, and strode out of the office.
When I arrived in Rosie’s bedroom, Melanie was already there.
“Oh, why are you here, Your Majesty?”
Melanie asked absentmindedly.
In the past, she would have narrowed her eyes and greeted him, but for some reason, he reacted coldly.
“Can’t you help me with my luggage?”
Linel asked with a slightly disappointed expression. Melanie reluctantly offered him a seat.
“Since you’re here, please take a seat.”
He sat down on a chair in the corner, glancing at Rams, who was in Rosie's arms.
"You're the only one who welcomes me."
Rams smiled brightly at him, and he reached out a long arm, patted Rams' chubby cheek, and smiled.
"Oh, by the way, Your Majesty. You asked me to think of something I'd like at the banquet in the Empress's Palace before, remember?"
Melanie suddenly asked, shoving a plate of refreshments at Linel.
I glanced at his face.
He seemed completely unfazed.
So I added a word.
“The day His Majesty stopped by for a meal with the concubines. He made a promise to Melanie then.”
That day, in the presence of Roxana, Melanie mentioned an anecdote from when I was Empress.
“You know, back then, His Majesty found Her Highness Zelda’s lips sweeter than cake? You all remember, right?”
"Logan sent it."
A magic potion that temporarily erases burn scars arrived from the Principality of Aklatto on the Ravens.
"Really? Where is it?"
Roxana couldn't hide her excitement.
Hetor pulled a magic potion bottle from his uniform pocket and handed it to her.
"Are you going to drink it right now?"
"Of course! Then I can get rid of this cumbersome thing."
Roxana threw the veil hat she had been wearing to hide her burn scars onto the bed and immediately uncorked the magic potion.
She hesitated a bit as she tried to drink it.
"Are you sure this is the potion that will hide burn scars?"
"If you're even the slightest bit worried..."
Before Hetor could finish his sentence, Roxana downed the magic potion in one gulp.
“He wouldn’t have messed around with the Empress of the Lapion Empire’s drinking place, would he?”
“Yes, so he must have made the potion you asked for and sent it to you. Here’s a letter, too.”
Hetor handed Roxana Logan’s letter.
However, she waved her hand as if annoyed and asked Hetor about the contents of the letter.
“But, I clearly told him to come to the Lapion Empire, so why did he only send magic potions?”
“It seems like they haven’t been able to find someone to manage the magic tower.”
However, she waved her hand as if annoyed and asked Hetor about the contents of the letter.
“But, I clearly told him to come to the Lapion Empire, so why did he only send magic potions?”
“It seems like they haven’t been able to find someone to manage the magic tower.”
“Huh, why does the owner of the magic tower care so much about the empty magic tower?”
Roxana sneered with a hollow laugh.
“He said he’ll come over as soon as he finds a magic tower keeper.”
“Of course he will. That way, he can get revenge on the person who killed Bonis.”
Roxana had recently sent someone to the magic tower to deliver a letter to Logan.
She had offered a considerable amount of money for a magic potion to cover up her burn scars. Half of the money had already been paid.
She'd also added a note as bait, telling Logan to come to the Lapion Palace if he wanted to know how Bonis died.
In truth, Logan's reason for coming to the Lapion Palace wasn't money, but rather the truth about his daughter's death and revenge.
"I don't think it was a good idea to write in the letter that Bonis's death was the fault of the former Empress and the Magic Tower Lord. If the truth comes out..."
"Of course, so be it."
Roxana dismissed Hetor's opinion outright.
"First, I need to do whatever it takes to get this horrible scar off my face and then get back to thinking."
She planned to use the dead Bonis as bait to lure Logan back into action.
This time, Logan seemed to have easily fallen for her ruse.
"Hetor, go tell the Magic Tower Lord that Logan will be arriving at the palace soon. I said to meet him when he arrives."
Roxana had tried several times to have Hetor and Nancy summon the Magic Tower Lord to the Empress's Palace.
But each time, Bellos repeatedly refused to meet Roxana.
He always made excuses to postpone their private meeting, but she knew it was largely intentional.
“But he’ll probably refuse this time, too. I told him before that I wouldn’t interfere with Logan selling you his own potion.”
“Still, tell him that. Haa... that stupid magic tower master.”
Roxana vented her frustrations at Bellos.
“If he can’t even make Zelda his woman, he should just leave. What lingering attachment is he holding onto?”
He has no pride. He’s wasted his years.
He was already attached to Zelda, but Bellos, the magic tower master, was the only one who could provide information on the whereabouts of the Incarnation Sword and a cure for the fever he developed after taking the red potion. So she couldn’t just cut him off.
“What are you doing? Why don’t you hurry up and come back?”
Roxana urged Hetor, who stood there blankly staring at her.
Hetor's gaze, staring at her, seemed a bit strange, but she didn't think much of it.
She had made Hetor drink the obedience potion before leaving the Duchy of Aklatto, so he wouldn't betray her anyway.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Go ahead."
Roxana waved her hand, and Hetor turned silently and headed toward the main palace where the Magic Tower Lord was staying.
We had called the Magic Tower Lord to his office because we had some unfinished business about the Valley of Death last night. We also had something to tell Emperor Adrian.
With Prince Tesla's trial over, it was time to slowly tighten the Emperor's noose.
Linel and I relayed everything we'd heard from Joseph to the Magic Tower Lord.
"It seems true that Philike is using black magic to impersonate Emperor Adrian..."
Bellos was certain.
Philike was also his disciple.
Philike, along with Logan, Bonis's father, Big, who had made Zelda's magic potion, and even Rosie's mother, were all Bellos's last disciples.
Philike, of all of them, was said to be particularly greedy.
"I heard he was once driven out by you."
"Yes, after that, he crossed to the Southern Continent and became a court wizard for the Tebello Imperial Family... And the last news of him was that he lost an arm to His Majesty in the Valley of Death three years ago and disappeared."
Roxana sneered with a hollow laugh.
“He said he’ll come over as soon as he finds a magic tower keeper.”
“Of course he will. That way, he can get revenge on the person who killed Bonis.”
Roxana had recently sent someone to the magic tower to deliver a letter to Logan.
She had offered a considerable amount of money for a magic potion to cover up her burn scars. Half of the money had already been paid.
She'd also added a note as bait, telling Logan to come to the Lapion Palace if he wanted to know how Bonis died.
In truth, Logan's reason for coming to the Lapion Palace wasn't money, but rather the truth about his daughter's death and revenge.
"I don't think it was a good idea to write in the letter that Bonis's death was the fault of the former Empress and the Magic Tower Lord. If the truth comes out..."
"Of course, so be it."
Roxana dismissed Hetor's opinion outright.
"First, I need to do whatever it takes to get this horrible scar off my face and then get back to thinking."
She planned to use the dead Bonis as bait to lure Logan back into action.
This time, Logan seemed to have easily fallen for her ruse.
"Hetor, go tell the Magic Tower Lord that Logan will be arriving at the palace soon. I said to meet him when he arrives."
Roxana had tried several times to have Hetor and Nancy summon the Magic Tower Lord to the Empress's Palace.
But each time, Bellos repeatedly refused to meet Roxana.
He always made excuses to postpone their private meeting, but she knew it was largely intentional.
“But he’ll probably refuse this time, too. I told him before that I wouldn’t interfere with Logan selling you his own potion.”
“Still, tell him that. Haa... that stupid magic tower master.”
Roxana vented her frustrations at Bellos.
“If he can’t even make Zelda his woman, he should just leave. What lingering attachment is he holding onto?”
He has no pride. He’s wasted his years.
He was already attached to Zelda, but Bellos, the magic tower master, was the only one who could provide information on the whereabouts of the Incarnation Sword and a cure for the fever he developed after taking the red potion. So she couldn’t just cut him off.
“What are you doing? Why don’t you hurry up and come back?”
Roxana urged Hetor, who stood there blankly staring at her.
Hetor's gaze, staring at her, seemed a bit strange, but she didn't think much of it.
She had made Hetor drink the obedience potion before leaving the Duchy of Aklatto, so he wouldn't betray her anyway.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Go ahead."
Roxana waved her hand, and Hetor turned silently and headed toward the main palace where the Magic Tower Lord was staying.
***
We had called the Magic Tower Lord to his office because we had some unfinished business about the Valley of Death last night. We also had something to tell Emperor Adrian.
With Prince Tesla's trial over, it was time to slowly tighten the Emperor's noose.
Linel and I relayed everything we'd heard from Joseph to the Magic Tower Lord.
"It seems true that Philike is using black magic to impersonate Emperor Adrian..."
Bellos was certain.
Philike was also his disciple.
Philike, along with Logan, Bonis's father, Big, who had made Zelda's magic potion, and even Rosie's mother, were all Bellos's last disciples.
Philike, of all of them, was said to be particularly greedy.
"I heard he was once driven out by you."
"Yes, after that, he crossed to the Southern Continent and became a court wizard for the Tebello Imperial Family... And the last news of him was that he lost an arm to His Majesty in the Valley of Death three years ago and disappeared."
"And then he used black magic to enter Emperor Adrian's body, did he?"
I asked the Magic tower lord, rubbing my arm with a creepy feeling.
"I suppose so."
The Magic Tower Lord said he had already been on guard against Emperor Adrian during the Continental Hunting Competition.
He clearly didn't feel like a normal human, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong.
"Now that I think about it, it seems the black magic prevented me from accurately reading his aura."
The Magic Tower Master scoffed at Philike's bold and reckless choice.
"In fact, the decisive reason Philike was expelled from the Magic Tower was because his pathological obsession with wyverns led him to secretly learn the long-forbidden language, which was discovered."
I asked the Magic tower lord, rubbing my arm with a creepy feeling.
"I suppose so."
The Magic Tower Lord said he had already been on guard against Emperor Adrian during the Continental Hunting Competition.
He clearly didn't feel like a normal human, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong.
"Now that I think about it, it seems the black magic prevented me from accurately reading his aura."
The Magic Tower Master scoffed at Philike's bold and reckless choice.
"In fact, the decisive reason Philike was expelled from the Magic Tower was because his pathological obsession with wyverns led him to secretly learn the long-forbidden language, which was discovered."
"So, because of the wyverns, he even dabbled in black magic and entered Emperor Adrian's body."
Even giving up his own body.
I sighed.
"That's true. But even if Philike speaks the wyvern language, there's nothing to worry about."
The Magic Tower Master looked back and forth between him and me, reassuring me.
"Really?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Unlike Her Highness Zelda, he doesn't have fire powers, and most importantly, he doesn't possess the Incarnation Sword, so he cannot directly influence the wyverns."
"That's fortunate, but wouldn't it be possible to confuse the wyverns by talking to them?"
“Of course, that’s a possibility. However, just because you can communicate with wyverns doesn’t mean you can control them. As long as Her Highness Zelda is here.”
The magic tower master looked at me with such a holy gaze that I smiled slightly, embarrassed.
“Magic Tower Lord, why are you talking about such a serious matter as if you were confessing your love?”
Linel was needlessly irritated with my best friend.
“Your Majesty, it’s probably just because I’m a sweet person.”
The magic tower master was no less brazen.
“After 200 years, a person should have become more refined, but does it seem like your appearance doesn’t change your sensibility?”
The person in question thought of himself as sweet, but to Linel, he seemed like just a sensible person.
Was it too much to ask for the two of them to become close?
At first glance, they do have some similarities, after all.
Especially when it comes to evaluating their appearances...
“But if Philike had been sucking blood and maintaining his dark magic for years, then we must assume that Philike’s soul has now been imprinted on Emperor Adrian’s body.”
Magic Tower Lord's expression became serious again.
“Then the original Emperor Adrian...?”
“The body is alive with dark magic, but his soul is already dead, Your Majesty.”
This meant that Philike had become the perfect Emperor Adrian.
“I guess we should just call him Emperor Adrian, not Philike,”
He said with a snort, and Magic Tower Lord nodded.
“How about Emperor Adrian accompanying us on our way to the Pasha Empire?”
The two men’s expressions grew cautious at my suggestion.
“We’ll cross the Valley of Death by boat, so if we’re lucky, we might see a herd of wyverns, right?”
“Do you think Emperor Adrian will reveal his true colors if he sees a wyvern?”
Linel saw through my intention.
“Yes, if there’s even a single wyvern, he’ll definitely try to talk to them. Just like how he constantly tried to talk to Moiya whenever he felt its presence, even though he didn’t know where it was.”
“I agree.”
The Magic Tower Lord agreed with my suggestion, but Linel looked unimpressed.
“Let me think about this some more.”
Linel postponed his decision.
He seemed concerned about the potential danger.
“But Your Majesty, even if Your Majesty doesn’t allow him to accompany you, Emperor Adrian would have received an invitation.”
“Yes. If he agrees to come, then there’s no choice.”
“So, Zelda, how about you render him unconscious again like last time? I’ll see what happens, so you, Magic Tower Lord, use that pretty nape of your neck to lure him in.”
“...Huh? My nape?”
The Magic Tower Lord flinched.
“Yes. I see that Emperor Adrian usually attacks the neck, drawing blood.”
I couldn't help but laugh at Linel's joke.
Wait, judging by his serious expression, it wasn't a joke.
"You've been over 200 years without a single wrinkle on your neck, so why don't you make a sacrifice this time? In a way, I think it's all your fault for teaching your disciple poorly."
At Linel's suggestion, Magic Tower Lord slowly rose from the sofa.
"Where are you going?"
"Excuse me, Your Majesty. I'm actually a bit anemic, so I think I should go back to my room and lie down."
Magic Tower Lord put a hand to his forehead, feigning dizziness, then hurriedly opened the office door.
"That bastard..."
Linel watched Magic Tower Lord's back, then silently extended his middle finger.
Returning to his own room, Bellos grumbled as he opened the door.
"Even I can see the end! You, ruthless Emperor. If you're that worried, why would you risk your own life?"
The more Bellos thought about it, the angrier he became.
"No, it's bad enough being kicked! Why are you bleeding me... Huh?"
What the hell is that guy doing?
Belos sensed something odd and turned his head toward the window.
A large figure stood in front of the window, blocking the sunlight.
“Hetor, what’s going on this time? I clearly told you I wouldn’t be visiting the Empress’s Palace for the time being.”
“Logan brought a magic potion to the Empress’s Palace with the crows.”
Belos nodded nonchalantly.
“If that’s the case, you don’t need to tell me. Didn’t I say I wouldn’t get involved in buying potions from Logan with money?”
“The Empress told me to tell you that we should all have a meal together when Logan arrives here soon.”
“Well, I’ll do that when Logan arrives. If you’re done with your business, you can go.”
Belos nodded absentmindedly, and Hetor, who had been hesitating for some reason, spoke.
“Master of the Magic Tower. I have something to ask you...”
“You to me?”
Bellos looked at Hetor up and down with a puzzled look.
“Is there a potion that makes people obey?”
“Of course. But it’s not an easy thing to make. Especially between men and women, the effect only appears on those who have had sexual relations.”
“...Really? Then is it possible that the potion’s effectiveness decreases?”
“Of course. Almost all magical potions have exceptions.”
“Then when does the potion’s effectiveness decrease?”
“For example, if there was contact with another person of the opposite sex, or if emotions arose as a result, the potion’s effectiveness decreases... But why are you asking that?”
Even giving up his own body.
I sighed.
"That's true. But even if Philike speaks the wyvern language, there's nothing to worry about."
The Magic Tower Master looked back and forth between him and me, reassuring me.
"Really?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Unlike Her Highness Zelda, he doesn't have fire powers, and most importantly, he doesn't possess the Incarnation Sword, so he cannot directly influence the wyverns."
"That's fortunate, but wouldn't it be possible to confuse the wyverns by talking to them?"
“Of course, that’s a possibility. However, just because you can communicate with wyverns doesn’t mean you can control them. As long as Her Highness Zelda is here.”
The magic tower master looked at me with such a holy gaze that I smiled slightly, embarrassed.
“Magic Tower Lord, why are you talking about such a serious matter as if you were confessing your love?”
Linel was needlessly irritated with my best friend.
“Your Majesty, it’s probably just because I’m a sweet person.”
The magic tower master was no less brazen.
“After 200 years, a person should have become more refined, but does it seem like your appearance doesn’t change your sensibility?”
The person in question thought of himself as sweet, but to Linel, he seemed like just a sensible person.
Was it too much to ask for the two of them to become close?
At first glance, they do have some similarities, after all.
Especially when it comes to evaluating their appearances...
“But if Philike had been sucking blood and maintaining his dark magic for years, then we must assume that Philike’s soul has now been imprinted on Emperor Adrian’s body.”
Magic Tower Lord's expression became serious again.
“Then the original Emperor Adrian...?”
“The body is alive with dark magic, but his soul is already dead, Your Majesty.”
This meant that Philike had become the perfect Emperor Adrian.
“I guess we should just call him Emperor Adrian, not Philike,”
He said with a snort, and Magic Tower Lord nodded.
“How about Emperor Adrian accompanying us on our way to the Pasha Empire?”
The two men’s expressions grew cautious at my suggestion.
“We’ll cross the Valley of Death by boat, so if we’re lucky, we might see a herd of wyverns, right?”
“Do you think Emperor Adrian will reveal his true colors if he sees a wyvern?”
Linel saw through my intention.
“Yes, if there’s even a single wyvern, he’ll definitely try to talk to them. Just like how he constantly tried to talk to Moiya whenever he felt its presence, even though he didn’t know where it was.”
“I agree.”
The Magic Tower Lord agreed with my suggestion, but Linel looked unimpressed.
“Let me think about this some more.”
Linel postponed his decision.
He seemed concerned about the potential danger.
“But Your Majesty, even if Your Majesty doesn’t allow him to accompany you, Emperor Adrian would have received an invitation.”
“Yes. If he agrees to come, then there’s no choice.”
“So, Zelda, how about you render him unconscious again like last time? I’ll see what happens, so you, Magic Tower Lord, use that pretty nape of your neck to lure him in.”
“...Huh? My nape?”
The Magic Tower Lord flinched.
“Yes. I see that Emperor Adrian usually attacks the neck, drawing blood.”
I couldn't help but laugh at Linel's joke.
Wait, judging by his serious expression, it wasn't a joke.
"You've been over 200 years without a single wrinkle on your neck, so why don't you make a sacrifice this time? In a way, I think it's all your fault for teaching your disciple poorly."
At Linel's suggestion, Magic Tower Lord slowly rose from the sofa.
"Where are you going?"
"Excuse me, Your Majesty. I'm actually a bit anemic, so I think I should go back to my room and lie down."
Magic Tower Lord put a hand to his forehead, feigning dizziness, then hurriedly opened the office door.
"That bastard..."
Linel watched Magic Tower Lord's back, then silently extended his middle finger.
***
Returning to his own room, Bellos grumbled as he opened the door.
"Even I can see the end! You, ruthless Emperor. If you're that worried, why would you risk your own life?"
The more Bellos thought about it, the angrier he became.
"No, it's bad enough being kicked! Why are you bleeding me... Huh?"
What the hell is that guy doing?
Belos sensed something odd and turned his head toward the window.
A large figure stood in front of the window, blocking the sunlight.
“Hetor, what’s going on this time? I clearly told you I wouldn’t be visiting the Empress’s Palace for the time being.”
“Logan brought a magic potion to the Empress’s Palace with the crows.”
Belos nodded nonchalantly.
“If that’s the case, you don’t need to tell me. Didn’t I say I wouldn’t get involved in buying potions from Logan with money?”
“The Empress told me to tell you that we should all have a meal together when Logan arrives here soon.”
“Well, I’ll do that when Logan arrives. If you’re done with your business, you can go.”
Belos nodded absentmindedly, and Hetor, who had been hesitating for some reason, spoke.
“Master of the Magic Tower. I have something to ask you...”
“You to me?”
Bellos looked at Hetor up and down with a puzzled look.
“Is there a potion that makes people obey?”
“Of course. But it’s not an easy thing to make. Especially between men and women, the effect only appears on those who have had sexual relations.”
“...Really? Then is it possible that the potion’s effectiveness decreases?”
“Of course. Almost all magical potions have exceptions.”
“Then when does the potion’s effectiveness decrease?”
“For example, if there was contact with another person of the opposite sex, or if emotions arose as a result, the potion’s effectiveness decreases... But why are you asking that?”
Bellos paused, studying Hetor’s complicated face.
***
After the Magic Tower Lord left the office, it was time for tea with the concubines, so he slowly got up.
“I’ll take it too.”
He stopped me as I was heading to my quarters.
“Keep your dignity.”
“That’s long gone. There are two things I can’t keep from you. One is my desire for you, and the other is my dignity.”
He spoke as if in prayer, clasping his hands.
“...So what?”
“I’m asking you to save me.”
“What are you doing joining in on the ladies’ chatter?”
“I’m just trying to make you a cup of tea so you don’t get thirsty while chatting. Why?”
“Ugh.”
I can’t live like this.
I finally burst out laughing and held out my hand to him.
He quickly took my hand, suppressing his joy, and strode out of the office.
***
When I arrived in Rosie’s bedroom, Melanie was already there.
“Oh, why are you here, Your Majesty?”
Melanie asked absentmindedly.
In the past, she would have narrowed her eyes and greeted him, but for some reason, he reacted coldly.
“Can’t you help me with my luggage?”
Linel asked with a slightly disappointed expression. Melanie reluctantly offered him a seat.
“Since you’re here, please take a seat.”
He sat down on a chair in the corner, glancing at Rams, who was in Rosie's arms.
"You're the only one who welcomes me."
Rams smiled brightly at him, and he reached out a long arm, patted Rams' chubby cheek, and smiled.
"Oh, by the way, Your Majesty. You asked me to think of something I'd like at the banquet in the Empress's Palace before, remember?"
Melanie suddenly asked, shoving a plate of refreshments at Linel.
I glanced at his face.
He seemed completely unfazed.
So I added a word.
“The day His Majesty stopped by for a meal with the concubines. He made a promise to Melanie then.”
That day, in the presence of Roxana, Melanie mentioned an anecdote from when I was Empress.
“You know, back then, His Majesty found Her Highness Zelda’s lips sweeter than cake? You all remember, right?”
She said that it was also a dinner with the concubines, and that he came for dessert, but in front of the concubines, he ate my lips like cake... It was a cringeworthy story.
Linel had told Melanie that day that he would reward her for awakening a memory he had forgotten. He told her to think carefully and tell him what she wanted.
“Ah, I think I remember,”
Linel said, slapping his knee.
“So, have you thought about what you want?”
He asked Melanie.
“Melanie~ I want a person, not an object~”
Suddenly, Melanie hunched her shoulders and began to sway.
“!”
Linel had told Melanie that day that he would reward her for awakening a memory he had forgotten. He told her to think carefully and tell him what she wanted.
“Ah, I think I remember,”
Linel said, slapping his knee.
“So, have you thought about what you want?”
He asked Melanie.
“Melanie~ I want a person, not an object~”
Suddenly, Melanie hunched her shoulders and began to sway.
“!”
"...Why are you doing that?
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