“What on earth are the Royal Palace and the Mage Association thinking!”
In the Capital City, Olivier Alway, who resided at the Alway Ducal Family Villa, was agitated by the information brought by her father.
Her fiancé had been arrested. Her father and Baron Daum were summoned to the Royal Palace, where they were personally informed of the situation by the King.
“To use Jared as bait to uncover Cassandra’s schemes… He’s not even a Court Mage yet!”
Throwing a pillow didn’t calm her anger.
On his way back from the Royal Palace, her father did not return to the main family residence but visited Olivier. He had intended to share what he had learned with his worried daughter and family now that her fiancé was gone.
However, what her father revealed was unbelievable.
Duke Cassandra Hagedorff, whom Olivier had once admired as an elder sister, was scheming something behind the scenes.
He was enlisting members of the Mage Association to investigate something. Not only that, but there was also the possibility that he was holding his brothers, whom he had ousted, captive as he vied for the head of the family.
“To use Jared, my fiancé, as bait for *such a minor thing*!”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
She was infuriated that the Royal Palace was investigating Cassandra for merely “scheming something,” feelings echoed by Jared being used as bait.
“Yes, it’s true that Cassandra was planning something as significant as the Progenitor’s revival! But that doesn’t give her the right to do whatever she wants!”
It seemed that the decision to use Jared was made on the spot by Dennis Beckman, the First Seat of the Court Mages, but the Royal Palace still bore responsibility.
The fact of the matter was that Cassandra was indeed plotting the Progenitor’s revival. The Royal Palace would surely be satisfied to learn this. The person they had suspected was harboring such an ambitious scheme.
Olivier was not unaffected either. She found it hard to believe, but she was said to be descended from the Progenitor’s bloodline. Fortunately, she had undergone a procedure to prevent her from becoming a vessel for the Progenitor’s revival, but her anxiety remained.
She sighed, wondering if she had become this weak simply because Jared, who had protected her since they met, was no longer by her side.
“I’ve… grown weak.”
She was no longer the woman who fought alone.
She had found someone to love and a warm family. Therefore, she was afraid of losing them.
“I wonder what Jared is doing now?”
She knew he was already in the Hagedorff Ducal Territory. She hoped that Pfeil, who had gone to gather information and meet him, had managed to join him, which would be a great reassurance.
Having been targeted by him in the past, Olivier knew Pfeil’s terrifying capabilities. Furthermore, he had helped them numerous times since then, and Olivier believed that this boy, whom she could now call family, would surely aid her fiancé.
“–Olivier (Male)”
Her name was called from beyond the door, snapping Olivier out of her distant thoughts.
“Trane?”
“My apologies.”
The maid, who entered the room quietly, usually wore an expressionless face, but a clear shadow of concern crossed it. Troubled, Olivier inquired.
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes. A letter has arrived from Duke Cassandra Hagedorff.”
“–Hmph, should I praise her for her audacity?”
Cassandra in her memories was a kind and gentle woman. Despite her unfortunate birth, she had bravely lived while facing persecution from her family and protecting her mother.
Olivier, whose Hannelore had been targeted, had behaved in imitation of her.
She was someone Olivier had looked up to, respected. More than anything, she felt like an elder sister and deeply loved her.
“To hold Jared captive and then send a letter… It’s as if she’s broadcasting her intentions.”
Still, she could not ignore the letter.
While she was angry at her childhood friend, the Duke, she was also worried.
Olivier took the letter from Trane and cut open the seal with a paperknife.
“…I see.”
She nodded and swallowed, reading the familiar, elegant handwriting.
“What did it say?”
“She wishes to meet and speak with me.”
***
A brief note from the Capital City’s side.
The timeline here is offset by one day from Jared’s side.
