Chapter 223: A Beast in the Capital

Chapter 223: A Beast in the CapitalMarghetta and I enjoyed some truly peaceful days after I successfully rescued her mental state. Perhaps it was because we had already weathered a crisis that was bound to happen in the future.

Even her birthday, which she had been nervously anticipating, passed by uneventfully.

"I already received something precious."

Marghetta said that while gently stroking her left hand—specifically, her ring finger—with a soft, contented smile. Seeing her like that, I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

The fact that it was originally just one ring was a secret I'd take to my grave. Since she looked so happy with it, her mental state might crumble again if I told her that it was actually broken.

"I'll get you something even better next time."

All I could do was try to replace it with a proper ring.

"Fufu, there's nothing better than this one. It's my first ring, after all."

However, even that attempt failed.

What a mess. Was I really going to let her keep wearing a broken ring?

...The opportunity will come.

There would be plenty of chances—there was still the engagement ring and the wedding ring. Eventually, I'd find a way to replace it.

"Hey, Carl."

"Yes, Mar?"

"Can I have your hand for a moment?"

I chuckled softly at her familiar request and held out my left hand.

With a proud smile, Marghetta extended her own left hand.

"It's really looks like one ring."

I nodded in agreement with Marghetta, who hummed happily. When our left hands overlapped, the two halves of the ring looked like a whole again.

It was originally one ring, so...

The secret lingered on my tongue, but I couldn't say it. No matter how many times I vowed to myself, it wasn’t enough. This secret must never be revealed.

A few days ago, I generously paid the merchant who sold me the ring and encouraged them to set up shop in the capital instead of the academy. That would greatly reduce the chance of Marghetta finding out.

It was a sudden move, but the merchant was happy to expand their business to the capital, so it seemed like a win-win situation. At least, I hoped so.

"...I'll never take it off again."

Marghetta said softly, holding my hand.

She seemed determined, as if she would wear it for the rest of her life no matter what happened. I could only nod in agreement.

***Countless eyes were on us as we walked around.

"So it's true."

"A ring that becomes whole when joined? How wonderful."

I could hear the whispers of female students from afar. Each time, my fingers tingled. Since when did their gazes gain physical weight?

This feels strangely familiar.

It was like being a predator in a zoo. I had felt this way before, during the Mage Duchess incident.

Rumors had spread back then too—one side said that the Mage Duchess confessed to the Prosecutors' Office's Executive Manager, while another said that he was engaged to the daughter of the Iron-blooded Duke. It was the perfect situation for gossip to thrive.

Although it hadn't spread across the entire empire this time, I instinctively had a hunch that it was only a matter of time.

The academy is the best place for rumors to spread.

It was a social hub for all the nobility’s children and even some foreigners. In such a place, a single rumor could quickly set the entire empire and even the continent ablaze, especially if there was no reason to control it.

"Carl."

"Oh, Mar."

Besides, with Marghetta frequently roaming the academy, there was no way to control it even if I wanted to.

"What a coincidence to run into you here."

"Indeed."

I couldn’t help but smile awkwardly as Marghetta covered her mouth with her left hand and laughed softly. It didn’t feel like a coincidence at all. But since she said it was, I let it be.

Originally, Marghetta spent most of her time in the Vice President's office due to her student council duties. However, she had been roaming the academy with immense enthusiasm since she received the ring.

I knew why she did that, and that was why it was both adorable and terrifying. If I hadn't prepared the ring that day, then what kind of disaster would have unfolded...?

It would have been chaos.

The Wise Duchess took a deep breath, exhaling a faint red smoke.

That made me anxious. What could she possibly be saying that required her to sober up?

— Nephew. You haven't forgotten what I told you, right?

"Pardon?"

Her words triggered my civil servant instincts, making me freeze. It sounded no different from ‘Did you do what I told you to?’

I quickly ran through my memories. What had the Wise Duchess told me? If I excluded her drunken ramblings, complaints, tantrums, and bouts of madness, there wasn’t much left—

— Nephew, if you feel like Mage Duchess is hesitating, then make the first move. She’ll be caught off guard.

Ah.

That was it. That was the only thing it could be.

— You haven't forgotten, right~?

"Of course not."

— Then why did you do that?

Her grin quickly turned somber, like she was watching a child floundering in a well.

Pulling out a handkerchief, she dabbed at her eyes as if pretending to cry.

— I've heard everything. This aunt is very sad. Our nephew's future looks so bleak.

"Uh..."

— Don’t worry. If you end up in pieces, I'll make sure one part goes to Krasius!

Damn it. I wasn’t some mythical figure, so why would I end up in pieces?

The Wise Duchess burst into laughter after seeing my expression harden before continuing.

— Nephew, I can celebrate your marriage. It’s the Iron-blooded Duke’s youngest daughter, right? She seemed so cute and smart when I saw her!

But would someone else celebrate that?

Her words made me swallow hard.

— The Mage Duchess was probably all flustered with embarrassment, eagerly waiting for the New Year’s Ball, only to find out her beloved fiancé gave a ring to another woman.

Cold sweat began to trickle down my back.

— Oh, what a heartless person! There she was, fretting, while someone else was leisurely enjoying sweet romance!

That stung a bit. Leisurely? Giving Marghetta the ring was the most serious and intense moment of my life.

But I couldn't say anything. To excuse myself by saying that the rumor had only spread within the academy? Unlike the Mage Duchess incident, where there were no messenger pigeons, there was magic this time.

There are wizards at the academy, too.

I had been too complacent. With someone capable of acting as the Mage Duchess’s eyes around, how could I not have seen this coming? Was I really losing my touch? How did I not think of that?

As I ran my palm against my face with trembling hands, the Wise Duchess grinned, delivering the final blow.

— You need a teleportation mage, right?

"...Please."

Satisfied with my answer, she nodded vigorously.

I let out a hollow laugh. To extinguish this urgent fire—or rather, to defuse the ticking bomb—I had to go to the capital myself.

It was disheartening. I had planned to avoid the capital until the New Year’s Ball.

— Don’t make promises you can’t keep.

As I stared blankly at the communication crystal, the Crown Prince’s words came back to me.

Crown Prince, you were right. Avoiding the capital was a promise I couldn't keep...

I wouldn’t be a man but a beast if I came back before then.

I also remembered the vow I had made as I hurried out of the empire’s cemetery.

Damn it.

I was, in fact, a beast. After fighting the beasts in the North, I had become one myself.

I had no choice but to accept that.