NOVEL NEXT C9
Chapter 9: The Duke’s daughter’s revenge is not too late even if it takes 3 years (3)
“Currently, Sierra is exempt from tuition because she is a commoner who can use magic, but her level of light magic is limited to healing minor lacerations and stomach aches at best.
Even apprentice priests who have been ordained for less than a day can do this, and if Sierra continues to make no progress in her magical growth, we may be able to cut off her tuition support.”
Some of the people in Sierra’s circle are genuinely sympathetic to her, but there are others who want to show off their sophistication by comparing themselves to her. She’s a commoner, and even a lowly noble will have more manners and sophistication than a commoner.
Have frequent encounters with these people. The more public the encounter, like an outdoor tea party, the better. Talk to them on a deep level, and show them the difference between Arianna and them.
The audience will probably naturally feel this way: if they hang out with Sierra often, their level of sophistication will drop.
It’s easy to win back someone who’s been in Ariana’s clique at least once, because they’ve still seen your value, big or small.
All Arianna has to do is be a little proactive, and it won’t be long before they’re rallying to your side, which will be easier since most of them are in the neutral faction.
Another way we can bring down Sierra is by using this….”
As soon as Miss Sierra’s story came up, Charlotte’s mouth was filled with suggestions, like a clogged vein.
She could have taken down Miss Sierra any time she wanted to, even if I hadn’t suggested it first but she didn’t, probably because she didn’t want to.
I felt sorry for Charlotte. How on earth has he endured this long…?
“…Anyway, to use this maneuver, I need Arianna to pretend for a while that she and Prince Alexandros are repairing their relationship. Even though he’s a disgusting human being I don’t even want to look at, it’s all part of the process to bring down Sierra.”
“What?”
“As soon as we succeed in expelling Sierra, we’ll set up a plan to bring down Alexandros, because without her, his faction will either naturally collapse without a center of gravity, or it will fall under Prince Eamon, one of Ariana’s factions.”
“…….”
“Or we could just take down Prince Alexandros and let Arianna take over the royal influence.”
Up until this point, I’d been agreeing with Charlotte’s story, but the idea of bringing down Alex, which came out of nowhere, made my face harden.
I wanted to give Alex a little more credit, because that was my impression of him.
“It’ll be hard, but it won’t be impossible, because the more we discredit Sierra, the more people will question the quality of the Prince Alexandros who stuck by her side. If we can create a series of small triggers, pile up the missteps, and create that one decisive blow….”
“Charlotte. I have a question for you….”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“As for the punishment for Alex, can you hold off on that for a little while longer…?”
“…….”
All at once, Charlotte’s eyes narrowed.
What the hell am I talking about, she wondered, and her expression turned quite serious.
…I guess I won’t be able to avoid Charlotte’s lecture this time.
“Are you serious, Ariana, you’re really going to take him back?”
“…Yes.”
“You mean the guy who stood by and did nothing to help his fiancée when she was at her lowest point?”
Charlotte had a point, but there were things I couldn’t walk away from.
“I admit Alex has been mean to me lately, and I know he hasn’t been acting like the fiancé I deserve, but he’s the one I need.
He’s been a little off lately, but he’s a really good person.”
“You do realize that comment of yours, Ariana’s, is the kind of thing that country bumpkins who get beaten by their husbands say, right?”
“I think it’s the last time, and I’m willing to give him a chance, although to be honest, I still don’t fully believe him….
But, hey, if Alex really is sober, that’s a huge win for me, and he’s the next king anyway, right?”
“You do realize that what you just said is something gambling addicts say until they’ve blown their entire fortune, right?”
“…….”
Charlotte’s scathing criticism immediately turned me into a honeyed mute.
“Well, at least Alex was the first person to recognize and respect my abilities….”
“Ariana’s abilities were always going to be recognized one day anyway, if I had met you before that prince, would you have been engaged to me?”
“Of all the people I’ve talked to about engagement, he’s also the one who’s been the most serious about marriage and beyond….”
“You can write all the checks in the world for something that hasn’t happened yet, and if you don’t want to be tied down to a formal marriage, I’d rather have Ariana inducted into our family as a family wizard.
I’ve gotten a lot of help from you since I was a spoiled brat, and you saved my life once when I was in danger for being a dumbass….”
If you’re going to fall in love with someone because they saved your life, then all those border guards who keep demons from multiplying on the edge of the country are Casanovas?”
Everything she said was right, every single one of them.
It’s probably impossible to defend Alex in front of her; I can’t beat her on every point of logic.
“Is there any other reason?”
“…….”
“…Ariana?”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“Ha, I see.”
I didn’t say anything, just hung my head in silence, but Charlotte gave up trying to convince me first.
“I guess it can’t be helped, the human mind doesn’t always work the way you want it to.”
“Charlotte?”
“If it’s Prince Alexandros before he entered the Academy, I’ve met him a few times, and considering the relationship between him and Ariana, it’s not like I don’t understand why you can’t give up easily.”
“…….”
“First of all, I will not create public opinion about Prince Alexander right now.”
As soon as Charlotte’s answer reached my ears, I felt relief flow from deep within my chest.
“Thank you, Charlotte!”
“All I’m saying is that I’ll take things as they come, and if my eyes ever catch Prince Alexandros fooling around again, I’ll do everything in my power to keep him away from you.”
“Yes, I understand!”
“Well, good luck with Prince Alexandros, but Ariana is a hundred million times more worthy than he is.”
Charlotte muttered something dejectedly to herself, but I didn’t really hear it because I was so happy to have gotten her help.
* * *
The number of demon nests they had cleared in ten days had now reached triple digits.
That’s almost a week’s worth of work, if you don’t count the travel time they’ve had to spend.
…I don’t know if it’s right to call this an accomplishment.
“Chhhhhh…!”
After destroying one demon nest, I wasted no time in moving on to the next.
I swung my sword as hard as I could at the charging monsters. I need to conserve my energy to destroy the nests.
“Alex, you should probably get some rest.”
Dale has given me this same advice dozens of times already, but I don’t have the luxury of time.
I need to destroy as many demon nests as I can before the academy starts next year.
“You’ve barely slept for days already, and even if you’re under a restorative spell, sleep is essential for your mental health.”
“We’ll be on our way once we’ve taken care of this nest, and I can sleep in the wagon.”
“Do you realize it’s been more than 48 hours since you last ate?”
“I’ll eat in the wagon.”
“What the hell is your hurry, like you’re possessed by something….?”
Obsessed.
That was me in the past, not now.
Instead, I feel like my head has cleared, like a fog has lifted.
Ariana gave me one last chance.
In this lifetime, I must not fail.
The image of her backside, the one that bought me one last moment of time, haunted me, whether I closed my eyes or opened them.
I would rather die than pay for my sins, but that would solve nothing.
Until I use the limited time I have left to tell Arianna everything.
“Khaaaaak!”
“Ooooooh….”
The nest of demons that had been hit by the magic disappears with a series of screams.
The next nest is about a half hour’s carriage ride away, so I’ll be able to rest for a while.
My body wants at least twice as much rest, but I don’t have the right to be so indulgent.
I must hasten to receive Arianna’s forgiveness, marry her, and make her a princess.
I must bring her into the royal court, give her a political voice, and allow her to lead the kingdom of Leavrov in my stupid place.
I must eliminate all sources of unrest beforehand, so that Arianna’s kingdom will not be tainted.
Until the day I disappear from this world.