Chapter 95
Aquila’s gaze captured a faint shade of pink.
‘……Grancer. Why is he here?’
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【Opening information on the keyword ‘Grancer Delvion’!】
【Grancer Delvion — Third Prince, cold sovereign, dangerous neutral, duality of blade and back, one who struggles desperately to survive.
Actions prior to the 30th iteration: After nearly being poisoned by his nurse at the age of seven, he came to trust no one and endured within the Imperial Palace solely to survive. Knowing that if the Second Prince Tirgan seized power, only death awaited him, he joins hands with his younger sister, the Fifth Princess Lamelia, in an attempt to usurp the throne.
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Special Note: He either ascends to the throne or meets death by any means necessary.】
Aquila immediately closed the familiar System window and lifted his head.
The golden earring glinting from one of the Third Prince’s ears caught his eye first.
‘I thought he would not attend, since the Second Prince delivered the invitation…… Can one truly have such terrible luck?’
He had felt earlier that the hall seemed too crowded to belong solely to the Second Prince’s faction.
He had never expected to encounter so many key figures of the imperial family in succession.
Before coming to Denimarad, he had not anticipated such a development.
If Tirgan would do anything for power, Grancer would do anything for survival.
As though aware that death constantly stalked him, Grancer was a man who struggled desperately to live.
And that was precisely the problem.
In the course of the main scenario, Tirgan eventually collapsed under the weight of his own sins and destroyed himself.
The Third Prince before him, however, was different.
If one became entangled with him incorrectly, one would be dragged headlong into the imperial political struggle.
No amount of strength would matter.
Even when Aquila had risen to prominence as a Grand Mage and been appointed Master of the Mage Tower—
Even after attaining such brilliant honor and status, he had been utterly ruined once he became entangled with Grancer.
‘I cannot give him even the slightest opening. Especially not in front of Grancer…… I must try something.’
Though Tirgan appeared more vicious on the surface, it was far more troublesome to fall under the gaze of this cold-hearted man before him.
Grancer eliminated political enemies without regard for means or ends.
As the memories of his previous iteration pressed heavily upon his mind, Aquila already felt exhausted.
“The night air is still cold.”
The moment they stepped onto the terrace through the open doors, Grancer murmured to himself.
His metallic, hardened gaze turned beyond the railing.
Aquila did not bother following it.
‘Milena. The Third Prince’s silent words must be waiting out there.’
Instead, he noticed Shen surveying somewhere beyond the railing.
It seemed he had sensed someone’s presence.
‘A similar presence…… I see. Now that I think about it.’
Aquila cast a sidelong glance at the honey-colored-haired attendant.
After staring intently at a single point, Shen returned quietly to stand behind Aquila as though nothing were amiss.
“I heard you are unwell. If the cold air is difficult, say so.”
“I am fine. The Reschenhardts have a certain resistance to the cold.”
Aquila turned his gaze to Grancer as he replied.
Even if the wings of the ancient dragon Igdrein shielded Igrail, it was still northern land.
Thus, House Reschenhardt possessed something akin to a blessing.
It was also why one bearing the title “Fad” could lead people into the Frost Forest.
In any case, once they stepped outside, the guards who had followed Grancer and Aquila positioned themselves around the area as if securing it.
“That is reassuring, though I worry I may have interrupted a pleasant time.”
Grancer glanced briefly around before looking back at Astia and Aquila.
Though he spoke of concern, not a trace of it appeared on his face.
“Not at all.”
“I appreciate you saying so. Of course, even if you do not truly think it, I would understand.”
He leaned lightly against the railing.
“My elder brother and younger brother have both shown their faces once. It seemed only fair that I leave my mark as well.”
“That is…… quite a candid remark.”
At Aquila’s frank observation, Astia silently reached back and grasped her brother’s elbow.
“It is not incorrect. I, too, wished to meet the one whose name is widely rumored across the continent. Call it curiosity, perhaps…….”
Grancer did not look amused, nor displeased.
He merely nodded with the same cold expression, as though acknowledging a fact.
Not only the Second Prince Tirgan, but even the Fourth Prince Rancliff—
The only one absent from discussions regarding the Frost Forest had been Grancer.
Tirgan had likely manipulated matters behind the scenes, but regardless, there was no way Grancer would remain unaware.
If something occurred within the Imperial Palace, Grancer Delvion knew of it faster than anyone.
However, due to his cautious and meticulous nature, he would have chosen to observe rather than stir unnecessary trouble.
Even so, he likely had not expected Rancliff to move.
Aquila himself had not anticipated meeting Rancliff so soon.
‘He is certainly connected to Ark in some way. How he recruited him is the question…….’
Aquila lowered his eyes briefly, then raised them with his usual composure.
That aside, Grancer was still Grancer.
He answered evenly.
“I do not believe I possess such value.”
Grancer tilted his head slightly and clasped his hands behind his back.
“It seems you are unaware of your own worth. By now, your name has likely traveled at least once around this vast continent. Were you not just the focus of every gaze in that hall?”
“Yes. And that is precisely why.”
Aquila inclined his head slightly.
“I do not stand anywhere. I am rather busy to concern myself with such matters.”
For words spoken before the Third Prince, it was bold in the best sense—and insolent in the worst.
Grancer released his hands from behind his back and repeated the phrase.
“Do not stand anywhere…….”
“None of what Your Highness fears will come to pass.”
“You speak as though you see through what I fear. Is that Sir Astia’s opinion—or yours?”
“I do not entrust my opinions to others. I detest being swayed.”
Aquila cast a brief glance through the glass toward the party hall.
Grancer’s expression remained as icy as ever.
“You are more naïve than I expected. Even if you intend such a thing, the moment you set foot upon this continent, no one can escape the storm.”
“I know.”
“Every step you take—even this very moment of standing here with me, this prolonged conversation—will be interpreted as political intent and dissected piece by piece.”
“That is not something the one who summoned me for such intent should say.”
Aquila met Grancer’s gaze quietly, as though opposing him.
In that moment, the only two whose expressions did not waver were the two of them.
Though Shen tried to appear composed, he shifted restlessly and glanced at his young master.
For some time, they maintained silence, merely observing one another.
As Grancer held Aquila’s pitch-black eyes in his sight, the corner of his lips lifted.
Only for a fleeting instant.
“Five minutes must have passed quickly. Thank you for your time.”
As though he truly intended only to leave his mark, he withdrew first.
“It was nothing.”
Aquila placed a hand over his chest and bowed politely.
Grancer watched him for several seconds before inclining his head toward Astia and stepping away.
As he passed Aquila, Grancer whispered so softly that only Aquila could hear.
“I hope you are able to see your opinion through.”
Aquila did not move until the white formal uniform that wrapped Grancer’s entire frame disappeared fully into the hall.
“……He is gone.”
Shen whispered quietly while glancing beyond the railing.
The presence of the guard who had been watching them from outside, protecting Grancer, had vanished as well.
Astia turned her head sharply.
“I had heard about him, but he is even more…….”
She paused, searching for the word.
“……tougher than expected.”
“Tough? Hahaha!”
Cahena, who had just entered the terrace after watching Grancer leave, caught the word and burst into laughter.
“I nearly dropped my heart! What on earth did he come to do? Was it truly all right to speak that way?”
“He came to test me. And this is just right. I was not trying to win his favor.”
Aquila shrugged as though it were nothing.
“That may be better if you wish to avoid involvement, but…….”
Astia stared at her younger brother with unusually complicated eyes.
To her knowledge, Aquila was the first person within the Imperial Palace to treat Grancer in such a manner.
“I told you, it is fine. Let us remain a little longer and then leave. I am tired.”
“Gah! Ahem! Allow me to lend you my sturdy shoulder, my lord.”
Cahena, still clutching her stomach from laughter, stepped forward brazenly—but Aquila simply sat in one of the terrace chairs.
Ignoring her complaints, he turned his head to take in the scenery outside.
‘I hope he simply thinks I am rude.’
With a weary expression, Aquila closed his eyes briefly.
***
Unable to endure any longer, Tirgan Delvion approached to speak with Astia.
However, Aquila had no intention of continuing the party.
After conversing with Tirgan only for the duration he had spent with Grancer, he used the excuse that the cold wind had worsened his condition and left the hall.
Feigning illness was hardly difficult for him.
Moreover, he truly had not been sleeping well lately, so there was no need to fabricate a pale complexion.
In any case, once he returned to the relatively comfortable room, Aquila collapsed heavily onto the sofa.
“Please rest early, Young Master. But you truly are pretending, correct? Shall I call Lady Yujelia?”
“It is fine. More importantly, I would like to look around outside tomorrow.”
“Oh! Sightseeing in the capital? That sounds wonderful!”
Shen, unaware of everything, nodded enthusiastically.
After finishing arranging the bedding, the attendant left the room, saying he would inform the others about sightseeing in the capital.
Click.
The moment Aquila heard the door close, he abruptly raised his upper body from the bed.
He retrieved a small bag hidden beneath it.
It was the same bag he had concealed inside the carriage cushion, hidden from view.
He had carefully moved it here without drawing attention.
‘I will head near the central fountain for now, but if the situation proves unfavorable, I must refuse.’
He had no idea what method they intended to use to send him to the East.
‘……Surely that Ark would not attempt something dangerous.’
Aquila meticulously checked the contents of the bag once more.
Yet he could not understand why unease coiled in a corner of his heart.
He had met Ark Batchel many times, but never before had his intentions been so unreadable.
‘No. In the end, he is still Ark Batchel…….’
The reason he had pierced Aquila’s chest with a spear had been because he was being controlled by a Corrupted God at the time.
He—the protagonist of this world—had always been Aquila’s sole ally throughout the many iterations.
Perhaps he merely wished to believe that, at least for now.
Aquila swallowed and confirmed the two most important small vials and the Mithril Arrowheads.
Then he hid the bag beneath his pillow and lay back on the bed.
There was no need to worry in advance.
He would find out tomorrow.
Yes, tomorrow…….
Aquila quietly closed his eyes.
***
And the next day—
Aquila came to realize, with certainty, that his thoughts from the previous night had been completely wrong.