Chapter 259 : Chapter 259

Volume 2 ch 2: When the Royal Princess Goes Quiet, She’s Definitely Up to Something

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍value Ryan had displayed—not merely that astonishing talent and the secret power he had unleashed in the ruins, but also an ability to read the situation and scheme by instinct that far exceeded his age—made Cecilia feel that this might be the most worthwhile, and also the most dangerous, investment she had ever made.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Emperor had also been rather surprised by the outcome.

His ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍original intention had been to let the people under his two sons use this opportunity to temper themselves, compete, display their methods, and perhaps sift out promising talent from the retainers of other noble houses.

Yet ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍in the end, the one who had reaped the greatest reward was Cecilia, the little daughter he had always regarded as little more than a decorative flower, someone insignificant, along with a few seemingly filler students from Saint Roland Magic Academy.

But ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for the Empire, the result was undoubtedly a successful expedition.

Those ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍spoils brought back from the ruins and presented through Cecilia—several magnificent but functionally obscure elven relics that seemed more like works of art, along with documents recording elven history, culture, and portions of their low- and mid-tier Magic—had already shaken the Empire’s scholarly circles.

The Emperor believed this not only enriched the Empire’s store of knowledge, but might also allow them to decipher powerful ancient elven Magic and thereby strengthen the nation.

The result of this ruins expedition had exceeded everyone’s expectations, yet it perfectly suited Cecilia’s needs.

By generously pushing the credit and rewards toward Ryan and the others—especially by speaking on Ryan’s behalf before the Emperor—she had not only won the Emperor’s approval, but, more importantly, had heard him say to her in a soft voice:

“Cecilia, you have grown up as well. Since you are already familiar with this student Ryan, and he has rendered such great service, you should spend more time with him. The Empire needs heroes, and the royal family also needs to be... closely connected to the pillars of the future.”

The implication in those words could not have been clearer.

Marriage.

It was the method the imperial family most often used when they wanted the strongest possible bond at the lowest possible cost.

A genius of enormous potential—especially one born among commoners or lesser nobles—could be drawn into the royal system through marriage. It would strengthen the royal house while also preventing that person from being used by another great power.

Cecilia had never truly thought about her own marriage.

From the moment she decided to fight for that seat, marriage had become, in her eyes, nothing more than a political tool.

She had once believed that in the end she would either marry for the sake of winning the support of some great noble house, or else walk alone to the finish.

She did not believe in love, and she trusted a spouse even less. Under the temptation of supreme power, the person lying beside one’s pillow was often the most dangerous enemy of all.

But Ryan Velt...

The Emperor’s “suggestion”—or rather, tacit approval—had stirred something complicated in her heart for the first time.

If the other party were him...

The thought flashed through her mind, and she forced it down at once. It was absurd. What existed between them was a relationship of pure mutual benefit.

He needed her protection and resources to survive the early stages. She needed his ability and heroic reputation as a banner, and as an investment for the future. That was all.

And yet...

Looking at his defenseless sleeping face, and recalling the unfathomable calm in those gray eyes whenever he was awake, Cecilia had to admit that there was something about this man that prevented her from placing him on her board as easily as she did everyone else.

He even gave her the faint sense that, in terms of strategy and temperament, she might not actually hold the upper hand.

That feeling of meeting an equal—or perhaps even someone slightly above oneself—was dangerous.

And intoxicating.

“Perhaps...” she murmured as she looked at Ryan, the expression in her ice-blue eyes shifting. “You truly can stand at the same height as me... or even higher?”

But that perhaps required one crucial premise.

Ryan had to wake up.

The astonishing power within him had to recover.

He could not be some magnificent card that had been overused and was now completely ruined.

If, after waking, he were to discover that his Mana source had truly dried up completely, leaving him nothing more than an ordinary man with a hero’s title—or worse, a cripple—then the Emperor’s generous rewards, the carefully maintained closeness she had shown him, and even her father’s meaningful advice to “spend more time with him,” would all have to be reevaluated and adjusted at once.

A piece that had lost its power would hold an entirely different place and value on the board.

Imperial favor had always been ruthlessly practical.

And Cecilia, more than anyone, understood how to calculate the value of a stake.

Just as her thoughts drifted far away and she found herself momentarily distracted—

Ryan’s eyelashes suddenly trembled violently several times. A faint cough escaped his throat, and his brows drew together with discomfort.

“Water...”

His eyes barely opened to a slit, his gaze unfocused. His cracked lips moved, and in a voice so hoarse it was almost nothing but breath, he whispered, “...water...”

Cecilia froze for an instant, then immediately turned and walked swiftly to the low table in one corner of the room.

Fresh water and tea were always kept there at an appropriate temperature. She poured a cup of water and quickly returned to the bedside.

Seeing Ryan weakly trying to lift his head and failing, Cecilia almost did not hesitate at all. One hand slid gently behind his neck to support him, while she carefully brought the cup to his lips with the other, holding it steady and feeding him a little at a time.

Her movements were unexpectedly gentle.

Those ice-blue eyes watched with complete attention as the water moistened his parched lips and slipped down his throat.

Ryan swallowed instinctively. The cool liquid soothed the burning dryness in his throat, and the murkiness in his mind cleared a little.

After he had finished drinking, Cecilia set the cup down softly and used a handkerchief to dab lightly at the corner of his mouth.

Only after doing all this did she belatedly realize that what she had just done was perhaps a little too... intimate.

It was nothing at all like the sort of thing she normally would have done.

She gave a light cough, quickly composed her expression and bearing, straightened her back once more, and restored the flawless mild smile to her face. Only the faint heat at the tips of her ears gave anything away.

By then, Ryan’s eyes had finally focused.

He blinked, adjusted to the light, and made out the figure beside the bed.

Cecilia Ishtar, the Royal Princess.

Only at this moment, her face still carried a softness and concern he had never seen on it before. Although the smile very quickly became the standard restrained one she wore in public, that brief moment of tenderness as she fed him water, along with the emotion not yet fully faded from her eyes, did not escape Ryan’s notice.

Ryan did not feel warmed by it in the slightest.

Instead, his heart gave a hard jolt, and every instinct in him instantly went on full alert.

When something was unusual, there was always a reason.

What sort of person was Cecilia, the Royal Princess?

A political creature skilled in calculation.

One of the most dangerous players on the Empire’s chessboard.

And now she was suddenly showing him this kind of sweetheart-like tenderness and care?

Ryan felt the hairs rise on the back of his neck. A chill ran up his spine.

This woman was definitely plotting something extremely troublesome.

And it was absolutely aimed at him.

He was exactly the same himself. The quieter and more harmless he seemed, the bigger the matter he was usually hiding underneath.

He forcibly suppressed the storm in his heart along with his powerful surge of wariness and made himself calm down.

The relationship between them was a friendly cooperation built on mutual use.

He needed her protection.

She needed his value.

So long as that foundation did not change, then whatever came next...

He would deal with it move by move.