"You're remarkably sharp… How did you figure that out?"
Rest blinked in surprise, still processing, and looked to her for confirmation.
"A moment ago, when His Highness Rodele tripped, fragments of ice were left on the classroom floor. Based on the circumstances, it's only natural to conclude that you were responsible."
"And the entrance ceremony?"
"That was the same. To cast magic so swiftly without anyone around noticing… I had a feeling the person who froze the floor was the same one. The wind barrier that stopped that mud projectile appeared right near you, which means the spell was cast by a student. Given that you were recognized by House Rosemary, it's easy to imagine you're a gifted mage."
"I see…"
Now that she explained it, the reasoning was simple.
"Perhaps… His Highness Rodele has noticed as well?"
"No, I don't think he has. If he had, he certainly would have come up to you and complained directly."
Celestine's gaze dropped slightly, her expression turning somber.
"In the first place, he only has interest in people who flatter him and women who are easy on the eyes. He may not even recognize your face."
"…What a piece of work."
"…Indeed."
Viola and Primula wore looks of pure contempt.
The last time they'd made faces like that was probably when they were talking about Cedric.
(No doubt His Highness Rodele is an upgraded version of Cedric. He's even more of a scumbag, and with actual power backing him, he's that much more dangerous…)
"In the first place, why does the royal family keep indulging that sort of prince? They should just strip him of his succession rights and send him off to live as a commoner!"
Viola blurted out words that, depending on who heard them, could easily be taken as treason.
Had they been anywhere other than this private room, Rest would have clamped a hand over her mouth in a panic.
"I've wondered the same thing… His Majesty the King is said to be a benevolent man. Though he rarely appears in public and stands out little, he is, by all accounts, wise and capable. So why would His Majesty take no action against His Highness Rodele…?"
Primula, though not as blunt as her older sister, raised much the same point.
Rest had been thinking the exact same thing.
The current king had no grand tales of battlefield heroics to his name, yet he had governed without turmoil, ruling the kingdom in peace.
So why was he letting this powder keg called Rodele go unchecked?
"Could it be that he's simply soft on family? Maybe he can't bring himself to be harsh toward his own son…?"
"No, that's not the case."
Celestine answered the trio's doubts.
"His Majesty may have a gentle temperament, but that does not make him the sort of man to overlook wrongdoing in his own family. Regarding His Highness Rodele as well, he truly wishes to disinherit him."
"He 'wishes to'… meaning there are circumstances that prevent him from doing so?"
"Yes. Regrettably, His Highness Rodele has two backers. Because of them, His Majesty cannot carry out a decisive punishment like disinheritance."
"Two backers…?"
Rest glanced at Viola and Primula, but the sisters both shook their heads in unison.
Neither of them seemed to have any idea, either.
"First is the authority of Her Majesty the Queen Dowager. His Highness Rodele received the favor of the late Queen Dowager, and that favor still shields him to this day."
"The Queen Dowager…? I've heard she was an extraordinarily beloved figure…"
"Yes, very much so. She was a woman of almost supernatural charisma."
At Primula's tentative words, Celestine nodded with a bitter expression.
"The Queen Dowager—His Majesty's mother—was exceptionally skilled at winning people's hearts. She allegedly ensnared every man of our grandfathers' generation. With just a brief conversation, she could turn any man to her side. The Queen Dowager was extremely fond of His Highness Rodele and asked the male devotees who worshipped her to protect him after her death."
Celestine let out a languid sigh and continued.
"My grandfather was one of those devotees. That's why I became His Highness Rodele's fiancée."
"So the Queen Dowager's sympathizers are standing in the way, and that's why Rodele can't be removed?"
"Yes, exactly. My grandfather has already been retired and confined to the far edge of his domain, but many among the nobility still hold influence. They support His Highness Rodele and obstruct His Majesty whenever he attempts to take stern action."
"Turning people to your side with just a brief conversation… It's almost like charm magic."
He had never heard of any such spell as charm magic, but this was a fantasy world. Its existence wouldn't have been out of the question.
"Then… what is the second backer?"
When Primula asked, Celestine pointed out the window toward the eastern sky.
"Our kingdom's ally… the eastern nation, the Gaiselle Empire."
"…!"
The Gaiselle Empire.
At those words, all three of them widened their eyes in shock.
The Gaiselle Empire had been a longstanding ally of the Kingdom of Aiwood. In the wars against the northern barbarian tribes, they had cooperated to stand against the threat together.
That alliance had endured for over a century, and trade between the two nations flourished.
"The mother of His Highness Rodele is a consort from the Empire. If something were done to punish His Highness Rodele, it would create a state of tension with the Empire."
"B-But… the Empire has been our friend for ages, right? Surely something like this wouldn't destroy that relationship…"
Viola voiced her thoughts hesitantly, but Celestine shook her head with regret.
"Indeed, the Empire is an ally with whom we've had a long relationship. However, recently, the political situation in that country has been… suspicious."
"What do you mean?"
"Several individuals with claims to the throne have died under mysterious circumstances, and the youngest prince—who was supposed to be far down the line of succession—has been rapidly consolidating power. To make matters worse, the nobles he's surrounding himself with are all war-hungry radicals. If the current Emperor were to fall and that prince were to become his successor…"
"…They would invade our kingdom?"
"That is a possibility. That is precisely why His Majesty does not wish to disinherit His Highness Rodele and provoke the Empire. Otherwise, His Majesty would have dealt with the prince long ago."
"…"
Rest fell silent.
He had questioned why that fool of a prince was being left to run wild—but so that was the situation behind it.
Cut Rodele loose, and the Queen Dowager's followers within the kingdom would not stay quiet. Worse, it could turn the Gaiselle Empire into an enemy abroad.
A bomb that could bring both internal and external crisis—that was Rodele Aiwood.
"That said, neither His Majesty nor House Crocus intend to let His Highness Rodele do as he pleases forever. Once they've purged the Queen Dowager's devotees within the kingdom and stabilized foreign relations, they intend to deal with His Highness Rodele decisively. They will never allow that man to become king."
"…I understand the situation. But why are you telling us all of this?"
It was complicated, involving international relations and all.
Was it really something they, who were nothing more than students, needed to know?
"I have obtained my father's permission. He said it would be fine to share this with those who seemed trustworthy."
Celestine looked each of them in the eye in turn—Rest, Viola, then Primula.
"House Rosemary is a distinguished family of magic and currently holds the position of Chief Court Mage. Together with House Crocus, which serves as Prime Minister, they are pillars of the kingdom that will support the generations to come."
"…"
"By sharing information closely and working hand in hand, I want to ensure we can protect this country in the next generation. The future of the kingdom rests on our shoulders."
"…This isn't just empty rhetoric, is it?"
If everything went according to plan, Rest was set to marry into House Rosemary.
Standing in a position of power and responsibility meant shouldering all sorts of troublesome burdens like this.
(Lady Celestine will likely need my help going forward as well. It'd be best to have her as an ally…)
Rest let out a small sigh and exchanged glances with Viola and Primula.
Neither of them spoke, but they answered his silent question with their eyes.
"Yes, of course. We'll gladly cooperate—for the future of the kingdom and for our own peace of mind."
"Thank you. If His Highness Rodele ever does anything to you, feel free to invoke my name and that of House Crocus. I look forward to working with you…"
Celestine extended her hand to Rest.
Even though Viola and Primula were present, she had deferred to Rest as the future marquis. The sisters nodded along as though it were only natural.
Rest extended his right hand and firmly shook Celestine's.
"Now then, shall we have our meal? It's already past noon."
Celestine called the server and had the dishes brought out.
After that, Rest and the others enjoyed lunch at the café restaurant, but… with so much on his mind, he could hardly taste the food.
What was certain was that the Kingdom of Aiwood had a difficult road ahead.
And that he had gained one reliable ally to face that uncertain future.