Chapter 6: And Thus, the Plot Is Exposed

Hannes, who held the position of guardian as Claudia’s uncle, had been busy since morning that day.

He dressed himself neatly, gave various instructions to the maids, and sent all of Claudia’s assigned attendants away.

In their place, he had brought maids who worked in his own household to the tower.

And sitting before Hannes was a girl with milk-tea-colored hair.

However, she was not his niece, Claudia.

“—Even so, it was convenient that Claudia turned out to be a girl without magic.”

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Hannes sat down on a chair in the sitting room.

“When I heard that an inspection from the royal castle was coming, I wondered what would happen. Leonora, it’s truly fortunate that you have the same hair color as Claudia.”

“Oh, don’t say such rude things, Father.”

The nine-year-old girl with milk-tea-colored hair, Leonora, turned to him while eating sweets.

“Claudia is nothing but a scrawny, bruised, pitiful girl with messy hair. Don’t compare her muddy-colored hair to my glossy, beautiful one.”

“Oh, my apologies, Leonora.”

“Besides, switching places now is long overdue! All this time, we’ve already taken Claudia’s dresses, sweets, and jewels for ourselves anyway.”

Leonora looked into her hand mirror and smiled smugly.

“Compared to Claudia, I’m clearly the real princess.”

“Yes, exactly. With your pale, translucent skin and well-kept hair, no one would doubt that you are the true princess.”

Hannes let out a relieved sigh.

Even though Claudia was practically abandoned, money was still allocated every month under the pretense of maintaining royal dignity for her upbringing.

It might have been a small amount for the royal family, but for Hannes, who came from nothing, it was a fortune.

He had pocketed most of it and spent it on himself and his family—not for this moment in particular.

However, in the end, it worked out in his favor.

His daughter, raised with money taken from Claudia since childhood, had grown into a girl worthy of being called a princess.

(Good grief… I panicked at the thought of inspectors seeing Claudia, thin, covered in wounds, and unable to speak, and punishing me as her guardian. But coming up with the idea to kill Claudia and replace her with Leonora was truly a stroke of luck.)

Naturally, he had not told his daughter that he had killed the real Claudia.

However, Leonora had been delighted at the idea of becoming a princess and readily accepted the plan.

Hannes felt proud that she had grown into such a dutiful daughter.

“Still, it’s such a relief that Claudia ran away! I saw her from time to time, but no matter how much I hit or pinched her, she never spoke—she was like a doll.”

“Hahaha. But Leonora, behave properly in front of the inspectors. If they see that ‘Claudia’ has grown into a wonderful princess, they’ll trust me more, and I can squeeze even more money out of them. You’ll be able to live in luxury as a princess.”

“Yay! Ufufu, I can’t wait. Father, isn’t it about time for the inspectors to arrive?”

Taking Leonora’s hand as she stepped down from the chair, Hannes stood up.

“That’s right. Then…”

For some reason, he glanced out the window.

“…”

What came to mind was the moment yesterday when he had pushed Claudia from this very upper floor.

He had thrown her from the twenty-second floor, and below was a forest stretching endlessly with trees.

It was a forest where monsters dwelled—no one could return alive without using magic to repel them.

There was no need to search for a body.

Carnivorous monsters would have taken care of it.

Of course, to avoid suspicion, he had not gone to confirm it himself.

(…This unease must be from the tension of whether we can deceive the inspectors.)

Hannes told himself that.

Yet the bad feeling would not go away.

Because of it, he had spent a large sum yesterday to hire several skilled mercenary mages.

(It’s a waste of money, I know. A six-year-old child without magic couldn’t possibly survive such a fall. And yet…)

The reason he couldn’t calm down was the expression Claudia had worn when he pushed her.

(Why… did she smile at that moment?)

“Father?”

Looking down at his daughter holding his hand, Hannes forced a smile.

“It’s nothing. Come, let’s go, ‘Claudia.’”

And so, he headed to the guest room with his daughter.

Though he had visited this tower for six years, this was his first time using this room.

After all, no guest—nor even her own father, the king—had ever come to see Claudia, the princess exiled by the queen’s jealousy.

The guests were already waiting and stood up upon seeing Hannes and the others.

Among the five, Leonora excitedly whispered upon seeing the tall man standing in the center.

“Wow, the silver-haired man in the middle is so handsome…!”

Just as she said, there was a strikingly handsome man among the guests.

With silver hair tied back and eyes of a deep crimson hue, he cast a cold glance at Hannes.

Then, he knelt before Leonora.

“…It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess Claudia. I am Karlheinz Reinart Exner, recently appointed as the Chief Court Mage of the royal castle.”

(The Chief Court Mage?)

The man who introduced himself as Karlheinz appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties.

And yet, among the elite mages of the royal court, he had risen to the top.

That alone was astonishing, but what stirred within Hannes was unease.

(Wasn’t this inspection supposed to be a mere formality by the royal court? Why would the Chief Court Mage come all the way here…?)

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Karlheinz.”

Blushing, Leonora lightly lifted the hem of her dress and bowed.

“My name is Claudia Natalia Brightkreuz. I am very pleased to meet you.”

“…Let us proceed without delay.”

Standing up, Karlheinz gestured to the four mages behind him, giving them instructions.

“Are you aware of the purpose of this inspection, Lord Hannes?”

“T-the purpose…?”

“Oh? A man who serves as the princess’s guardian is unaware of the growing tensions with neighboring countries?”

Under his cold gaze, Hannes flinched, though anger also rose within him.

After all, as the princess’s uncle, he had no reason to be spoken to like this by someone much younger.

However, Karlheinz showed no interest in that.

In a detached tone, he continued.

“The presence of those with strong magic serves as a deterrent to neighboring nations. We have come to reassess the magical power of all royal family members.”

“I-if that is the case…”

Telling himself to stay calm, Hannes cleared his throat.

“Princess Claudia was born without magic. Her Highness the Queen personally witnessed the appraisal and confirmed it as fact.”

“Indeed, the queen alone witnessed it. However… if Princess Claudia is truly His Majesty’s child, it is difficult to believe she possesses no magic at all.”

Cold sweat threatened to form.

Magic flowed primarily through those of high status.

Hannes, who came from nothing, had no magic.

Nor did his daughter Leonora.

“B-but, as her uncle, I can assure you—Princess Claudia truly has no magic…”

“In that case—”

Karlheinz looked down at Leonora with clear disinterest.

“—then the matter we must investigate becomes whether Princess Claudia is truly His Majesty’s child.”

“W-what!?”

To suppress his panic, Hannes feigned outrage.

“Y-you! That is extremely disrespectful! To doubt my sister’s fidelity could be seen as an insult to His Majesty himself!”

“H-how cruel, Lord Mage…! I truly am the real princess!”

Leonora covered her face and began to fake tears.

Hannes embraced her, pretending to comfort her.

(Damn it, this is going badly. I’ll stir things up and drive them out before this goes any further…!!)

Shielding Leonora behind him, Hannes glared at Karlheinz.

“I’m afraid Princess Claudia is deeply hurt. I must ask you to leave at once—”

At that moment.

“!?!”

A heavy rumble echoed, and the ground shook violently beneath them.

“W-what was that!?”

“Lord Hannes, it’s terrible!!”

One of the mercenary mages he had hired rushed in.

Dressed in a black robe, the mage spoke rapidly, panic on his face.

“The barrier! The barrier that keeps monsters out—it’s been broken!!”

“What!?”

This tower was always protected by a barrier to keep forest monsters away.

It was a classic yet powerful spell that prevented uninvited guests from entering.

As long as it remained, neither monsters nor humans could enter without invitation from those inside.

“Don’t tell me it was broken from the outside!? Even dragons couldn’t break through a barrier cast by royal mages!!”

While Hannes panicked, Karlheinz issued orders to his subordinates.

“—All units. Prepare for enemy intrusion.”

“Yes, sir.”

Even as they spoke, the tower shook again.

It felt as though it were being struck by an overwhelming force.

The table bounced, teacups fell and shattered, and ornaments crashed to the floor.

At this point, the inspection was the least of their concerns.

“We’re switching to combat readiness. Move.”

“Kyahhh!! Father, I’m scared, help me!!”

“Idiot, I’m your ‘uncle,’ remember!!”

Holding Leonora tightly, Hannes followed Karlheinz and the others with his gaze.

At that moment, the guest room doors were thrown open.

“Ahh!!”

Startled by the loud noise, Leonora clung to him.

Hannes also held his breath—because there was someone standing beyond the door.

(…A child…!?)

There stood a black-haired boy.

Though his features were refined, his eyes were defiant, carrying an air of arrogance.

After looking at Leonora with his pitch-black eyes, he slowly shifted his gaze to Hannes.

“——…”

(Gh…!)

It was a cold, contemptuous stare.

There was no reason for him to be looked at like that by some random child.

Hannes tried to scold him—but realized he couldn’t speak.

“Ah…?”

His body was trembling.

His knees shook so badly he felt he might collapse.

Only after a few seconds did he understand—

His instincts were afraid of the boy.

(Was it that brat who broke the barrier? …There’s something like a sword in his right hand…)

The boy exhaled softly, then turned his gaze toward Karlheinz.

Seeing this, Hannes felt a slight sense of relief and finally forced out his voice.

“M-Mage! This child is an intruder!! I don’t know who he is, but capture him at once—”

“…”

However, Karlheinz did not move at all.

Meanwhile, the sword in the boy’s hand disappeared.

He stepped aside near the door, then knelt as if making way for someone, taking that person’s hand.

“W-what…?”

Hannes was struck speechless.

Because the one led in by the boy looked both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

“…That can’t be…”

Hair like milk tea, soft and pale.

Delicate limbs like a doll, dressed in a frilled gown that emphasized her fragile beauty.

Her pale complexion gave her an almost otherworldly aura.

A face identical to her mother’s—beautiful beyond doubt.

And those eyes, shimmering like opal, reflecting countless colors.

“It seems the timing is just right. How delightful.”

The girl smiled brightly, her voice slightly childish.

“Good day, dear foolish uncle.”

“C-Claudia—…!?”