FCHTIB Chapter 39

"About the Magic Essence Oil… You know, the one that's only imported from the Kingdom of Donovan…"

Magic Essence Oil.

It was the main energy source used for magical tools. If the Core Ruby served as the core component, then Magic Essence Oil was the fuel.

And Donovan was the only kingdom on the continent that produced enough of it not just for domestic use, but even for export. Since the Rancels Empire wasn't a producer, it had no choice but to rely on imports.

'Then… don't tell me…'

As if to confirm Aidelica's ominous suspicion, Sophia continued speaking.

"The trade contract for Magic Essence Oil is about to expire. If your marriage arrangement with Duke Thosses doesn't go through, that contract won't be renewed…"

"……!"

"And that would spell disaster for the Rancels Empire. You may still be young, but surely you can grasp just how grave this situation is?"

"T-That's nothing but tyranny! Besides, the Donovan Kingdom also depends on certain goods from our empire. The Imperial Family won't simply stand by and let this happen. If we cut off trade, they would suffer as well, so there should be room for negotiation…"

"All of this could be solved if you just agreed to the marriage."

"……!"

"The Imperial Family hasn't opposed this marriage proposal. Do you understand what that implies…?"

Aidelica clenched her trembling hands tightly to calm herself.

The Imperial court was already mired in political turmoil. The succession struggle had left rival factions in bitter conflict.

In such circumstances, the Empire had no energy to spare for a troublesome standoff with Donovan, their invaluable supplier of Magic Essence Oil.

It was all too clear, they intended to use Aidelica and the Grand Duchy as sacrificial pawns to quietly sweep this matter under the rug.

The Grand Duchess once again burst into tears.

"It's all so complicated, troublesome, and difficult… And yet, I racked my brain desperately to find a way out of this."

"……"

"But why won't you ever listen… You're my daughter!"

"……"

"I'm so tired… so worn out…"

Sophia collapsed weakly onto the sofa. She had always been frail, and after shouting and crying, her strength had completely given out.

"Call for Cezzane…"

"……"

Hearing the Countess of Laom's name spill from her mother's lips yet again, Aidelica bit her lip.

There was no point in dragging the conversation on any further.

She had already risked letting today's discussion leak to the head lady-in-waiting by bringing it up at all.

It was fortunate that she had learned more details about the background of this marriage arrangement, but even so, Aidelica felt nothing but despair.

If what Sophia said was true, then running away would solve nothing.

Magic Essence Oil was the very lifeblood that kept magical devices running.

If its imports were cut off, the nation's foundational industries would be shaken to their core, throwing the empire into chaos.

Even if she escaped to the Magic Tower and tried to forge a new engagement there, the Imperial Family would never permit it.

They had already chosen: rather than engage in a drawn-out trade dispute with Donovan, it was far easier to throw Aidelica and the Grand Duchy onto the scales as sacrificial offerings.

On her way back to the northern quarters, Aidelica continued to wrestle with her thoughts.

She had believed that breaking off the engagement was the best path for both the Grand Duchy and the Empire.

But what if she was wrong?

Wouldn't her flight then be nothing more than an irresponsible act of abandoning her duty?

'Perhaps… I should accept the marriage proposal. And instead… find a way to restrain Duke Thosses, so that he cannot act on his suspicious schemes…'

It would not be easy. But she could see no other path forward.

Aidelica bit her lip hard.

***

The next morning.

Railey received a direct message from Aidelica.

It arrived through a magical device similar in principle to the one she had used to communicate with Paulton.

From the mouth of a deer-shaped device, a small note slipped out.

[I may… have to give up on running away.]

Reading the short letter, tinged with despair and pain, Railey let out a deep sigh. It seemed the 'reason' had come far sooner than she had anticipated.

'So it's about the Magic Essence Oil imports.'

That was the information she had learned through a fairy the day before.

The drug that turned people into half-wits didn't take effect immediately. It worked slowly, breaking a person down over the course of half a year.

The fact that Aidelica had been driven to mental collapse by it meant she had been trapped in the Grand Duchy all that time, unable to escape.

Because Donovan had threatened that if the marriage arrangement with the Grand Duke's daughter fell through, they would refuse to renew the Magic Essence Oil trade contract.

This was a problem as serious as if every magical device in the Empire had suddenly ceased to function.

The reason Aidelica had tried to escape in the first place was because, as the Grand Duke's daughter, she feared seeing both the Grand Duchy and the Empire fall under the control of foreign powers.

'With her strong sense of responsibility, she must have resolved to go through with the marriage while doing everything she could to keep Donovan from devouring our nation.'

But this particular issue could be solved.

Because soon, deposits of Magic Essence Oil would be discovered within the Rancels Empire itself.

'I had originally planned to purchase that land to make money… but this way, it's killing two birds with one stone.'

In that case, the situation had to be resolved with this in mind.

Railey picked up her quill and began writing a letter.

It was addressed to Paulton, heir to the Tower Master.

***

"Hmmm."

Paulton stroked his chin as he read the magical letter from Railey.

That little one was far sharper and more fascinating than he had expected.

At first, when he heard Aidelica had carelessly revealed her true identity, he thought he might scare her a little and handle it lightly.

But in such a short time, Railey had not only won Aidelica's trust but had also seen straight into her sincerity, as though striking right at the heart.

And now, she had even written a letter proposing to dig deeper into the circumstances behind Aidelica's information.

Her quick wit was far beyond her years.

Paulton had seen enough geniuses and prodigies at the Magic Tower to grow sick of them, but this child… she was cut from a different cloth.*

In any case, it pleased him that Aidelica had gained such a clever friend.

As he recalled what he'd heard yesterday, however, his expression clouded.

'…That was my mistake.'

The Magic Tower was, by nature, detached from politics, and therefore limited in what information it could gather.

Even after completing his training and returning to society to observe political affairs, his knowledge had been insufficient.

And since the party proposing marriage to Aidelica was none other than a foreign power, the Kingdom of Donovan, the problem was even more complicated.

Paulton acknowledged his shortcomings and turned his gaze out the window.

The sky was bright and clear, without a single cloud.

Just like the day he had first met Aidelica.

***

Paulton was the illegitimate son of a marquess.

His mother, a maid, had died soon after giving birth, leaving only Paulton behind.

Naturally, the marquess could not simply cast aside a child of his own blood. Yet to acknowledge him as illegitimate and raise him as a secondary son, the marchioness firmly opposed, the marquess chose to do nothing.

As a result, Paulton was left to drift like a ghost in the household, shut away in the attic.

Even the servants ignored him, offering no proper care. It was common for them to forget his existence entirely, leaving him to starve.

His only moments of happiness came when he sneaked into the marquess's library to read books in secret.

Knowledge always nourished him.

Then one day.

The household was suddenly abuzz. An important guest was coming.

On days when guests visited the household, the library was the one place no one came to.

So Paulton buried himself there, absorbed in reading.

That day, he had chosen one of the thick tomes he normally didn't dare touch, always too cautious about being noticed. The chance thrilled him.

Crouched in the corner of the bookshelf, he read so intently it looked as though he might be swallowed whole by the book.

Then, all of a sudden, a shadow fell over his head.

"Are you a child of this house?"