My Nerdy Neighbor Is the Master of the Magic Tower
Chapter 46
“Are you all right?”
The whispering voice in her ear snapped her back to reality. Perhaps she had been gripping his arm too tightly without realizing it, for Sir Miguel’s sleeve was severely wrinkled.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“Just say the word, and I will carry you out of here.”
“……Pardon? You, carry me?”
His expression remained perfectly solemn, as if he had proposed this solution after the utmost deliberation.
Sir Miguel running out with the Saintess slung over his shoulder. Cecilia imagined the scene for a moment before finally letting out a faint laugh.
Thanks to his eccentric suggestion, her tension completely dissolved.
“I’ll save that request for later.”
Cecilia replied playfully as she stepped out from behind his back. She then looked the Emperor straight in the eye.
There was only one reason he would mention her under the guise of ‘consideration’ when they had no reason to welcome the Saintess.
Mockery or sarcasm.
It was his way of telling the others to ‘mind’ the unwelcome stranger in their own fashion.
Still, she had no intention of shrinking away.
‘Let them curse me if they want.’
Compared to death threats, this was child’s play.
Cecilia deliberately flashed a bright smile and gave a small nod to the Emperor, as if she were more than happy to accept that consideration.
Whether the reaction was unexpected or not, the Emperor wore an unreadable expression for a moment before gesturing to the orchestra to resume.
As the sweet music began, some of the guests moved to the center of the hall and started to dance.
Fortunately, half of the attention focused on her scattered like dust.
The unfortunate part, however, was that among the remaining half of that attention was the Emperor’s.
After a brief conversation with his closest aides, the Emperor sent a direct subordinate over to her.
“His Imperial Majesty summons you.”
“……I see.”
‘Here it comes.’
She had hoped this moment would come as late as possible.
Since Cecilia alone had been summoned, she trudged toward the final boss—no, the Emperor of the Empire—by herself.
Herace ben Lishatria.
The Emperor of the Lishatria Empire. A fire-attribute mage who had inherited the crimson hair that symbolized the Imperial Family. A man of exceptional skill whose appearance was so well-preserved that, despite being in his late forties, he could pass for the Imperial Princess’s older brother.
And…….
‘They said he’s a man who will use any means necessary to achieve his goals.’
“I greet His Imperial Majesty.”
Though she had been taught a specific etiquette for greeting royalty, she offered a light greeting, as the one the Saintess served was God.
Despite the potentially offensive greeting, the Emperor simply nodded without much reaction.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. Lady Weberdin—or should I call you Saintess?”
“Weberdin is fine.”
‘……So he wasn’t without reaction.’
The Emperor asked while knowing better than anyone that she had not yet received approval, and was therefore in an incomplete state to be called the Saintess.
‘He’s telling me to bow down if I want to become the true Saintess.’
It was a dirty and petty tactic, but she was the one in the weaker position.
Refusing to let her forced smile falter, she endured the mechanical pleasantries that followed.
“How is the Pope faring?”
“He is as busy as ever, being the sort of person who insists on handling even his subordinates’ work personally.”
“I see.”
The Emperor nodded with a somewhat disinterested air before scanning her from head to toe.
“By the way, you look thinner than you did in the articles……. I heard you’ve been through quite a lot of trouble lately?”
The person most likely to be behind it all asked with casual nonchalance.
‘Is he testing me?’
If so, should she test him back?
She considered it for a moment but decided against it. Showing that she suspected him without any evidence was not a good move.
“Yes, there was a minor accident, but under the protection of God, I was able to remain safe.”
“Hmm, I suppose God is quite mischievous? Seeing as He does not spare the trials for His beloved creation.”
It was a provocation that would have incensed a devout cleric, but she didn’t possess even a grain of reverence for God.
Shrugging her shoulders, she replied nonchalantly.
“Perhaps God wishes to foster the strength in His children to overcome crises on their own?”
“What an interesting interpretation.”
“Well, as Your Majesty said, He might just be a mischievous person.”
Abducting a human who was living perfectly well in another world was beyond being ‘mischievous.’
“Haha!”
The Emperor laughed aloud, seemingly quite pleased by the cynical response that came from the Saintess.
“I was curious what kind of person this generation’s Saintess was, seeing as the family hid her away and sent her brother instead. I’m glad I summoned you personally.”
“…….”
The Emperor brushed back his wavy crimson hair and suddenly leaned his face toward her.
“How is Bellatis? Is it to your liking?”
Cecilia slightly averted her gaze from his eyes, which weren’t just sparkling, but glinting.
How could she possibly like a place where enemies were everywhere and she couldn’t even get a dress made easily?
Instead of telling the truth, however, she chose her words with care.
“I have been fortunate enough to meet a few kind people and am living without any lack. However, I am ashamed to admit that having never been away from home for this long, I am beginning to feel homesick.”
I want to go home because of the many unkind people here. So just approve me quickly and send me back.
The Emperor must have easily grasped the underlying meaning, yet he feigned ignorance and clicked his tongue.
“Wanting to return already? It seems you haven’t properly enjoyed the Capital yet.”
“No, I’ve had a new dress made and even attended a banquet like this. If Your Majesty would grant me approval, I shall be on my way……”
“Hah, what is the rush? Once you leave this time, you won’t be able to return. Take your time and enjoy yourself sufficiently before you go.”
‘Enjoy what? Assassination attempts? Gossip? Discrimination?’
Suppressing the urge to smack the Emperor’s smug head, Cecilia calmly delivered her piece.
“It is a gracious offer, but I have much work left behind in Weberdin. My father and His Holiness the Pope are also waiting for me anxiously……. I implore Your Majesty to show great benevolence.”
“I thought you were a bit different, but in this regard, you are exactly like the Pope.”
The Emperor sighed in disapproval and straightened his posture.
“Come to me immediately after the successor is decided. I will grant the approval then.”
‘What?’
Even though she had received the very consent she had been longing for, Cecilia couldn’t bring herself to be happy.
It was simply too easy.
She had expected him to demand she flatter him, or to insult her to her face, or in the worst-case scenario, to go back on his word and refuse approval.
‘There’s no way he’d agree this easily…….’
Cecilia waited for the conditions to follow. However, the Emperor merely threw out a casual suggestion.
“However, I would like you to attend the investiture ceremony. My successor must receive the Pope’s blessing anyway. It would be even better if the Saintess’s blessing were included.”
“…….”
“And if possible, I’d like the Saintess and the Crown Prince of this generation to get along well.”
Cecilia gazed up at the Emperor, whose head was tilted slightly.
He was sipping the wine handed to him by a servant with a perfectly nonchalant face.
‘He wants us to get along.’
Cecilia was certain it couldn’t be true. Just as her father loathed the Imperial Family, it was only natural that they would despise Weberdin and the Temple.
‘He might be trying to lower my guard.’
As Cecilia reflected on the Emperor’s intentions, she gave a meaningless nod.
As long as she could get the approval quickly, attending an investiture ceremony or agreeing to nonsense wasn’t that difficult.
“Then I shall……”
Having achieved her goal, Cecilia bowed her head. She intended to take her leave.
But before she could finish her sentence, the Emperor spoke again.
“Do you not have anything you are curious about regarding me?”
The answer to the question the Emperor suddenly posed was already decided.
Was it you who ordered the assassination?
That was the one thing she truly wanted to ask.
‘Not that I could ever ask that.’
When Cecilia fell silent, the Emperor let out a short, dry laugh.
“It seems you have little interest in my choice. My subordinates who were pestering me were dying to figure out my intentions.”
“Ah…….”
‘So that’s what he meant.’
I mean, whether it was the Imperial Princess or the Imperial Prince who ascended, it was clear they would be enemies of the Temple. She wasn’t particularly curious about the political infighting within the Imperial Family.
Cecilia belatedly poured out some empty words.
“Whomever Your Majesty chooses to succeed you, I am certain it will be a wise choice.”
“A wise choice, you say……”
His voice trailing off, the Emperor stared blankly at his children as they conversed with the nobles.
Was it just her imagination, or did he look like a troubled mother of two at this moment?
His intention in bringing this up to her, of all people—the Saintess; his reason for not being overtly hostile; his true purpose in summoning her to the Capital.
Every bit of it was shrouded in mystery.
The Emperor turned away without resolving a single one of those questions.
“I believe I’ve held you for too long. You should go and enjoy the banquet now.”
“Yes.”
Cecilia offered her farewells without regret and moved away from the Emperor.
Now that she had his word on the approval, all that remained was to listen to the announcement of the successor, put on a similar reaction to the rest of the chaotic banquet hall, and then receive the approval.
Feeling much lighter, Cecilia headed toward the left side of the banquet hall. Elaborate finger foods were laid out on long tables.
Perhaps because she had just crossed a major hurdle, hunger began to set in.
‘They wouldn’t have poisoned food that anyone can eat, so it should be fine, right?’
As she was contemplating, a soft voice suddenly drifted from behind her.
