Akatsuki Translations

Within the heavily guarded residential area of the royal family, where security measures were particularly stringent, the area inhabited by the female royals was constantly under the watchful eyes of the White Lily Knights. 

The White Lily Knights were the only all-female order within the knightly ranks of the Valois Kingdom. Their main duty was to provide protection for those such as the queen and princesses. 

Even when Farsa stepped foot into the domain where the female royals resided, his movements were severely restricted. For males, a minimum of two knights flanked them on either side, and on occasions when the threat was deemed higher, a total of four knights encircled them, curtailing their freedom of action. 

“I have been summoned by Her Royal Highness Princess Aurelia. I wonder if the message has been relayed?” -Farsa. 

“…We have received the message. Please proceed,” replied the female knight standing guard in front of Princess Aurelia’s chambers. 

Despite such circumstances, Farsa maintained a composed expression as he moved forward. He approached the female knight who was keeping watch in front of Princess Aurelia’s private chambers and initiated a conversation. 

As a court magician, Farsa had been summoned by Princess Aurelia on numerous occasions, so he had become accustomed to it. However, the attitude of the knights was far from friendly. While it was crucial for them to be vigilant, considering the significance of their role in safeguarding the person they were protecting, Princess Aurelia had a tendency to escape frequently, and she often invited Farsa into her room without any hesitation. 

Unmarried women of royal and noble families were especially expected to embody chastity, even at the age of twelve, as in the case of Princess Aurelia. History had countless examples within the Valois Kingdom of individuals engaging in relationships at such a young age. 

At times, young princesses were married off to foreign princes, who were well beyond their thirties and known for their preference for younger girls. In other instances, influential nobles in their fifties took eight-year-old girls as one of their wives. 

Although the general consensus in the Valois Kingdom was that the suitable age for marriage ranged from fifteen to twenty, exceptions existed throughout history. 

Even individuals with well-established backgrounds were subject to suspicion. Here, Farsa, who was currently present, was a person brought in by Princess Aurelia without any known past or records. 

Naturally, as protective knights, it was impossible not to be cautious. However, Princess Aurelia herself trusted Farsa, which prevented the knights from intervening unnecessarily. 

Nevertheless, as much as Princess Aurelia ordered them not to interfere, their inner thoughts were not easily swayed. 

After all, the person in question was a magician who had risen to prominence and was plagued by unfavorable rumors. 

“Pardon the intrusion. Is there something you require, Princess Aurelia?” Farsa immediately delved into the matter as soon as he entered the room. 

Typically, exchanges between royalty and nobility began with greetings and involved circumlocutory conversations before getting to the main point. However, neither Farsa nor Princess Aurelia preferred unnecessary formalities, so they preferred to keep their discussions concise. 

However, starting the conversation immediately upon entering the room was considered impolite. Under normal circumstances, Farsa would have provided some introductory remarks. But today, the situation was different. 

“Oh, Farsa-sama, it seems your spirits are quite low today.” -Aurelia 

“Well, being in the palace rarely improves my mood. It seems that serving in the court is not my calling, after all.” -Farsa 

“Ara ara, that is worrisome. If Farsa-sama is in distress, it saddens me as well.” -Aurelia 

“It’s all due to my own shortcomings. I apologize for not living up to your expectations.” -Farsa 

Princess Aurelia’s feigned weeping appeared rather forced, but it seemed she understood Farsa’s true feelings. Within Farsa’s mind, he had already decided to resign as the court magician. In order to ensure a clean break, he intentionally displayed a rude attitude. 

Naturally, such behavior wouldn’t go unnoticed by the people surrounding Princess Aurelia’s private chambers. The maids and knights, who were present in great numbers, could potentially become sources of rumors. 

By deliberately adopting a disrespectful attitude, the credibility of those unfavorable rumors would increase, creating an atmosphere where it was difficult for Princess Aurelia to keep Farsa by her side. This was Farsa’s intention. 

However, since acts of insolence and the like could be charged as offenses, he maintained polite manners and speech, while making offensive statements. 

Even the remark about not being suitable for palace service could be interpreted as a criticism of Princess Aurelia’s lack of discernment in favoring Farsa. Those who stood by the princess would easily comprehend such veiled sarcasm. 

Both the White Lily Knights and the maids serving the royal family were noble ladies, accustomed to such exchanges from their early years. 

Furthermore, using the first-person pronoun “boku” was unsuitable for public settings, further diminishing Farsa’s standing in the eyes of others. 

“In truth, I have a special story prepared for the seemingly bored Farsa-sama, which is why I have summoned you today. I was eager to convey it and went to the research laboratory, only to find that you had already finished your work and left. I was quite surprised. It seems even the duties of a court magician are not fulfilling enough for Farsa-sama. Truly befitting of your reputation as a genius magician.” -Aurelia 

As a seat-holding court magician, Farsa was assigned a dedicated research laboratory where magical research and the study of magical artifacts took place day and night. 

However, Farsa’s laboratory was only used by two people, including himself. Having finished his tasks for the day, Farsa quietly slipped out of the room without informing his junior magician and indulged in reading within the palace garden. 

He regretted the possibility of being seen by someone he shouldn’t have. On Farsa’s desk in the laboratory, completed mana potions and magical tools were left as they were, and Princess Aurelia likely made her judgment based on what she saw. Until now, even when summoning Farsa, she would send servants or maids, so Farsa had become complacent. 

In reality, it was customary for royalty to summon others rather than go themselves, so it was unusual for someone to visit the laboratory without any prior notice. 

“By chance, I had some spare time last night, so I brought something I had prepared in advance to lighten the workload for the following day. By the way, would you be kind enough to share that special story you mentioned?” Farsa said, trying to justify his actions to some extent while urging Princess Aurelia to get to the point. 

Farsa was determined, thinking, “I won’t allow myself to be manipulated so easily, no matter what she’s planning.” While Princess Aurelia highly valued Farsa, she was the one who had forcefully groomed him into a court magician, making her the cause of the current situation in a sense. 

Knowing that he would be treated as a convenient tool if he let his guard down, Farsa was careful not to fall into Princess Aurelia’s schemes. 

“Actually, I have a job request for you, Farsa-sama, and that is why I have summoned you. I have already obtained Father’s permission, so you may consider it a royal decree.” -Aurelia 

“…To go so far as to make arrangements with His Majesty the King, you seem to be quite determined.” -Farsa  

“As a ruler, I am also concerned about the future of the kingdom. I dare say this is a crucial first step that will shape the future of the Valois Kingdom,” Princess Aurelia said, her expression filled with apparent concern. 

In reality, she shouldn’t have much interest in the Valois Kingdom or any other matters. True to her reputation as a spoiled princess, her true nature is quite ruthless. However, lately, she has been adopting this attitude more frequently in an attempt to change the opinions of those around her. 

Her spoiled behavior was merely a remnant of her childhood, and according to Farsa’s knowledge, Princess Aurelia had developed a sense of duty as a member of the royal family as she grew older. Furthermore, she cunningly prepared an unnecessary narrative, claiming that her encounter with Farsa had renewed her ambitions. It was a story that couldn’t be underestimated. 

In reality, there was no denying that the encounter with Princess Aurelia had been the catalyst, but the stories she spread among those around her were clearly exaggerated and embellished in various ways. 

“Now, as for the content that will determine the future of the kingdom…” Farsa began to ask, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. 

“It seems they have arrived. The person who will become your partner this time, Farsa,” Princess Aurelia said with a smile, her lips curling upward. 

The sight of the girl, gradually maturing into adulthood while still exuding a breathtaking beauty, appeared to Farsa as nothing more than the mischievous face of a child who had come up with a prank. 

“Excuse me. I am Zenobia de Ctesiphon, a member of the White Lily Knights. I have hastened to answer your summons, dear Princess Aurelia,” a knightly girl, Zenobia, entered the room with a dignified expression, kneeling before Princess Aurelia. 

Her appearance was that of a loyal knight, and the two of them, Aurelia and Zenobia, seemed to have stepped out of a painting, creating an atmosphere akin to a lily-colored breeze that captivated not only the surrounding maids and guard knights but also the entire room. 

“Please, raise your head, Zenobia. I actually called you here because I have something to ask of you. Please take a seat for now. Farsa, please join us as well.” -Aurelia 

“Yes! Excuse me!” -Zenobia 

“…”-Farsa 

Princess Aurelia urged them to sit at the table in the room, and Zenobia complied with humility, while Farsa took his seat silently. 

However, Zenobia never once looked in Farsa’s direction, as if he were completely out of her sight. 

Farsa realized that he must have been quite disliked. Many members of the knights despised court magicians like him and there were often scenes where they ignored each other. 

“Both of you, please take a look at this. It is a compilation of petitions I personally investigated regarding the government. I focused on those that haven’t even reached my father’s hands.” -Aurelia 

Petitions in the Valois Kingdom involved citizens expressing their concerns and requesting improvements to the current situation of the administrative organization, which, for the citizens, was represented by the king. These concerns often revolved around issues directly affecting the people’s lives, such as suffering from the tyranny of certain local nobles or the sudden emergence of monsters in a particular forest. 

Although there were cases where people sent written petitions or visited the royal palace to speak directly, not all of them reached the king’s ears. Some were under the jurisdiction of local lords, while others were simply unrelated or irrelevant matters for the kingdom. With the vast number of petitions received, it was necessary to scrutinize the contents before they reached the king, but naturally, this process became a breeding ground for corruption. 

The initial reception of petitions was handled by lower-ranking palace guards or newly appointed civil servants dealing with written petitions. From there, the reports were passed up the chain of command, but inconvenient matters were often suppressed along the way. 

Corruption and bribery ran rampant among those in power, and even if someone managed to push through a petition out of a sense of justice, they would likely be blocked at the next stage and end up leading a life of neglect. This became an unspoken understanding—petitions that caused trouble would prevent any chance of promotion, and even legitimate concerns were often not handled properly. 

Aurelia claimed to have gathered the multitude of petitions that disappeared along the way, so there must have been considerable hardships involved. 

“The forest behaving strangely, orphans going missing, sightings of suspicious individuals… Certainly, as Princess Aurelia says, it’s not surprising that these reports failed to reach His Majesty along the way.” -Zenobia 

“…” -Farsa 

The state of the forest fell under the jurisdiction of the person in charge of the region, crimes like kidnappings were handled by the city guards, and reports of suspicious individuals were plentiful. As long as the scale and impact did not grow significantly, addressing such matters would be postponed. 

The documents handed over by Princess Aurelia contained nothing of great importance, rather they were filled with matters of low priority or beyond jurisdiction, unlikely to reach the king’s attention. 

Zenobia’s remarks subtly hinted at this, and though she didn’t express it through words or demeanor, she couldn’t help but question why she was being made to read such reports. 

However, Farsa silently gazed at the documents handed to him by Aurelia. 

“…So, the reason you called us is to address these petitions, correct? Honestly, I’m not particularly inclined to do so,” Farsa spoke. 

“Yes, among them, I would like you to start by investigating the forest northwest of the capital city. There are some commonalities between the situation described in these reports and the occurrences when the appearance of Land Turtles was confirmed in other countries twenty and fifty years ago. If left unattended, it could become a major problem,” Aurelia said. 

Saying so, Princess Aurelia took out another document and handed it to Farsa and Zenobia. 

Land Turtles were creatures with a massive turtle-like appearance that were said to primarily dwell underground. However, during their breeding period, which occurred once every few hundred years, they would emerge to the surface and wreak havoc in search of food. 

Despite being referred to as turtles, they were extremely vicious creatures, equipped with strong shells and skin, as well as sharp claws and fangs capable of attacking humans. 

Especially during the breeding period, when a large number of newly hatched Land Turtle offspring appeared, reports of numerous villages being destroyed surfaced, classifying them as monstrous calamities. 

With tremendous power, they dragged humans into the ground, rendering them immobile and helpless, making survival nearly impossible. 

The only countermeasure was to eliminate the adult Land Turtles, particularly before they laid their eggs and hatched their offspring. 

Their surface appearances were rare, occurring only during the breeding period, and their other ecological behaviors remained unknown, with no eyewitness reports. Thus, responses could only be reactive measures. 

Moreover, the whereabouts of the large numbers of Land Turtles, after they finished their predatory activities, remained unexplained. 

“Indeed, considering the information in these documents, it is a possibility. However, if the opponent is truly Land Turtles, I believe the two of us may be insufficient in numbers, don’t you think? At the very least, we would need to deal with two adult Land Turtles, and if things go wrong, we may have to confront the hatchlings as well.” -Farsa 

Land Turtle offspring lived alongside their parents until they reached a certain level of maturity. Once they were capable of freely burrowing underground and hunting, they would separate from their parents and begin preying on their own. It was said that Land Turtles laid hundreds of eggs at once. 

Furthermore, dealing with adult Land Turtles, in particular, was a daunting task that required more than just individual strength. Twenty years ago, even with a hunting squad of several hundred people, most of them were wiped out in the attempt. 

However, despite the lack of actual sightings of Land Turtles, Farsa believed it would be impossible to mobilize the royal army. 

Not only did they only appear once every few decades, with the previous occurrences being in other countries twenty and fifty years ago, no one in the Valois Kingdom had experienced the threat firsthand. 

Otherwise, Princess Aurelia would not have personally undertaken the investigation. 

“Hmph, if you’re too scared, you could have just said so honestly. I can take care of monsters like Land Turtles by myself, rather than teaming up with a weakling like you. Princess Aurelia, I swear upon my sword that I will fulfill this royal decree.” -Zenobia  

“…Well, I suppose I have no right to refuse anyway. Please push me around to the best of your ability.” -Farsa 

“Both of you have such understanding natures, I appreciate it. Oh, by the way, concerning this mission, we will present it as a joint training exercise between the Court Magician Brigade and the White Lily Knights. I emphasize that you will always operate in pairs throughout the mission, as stated in this documentation. Should you act independently, it will be regarded as insubordination and an act of treason against the royal family.” -Aurelia 

Hearing Aurelia’s words and her smiling face, the expressions on Farsa and Zenobia’s faces became strained immediately. 

Farsa had intended to act alone as usual, relying on his concealed powers such as teleportation magic to easily resolve the situation. 

As for Zenobia, she would have preferred to object to being forced to cooperate with someone she despised, but she must have endured it due to the fact that the requester was the princess herself. 

And so, under the pretext of a joint training mission organized by Princess Aurelia, a suspicious task with hidden motives began.