PLMYP 52

Please Let Marriage Be Your Payment!,

Chapter 52 —

---

“Let me introduce myself again. I am Velma Rubivia, the successor of Windgale.”

This time, Velma placed her hand on her chest and bowed politely.

Leonard couldn’t hide his surprise when he heard the name Windgale.

“So you were a royal wizard of Parodia. Wizard Rubivia, it’s an honor to meet you.”

In the Empire there were seven Imperial Wizards, and in Parodia there were four Royal Wizards.

Since people now couldn’t use magic without magical tools, those chosen by the Empire or Kingdom inherited magical tools and served their country as wizards.

The Windgale Velma mentioned was one of Parodia’s royal treasures— a magical tool that controlled wind freely.

“It’s not such a big honor. I was just lucky. If I hadn’t awakened as a wizard, I’d still be a pickpocket, probably dead in a ditch by now.”

She shrugged, and Leonard asked curiously,

“I’ve heard about wizard awakening. They say someone with mana can awaken when chosen by a magical tool. Is that true?”

“That’s right. After you awaken, you can use any magical tool, but before that, you must be chosen by a compatible one.”

A magical tool chooses its wizard.

That was the only explanation. A wizard who failed to awaken with Tool A might suddenly awaken with Tool B. Some only awakened years later.

And before becoming a wizard, a person couldn’t even sense their own mana, let alone control it.

“So once a magical tool chooses you, you can feel your mana?”

“Yes. How can I explain….”

With a flick of her hand, a wine bottle and empty glasses floated over.

“The bottle is a person, the glass is the tool. I used to think I was just an empty bottle like everyone else….”

The bottle tilted, pouring fragrant wine into the glass until it was full.

“…But once the magical tool drained me, leaving me empty, I finally realized I had mana. After that, I could move it at will and use tools freely.”

“So the magical tool takes mana from you? You don’t give it yourself?”

“The first time, yes. Awakening a sleeping tool requires a huge amount of mana.”

That was why many died of exhaustion while awakening— if they didn’t have enough mana, their very life force would be drained instead.

“I see. That’s very enlightening.”

Since wizards were rare these days, Leonard had endless questions.

Velma smiled kindly at his thanks.

“Ask as much as you want…”

“Velma.”

“…I wasn’t planning to invite him at night, really.”

Yet she had thought about it.

Irenea glared playfully at Velma, though she wasn’t truly angry—she knew Velma was only half-serious. If she had really wanted Leonard, she’d have whispered to him when Irenea wasn’t around.

“By the way, Velma, have you found your successor yet?”

“No, not yet. I’ve searched the Empire, so next I’ll go past Skellum to Illum. That’s why…”

Seeing her hesitate, Irenea smiled.

“Stay here and rest as much as you like. If you need anything, tell Daemond, our head butler. He’ll take care of you.”

“Thank you, Irenea! I’ll repay this favor one day!”

Velma hugged her tightly, rubbing her cheek against Irenea’s. Irenea returned the gesture.

“No need for repayment. But could you check on that matter I asked about before?”

“Of course! Leave it to me!”

Just as swiftly as she had appeared with Windgale, Velma vanished.

Though the conversation wasn’t long, Leonard felt drained. He closed the balcony door, drew the curtains, and asked Irenea,

“Are you close to Wizard Rubivia?”

“In a way. As you saw, it’s not pure friendship. It’s more like sponsorship.”

As Windgale’s successor, Velma could travel distances in hours that took normal people ten days. Only Imperial Wizards could use such magic in the Empire. So it made sense for Irenea to support her.

“But why would a royal wizard of Parodia need your support? Doesn’t she get aid from her kingdom?”

“Velma has plenty of money. But with the king’s travel pass, her movements in the Empire are limited.”

To the east of Parodia was Milos, and beyond Milos was the Empire. Between them stretched the great Weinberg Forest, home to ancient beasts that even strong knights couldn’t face alone.

That forest cut East and West off from each other. The sea was no better—pirates in the south, deadly reefs in the north.

But things changed once Irenea cleared pirates and opened sea routes. Trade and exchanges flourished, and Parodia, Milos, and the Empire signed peace treaties.

They even began exchanging students to learn each other’s languages and cultures.

Still, Parodia’s passes were only recognized in the capital, nowhere else. Ten or twenty years ago, when Velma first arrived, it must have been even harder. She only managed her royal mission after Selen introduced her to Irenea.

“…There’s one thing I don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

“Why search for a successor in the Empire? The Parodia royal family would never give a magical tool to an Imperial… Oh.”

So the ‘successor’ was just an excuse.

When Leonard glanced at Irenea, she only smiled and put a finger to her lips. He nodded and sipped his wine.

Royal Wizards couldn’t leave Parodia without the king’s orders. Which meant Velma was searching for something on the king’s behalf.

‘…Then that rumor was true?’

That one of Parodia’s Royal Wizards had disappeared with their magical tool.

Whether escape, abduction, or disappearance, no one knew. But if true, no wonder the king was desperate. That had happened twenty-five years ago.

‘Well, nothing to do with me anyway.’

Still, Leonard was impressed by Irenea’s connections. To think she even had ties with Parodia’s Royal Wizards.

“But Ray, what were you about to ask before Velma showed up?”

“Oh… about Jenny. You paid Harry Miles thirty million larks to invite her, right?”

Leonard rubbed his temple at the thought, his head aching.

“What happened to that money?”

“Oh, that?”

Irenea only smiled as if it were nothing.

“Don’t worry. His Majesty will take care of it.”

“His Majesty?”

Leonard frowned. The Emperor wasn’t the type to meddle in small things.

Irenea laughed softly.

“He didn’t attend the wedding, so he’s probably busy dealing with his son.”

“Dealing? Where is Harry Miles now?”

“In a place not just anyone can enter.”

Irenea rested her head lightly on Leonard’s shoulder.

“Harry Miles was caught by the Special Investigation Unit while gambling illegally with Hawk’s money.”

“An illegal casino?”

“Yes. It was run by the remnants of that gang that once caused trouble in the capital’s alleys.”

The Silent Swamp. Selen had hunted them tirelessly to erase every trace.

The illegal casino Harry went to was their last source of money. Selen had tipped off the Special Unit at just the right moment—after Harry lost the entire thirty million larks.

“Do you know the Silent Swamp?”

“The assassin guild? I heard it collapsed years ago.”

“Collapsed, yes, but not quietly. His Majesty hated them—one of their victims was a maid he cherished deeply since his princess days.”

So when the Emperor learned the remnants planned to use casino money to revive, he ordered everyone there arrested—staff and guests alike.

Of course, spies from the Moonshadow Guild, who had infiltrated as dealers, escaped beforehand.

“Why arrest the guests too?”

“Because the Silent Swamp’s VIPs were gambling there as ‘sponsors.’”

The casino even kept a sponsorship ledger. What was meant as a favor became hard evidence, sending all their patrons to prison.

“So can you imagine how suspicious Harry Miles looks, losing thirty million in just two hours?”