TMLITTKM | CHAPTER 115

[CHAPTER 115]

Count Ascard raised both hands as if to show his innocence.

“Your Highness, I only supported the princess because she suddenly felt dizzy.”

Vincent turned and asked me.

“Amelia, is that true?”

I looked back and forth between Vincent and Count Ascard. The lingering effects of the illusion still frightened me.

Leaning on Vincent’s arm, I barely moved my lips.

“Yes, it’s true.”

Although he showed a strange obsession at the end, he did catch me as I was about to fall. But explaining anything else to Vincent right now was impossible.

Hearing my answer, Vincent quietly looked into my eyes. When I nodded to indicate we should move past it for now, he reluctantly turned his head.

“Then, excuse us, Count Ascard.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Count Ascard bowed gracefully as he withdrew, then looked back at me.

“Until we meet again, Princess Wentworth.”

“……”

Vincent glanced back at him on my behalf, then led me back to my original seat.

He lowered his posture to match my eye level.

“Amelia, are you alright? You look pale.”

Once I was away from the Archmage, I regained my composure. Perhaps having someone to lean on helped.

I ran my palm over my neck and face and nodded.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“What happened? Tell me now.”

Tell him? I looked carefully into his sharp emerald eyes. It comforted me, yet made me anxious.

How much should I reveal?

“He asked how I knew Sylvia. I just said it was a coincidence. He didn’t seem to believe it, but didn’t press further.”

“And?”

“He asked to meet Sylvia… I told him no because she wasn’t feeling well, but I think he’ll ask again.”

“And?”

Biting my lower lip, I hesitated. Should I tell him about the vision I had regarding the Archmage’s drugs?

“There’s nothing else… really.”

“Nothing?”

Vincent frowned. He lowered himself further, so that he now looked up at me seated in the chair.

“Your Highness.”

“Amelia, you don’t trust me.”

I had no words. It was true—I trusted him, but not completely. I looked down at his expression, which showed slight disappointment, and slowly spoke.

“Do you… trust me?”

“……”

Vincent didn’t answer immediately. Even knowing, a bitter feeling washed over him. We were sharing the same question and emotion.

“It’s okay, I understand.”

“Amelia, I—”

I forced a calm tone, and Vincent stumbled through a hesitant explanation. Then, a panicked voice called from behind.

“Princess.”

I turned to see Sylvia approaching, catching her breath. Reflexively, I scanned for the Archmage.

Fortunately, he was far away, speaking with someone else, unaware of us.

Sylvia came closer and whispered.

“Please help me. Could you come over here?”

Vincent stood and gave her a stern look.

“I told you not to involve Amelia.”

“Your Highness.”

The atmosphere briefly tensed. I hurriedly stepped forward to block Sylvia and reassured Vincent.

“What do you need help with?”

Sylvia glanced at Vincent but began explaining.

“There are too many rooms to check individually. If you help, Princess, it will be easier.”

Vincent gave Sylvia a cold glance from behind.

“So you allowed her, knowing it was risky, thinking she could handle it alone.”

I understood her meaning.

“It’s fine, Your Highness. I’ll go.”

“No need, Amelia.”

“It’s necessary. Don’t worry.”

I calmed him and quickly moved outside the hall with Sylvia, anxious that the Archmage might spot her.

But an even more urgent concern remained.

‘No, if this succeeds…’

The dreadful vision still lingered vividly. At the very least, I couldn’t let his drugs be tampered with here.

Just before leaving the ballroom, I removed the bracelet from my wrist and tossed it out the open window.

“Princess.”

Sylvia jumped slightly, turning to me immediately.

“Yes, speak.”

“The bracelet that detects mana—you wore it when attacked in the carriage before. You have it today, right?”

I lifted both wrists sheepishly.

“Oh, that’s a problem. I didn’t wear it today.”

“What? I’m sure I saw it… even when helping with the gloves, it was there.”

“Oh, I removed it because it didn’t match this outfit.”

“I see…”

Sylvia looked suspicious but sighed, pitying me.

I leaned closer and lowered my voice.

“Sylvia, is it really necessary to embarrass the Archmage today?”

“Of course. He values his reputation highly. Revealing the drug’s identity exposes his weakness.”

“And if he attacks in anger…?”

I shook my head, refuting her anxiously.

“Remember the day in the carriage? He could manipulate mana at the tower then.”

Sylvia sighed but continued kindly.

“To fully charge the mana at the tower usually takes a month, and the process must start two hours in advance. Even the Archmage cannot bypass that.”

Her explanation sounded reasonable. Yet, my visions had never been wrong. Events occurred inevitably, and I had twisted them before.

This was a major event. Even in the smallest case, human casualties would be too high if it happened.

“Does it always take a month? No matter what?”

I asked again, and Sylvia’s confidence faltered.

“Normally… yes.”

“Are there exceptions?”

“There are, but without slaves supplying mana, it’s impossible. You could extract mana from individuals for faster charging, but…”

“See? There is a way.”

Sylvia shook her head firmly.

“Still, we cannot miss today due to such an unlikely chance. If the Archmage gets angry, he won’t attack the palace—he’ll just leave in embarrassment.”

I studied Sylvia quietly. She was his disciple and aide, yet seemed unaware of the details. Or was she skipping minor steps to achieve the goal?

No. If I hadn’t seen the vision, I’d have thought the same as her. It was a reasonable line of thought.

“Well… without the bracelet, we have no choice. We must check each room one by one, as originally planned.”

Sylvia sighed, and I slowly responded.

“What’s your plan?”

“I’ll use clairvoyance magic first. I can see up to four rooms at once. We’ll open the suspicious ones carefully to check.”

She lightly held my arm and chanted two spells.

“I’ve cast invisibility and sound-silencing magic together. If we open doors cautiously in this state, no one will notice.”