Birthday Trap 3
The prince’s tenth birthday celebration began without incident. Liliana was engaged in conversation with Clyde, using written notes, but once Clyde started talking with a familiar acquaintance who approached, she moved to a corner by the wall to enjoy her lemonade while gazing out the window.
Outside the venue, knights were stationed for security. The mages, however, were not assigned to security duties and were engaged in conversation, all wearing new robes and badges that seemed to have been specially prepared for the occasion. The designs varied slightly among individuals, but all featured gemstones prominently in the center. The cost of such attire was undoubtedly substantial.
Liliana recalled the face of the Vice Director of the Magic Research Department, who had been preoccupied with investigating embezzlement due to unclear expenses. Despite being burdened with a multitude of tasks, he had been assigned additional work, which had made him quite disgruntled. It was curious to her that the Director was still living comfortably.
As her gaze wandered, she spotted Nicholas Bergson, the Director of the Magic Research Department, chatting cheerfully with Marchioness Finch near the center of the hall.
(This is an ideal opportunity for gathering information.)
Unfortunately, with so many mages present, using the Ear of Far Sight spell, to eavesdrop felt risky. There was a chance they might notice the use of magic. Thus, Liliana listened in on the conversations of nearby nobles.
“—Recently, it seems that Marquis Tanner is nearing retirement. His son is actively participating in social circles with his daughter,” one noble remarked.
“The Tanner family’s daughter was a candidate for the prince’s fiancée, wasn’t she? Look—she’s right over there. She’s about fourteen years younger than her brother. Though she’s the daughter of the second wife, they seem quite close.”
“She’s a charming young lady. I believe she’s debuting in high society today. If that’s the case, she’ll probably only attend the early part of the event and leave. Her brother will be present for the later part, so we might have a chance to speak with him then.”
Liliana glanced in their direction. The three nobles were all earls. They had not achieved any notable accomplishments during the previous king’s reign. They seemed ambitious, approaching higher-ranking nobles with obsequiousness. However, many nobles detested such behavior. Those who were scorned by these prominent figures often targeted naive young nobles for their gossip. Clyde also seemed to be keeping them at a distance. Had Liliana been able to speak, she might have fallen prey to them as well, but fortunately, she was still perceived as mute. Though they were aware of her presence, they avoided approaching a silent noblewoman, even if she was a candidate for the prince’s fiancée.
(Even if they are ambitious, they lack talent in managing estates or foresight in business.)
It was well-known in high society that their attempts to increase income from their lands had been unsuccessful. One of them, notably tall, was rumored to be deep in debt and likely to soon return his title and estate. Their only skill seemed to be flattering high-ranking nobles. While discerning nobles ignored them, many were deceived by their smooth talk despite knowing the rumors. It appeared that their latest target for parasitism was the next head of the Tanner family.
This information was not something Liliana had heard directly but was brought back by the mice she had sent to infiltrate the palace and various evening parties. Without having obtained a reliable “shadow,” these magically enchanted mice were a crucial source of information for Liliana. Moreover, since they were magical constructs, they did not incur additional costs or carry the risk of double agents. To ensure security, the spell on them was designed to trigger self-destruction if discovered, minimizing the chance of identifying Liliana as the sorcerer.
(—Since I’ve already deployed the mice today, there’s no need to use the Ear of Far Sight spell now.)
As she pondered this, Liliana noticed a change in the atmosphere around her. Looking up, she saw a man in a robe approaching. He emitted no magical presence, likely using magic to conceal his presence. Liliana blinked and immediately recognized him. She smiled slightly and turned her back to the room to keep her face hidden. The man stopped at a distance, sending his voice to Liliana through a small wind magic spell.
“It’s unusual for the prince’s fiancée candidate to be a wallflower alone. Is that alright?”
Liliana responded with a wind magic spell of her own.
“Well, Lord Ben Draco, aren’t you supposed to be working at the moment?”
“I’m being worked to the bone, so I’m entitled to a little break without complaints,” came the reply.
The voice that reached Liliana was tinged with fatigue, causing her to inwardly smile wryly. It seemed the Vice Director of the Magic Research Department had been working harder than she had imagined.
"Is Petra not at the palace today?" she asked.
"Yeah, she’s been sent out to handle the aftermath of the monster stampede from the other night. We really wanted to allocate more people, but..." he replied with an irritated tone, "It's far too dangerous with such a small group."
Recent trends showed that monsters appeared in the area before and after a monster stampede. There had been suggestions from both the knights and the Magic Research Department that the same area might experience multiple stampedes in succession. Ultimately, however, the Magic Research Department decided to prioritize the birthday celebration. While this made sense in terms of providing security for the nobles gathered, monster stampedes were disasters. Sending insufficient personnel and equipment could exacerbate the damage.
"The ones who went along... they’re so weak that it’s almost like Muirulainen has to handle everything on her own. In fact, they might end up being more of a hindrance than a help," Ben Draco said with evident displeasure.
“Well, it’s not surprising. I can’t help but feel that there’s some ulterior motive behind it,” Liliana admitted.
“Yeah, probably,” Ben responded vaguely, his tone bitter. He seemed to be deliberately being vague, likely considering Liliana’s age, but she had a good idea of what he was implying.
—The Magic Research Department seems to want Petra out of the way.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t keep sending her on such dangerous missions. She had been relegated to less risky assignments in the past, but recently her tasks had all been perilous. Ben often had to supply her with emergency aid, though he couldn’t always be there to help. It seemed that he, too, was burdened with tasks beyond what was typical for a Vice director.
This situation was likely part of the same strategy. While keeping Ben as a palace guard, sending Petra to deal with the aftermath of a monster stampede was clearly not an indication of trust in her abilities. The higher-ups seemed to judge that it wouldn’t matter if she perished. Ideally, either the Director or the Vice Director should be present at the birthday celebration.
“Lord Ben Draco, do you think the celebration will end without incident?”
“—What do you mean?” Ben asked, puzzled by her question.
Liliana’s uneasy feelings had made her question this. She had a sense of foreboding, but she didn’t feel any particular intent to harm. It was more a sense of imminent danger.
Unable to explain it clearly, Liliana simply said, “I have a bad feeling about this.” Ben fell silent and then nodded.
“I’ll take another look around the venue. I might find something useful.”
“Yes, please let me know if there’s anything I can do. I’ve brought the magical stone you gave me.”
“That’s helpful. I often can’t move freely, so it’s good to have.”
Liliana had indeed brought the magical stone Ben had given her previously. It would allow her to communicate with him even from a distance. Though she hoped she wouldn’t need to use it, having it gave her peace of mind.
After Ben casually left the area, the sound of bells rang out, and the hall erupted in excitement as Prince Riley Williams Slibegrad and the Duke Franklin Slibegrad, acting as the king’s representative, made their entrance.
*****
Prince Riley, having received greetings from the nobles in turn, appeared fatigued. Liliana, alongside Clyde, approached to offer her own greeting. Since her father, Duke Clark, was hosting the event, he was not in the line for greetings. Despite being under her father's cold gaze, Liliana maintained a constant smile. In her stead, Clyde delivered the congratulatory words. His profile showed clear signs of nervousness, and Liliana had to suppress a smile as she looked away. Clyde’s anxiety was clearly directed not at Prince Riley but at their father, Duke Clark.
Prince Riley treated Duke Clark’s siblings with the same demeanor as the other nobles, allowing the siblings to quickly step out of the greeting line. Once Clyde was away from his father’s gaze, he exhaled with relief. Noticing Liliana’s gaze, he glanced down at her with a slight, rueful smile.
“I’m hopeless, aren’t I? I just get so nervous in front of Father,” he admitted.
Liliana gave a small, understanding smile and shook her head gently. Clyde seemed to understand her unspoken words, his brow furrowing.
“I know I should be more composed,” he said, though it was evident he was struggling with the pressure.
Unable to offer a verbal response, Liliana could only sense her brother’s despondency. Riley had once commented that Clyde was kind-hearted, a far cry from the “malicious Clyde Benito Clark” from the game. He was a considerate young man who cared about others. Liliana, thinking about this, gently patted Clyde’s arm in encouragement. Clyde, taken aback by this gesture, looked up in surprise before breaking into a joyful smile.
“Thank you.”
Liliana shook her head, but noticed out of the corner of her eye that several young ladies were admiring Clyde’s smile, which was rather bothersome for her as she preferred to avoid the limelight.
Despite her appearance, Liliana was skilled at concealing her presence. This ability, developed for using magic and curses discreetly, made the attention of others especially irritating. Ideally, she would have preferred to distance herself from Clyde, but he had already mingled with acquaintances before the party began and had no intention of leaving her side.
“Have you eaten?” Clyde asked.
Not noticing the gazes directed at him, Clyde turned towards the food laid out in the back. Liliana shook her head. She generally didn’t eat much and thought a light sandwich would suffice for the evening. However, Clyde, unfamiliar with her habits, pulled her towards the food.
The spread was extravagant. Although some dishes had already been touched by the nobles, Clyde swiftly helped himself and served Liliana. He also inquired about her preferences. The plate he prepared for her was more than she usually ate, but she accepted it with gratitude. Clyde served himself and looked down at Liliana with a pleased expression.
“Now that I think about it, I don’t really know your likes and dislikes, Lily. I’m glad I can learn about them today.”
Liliana gave a vague smile and took a bite of the fruit to deflect the conversation.
Similarly, she didn’t know Clyde’s preferences either, as her knowledge was based on game information rather than personal experience. However, it seemed the game was right about his liking for sponge cake.
(I never really wanted to know my brother’s tastes that much.)
Realizing her own feelings, Liliana lowered her gaze. However, Clyde seemed to interpret her reaction as shyness and gently patted her head. Liliana’s gaze wandered anxiously. The taste of the roast beef with brown sauce was unremarkable.
As she chewed with a hint of discomfort, she heard a murmur of surprise from the ladies around her. Looking up, Liliana saw that they were all staring out the window. Clyde also looked up, following their gaze.
“That’s—”
While most of the nobles hadn’t noticed, a few nobles and magicians immediately realized what was happening. Liliana and Clyde too understood the situation.
—Corruption!
A black mist, like a tornado, was rising into the sky from the royal palace. Although it was a bit distant from the capital, it was still dangerously close. If mishandled, the monsters might attack the capital. The density of the mist clearly indicated the scale of the impending monster stampede.
“Set up a barrier around the capital—!”
A distant voice was heard.
The worst and largest monster stampede in history was about to begin, evoking memories of a dark, terrifying era. The venue plunged into a state of panic in an instant.
—