Chapter 13

“Now then, since we have finished introducing ourselves, it’s about time we proceed on our strategy meeting.”

It was the head of the family, Marquis Clavis who said this with a smile. He is indeed a great noble man for he was able to control the atmosphere by just his words and presence, this was something that Aurora and Luminox couldn’t deny.

The Duke smiled sweetly at Aurora, who repeated his words once more. A child is said to be a mirror that reflects his parents, but why doesn’t his son show the same expressions like him? Her thoughts might have been visible to her face that the Marquis smiled once more, defending his son, he said—

“My son was brought up by my father.”

The late Marquis Clavis was said to be a strict, quiet, knight-errant, handsome young man, and inevitably stolid in character. A man born not with the personality of his father but grew up under his grandfather’s tutelage, Aurora could imagine her fiancee as she heard of this.

“Yes, a strategy meeting.”

“For the evening party?”

“That’s right, there might be some old stumps mixed within the guests along with some members of the royal family present in this evening party. I couldn’t let you go off half-cocked or you’ll risked getting beheaded.”

“I certainly don’t want Earl Porta’s young lady and young master to be beheaded.”

Aurora shut her eyes at the awful analogy.

However, the House of Clavis are from an old lineage of knights. The House of Porta is also from a family of knights and has the title of an Earl, although the House of Clavis is more prominent than the House of Porta and has a completely different history. In the old times, the House of Clavis were knights of chivalric orders serving the royal family which were once priests residing on a territory that’s larger than the current territory of the House of Porta. It seems that Marquis Clavis is the lord who supports the family and the head of house, the second son (Franklin el le Clavis) is both a member of Order of Knights and serving as knight in the Royal family, keeping the family tradition and their faction.

That’s why they say it’s a little bit bloody——and it’s something that’s prevalent in the society.

However, learning that there are two major factions within the nobles, Aurora who’s absorbed in her own world lackadaisically smiling and embroidering in the house simply can’t imagine this. Stealing a glance at her brother, Luminox smiled and turned to her sister.

“It seems that things doesn’t comes across to you.”

“To be honest… things hasn’t sinked in well with me.”

Aurora isn’t the typical lady who’s active in the social gatherings since her debut, despite being a daughter of an Earl, it can only be said as quiet strange not to mention that she was from a family of margraves. She isn’t lady who grew up in the backwaters of the kingdom but simply a lady who doesn’t leaves the house.

“Oniisa—Does aniisama know about this?”

“Yeah, the school itself is neutral but there was a clear faction between the student body. Even the school cliques were influenced by the two major factions. If it were not for that, my studies would have gone further. It’s sad to say that this is the same well-known school in Welbum Kingdom where one studies and learn magic.”

Luminox sighed as he turned his eyes towards the windows, and after a moment of silence glanced back to Marquis Clavis, whom nodded back as he continued to speak.

“Rora was it—you are permitted to speak, it seems we need to thoroughly discuss about how the factions were formed. To start about the two great factions… Do you know about Libriel, the Demon Queen?”

“Yes. I’ve learned it from my governess.”

“What about King Erase, the one who usurped the throne? ”

“I was taught that he was the man who took the throne, the half-brother of the imprisoned Queen Libriel.”

Luminox with a depressing face nodded in affirmation at Aurora’s answer.

“Do you know that the family of the former Queen Libriel was called 「former royal family」while King Erase’s family is called the 「new royal family」?”

“So there’s something like that.”

“Why do you think then made King Erase remove the former Queen Libriel from the throne?”

“Err… Was it because she forcefully claimed the throne that was rightfully for King Erase who was then a Crown Prince?”

Luminox’s face turned ghastly as his eyes twitched while Aurora’s eyes narrowed and closed her mouth.

Aurora’s elder brother, Luminox, is the next Earl but he has the aspect of a「Historian」as his「sideline.」Born in the house of knights, he who has poor health and weak physical strength gained his love for knowledge after receiving a gift from his grandfather that later got him to deep pursuit of learning history.

For that very reason, it took Luminox some time as he began to tell the full history albeit he is no match for the crown prince who couldn’t be stopped once he started talking about magic. Aurora’s resolved to change her pose back in the couch. It’s a rule of thumb to take a break after a while or her legs and hips will numb, making it hard for her to stand up later.

“You remembered very well. According to the book「History of Royal Descendants」written by the famous historian Prince Reporte, he divulged the fact that the imprisoned queen, formerly Princess Libriel was a hidden daughter for a very long time—hidden in the sense that she was secretly brought up into adulthood by a certain member of a royal family. This part of the history was still considered controversial among scholars, as Princess Libriel was said to have been raised in a family of commoners in a small town in a Duke’s territory at the eastern part of the kingdom. She grew up hidden from the higher society but her violet pupils which grew darker than anyone else made her stand out, she was then found and soon became a queen. I think Rora already knew how the royal family values those people who are born with dark violet eyes.”

“The present Crown Prince have beautiful purple eyes, too…”

“Well, it was said that he had the most prominent eye color in the last few generations, although it seems he didn’t have much interest for the throne. It was Prince Erase who was the Crown Prince until Princess Libriel’s presence were made public. What the public conclude is that the former Crown Prince became discontented and questioned her lineage and imprisoned the Queen in her 10th year of reign.”

“I see…”

“But there’s another theory. The throne wasn’t usurped from the Queen, that she wasn’t imprisoned but was only confined in the Imperial Palace because Prince Erase sees her as his beloved elder sister and due to her lineage, being born from the taboo between the former king and his sister.”

“It’s not a good story.”

“History is quite complex, it’s made up of both love and hate.”

“Will your story take a long time to finish?”

Luminox laughed a bit at his sister’s straightforward words but he continued speaking after faking a cough.

“For so many reasons, Queen Libriel was imprisoned while her son fled from the kingdom. However, in the last years of King Erase’s life, the former Queen’s grandson returned to Welbum Kingdom. He searched and gained proof to show how legitimate Queen Libriel’s position as the queen and urged the King to relinquish the throne without spilling any blood… It must be also because King Erase has gone quite old that he decided to abdicate the throne for his sister’s grandson. The grandson—it was in the reign of King Vibrio that marked the lineage of the「old royal family」who gives importance on legitimacy of their venerable family than the「new royal family.」”

“So that’s where the old royal family and the new royal family began?”

“That’s right. It’s been nearly 300 years ago. After that, King Vibrio married a lady from a noble of lower status in the country where his father escaped during a misfortune, that’s the time where he was fighting with the grandson of King Erase regarding their royal lineage on the succession war. Since then, there will always be a skirmish every 30 years between the「old royal family」who boasts of their legitimate lineage and the「new royal family」which emphasized their lineage.”

“Is that so?”

“By the way, our own house, the House of Porta is also of the old royal family’s faction because the House of Flos where the House of Porta originated from was once the King’s (old royal family) retainer.

“We, the House of Clavis belongs to the old royal family too, as we were exiled during the time when the Crown Prince Erase abdicated Queen Libriel from the throne.”

Marquis Clavis nodded as he picked up the pace of the story after Luminox. A maid silently poured some tea for Luminox who’s rubbing his throat, as he stretched out to reach for the porcelain teacup, Marquis Clavis adjusted his posture that made him look like his son.

“Well, if we are to speak of the history of the disputes of the two factions then we better discuss the current affairs as well, Lord Porta. It’s meaningless to refer the succession of war from 300 years ago than what happened 20 years ago, if we think about what the current King who succeeded the throne did. His Majesty who suddenly married a second Queen from the family of the「old royal family」after marrying his first Queen from「new royal family」to which he belonged to.”

Marquis Clavis’ blue eyes narrowed in agitation, he remembered it as if it happened just yesterday in the assembly. Franklin nodded towards his brother.

“That was a terrible time. I don’t know how many times Her Majesty was about to be assassinated before her marriage.”

“You’re right… Despite His Majesty’s effort in favoring his lawful first Queen from his own faction, the assassinations to the second Queen didn’t stop.”

“Right, you know it always makes me anxious whenever I see His Majesty next to the second Queen.”

Aurora tilts her head as Franklin’s eyes looks somewhere at the distance.

For Aurora, the two queens were like celestial beings whom she had the honor to see two times in a distance during the royal evening party. The first Queen was a very beautiful lady with rich golden hair and the second Queen had a very luscious black hair that by just having her presence changes the whole mood in the party—Aurora couldn’t say anything more about her delicate features since the closest thing she had seen her is when Aurora gave her courties.

Marquis Clavis saw Aurora’s face who’s deep in thoughts, drew his breath and says—

“The second Queen is a lady who doesn’t desire any power. She has not been meddling in politics since she became a queen, but she has been in a salon as a patron for magicians and artists. Thanks to that, there’s been a great deal of friendly arguments between the King and the second Queen whenever they meet, this was something later many would say that had Her Majesty hadn’t been a member of the「old royal family」His Majesty might have married her because he loves the second Queen. This caused the political marriage that was made to balance the「new royal family」with the「old royal family」no longer meaningful.”

Franklin nodded towards his brother once more.

“Speaking of the second Queen and His Majesty, the two suited each other. The second Queen, Her Majesty was an interesting person and she understand His Majesty very well… This takes me back in the time when the first and second Queens were conceived.”

“While the succession problem ended pleasantly, the court calmed down at a dangerous balance. It’s like the calm before the storm.”

“The courtiers were relieved once the first Queen was born but then, the second Princess was born three months later… Isn’t the second Queen’s son—the Prince have a darker violet eyes?”

The two men heaved a deep sigh. The House of Clavis that’s been part of the royal family’s factional struggles from the beginning must have been through a lot of trouble.

“In the royal family of Welbum, it’s always the eldest son who would succeed the family, that’s why even if it’s the Princess who’s supposed to be crowned, since men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership the investiture was done to the Crown Prince… You know how terrible it was 18 years ago. Five years ago, Her Highness the Crown Princess fell violently from her horse that she had difficulty reaching the throne—it was then decided that His Highness the Crown Prince would take over her position which then settled everything but it’s all water under the bridge now.”

“I know a little about that.”

Aurora was surprised to hear Luminox added—that the House of Porta lent a whole Platoon to guard the second Queen and the Prince—she had no idea such a thing happened.

The succession to throne was settled five years ago and Aurora who’s a merely 13 years old at that time couldn’t possibly have any idea about this. But it was for this reason that some familiar knights going to the royal palace bears the embroideries of protection but they always came back home with either being exhausted or with injuries.

Did Aurora stupidly left her mouth open? Luminox sighed as he reach out to her chin to close his sister’s mouth. Marquis Clavis laughs as he relaxed his legs and arms.

“Well, they’ve all come to agreement now. Had Her Highness, the Crown Princess’ younger brother ascended the throne, she would have became his aide and the current Crown Prince who intended to become a Magician was taught how to become a successor. But this two factions are still not on good terms, even now in the royal court, they’ve been locking horns with some aggressive faction members. ”

“And that is why this evening party hosted by the House of Loomis is a big deal, a serious matter with not only the new royal family attending but they have invited the old royal family’s heir and his fiancee—I’m sure this major event is going to stir some serious affair!”

—At last, the story is back to its original pace!

Marchioness Clavis’ wide smile made Aurora’s face twitch, she was a beautiful lady that’s full of fervidness. She rose from her silky chair and gracefully stood on her heels and without a moments pause, not even giving Aurora a chance to escape, Marchioness Clavis seized the embroiderist’s fingers with a snap.

—Isn’t this quite nostalgic?

Aurora reminisced the image of the Duchess from the Marchioness before her, sending cold sweats on her back. It hasn’t been that long since Marchioness Clavis’ daughter did the same thing, dashing before her and with great strength grasped Aurora’s hands, asking her not to forsake her brother.

“Aurora-san!”

Marchioness Clavis’ eyes were stared at her with great ferocity. She was a very young looking beauty that it seems ridiculous for her to have a child a few years older than Aurora, this very lady was now inching towards her so close that their noses rubbed against her. Aurora wanted to runaway but instead fell back to the couch.

“Set your mind at ease!”

“Y—Yes? !”

“We’ll take responsibility of you and our foolish son, we’ll make sure you’ll be at your very best in this evening party!”

“Mother!!”

With a BANG—the door flew open and entered Felix who immediately rushed in front of Marchioness Clavis, leaving Aurora’s stiffening body behind him.

“I have told you before to stop summoning me back with your lies about emergencies——wha-what are you doing?”

Apparently he kicked the door open with his long feet. His silver hair swings left and right as he slipped in front of his parents, seemingly stunned at not only the appearance of his sister but everyone else were assembled before him. He then turned to detach his mother from Aurora who leaned against him unexpectedly as he shot a glare at Marchioness Clavis.

“What in the world was exactly happening here?”

“You should be apologizing for being late! You should be ashamed to keep your fiance waiting for so long! ——but I will praise you for coming in the meeting at the right moment. From now on, at this very moment, you must give it all your heart.”

“Wha—”

He looked at his mother with a questioning look and Felix who felt so lost without hearing the full story—turned his head back and forth——from his fiance who had a ghastly expression and trembling on her feet to his mother with a charming bright smile, giving him cold chills to his spine.

——He knew better what plans are brewing inside his mother’s head when she had those expressions.