Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 322: Childhood Friends - Madness

Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 322: Childhood Friends - Madness

321. Childhood Friends - Madness
With the recent passing of the king, a grand festival was held in Lutetia, marked by fluttering black ceremonial banners.
The festival was initiated by Akinen.
The rise of a new king quickly led the citizens to forget the bedridden former king as they celebrated the coronation of Prince Eric de Yeriel.
The Yeriel royal family, having poured their utmost efforts into the festival’s preparation, ensured it was truly splendid.
Street performers, usually scorned, roamed freely, and the once irksome musicians played cheerfully, without a single frown from the crowd.
The streets were draped in the royal blue symbol of the Yeriel family, befitting the Kingdom of Conrad, the breadbasket of the Arcaea Empire.
However, there was a mysterious tint of brown that bordered the blue decor. Though it might have caused the royal protocol officer to have a fit, it was no concern to the citizens.
Their attention was fixed on the wedding that would conclude the festival—a wedding between Eric de Yeriel and Elika de Isadora, scheduled on the festival’s final day, a week after the coronation ceremony.
This timeline was widely announced at the festival's beginning.
The intention behind this was clear: to bolster the legitimacy of Eric de Yeriel’s reign by marrying Princess Elika of the Aisel Kingdom, a member of the royal family, thereby addressing the lingering presence of the exiled prince, Lean de Yeriel, in the minds of the people.
The festival proceeded without a hitch, now just one day before the wedding. The palace was bustling as ever, with maids rushing about with tired eyes, and amidst them strode a single mage.
This was Count Soarel Demetri Ogleton. Walking on the thick carpet, he tapped his staff with each step.
It wasn’t that the count, in his late twenties, needed the support of the staff.
He was inscribing mana wards all around him—a practice uncommon among mages.
Mana, being so free-flowing, disperses within days, even if channeled along a pathway.
But Count Ogleton had an unusual staff.
After a fruitless trip to meet the continent’s only Swordmaster, Count Herman Forte, to discuss his research on mana condensation theory, he stumbled across this peculiar staff while traveling to relieve his frustration.
Strangely, mana solidified and froze upon contact with the staff, as if obeying someone’s command.
Could it be the oakwood itself?
Tests proved otherwise.
It was the staff itself that was unique, and with it in hand, the count returned home with some solace to find that he had a son he’d never known about.
Feeling guilty toward his wife, who had raised their child alone, Count Ogleton devoted himself to his family for a time. Just as he began to feel a touch of boredom, the Yeriel royal family reached out.
They proposed that he take up a contract, as their former mage, Ristad Jeken Doroff, had vanished, abandoning his contract.
Count Ogleton quickly understood the reason for such a request, even why Ristad Jeken Doroff had disappeared.
The main reason was the scarcity of mages. Official records listed 283 mages, though the real number was just shy of 230, due to the tendency of each kingdom to inflate their ed numbers.
In reality, there were exactly 228 mages. Naturally, Count Ogleton knew them all by name, including their research focuses and even a bit of their personal circumstances through word of mouth.
As fellow mages, they rarely regarded each other as enemies, despite being born in different kingdoms or belonging to rival magic towers.
Even if there was tension, it typically stemmed from competitiveness, but friendships were maintained.
Even in battle, when mages found themselves on opposing sides:
- “A pleasure to meet you. I hear you study mana condensation... Let’s see what you’ve got.”
- “Likewise, good to meet you.”
They’d greet each other with spells like the “Clouded Eye.” Battlefields were simply vast experimental grounds for their research, and captured mages were never executed; they’d merely change their affiliated tower per contract.
Such was the world of mages.
Too rare to let their numbers dwindle, they knew each other well and protected each other.
Thus, Count Ogleton had a decent grasp of Ristad Jeken Doroff’s circumstances (despite never having met him).
It was a clash between “Jeken” and “Lydia,” the two factions within the Cornel Tower in the Aisel Kingdom, likely due to the war between the Aisel and Bellita Kingdoms, he deduced.
The Cornel Tower was deeply involved in Aisel’s politics. The marriage of Princess Elika and the disappearance of Ristad Jeken Doroff were no unrelated events.
In any case, with Ristad having broken his contract and disappeared, the Yeriel royal family found themselves in need of a new mage.
While the Conrad Kingdom also housed a magic tower, the Iber Tower, the royal family preferred hiring mages from other kingdoms to avoid situations similar to those in the Aisel Kingdom. Thus, the request found its way to the recently returned Count Ogleton, who had been enjoying a quiet life.
Feeling a bit restless and disliking the way Marquis Drazhin persistently tried to pull him into politics by using his granddaughter, Count Ogleton accepted the contract offer.
Last year, he moved his wife and son to Lutetia, purchased a residence, and began working—albeit with seemingly trivial assignments.
He was tasked with observing a group of seven individuals bearing red gems who would soon arrive. While displeased by the request, he complied, as it was his first assignment on behalf of the prince. And then, he made a startling discovery.
“A Swordmaster?”
One among those under surveillance.
One of the busiest among the four who remained in Lutetia had met with a knight of the First Order and unleashed an aura blade.
Tap, tap, tap.
Excitement filled each tap of Count Ogleton’s staff as he strode across the hall, wrapping the palace in mana wards as he hastened his pace.
The palace was abuzz with decorations for tomorrow’s wedding: carpets were replaced, curtains are-hung. Yet, to his eyes, some of the trimmings appeared cheap.
The banners were hung with twine rather than silk, and even the curtains were similarly plain.
Then again, with the Yeriel royal family shouldering the expenses for a week-long festival, the financial steward was likely tearing his hair out.
Indifferent to the royal finances, Count Ogleton silently passed by the bustling preparations on the first floor and ascended the winding staircase.
The fourth floor, the king’s study.
Prince Eric... no, King Eric de Yeriel, was with Princess Elika.
Though they hadn’t seemed close before, they now appeared more familiar with each other, perhaps due to their impending marriage.
Not one for formalities, the count chose to simply pass through the wall and bowed in greeting.
“Forgive the intrusion. I apologize deeply, Your Highness.”
“Yes,”
The princess stood and moved aside, complying swiftly despite being in conversation with Eric, though she didn’t appear pleased.
If anything, it was Eric who looked irritated as he spoke coolly.
“Whatever the customs in the Orun Kingdom, we’d prefer you not behave this way here, and certainly not keep an eye on me.”
Count Ogleton replied, unfazed.
“Protecting the king and royal family is my duty. I cannot avoid keeping an eye on you.”
“Review the contract. I requested protection for the palace, not the royal family.”
“...Understood.”
“Good, then. What is it you need?”
“I came to ask a favor. You requested that I monitor certain individuals—what are your plans for them?”
“Explain why you ask.”
“...I want one of them. As a slave or whatever else is possible. But please don’t misunderstand; it’s strictly for research purposes, and I’d never let them go free.”
“Permission...”
At that moment, the count tilted his head. His eyes, a deep violet so intense it appeared nearly pink, met Eric’s, and Eric’s thoughts shifted.
“Granted, but you must provide proof that the slave was killed upon completion of your research.”
“I doubt the research will ever be complete. And I hope it won’t.”
The count turned to leave, having secured permission. Eric chuckled quietly.
A madman. He could see it in the count’s eyes. Ogleton was shrouded in madness. And Oriax relished this.
Oriax was born from the madness of the Minotaur, from the piles of bodies that rose to the sky. Mages, for the sake of their research, were the kind to sacrifice countless slaves and soldiers.
“A useful one, indeed,” Eric thought at that moment.
Elika, who had briefly stepped out, returned. Although it might just be an act, the princess who dared to smile and understand him… was starting to grow on him.
Oriax took a quiet step back.
---
“...He’s not coming.”
“Seems that way…”
The morning of the final day of the festival.
Lena and Rev stood outside the Grania Orphanage, waiting anxiously for Cardinal Verke’s arrival.
They’d instructed Gallen to bring the cardinal back by any means necessary, but it was unclear whether there’d been some kind of complication or if he just needed more time.
After all, the Barony of Monarch was a considerable distance away.
Round trips were tight on time as it was. Rev sighed softly.
Once the cardinal arrived, they would be ready. They’d already managed to smuggle in heaps of twine through the Captain of the Royal Guards, and they had Lady Jenia Zachary’s cooperation secured. The gems were carefully tucked in his pocket...
Yet, why was there always something missing?
Rev cast a nervous glance at Lena and asked, “Is this really the path that God desires for us?”
“Yes. We’ve done everything we could. Let’s go before we’re late.”
It hadn’t been a real question, but rather a hint of sarcasm, questioning if this path was indeed the right one. Yet Lena answered without the slightest doubt, and Rev asked one last thing.
“Do you really have to go too?”
“I want to go.”
“...Alright. Then promise me this: if I tell you to run, you’ll leave without looking back. All the way to Demos Village. That’s my request.”
“Okay.”
Lena answered casually. Rev firmly gripped her shoulder.
“No, I mean it. Don’t just do as you please, but listen to me, too. Otherwise… Next time, I’ll lie to you. I’ll tell you that all your dreams were just foolish illusions, that none of it ever happened.”
“...Alright.”
“Thank you.”
Rev stepped ahead. Though his words had been so grave, Lena didn’t seem too concerned.
“Let’s go.”
She followed him, along with two hundred children from the Grania Orphanage. She had grown close to them over the winter, and instead of waiting for the possibly-absent cardinal, she openly explained the reason she was seeking Cardinal Verke—to defeat an evil deity—and asked for their help. After some murmuring and discussion, the children came to a decision in their own way:
Anyone who wanted to help could help; those who didn’t want to didn’t have to.
They followed the teachings of Cardinal Verke, who advised action over prayer and conviction over waiting.
About a third of the children decided to accompany Lena. Though they didn’t know divine spells, these young people filled with divine power took up positions behind Rev and Lena.
Lena felt an immense sense of solidarity, as if nothing could stand in their way so long as they stayed together.
Rev, however, showed no signs of reassurance…
In any case, the dice were cast.
Rev prayed fervently that everything would go according to plan as they made their way into the Lutetia Palace.
[Achievement: First Entry into the Palace – Gain increased strength within the palace.]
Navigating the palace corridors was not too challenging. Bart’s former comrades from the Royal Guard were among them, and in the twelfth round, during the Beggar Siblings scenario, Lean had previously used these secret passages.
The orphanage children had been briefed to make as little noise as possible and to pretend to be priests to bless the king’s marriage.
They wore the robes of the Holy Cross Church, though without any emblems.
“So easy, isn’t it?”
Lena whispered cheerfully, dressed in her own mock priest robe. Just as she said, it was indeed easy.
The maids were too busy to pay them any mind, and the Captain of the Royal Guard was leading them from the front.
Even if they encountered any guards or knights blocking their path, the excuse that they were bringing a surprise gift for the king was enough to let them pass. On the final day of the festival, a day that was supposed to be filled with blessings, even those bound by strict rules had let their guard down.
Rev reached the wedding hall without a single disturbance, feeling oddly disoriented.
All that remained was for the doors to open. Then, he could barge in and shatter the gems. No one had even conducted a body search, so his sword still hung at his waist.
“Could it really be this easy?”
It couldn’t be… could it?
A creeping suspicion began gnawing at Rev as he stood among the two hundred orphanage children, waiting for the door to open. Something had already gone wrong.
Laugh at him all you want for being paranoid.
He’d seen more horrible endings than he could count. When things went this smoothly, it meant something was already broken beyond repair!
Before he could process his thoughts, Rev drew his sword.
They had come too far. Breaking the gems here or inside… either would do.
If Eric and his knights weren’t in there, he would have to wait, but that in itself would mean the plan was already in disarray. Minseo had told him to break the gem in front of Eric, but what did that matter now? Everything was ruined.
Rev raised his sword, flames of aura blazing along its edge. On the other hand, he gripped a gem, preparing to crush it immediately…
“Urgh?!”
“Aah!”
“Oh, sorry! Are you… huh?”
The two hundred children waiting by the grand door all fell over in unison, as if stomped down by some invisible force.
Dazed and confused as to why they had collapsed, the children tried to rise but found they couldn’t lift themselves up.
In the middle of it all, Rev was the only one still standing. His face turned ashen.
“Stop, young Swordmaster. Move a single finger, and I’ll kill them all.”
“Y-you… Why are you here…?”
Standing before him was a mage he had met back in Nevis during his time as Barbatos’s apostle.
He didn’t even know the man’s name.
But what he did know was that, even when wielding the divine powers of Barbatos, this mage had been a troublesome opponent. Despite lacking a staff, he had summoned lightning bolts one after another, proving to be a considerable challenge.
“I told you not to move.
압 (압)
!”
“Ah… AAAHH!!”
Squish, splat!
With a single utterance from the count, several people around Rev were crushed. Their clothing tore, entrails scattered, and eyes burst from their sockets.
One by one.
Rev’s body froze. He wanted to look around, to assess the situation, but he couldn’t dare move. He whispered hoarsely.
“Le… Lena?”
There was no response.

Chapter 322: Childhood Friends - Madness