Elizabeth and Shirley had returned from their visit to the Featherwind Sect, whereas Benedict had wrapped up his demonstration with the junior Arcane Knights. The three of them had sensed the disturbance along the way and rushed over. They were confused, then furious with how Lord Kel and Lady Vivian acted. There was never a shadow of a doubt in their hearts that Freon would lie to them. They had absolute trust in him! It was something fostered over years of fighting together. This made him smile. Friends like these were… truly once-in-a-lifetime!
"How shameful. I can't believe they would resort to cheating," Benedict clicked his tongue.
Shirley nodded. "They couldn't win normally, so they pulled this stunt. I had a decent opinion of them during the party. I didn't think they would be this pathetic."
"But I don't get it. Freon could have killed Lord Kel, if his spell had landed. Who would risk their life like that?"
"Hm… Maybe he thought Freon wouldn't hit him? Or maybe he could have protected himself."
"Lord Kel's sub field is in enhancement. I saw him move across the hall incredibly fast. I think it's possible he had a spell prepared to flee, in case I did target him," Freon explained.
Benedict scratched his cheek. "Hold on. Wasn't it possible to pass together, if they didn't suggest a mock battle? They didn't need to do this in the first place. I don't understand their motive."
"Didn't they say they wanted to prove they were better? This is one way to do it. Pull him down to make them look good," Shirley shrugged.
Benedict frowned. Having walked the political circle for the Grand Nobility Households, Benedict felt it was not as simple as that. This implicated too many people. Three Engelsheft Families! There were only seven Engelsheft Families in the Zino Kingdom. This was undoubtedly a big incident. Not to mention, Freon was a special individual. He was a famous war hero, the brother of Ten Dawn Nassandra, and the nephew of Protector Avin Arcellius, the man who currently reigned supreme. Yes, Lord Kel and Lady Vivian could have been impulsive children who did not understand the consequences of their actions. However, people of their standing would not last long if they acted without thinking. The likely answer was that they had support from their families, which meant… they were finally making a move against Freon and the Arcellius Family! Benedict could only pray he was wrong. He just wanted a slow and peaceful life. Was that so much to ask for these days?
Sadly, Elizabeth came to the same conclusion. She said, "I heard about what happened during the banquet party. The Lanark, Winhelm, and Welgen Families must have been dissatisfied with your uncle's behavior, so they allied together to suppress the Arcellius Family. I suspect this is the beginning. They will probably…"
"Excuse me," a girl said quietly.
"Lady Solis, why are you here?" Freon was stunned. He expected her to disappear after her scheme had been exposed. Why would the criminal willingly come back to the scene of the crime?
"Thank you for saving me!" Lady Solis bowed. She appeared earnest. "I know you were only trying to protect me. It's my fault. I shouldn't have pressured you into fighting them. I will explain things to the two sages and my mother. I'm sure they will understand."
"You weren't involved?"
"Huh? I don't understand." The girl cocked her head.
Freon hesitated because he was bad at reading people. He could not tell if she was being honest or not! That was how he got into this mess to begin with. So, he looked to his friends for help. Thankfully, Elizabeth had mastered the art of reading people, and Shirley had incredible instincts. Even Benedict could use his Martial Perception to gauge her reaction. The three of them came to the same conclusion. She was being sincere!
After receiving nods from the three, Freon decided to explain, "I thought you were scheming with them to defame me."
Lady Solis was stunned. "That's horrible! I would never do something like that!"
"Yes, I know now. Sorry for doubting you." He smiled wryly.
The girl remained silent to gather her words. "…I know you won't believe me, but I've known Lord Kel and Lady Vivian since we were young. Lord Kel might look cold, but he is very sweet inside. Lady Vivian too. She can be boisterous, but she has a heart of gold. They wouldn't do this sort of thing normally. They must have a reason to."
"Regardless, this matter won't end easily," Elizabeth said. "I think we should be prepared for whatever happens next."
"Couldn't you tell them to cut it out?" Shirley wondered. "You are a princess."
"No, she can't help," Benedict answered for her. "We're speculating here. We don't have any proof. We were even mistaken about Lady Solis. If Elizabeth steps in, it would be seen as blind favoritism. It would be overstepping her authority."
Elizabeth nodded. "Benedict is right. I might be a princess, but I am also the Royal Ambassador. I can't act without due cause. I can only step in if things get out of hand, so let's wait and see. I'm curious what they want to do." Seeing how calm she was, everyone calmed down too.
Nassandra joined them afterwards and said, "I talked to the sages, and they agreed to properly investigate before making any conclusions. However, what is certain is that… you won't be promoted to a Ten Dawn this year. Depending on how the investigation goes, you may be permanently banned from trying again. The good thing is that you are free to go."
"What a joke. What about the others?" Freon snorted.
"The examiner is safe, and his wounds have been treated." She paused. "Lord Kel and Lady Vivian won't be immediately promoted. They will be tested a second time later, though their promotions are almost guaranteed."
Freon sighed. "Forget it. I'm tired. Let's go home."
Nassandra did not object and decided to leave early today. Lady Solis bowed and went to talk to the two sages. This left Elizabeth and her two Protectors. Elizabeth squinted at the two sages in the distance, trying to peer behind the veil. Lady Solis did not say it directly, but Elizabeth could read between the lines. She was indirectly saying the two sages were responsible for this farce! The Lanark and Winhelm Families must have been worried about the Arcellius Family's revival, so they struck first to prevent Freon from becoming a Ten Dawn. It was a bold move to kill their momentum. Except it would not stop Protector Avin. He was determined to revive the Arcellius Family, no matter the difficulty!
Now that Elizabeth thought about it, she did not know the full picture. What happened fifty years, when the Arcellius Family collapsed and disappeared overnight? Was it like Protector Avin said, that the Engelsheft Families worked together to destroy them? Or was there another factor at play? Fifty years was a long time for records and documents to last. She would have to search in the archives if she wanted to learn the truth. However, she had a feeling this matter was more complicated than it seemed. Not to mention, she would be poking her head in things she should not be. There was no danger, of course, yet it would be a problem if the Engelsheft Families were involved. They could find ways to hinder or stop her investigation.
"How annoying," she muttered to herself.
"What is?" Shirley asked.
"I was thinking to myself… We haven't stayed in the Zino Kingdom for a month yet, and so many problems keep popping up. I thought we would have a nice and relaxing vacation here."
Shirley laughed. "That's true! We've been running around nonstop. We should find the time to relax."
"What about a scenic tour?" Benedict suggested. "The scenery looks especially nice at this time of the year. We could take a carriage through the countryside or go boating on the lakeside."
"Boating sounds fun! I've never tried it before. Let's go." Shirley's face lit up with excitement.
Elizabeth chuckled. "Sure, we can do that, except I don't know how to swim."
"That's no problem. You can have Benedict save you."
"Huh? I need to do it?" Benedict was confused.
Shirley rolled her eyes. "Of course, you do. You…" She saw Benedict's hopelessly innocent expression and sighed. "Never mind. I'll tell you later."