Chapter 96

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

“Someone’s enjoying himself, huh.”

Diel sneered as he watched Vien thank the crowd for attending the party. With his mouth twisted into a smirk, he stroked his chin and muttered.

“I was honestly expecting him to show up with a handful of hair fallen out after getting the report about what happened in Neitzia.”

“….”

“Seems His Highness the Crown Prince still eats and sleeps well, even after hearing that his subordinates are dropping dead. Just look at that shine on his face.”

‘Diel knows about what happened in Neitzia. Did he get the information from the Magic Tower?’

His words startled me, but then I thought that could be possible.

‘Since someone was said to have withered to death, maybe they consulted Diel to see if it was related to magic.’

“…Well then, I hope everyone enjoys themselves.”

While there were many things I wanted to ask Diel, as Vien wrapped up his speech, I was reminded that I was still standing in the middle of the banquet hall. As I pretended to run a hand through my hair and tried to organize my thoughts, I noticed Allen, who looked even more flustered than I was.

My gaze drifted toward him as he stood there grinding his teeth.

Just then, Diel leaned in and whispered right by my ear.

“Aren’t you curious, my lady? About what really went down in Neitzia?”

“…Are you going to tell me?”

I pretended not to know anything and shot the question back at him. If he had actually been asked about what happened in Neitzia, he would undoubtedly know more than I did. Watching him, I thought I might gain even the slightest clue to solve this mission.

Then Diel, who had been lazily curling his lips into a smile, suddenly asked in a playful, whispering voice.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t your god give you a prophecy this time?”

Even though he knew he was lying back then, he never missed a chance to tease me about it. I shot Diel a sideways look as he snickered, then replied.

“…God doesn’t give me the answer to everything, Lord Diel.”

“I don’t know, it seemed like your god told you pretty much anything. Didn’t you even get instructions on how to kick the Tower Master’s shins last time?”

“Th-that was…!”

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing me flustered, he crossed his arms and looked at me as if to say, ‘Well, let’s hear your answer.’

“…M-Maybe that was just god answering my desperate prayers?”

“What, as in you were so desperate to kick the Tower Master’s shins that it became your life’s biggest wish?”

‘What a sharp guy.’

Of course, it wasn’t like I hadn’t imagined hitting him. Maybe not just once, maybe three times…

“If I were desperate enough to pray about it, don’t you think I’d wish for something a little more significant than that?”

Diel seemed surprised by my answer and looked at me blankly, then burst out laughing so hard he had to cover his face.

‘Seriously, what kind of messed-up favorability system is this?’

To be honest, I’ve basically given up trying to figure out what made Diel’s affection go up. Still, that was a separate issue from the fact that someone who attracted attention just by standing there was now laughing like a lunatic, so now everyone’s staring at me, too, just for standing next to him.

‘There’s nothing good that’ll come from drawing more attention here, so I should tell him to calm down first.’

“Um, Lord Diel…”

“Th-this is the imperial palace. S-So maybe you should restrain yourself from such frivolous b-behavior.”

Allen’s low voice caught Diel’s attention, and he turned his gaze toward him. He looked at Allen with an expressionless face but with only the corners of his mouth lifted as if saying it for my benefit.

“Actually, they found a dead body in Neitzia. A body that had dried up and died overnight.”

“….”

“But do you know what’s truly strange?”

“….”

“Neitzia is officially part of Arbonis, but the body wasn’t from here. He was a citizen of the Principality of Efren.”

At his words, my eyes snapped toward Allen without realizing it. Even though Allen’s eyes had turned fierce, Diel kept talking like he didn’t notice or didn’t care.

“It’s almost like divine punishment was brought down on Efren for the games they’ve been playing in Arbonis.”

‘Games?’

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but the tension between the two of them was way too tense for me to intervene. I stayed quiet, holding my breath, while Diel flashed another mischievous grin and continued.

“So if, by any chance, your god plans to bring an even greater punishment upon Efren, be sure to inform His Highness the Duke.”

“….”

“It’s not like we’re complete strangers. A little warning isn’t too much to ask, right?”

With that, Diel turned and walked off without the slightest hesitation. I swallowed dryly as I watched Allen shaking after what Diel said.