With the Crown Prince declaring that the magic book was fake, the meeting room was filled with astonishment.
The nobles swallowed air in shock.
Some of them left their mouths open without being able to close them out of extreme confusion.
“In preparation for any emergency, Ignis’s book has been replaced in advance and is now stored in another safe place, so there is no need to worry.”
Ludving, standing leaning against the podium, waved a listless but dangerous smile.
His gaze was like someone looking at chess pieces on a game board of his own making.
This reaction of people was actually expected.
I, too, was astonished to learn that the book in the cart was a fake.
I shivered from the hateful feeling of betrayal.
How can they deceive me, when I read books?! Even if it is a decision for security considerations, I am concerned about it as well.
Anger seized me again, and I glared at William.
He noticed my looks, so he brought his hands together and recited as if he was apologizing.
Only now did I realize that William's acting skill deserved the Best Lead Actor award.
When he came to us at the duke's palace, pale-faced, saying that the magic book had been stolen, I thought he was telling the truth!
Not only that, but bringing me - the book reader - to the scene to examine it was also part of his plan, to completely deceive the enemy.
Indeed, the enemy lurks just around the corner.
It is not for nothing that the kindest and most trustworthy character in movies and TV series is made the culprit.
The shock then reaches its maximum.
"I'm really sorry. I had no choice."
William repeated his regret with the look in his eyes.
I was not ignorant of why they carried out the process of replacing the magic book in complete secrecy.
It is said that they struggled to put in place countermeasures after the Lion Magic Entrance Book was initially stolen.
Their first action was to replace or move some of the Five Great Books of Magic.
In fact, when the Crown Prince said that he would reveal during the State Council meeting that the book was fake, I was first worried.
But William smiled brightly and said: "The enemy also knows that the book is fake. It is a declaration of war of sorts. We may be able to identify the hostile forces present at the State Council meeting."
So, could hostile forces be here?
I stared at the conference room full of confusion and confusion with the eyes of a hawk.
The crown prince said that the enemy is among us.
It had become clear through this Star Library Store Incident.
He said it was a bold crime that could only be committed by someone who knew top-secret information.
He dared to claim that it was highly likely that he was a high-ranking noble, and that he had inevitably attended this State Council meeting.
I also know very well who the “enemy” might be.
My gaze stopped at Franz.
He was sitting proudly among the troubled nobles without his expression changing.
Our gazes and his gaze met in the air.
Yes, you are. You beautiful madman.
Franz's narrow eyes curved satiated.
One of the nobles raised his hand.
He stood carefully from his seat, glancing at Franz for a brief moment.
Would he be part of the Duke of Speran's entourage?
The Crown Prince recognized him and nodded lightly.
“Count Ardenne, please.”
The Count spoke cautiously but in a serious tone:
“I am greatly impressed by Your Highness’s insight. However, I am concerned about whether the Book of Ignis is truly in a safe place. The fate of the continent is tied to the Five Great Books of Magic. Please pardon this old servant’s caution.”
After the Count of Ardenne finished speaking, the nobles nodded their heads in agreement.
With a small commotion, the Crown Prince knocked on the podium once and said confidently:
“By the way, for your peace of mind, I have invited a guardian witch to this place.”
The Crown Prince nodded to William, and he got up quietly.
Then he opened the door to the hidden reception hall at the back of the meeting room.
The door opened, and a witch wearing a black robe with her hood pulled down quietly appeared.
Everyone's eyes turned to the witch at once.
The coming of the guardian witch was also what I had already heard in the carriage.
I was told that she is the most suitable person to give confidence to nobles who are suspicious of the safety of the Book of Magic.
“Guardian Witches” are the great wizard masters who maintain the Dimensional Barrier, and are praised as guardians of the continent.
It is said that their roots go back to the wife of the first king, Julius I.
I also heard that they never interfere in politics, but only devote their lives across generations to protecting the dimensional barrier, and not even the king can deal roughly with them.
Once again, I was blown away by Ludving's ingenuity.
How could he move a member of that group?
“Guardian Witch, thank you from the bottom of my heart for answering the invitation. I sincerely welcome you to Ruberia.”
When Ludving greeted her politely, the guardian witch bowed silently.
The neutral guardian witch appeared at the State Council meeting, shaking the hall.
“It is unbelievable that a guardian witch who never enters the royal palace came here.”
“It seems that His Highness made even those on his side truly remarkable.”
“What an honor for my family to see the Guardian Witch in person.”
The nobles circulated their opinions without being able to hide their astonishment.
Franz also didn't seem to expect this, his expression showing that he was caught off guard.
The guardian witch took off her robe that covered her entire body.
There were sounds of astonishment among the nobles.
She was a woman in her thirties with short silver hair and eyes as black as garnets.
Her clear features and bronze skin gave her an eccentric air.
Her tall height and strong body made her look as strong as a warrior.
“I am the guardian witch, Valeria.”
Valeria addressed the nobles with dignity and a cold face.
The nobles could not say anything because of the prestige radiating from her.
“The Book of Ignis is in our custody. So let the people of Ruberia rest assured.”
Valeria's voice was filled with deep authority and calm. Her words were short, but their weight was not easy.
With this word alone, the nobles relaxed and showed signs of contentment.
I felt the great influence of the guardian witches.
Because they had maintained this land since the First Kingdom, they enjoyed the unwavering trust and support of the Ruberia people.
Valeria gave the Crown Prince a short bow, then sat down next to Reichen's president.
The arrival of the Guardian Witch to the Royal Palace to bear witness alone strengthened Ludving's position.
The views of the nobles - with the exception of Duke Speran's entourage - towards the Crown Prince clearly changed.
Valeria, who was about to put her hood back on, stopped.
Her gaze stopped at me.
Her big black eyes widened.
But the corners of her lips immediately rose, and a blue glow caught in her eyes among her silver hair and then disappeared.
When she tried to look carefully, Valeria sent her hood deep again.
Her facial expression also disappeared into the darkness.
Why are you looking at me like that? It's kinda annoying.
“So, let's talk about the point. I'm going to raise an important question.”
said Ludving, who returned to the podium, looking around the hall.
The nobles behaved politely and listened seriously to the serious Crown Prince.
Well, it must be a matter of mood.
I pulled my attention from Valeria as well and focused on the meeting.
It's time for the real purpose to emerge.
“This Duel Arena attack was an event that threatened all of Luberia. So I stood here to seek your opinions and prepare together.”
Ludving stretched his broad shoulders.
His luxurious, authoritative outfit made him look like a young king.
His glowing red hair shone as bright as the crown, and his blue eyes burned with a charisma that humbled everyone.
“Therefore, I would like to create a new knight squad to confront monsters for the lives and safety of the people of Ruberia!”
The Crown Prince's majestic voice rang out in the meeting room.
The nobles showed slightly different but similar reactions.
The Crown Prince's class applauded, and even the neutral class nodded in acknowledgment of necessity.
While only the face of Duke Spern's courtiers was as confused as someone who had been hit on the back of the head.
Franz watches the meeting room without changing his expression.
Finally the original target appeared.
I felt the tension ease a little.
I leaned my straight back easily on the chair.
The real goal of this State Council meeting was “to establish a cavalry division to confront monsters.”
Of course, more precisely, it is the Crown Prince's new cavalry squad.
According to what he heard from the Crown Prince, the circumstances were like this:
Originally, there was a knight squad dedicated to eliminating monsters stationed in the border regions of Ruberia
Its commander-in-chief, its main representative, was Carlix.
He had achieved remarkable achievements in eliminating the monsters that appeared in the border regions.
But as the monster attacks decreased, the group naturally disbanded.
Some say that the king of that period forcibly dissolved it because he feared the increasing influence of Duke Leinhardt and his family.
It was an unproven but plausible rumour.
This is natural, because even now, after time, Carlex's popularity and respect are still sky-high.
The people - commoners and nobles alike - who admire Carlix are countless.
However, the Crown Prince planned to strengthen his influence by creating a new knight squad, taking advantage of the appearance of monsters this time.
Of course, the main goal is to protect the people from monsters more effectively, he does not only think about his own interests.
Turning crisis into opportunity.
I thought he was the spendthrift crown prince who only liked to play in social circles, but I saw him again, frankly.
It seems I'm not the only one who thinks like this.
The nobles who look at the Crown Prince look with admiration, or with an expression of joy, they look at a son who has turned away from his transgression.
President Reichen in particular secretly took off his glasses and wiped the corners of his eyes.
“I support the proposal of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Reichen's president stood up first and cheered.
Then the nobles followed and declared their support.
“I support!”
“I support too!”
The Crown Prince's proposal was passed in the blink of an eye.
The nobles who were watching the bonfires on the other side, saying that monsters were emerging from the border areas, were terrified when the monsters appeared in the capital.
They seem to have concluded that the safety of the capital and themselves is more important than worrying about the expansion of the Crown Prince’s influence.
After most of the nobles present announced their approval, Duke Spern's entourage looked pale and annoyed and only observed Franz's expressions.
Finally, Franz slowly rose from his seat.
In an instant, there was a sharp tension in the meeting room.
Franz broke the tension all at once with a radiant smile.
He bowed towards the Crown Prince elegantly.
“The Duke of Spurn’s family also supports His Highness the Crown Prince. In addition, we will do our best to provide support for the sake of Ruberia.”
It is truly a fox with a hundred tails. This human.
The Crown Prince smiled triumphantly towards Franz in response.
“I have fully ascertained your deep loyalty to Ruberia and the sincerity of your concern for the people. I look forward to your active support for the establishment of the new knight division. Well, I would be glad if you would send your knights.”
The nobles fought hard at the Crown Prince's explicit (threatening?) statement to pay manpower and money.
As the proposal had already been passed, it became a matter of bitter necessity to financially support the establishment of the Cavalry Division.
President Reichen took the stage and calmed the disturbed nobles.
“We will discuss the detailed plans regarding the establishment of the Knights Division at a later meeting. This concludes the House of Lords meeting for today.”
Bang bang bang!
The sound of the presidential mace being struck rang out in the meeting room.
After the meeting ended, the nobles gathered and spoke with the Crown Prince or Reichen President.
Duke Reinhardt was also besieged by young nobles loyal to him.
Franz left the meeting hall first, along with his nobles.
In the turbulent hall, I felt embarrassed to be alone, so I got up from my seat as well.
I went out into the corridor to wait, but someone blocked my way.
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation