When Leda relayed this morning’s interrogation results to Lunaflare, the reply came immediately: they were heading this way.

  Fedra, Fiona, and Felix were coming too.

  Denaris shuddered at the thought of the garden being buried under horse manure.

  “We’d better stock up on feed… there are twenty horses.”

  Leda and Liera exchanged glances and realized he had a point.

  Fortunately, when they arrived at dusk, only one carriage and five horses showed up. The rest had been left at an inn.

  Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

  No one wanted to deal with cleaning up horse dung.

  The bandits and fishermen left in the basement were given a small amount of money. Tsukiyama’s men loaded them into a wagon in the middle of the night, drove them somewhere along the highway, untied them, and dumped them with the burlap sacks still over their heads.

  Only the fat man received three gold coins.

  It was more than enough to disappear.

  Lunaflare arrived in an unusually cheerful mood. Those who had known her for years immediately sensed that something interesting must have happened.

  “Interesting” usually meant someone was about to lose a fortune in a business deal—and when that happened, large sums always moved.

  Lunaflare opened with:

  “Prime Minister Kaios Inquisitor Alexios is about to get played by that vixen.”

  Everyone immediately understood, but Denaris, who had no clue what was going on, kept sipping his juice innocently.

  This time, they planned to skim the profits off whoever was trying to trap the Prime Minister.

  Of course, they also intended to make the Prime Minister suffer.

  “It’s from Ignis,” Lunaflare said. “The Prime Minister was apparently complaining that he’d gotten mixed up in some shady business.”

  Ignis was the head butler at Alexios’s mansion in the capital.

  The man loved gambling. He’d borrowed money from shady moneylenders, fudged the mansion’s accounts to pay it back, but eventually couldn’t cover it anymore. With interest, he now owed twenty-three gold coins.

  (The exchange rate: 100 copper coins = 1 silver coin, 1,000 silver coins = 1 gold coin.

  1 copper coin ≈ 10 yen.

  1 silver coin ≈ 1,000 yen.

  1 gold coin ≈ 1,000,000 yen.

  The average commoner’s monthly income was about 50 silver coins.)

  The moneylenders hesitated to storm the Prime Minister’s residence, so they came to Lunaflare for advice.

  Lunaflare occasionally lent them money.

  Or rather, she invested in their schemes.

  Because she could obtain detailed information about cash-strapped nobles, she was their best customer—money and information in one package.

  In many cases, the assets taken as collateral somehow ended up in the coffers of Lunaflare’s trading companies.

  They called her “the demon.”

  Ignis was dragged in front of the demon by the moneylenders.

  In the end, they reduced the debt on the condition that he bring information about Kaios.

  The quality of the information would determine how much debt was forgiven.

  Although he hadn’t brought anything major at first, he finally delivered a huge piece of news.

  “What shady business?” Leda asked.

  “Simply put, insurance fraud.”

  “Maritime industry? Tricia?” Bernadia, who ran a trading company, caught on instantly.

  “Exactly.”

  That meant the ones trying to trap the Prime Minister were the Trician insurance guild, and the one funding it from behind the scenes was Queen Clarissa.

  “Bernadia, can you free up one ship for this?”

  “Yes. A southern job just finished, so one of my ships is available.”

  “Good. We’ll use it for this case for a while.”

  “Understood.”

  “Sorry about this. Leda and Fedra will stay here with me. Denaris and the others will head to Tricia with Bernadia’s group. Start by checking the port guild there. Those people know all the dirty details.”

  “Understood.”

  Everyone got to work.

  At that moment Leda let out a rare cry of surprise.

  “What is it?”

  “…Kaios Valerius Miredias IV has died…”

  “When?”

  “Just now, inside the palace. It appears to be a fall.”

  “…Well played, Prime Minister.”

  “What do you mean?” Denaris asked.

  “If Miredias IV is dead, the late king’s remaining heirs are Lucius of the Pantios house, Helena of the Devon house, and Julius of the Valerius house—all children under eight. That creates an opening for Alexios to become king. It was almost certainly the Prime Minister.”

  A heavy silence fell.

  ◇

  “Why did you have to kill the boy too!?”

  Inside Queen Clarissa’s private chambers in the palace, a man confronted a woman.

  It was Chronos, son of Marquis Valerius.

  Chronos was Clarissa’s younger brother.

  “It wasn’t me! Do you think I would kill my own child!?”

  “Then who did it!?”

  “I don’t know! What were the guards doing!?”

  She hurled a glass at the man in charge of security who had come to report.

  The man prostrated himself.

  “Forgive me, but it appears he fell on the stairs inside the palace and broke his neck.”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “You’re saying it was an accident? That no one was near him when he fell!?”

  “I am truly sorry!”

  Clarissa slumped to the floor.

  Chronos cleared the room, then helped his sister to the couch.

  “Call Livius…”

  “What are you planning this time!?”

  “Just do it!”

  Chronos left the room and, looking half-exasperated, sent a messenger to Queen Luciana’s residence.

  That same night.

  Livius appeared in Clarissa’s room.

  “Livius has arrived.”

  Clarissa looked up from the couch and spat the words.

  “When are you going to do it?”

  “Soon.”

  “Hurry. Hurry!”

  Her eyes were those of a madwoman.

  “There will be a funeral for the prince soon. Please compose yourself.”

  “…I know. This is something else…”

  Livius laid Clarissa on the couch and stayed by her side until she fell asleep.

  “Please take care of yourself for a while…”

  Livius watched his few remaining family members breathe peacefully in sleep, then returned to where he belonged.

  ◇

  The funeral for the child who had inherited the late king’s name was held with great pomp at the Grand Temple in the capital.

  Among the assembled nobles and foreign diplomats, Clarissa remained constantly surrounded by guards, effectively refusing all audiences.

  In contrast, the kingdom’s Prime Minister and younger brother of the late king, Kaios Inquisitor Alexios, was openly and energetically chatting with the lords.

  Some criticized him for being too cheerful at a funeral, but he paid them no mind.

  Duke Pantios was ill in bed, Marquis Devon was in mourning and sent a proxy, so the person who unexpectedly drew the largest crowd—despite the recent tragedy—was Count Alias Quintus.

  Everyone offered words of condolence for the earlier incident.

  The quick-eared among them noticed that he had brought Lunaflare with him, which only heightened their interest.

  The Alias house, which sheltered the late king’s consort and possessed the kingdom’s strongest mage, was now desperately wanted by every faction.

  The fact that Ariette had not appeared at all only fueled more rumors.

  There were quiet whispers that she might be pregnant with the late king’s child.

  And there was one more thing.

  This man Quintus was the one who had arranged Ariette’s entry into the palace at the late king’s celebration.

  Now the same man had brought an extraordinarily beautiful boy with him.

  He had introduced the boy as an adopted son from a side branch, but that only sparked even wilder rumors.

  The survival of Princess Anastasia.

  If the second in line to the throne, Anastasia, was still alive, the entire situation would be overturned.

  Especially for Alexios—it would erase his claim as heir.

  The rumor shattered the question of who would support Luciana’s son Lucius.

  In fact, this was one of the reasons Lunaflare had dragged her adoptive father and Denaris here.

  She was also supporting Luciana, but keeping Denaris in men’s clothing forever was impossible.

  Even from Lunaflare’s perspective, no matter how he dressed, he still looked like a girl.

  She couldn’t bear the thought of him living his entire life in disguise and loneliness.

  Using the situation now was the perfect opportunity, and Quintus had agreed to attend.

  There was one more scheme already in motion.

  She had sent Leda as a spy into the queen’s inner circle.

  It was a dangerous job—constantly using concealment magic, with the risk of immediate execution if discovered—but Leda had accepted.

  She could even erase her presence entirely, making her the most valuable asset under Lunaflare’s command.

  The reward was great, but the risk was too high, so Lunaflare usually kept her close and rarely used her.

  Leda was already embedded near the queen, gathering information on everyone who approached.

  Alexios, perhaps growing impatient with the endless crowd of nobles, finally approached.

  “Count Alias, it is good to see you in good health. I can only imagine the hardships you have endured since the beginning of the year.”

  He extended his hand.

  “Prime Minister Alexios, how kind of you. I am truly grateful.”

  Quintus took his hand.

  “But what a crowd. I wanted to greet you earlier but couldn’t get close. This must be a testament to your popularity, Count Quintus. Hahaha.”

  “Oh no, I’m just an old man who hides away in the countryside. Coming to the capital after so long, I’m simply overwhelmed by the noise.”

  “What are you saying? Everyone is begging for your return to the Finance Ministry. Work has been stalled without you. If you could come back even one day sooner, the government would run smoothly again.”

  It was true.

  Quintus had been the de facto head of the tax bureau in the Finance Ministry.

  He had taken leave after the incidents at the start of the year, but the calls for his return were still loud.

  “I apologize for the trouble I have caused everyone.”

  “No, no. Just seeing your healthy face is enough. However, Count, you are quite the sinful man.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You have brought such a beautiful lady with you. I would love for Lady Lunaflare to return as well. I trust she will come to the kingdom’s aid in times of need?”

  “Well, if my stomach is full, I might manage.”

  “What? You have taken a husband?”

  “That is quite the misunderstanding, Prime Minister.”

  “My apologies. By the way, Count Quintus, who is your companion? May I be introduced?”

  “Please forgive my rudeness. I recently adopted a son from a side branch. His name is Denaris.”

  “It is an honor to meet you, Prime Minister Alexios. I am Alias Denaris. Please remember me.”

  “How polite. I hardly know what to say. Calling a young man beautiful would be rude, yet my vocabulary fails me.”

  “Please, I am still young and inexperienced. I would be grateful for your guidance.”

  “My, what a fine young man. Count Alias, your house is secure indeed.”

  The conversation seemed ready to drag on, so Lunaflare decided to cut in and pull Denaris away.

  “Denaris, I need to fix my makeup. Come with me.”

  “As you wish, Sister.” Then, turning to the Prime Minister, “Prime Minister Alexios, please excuse us. It was an honor to meet you.”

  He bowed and left the area.

  Quintus would handle the rest.

  What an enormous crowd.

  Everyone was desperate to know how the current turmoil would play out.

  Lunaflare thought so.

  But one careless word could damage their house’s position.

  ‘Lady Lunaflare, may I speak?’

  It was a telepathic message from Liena.

  ‘Liena? What is it?’

  ‘Bato Levantus’s body has been found near the northern highway outside the capital.’

  ‘Used and discarded—or perhaps he became an inconvenience as the situation changed.’

  ‘Most likely…’

  ‘I see. The situation is moving fast. Adapt as needed.’

  ‘Understood. That is all.’

  “Politics really is a troublesome thing.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “I’ll tell you later. You might even receive a marriage proposal soon.”

  “What are you talking about? Uncle should be the one getting proposals first.”

  Uncle had already taken a wife from the Yue family, but it wasn’t publicly known.

  “Hahaha, perhaps you’re right.”

  Lunaflare laughed, but Denaris didn’t seem to understand her true intention.

  The best way to investigate the rumors about Denaris was through marriage proposals. And if someone pushed aggressively using their status, he would have no choice but to reveal his identity.

  Lunaflare predicted that Alexios’s next move would be a marriage proposal for Denaris.

  Denaris checked his clothes in the washroom.

  Today he was not wearing the hakama and haori but a more ordinary outfit.

  He had chosen a long jacket, so his lower body lines should be hidden.

  Since Alexios had left Quintus, Denaris rejoined his grandfather.

  The rumor of the peerlessly beautiful boy had already spread among the noble ladies at the funeral.

  Lunaflare’s presence as his escort only amplified it.

  Quintus was standing in line to offer condolences to Clarissa.

  The ladies in their elaborate mourning attire immediately surrounded Denaris, turning him into their plaything while he waited his turn.

  At least no one touched him, so he was relieved.

  “It has been a long time, Your Majesty. Please accept my deepest condolences.”

  Quintus bowed, so the two with him did the same.

  “Count Alias, you must be grieving as well. Thank you for attending. Who are your companions?”

  “This is a son I recently adopted from a side branch. His name is Denaris.”

  “It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Alias Denaris.”

  Clarissa’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  He looked exactly like that woman.

  She had cried with jealousy many nights.

  She had wanted to kill her but couldn’t.

  How should she deal with this…

  “Serve your house well.”

  Her tone was utterly cold.

  “Thank you for your kind words.”

  Denaris replied.

  “Then we shall take our leave. May Your Majesty remain in good health.”

  They bowed and withdrew.

  ◇

  The mansion in the capital was the same as always.

  The garden had been completely overtaken by evening primroses. Pale purple flowers bloomed everywhere, filling the air with a refreshing fragrance.

  In this mansion, Lunaflare’s last disciples—unable to receive her direct teaching—had been left in charge of producing beauty serums and perfumes. They were essentially being kept alive on salary.

  There was no way to apologize for that, but the truth was she simply didn’t have time to manage everything.

  Fortunately, they had work and received pay, so they didn’t seem to mind.

  The disciples and servants kept the mansion beautifully maintained.

  Before Lunaflare arrived, Fedra had already set up a barrier so no conversation could leak out.

  The moment Denaris returned to the mansion, he collapsed onto the couch in the living room.

  The tension finally left him and exhaustion flooded in.

  “You still lack training,” Lunaflare said, looking exasperated.

  “Your nerves are too thick, Aunt.”

  She burst out laughing. “You’re right about that.”

  “Are you all right, Denaris?”

  The person in question just blinked in confusion.

  “Both Clarissa and Alexios—and many others—have taken an interest in you. Duke Pantios can finally breathe a little easier.”

  Quintus said.

  “Interest in me?”

  Lunaflare explained the situation to her slow-witted “brother.” He gasped in shock.

  “So the marriage proposal talk earlier wasn’t a joke—it was about me?”

  “Exactly. Keep that in mind.”

  “What should I do?”

  “I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”

  Then Lunaflare turned to her adoptive father with a serious expression.

  “Father, Bato Levantus and the captain of Miredias IV’s guard have been found dead.”

  “Is that true?”

  “The news will spread soon, but the situation has shifted. The queen, the prime minister, Pantios, and Denaris. Many nobles will start approaching you now.”

  Quintus nodded.

  “I’ll assign Fedra as your liaison. Take her with you wherever you go. She will be useful.”

  “Understood. But will you be all right? Aren’t you a target for the Trician remnants?”

  “You’re sharp, Father.”

  “Stop talking like a man already… though you’ve never listened when I told you that.”

  “If you already know I won’t listen, there’s no point saying it, Father.”

  “Fine. I’m tired. I’m going to rest.”

  With that, Quintus headed to his room, and everyone retired for the night.

  On a moonless night, the stars shone brighter than ever.

  Thank you so much for reading! ??

  If you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a rating or a review!

  Your feedback is greatly appreciated and really encourages both the original author and the translator to keep bringing more chapters.

  You can also read the original Japanese version here:

  See you in the next chapter!