Golden Mage - Chapter 71
Volume 3, Chapter 11
“Your Majesty, is this your request?”
El asked while recalling information about Princess Eris.
The Eris Princess he knew was a quiet woman dedicated to scholarly pursuits. Despite pressure from nobles for marriage, King Redolph respected Eris Princess’s wishes and rejected all proposals on her behalf.
She had no interest in marriage and was solely focused on academic research.
Considering that Eris Princess wouldn’t come here of her own accord, that meant she was here because someone asked or commanded her to be here. And the only person who could make such a request to her was King Redolph.
Eris Princess smiled softly and nodded.
“You’re right, it seems you truly are a Mage. You’ve noticed it in an instant. But I didn’t come here solely because of my father’s request. I came because I was personally interested in you, Mage.”
El looked slightly surprised and pointed at himself.
“To me, you say?”
In response, Eris Princess nodded.
“I heard I’m not much older than you. But to be in the Seventh Class, which others can only achieve when they’re in their sixties or seventies… how could I not be interested?”
El chuckled at her words and shared the story of how he overwhelmed Viscount Einhart with panic.
“Others were amazed, but I self-taught myself.”
“….”
Eris Princess, like everyone else, made a momentarily puzzled expression.
Of course, she had every reason to be puzzled. It was because anyone who learned under a strict master from a young age would only be able to reach the Seventh Class at an old age. Achieving that level at a young age through self-study was almost unbelievable…
Seeing the astonished expression on Eris Princess’s calm face, El smirked and asked a question.
“But is that the part you’re interested in?”
Eris Princess lowered her head and nodded.
“No, I was curious if you, as a young Mage who has reached the level of a Grand Mage, think differently from others.”
“But what you’ve seen so far…”
“It’s the same as everyone else. I can’t tell any significant difference.”
Hearing Eris Princess’s words, El nodded and shrugged.
“Whether I’m in the Seventh Class or the Eighth Class, I’m still me. I’m just one of the many people living in this world. The only difference is that I can be someone who can influence many people. In any case, I’m still just one person. I’m someone who can die if I’m hit by a sword… there’s no reason for me to be any different from others.”
El’s long explanation made Eris Princess spin around and lean against the window, then she opened her mouth.
“I wanted to study.”
El smiled faintly as he looked at her, knowing that he was indirectly making a proposal to him. If El agreed, she would be saying that she would marry him, and in return, he would have to help her family. And in doing so, she was laying bare all the worries she had been carrying.
El pitied her.
He knew how agonizing it was not being able to do what you wanted. El understood it all too well.
However, he had no intention of getting involved in a power struggle for the throne. It might be a bit difficult, but considering the situation, the probability of things going according to the king’s will was high, and he didn’t feel the need to intervene in that quagmire.
But there were plenty of ways he could help.
El placed his hand on her shoulder. Startled, she looked up at him.
Smiling gently at her, El patted her shoulder.
“Don’t worry about such things. Doing what you want to do is entirely possible for a princess like you. I’ll help you. You don’t have to marry me if you don’t want to.”
El offered her a warm smile. In response, Eris Princess’s cheeks turned slightly red, and she lowered her head.
“I… I’m grateful. Really, thank you.”
El smiled at her, seeing her like that.
—
It was the welcome party for the Tower Mage, but this time, the center of attention was no one other than Rowelin.
During the three-day party, except for the first day, El didn’t participate. Most of the high-ranking nobles did the same. They didn’t feel the need to attend a party El wasn’t going to.
During those days, Rowelin attended the party and built tremendous connections with the nobles. Originally, most of them were considering joining either the First Prince or the Second Prince’s factions. However, the appearance of a Tower Mage at the kingdom’s council was enough to change their minds.
The nobles of the provinces, who were usually underestimated and overlooked, knew all too well that they couldn’t remain silent if they didn’t have power. And so, they united around Rowelin, casting aside any feelings of camaraderie.
Of course, there were no strong bonds of camaraderie among them. However, their determination to escape from the oppression of the powerful central nobles was the same.
Rowelin might not have realized it, but El knew that if he became her background, the provincial nobles would unite around her.
The nobles are predictable like that. The event of the provincial nobles gathering around someone who is considered a useless force by the First Prince or the Second Prince is a significant loss for them.
Quietly, El and Rowelin returned to their respective territories.
And two months after the end of the party, Rowelin declared that she and the nobles she gathered would support the Third Prince, Yudmion.
At a time when the First Prince’s faction and the Second Prince’s faction were in turmoil, a group of people from the most remote western end of the continent entered the Tolin Kingdom.
There were 100 knights clad in pure white armor, carrying blunted hammers instead of swords that breathed life into fear. They were none other than the Radiant Knights dispatched from the Gaia Empire.
As their leader, Vice Marshal Borlek, entered the Tolin Kingdom, he murmured.
“We couldn’t find the Holy Maiden anywhere else. That means, as Archmage Ardimos said, there must be a Holy Maiden here…”
In Borlek’s eyes, a firm faith emerged.
“Wait, Holy Maiden. I and the knights who serve the gods will soon come to rescue you.”