Banessa had always believed that the Princess was targeting Leticia.
How could someone who had been saved by Leticia’s power prioritize the Empire over her? The Princess was already irksome enough, but when she killed her own father for power, Banessa had thought she was someone he could never associate with.
But after listening to Kendel and the other Imperial nobles, he realized that wasn’t the case at all.
The Princess wasn’t coveting Leticia’s power; she was struggling against the wolves circling Leticia.
Moreover, she hadn’t actually killed the Emperor. In fact, she had saved his life when he had brought about his own death.
Banessa had just learned this directly from Callisto.
He felt deeply sorry for having misunderstood the Princess all this time.
So, he decided to help the Princess.
‘If I’m going to help, I might as well do it right.’
He had intended to remain as quiet as possible as the representative of the delegation, but this situation was beyond his control.
Leticia would understand why Banessa had caused such a commotion once she knew the full story.
“If you’re that desperate for the power of the Wings, fine. I’ll show you.”
Brilliant white flames burst forth from his fingertips. The nobles, momentarily forgetting why Banessa had summoned the flames, stared at the mesmerizing sight as if entranced.
And then, in an instant.
“Gasp!”
“Aaaah!”
The small flame rapidly grew, lunging at the nobles as if to consume them. The nobles cowered in fear, just barely avoiding the flames as they clung to the decorations along the pathway. The snake of white flame slithered along the path, climbed the walls of the banquet hall, and began to scale the roof. It raced upward without burning anything in its path.
“What kind of madness is this…!”
“I’m already mad. All my comrades know it. It’s just you who didn’t.”
Banessa grinned, baring his teeth. The nobles were too terrified to even think of running. They huddled together, trembling. By then, the flame had reached the dome of the roof and suddenly soared high, spreading wildly in all directions.
The banquet hall became a gigantic torch, illuminating the surroundings.
* * *
“Oh, Goddess.”
The nobles in the banquet hall clung to the walls, staring at the blazing white ceiling. The transparent glass dome was engulfed in brilliant white flames.
The Princess muttered in disbelief.
“Sigh. This is driving me crazy. How am I supposed to deal with this?”
The moment she saw the flames, she recognized them for what they were. The familiar power of the Goddess was pouring down from the flame-covered ceiling.
To prevent the situation from escalating further, she immediately ordered the knights to control the people. She had to make sure that the Principality’s delegation wouldn’t be held accountable for any mishaps caused by this incident.
Just then, the culprit behind all this approached her.
“My apologies for not seeking your permission in advance, Your Highness.”
Despite the chaos he had caused, Banessa was utterly unruffled. He spoke with a slight smile.
“On this wonderful day celebrating your ascension, I happened to come across some vermin in the banquet hall. It seems they frequently cause trouble in the palace, and I figured it might be difficult for you to handle them alone, so I lent a hand. You know, it’s always more effective to threaten with numbers.”
“Threaten? What do you mean by that…?”
The Princess began to question him incredulously but fell silent. There was something distinctly different about Banessa’s attitude towards her compared to before.
Just thirty minutes ago, it was clear that he didn’t want to exchange a single word with her. Yet, there was goodwill in his eyes when he looked at her.
‘And to think it was about bugs.’
Suddenly, Kendall’s entourage, who had glanced at Banessa earlier, came to mind. Even though they were blinded by greed, she had ignored the possibility of them approaching Banessa. The princess quickly scanned the banquet hall.
They were not there.
Count Kendall and the followers of the late emperor.
“Could the bug you mentioned… be Count Kendall?”
Banessa shrugged with a smiling face. The princess laughed with resignation.
“It seems he finally caused trouble. I will apologize for the count’s rudeness.”
“Why should Your Highness be responsible for the actions of the bugs?”
“It’s because I failed to manage them properly.”
“Well, bugs should be crushed and eliminated, not managed. The mercy you showed is not your fault.”
The princess was momentarily at a loss for words, staring at Banessa. It was not an illusion. Banessa was indeed supporting her now.
“So, you used your wings’ power to intimidate the bugs, or rather the count, in my place?”
“I wanted to make it clear not only to the count but also to others.”
“To show what?”
“That Her Highness’s wings are not sane.”
“Everyone already knows that. Calisto is here.”
“True, but he is, after all, a member of the Sacred Empire’s royalty. He must have his own position, so he can’t rampage as he pleases. Hence, the bugs spoke nonsense about Her Highness without fear.”
This time, the princess was at a loss for words.
“Was today’s incident, my fault?”
“There were rumors that Your Highness harmed the late emperor. It seems Count Kendall and a few others were amplifying the rumors.”
Banessa gestured towards Count Kendall.
“I don’t know why you’re just watching that. Don’t do that. It’s frustrating to watch. Why are you trying to bear it alone? There are other wings, aren’t there?”
“…Other wings will help me?”
“Isn’t it only natural? Did you think they would turn their backs?”
“…!”
The princess’s eyes widened.
Banessa’s words touched something frozen deep within her heart.
She knew the nobles were slandering her.
Even so, she hadn’t taken any action.
She thought it shouldn’t be done.
She believed that it was the way to fulfill her responsibility in her position. Even if it was hard, she thought she should bear it alone.
Only alone.
Except for Calisto, she thought she couldn’t receive help from anyone else.
Since the princess was the only one among the wings who chose the empire of her own will, it was natural to be ignored.
The princess spoke in a trembling voice.
“Will you really help me?”
“What. If you request it?”
The princess bit her lip. Waves of emotion surged in her ash-gray eyes. Her eyes grew misty, and she quickly turned her head away.
“Ah, really.”
Banessa clicked his tongue.
The princess, who had seemed so distant, now felt suddenly close. It even felt pitiful. He wanted to help as much as he could. Though he couldn’t decide on his own.
“If you need my help, please request it from Her Highness. I am Her Highness’s knight. If Her Highness gives an order, I will do anything for Your Highness.”
Banessa quickly added,
“Oh, but don’t get greedy with Her Highness. If you do, I won’t stand for it. Other wings will also be in uproar.”
“Is it right to be comforting me now?”
“If not comforting, then what is it?”
It was a strange thing.
It wasn’t warm comfort, but still, her heart thawed. Perhaps it was the blunt sincerity that was more powerful than false consolation.
“I see. So, I’m not alone.”
The princess, who had been looking at the banquet hall, whispered very softly.
“Yes. Then, I suppose I can be a little more reckless.”
With a much lighter expression, the princess looked at the nobles.
The atmosphere among the people in the banquet hall was varied. Some were confused, some were frightened, and some were in denial about reality. They once seemed like a huge burden to her, but now.
“You’re right. I should only do what I can. If I force myself and break, it would be useless. It would be a burden to the Saintess as well.”
“That’s right. And if you feel it’s not working, you should run away appropriately.”
“Running away. That’s a good word. But it doesn’t suit me. The weight of guarding the realm can’t be that light.”
“Ah, Zenos or the empire. Why are all kings like this? Even kings are human. If you overdo it, you’ll have a short life. Take it easy if you want to help Her Highness for a long time. You need to manage your health.”
“Hahaha. I understand.”
The princess broke into a clear smile.
Banessa also subtly raised the corners of his mouth.
Banessa was right. She wasn’t alone.
Though the distance was great, there was the Saintess in the empire. The Saintess would not abandon the empire or the princess. The letter sent by Leticia was proof of that.
She had been floundering to sprout from a rotten apple. But, she wondered if it was really necessary.
If the apple was rotten, it could be cut away. It didn’t matter if everything was cut away, leaving only the seeds.
As long as the seeds were intact, they would eventually sprout cleanly.
She was that seed.
“Alright. I need to show them too. Who will reign over them. What the power of the wings I’ve been granted truly means.”
Banessa grinned and placed one hand on his chest, bowing. It was the most respectful gesture he had made to the princess.
“As you wish.”
“I need to show that the wings of the goddess are indeed mad. Is that alright?”
“Most of the wings are half out of their minds. Even if they seem fine, they’re full of crazy ones if you look inside.”
“That’s a good point.”
The princess burst into laughter.
* * *
Unlike Banessa, the princess didn’t recklessly use her wings’ power. There was a more useful power at her disposal.
“The Third Wing informed me that strange rumors about me are circulating. Count Kendall, do you have something to say to me?”
As soon as the princess snapped her fingers, the beasts arrived. They promptly seized Kendall by the neck and presented him before her.
“Speak clearly. You’ve been spreading rumors that I killed the Emperor, haven’t you?”
“Th-That’s…”
Kendall couldn’t deny it. It wasn’t just anyone but the Third Wing who was the witness. He felt Banessa’s gaze on his back. Imagining white flames burning him alive, Kendall trembled.
“Without any evidence, you did that. Fine. By the way, I have another question for you. Actually, I found something very strange before the Emperor passed away.”
The princess snapped her fingers again.
Shortly after, the beasts brought in a bundle of papers. They scattered them around. The princess picked up one and handed it to Kendall.
“You should know whose handwriting this is.”
Kendall’s eyes shook uncontrollably. Not only Kendall but also the other nobles dragged along were in the same state. The princess looked down at them and said arrogantly.
“You know that the Emperor was plotting to slander the Saintess and Duke Zenos, right? Were you involved in that?”
* * *
Taking advantage of the princess’s grip on the nobles, Banessa stepped outside.
As he hummed a tune, he looked around and then went to the back of the building. Calisto, who had been watching the banquet hall coldly, muttered tersely.
“You received help.”
“Well, His Highness the Crown Prince, or rather, Your Highness, worked hard, didn’t he?”
When the roof of the banquet hall was blown off, Banessa had used the Purifying Flames.
The blazing flames had given a huge shock to Kendall and the other nobles.
But in reality, there was a secret behind it.
The Purifying Flames were indeed powerful, but not enough to blow off the roof with such precision.
It was Calisto’s magic that helped Banessa.
Banessa had used his power to fulfill Calisto’s request.
「If I step in, I’d probably kill everyone. I don’t want to see blood on such a good day. It’s something my sister wouldn’t want either. Above all, it would be a disgrace to the Saintess.」
Banessa chuckled as he recalled Calisto’s restrained murderous intent.
He hated the empire. The wicked imperial royalty bothered him. He thought he could never forgive the empire.
But now, he saw that the princess and the prince were just people.
Ordinary people like himself, who also revered Leticia.
Banessa playfully jabbed Calisto’s side.
“Is it alright if I call you ‘brother’?”
“What?”
“Brother?”
Calisto looked at Banessa in disbelief.
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Don’t be so gruff. We’re of the same wings. This could happen.”
“Hmph.”
“It might sound childish, but technically I’m the third, you know? You’re the fourth, aren’t you?”
Calisto was taken aback.
“You just happened to awaken first. If I had met the Saintess before you, I would have been first.”
“Eh. If Noel heard this, there would be chaos. Were you aiming for the first wing?”
“Forget it.”
“If you had followed my advice and kept your distance, my shins might still be intact.”
“Will you shut up?”
Calisto snapped irritably.
Whether he liked it or not, Banessa was completely at ease. Having lived as a ticking time bomb all his life, he had developed an instinct for knowing when to intervene and when not to.
As a result, he instinctively realized.
Now was the time to push a bit more.
It was a perfect opportunity to get closer to the prince of the empire.
“Will I be able to call you ‘brother’ from now on?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“By the way, brother. Aren’t you preparing something special? A gift, perhaps?”
“Hah. I didn’t expect you to be so brazen. Am I someone who exchanges gifts with you?”
“No, not me. Her Highness.”
“…What?”
“You heard that Her Highness is expecting twins, right? I’m aiming to become their swordsmanship instructor. Do you have something for His Highness? How about a magic instructor?”
Calisto’s face still had a bug-squashed expression, but his gaze toward Banessa became more intense.
“You’re aiming to be a swordsmanship instructor?”
“That’s right. So, you should aim for a magic instructor. A magic swordsman. Isn’t that perfect? Her Highness will like it too. It’s also a good excuse to stay in the Principality.”
“Hm.”
Calisto spoke arrogantly.
“You’re saying something quite useful despite appearances. First, explain in detail what the Saintess thinks about magic.”
“Just as expected! Brother, I knew you would be captivated when it comes to Her Highness. So, that’s…”
Banessa started chatting excitedly. There was something appealing about how Calisto was gruff but engaged in the conversation.
It was a day that he could never have imagined, where his relationship with this gruff brother would become unexpectedly close.
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