TRETTHD 16

#16. This Time, I Won’t Go to Save Him

The soft rustling of papers broke the silence.

Though the room was slightly dim, Bellia didn’t seem to mind. She was fully focused on the documents detailing recent sightings of magical beasts.

“…There are no reports of any sightings.”

It was supposed to be shortly after her engagement talks with Raul began.

By now, reports should have started coming in about magical beasts being discovered by those surveying the gold mines.

Could her memory be wrong?

Bellia carefully reviewed the information again—records of recently subjugated beasts and any reported sightings.

“What is going on?”

Eventually, she set down the papers and picked up a pen, jotting down what she remembered on a blank sheet.

There was a mountain range that spanned the Kingdom of Ronica and the Ingot Empire. That was where everyone was frantically searching for gold mines.

Within that mountain range ran a wide river, and it was near there that magical beasts were reported to have been seen.

As more people explored the mountains, more claimed to have spotted the beast.

The situation had become serious enough that a subjugation schedule was quickly arranged. Naturally, Raul led the vanguard.

It was a chance not only to earn military merit but possibly to acquire a mana stone if lucky. There was no way Raul would pass up that opportunity.

“But now there aren’t even reports of that beast.”

What had changed?

The only difference from before was that Bellia and Raul had not become lovers.

“Suspicious…”

Bellia began laying out the possibilities.

“Could the beast simply not have appeared?”

Impossible.

Then, had the reports been omitted?

All incoming reports from the survey team were overseen by Raul—it made sense, as he was the representative dispatched from the empire.

“He’s up to something.”

There was a high chance he intercepted the reports. He was trying to monopolize the information.

Otherwise, there was no reason there wouldn’t be any reports.

Even if the Ingot Empire tried to keep the information hidden, it couldn’t be completely concealed. Some survey members were from the Kingdom of Ronica.

Surely they submitted reports too—only for Raul to intercept them.

“What’s his plan?”

Was he planning to claim all the mana stones for himself?

If she didn’t know the future, she wouldn’t even be aware a beast had appeared.

That thought infuriated her.

How many things had she been blind to in her past life?

In the past, Raul had led his knights into the mountains to subjugate the magical beast.

But that first expedition—

“…was a complete failure.”

Bellia remembered it vividly.

She saw him off, spending sleepless nights in worry.

In the end, she had begged her father to let her take Ronica’s knights to meet Raul.

She had barely arrived in time to save him as he was being brutally attacked by the beast.

“Are you all right?”

“…Bellia. Leave me alone for a moment.”

He had been terribly humiliated by the failure and the need to be rescued. Bellia, burdened with guilt for hurting his pride, had tried to help however she could.

She had analyzed the terrain, the beast type, the current military strength, and the feasibility of the subjugation.

She remembered putting together every piece of knowledge she had—for Raul.

“Raul. I have a plan.”

Bellia snapped out of her thoughts.

If Raul really was hiding the information about the beast, there was only one reason:

He was once again overreaching, blinded by ambition.

Just like before, he wanted all the credit.

“I won’t let that happen.”

In her previous life, Khalid never came to the Kingdom of Ronica. She and Raul had become lovers, and everything had gone according to Raul’s plan.

But this time, nothing had.

Bellia had rejected Raul. Khalid—who should’ve stayed in the Ingot Empire—suddenly showed up in Ronica. And now he even claimed to be her lover after she proposed to him.

The gold mines were still undiscovered.

From Raul’s point of view, he had nothing to show for his efforts, so of course he was getting desperate.

“Is he planning to go on the subjugation alone?”

Once again overestimating his own abilities?

“Hmph.”

Bellia couldn’t help but smirk.

Things might turn out easier this way.

Because this time, she had no intention of saving Raul.

But still…

If Raul died during a visit to Ronica, it could become a major diplomatic issue.

It could even serve as justification for the Empire to attack the Kingdom.

She couldn’t allow that.

“And I won’t let him die that easily, either.”

Bellia intended to watch Raul fall deeper into disgrace.

This time, instead of rescuing him herself, she planned to send Khalid.

Making Raul owe his life to the man he despised most? That would be a brutal blow to his pride.

Thanks to this incident, the first imperial prince would gain a reputation as a foolish man who failed in a reckless subjugation attempt.

Bellia’s hand moved swiftly as she wrote her letter.

“First, I need to confirm whether Raul is actually hiding the information.”

Then, she would make sure there was no way for him to escape the consequences.

She would entrust that task to Khalid.

Her hand paused.

“But more importantly… why does he keep…”

Her head throbbed at the thought of Khalid’s recent behavior.

“Maybe I should use this as a chance to get him out of my hair for a while.”

Having reached a decision, Bellia quickly finished writing the letter and sealed it.

“Your Highness, it’s time.”

Her maid approached cautiously.

Bellia handed the letter over to the maid.

“Deliver this to Prince Khalid.”

Today was the day of a tea party with noble ladies.

She didn’t particularly enjoy such events, but as a princess, she had to attend from time to time. Rising from her seat, Bellia headed to the garden with light steps.