A transparent wall appeared before Lelia as she completed the short incantation containing her own name.
The accompanying knights murmured in admiration.
“…So this is a defensive barrier cast by a member of the special organization.”
“Indeed.”
Because Lelia was maintaining disguise magic, the barrier did not reflect her true ability. Put another way, it was merely a spell she could use while her disguise continuously drained her magical power.
But there was no reason to cause needless concern.
William looked as surprised as his knights, so Lelia smiled at him with abundant confidence.
“This barrier is only a precaution. Even if those three fail to destroy the evil god, they can easily seal it temporarily until the national army arrives. The danger will never reach you.”
“This barrier alone has already shown me that I cannot fathom the depths of your team’s abilities… But since the opportunity has presented itself, I will observe your skills.”
“Of course.”
Lelia watched the three teammates traveling toward the place where the evil god was sealed. Wearing specialized clothing designed for fighting magical beasts, they floated in the air and assumed their battle positions.
Ghislain was the most dependable of the three. His 【Blessing】 specialized in defensive magic, allowing him to protect everything within his reach with an impenetrable defense, no matter how powerful an attack struck him.
He used that quality to serve as a shield in battle. That was why Lelia had entrusted the front line to him.
(Honestly, I do not know whether even my own Blessing could pierce Ghislain’s defensive magic. Not that I expect ever to test it.)
While she considered that, William questioned her.
“That silver-haired man—Ghislain. His magical presence differs from that of the other three. Given his unshakable composure as well, I assume he possesses a Blessing.”
“You are remarkably observant.”
As expected of a potential future crown prince. If William became crown prince and eventually king, would the kingdom not prosper under him?
Lelia was admiring her former husband’s competence when his next words startled her.
“But Lelia—there is something strange about your presence as well.”
“Y-Yesh?!”
Lelia had been wearing a serene smile, only to bite her tongue and almost sputter.
Someone ought to praise her for drawing upon all the pride instilled by her special training and resisting the urge to shriek.
“…From every possible angle, I am nothing more than an ordinary spy belonging to a special unit under the Royal Bureau! A slightly unusual presence is perfectly ordinary for people like us. Entirely ordinary.”
William continued looking directly at her.
“Then I will change the question. How did you know an evil god was sealed here? Do you not know far too much about the Erlanger territory for an ordinary spy? You knew something that even I did not.”
“The organization possessed the information. As chief, I have access to details the other team members do not know.”
Lelia delivered her prepared answer without hesitation while tracking the three figures approaching the god.
The airborne figures were now no larger than grains of rice in the distance. Yet the battle had not begun. This interrogation would apparently continue for some time.
She was trapped.
Just as she expected, William did not change the subject.
“No. Your reaction could not have come from a mere report. When you heard there was an enormous magical reaction in the Yuno Wastes, you immediately said you knew what it might be.”
“…I learned about it during another assignment.”
Lying would have been easy. But her eyes wandered beneath the weight of her guilt.
The “other assignment” had involved deceiving the ex-husband standing before her while pretending to be a fool. She felt so ashamed that she wanted to bury herself as deeply underground as the evil god.
William knew she belonged to the organization. Although he stared meaningfully at her, he seemed to abandon any attempt to force out more information.
Instead, he murmured almost as though speaking to himself, without demanding an answer.
“Your magical presence is strange. Even if you possess a Blessing, this is a different kind of anomaly. It is as though two colors have mingled—as though the magic on your surface and the magic beneath it do not agree.”
“…”
Lelia had known William possessed considerable magic and skill, but she never imagined his ability extended this far.
He should not have been able to see through her disguise. Few mages could even cast such magic, making it extremely unlikely that he would recognize its existence.
Still, she was astonished.
(I never knew William was this extraordinary…! It seems I was not the only one who concealed my true self during our marriage.)
Despite the chill of alarm within her, Lelia took a breath and produced a calm smile.
“I belong to the organization, and I am responsible for this mission during the Crown Prince Selection. I possess things ordinary people do not and wield powers whose depths cannot be measured. Does that explanation satisfy you?”
She subtly implied that she possessed a Blessing, hoping he would accept that as the source of his discomfort.
Instead, the conversation took an unexpected turn.
“Yes. Speaking with you reminds me of a certain woman.”
“A certain woman?”
