Chapter 45

She let out a faint sigh and relaxed.

Her fingertip lightly touched the back of Sheffy’s hand as she mumbled softly, sounding quite helpless.

“Ah… really, it’s fine if they don’t come to talk, but every time they do, I just feel exhausted. I’m really not good at handling this kind of thing… Shaya… Shaya? What are you doing?”

“I’m listening to what those guys are saying… they just left and already started whispering and gossiping. No good can come of it.”

“What do you mean, ah… don’t tell me you’re trying to eavesdrop on their conversation?!”

“What eavesdropping! Don’t make it sound so bad! We’re performing a righteous act of listening, a sensible act of paying attention!”

They had indeed walked away.

But just look at them — still grinning slyly, occasionally glancing back this way and chuckling secretly. They were definitely bad-mouthing you, Xiarette!

Sheffy activated her magic, and it wasn’t just her eyes that could pierce through illusions.

If she gathered her magic around her ears, she could clearly hear sounds from any location she wished.

Though the hall was filled with a noisy clamor, when Sheffy focused her hearing on Karl Wright and his sister Nona Wright, their conversation became perfectly clear to her.

“Karl, didn’t you notice? Ever since Xiarette got the Holy Sword and became the Hero, she’s been getting more and more arrogant. It was one thing for her to enjoy a comfortable life in the Royal Capital, but now she even openly brings a lowly subordinate knight to the family banquet. She clearly has no sense of propriety.”

“Tsk… watch what you say, Nona. You’re old enough now — don’t act like an immature child. Today is Xia’s cousin’s birthday. She can bring whoever she wants. It’s a trivial matter. Our family has never been one to fuss over such insignificant things.”

“I know you say that… but I just think it’s unfair for you, Karl! Hmph… clearly you were the best candidate to become the Hero — you’ve fought more battles and are stronger. If the Holy Sword had acknowledged you, you’d be at the tenth rank by now! But… who would’ve thought that Xiarette would suddenly appear. Why did the Holy Sword choose her? You were obviously the strongest among us.”

“If you’re not as strong as someone, you can’t complain about it. The Holy Sword has its own reasons for choosing someone. It doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you have exceptional talent, Nona. I came home to find you’ve already reached the eighth rank. You’ll surely have a chance to reach the tenth rank like our second uncle and become a true Sword of the Nation. Just trust me.”

“Even Father says I’m a genius~ But really, Karl, it’s you. You’re already at the ninth rank — just one step away from the tenth!”

“Hahaha, I think it’s unlikely for me! Don’t forget, your brother here is already thirty this year. The gap between the ninth and tenth rank is like a chasm. When I was your age, I was only at the sixth rank. I’m afraid I simply don’t have enough talent.”

“That’s not true. If Xiarette can do it, then Karl, you absolutely can too.”

“You little clever thing… you sure know how to talk.”

Oh?

It seemed that what they were saying wasn’t particularly harsh after all?

At least you two were behaving somewhat civilly.

Sheffy nodded and was just about to withdraw her auditory magic.

Who would have thought that Nona Wright would say something else right at that moment?

“Haha…! But that so-called subordinate knight just now — why was she so dumb! Standing there like a fool, unable to say a word. It’s not like I haven’t spoken with commoners before, but I’ve never met one as stupid as her!”

“Don’t say that. She’s an orphan; life hasn’t been easy for her.”

“Hmph, I don’t see it that way. Dumb is dumb. For her to be Xiarette’s subordinate knight, she must be an absolute fool.”

“?!”

Xiarette could feel that the small hand clutching her fingers suddenly gripped them very tightly!

Well, well… so you choose to walk into hell when heaven had a path open for you, is that it?

Calling me dumb!

Just because I didn’t bother talking to you, that makes me dumb?!

She had turned off her auditory magic.

But another kind of magic was quietly activating at the same time.

Xiarette noticed in surprise that the small hand holding hers was now faintly glowing with a nearly imperceptible light.

Xiarette had already discovered that when Sheffy activated her magic, she could almost completely mask the origin of the spell — if not for being at such close range, one wouldn’t detect that she was using magic at all.

“Sheffy, what are you…?”

“Shh~ keep your voice down. Someone insulted me — I need to return the favor. Otherwise, it would be terribly impolite.”

And besides, Xiarette…

Actually, I don’t mind when they talk about me. A slice of cake would be enough to calm me down.

But what Nona Wright said about you… that really upset me.

Of course, she had the right to speak up on her brother’s behalf.

And I also had the right to defend my sister from slander.

That was true fairness.

The light of magic at her fingertip gradually faded. Xiarette exhaled softly, her dark pupils staring directly at the floor tile where Nona Wright was about to step.

——【Ice Bind】

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47. Something Happened

Almost in an instant, a smooth sheet of ice crystal formed on the floor where Nona Wright’s next step was about to land.

Nona Wright had already lifted her right foot and was stepping forward—this was now an unavoidable fact.

What followed naturally…

Was Nona Wright’s face paling in shock as her body instantly lost balance!

“Huh?! What…! Eh?!”

“Nona?!”

Her startled cry drew the attention of those nearby. Just as her face was about to meet the floor, Nona Wright’s eyes flashed sharply. She forcibly twisted her body mid-air, spinning several times like a windmill before landing stably, and quickly turned her head to search for the source of the magic.

Oh-ho, a genius is indeed a genius. With this eighth-rank skill, she could definitely make it onto the podium at the Royal Capital Ice Skating Tournament!

But…

If I cast it again now, how would you handle it?

【Ice Bind — Modified Version】

“Eh…?”

It began with a soft, surprised gasp.

This time, she didn’t even have a chance to flip or leap.

Nona Wright struggled twice, but found that she could no longer maintain her balance. It felt as if the floor beneath her feet had completely disappeared!

“Nona! What on earth happened to you?!”

“!”

Karl Wright tried to grab her arm.

But the slipping happened too fast.

This proud and unruly genius girl was inexplicably left with no choice but to fall awkwardly, staggering forward before crashing and sliding several meters, causing the guests to quickly step aside in fright!

Hehe… a simple 【Ice Bind】 couldn’t do much to you, but this 【Ice Bind — Modified Version】 used precise manipulation of magic to increase the slipperiness of the ice crystal to an unimaginable thousandfold!

Back in the day, Sheffy had used this very move after luring large fish to the surface of the lake, freezing the entire lake outside the Demon King’s Castle, and then watching the fish slide crazily around the lake’s edge — laughing with a confidence truly worthy of the Princess of Calamity!

Hahahahaha! Now you’ve witnessed the power of a modified spell!

And the ice crystal that tripped Nona Wright was not noticed by anyone — Sheffy had cleverly controlled it to appear exactly where Nona Wright would step, perfectly concealing its presence. After the ice had served its purpose, she made it vanish immediately.

So, to any outside observer, it looked as if Nona Wright — this noble genius young lady of the Wright Family — had simply been careless and slipped like a child.

——And not only did she manage to steady herself the first time, she then immediately fell again on her second attempt!

Nona Wright got up, clutching her dazed head. Once she came to her senses, she realized that the guests were all looking at her with sympathetic eyes. Her little face… was visibly flushed with humiliation and fury! Her eyes were already brimming with tears!

She angrily kicked the nearby table, utterly mortified.

“Who played this trick on me in secret?! Who?!”

Karl quickly went over to calm her.

He could tell that Nona’s fall was clearly abnormal, but he had no proof.

——Because he hadn’t detected the slightest trace of magical energy.

So… dear sister, best not to shout.

“Nona, don’t do this… just stand firm next time, don’t lose your temper.”

“But Karl…! Just now, I clearly…!”

“That’s why I told you to watch your words… who knows whom you’ve offended this time. Ah… the Kingdom isn’t lacking in talented people.”

It was nothing short of a farce!

Nona Wright had completely lost face and was practically furious with helpless rage. All she wanted now was to drag out the person who had set her up and challenge them to a duel!

But this was not a place where she could cause a scene as she pleased.

“What is going on here! His Majesty the King is present — who is causing trouble here?!”

It was from the Wright Family — Xiarette’s father, Eclight, had come out to check on the situation.

His Majesty the King was resting in the main hall.

Upon hearing the commotion, Eclight came over to investigate, only to find that it seemed his niece had merely fallen?

Nona Wright was stomping her foot in frustration, unable to defend herself! But she simply couldn’t figure out who had been so despicable!

And as for the real culprit, Miss Shaya…

She was at that very moment covering her mouth, facing the wall, laughing uncontrollably in secret!

To anyone who didn’t know, it would have looked as though she were reflecting on her misdeeds~

Xiarette didn’t even know what kind of expression she should wear while watching the commotion, but the once so serious and proper Hero was now half covering her mouth as well, quietly chuckling at the wall in response to Sheffy’s childish yet innocent actions.

“Pfft… stop… stop laughing, Sheffy. If we get found out, it’ll be trouble. That really was your doing just now…?”

“Hahaha, you’re laughing too! Who else could it be! Besides me, who else would be this wicked!”

“I don’t think that’s exactly something to be proud of…? Things are a bit chaotic over there…”

“Don’t worry, it’s just that little genius lady who ‘couldn’t keep her footing and fell’. It’ll calm down soon~ What we need to do is sympathize with her. So young, and already so clumsy.”

Xiarette lightly tapped Sheffy’s forehead twice with her fingertip, then turned her around and led her away from the main hall toward a side chamber.

Though they were a little late, now they had an alibi!

Sheffy could be mischievous at times~ but Xiarette knew that when she was, she always had her reasons.

The two of them distanced themselves from the “scene of the crime” while whispering to each other.

“I say, Sheffy… what exactly did you hear just now that made you so angry?”

“They were bad-mouthing you. How could I not be angry.”

“Is… is that so.”

“And they even called me dumb.”

“Now that definitely deserves payback!”

Hm?

I told you they were bad-mouthing you, and you’re not worried.

But when they called me dumb, you answer so decisively?

Without realizing it, both of these two fools were caring for and doting on each other in their own way.

In fact, without Sheffy even needing to explain, Xiarette already understood very well what sort of “bad-mouthing” had been said.

Xiarette came to a stop in front of a row of neatly arranged wine cabinets.

She picked up a wine glass, poured some wine into it, and took a graceful sip.

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