My dear witch, please turn evil according to the script!

Chapter 147 Rivals in Love are, in a sense, like-minded people
Outside the secret chamber of the imperial palace.

The current Chief Archmage, Sean, silently adjusted his glasses, then stroked his goatee and looked at Salah III beside him: "Your Majesty, are you sure you've really reached an agreement with Lady Flam?"

"It has been almost two hours since the originally agreed time."

"Ahem... I suppose Lady Flam has encountered some trouble?" Salah III, dressed in a magnificent gown and heavy robe, coughed awkwardly.

He had gone to great lengths to create a sense of occasion for today, bringing out a formal suit he only wore on major holidays. He hadn't expected that despite his meticulous preparations, the other party would be so late…

Sean sighed, "Your Majesty, although I was not in the capital when things were in turmoil some time ago, it was because you assigned me a diplomatic mission."

"I was in the Federation of Nations and couldn't get back in time."

"If you're really angry about this, you can punish me directly instead of wasting our time here."

"Our time is very precious."

Salah III looked at the chief mage beside him and shook his head, a hint of sadness on his face: "We used to be brothers who teamed up together to take on quests at the Adventurers' Guild."

"You're not even willing to give me this much trust?"

"Save your breath, you damned bastard. Ever since you became emperor, all your other skills have regressed instead of improved, but your acting skills have only gotten better and better."

Sean showed no respect for his former friend: "Besides, there's a difference between ruler and subject. There's no one else here, so it's fine for us to talk like this."

"When the others come, you have to be careful."

Salah III shook his head and sighed softly, "I know... You're still the same as before, not much has changed."

"Furthermore, everything I told you this time is true; there wasn't a single lie."

"A lot has indeed happened in the six months since you left the capital."

"You don't need to feel guilty for not returning to the capital in time. Just like you said, it was a diplomatic mission that I personally assigned to you."

Sean turned to Salah III: "Is that young man really as amazing as you say?"

“Amazing, isn’t it… Heh, it certainly suits Roland perfectly.” Salah III laughed. “He’s a young man that even Lady Flam has to look at with respect.”

"I've read some of the reports you provided. Putting aside this young man's various methods, which were entirely aimed at the mage, did he really gain the recognition of that Silenced Sword?"

Sean was clearly more concerned about this matter.

As a close friend of Salah III and one of the most powerful human mages still alive, he is one of the few who knows the origin of the holy sword.

That's why he was surprised that Roland was able to gain the Holy Sword's voluntary recognition.

Salah III nodded: "That's right. In fact... the holy sword underwent some wondrous changes as a result."

"It was incorporated into a peculiar magical artifact that Master Toran had crafted for him, and became one with it."

"...This is truly unexpected news."

Sean let out a long sigh, then said with emotion, "After the siege ended back then, the Holy Sword Durandal disappeared on its own. Nobody knows where it went."

"And the Silent Sword, which was unearthed from the ruins of the Demon King's Castle, was used by the succeeding wise king as the core of the royal array inheritance."

"It was that brave man who stepped forward back then that allowed the royal family to safely retrieve this holy sword."

"But even that hero failed to gain the Holy Sword's approval."

Salah III laughed: "So what? That hero never received the approval of any holy sword or relic."

"But that doesn't prevent him from being a hero of all mankind."

"A hero's great deeds never need the approval of others."

"So, this is your choice?" Sean looked at Salah III: "To replace the Holy Sword with the Hero's Sword, and use it as the cornerstone for the succession of royal authority?"

“Is that not allowed?” Salah III retorted.

"Your will, my Majesty."

"Sean, you're doing it again."

The two exchanged a glance and then chuckled in unison.

Not long after the two finished their conversation, four more people appeared in front of them.

Iluvia, Flam, Roland, and... Kalia.

Salah III glanced at Kalia, then looked away knowingly, and then looked at Iluvia, who was clearly unhappy and somewhat aggrieved.

When he saw Roland, who practically had the word "headache" written all over his face, Salah III instantly understood everything.

But he chose to ignore it at that moment.

He simply walked towards Flam and then briefly discussed how to proceed with the subsequent procedures.

As for Sean, he first smiled and nodded at Iluvia, gave her a brief greeting, and then looked at Roland.

He was eager to see what was so special about this young man.

He believed that simply being handsome wouldn't be enough to win Iluvia's heart.

He had already heard about Iluvia's engagement from Salah III.

Sean was quite surprised at the time, because he found it hard to imagine that a young man would be willing to set aside his prejudice against Ilúvia and win the heart of the princess while also gaining the approval of Salah III.

This is truly an achievement that seems almost impossible to attain.

Now Sean finds it even more unbelievable.

Because this kid is clearly half-hearted.

Sean shook his head as he looked at the blue-haired girl clinging tightly to Roland's arm.

Is it really okay to entrust Iluvia to a man like this?
Although he had his doubts, Sean noticed that Iluvia's behavior was somewhat strange.

She doesn't seem to dislike her love rival very much?
Could it be...? Sean stroked his beard as he reminisced about Iluvia's childhood.

Yes, lonely and lacking companionship, constantly living under the fearful gaze of others.

Salah III was too busy with state affairs to spend much time with her.

He himself was the same; academic research, magic teaching, and equally demanding diplomatic activities also took up a lot of his time.

Although he was considered a senior to Iluvia and one of the few people who didn't view Iluvia with prejudice, he didn't have much time to spend with her.

All we can do is send small gifts and some magic books.

Throughout Iluvia's journey of growing up, she not only lacked the love and companionship of her elders, but also almost never had any friends her own age.

This child...it can't be...

Sean shook his head; he understood these young people less and less.

Even though he was only in his forties or even under fifty, he felt like he couldn't understand the logic of young people making friends anymore.

Oh well, the child is all grown up now, let her be.

Even her own father isn't worried, so why should she be?

Sean immediately looked away and joined in the discussion between Flam and Salah III.

As one of the executors in the authority transfer ritual, he and Flam, both legendary ninth-ring mages, are the key figures.

Roland and Iluvia are just add-ons.

They don't even need to stand there the whole time.

……

"Can you two just shut up for a bit?"

Roland watched as the two guys in front of him escalated from physical combat to verbal attacks, and finally to eye contact, and he felt utterly exhausted.

Unfortunately, the two ignored him.

Iluvia glared fiercely at Kalia: "You dare to follow me here without permission! This is the royal family's secret chamber of inheritance!"

"Hey, you're accusing me first!" Kalia rarely showed Roland's dead fish eyes, then pointed to herself: "I was planning to stay in the dorm and wait for you guys to come back."

"When faced with such major issues of right and wrong, I still listen to Roland and my teacher."

"If you don't believe me, ask Roland. Did I not intend to come in the first place?"

Roland, who suddenly realized that he had been dragged into the conversation between the two, was stunned for a moment, and then nodded.

This time, Kalia really can't be blamed.

She really didn't want to come along.

This guy seems to have made plans with Celinina and Nash to continue exploring the capital today.

Moreover, Roland felt that she might genuinely believe that she was here on important business, so she hadn't planned to come in the first place.

Roland saw that she was getting ready to leave.

However, at the last moment, when Iluvia used the array to teleport, she took Kalia with her.

It's unclear whether Iluvia did it on purpose or if she made a mistake while manipulating the formation.

When they landed, Flam and Roland were about to explain to Salah III when they found that Kalia had followed them.

She just didn't expect that the other party didn't care about Kalia at all.

The serious-looking goatee-bearded mage beside him had no objections.

Therefore, Roland and Floram didn't offer any explanation. As long as Kalia didn't enter the inheritance chamber, everything would be fine.

Kalia's words, coupled with Roland's testimony, left Iluvia speechless with embarrassment.

Kalia ignored the wicked woman and went to Roland's side, asking him for food.

"Roland, I'm hungry."

"Can't you be a little more mindful of the occasion? And why do you have to eat as soon as you get up?"

"Hey, it's almost 11 o'clock now, isn't it? It's normal to be hungry around lunchtime, right?"

Looking at Kalia, who was pouting and reaching out to him, Roland silently took out the last small bag of beef jerky from his storage ring.

I bought this at the cafeteria a while ago, and it's been sitting there for a bit.

Kalia took the beef jerky and then complained, "Wow... it's that super hard and chewy beef jerky you gave me last time..."

"Forget it, it's better than nothing."

Although somewhat disgusted, Kalia still took the beef jerky, then found a step in the aisle to sit down and quietly began to direct the teeth and beef jerky in battle.

Roland then walked over to Iluvia and asked in a low voice, "So why did you bring Kalia along?"

Iluvia scoffed, then muttered under her breath, "It was just a mistake... I accidentally teleported her here."

Roland saw through Iluvia's lie at a glance: "Iluvia, have I ever told you that sometimes it's really easy to spot when you lie?"

"Besides, Kalia was almost leaving the house. How careless would you have to be to teleport her away with you? It was obviously intentional, wasn't it?"

Iluvia: “…”

Iluvia stopped talking, but she punched Roland in the chest with her fist in annoyance, and then ran to Salah III's side.

(End of this chapter)