NOVEL NEXT Chapter 71: There’s something wrong with ‘Cassiopeia Schauss’
Ren Xiyang inwardly sighed. So, Cassiopeia sent anonymous letters defaming him. Why? Wasn’t she supposed to be busy studying?
“There are multiple implications,” Rian said. “Firstly, why she sent those letters. Secondly, how she sent those letters. And thirdly, why it took me so long to discover the truth.” He paused and gave Ren Xiyang a look. “Her personality is different. Part of it could be ascribed to the changes we’ve made. However, I don’t think the original Cassiopeia would have gone as far as to send those anonymous letters.”
Ren Xiyang started to have a suspicion. “She could have transmigrated like me, or returned to the past like you,” he said.
“I suspect she’s more like you. She never knew how to cook while I was still alive—or not alive. After becoming the queen, she would very likely not enter a kitchen. The current ‘Cassiopeia’ should be a different person.”
“It might not be transmigration. In my previous world, this kind of genre of novel typically had reincarnated characters with memories of their previous life.”
“If the past personality takes over, is there any difference?”
Ren Xiyang made a face. “You’re right.”
“I know,” Rian smirked before turning serious again. “Now, the first important question is why she sent those letters.” He stood up and went over to his desk to retrieve a copy of the original anonymous letter:
ARE YOU BLIND? AYDEN ROSEWOOD IS CLEARLY NOT SAD AT ALL ABOUT HIS “FAMILY” BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT HIS FAMILY! AYDEN ROSEWOOD IS A FAKE! HE IS AN ENEMY SPY! DON’T BE BLINDED STUPID BY HIS ACT! THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIS ORIGIN!!!!
Ren Xiyang glanced over it. His suspicion about Cassiopeia deepened.
“The matter of speech is juvenile,” Rian said. “Some of it may be ‘Cassiopeia’s’ beliefs, but some of it may be obfuscation. Is this a reflection of her personality, or is it a deception?”
“I don’t know. You’ve talked to her more than me.”
“Hardly. As far as I can tell, and as far as my people have gathered, ‘Cassiopeia’ has maintained a childish personality.” Rian’s gaze turned cold. “I believe she meant this and should be punished appropriately.”
Ren Xiyang didn’t like complex political manoeuvrings. “Let’s just ask her first. We can just tell tell that we know the novel. She probably won’t go out and tell others directly. What’s the worse that can happen? Can’t you deal with it?”
Rian’s gaze lost its cold edge. Ren Xiyang was too optimistic…“So confident about my power, Earl Rosewood. Very well, you can deal with any consequences.”
“Thanks, Your Highness,” Ren Xiyang said.
“The second discussion point is how she sent these letters. Either the current ‘Cassiopeia’ has her own private, tight-lipped servants who helped her carry out the writing and sending of the letters. Or, she used her Schauss servants. This feeds into the third point, why it took me so long to discover the truth. Was it her private servants who covered up their tracks? Or did Duke Schauss cover matters up? If Duke Schauss allowed those letters to be sent, then he needs to be dealt with as well.”
“I’ll leave that to you. He’s probably not happy with your Royal Healers’ Service.”
“Then he shall remain unhappy,” Rian said. “By the way, my Imperial Parents have some control over the Royal Postal Service, so the fact that the letters were sent out, especially after the first round, meant that they implicitly or explicitly allowed it through.”
“We already know they don’t like me.”
“Once I become king, that won’t be a problem.”
Ren Xiyang was about to open his mouth.
“—Don’t you mention Alexius now.” An ice ball formed next to Rian.
Ren Xiyang leaned back casually. “I said nothing.”
The ice ball dissipated back to water vapour. “I almost pity Cassiopeia.”
“Mm?”
“If she’s truly as juvenile as the letter sounds, then she’s being used as a tool by both her parents and my Imperial Parents. Of course, there’s a fourth possibility: that she’s a scapegoat and not the letter writer at all. But I think my information is right.”
“Schedule a meeting with her, and we’ll proceed from there. Given her potential healing skills, I’d rather have her on our side.”
“You don’t seem particularly worried, Earl Rosewood.”
Ren Xiyang shrugged. “I’m more worried about potential bandits in the Rosewood fief this upcoming winter. It’d be nice if they just banded together and attacked my carriage so I could deal with them.”
“If they’re smart, they’d avoid your carriage.”
“So you’re saying I should occasionally spread rumours that I’ve left the fief and catch them like that?”
“You’re known for visiting the various settlements. If you make your visits random, they’d always be on edge, not knowing if you’ll be nearby,” Rian suggested.
“Sounds like more work.”
Rian sighed dramatically. “If you’re like that, how can you be a good noble?”
“Oh, then I guess I could only be a member of your entourage.”
Rian smirked. “Oh?”
Ren Xiyang smirked back. “You can pay me lots of gold to be your personal bodyguard.”
“Oh?” Rian rubbed his chin. “Not a bad idea to have Earl Rosewood himself as my personal guard.”
“A lot of gold,” Ren Xiyang emphasised.
Rian opened his arms. “Am I not rich and wealthy?”
“That’s your parents’ money.”
Rian placed a hand over his heart. “You injure me, Xiyang, truly.”
Ren Xiyang unconsciously smiled. “Alright, enough chatter. How are things going with the Angio kingdom?”
Rian became serious again. “The Investigators know that the Rosewood murders were orchestrated by someone from the Angio king’s faction. According to what I’ve heard from my Imperial Mother, the Angio court will send a proper delegation, but they’d likely wait until spring and avoid the winter snow.”
“And those opposing the Angio king’s faction?”
Rian’s gaze deepened. “We’ve established contact with them. If you can set up a small trading exchange with certain fiefs, it would be beneficial.”
More work, Ren Xiyang thought glumly. “Tell me which ones.”
Ren Xiyang spent the next day undergoing dancing practice while Prince Rian watched him with merry eyes and found joy in his suffering.
The bitterness was sweetened when Rian showed him the Imperial Palace library and had a magical theorist come in to talk to them about the formal theory of magic and common methods used to create new spells.
Ren Xiyang was right, there was a structure to spell words and written talismans. However, it required a lot more study than he had time for at the moment, especially since Rian had given him more work to do.
The day after, Ren Xiyang had an Imperial Council gathering.
Then it became the day of the evening ball.
The Imperial Palace’s dining hall was decorated in red and orange and gold, the final colours of the autumn.
Entrance into the Imperial Palace’s dining hall was by rank: lowest rank first, going up. Ren Xiyang, as earl, entered after all the barons and viscounts and counts and marquises at their families.
There were various round tables set up, white table clothes and silver silverware. Once again, there was a separation of children and adults, as had been requested by Prince Rian. A Palace butler led Ren Xiyang to one of the tables where there were currently four girls and one boy: Alexandra Slate, Ethel Silvercharm, Susana Cordovan, Felipe Cordovan, and Adrienne Obsidian.
Ren Xiyang inclined his head, mostly towards Adrienne and the two Cordovans and sat down at his allocated seat.
“Hello,” Adrienne said
“Hi,” Ren Xiyang said.
“Thank you for the gifts,” Adrienne said quietly.
“Did you eat them?”
Adrienne nodded. “Yes.”
The table lapsed into silence as more nobles entered.
Duke Mauveine arrived. His son, Tierri Mauveine, sat a seat away from Ren Xiyang.
“Earl Rosewood, we missed you at the last event,” Tierri said.
“I was busy.”
Tierri nodded. “So Prince Rian told us.”
Duke Schauss entered with his family. Cassiopeia Schauss was shown to the seat next to Alexandra Slate and near Ren Xiyang. There was now one empty seat between Ren Xiyang and Cassiopeia.
Duke Blewitt entered next. Günter Blewitt also sat at their table, next to Tierri.
Ren Xiyang had an empty seat next to him on either side. Ah. He knew exactly who would be sitting in those spots. His gaze went to the front as the Imperial Family were announced.
“All rise for His Highness, Prince Alexius!”
Misty lights appeared as the door opened. Ice diamonds tilted and turned and dissipated into sparkles as Prince Alexius walked through them, smiling brightly.
“We greet his Highness, Prince Alexius,” came the chorus of responses.
Prince Alexius was led to a certain table and took a certain seat right next to Ren Xiyang, on the side also next to Tierri. Alexius and Günter looked past Tierri and gave each other disdainful looks.
“All rise for His Highness, Prince Rian!”
Delicate ice roses bloomed and delicate ice leaves unfurled as Prince Rian entered the dining hall. His smile was measured and warm, its gaze sweeping across the people gathered as they greeted him. He inclined his head in response before he followed a butler to his seat.
Ren Xiyang raised one eyebrow as Rian sat down between him and Cassiopeia Schauss.
Rian smiled innocently back.
“All rise for Her Majesty, Queen Mira!”
“All rise for His Majesty, King Edric!”
King Edric and Queen Mira had a subtle spotlight with a back glow, highlighting their refined positions. They stood together to make a light speech first about the kingdom and this year’s bountiful harvest. The banquet began once they took their seats.
A discreet band at the corner started to play music, while butlers came in carrying large plates of food.
The nobles began to chatter, but it was never too loud: subtle sound-damping and partial sound-isolation spells contained most of the talk at one table within that table.
“Hi, Earl Rosewood,” Alexius said. He grinned. “Did you see when I came in?”
“I did see, it was very lovely,” Ren Xiyang said.
Alexius giggled. “I made Sir Gerlach and Rian cast the spells for me as I came in!”
“Where’s your brotherly thanks?” Rian asked drily.
Alexius smiled warmly at Rian, mimicking Rian’s warm smile. “Thank you, big brother.”
“You’re welcome, little brother,” Rian replied. He turned to the table and greeted each person one-by-one, starting with Cassiopeia Schauss. By the time he was done, butlers had served the first course.
“Do tell me if you love any particular dish tonight,” Rian informed the table. “I was once again put in charge of tonight’s dinner menu. Tonight, we’ll have some delicacies from the Sage fief, with ingredients from their new harvest.”
Ren Xiyang buried his head down and ate, avoiding Rian’s glance lest he tried to trick him into talking. For now, Rian was talking with Cassiopeia, Alexandra and Ethel about magical healing theory.
Meanwhile, Günter and Alexius had inevitably started bickering again, while Tierri Mauveine looked on helplessly while sitting between them. Was placating Alexius and Günter really going to help him with placating angry nobles in the future?? He didn’t think so!
Adrienne remained quiet. There wasn’t someone like Florence to draw her out.
The two Cordovan children seemed very uncomfortable at the table—they were the lowest ranked and found it hard to believe that they were sitting at the princes’ table.
“Oh, by the way, Earl Rosewood,” Rian suddenly said.
Ren Xiyang grudgingly lifted his head and looked to his side. For a brief moment, he caught Cassiopeia’s gaze, before he turned fully to Rian. “Yes, Your Highness?”
“Last we talked, hadn’t you been interested in healing magic?”
“Yes…”
Rian turned to Cassiopeia. “Lady Cassiopeia, my knowledge is limited, so I haven’t been able to answer Earl Rosewood as to whether there are any fire-type healing spells.”
Cassiopeia stiffened. “Ah, Your Highness, I believe there must be some, for example, to treat patients with hypothermia.”
“That might be useful with the coming winter, wouldn’t it?” Rian mused, glancing at Ren Xiyang. “Lady Cassiopeia, can I ask for a favour?” He leaned a little closer to her, smiling.
Cassiopeia’s eyes widened. “Ah. There’s no need for a favour, how can I help you?”
“If Lady Cassiopeia is free, perhaps you can teach me and Earl Rosewood about healing later. I’m interested in your unique perspective.” Rian winked. “And you’re a lot more fun than a stuffy old healer mage from the Capital Hospital.”
Cassiopeia’s eyes switched between Prince Rian and ‘Ayden Rosewood’. This was clearly a trap, wasn’t it? But everyone at the table was watching her—Alexandra and Ethel even looked a little jealous. She couldn’t decline. She had to accept. She was being forced to accept. Thoughts whirring, Cassiopeia swallowed her resentment and pulled a slightly strained smile back. “For His Highness and Earl Rosewood, I would be honoured to teach you what I know.”
Rian brightened. “Thank you, Lady Cassiopeia. Don’t worry, it does count as a favour. Is tomorrow morning, say 10 am, here at the Imperial Palace?”
“Of course.”
Cassiopeia felt numb as the dinner continued. The food felt tasteless in her mouth.
“Cassiopeia, how is the food?” Ethel asked, her brows tightening slightly.
Cassiopeia smiled faintly back. “It’s good.” She lower her voice, “I must be preoccupied thinking about what I should teach His Highness first! Oh, Ethel, I must go back to my notes tonight after the ball!”
Ethel chuckled. “I believe you will be fine,” she said.
“You were always the best healer,” Alexandra added.
Cassiopeia lowered her head in shyness. “Thank you.” At the corner of her vision were Earl Rosewood and Prince Rian talking about sword-and-other-objects-flying, while Prince Alexius listened in with shining eyes.
She was right, right, right, there was something wrong with ‘Ayden Rosewood’. ‘Ayden Rosewood’ had entrapped Prince Rian somehow, and it looked like Prince Alexius was falling under his spell too! If Ayden was an adult in a child’s body, an adult who knew how to make things like tofu and soy sauce, then he was grooming Prince Rian and Prince Alexius…!
Cassiopeia became frightened of her thoughts. She tried to push them down. She couldn’t reveal anything wrong at this ball.
Rian noticed Cassiopeia’s tension. His inner gaze turned cold. Perhaps she should have considered the consequences of sending those anonymous letters. She was lucky that Ren Xiyang was giving her a chance to explain.
Thank you to ale, Turducken, and Gofa for the monetary support! Hugs to everyone reading along!
What I love about everyone’s comments is that you often remember things I forget, or give me ideas to add more scenes or to shift the angle of scenes slightly (๑ > ᴗ < ๑) Thank you!