Chapter 267
The evening meal at the Spring Palace was nothing short of splendid.
At the grandly prepared dining table, we dined with the assistance of attending maidservants. While the number of people had diminished, I didn't find the meal too uncomfortable with someone assisting me.
Despite my unintentional overeating, Charlotte watched me contentedly as I forcefully stuffed myself.
In the end, I had eaten so much that even Dyrus and Sabiolin Tana, who dined with us, appeared to be somewhat overwhelmed.
"…Really, you ate that much?"
"When else would I have the opportunity to eat like this?"
Charlotte decided to leave the temple.
As for Berthus, he was uninvolved.
Ultimately, I could not understand what had transpired here. Charlotte did not explain her reason for leaving the temple either.
Charlotte had issued a warning.
Whatever befell her, it would not be a matter involving Berthus; I should not engage in any unnecessary actions that would provoke a crisis.
Even that could potentially be false.
It was clear that there was a hidden story behind Charlotte's situation, but it was impossible for me to hear the answer.
After the evening meal, we shared various stories over tea time.
When circumstances become overly serious, people tend to engage in lighter conversations.
Once heavy subjects are broached, the atmosphere becomes dominated by that topic, leaving everyone at a loss for words.
We were precisely like that.
Having decided to return after dinner, we had to leave soon.
Although I was not yet eager to depart and would have preferred to stay the night, such a pretext would not work on Sabiolin Tana, even if it might have with Charlotte.
Charlotte bid her farewells, promising to prepare well.
"Farewell, Reinhardt. Lady Tana will escort you."
With such casual farewells, Sabiolin Tana approached to accompany me. This was less an escort and more to ensure that I left properly.
"Reinhardt."
"Ah, yes, Lady Sabiolin."
Sabiolin Tana called out to me.
"Just Tana is fine."
At her curt words, I nodded my head.
"Yes, Tana."
"…I didn't mean for you to drop the title."
"Yes, Lady Tana."
Despite the grave situation, her awkwardness was strangely endearing.
Ellen must have truly been so.
"Follow me. There's something I need to check on briefly."
Before sending me out of the palace, she seemed to have some business with me.
Perhaps she was escorting me instead of Dyrus because there was something she needed to confirm.
She led me somewhere within the palace.
To what seemed to be a training hall.
Though the torches were lit, there were no people around. Suddenly, she drew her sword.
"Take it."
It was a bit eerie, but she gripped the sword and handed it to me.
"It's nothing major. I just want to see your skills."
"…All of a sudden?"
"I was curious about the future of the empire that my junior mentioned. Since we were at a banquet then, I wanted to take this opportunity to check it out."
The world's strongest was proposing a casual spar. It certainly appeared to be without any ulterior motives. However, while she handed me the sword, she was unarmed herself.
In the training hall, there were no other weapons displayed. It was unlikely that Charlotte would practice her swordsmanship here.
"Ah, I see."
Upon my staring, she seemed to realize her own bare hands and looked at them.
"Don't worry."
-Woosh-
From her empty hands, blue mana gathered and formed the shape of a sword.
It wasn't an Aura Blade, projecting power onto a sword and overlaying it with magic.
She had reached a level where she could create a sword solely with her magic.
Surpassing even the extraordinary, she was the transcendent.
The Swordmaster who went beyond a Swordmaster, Sabiolin Tana.
But isn't this person crossing the line?
"What are you planning to do by summoning that?"
"Don't worry. I can control it. Right now, it's about the level of a sturdy wooden sword."
As if saying that a child wouldn't understand, she summoned the Aura Sword and pointed it at me.
"Ah, well, that's different then."
"Go ahead and try anything."
"Yes."
Feeling like anything I did would be futile, I approached Tana with her sword in hand.
As I moved, her shoulders and steps shifted, even though I hadn't touched her yet. She seemed to read all my possible attacks, adjusting her distance and taking a defensive stance even before I could make a move.
When I crossed swords with her, I felt like I would be immediately blocked. So, I retreated slightly and measured the distance between us.
I had never been able to do this before.
However, it became possible after I awakened my 'Intuition.'
Among the numerous abilities I received, Intuition was the most overpowered.
Of course, the Hero's Bloodline and Sacred Spirit were also incredibly powerful, but the versatility of Intuition made it exceptionally potent.
It always seemed to be activated, not just in specific situations.
In this situation, I could see my opponent's movements more clearly. Not at a level where I could read them, but more subtly.
As I observed my opponent's preemptive movements in response to mine, I could predict to some extent what kind of offense and defense would occur.
It wasn't the realm of special powers.
It was simply that I could now see what Ellen had seen.
With the help of this ability, I could do what would have taken years of training.
As I adjusted my stance and the trajectory of my sword, she moved accordingly.
Although our swords had never clashed, it felt like we had already engaged in five exchanges.
If I went in, I'd be blocked. So I tried another way, and my opponent responded with another method, so I adjusted again.
Within that repetition.
My opponent's shoulders, footwork, and the direction of her sword grip.
I continuously predicted the offense and defense through subtle changes in stance.
"..."
"... You're not just bluffing."
She must have seen what I saw but at a much higher level. That's why this exchange, not quite an exchange, was possible.
She nodded her head. She looked at me.
For some reason, I couldn't help but notice...
This person resembled Ellen in that I could read her thoughts. In the beginning, I often couldn't understand what Ellen was thinking, but with this person, it was clear.
'He's not just bluffing.'
'I heard he hasn't even been learning the sword for a year.'
'Even if he learned from a genius.'
'Is this even possible?'
'What kind of talent is this?'
‘Has his magical power been enhanced as well?’
‘Does he possess supernatural abilities too?’
‘What is this?’
‘He's terrifying.’
‘Should we invite him to Shanafel?’
‘It's tempting.’
‘But it takes too long to graduate.’
Such seemed to be her thoughts.
Why do I feel like I can read her mind only?
Swish
"That's enough. I don't need to see anymore."
In the end, she dispelled her Aura Sword without even crossing swords with me once. I courteously returned her sword. With her lips tightly sealed, she seemed to be contemplating various thoughts as she looked at me.
I suddenly wished Ellen could be this perceptive.
"I'm not sure if you're the future of the Empire, but at least I think Epinhauser's judgment was not mistaken."
"Is that a compliment?"
"I'm merely stating the truth."
This person.
She resembled not only Ellen but Epinhauser as well, though of course they were of different ages.
She looked at me as she sheathed her sword.
"Follow me."
Without saying anything, she left the training hall and went outside to the palace gardens in full bloom. The gardeners were nowhere to be found. Had they all left for the day?
Rumble
"It seems rain is coming."
The once clear sky had suddenly become overcast, ominous thunder rumbling in the distance.
It hadn't been long since the sunset, and yet the sky had darkened so quickly.
She handed me an umbrella.
However, she didn't use one herself.
"Won't you use one?"
"No need."
Although rain seemed imminent, she walked through the palace gardens as if it didn't matter.
The palace and its gardens were vast, and it would take quite a while to exit.
No guards could be seen anywhere in the palace or its gardens.
Perhaps the mere presence of Sabiolin Tana was enough to replace numerous guards.
The few palace servants that remained seemed to have left the palace entirely.
We walked for some time.
Pitter-patter
Rain began to fall.
I opened the umbrella, but she simply let the rain fall on her. I tried to shield her with the umbrella, but she declined and kept her distance.
She walked in silence, allowing the rain to fall on her. I could tell she wasn't in the best of moods.
Together, we strolled through the rain-soaked palace gardens in spring. The tram stop was still far away.
Suddenly, she spoke.
"Her Majesty said you're someone who can take her secrets to the grave."
"...Did she?"
"Yes. She also said you've been a great help to her, a benefactor and a friend. She said it's alright to share some of my own secrets."
Apparently, such words had been exchanged between them in a separate conversation.
My own secrets.
In the end.
The outcome I had least desired.
It wasn't Berthus, or anything else. Was it all due to a problem with Charlotte herself?
"Thus, this is a highly unusual occurrence. A complete outsider like you, learning the secrets of the royal family solely through the will of Her Highness the Princess. It's not even a matter for me to decide. So, if this matter is ever leaked, not only your life but mine will be forfeited as well. Keep what you are about to hear to yourself."
With a sufficient warning, Sabiolin Tana begins to speak.
"Currently, the Spring Palace is off-limits to all outsiders. Not just foreigners, but most of the palace staff have been placed on standby outside, except for a select few who can be trusted."
So it was intended for me to hear this story from Sabiolin Tana, as Charlotte had not mentioned it herself.
Charlotte had granted me permission to know part of her secret.
"Thus, when Her Highness brought you here, both Sir Dyrus and I were surprised. It wasn't a situation that should have happened. Bear in mind that the conversations between the Princess and myself were situational, not politically motivated. I am uninvolved in all matters arising from politics."
"…Yes."
Sabiolin Tana.
Although she holds the significant title of Shanafel Commander, she has nothing to do with politics. She claims that it is a path that doesn't align with her.
"You are a psychic, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you must be well aware of the dangers of psychic powers, more so than ordinary people?"
"Yes."
"Her Highness's psychic ability is one of those dangerous powers. It's an ability that is difficult to control. That's why it couldn't be made public. Until now, Her Highness has been focusing on controlling her ability."
Charlotte's psychic ability.
I had only guessed that it was an offensive ability and had to be kept secret because it was of a dangerous nature.
"I can't go into details. However, both the royal family and Her Highness struggle to control that power. That's why it has become difficult for Her Highness to continue living in the Temple."
"…I see."
Dangerous and hard-to-control psychics are eliminated.
Charlotte's power is of that kind, and as a result, she might endanger the other students at the Temple.
So Charlotte can no longer go to the Temple.
Charlotte will soon leave the Temple.
It could be in a month, next week, or even starting today.
If what she said is true, then Charlotte's claim that Berthold was irrelevant would be accurate.
If that's the case.
The story that someone died at the Spring Palace…
In the end, does it mean that someone died due to Charlotte's psychic ability going out of control?
Murder.
That's why Charlotte returned to the Royal Palace instead of the dormitory.
"Today has been exceptional in many ways. Do not assume that you will be able to visit the Spring Palace again in the future."
I never thought that Charlotte would disappear from the Temple because of a power control failure, not because of a dispute over the imperial authority.
Before that.
What exactly is Charlotte's psychic ability?
Why is Sabiolin Tana even here?
Why did my intuition send a warning today?
-Flash!
-Rumble!
Amidst a streak of lightning, a flash, and the roaring thunder, I look at Sabiolin Tana.
The raindrops streaming down her cheeks as she walked, dazed in the rain, seemed like tears.
"What happens if Charlotte completely fails to control her ability?"
"There's no reason for me to tell you."
Sabiolin Tana speaks without looking at me.
Both her expression and mine had turned grim.
It seemed as if she was preparing herself for something.
Preparing for something she didn't want to prepare for.
Sabiolin Tana.
Why is the world's strongest person in charge of guarding this palace all by herself?
Why is she alone?
As far as I can see, the only other guard force besides her is Dyrus.
"If Charlotte goes berserk, you are here to intervene."
-Flash!
Amidst the lightning, Sabiolin Tana's eyes widened.
My intuition sent me a strong warning today. Even now, I could still feel that danger signal.
If that's the case.
It meant that Charlotte was going to die today.
By the hand of Sabiolin Tana.
