After Rian returned to the Imperial Palace after visiting the bookstore with Earl Rosewood, one of his Imperial Mother’s people led him to her office.
Queen Mira and her main lady-in-waiting were inside. They were seated at Queen Mira’s desk with various documents and papers.
“Good afternoon, Imperial Mother,” Rian greeted. “Where is Imperial Father?”
“Your father has other matters to attend to,” Queen Mira said. “Take a seat.”
Rian sat down on one of the ornate sofas and quietly waited.
Not long after, Queen Mira headed over and sat down on the opposite sofa.
Queen Mira smiled. “The dinner menu yesterday was well received. I’ll put you in charge of the menu at the next event, too.”
Rian smiled docilely. “Thank you, Imperial Mother.”
“I’m sure you are aware that the Angio convoy never arrived. They never crossed Sedaverian borders.”
“Will they arrive later?”
“I believe they won’t, unless they decide to arrive unexpectedly,” Queen Mira said. “I will send a message of concern, but nothing more.”
The Angio king, King Augustus Lūpiter, had made it clear that he didn’t want to establish diplomatic relations with Sedaveria. If Sedaveria kept pushing, then that would signal an ulterior motive.
A return message with polite concern about the misplaced Angio envoys and a hope that they will have the opportunity in the future to meet was the most measured response.
“That’s a pity,” Rian said. “Could you invite some envoys from different nations instead? Each event could have some dishes from foreign countries.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Queen Mira gazed critically at her son. Rian had not been so interested in worldly cuisine until Ayden Rosewood appeared.
“You showed great progress at today’s duel with Earl Rosewood.”
Rian’s lips curved up. “Yes, Earl Rosewood showed me his method of direct magic manipulation, and I was able to improve from there.” He gave his mother a shy look. “But his method works best for fire. So if Imperial Mother or Imperial Father is free, I would be grateful if you can show me your methods.”
“I’m afraid you won’t be free. You’ve been spending too much time with Earl Rosewood, too suddenly.” Queen Mira’s blue eyes were piercing. “Has he promised you something? Is he blackmailing you?”
Rian’s smile faded away. “We have signed contracts to help each other. But Earl Rosewood is my friend.”
“Magically binding contracts?”
“No, but—”
Queen Mira’s expression was not to be trifled with. “If he hasn’t signed a magically binding contract, then he could betray you.”
Rian’s eyelids lowered. “Then I could betray him in return.”
“You must stop showing him such blatant favouritism. You are the eldest prince of Sedaveria.”
“What problem is there to being hospitable to Earl Rosewood, who rarely comes to visit the Capital? He is a member of my faction. Not Your Majesty’s or His Majesty’s. He is the kind of person I need in the future.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Queen Mira knew what Rian had said to the other noble children.
“Don’t forget, we are the future of Sedaveria. Our fiefs, our kingdom, should get better and better.”
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“Eljc, sbe jgf atf fivfra qglcmf. Tbe tjnf qbafcalji. Tbe tjnf ygbjv xcbkifvuf jcv fzmfiifca wjulmji rxliir,” Heffc Zlgj rjlv. Dea atfc tfg nblmf aegcfv j ilaaif rtjgq. “Lbkfnfg, sbe’gf bcis akfinf, jcv sbe ralii tjnf wemt ab ifjgc, ybat atfbgfalmji jcv qgjmalmji. Yatfgr mjc ojli jcv yf yfagjsfv, yea sbe mjc cba. Rbyifr jgf cba rlwqif, lcmievlcu Sjgi Ebrfkbbv, fnfc atbeut tf lr sbeg juf. Po sbe kjca tlw ab yf qjga bo sbeg ojmalbc, atja lr jmmfqajyif. Dea tf werac’a yf atf bcis qfgrbc lc sbeg ojmalbc. Eljc, vfjg, kjamt sbeg yjmx. Tbeg ojatfg jcv P klii cba jikjsr yf jyif ab tfiq sbe.”
Rian listened quietly.
He had never chafed with his Imperial Mother like this in his previous life. He had never realised just how strict his Imperial Mother could be.
He wasn’t yet the Crown Prince. He wasn’t yet confirmed to become king. And even if he became the Crown Prince, the title could be transferred to his younger brother in the future.
Rian envied Earl Rosewood’s freedom. Restrictions and protocols and formality have always been part of the role of ‘prince’ though, along with the wealth, power, and reputation. If Rian wanted freedom, he would have to give all that up…
For the greater good of the kingdom, to prevent the plague-curse, Rian lowered his head in submission, showing an ashamed expression. “Yes, Imperial Mother. I understand.”
“Good. If you would like an ice-magic instructor, I will find someone from the Imperial University for you…”
Rian accepted the various arrangements his Imperial Mother wanted to prepare for him.
As for whether his Imperial Mother believed that he had changed his heart or not…he would act like she did while assuming that she didn’t.
The next day, a group from the Capital Investigators’ office came to the front door of the Rosewood Capital house. Most of the group stayed outside, while Senior Capital Investigator Louis Marais was led inside to a nearby drawing room.
Earl Rosewood came down not long after. “Hello Senior Investigator Marais, how can I help you?”
Senior Investigator Marais had remained standing while he had waited. He immediately responded, “Earl Rosewood, I am here to inform you about the results of our investigation into the murder of your family. We have gathered sufficient evidence. There will be an open trial in front of the Imperial Council in ten days.”
“Against who?”
“Against Baron Cordovan and Lady Cordovan.”
Earl Rosewood showed no surprise, a fact that Senior Investigator Marais mentally noted.
“And my presence is necessary?”
“Ideally, yes.” Senior Investigator Marais proceeded to explain everything that should be prepared, and the procedures for the trial itself.
“Senior Investigator Marais, can you also give these instructions to me in writing?”
“I can, Earl Rosewood.”
“Thank you for your hard work, and thank you for the hard work for all the Capital Investigators. My late family can rest easy soon now that you’ve found those responsible.”
After a few last exchanges, Senior Capital Investigator Marais departed.
Ren Xiyang went to find Solicitor Carmine. Was this the big news that Rian was hinting at? It seemed that Ren Xiyang’s visit to the Capital had been extended again, which meant Ren Xiyang was separated from his agricultural fields for even longer…
At least Rian should be happy.
Rian was in his study room. In front of his numerous tutors, he was studious, like how he had been when he was truly twelve. He pushed himself and pushed the tutors to speed through the content he already knew. If he had to study more, then it should be studying content he didn’t already know but wanted to know.
But at the back of his mind, in the rare times he had some privacy, he was thinking about his next steps. He needed to sweep his room of any newly planted spells. He needed to find an even better sound-blocking privacy spell.
And he was making a list of excuses to see Earl Rosewood.
As one of the key people involved, Earl Rosewood had been one of the first people notified about the upcoming trial.
But the news spread very quickly as the Imperial Councillors were also notified so that they knew to be present in the Capital for the trial. They would be the jurors, with the final decision to be made by King Edric.
Earl Ayden Rosewood had been a popular topic of gossip from the day he emerged out of nowhere to take over his family’s estate. This hot news quickly took over from gossip about the duel and the flying-on-a-sword-thing.
To think that Baron Cordovan and Lady Cordovan had plotted the deaths of the Rosewood family! (Technically they hadn’t been convicted yet, but ‘everyone’ knew that they were probably guilty.)
The Cordovans had been successful, too. The entire known Rosewood family was wiped out, and at the time, there was no evidence linking the Cordovans to the crime. But they, just like the rest of the aristocracy, hadn’t expected Ayden Rosewood. They couldn’t have expected Ayden Rosewood to catch the assassins and call in the Capital Investigators.
Now, the Cordovan house in the Capital was surrounded by city guards. The Cordovans were under strict house arrest until the trial.
Duke Schauss received the official news and heard the gossip. At the dinner table, he spoke about the matter briefly—
“Baron Cordovan and Lady Cordovan are to be tried for the murders of the late Earl Roland Rosewood, Lady Rosewood, and their two children. The evidence has been collected by the Capital Investigators, so the decision is likely fixed. However, if anyone asks you about your stance, remember that there will be a formal trial. Don’t let it interrupt your classes.”
—and moved on to other matters.
While at the dinner table, Cassiopeia echoed her brothers’ response to focus on their lessons.
However, after Cassiopeia returned to her bedroom, she had a feeling that something was off.
It niggled at her as she sat at her desk and tried to complete some homework.
Her gaze wandered, and she recalled the small diary she had hidden, in which she had written down all the major events and major people in the novel so that she wouldn’t forget.
Cassiopeia suddenly pinpointed what was wrong.
This definitely couldn’t have happened in the book!
In the book, Alyssa Rosewood didn’t know who was behind the assassination of her family. She was adopted by the Cordovans! And she hated Cassiopeia because she wrongly thought that the Schausses had something to do with the deaths even though they had done absolutely nothing wrong.
Cassiopeia knew about the Capital Investigators and knew that they were very good. So, this trial against the Cordovans was very, very serious. There was very little chance that the Cordovans would get off free. Her own father had said that the decision was ‘likely fixed’!
Nobles usually got exiled, if they weren’t executed. But if that happened, then how could the Cordvans appear in the future in the novel? There were some scenes with both the adult Cordovans and their children in the book.
Alyssa Rosewood was under witness protection. Would she learn about this? If so, she wouldn’t wrongly accuse Cassiopeia about the assassinations, and then all of their scenes would fall through—
Cassiopeia’s breathing went faster and faster. She felt dazed and dizzy. Everything seemed to become unreal.
Something was wrong.
Cassiopeia tried to think. How could things go so differently? She didn’t do anything that would trigger any changes—
What if someone else reincarnated and regained their past memories, just like her?
She had read a few stories where this thing happened. But she didn’t expect it to happen to her!
She suddenly realised.
Ayden Rosewood, there must be something very wrong with Ayden Rosewood!
Ayden Rosewood had felt wrong from the beginning! Her first gut feelings had to be right! Ayden Rosewood was clearly powerful and seemed to be getting more powerful. It was very unlikely he would just mysteriously vanish before the book started.
And at the social ball the other night, Ayden Rosewood had talked about germs, and told her to work harder to learn healing magic!
So, he was from her previous world too? Did he read this novel for girls and then was somehow reincarnated here?
Dozens of thoughts whirled around in Cassiopeia’s head.
She forcefully calmed herself down. Her father had said that many top healers and the Imperial family already knew about germs, so Prince Rian could have told Ayden Rosewood. And Ayden could have just been nice and wanted to talk to her at the late-summer ball.
She couldn’t act irrational and stupid. She needed to gather information.
Remember the Cordovans? Remember Cassiopeia? 😆
Thank you to Turducken for the monetary support >w<
And also thank you to everyone who replied to my question a few weeks ago—the majority of respondents prefer two 2.4k chapters a week or didn’t mind, while a minority of people prefer three 1.6k chapters a week. So I guess the answer is to remain the same!
Ohh she Catching on to something who who who thank you for the chapter.
😏😏😏 that’s right, she’s not completely oblivious~
Queen Mira is noteworthy, too. I don’t know how much of a loving mother she is, but she is absolutely a qualified queen, and she seems to value the royal’s integrity, too. It’s just that you can’t expect a twelve year old, even if they’re more mature or a royal, to truly understand corruption and manipulation, and act accordingly. The main reason is that certain parts of the brain haven’t fully developed yet–and they won’t until probably 26 years of age.
This is also why I am a little conflicted with rebirth and transmigration stories where the, eh, new body is much younger than the… “mental age”(?) of the new soul. At least give them a fever and a headache and knock them out for a few hours to “recalibrate the brain”… well, that’s what I do, and otherwise it’s just a suggestion.
Thank you for the chapter!
I see, the Cordovans are pretty unimportant in the grand scheme of things 😂😂😂😂😂
Hmm yes, Queen Mira is definitely a qualified queen. Her ethics and morals are “normal”, whereas Rian is really going off the rails because of Ren Xiyang’s influence 😂😂😂😂😂
Ahh, if you like stories with a fever and headache post transmigration, have you checked out Sweet Devil by RS Vaesen here on CG? The mismatch between older mental age and younger body is a plot element in that story!
And the tag says Angst and Stupid MC, which aren’t my cup of tea–I like smart people (with higher than average EQ and/or IQ; their psychology is much more interesting than that of others) and as little misunderstandings and hateful characters between the protagonist and his closest people as possible.
Ahhh fair enough XD
I would say the MC there isn’t as stupid as the tag makes it, he acts more like halfway between his mental age and his body’s age (?), and there are other smart characters, like the smart ML.
Cassiopeia: something wrong, i can feel it… Is it my fault?? Ayden’s??
Ayden: yeah so germs are small things that might kill you, here’s some soap, now let’s go cook some tofu
Thank you for the chapter!! <3
Lmao perfect summery of this chapter 😂😂
Very 🤭🤭🤭🤭
🤭🤭🤭🤭 Ren Xiyang will be fine taking the credit for most of the changes hahahahah
Thank you for reading!
Finally catching on M’lady! Just a little late haha
She was good at making things up to make it all “consistent” before 🤭 But better late than never!!
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
Thank you for reading!!
You’re sooooo close Cassiopeia just use that brain a biiiiiit more and you’ll realize this is now a farming….xianxia… world building…apocalyse…bl…novel?
Slowly, slowly…… I don’t think she’s going to get that it’s a farming xianxia world building BL 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I mean, technically everyone is the main character of their own life~
Guess the queen is associating rian’s sudden change with ren xiyang? Who would’ve thought her son actually became an adult overnight after all 😅
I think it’s a reasonable assumption, because after Rian met Ren Xiyang, Rian’s world view started to change 🤣 It’s a lot more reasonable than Rian becoming an adult overnight!!
How come she thinks her family did no wrong? didn’t she read the same book?
Technically, the Schausses weren’t the ones who murdered the Rosewoods. And the book would have glamourised the “good” nobles like Cassiopeia Schauss and her family!
Thanks for the chapter! I wonder if Cassiopeia will actually consider that this is more than a “game” or “book” world that is not required to follow set plot lines, and that maybe the book plot and characters are not set in stone? Or that the people are really people, not NPCs? She’s still annoying, though…
We’ll see, we’ll see 😆😆😆 she won’t remain obstinate though…
Sooo. Now Cassie notices that the storyline has replotted… and that there might be butterfly effects with her expected event timeline. Face meet palm. Meanwhile, the Queen sharpens knives for anyone who might endanger her sons while giving a quick “this is reality” chat to eldest son—who has been reborn into a novel with transmigrators…. Never met a meta I didn’t like! Hahahaha! 🤣❤️
there are going to be a lot of knock-on effects if Ren Xiyang and Rian have their way!!!
Hahah Queen Mira is doing her best given her morals, duties and knowledge!
I WAS LATEEEEE ｡･ﾟﾟ(>д<)ﾟﾟ･｡ I was more tired than I have expected I guess but! Enough of that. It seems like we’ll be seeing two criminals get apprehended hehe. Good job, Capital Investigators! Many kudos to you, Senior Capital Investigator Louis Marais! Also, Cassiopeia (I’m just gonna call her Cass from now on) is definitely going to keep a closer eye on ren ren. But how come she didn’t know about how her family is also related to the murders? Do ren ren and Cass read a different book? Outstanding chapter as always, bafflinghaze! Have a nice day!
Oh dear heroin, darling, you’re already stupid….
she is a bit u_u
The way I would not care at all if I was her 😭 Like you have a rich ass family that spoils you a lot, you’ll be fine even if your scenes get cut out from the og story.
Exactly, Cassiopeia will be fine!
hmmm~ she’s so indulge in her new wealthy and spoil family to notice the changes around her lmao~
yeppp 🤐
Isn’t she a bit too late?🤔
Well not like that matters to our MC & ML.
Thanks again for the chapter 😊💯
Better late than…never? 🤐
ok but when she finds out that Rian is a regressor and he even read the book XD
😏😏😏 in the future~
I can just imagine her baffled face as she see how these 2 just mess up the whole story line 😂