Since When Did You Have The Illusion That You Don't Have Magical Powers?! Chapter 34

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Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Aurora Steinfeld, daughter of the Duke of Bloomfield

A tea party at this time of the day is obviously not a normal tea party.

Aurora led me to the destination, which was not the salon where I was invited for tea the other day, but an even more special salon in the academy. Somehow, there's an unusual atmosphere. Even Percival has a dubious expression on his face.

Um, there are a few escort knights standing in front of the door? Who the hell are the guests at this extremely private tea party?

“Now then, please go ahead. This way.”

The maid opened the door, and when Aurora urged me to enter the salon, the guests other than us were already seated, but as I expected, they are extraordinary people. I knew it, I thought, and you'll have to forgive me for inadvertently giving you a distant look.

Percival and I immediately took a bow of subjects.

“That sort of thing is fine. Make yourselves comfortable, both of you. Today, as an alumni of this academy, I'm just here to see how the future leaders of this country are faring.”

“Both of you, please take a seat.”

The participants in the tea party are His Highness the Crown Prince and Aurora. Then there were the two of us. If you glance around the large salon, you will see that there are several attendants and servants. Inside, there are also escort knights and two royal magicians. When the magicians chant, the salon is protected by barrier magic.

It's quite a solemn tea party. Even if you're told to make yourself comfortable, the atmosphere is such that you can't say, 'then, without hesitation'.

The attendants prepare the tea without making a single sound. In the meantime, the Crown Prince calls out to Percival.

 “Belisario, it's been a long time. How is the Margrave of Vanderwall?”

“Yes, he is still leading the troops.”

Yes, I see. Belisario is the sword and shield of our country. Tell the Margrave that we are grateful for his loyalty.”

“I am truly honoured by your kind words.”

Percival is acquainted with His Highness the Crown Prince? Certainly, he would have met at some big national events. After all, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the Margrave of Vanderwall is one of the cornerstones of this country. The royal family does not neglect the Belisario family who continues to protect the land.

Haa, even so. It's a meeting of glittering princes. His Highness the Crown Prince is quite a prince too. He has golden hair like a crown and the eyes of the sun, the symbol of this country. And because he's so talented, surely there are many families who would love to have their daughter be his consort or attendant. I don't understand the chagrin of the Marchioness of Spencer, nor do I have to understand it.

“Today, I have brought a special pastry for you. It's called Makoro, which is coloured with fruit and flowers. They are not made from wheat flour, but from ground nuts.”

While the Crown Prince was explaining, I was glued to the pastry placed in front of me. The sweets, round and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, looked like baked sweets, but they were really bright and beautifully coloured. I had never seen such sweets before.

“……Now then, Sapphiras-kun. The other night, my foolish brother caused you a lot of trouble.”

“No, not so much.”

When I replied, His Highness the Crown Prince laughed aloud. Was that something laughable?

“I was really struggling with my stupid brother, you know. The Duke of Bloomfield entrusted the dagger in his bosom to the royal family, but he didn't understand its meaning at all. I was really frustrated that the dagger had been entrusted to someone who had no idea of its value.”

His Highness the Crown Prince took a sip of tea and touched the sweets.

“Please eat without reservation.”

Before His Highness the Crown Prince, he must have realised that I hadn't touched the sweets. He ate the sweets himself and recommended them to us. His Highness the Crown Prince is a very capable man. If he is the next king, the future of this country is bright. But why did the second prince grow up so poorly? Thinking about this, I immediately reach for the red-coloured Makoro.

What's this! Delicious!

I took a bite and was overwhelmed by its deliciousness.

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The Makoro was crispy, fluffy and seemed to melt in my mouth, and the subtle sourness of the fruit and the sweetness of the cream were, to put it mildly, fantastic.

It was so good that I kept reaching for more. Next up was the light purple Makoro. This one has a slight floral aroma. There are still many foods in the world that I don't know about, aren't there? I don't know too much about the world.

While my eyes were glowing with the beauty and charm of the sweets, Percival, who was sitting next to me, quickly pulled the plate of sweets in front of him towards me. I looked at Percival and he gave me a small nod.

Th-this, Percival must be a good guy to hand over such precious sweets to me!”

I realised that His Highness the Crown Prince and Aurora were looking at me with a lukewarm gaze, so I straightened up.

After being judged to have no magical powers, I spent about nine years in confinement. I'm finally enjoying the joy of food, so I would like to be forgiven.

“I see you like it.”

“Yes, very much.”

Yes, I really like it. I'd love to have a basket full.

“……So, about my foolish brother. He took the kingdom's treasures without permission and ruined a soirée I organised. He also insulted the daughter of the Duke of Bloomfield a lot, so of course his engagement with her was returned to a blank slate. And now I'm urging his reflection in the fort at the foot of Mount Paluum.”

In all the deliciousness of the Makoro, I'd forgotten all about the Second Prince, hadn't I? Oh, right, he's been sent to the foot of Mount Paluum. That's a harsher punishment than I thought. There are usually magical beasts in that area, and the sea of trees at the foot of the mountain is said to be a magical place. The Second Prince, who spent his life soaking in lukewarm water, will have a hard time.

“……So, Sapphiras-kun. When did you learn of the royal sceptre?”

The Crown Prince's sword-like gaze catches me straight in the eye. The calm atmosphere that I have been in up until now is replaced by one filled with alarm.

“Also, you knew that the legendary sceptre of Caeres Ais really existed…and it seems that you even knew about the sceptre's hidden power?”

Once I swallowed Makoro, I moistened my mouth with tea.

I see. Well, it would be inconvenient if it was known that the royal treasure was useless. How does a mere student know such a thing? It's natural to think that way. If I hadn't seen it in my previous life, I don't think I would have believed that the national treasure sceptre was that useless.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince. Do not underestimate books. Everything that happens in this world has been left behind in some form or another by someone somewhere. Even facts that the royal family would prefer to keep secret.”

“Did you learn about it from books?”

“Does His Highness the Crown Prince know what kind of upbringing I had?”

“Yes, I do. I think I know most of it.”

Of course you'll look into it. Aurora is present, and he must have heard about it to some extent from His Excellency the Duke of Bloomfield.

“From the age of five until I left that mansion, I was forced to live separately. Fortunately, there were a lot of books lying around in that detached house. I was blessed only with time, so I just read those books.”

Reading books helped me to forget my hunger.

“……but no matter how many books are in the collection of the Magical Earl, I don't think there are any books with content that would be marked as forbidden?”

“When common people try to write down important things, they rarely write down what happened as it happened. Depending on the era, there is a possibility that they could be burnt. Therefore, in most cases, they are left in a form that is very difficult to understand. Like a treasure map. The key is hidden in a cryptic metaphor or a meaningful story, like a riddle to be solved. I only arrived at the sceptre through the knowledge I gained from such books.”

How is it? Are you convinced?

I'm no longer Fortis, I'm Sapphiras. I'll use the knowledge of my previous life without reservation, but I don't intend to live as Fortis. So I won't say that these are memories of my previous life.

“…… I see.”

Suddenly, the atmosphere surrounding His Highness the Crown Prince loosens. For the time being, he seemed convinced.

“However, does the Earl of Aldridge have no discernment of human resources to let go of such an outstanding son? I can't believe that such a person is the advisor to the Kingdom's Magic Division…….What do you think? Aurora.”

“Well then, how about it? I don't know, but thanks this, our ducal family was able to support an excellent student, so it's a great honour.”

Mm, I see. It seems that the Crown Prince will receive the dagger in the Duke's bosom. Well, I suppose it's only natural. A slight age difference is no big deal.

……Besides, they seem to be much more compatible than the Second Prince.

Chapter end