WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 154 - Past (4)

After hearing the rules I absolutely had to follow from the future Sharmia, I chose to live in the room next to the current Sharmia.

There weren’t any major problems. As long as my Tide Sense was active, no guard could ever catch me.

Like in some old famous movie, living in ceilings and occasionally empty rooms became my daily routine.

It wasn’t particularly hard. If anything, the imperial palace made it absurdly easy to get food and water, and mentally, I felt strangely at ease.

Sharmia, however, was not.

"Your Highness, I’m sorry to wake you, but you need to move.”

"Mm, again…?”

Right below me, only a few meters away—

Sharmia, rubbing her sleepy eyes, was pulled away by the head maid, still in her pajamas.

Probably another safe location. This bedroom had already been marked as a target.

"...How did you even survive?”

I couldn’t believe it.

It had only been three days, and there had already been three attempts on her life, my incident excluded.

"Stop them at all costs. Don’t let a single one get awa—...Agh!”

Through my Tide Sense, I saw masked assassins wielding daggers, cutting down guards as they sprinted toward the room.

Not all of them were that crude. The other two had been poison mixed into her food and needles laced with toxin sewn into her clothes.

It was true madness. Not just the number of attempts, but the fact that this was happening inside the imperial palace.

Was that even possible? After seeing the empire Sharmia would one day build, suddenly witnessing something that wouldn’t happen even in a developing country, left me truly speechless.

In the Empire I knew, you’d be arrested just for approaching the palace. Security wasn’t broken. It was completely annihilated.

No wonder they had been so calm when I first showed up.

"...She’ll be fine, right?”

To be honest, I didn't even have to care. All these attempts were already recorded as failures after all.

Eventually, the Empire would be restored by the awakened Sharmia. This was just the darkest hour before dawn.

The only thing I truly had to worry about—

was today.

"Your Highness, today you’re truly… incredibly beautiful!”

"...Thank you.”

Today was her 10th birthday. The day the princess would awaken as a wizard.

If she died after this day, she would return to the past.

The world would collapse, and I would never be able to go back.

'So this is what he was aiming for…’

It seemed clear now that Great Void had known from the start that I could return through death and had laid this trap.

He never intended to let me hand over whatever information I had. That was why he had abandoned subtlety and tried persuasion instead.

No matter how many times I thought about it, he’s such a fucking bastard. I let out a breath and watched Sharmia’s back as she walked down the hall, surrounded by dozens of maids.

"Your Highness, please don’t walk too far ahead.”

"Ah, I’m sorry. This dress makes it really hard to walk. My steps keep getting longer.”

After observing the young princess for nearly a week, I had come to one conclusion…

Aside from being unnervingly used to assassination attempts, she was just an ordinary child her age.

If anything, the only unusual trait was how she loved growing trees. Even when everyone tried to stop her, she insisted on watering them herself and adding fertilizer. Other than that, there was nothing special about her.

Holding up the hem of her dress, she walked forward, expressionless, accepting the gazes of soldiers lined in formation and the ceremonial fireworks as she headed toward the largest cathedral in the palace.

The moment she entered, nobles who had been waiting tensely rushed forward and bowed their heads.

"Your Highness, Sharmia. I hope you’ve been well. I am Closet of the Radria family.”

"Congratulations on your birthday. I am…”

"Ah, yes. Thank you, everyone.”

Sharmia brushed them off as if annoyed by them.

However, despite that, she still exchanged brief greetings with the crowd of nobles surrounding her.

Since it was the princess’ 10th birthday, countless servants moved about, serving food and drinks—

"What is this? I’ve never seen it before.”

"A grape crêpe. We recommend parking it with apple wine.”

I was among them.

I’d dyed my hair blond using some dye I found near a dressing table, and thrown on whatever clothes I could snatch.

There were plenty of kids my age being put to work, so I didn’t stand out much. The guards might have gotten suspicious if they saw my face up close, but this was a palace they weren’t allowed to enter so easily.

The odds of being discovered were rather low, and even if I were, I could crush them and escape, so I’d deliberately chosen to enter as a servant.

The reason, of course, was that future Sharmia still hadn’t appeared in the dressing-room mirror.

'She’s late.'

The promised time had already passed. That alone was proof that my situation was getting dangerous.

It likely meant I was going to be stuck in this space longer than expected—

Which meant I could no longer afford to stay passive.

If the princess died even once before becoming the shrine maiden, I’d die with her.

Even if it meant changing the future, I had no choice but to stay close to Sharmia from today onward, identify whoever was behind the assassinations, and stop them.

As I quietly continued serving, I carefully watched the bored Sharmia when…

-Bwoooooh!!

"...That startled me."

Suddenly, the sound of trumpets echoed through the hall.

Maintaining a calm expression so that I wouldn’t stand out, I kept serving as the surrounding nobles swallowed nervously and straightened their posture.

From the cathedral’s staircase, a middle-aged man descended slowly, surrounded by a large number of escorts.

...I knew that face.

"W-we greet the heart of the Empire.”

"We greet the heart of the Empire!”

"Hm."

That resolute face, those eyes that allowed no objection.

The Emperor of the Empire.

I had seen him at the library.

Sharmia had told me that he had been a fake, but seeing him now, he looked exactly like the man I had seen at that time.

Just a bit older…

The Emperor lightly lowered his head and extended a hand toward Sharmia, who looked slightly intimidated.

"Come here."

"Y-yes!"

Sharmia hurried forward without a single word of protest and dropped to one knee.

The Emperor looked down at her golden hair for a moment, then—

smiled gently, like a father to his daughter, and placed a hand on her head.

"You've been dressed beautifully. You look just like her.”

"Thank you…”

Even as she accepted the praise, Sharmia lowered her head with an expression that seemed to hold a hint of fear.

It seemed their relationship as father and daughter wasn’t exactly warm.

After Sharmia stood and bowed again before returning to her place, the Emperor turned his gaze to the nobles, who still hadn’t dared to raise their heads, and spoke with a resonant voice.

"If I am the heart of the Empire, then you nobles are its blood and muscles. Without you, how would this Empire be any different from a corpse? I worry that I may have summoned those who should still work hard to keep it moving, merely for a trivial personal matter.”

"N-Not at all!”

"How could this be a personal matter when it concerns the nation—!”

The Emperor, who had reduced the nobles to trembling wrecks, then looked at them with solemn eyes and continued.

"However, to those who came to celebrate this auspicious day when my child becomes a wizard, I owe my gratitude. If there is anything you desire, speak it. I shall reward you generously.”

It was meant to be a simple formality. None of the nobles would dare to step forward here.

They’d say something like ‘What have we done to deserve such grace~’ and let it pass.

Anyone who actually stepped forward would be insane…

"I have one request, Your Majesty.”

...And yet...

Someone actually did.

Curious about just how brazen and empty-headed this person was, I looked at his face. And of course, it was someone I recognized.

It was the Aletus of 10 years ago, back when his hair still had color.

Wearing a serious expression, he stepped forward from the crowd of nobles who were staring at him like he had lost his mind, probably thinking the same things I had… and boldly stood before the Emperor.

The Emperor didn’t seem offended. Instead, he nodded slowly and asked,

"Aletus? I am well aware of your contributions as one who always stands at the forefront of the Empire. What is it that you wish?”

"Yes. I humbly wish to speak regarding a temporary relocation of the capital.”

"...What?"

"The current palace is far too dangerous. For the sake of preserving Your Majesty’s safety, I beg you to leave the palace for a short time.”

The cathedral was instantly enveloped in freezing silence.

Even the musicians cautiously stopped playing their instruments.

"What nonsense is this?”

The Emperor voiced exactly what I was thinking, frowning deeply.

Yet even under pressure that would have made any normal noble wet their pants, Aletus didn’t stop.

"I apologize for overstepping my bounds. However, in the past month alone, thirteen assassins have infiltrated the palace. This is undeniably abnormal.”

"The Empire’s great glory naturally draws insects. Yet no matter how many times those insects leap into the fire, they will only burn. Do you not understand that?”

"Of course, Your Majesty. I understand that well. What concerns me is that those insects have dared to set foot inside the palace itself.”

"..."

The Emperor fell silent.

It was definitely strange. Assassination attempts against the imperial family weren’t unheard of, but the fact they were reaching the inner palace was quite odd.

If security were strong enough to deal with all of them after the fact, then it shouldn’t have been so lax that they could enter in the first place.

'Is he insane?'

Only after realizing the implication did I understand the true meaning behind Aletus’ reckless words.

Aletus was saying there was a rat inside the palace.

And right in front of the Emperor!

...Swallowing dryly, I found myself a bit more aware of where Elisia’s temperament had come from.

The Emperor slowly nodded.

"You speak the truth. However, if you make that claim, you understand that you too cannot avoid responsibility, as the one in charge of the palace’s security, do you not?”

"Indeed. This is entirely my fault. I beg you to punish me with death.”

Having said everything he wanted to, Aletus dropped to his knees as if waiting for an executioner.

The Emperor rubbed his brow and shook his head.

"I will consider the relocation of the capital. And as for the palace’s security, I will entrust it to another. Let that be price for your failure.”

"I’m grateful for Your Majesty’s mercy.”

"You may withdraw.”

With an annoyed wave of his hand, the Emperor dismissed him, turning his gaze to someone else as Aletus turned to leave.

It was so brief that an ordinary person would never have noticed—

"...Tsk."

But I did.

The head maid of Princess Sharmia.

I could feel her heartbeat quickening. While still wearing a calm expression, she gave a small nod.

"To have so many loyal subjects who think of the Empire, what greater joy could there be for an Emperor?”

Raising his glass, the Emperor declared the matter closed. Only then did the frozen atmosphere melt, and the musicians resumed their performance.

"Enjoy yourselves. And my daughter, come with me for a moment. There is something I must say to you.”

"Ah, yes…”

Sharmia followed behind the Emperor, who went upstairs.

...Hmm...

I didn’t follow them physically, instead observing them with Tide Sense.

"Wait outside. This is a conversation a father must have with his daughter.”

"Yes!"

Reaching a room that resembled a confessional within the cathedral, the Emperor dismissed the Knights and remained alone with Sharmia.

"..."

Sharmia sat stiffly in her chair, swallowing nervously, when the Emperor suddenly stood and lit a fire beneath the kettle beside him.

It was a smooth, practiced use of magic. Seeing it, Sharmia jumped to her feet.

"Ah, I’ll do it…!”

"It’s fine. For now, I wish to speak not as an Emperor, but as a father.”

"...Yes."

Even at this age, I’d never seen Sharmia so intimidated.

She didn’t dare raise her head, and so the Emperor poured the tea and spoke first.

"Do you still find the new Empress uncomfortable?”

"N-not at all. My stepmother treats me very well.”

"I see. That’s a relief.”

The conversation ended there.

Even to a third party like me, the silence that followed felt suffocating. Several minutes passed in that silence.

The Emperor glanced at Sharmia, who hadn’t even dared to breathe properly, then suddenly used a strange spell.

-Slip

Using his back as a shield, something Sharmia couldn’t see slid out from his robes. A fine white powder.

He was using Telekinesis. The powder drifted into one of the teacups.

...No...

No way.

To confirm my growing dread, I took advantage of the moment he turned away and lifted a bit of the powder with a current.

Then I sent it into my Abyssal Sea.

[...?]

The deep-sea creatures looked at the powder but showed no other reaction.

But I had a word prepared for just this.

[E-Eat…Eat. Eat.]

Eat. It was one of the words I had learned from translating their language.

I didn’t think they’d actually obey, but the eel swimming nearby rushed forward the moment it heard me, swallowing every last bit of the powder.

How single-minded could those creatures actually be? I was scoffing when…

[......---!...!! ---Danger...]

The eel twisted violently, its entire body convulsing, and died.

"..."

I clenched my teeth as I watched.

I couldn’t believe it...

"Drink it. I brewed it myself.”

The one who had tried to assassinate Sharmia had been her own father.

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