ASDEF 32

Chapter 32

Alfred had no way to hide his doubts about Daniel’s changed behavior. Alfred openly displayed an unpleasant expression.

“Have you, by any chance, developed some dissatisfaction with the royal family?”

A momentary silence filled the room.

Unlike the anxious Alfred, Daniel’s face was languid. As if he had already anticipated his reaction.

Daniel turned his face away fluidly and spoke.

“That couldn’t be. No matter how willful mages may be, they would not go so far as to challenge the royal family.”

“Compensation will be issued appropriately. But then why has your attitude suddenly changed?”

Alfred knew he was overthinking, yet he couldn’t stop asking.

In fact, it was an unavoidable issue.

Before the Dimension Gates opened, Pleitium had enjoyed a prosperous culture advanced enough to produce steam engines.

Thus, the kingdom had once fallen into arrogance. Believing mages were no longer necessary.

But now it was different. Without the Royal Order, Pleitium would have already been overrun by dark mages long ago.

And yet, at this very moment, Daniel was bringing up compensation—it didn’t sit well with him.

No, it was thoroughly suspicious.

What if the Royal Order, having developed hostility toward the royal family, joined hands with Baphomet to threaten the kingdom?

The royal authority that had kept them in check would crumble, and this kingdom might fall entirely into the hands of mages.

Unknowingly, Alfred rested his chin on his hand and sank into thought.

Daniel, who saw right through his mind, let out a hearty laugh as he watched Alfred’s expression gradually harden.

“Did I not tell you earlier? It’s to continue the family line. Isn’t that what Your Highness also wished for?”

At those razor-sharp words, delivered with an unreadable expression, Alfred was at a loss for words.

The Duchy of Benson—whom even the King dared not handle carelessly.

It was obvious that the more solid Daniel’s standing as a noble became, the greater the strength it would bring to Alfred’s succession to the throne.

Daniel’s recent moves were running completely counter to the expectation that, as the head of the Royal Order, he would protect the kingdom forever.

Yet Alfred couldn’t stop feeling uneasy about Daniel’s change.

He married a young lady from a family that was clearly unremarkable. He’d claimed to have no interest in power, but now he spoke of continuing his family line.

Today, he had even come to demand compensation for the mages.

The problem was that no matter how much he looked into it, he simply couldn’t discern his true motive.

Some might think Daniel had chosen to inherit a solid title over the unstable honor of being an 8-class mage, but that was said by those who didn’t know Daniel.

Because he was not the sort of man to bend his ideals for such reasons.

*’This is truly strange.’*

Alfred grew increasingly curious about the secret hidden behind that veil. For that reason, he needed to know about the Duchess of Benson.

He believed that this woman, who was of no help to Daniel at all, was at the center of all these circumstances.

Alfred, who had been growing more suspicious of Daniel, eventually shook his head.

“If you’re continuing the family line, it would be like gaining a thousand troops and horses, but first, let’s handle the compensation matter. I’ll do my utmost to ensure it serves as great consolation and motivation for the remaining mages and their families.”

“I am deeply honored. I await your wise decision, Your Highness.”

Just as Daniel lightly bowed his head, a knock was heard.

The aide who opened the door entered.

“Your Highness, the carriage is ready.”

“It seems you’ve already finished preparing. Oh dear. I hadn’t even finished our conversation.”

Alfred, who had looked up at the clock on the wall to check the time, rose from his seat.

Daniel also stood to follow him.

“Then I shall take my leave now.”

“Hmm, wait.”

Alfred stopped Daniel, who was about to leave first.

“Daniel, do you happen to have any other schedule later?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Since we’ve met like this, I thought it would be nice to accompany you to the Central Temple. The timing works out well, too.”

“The Central Temple… you say?”

At the mention of the Central Temple, Daniel’s eyes narrowed.

Whenever a major event was approaching, or upon returning from abroad, Prince Alfred would visit the Central Temple.

It was a common ritual to offer prayers and purify body and mind, but in truth, there was another motive.

Because the Central Temple was where Brianna was.

And as always, Alfred would bring a screen to avoid others’ eyes on his way to the temple.

Today’s screen seemed to have been designated as Daniel, as had often been the case before.

Daniel absolutely detested this kind of role as a prop.

He hated watching Brianna’s warm gaze—which was never directed at him—reveal itself fully only before the prince.

If Daniel were his usual self, he would have turned down the prince’s proposal immediately.

But now was different. His own proposal aside, he needed to gauge the prince’s thoughts regarding the Royal Order for the time being.

Daniel wore a small smile at the corner of his mouth.

“Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since I last visited the temple.”

“The long battles must have left you no time. How about it? Why not come with me this time?”

“I shall gladly obey Your Highness’s command.”

“Hahaha! Excellent. Then we can continue our unfinished conversation in the carriage on the way.”

Daniel replied with a feigned smile toward Alfred, whose inner thoughts were laid bare.

*’Perhaps I’ll have some fun needling the prince after a long while.’*

Even as the mischievous thought crossed his mind, the promise he’d made with Sophie that morning also came to him.

*’I won’t be late today.’*

He hadn’t intended to intervene from the start, but…

Sophie’s reckless plan to follow her mother’s household accounts had bothered him, which was why he’d said that.

He found her idea of taking on his father, the Duke of Benson, alone quite intriguing.

Perhaps that was why. It occurred to him that helping Sophie might be a way to break free from his father, who was trying to bind him.

“Now, let’s go.”

With that, Daniel, who had been lost in thought for a moment, followed Alfred toward the carriage.

After eating soup, I used a walk as an excuse to go out with just Isabelle, but Lucy tried to tag along as well.

However, I managed to shake her off by telling Lucy that Daniel would be back soon, so she should wait.

In truth, there was another reason I sent Lucy away.

Because there was no benefit to the Duke of Benson knowing what I intended to do in the kitchen.

Even if Alyssa didn’t personally oversee it, the kitchen was still under her control.

From the head chef chosen by Alyssa to the kitchen assistants he had selected—

Every single one of them was Alyssa’s person.

In such an entrenched culture, for the newly arrived duchess to not only visit the kitchen herself but also try to check on various things was ripe for misinterpretation.

Rather than viewing it as a pure visit out of curiosity about the kitchen, it was more likely to be seen as there being some issue with kitchen management or the food.

If the Duke heard such rumors, he would hardly view his daughter-in-law favorably.

Pointing out problems with the head chef’s management or the food was, in other words, picking a fight by claiming there were issues with Alyssa’s management.

No, what father-in-law would like it if his newly arrived daughter-in-law picked a quarrel with his daughter?

Whether I applauded the head chef’s firm convictions and praised his professionalism and integrity before leaving, or whether my suspicions proved true and required further investigation—until I secured clear evidence that would benefit me, I decided to keep this matter as concealed as possible.

In that regard, Isabelle was tight-lipped.

Following Isabelle, who led the way, while taking in the surroundings, we soon arrived at the annex.

Benson Manor consisted of the main building and an annex.

The place used by the Benson family was the large, splendid main building, which caught plenty of sunlight and offered a good view of the garden.

In contrast, the smaller annex was used as the servants’ domain, housing the kitchen, laundry room, and servants’ quarters.

Thus, it was rather an unfamiliar sight for an employer to set foot in the annex.

It was crossing a symbolic boundary.