312 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 312 "Nice to meet you. I'm Ronian McLine." "I'm Louisa von Aserian. It's an honor to meet you, Count." With a calm smile, Louisa received Ronian's greeting. Her simple attire and composed demeanor made her smile appear even more radiant, capturing Ronian's attention. "I'm so sorry for being late. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." "Oh, no, it's because I rushed. I hope you weren't offended?" A peculiar rhetorical question in response to his apology. "Pardon?" Ronian looked puzzled, and Louisa subtly smiled. "I'm an unmarried woman past the prime age, approaching a young count like you. Must seem rather forward, doesn’t it?" As she spoke, Louisa picked up her teacup and crossed her legs casually, revealing glimpses of her fair skin through the slit of her dress, drawing Ronian's gaze. "Oh, how could you say such things? Compared to a princess of the Empire, I'm the one lacking." Ronian, his face turning crimson, awkwardly shifted his gaze, only to find Louisa’s red lips curved into a more alluring smile as she watched him. "So, if I’m not the Empire's princess, you're admitting what I said, right?" Her voice carried more amusement than accusation. "Oh, I didn’t mean that..., I’m sorry." Flustered, Ronian waved his hands hastily before bowing his head. Watching him, Louisa lightly covered her mouth and laughed silently. "Sorry. It seems I've taken my joke a bit too far. I heard you’re quite known as a genius knight; you're unexpectedly... innocent." "Um, I, I'm sorry." Ronian continued to apologize with his face flushed. Louisa watched him with a smile and said, "Marriage is not something we have control over, but I hope we get along during your stay, Count." "...Likewise." An envoy visits under the pretense of marriage, and the person in question is none other than Count Ronian McLine, assigned to escort the princess. This swiftly gave rise to numerous rumors. The Empire’s princess and the king’s brother. A beautiful lady with marriage talks swirling around her and a genius knight. A temporary lady and her escort knight. Such descriptions spurred public curiosity, akin to the protagonists of a romantic tale. "I heard the Count met a lover during his mission." "No way! So he came all the way here for love?" "Exactly. Why would the Empire's princess come all the way here?" Such rumors filled the streets. Moreover, with sightings of Ronian and Princess Louisa appearing amiably together within the palace, the rumors quickly began taking more definitive shapes. Their wedding date is near. An alliance between the Empire and the Kingdom is on the horizon. Those privy to the truth could only muster a dry laugh at it all. * * * "How were things today?" "There wasn't anything particular. We just spent time getting to know each other." Logan seemed quite surprised when his brother spoke with a somewhat tense expression. "For three consecutive days? No mention of wanting to visit a place like the Magic Tower?" "Yes, that's right." "...Strange. Did she request anything from you?" "Oh, just one thing. But, well..." When Logan tilted his head in curiosity, Ronian hesitated slightly as if he just recalled something. "...She said she'd like to see a spar between you and me. She claimed she had only heard rumors about the prowess of the genius siblings and was curious." Even for a brother, asking a nation's king to entertain her was quite bold. While the younger brother's hesitant attitude was understandable, it was also a topic that might pique the curiosity of someone at court. 'What's her intention?' Only three days had passed since Louisa arrived at the palace. Just like when she first came, her subsequent actions remained just as unpredictable. The discussions with Ronian were trivial and related only to mundane matters, which only added to the headache. Yet, the reason for vigilance remained. "She's still attempting things?" "Yes. Her moves are becoming more overt. Keeping her detained forcefully and then pushing her away afterward is a struggle as well." When Ronian lifted his hand with a wry smile, a grayish aura subtly seeped from his fingertips. Before meeting Louisa, he was off guard, Believing it sufficient to monitor only those without prowess, like Damian or Dwayne. – Manipulating the mind with magic? If it targets the brain, perhaps it's possible... – But it would be beyond anyone against a mage or aura user. Surpassing their limits to disrupt their minds is more difficult than simply killing them. Combining Clayton's confident assertions with his own experiences in the allied battles, he had concluded that the magic of the black snake poses no threat to aura users. He'd even witnessed the magic vanish without a trace simply by summoning his force, which bred complacency. However, after meeting Louisa, he grew increasingly cautious. It was only after utilizing his unique abilities that he narrowly uncovered a highly sophisticated concealment magic. The adversaries were using unexplored magic, and being bound by common sense was a mistake. And only then did a troubling hypothesis emerge. 'I had used magic knowing that Giles was an aura user. I don't know why it was broken so easily, but magic affecting the mind for aura users does exist.' Thus, he had warned his brother with particular caution, leading to the current situation. "Faint magic penetrates my mind without any noticeable signs, and it's still difficult to detect even after experiencing it three times." A nearly undetectable mental magic capable of influencing the mind of an aura user. Since the first day they met, Louisa had been subtly casting her magic on Ronian. On that day, Ronian had, for the first time, opposed Logan's words. – She was just an ordinary court lady. Brother, I think you're overreacting. Even after he had explicitly pointed out that she was a mage, such a baffling response came. Only then, upon observing a grayish tint in his brother’s eyes, did Logan resolutely focus his entire force into Ronian's mind. "Even though I realize I've fallen for it once, it's so hard to shake off. How were you able to do it in one go, Brother? It’s not simply a difference in skill, is it...?” "Honestly, even I don't know." A few days ago, the event caught Logan off guard as well. He just assumed things were more serious than anticipated and decided to explore first. Moreover, he intended to call Clayton immediately given it was a magic-related matter, but the gray force crumbled under the mere force of his exploration attempts. Initially startled by how easily the magic broke, he quickly memorized the pattern of its dispersion and taught his brother, Viktor, and Burdel the method, but their results were less than expected. Even his brother, who could handle force with greater sensitivity, found it challenging to expel it, leaving him covered in a cold sweat. There was, however, but one speculation linked to a scant piece of information. ‘Could it be true, the unique attributes of the special-colored force the Black Snake minions mentioned to Viktor?’ It seemed more like misinformation planted by the enemy to cause confusion. Therefore, it wasn't something to dwell on deeply. Logan pondered with a tilted head as his mind felt cluttered. "...Perhaps, the fact that the princess used magic might be a blessing in disguise." His brother's odd remark caught Logan's attention. "What?" "If we had only conversed, she definitely has a charm capable of ensnaring someone. If she hadn’t used magic and gotten caught, I might not have believed she was a spy." Logan couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. The expression on his brother's slightly flushed face was not hard to determine—whether it was shyness or some other emotion. "Well, it's a relief that she used magic tricks. Otherwise, my brother might have willingly given everything to the Empire’s princess." "No, Brother! It's not to that extent...!" Logan chuckled at his brother’s agitated reaction, but along with amusement came a slight heaviness to his heart. The brother standing before him, the one who had mastered the secret arts of the 'Silver Blade,' was indeed more powerful than his past life counterpart. Yet, compared to the brother who had grown isolated and became an aura user in a ruined family, was this one mentally tougher? Did he possess that same tenacity? 'Certainly not.' The brother before him was still an extraordinary genius, yet also a young man in his early twenties full of ordinary emotions. This fact was unsettling, truth be told. As a brother, he did not want his sibling known by titles like 'The Cursed Blade of Grandia' or 'Frozen Flame.' However, as a ruler facing impending war, he could make better use of someone with the moniker 'Frozen Flame' rather than a young, promising genius in his early twenties. And as those considerations flooded his mind, Logan slapped his own cheek. "You fool...!" Smack! The suddenness of the act left him tasting blood in his mouth. "Brother?!" Startled by Logan’s unexpected self-flagellation, Ronian widened his eyes, but Logan waved a hand dismissively and sighed softly. "No, it's nothing. I was having foolish thoughts." "Um? What do you mean?" Even under his brother's bewildered gaze, Logan could only muster a bitter smile. When he turned back time, he had intended to at least protect his family, if not himself. And that objective was being smoothly realized. The fact that his brother, who had carried all burdens alone and died a lonely death, now had the ordinary sentiments of peers his age, was the clearest evidence. 'This is such a joyous thing!' Regretting it was absurd. "Sigh!" Logan clenched his resolve again, swallowing the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. 'I cannot become so wrapped up in the journey that I forget the true purpose. Never.' Right. Not everything changed for the better holds only positive aspects. He understood that. He was prepared for it. Thus, he needed to find means to utilize or complement it better. ‘Don’t just look at the changed exterior in a positive light. I must reevaluate and check if anything was overlooked.’ As Logan reaffirmed the belatedly realized truth in his mind, he regained his inner peace. Unaware of his brother's tumultuous thoughts, Ronian couldn’t shake off his worried expression. "Brother, are you really okay? Perchance, aren't you...?" "Don’t say silly things. Whatever the reason, that woman's magic doesn’t work on me." "It's true, but seeing you act strange just now..." "That was reflection, reflection. Don’t worry." "But Brother, you're bleeding from the lips..." "It’ll heal quickly. Don’t fret." Logan deflected his brother’s startled gaze and redirected the conversation. "If there's any moment where she commands you, tell me immediately. That would be when you're truly under her spell." "Uh? Ah... Well, actually, the favor she asked today felt rather commanding, leading me to think I was indeed under a spell." "What?" "Asking to spar with you, Brother." "…That can’t truly be her main objective, can it? It's likely just a test to see if you were completely enchanted." "…I suppose." "Indeed. She might only reveal her true purpose when she is convinced you're under her spell." "Uh... Then, Brother, will you really spar before her?" "What? I should just refuse..." "You mentioned it helps to confirm whether I'm under her spell." "...Sigh." It seemed he would have to play the fool despite his intentions.