"You think something big is coming soon, Rolo?" Marisa tilted her head, staring at Roland.
"I do." Roland nodded and said, "It doesn't appear that anyone else senses it, but considering recent events, it's likely."
"Mm..."
It was evening time. The sun had fallen a few hours ago. During that time, Roland had watched Alex and Evelyn train, and when he saw that they didn't stop any time soon, he sought out the only other person he coudl trust to talk about it: Marisa.
Marisa tucked a strand of her emerald hair behind her ear. Then she hummed and said, "...There HAVE been some suspicious people running about. But there always are around the time the academy opens to the public."
Roland frowned. "...That is the dilemma, isn't it?"
Just like last time when the public were able to enter for the exams, more would be able to arrive for the Winter Solstice Ball.
It was a formal event, and an event that was important too. Considering how it was treated as a means to mingle with upper society and celebrate the end of the year, it was a big affair.
Which meant that if anything was happening, it was happening around then.
Roland deliberately let out a breath to relax. Not because he was relieved at the situation. But because he needed to be calm to sort everything out.
And as the first step to calming down, he took a look around their surroundings.
It was a private dining room at the business quadrant of Starlight Academy.
In order to have some privacy, Roland had reserved it to speak with Marisa. And to cover up the discussion, he had arranged for them to have dinner.
Nothing too special, just some carved slices of roast, noodle dishes, and sparkling cider.
Roland had always relaxed better when he had proper food, so he figured it would be a good atmosphere to talk about Alex and Evelyn.
...But now that he had centered himself a bit, he realized that Marisa wasn't as relaxed as he was. In fact, she seemed a bit... irritated?
Roland tilted his head and said, "Is something wrong, Mari?"
"Hm?" Marisa blinked. Then she shook her head. "No, nothing's wrong. It's just..." She looked at Roland. She looked at the food. Then she looked at the private dining room. After that, she let out a deep sigh and said, "...I thought we were going to be talking about something else when you told me to meet you here."
Roland frowned. "What else would we be talking about?"
"Are you- No." Marisa took a slow and deep breath. "Alex told me about this. Take your time. Calm down. It's not intentional..."
"What?"
Marisa forced a smile and said, "Nothing. Now." She poured herself a glass of sparkling cider and drained it in one go. Then she paused and said, "...You couldn't even get wine?"
"A-Ah. I thought it would be best to be clear headed while we discuss the situation. If you would like-"
"No. It's fine." Marisa sighed. "I'll make do. Now." She poured herself some more sparkling cider and said, "You mentioned that Eve and Alex are suddenly training to an unhealthy degree?"
Roland nodded. "That's correct. They usually both train a great deal, so that isn't too odd. But considering how they had been attached at the hip recently, the fact that they have gone back to training as if their life is on the line... it's troubling."
"Mm..." Marisa swirled the sparkling cider in her glass. Then she said, "Well. You remember the Trial in that Gate, right? Maybe Alex and Eve are just training to find his lost younger sister."
Roland paused. Then he shook his head. "I considered it. But..."
The desperation in Evelyn's movements...
The intensely analytical gaze Alex had in evaluating his every action...
"...It would be nice if it was that." Roland frowned. "But..."
Something was off.
There was something missing that Roland didn't know. Some critical piece of information that he lacked.
"...This is frustrating." Roland murmured. "Does it have something to do with the nobility?"
That was the only thing that made sense.
Alex had recently started to flaunt his prowess and show off his abilities. Compared to how he had been content with remaining in the background, it was a stark difference.
But Roland didn't know for sure.
"...It is at times like these that I wish I was a higher ranked noble." Roland clicked his tongue. "If that was the case, I could find out more directly..."
Marisa tilted her head, thinking. "Something with the nobility..." She was quiet. Then she slowly said, "I did hear Uncle Luis mention something in passing once."
Roland paused. "Uncle Luis?"
Marisa laughed and then looked at Roland with mischievous eyes. "My, my. Have you forgotten already since you've been hanging around us so often? I'm a very important person too, Rolo. My Uncle is the Imperial Archmage, a Rank 8 magic user."
Roland froze.
Marisa looked amused and said, "And my grandfather is the overseer of the United Mage Tower." Seeing Roland's stunned expression, she laughed again and said, "You really did forget, didn't you?"
"...Apologies for my rudeness, Lady Marisa."
Marisa snorted and then reached out to poke Roland's chest. "It's too late to go back on that. You already started calling me Mari. Stick to it, Rolo."
"...My father is going to be quite put out when he hears about this." Roland sighed.
He could already hear the stern lectures from his father about propriety...
"Good. You should treat me better when I like you this much."
Roland nodded. "Of course. I'll continue to treat you well, Mari."
Marisa stared at Roland. Then she let out a long sigh. "...Those are the words I want to hear, but you're clearly not saying them with the intentions I want to receive... Alex was right. I might need to do a proper direct approach at this rate..."
"Pardon?" Roland blinked.
Marisa giggled. "Don't worry about it~" Her words were light, but her eyes glimmered with hidden ambition and determination.
...Roland was slightly concerned about that. But he decided to put it to the side for now.
"In any case..." Marisa composed herself and folded her hands on the table. "As I was saying... I heard once from Uncle Luis in passing that Eve is the one who is in line for the throne."
Roland froze. "...What?"
Marisa nodded. "I was surprised too. The princess, neither male nor firstborn, is slated to be the ruler of the Eternal Empire. Meanwhile, Prince Maximillian, the one the nobles and people alike find to be the most competent has been passed up."
Roland shook his head. "That makes no sense. Why would His Imperial Majesty choose his daughter over his son?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Marisa tilted her head. "Eve has
Roland blinked, processing Marisa's words. Then he sighed and poured himself a glass of sparkling cider, sipping on it. "...So it is that then. A succession dispute."
"If I were to guess, yes." Marisa nodded and sliced a piece of roast to eat. After finishing, she said, "And considering the situation with Alex and Eve..."
"...He fears- No. He KNOWS they will kill her. And what better time than the Winter Solstice Ball?"
Roland's eyes narrowed, the pieces all falling into place.
The hidden spy for that shadowy organization, the midterm fiasco, the strange tension in the air...
And Alex's ruthless improvement regime as well as deliberate revealing of his abilities.
Marisa gently set down her knife and fork on a napkin. After that, she said, "That's correct. Taking into consideration all of the circumstances... There is going to be a ploy of some sort during the ball. Alex knows about it in detail and is deliberately revealing abilities to create a measure of certainty. If Prince Maximillian is arranging the circumstances, he will surely perceive Alex is the primary obstacle and plan accordingly."
"...So Alex is showing his abilities on purpose. To direct the terms of engagement. Like in our spar."
Marisa nodded. "Correct." She picked up another napkin and wiped her mouth before saying, "You know our dear friend. He always has a bag of tricks up his sleeves. And he is a genius. Though he hides it well, he is at least my peer in terms of magical understanding. Likely far superior, hampered only by his lack of training time." Marisa set her napkin down and said, "By painting himself instead as a physical arts specialist..."
"...Any of the Prince's forces going in expecting to overwhelm Alex with magic will be caught off their guard."
"Right." Marisa twirled a forkful of noodles and munched on it, mulling over her thoughts. After finishing, she said, "...But it doesn't quite explain Eve's actions."
Roland blinked. Then he frowned, wracking his mind. "...Doesn't it?"
"Well, Eve likely knows danger is coming. But she wouldn't be training so recklessly in that case. Even though she's quite a bit irrational when it comes to Alex, she isn't a fool. If she was caught off guard when she's overextended herself, it would be over."
Roland paused. "That's... true."
Right.
Roland had forgotten, but Evelyn WAS the Imperial Princess. She had lived a life of assassination attempts, political intrigue, and more. She would know better than to completely burn herself out in training like she had earlier. Especially since, for someone of her status, no place is ever completely safe.
And yet...
Marisa twirled another forkful of noodles and frowned. "From the way you described it... Doesn't it seem like something is wrong with her body?"
Roland froze. "What?"
Marisa ate her forkful of noodles and slowly chewed, mulling over her thoughts. Then she said, "You said that she seems like she's trying to not grab her chest, right? Or that her right arm is twitching?"
"...Yes, I did say that. I thought it was odd."
"...Maybe something is wrong with her Talent.
"...It might not be."
Marisa nodded. "Yes. And considering everything that has happened... as well as the suspicion of Prince Maximillian's involvement..."
"You think she was given something that is eating her from the inside. A poison."
Marisa paused. "I don't know. Nothing comes to mind when I think about what might be able to supersede
Roland clenched his fists. "That's..."
If that was true...
If Evelyn was afflicted with some unknown ailment...
If Alex knew this... if they BOTH knew this...
AND if something were to occur during the Winter Solstice Ball...
"...What do we do?" Roland looked at Marisa and said, "It cannot be that we just watch."
"Of course not." Marisa finished her food and said, "What kind of friends would we be if we just sat back and watched it happen?" She smirked. "Now, here's what we're going to do, Rolo..."