The life of a transmigrator, repeated a hundred times, granted him knowledge and insight.

Thanks to that, without much effort, he immediately grasped the state of affairs and power dynamics within the royal palace and commanded people so that the government could be run at once.

The nobles, seeing his prepared ruler-like demeanor, seemed to revere him and politely followed his orders.

Queen Raviosa and Rigales mother and son were confined in the secondary palace. For reference, Rigales, despite sincere self-harm, remained alive without any critical injuries.

It was inevitable. To die before a 9th-tier Sacred Scripture, one would have needed to cut the throat, not just the carotid artery.

By the time various affairs were settled, the trial period of the genre-change ticket ended, and the fireworks that had exploded in the western sky calmed down. It was the first night in the conquered territory.

The one who wore the crown naturally stayed in the king’s chamber.

On such a day, entering the bedroom together required braving misunderstandings, but I chose to stay with him.

[ Using Divine Skill causes side effect ‘Hypothermia’. Remaining time: 1 day 19 hours 28 minutes.]

[ Side effect ‘Hypothermia’ changes to ‘Chills’ due to staying in the transcendent’s domain.]

Merely being near Reid reduces the side effect. But even without that excuse, I would have stayed with him.

The king’s bedroom was unnecessarily large, only encouraging loneliness; I couldn’t leave Reid alone tonight.

Wrapped in a fur blanket, I approached the couch.

For half a turn of the clock’s minute hand, Reid sat motionless, staring blankly into space.

“Reid.”

“...”

He responded with a slight turn of his head.

I was about to ask if he was okay but stopped myself.

How careless would that be—to ask if he was okay when he clearly wasn’t? I blamed my impatience for calling him without preparing my words first.

Then a low voice resonated through the air.

“Not as enjoyable as I thought...”

“...”

“Not very pleasant at all.”

A bitter curve on his lips conveyed emptiness. The end of revenge was always like that.

“Ridiculous to say now, but I don’t think we fit well.”

“...”

That was true.

Because he was Tesilid Arzent.

I still didn’t know what to say. Perhaps the chills had stiffened my brain. My heart wanted to comfort, but my thoughts wouldn’t follow.

I felt somewhat useless standing silently and blankly. Then Reid took my hand and gently pulled me closer.

“Ai.”

“...Huh?”

“You look cold.”

“I’m fine...”

I reflexively tried to shake my head.

“I think you’re cold.”

“...”

“Say you’re cold.”

Only then did I realize.

“...Yeah, I am cold.”

I sat down where he led me.

For a long while, we exchanged equal measures of warmth and comfort.

—

Chapter 17. What Happens When You Get Close to the Villain

News about the political upheaval in the Winchester Kingdom spread like wildfire, shaking the entire continent of Serentra.

Wherever two or more gathered, ‘they’ were inevitably the topic. The general consensus was as follows.

A new king has ascended.

But he is the long-missing Prince Reminic.

Moreover, he is said to be the same person as the Tower Mage Lord.

So now one man rules two countries.

He declared the Language Cult the state religion as soon as he took the throne.

Judging by the laws he passes, the relationship between the king and the Sacred Scripture is extraordinary.

On the very night of his coronation, it is said they boldly entered the bedroom together.

With a 9th Circle Archmage and a 9th-tier Sacred Scripture on the same side, they’re ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) practically invincible.

Some suspect they may conquer all countries and form an empire.

...and so forth.

The Tower Mage Lord and the Sacred Scripture, two transcendent beings wielding unrivaled power, drew everyone’s keen attention. Some even stayed awake all night.

For example,

“Sacred Scripture... Oh dear! Little one, what on earth are you doing running off like this? Even your mother never went this far!”

Someone in the Duchy of Hispenril sighed heavily, worried about his granddaughter.

“What kind of guy is he? What kind of guy took our pretty daughter? What? A mage? A weak profession that uses the brain and leaves the body behind?”

“Eltea, I like mage sons-in-law... but this is news about the Sacred Scripture and the Tower Mage Lord. Why is our daughter’s fiancé suddenly being talked about?”

“The Sacred Scripture is our daughter, Leo.”

“What?!”

A couple residing in the Gillette County tore up their newspaper and voiced strong resentment toward their daughter’s lover.

“The Language Cult... It’s the complete opposite of our dying Order Church.”

“Your Highness, excuse me, but shouldn’t we worry about ourselves before worrying about the cult?”

“True, Sir Rex. We’re about to be purged soon for lacking divine power.”

“Not only that. The cult seems to be preparing a witch hunt.”

“That won’t do. Gather the people.”

“Yes, Cardinal Cattleya.”

Political turmoil began to stir even in the Elfenheim Sacred Religious State.

✠

The townhouse of the Gillette Count, located in the royal city Wilhelon.

Fifteen days had passed since the new king’s coronation, but the curfew imposed by the former queen had yet to be lifted.

Surrounded by soldiers with strictly controlled access, the mansion felt extremely bleak.

Within this ostensible prison, Bianca’s days were monotonous. Today, too, she wore a light chemise dress with her long hair loosely tied up and picked up a thick tome.

Because letters or newspapers were banned, the texts she could access were only old records.

Perhaps because of this, despite the upheavals of recent weeks, the mansion maintained a static atmosphere as if time had passed it by.

However, recently, there was one person who brought her precious news.

“Viscountess, you have a visitor.”

“Again that person?”

“Yes, I have them in the parlor.”

“Very well.”

Bianca sighed, tidied herself briefly, and went downstairs.

Though the townhouse was strictly guarded against outsiders, for some reason, after the new king’s coronation, one person gained special privilege to freely enter and exit.

When she opened the parlor door, she saw the visitor waiting in the early afternoon sunlight.

The royal knight, sitting impeccably, turned his head at her approach, and she was struck by the illusion of cherry blossoms in full bloom.

“Miss Bianca.”

“...Sir Prinz.”

Surprised by his bright smile, her reply was slightly delayed.

Ignoring the flutter in her chest, Bianca took her seat opposite Prinz with more perfect posture than usual.

‘Today, at last.’

There was something she had been unable to say during his previous two visits. As Bianca resolved to speak this time, Prinz brought up a topic he thought she would be interested in.

“There’s been little change in the royal palace’s situation. Under the new king’s rule, stability is quickly being restored.”

“I see.”

“His Majesty has shown qualities beyond expectation, so the nobles seem to follow without resistance. Of course, with a transcendent holding real power, resistance is pointless...”

“Indeed.”

“This is my personal opinion, but despite rumors from the Magic Republic, the king doesn’t seem to be a tyrant. On the contrary, his overwhelming force means mass purges of dissenters are unnecessary.”

“I see.”

“Oh, by the way, the residence of the first princess—actually the former princess—was moved back to the main palace yesterday. It seems she’s living much more comfortably than when she was in the tower.”

“That’s good.”

“I think it’s a good sign. Perhaps the curfew on Miss Bianca will be lifted starting with the next social gathering...”

“Sir Prinz.”

“Yes, Miss Bianca.”

His eyes, clear as a lake, focused entirely on her. Her heart fluttered again, and she quickly composed herself.

“Please don’t come again.”

“Pardon?”

“I served Celestid, the former princess. The new king’s eyes are on me now. If we continue to meet like this, you might be in danger.”

Removing other relatives to prevent future troubles is standard in succession struggles. Bianca did not think the new king was unaware of this.

“The new king is not compassionate. He is like his mother, a born schemer. It wouldn’t be strange if purges happen at any time under any pretext.”

“No, no, people say His Majesty is more merciful than expected...”

“That’s not mercy. It’s the ease of a transcendent who can kill anytime. And while transcendent beings fear nothing, they do get annoyed.”

“That annoyance is...”

“Miss Celestid, and myself.”

“...!”

Her lake-blue eyes shook as if they might shatter.

Feeling as if wounded, Bianca bit the inside of her cheek. The sharp pain made her a little tougher.

“Please leave now.”

Unable to meet his gaze, she turned her head.

Having no courage to be more ruthless here, she hoped Prinz would leave soon.

But Prinz’s heart was too deep and kind to fulfill her wish quickly.

“If I had... any strength, I would... protect you...”

“...”

Both Prinz, who had unwittingly spoken his heart, and Bianca, who heard it, flinched.