Chapter 25: Putting a Wild Woman in Her Place

Right after the joint training.

Although there seemed to be an overwhelming excitement among the Second Officials due to Yohan’s victory, it quickly settled down.

There was no benefit in chattering about what had just happened.

After all, Cassis Renokhonan was a battlefield genius who had crushed the barbarian front in the south and the heir of the Renokhonan Duchy.

It was necessary to be careful not to be marked for future reference.

“Yohan, you were truly amazing!”

However, this was meaningless chatter for the parties involved, Yohan and Francia.

They had no need to mind the Renokhonan Duchy.

“Is that so?”

“Yes! I wanted to give that guy who keeps pestering me a good punch, and it felt so refreshing!”

Francia seemed genuinely happy that Yohan had won.

A bright smile was spread across her face.

“It’s because the Renokhonan’s elite knight let me have my way. That’s the only reason I could win.”

Yet, Yohan did not become arrogant.

He knew that if Cassis had exerted himself fully, he wouldn’t have stood a chance.

“How humble.”

“One must always be humble…”

“Heh, I like that side of you.”

At that moment, as Francia and Yohan exchanged glances and smiled brightly,

“Cassis, the elite wizard?”

Meridyn called out to him.

“The commander has summoned Cassis the elite wizard. He didn’t explain the reason, so I’m not sure.”

Yohan tilted his head.

“The commander calling for me like this, I can’t even guess what it’s about.”

“Haha, but you don’t have to worry. I think it might be a designated mission.”

“A designated mission… you say?”

“Yes. Designated missions come to officials with outstanding skills. The commander reviews them and then hands them out.”

Surprisingly, the officials had a system similar to the adventurer guild, where they could designate individuals for missions.

‘This isn’t an ordinary matter.’

It was the imperial asymmetric power knight order.

If they were going to designate an official from such a place for a mission, it must involve a significant figure.

“I understand. I’ll head to the commander right away.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

After a brief salute to Meridyn, Yohan said to Francia,

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Hmm.”

Francia quickly looked around to confirm that no one was watching and whispered to Yohan,

“You never know what kind of scheme might be brewing.”

“I’m aware.”

“You need to be careful.”

“Of course.”

After their short conversation, they nodded at each other.

“I’ll be back.”

“Yes. I had things to do too, so I’ll see you later.”

With that, Yohan parted ways with Francia and headed toward Crown Prince Fedelian.

It was to the office located deep inside the building.

Knock, knock, knock.

After three knocks, he opened the door and entered to find Crown Prince Fedelian Rogino looking out the window with his arms crossed.

“You’re here.”

Fedelian turned around with an indifferent expression and met Yohan’s gaze.

“I heard you called for me.”

“Indeed, I have a mission for you.”

Fedelian picked up a piece of paper and sat down on the sofa in the middle of the office.

“Sit.”

Yohan sat across from him.

Fedelian slid the paper across the table and continued,

“You have a designated mission. Take a look.”

Yohan examined the paper with a skeptical expression.

“The mission is to accompany the imperial envoy to the capital of Sanburg, which borders the east. Since it’s an enemy nation, the escort must be strong.”

The document stated this clearly.

The destination was Sanburg, a small nation to the east of the empire.

An envoy was to be sent for an agreement between the two nations, and Yohan Harssen had been designated as the escort.

The mission consisted solely of escorting the envoy until their return from Sanburg.

The start date for the mission was tomorrow.

“I’m counting on you. I can trust you with my fiancée.”

Upon hearing that, Yohan’s eyes widened slightly.

“You mean your fiancée…”

“Correct.”

Fedelian replied with a smile.

“The imperial envoy is the daughter of Marquies Bismark, Rudella Bismark.”

Rudella Bismark.

As the Crown Prince’s fiancée, she was expected to become the empress.

Moreover, she was a priority target alongside the two men who had been scheming until now.

Spending several days with such a person wasn’t particularly favorable for Yohan either.

“The mission will end in a week. It’s not very dangerous. Although it’s an enemy nation, who would dare threaten the Rogino Empire? Hahaha. Don’t worry too much.”

Seeing Yohan’s serious expression, Fedelian smiled warmly.

However, his eyes gleamed sharply.

“What happens if I refuse?”

“Sorry, but there’s no option to refuse a designated mission.”

“I see. Understood.”

It seemed like a case of “you’ll do as you’re told,” leaving Yohan with no choice but to nod and tuck the document into his jacket.

“Well then, I’ll count on you regarding my fiancée.”

“…Yes.”

Yohan offered a polite bow and stepped out of Fedelian’s office.

‘A mission to escort Rudella Bismark.’

It was unlikely that a major incident would occur.

The political elements surrounding the engagement between Fedelian and Rudella Bismark were significant.

Even if Fedelian didn’t truly love Rudella Bismark, would he dare to scheme against her, who was helpful to his position?

If he plotted again, he would truly be a hopeless fool.

‘I’ll finish this without too much trouble.’

In the office after Yohan left, Fedelian unconsciously smiled wickedly.

“Haha. Rudella, I never expected you would help me like this.”

Once he crossed the borders of the empire, it would be possible to eliminate Yohan Harssen, who had been a nuisance, quietly.

Moreover, he could dispose of Rudella Bismark, who had been a thorn in his engagement with Francia.

As for what would happen afterward? He had naturally considered it.

He could manipulate the evidence using shadows.

If he claimed that the hostile nation of Sanburg had orchestrated the event, it would work perfectly.

‘Then there will be a war, but that’s where the First Official’s battlefield genius comes into play.’

Sanburg, while a neighboring hostile nation, was not a particularly influential or militarily strong country.

Even if the empire waged a loose war, it could occupy the nation in a week.

Still, the empire refrained from occupying Sanburg because there was no need to.

The losses would outweigh the gains.

‘Thank you, Rudella Bismark, for providing me with this opportunity.’

As a result, a war would erupt, causing many casualties, but that was none of Fedelian’s concern.

His own objectives were far more important.

“Hahaha.”

Fedelian’s wicked smile deepened.

Francia was searching around the officials’ quarters for a woman.

‘Where has she gone now?’

The woman she was looking for was Violet Latalen.

It was to repay an earlier offense.

‘She was definitely here just a moment ago.’

Where on earth could she be hiding? She had vanished like a ghost.

Francia quickened her pace.

She wanted to release the boiling anger within her.

Just then

‘Finally found her. There she is.’

Francia spotted Violet Latalen chatting with a fellow magician behind the administrative building.

With a stern expression, she strode toward Violet and stood in front of her.

Francia’s face turned cold.

“First-Class Magician Latalen.”

“Oh, but you’re the special magician from Ferbache, aren’t you?”

Violet’s expression changed instantly upon confirming Francia’s presence.

Her face, once shadowed, was now filled with coolness.

A Second-Class Magician? We can talk about the rest later.

There’s something important to discuss.”

“Cershi—”

“Oh, yes……”

Second-Class Magician Cershi, realizing something was amiss, hurriedly stepped aside after hearing Violet’s words.

“First-Class Magician Latalen.”

“Y-yes?”

“Why are you answering me like that?”

“Hmm, then what should I say?”

Violet’s tone was laced with mockery.

It was a clear provocation.

Francia’s brow furrowed ominously.

“I know what you did.”

“What did I do?”

“You touched my man, didn’t you?”

“Oh, I see you’ve heard.”

Violet tilted her head with a smile, as if to say, what’s the problem?

“Isn’t it a problem to monopolize such an attractive man all to yourself?”

“Is that how you want to play it?”

“What’s wrong with that? Heh. I haven’t done anything particularly wrong.”

As Francia’s anger flared, her ruby-like eyes glinted with a chilling light.

“First-Class Magician Latalen. If you apologize now and promise not to touch Yohan again, I’ll let it go.”

“I’d rather not. I want Yohan for myself. I don’t like that you’re the only one monopolizing him.”

Violet smirked slyly.

Her bright red hair danced in the wind.

It seemed she had no intention of backing down even in front of Francia, who was Yohan’s lover.

“Haah.”

Francia sighed deeply.

She didn’t want to come on too strong, but it seemed unavoidable.

“Hey, you crazy bitch.”

Violet blinked, taken aback as if she had misheard.

What had just come out of the Ferbache princess’s mouth?

“How can you be so brazen after touching someone else’s man? I didn’t expect you to be crazier than I thought.”

With that, Francia grabbed Violet’s chin tightly.

Violet was so flustered that she could only blink in astonishment.

“Do you think I don’t know how many crimes the Latalen Marquis family has committed?”

Her fierce gaze accompanied her words.

“Tax evasion, leaking state secrets to enemy nations, and illegally producing slaves to sell to foreign countries. All of these, if discovered by the royal family, would lead to the ruin of your house?”

Violet’s eyes widened in shock.

“H-how do you know that…………?”

“There are many ways to know.”

Francia stared intensely into Violet’s eyes.

“I could wipe out your family, the Latalen Marquis family, right now. But the reason I haven’t is that you have no significant ties to me yet.”

A chill ran down Violet’s spine at Francia’s coldness.

The dreadful aura enveloped her, making her feel faint all over.

“But if you keep acting like this, I won’t be able to hold back. You’ll pay dearly for touching the prince’s woman.”

The Latalen Marquis family had grown in stature by committing great crimes from behind the scenes.

Tax evasion was just the beginning; they had leaked state secrets to enemy nations to profit, and illegally produced slaves without the royal family’s permission to sell to neighboring countries.

Each and every one of these was a crime that could lead to the downfall of their house.

Overcome with shock, Violet snapped back to reality and retorted in urgency

“Do you have proof? Evidence that the Latalen family did that?”

“I have plenty of evidence. Did you think the Ferbache Duke’s family was that easy to handle?”

“If I know the details thoroughly, doesn’t that imply I have evidence?”

Violet was at a loss for words, her lips moving without sound. Francia continued in a low, calm voice

“I could have sent you and your family into ruin from the start. But I didn’t. Why do you think that is?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Because you haven’t harmed me yet. I judged that it would be a waste of time to go through the trouble of ruining your family.”

“And the Latalen Marquis family has a strong power in the empire and handles a lot of public affairs, which is why I haven’t acted against you.”

Francia tossed Violet’s cheek away from her grip.

Violet, having lost her strength, slumped down without putting up any resistance.

“If you touch Yohan again, if I hear that kind of noise from you one more time, I won’t let it slide. Be prepared for your entire family to face ruin.”

The ruby-like red gaze of Francia captured Violet, who lay helpless.

The warning was sufficient.

“I believe you understand.”

Feeling refreshed, Francia took a deep breath and turned away.

‘From now on, I have to do this properly.’

The two men who were clinging to her, the Crown Prince and the Duke of Renokhonan, held authority, so it would take a lot of effort to shake them off.

But when it came to someone like Violet Latalen, she had to go all out.

Only then could she focus on shaking off the two men.

‘I don’t like being coercive, but it can’t be helped.’

Acting out of character was exhausting.

Of course, there were genuine feelings mixed in.

‘Now that I’ve dealt with that strange fox, let’s go.’

Francia quickened her pace.

She wanted to see Yohan soon.