Chapter 163 Roeni’s Struggle Part Four꞉ The Allegria Count’s Desperation in the Courtly Thriller
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A measured RAP on the door broke the silence, prompting a rise from the drawing room sofa.
A moment after the confirmation of their presence, the door opened, admitting a man of about fifty years, his short, silver hair immaculately groomed. He wore a three-piece suit of low-luster fabric, subtly adorned with restrained embroidery.
The exquisite tailoring of his refined attire, combined with his practiced, ceremonial demeanor, spoke clearly of a profound and thorough education. This figure, whom they had previously only been able to observe from afar due to faction differences, was today’s guest.
Since discovering the dark maneuvers of the Prince Faction and making initial contact, this was their second meeting. This impressive man was none other than the father of their worried friend, Allegria Count himself.
”You’ve arrived quickly, Baron Confianza. And your wife as well. I apologize that I cannot offer proper hospitality, but the matter at hand appears to be urgent,” the Count began, his voice highly formal but quickening. “The very fact that you requested this audience suggests that someone was caught in our net last night. Do I understand that correctly, or is there some difference in our perception?”
Contrary to the strictness that seemed to emanate from his formal attire, a warm smile rested on his composed face.
It was an expression seemingly intended to prevent the atmosphere from sinking too heavily beneath the weight of the coming report. Yet, despite this effort to project a gentle air, a strained impatience clearly permeated his interrogating words.
—Sensing the disquiet in his heart, a turmoil that could never truly be calm, Roeni and her husband nevertheless extended their hands, ensuring they did not lose their courtly manners. The Count, realizing he had caused those of lower rank to mind his agitation, then re-exchanged their names and quickly dispensed with further greetings. He skipped all the customarily lengthy, ceremonial formalities and urged them to sit, immediately pressing for the continuation of their discussion.
”Yes, Your Excellency. But first, please accept our thanks for taking the time to see us despite your busy schedule,” the Baron replied politely. “I have already reviewed the record contained within the magic stone, but I shall allow my wife, Roeni, to give you the detailed report.”
”It is an honor to meet you, Count,” Roeni stated clearly. “Firstly, please confirm the contents of the magic stone we recorded last night. As you know, when a magic stone is used for visual recording, the mana imbued within it gradually changes. This allows us to calculate the time of the recording by counting backward from the present, thereby proving that the documented event indeed occurred at that time—”
The stones used for recording were single-use and far too expensive to be used carelessly. Though guards equipped with the Appraisal Skill¹ always carried some as standard issue, even they often conserved costs by inserting a Skill into the process.
This meant the detailed characteristics of the stones were not widely known among common citizens, and some even tried to cast doubt on their authenticity, claiming the recordings were made at a completely different time. Naturally, the Count was not one to be ignorant of such matters, but given the sensitive nature of the recording’s contents, the point had to be stressed.
”—Good heavens, this man…” the Count rasped, his eyes widening. “Kh! If this is true, we must inform His Majesty immediately.”
”Indeed. I, too, initially doubted what I saw,” the Baron acknowledged. “..However, when one considers the personnel capable of executing such an action, the reality of the situation becomes much more plausible.”
Nine-tenths of the country’s population were without Skills, yet they were not oppressed, for the sake of maintaining the state.
Still, even in the capital city of over a million people, those with two or more Skills—whose numbers dropped by a tenth for each additional Skill—must number at least ten thousand. Yet, Skills, randomly bestowed by the Goddess’s caprice, rarely harmonized with each other.
Consequently, those who possessed multiple Skills capable of high synergy inevitably became famous. Lord Fried, who held two Skills that complemented his powerful physique, was widely known as one of the apex figures in martial might.
Thus, the assignment of this man, who should have been strictly neutral, to the Princess’s guard was a universally accepted and logical choice. The fact that he was now an assassin was nothing short of a nightmare for the Princess Faction.
”How do you think they will proceed now? Roeni-dono, before I present this to His Majesty, I would greatly value the opinion of one so familiar with the Labyrinth.”
”..Honestly, I cannot definitively say,” Roeni conceded, her professional composure firm. “This involves the machinations of the Royal Castle’s upper echelons. However, if the Prince Faction does not yet realize we discovered Lord Fried’s return, it might be more convenient for them to simply make him vanish rather than bring the matter to light. By making it look like an accident caused by Her Highness the Princess’s own lack of power, they can minimize the suspicion of a plot from the Prince Faction much more effectively than if they make a fuss.”
Truthfully, Roeni did not believe that an accident could occur on such shallow floors with a force of that magnitude, including a renowned Labyrinth guide.
Nevertheless, the general consensus among those who made their living there was that the Labyrinth was not a human domain, and a certain number of people would accept the ‘accident’ explanation. After she explained this, the Count frowned deeply, regret etched across his brow, and he demanded her assessment of the next course of action, squeezing the words from his throat.
”So, Roeni-dono, is your professional opinion that we, the Princess Faction, should speak up as quickly as possible?”
”Yes, Your Excellency. For example, if we were to remain silent until after Her Highness the Princess’s scheduled return date, the Prince Faction would dispatch a unit into the Labyrinth under the pretext of a ‘search party.’ Even if they have already.. disposed of Her Highness, by feigning that Lord Fried let her slip away, the Princess Faction would be forced to send an even larger force to try and beat them to the punch.”
The unit the Princess Faction would dispatch at that point would be trustworthy personnel who would never defect, even if they found the Princess.
In short, the Prince Faction could simply have a token force wander around without significant loss, while simultaneously forcing the Princess Faction to waste its loyal and elite soldiers. Before that could happen, the most reliable second-best measure was to speak up, cast suspicion on the Prince Faction for the assassination, and send only the Princess Faction’s forces in, believing in Princess Marina’s survival.
”Uum, this is problematic,” the Count muttered in frustration. “Then, assuming we speak up as quickly as possible, can the Baron’s family—no, Roeni-dono—contact reliable adventurers even sooner?”
”Everyone is concerned with their livelihood, so most of them are already inside the Labyrinth and cannot be reached,” Roeni explained precisely. “However, the adventurer party used for the ambush, excluding the scout, is currently above ground. I plan to send them back in with a boosted reward as soon as they return.”
They had already instructed Turinn, the adventurer sent to look for traces of the conspiracy with a thread of hope, to return soon and not to linger.
If the ambush was a false alarm, then so be it. But if the situation was indeed dynamic, knowing the state of the ‘Safety Area’ on the 27th floor would greatly influence their future actions and strategy.
”I see… I will also make a report to His Majesty and begin to identify who issued the orders to the Vice-Guildmaster here,” the Count decided.
Even with both sides taking every possible step, they still felt they were a step behind. The Count seemed to feel this keenly, a bitter expression mixing with his features as he put a hand to his mouth and looked down in disappointment.
However, just as the guests were choosing their words for encouragement, the Count lifted his head again, his eyes—filled now with a fierce resolve—staring directly at Roeni.
”Roeni-dono, I have an urgent request. …For the Princess Faction to move more swiftly, would you provide the two magic stones that recorded Fried as evidence?”
—In truth, this request was well within their expectations. They knew the upright Count, worried about his daughter Ashley’s safety, would stoop to bowing his head to a lower-ranked noble to ensure matters moved as smoothly as possible. However, this was an issue between two noble factions, and even if their hearts sympathized, they could not easily surrender the hard-won evidence of the treachery.
”I apologize, but I cannot agree to that,” Roeni refused, her voice calm but unyielding. “I was the Guild representative in charge of the party for Her Highness’s shallow-floor conquest. Therefore, my house, the Baron’s house, has also been drawn into this conspiracy. Handing over these magic stones would risk our position.”
The Prince Faction’s goal was simply to weaken the Princess Faction’s momentum. While their main target was the Princess Faction, they might turn their attention to the Baron’s family at any moment as part of their strategy.
If the Baron’s house lacked the concrete evidence in hand, it would be difficult to counter the statements of a higher-ranking noble. However, the Allegria Count, whose impatience must have been growing without a clear solution, took a large breath and pressed again for the magic stones without backing down.
”Roeni-dono…! You know my daughter is also missing in this incident! Assuming my only heir is.. No, I shall stop trying to make excuses. …My only daughter, whom I raised with such care! If she was murdered in some petty conspiracy, I, as her father, will not rest until I have exposed everything to the light!” “Do you truly believe I would abandon those who put forth such effort for me?”
Anyone who met this family could immediately understand that the Count adored his daughter Ashley and that she had been raised with deep affection. And with the Count’s strong sense of honor, he would certainly never forget the debt owed to his daughter’s benefactors.
Yet, for a neutral noble to surrender their lifeline of protection was tantamount to placing themselves under the protection of another, abandoning their neutral position. That coercion was nothing short of a demand, an ultimatum that the Baron’s house absolutely could not accept, even as they prepared to face the Prince Faction together.
”—Your Excellency. I implore you to remember why our house remains neutral,” the Baron interjected, unable to remain silent. Even facing the Count, who was now speaking with such passion, the head of the house showed his resolve and stood firm.
”In light of recent events, I have indeed shifted my stance closer to the Princess Faction. However, we possess a strength precisely because we do not officially join a faction, and it is that strength we wielded to assist Your Excellency this time.”
Independence and the tolerance to permit it were the core strengths of the two houses gathered here. Though their positions differed, their respective unique characteristics were also different.
The swift discovery and response to the conspiracy were the results of combining these different strengths. For one side to now cripple the other’s key asset would be an act of self-sabotage.
Realizing this, the Count lifted his gaze to the ceiling for a moment, falling silent. When he turned back, however, he had recovered his previous composure.
”My apologies. I was not thinking clearly. I understand that you cannot surrender the magic stones. Instead, I will immediately seek an audience with His Majesty to convey that I have personally and thoroughly confirmed the contents of the record.”
”We understand your feelings, Your Excellency. Yet, as the honor of our house and our trust with the adventurers is at stake, we will spare no effort in cooperating. We are ready to hasten to the castle should you require the magic stone records or any compiled Guild materials.”
Roeni inwardly sighed in relief, the Count’s apology having prevented a fissure in their relationship.
Given that their daughters were in a master-and-servant relationship, the King would certainly listen to the Count’s word alone. They might be summoned to the Royal Castle that afternoon to gain the certainty needed to mobilize a large force, but protecting the Baron’s position while conveying the truth was a small price to pay.
”Good. I shall send a messenger to your estate then. I look forward to it,” the Count briefly expressed his gratitude. He then rang a small bell, prompting the House Steward’s entrance.
After giving instructions to arrange his attendance at the Royal Castle, the Count turned back one last time.
”I will take my leave now. I will never forget the debt I owe the Allegria name for providing this crucial information.”
”The honor of this meeting is ours as well, and we thank you most sincerely from the bottom of our hearts,” Roeni responded. “We believe many difficulties lie ahead, but let us overcome them together.”
The guests stood up only moments after the Count rose, and they firmly clasped the hand he offered. Watching Allegria Count quickly depart the reception room, the Baron and Roeni began their journey home.
—
Summary:
The delicate political alliance between the Allegria Count and the Baron Confianza’s family solidified amidst an urgent crisis.
Roeni, the Baron’s wife and a Labyrinth expert, presented the chilling evidence on a magic stone: the Princess’s high-ranking guard, Lord Fried, was a Prince Faction assassin. The Count, desperate for action to save his daughter Ashley, demanded the evidence for immediate use with the King, but the Baron and Roeni shrewdly refused.
They maintained their neutral standing to protect their house from the escalating conspiracy, instead offering their continued strategic support.
Despite the underlying tension and the Count’s raw, paternal despair, the two houses agreed on a strategy: the Count would report the confirmed truth to His Majesty while the Baron’s family would manage the ground-level Labyrinth operations. The political thriller is now in motion, with every courtly word a calculated risk in the game of survival.
—
Character Insight:
Allegria Count’s unwavering love for his daughter, Ashley, shattered his courtly composure, revealing the pure desperation of a father willing to compromise his faction’s strategic advantage for immediate action. His powerful, emotional demand for the magic stones demonstrated that for all his political power, his personal honor and paternal bond superseded all else.
This raw, emotional display of loyalty and grief is a key weakness and strength in the face of the political conspiracy, and Roeni and the Baron recognized they could leverage his honor—but not compromise their independence. Lord Fried’s betrayal is confirmed to be a massive blow to the Princess Faction’s security.
—
Behind the Scene:
This scene firmly established the dynamic between the Allegria Count, who represents the political urgency of the Princess Faction, and the Baron Confianza’s family, who represent strategic, ground-level intelligence and neutrality. The refusal to hand over the magic stones was a critical moment: it ensured the Baron’s house retained their crucial lifeline and prevented the Count from forcing them to fully abandon their neutral stance.
This move keeps the Baron’s house in the game as an independent information hub, which is far more valuable to the Princess Faction than an easily dismissed full member. The next steps will involve the Count’s report to the King and Roeni’s preparation to send a trusted adventurer back into the Labyrinth.
Notes:
• Ai – The recently-formed sub-divinity/ego who manages the world’s Skills. Her sudden, intense burst of divine will (‘ki’) almost bleached Yuuri’s wicked thoughts. Called Yuuri ‘Elder Brother’ and declared genuine affection and trust based on his efficiency with her Skills.
• Roeni – Guild receptionist, former adventurer, now a baroness—mentor to Yuuri. The wife of Baron Silcro Confianza, and effectively manages the labyrinth exploration business which is the foundation of their house’s power. She is a former adventurer, which gives her a practical, no-nonsense approach to problems. Look like Lisa from certain game, brown hair but neat hair.
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• Ashley – Count’s daughter, royal attendant, has a crush on Yuuri.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply