Fate: How About a New Savior?

Facing the Princess of Gold at such close range, Tenkei Shiomi finally understood why the Magus at the banquet had lost their composure so completely.

In the flickering candlelight, her beauty felt almost detached from reality.

"Good evening. I apologize for the late visit," said the Princess of Gold.

Even her voice seemed to carry a magic that could stir the brain.

This was the extreme beauty that the Iselma family had pursued for generations—vividly proving what it meant for beauty to become a form of violence.

"Miss Diadra wishes to speak with you," said the maid, Carina.

"With us?" Shiomi raised an eyebrow.

Caren had already closed her eyes, relying on sound to gather information. She knew full well that if she kept looking at the Princess of Gold, even her Magic Circuits would begin to fall out of sync.

But shutting her eyes only sharpened her hearing, and even that was enough to make her feel uneasy.

Thankfully, the gentle magic enveloping her hadn't ceased, keeping her from suffering any serious effects.

"I'm sorry, but could this young lady step out for a while?" Carina asked, turning to Gray.

Gray stood up at once, ready to leave.

"Gray is someone we trust," Shiomi said. "If she leaves, then Caren would have to leave too."

Since the Iselma family already knew who Caren was, and Shiomi had made his stance clear, the Princess of Gold didn't press the issue.

"In that case, Carina, please step out for now."

"As you wish."

Without hesitation, the maid bowed and left the room quietly, even masking her presence so well that even Shiomi felt she was barely noticeable.

After Gray closed the door, she stepped aside and offered the sofa to the Princess of Gold. She too preferred not to be too close to Diadra.

"Forgive me for intruding so suddenly," Diadra said politely.

"It's no trouble," Shiomi replied. He had only been here taking care of Caren, and would've received any visitor, let alone the host of tonight's event. "But more importantly—your hearing... is it impaired?"

"So you noticed." The Princess of Gold touched her ear gently. "Due to a genetic condition, I was born without hearing. I learned to read lips to follow conversations. As for speaking, that came through Magecraft."

Modern science had made many things once achievable only through Magecraft more accessible. But even as the twenty-first century began, direct communication with the brain remained something still outside scientific reach.

For Valualeta, however, high-level Magecraft of that kind was far from difficult.

Shiomi nodded, no longer surprised.

"We were invited to Iselma today and had planned to leave by evening, but Caren suddenly fell ill." He offered his thanks. "I'm grateful your house provided such a comfortable room for her to rest."

The Princess of Gold remained gracious, showing no arrogance despite her flawless appearance.

"Not at all. My father has spoken of your close ties with the Lord of Valualeta. Everyone in our house agrees—it's thanks to talents like you that we've gained more influence against those outdated aristocrats."

Of course, it wasn't just influence.

Barthomeloi, who controlled the Department of Policies, held more power than both Trumbellio and Valualeta factions combined.

But at this point, the Democratic Faction had gained a slight edge in influence—largely because the Aristocratic Faction had failed to produce a Magus capable of matching Shiomi.

Shiomi, used to such praise, found himself growing wary. He feared being placed too high on a pedestal, worried he might one day forget to keep his feet on the ground.

"I have a favor to ask." After the formalities, the Princess of Gold went straight to the point.

"Please, go ahead. If it's within my power, I'd be glad to help," Shiomi replied without hesitation. Maintaining good relations with Valualeta was a necessary move.

"I want to ask you... Mr. Shiomi, will you help us escape?"

"Escape? From the Iselma family?" Shiomi narrowed his eyes, making no attempt to conceal his suspicion. "Don't forget, I'm with Valualeta. I don't make decisions like betrayal on a whim."

"I expected you to be doubtful." A shadow crossed the Princess of Gold's expression. "But we have our reasons."

"Oh?"

"I want to protect my younger sister—Estella, the one who inherited the title of Princess of Silver," Diadra said plainly.

Her sincerity softened Shiomi's caution, if only slightly.

"Protect her? As the treasured heir of the Iselma family, you're asking an outsider for help?"

The question hit too close. Diadra fell silent, not because she didn't want to answer, but because something heavier had gripped her words.

Shiomi lowered his gaze, checking on Caren, and quietly waited for Diadra to gather herself.

"We're... just tired." She raised her hand and placed it over the chest of her gown, embroidered with purple rose thorns. "Mr. Shiomi, you're one of the leading Magus of your generation. You should understand how much pain went into creating these bodies."

This time, Shiomi said nothing.

For Magus, reshaping the body was routine. Among ancient noble Magus families like Iselma, drug therapies, Magic Crest transplants, even organ and brain modifications were common—all in pursuit of the ultimate Magecraft.

In a way, Shiomi was no different.

Training in the Land of Shadows was its own form of transformation. Ordinary humans lost their qualification to endure it the moment they stepped in.

If there was any real difference, it was this—while Shiomi often griped about how grueling the Land of Shadows was, he had never once hated a moment of it.

Looking at the flawless results that were Diadra and Estella, most Magus would accept any price. Iselma was, after all, part of Valualeta—nothing about it was out of place.

That's why Shiomi remained silent. Not because the cruelty of the Magecraft world was hard to put into words, but because...

"Please don't misunderstand. We are Magus too. We're prepared to offer ourselves for the cause. But our father's methods... they're no longer efficient. No—he's long since passed the point of efficiency. So we have the right to protect ourselves."

Clearly, the Princess of Gold understood what Shiomi was thinking—and for the sake of her goal, she didn't bother to hide the truth.

...

(90 Chapters Ahead)

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