Chapter 8: A Possible Rival in Love?

"...Magic arrays are sacred spaces for channeling powerful spell energy. By arranging certain highly conductive magical elements in a specific sequence, one can create a resonance with these elements, unleashing power that defies imagination..."

"Model student" Cohen looked at the Queen, who held a teaching pointer, and felt a slight stir in his heart.

At this moment, the Queen seemed to be speaking about her most specialized and beloved field; she was radiant, her beautiful face glowing with a captivating, saintly light.

Cohen had not expected Adair to be so interested in magic arrays. In this state, she looked nothing like the cold, frosty Queen he knew, but rather like a fanatical sage pursuing the mysteries of the multiverse.

Seeing Cohen’s mind wandering, the Queen looked visibly displeased. She tapped the blackboard with her pointer and said coldly:

"Your Majesty, where is the Heart of Eternity I gave you?"

Cohen pulled himself together, pointed to his neck, and said:

"Sister, I have been wearing it close to my body the whole time."

The Queen continued:

"What is engraved inside that necklace is a miniature magic array, though it is one-time use. There are more advanced arrays that can be made permanent, but the methods for creating them have been lost."

Cohen nodded and asked:

"Are there any other powerful magic arrays?"

Seeing that Cohen had regained his focus, the Queen’s expression softened, and she continued:

"Yes. A thousand years ago, when the Arcane Empire flourished, the study of magic arrays reached its peak. According to the few surviving texts, those arrays could easily cover an entire city or even a nation. They had infinite uses—summoning, sealing, defense, transportation—and powerful ones could even cause deities to fall. Unfortunately, most of those traditions have been lost..."

The Queen’s mood was noticeably somber; the decline and fragmentation of human civilization were always a source of regret.

Cohen’s thoughts wandered again, as he vaguely recalled that the ruins of the Arcane Empire—the very place that produced the "Concentric Spell Seal"—seemed to contain a few ancient books on magic arrays.

Seeing how interested the Queen was, could he use this to blackmail her into doing something interesting later?

Just as Cohen was daydreaming, a soft knock at the door interrupted Adair’s lecture.

Adair frowned slightly and said coldly:

"What is it?"

A lady-in-waiting’s voice came from outside:

"Reporting to Your Highness, Viscount Gaunt has arrived in response to your summons."

Gaunt? That was a familiar surname.

A memory flashed through Cohen’s mind: the heir to the Grand Duke of the Southern Territory, Viscount Cliff Gaunt.

Cohen remembered that the Angrain family, to which the Queen belonged, were family friends with the Grand Duke of the Southern Territory. After Adair showed exceptional magical talent in her youth, the Grand Duke had long intended to arrange a marriage between the families, specifically with this Cliff Gaunt. However, his own mother had acted quickly, bringing Adair into the palace and ending the Grand Duke’s aspirations.

Although there was no marriage, the relationship between the two families remained excellent. Three years ago, when Angus was able to quickly stabilize the domestic situation and seize power, the Grand Duke of the Southern Territory had provided significant support behind the scenes.

It was intriguing that the Queen had suddenly summoned the heir of the Southern Territory—a man once intended to be her husband and currently a solid political ally of the Angrain family.

Cohen narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked:

"Sister, is it Viscount Cliff Gaunt of the Gaunt family?"

Adair looked back at Cohen and asked:

"Does Your Majesty remember him?"

Cohen nodded seriously, then added, his tone filled with resentment:

"Mother once told me that the Gaunt family wanted Sister to be their daughter-in-law!"

Adair was slightly startled. Looking at Cohen, whose face displayed a trace of suppressed anger, she couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

*So, men are jealous regardless of their age. In all the years I've been with you, I've never seen you like this... I suppose this "memory sealing" isn't entirely a bad thing, is it?*

The Queen set aside her complicated thoughts and said to the lady-in-waiting outside:

"Have him wait for me in the study."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Cohen quickly said:

"Sister, may I go with you to see him?"

The Queen shook her head and refused directly:

"Your Majesty, continue your studies here. I will come to you after I finish speaking with Cliff."

With that, she turned and walked out without waiting for Cohen’s response.

Cohen’s expression darkened. It was clear that Adair did not want him to know what they were discussing, and her choice of the relatively private study rather than the council hall was truly suspicious.

With a flicker, he activated [Slip into Shadows]!

...

Cliff Gaunt was sturdy with a tanned complexion, wearing a sophisticated suit with his white shirt collar slightly open, revealing his wheat-colored skin. His eyes were deep and his nose bridge was high, giving him a primal, lustful air.

In the parlance of Cohen’s past life, he had the standard look of a "gigolo."

Standing behind Cliff was a white-haired old man whose eyes flashed with sharp, cold light from time to time.

Cliff appeared incredibly excited, lacking the composure expected of a Grand Duke’s heir.

He said to the old man behind him:

"Old Butler, why do you think Adair summoned me? And why did she make me wait in the study? This is the King’s study; I heard that only a few cabinet ministers are allowed inside."

The old butler replied cautiously: "It is indeed strange, but I assume the Queen has no official business to discuss with you, young master."

Viscount Cliff punched his palm excitedly, his cheeks flushed:

"If it’s not official business, then it’s personal! Old Butler, I heard that the waste Corleone was attacked a few days ago and his brain is broken. Do you think Adair might be having other ideas?"

At this, a hint of jealousy appeared on the Viscount’s face:

"What kind of garbage king is he? If it weren't for his good birth, would he have been able to steal my fiancée?"

The old butler’s face stiffened, and he whispered:

"Young master, watch your words. This is the Royal Palace!"

Viscount Cliff did not care, saying:

"What is there to fear? If it weren't for my father, this country would have fallen into chaos three years ago. Without the support of our Southern Territory, does he really think Angus could have held onto the Prime Minister’s position? Sigh, I just feel sorry for my Adair, being forced by her unconscionable father to become the Queen."

The old butler, clearly familiar with his young master’s temper, shook his head:

"Young master, you must be mindful of appearances. After all, Miss Angrain is now the Queen."

Viscount Cliff said disdainfully: "So what if she’s the Queen? If that old man Angus wasn't so greedy for power and so quick to sell his daughter, she would already be my woman!"

The old butler’s face went rigid. He thought to himself that the Grand Duke had only ever had the intention, and the Angrain family had never agreed to it—how had it become his fiancée in the young master's mind?

He wanted to warn Cliff a few times to keep him from spouting nonsense outside and causing trouble, but on second thought, the more he warned him, the more it would provoke his contrarian nature. He decided to give up on the advice.

Cliff muttered: "Old Butler, if Adair is prepared to offer herself in exchange for our Southern Territory’s full support, how should I talk to the old man?"

The old butler’s face twitched; he was somewhat in awe of his young master’s capacity for delusion.

The sound of high heels on the floor echoed. The Viscount quickly pulled himself together and looked toward the sound.

The graceful and stunning Queen caused his heart to tremble violently. A look of infatuation appeared in his eyes as he immediately bowed and said loudly:

"Beautiful Queen, your loyal knight Cliff Gaunt has come to accept your summons!"