In the morning, Elisha was greeted by Leon and went straight to Famian's Garden, a first-class accommodation where guests of the palace stayed.
If one really came here purely as Elisha's guest, they'd probably only barely get permission to use the third-class accommodation, Ladolin's Lake.
However, William, the owner of the Western Tower, was itself a major figure with authority within Atien.
Thus, he had good reason to deserve the respect of the Imperial Palace Barossa.
Elisha entered the garden, which was so luxurious that it could not be compared to the 2nd Empress' Palace, and headed toward the long, single-story building in a semicircle shape that encircled the garden from the outside.
Wizards were waiting at the entrance.
Elisha was guided by them and went to William's place.
She stepped through the door opened by one of the guiding wizards.
Famian's Garden accommodation was built with a living room and two bedrooms…
William was staring intently at the piece of paper in his hand in the middle of the living room, which was directly connected to the door to the hallway.
The men who guided Elisha closed the door without any notice and disappeared, leaving only William and Elisha in the room.
William did not give Elisha a single glance and continued to do whatever he was doing.
But silence was not a means of pressuring Elisha.
Being left unattended is something Elisha is used to, and Elisha is very good at waiting.
There were times when she was locked in a box and spent her time staring blankly at the darkness until someone took her out as they wanted.
How hard is it to show patience to get what you want?
It's bittersweet.
It doesn't mean that Elisha liked it or hated it.
For Elisha, who was always hungry, even bitter taste was good.
Elisha sat still and stood up when it was time.
It was William whose expression became gloomier in the silence.
William looked away from the first sheet of paper he was holding and looked at Elisha, but Elisha merely stared in the direction she had come in as if she had no interest in him.
It was only when Elisha placed her hand on the doorknob that William's voice was heard.
"Can you go just like that? Surely there must be something you want?"
"Am I the only one with wants?"
"I have, too, of course. But I need to add, you're the one who can't lose. So, who's the one in a hurry here?"
Elisha turned her back to the door.
"Is that important?"
At Elisha's question, William wrinkled his forehead.
So what is more important in negotiating?
Elisha asked again as if she didn't really know,
"So, Master, are you that relaxed? Are you not so earnest about your desire after all?"
Could it be so?
But if that had been the case, he wouldn't have called out to Elisha when she was about to leave the room.
"…"
The piece of paper William was holding crumpled up. In the end, no negative words came out of his mouth.
Elisha wedged in there.
"And the premise was wrong from the start. Why does Master think you have an advantage? There are three towers in the Atien Empire."
"… Will they accept you?"
"Why do you think they won't accept me? Master also accepted me, whom you hate like an enemy, and I accepted you, because Master is the only one whom I can contact quickly and there is a cause to promote people around you. I didn't do this solely because it's Master, but also because of the Western Tower behind you."
In fact, if you look at it, that's just the way it is.
The Imperial Palace and Eastern Tower, which are related to the Emperor and the 1st Empress were difficult places to make relations with.
However, in the case something unpredictable such as magic related to the 8th-Class appeared as bait…
It was not unusual for any variable to occur.
As long as the magic is true.
That's why Elisha only brought out the magic formula of the 8th-Class magic, without the magic theory, from the beginning.
Showing a prey something too big will only increase suspicion, so one must take it step by step.
Let them chew and smell it first to know if it's real.
"You don't have to doubt me. Why would I use a magic trick that will be revealed right away? Even though I didn't have time to study at all because I was making magic formulas according to Master's orders, I still listened to the voice of the Tower's heir. What would I have done when I lost my magic and mana and was imprisoned in the Imperial Palace? Theory and understanding must be tested in practice, but mana is free. There is still that blue brilliance that shines like a star in my head."
Imagination has no limits.
Elisha said that and by doing so, she was able to draw a structure and form that was completely different from the previous one.
Of course, what she said wasn't a lie.
The results were just different.
"Only time will tell. So, what do you want me to do?"
Jealousy for the genius he couldn't keep up with, and the naive relief that she was no longer a wizard, scratched William's ugly heart and his voice cracked.
"You were disgusted with the disciple who left the tower. But a lot of time has passed, and when you think about it, you feel pity that the said disciple had to suffer alone in the vast Imperial Palace without a place to lean on, so please be a kind teacher who reached out to me."
"Ha! Do you think others will believe it?"
"As long as Master says it, so what if they don't believe it? It's not like it's written that one's chest will be cut open and their heart will be taken out upon being found out lying."
Elisha, who had said the horrifying story casually, approached her teacher.
Then, she took the piece of paper that was in her master's hand, turned it over, put it down on the table in front of her, and looked for something to use.
There was a scribbling sound as the quill moved.
As the letters were completely covered by Elisha's shadow, William, who was looking down at it, frowned, and pressed the edge of the paper with his index finger as soon as Elisha's hand stopped moving…
Ssseuk!
And tried to pull the paper towards him. However, it didn't move in the slightest, because the nib held by Elisha was pressing on the paper on the other side.
When William raised his eyes to look at Elisha, Elisha, whose upper body was leaning towards the table, faced him.
"Don't forget. This includes the safety of the Crown Prince."
"After dividing the Crown Prince faction and His Highness the Crown Prince, you want the Western nobles to intervene?"
"No. There is a 'misunderstanding' regarding the special relationship between the Western nobility and His Highness the Crown Prince, but there should never be any real relationship with them. Do you get me?"
No matter how much you wrap it up, there will be muddy situations that cannot be covered…
Even so, Elisha did not want to tarnish the noble character of the Crown Prince and Leon as an Imperial family.
As long as you don't really relate to the Western nobility, there will come a day when doubts and misunderstandings will be washed away, no matter what those around you say.
"And in exchange, Elisha?"
"From now on, Master will have all the glory. I am satisfied with being able to protect my children. However, if you don't reveal your contract with me, there will be a lot of opposition, can you handle it?"
"That's up to me to figure out. I have the power of Marquis Rwanda and Duke Verdin, so I should be able to do it."
Elisha nodded her head.
William is greedy.
It's a good thing for Elisha.
If what Elisha has now is revealed, too many enemies will be created and needed to be kept in check.
Hence, it was better to let people guess and judge for themselves.
Especially the Emperor, Kaiden.
It would be difficult once she gets too much attention from him.
Elisha, who had faintly frowned at the thought of his name, withdrew the strength from her hand.
When the nib was lifted, the taut sheet of paper slid towards William.
Shrek!
With a twinkle in his eyes, William raised the paper and read it down roughly and greedily.
On that paper was written a new interpretation of the magic theory he had been thinking about.
William's heart was surrounded by seven rings of mana.
One mana ring proved one level of magic, and that was the proof that William was a 7th-Class Archmage, equivalent to a Sword Master, the title given to the strongest in swordsmanship.
"Oh…!"
Something that was either a moan or a groan flowed from William's teeth.
It means that he had caught on some clues.
She thought it might be a bit overwhelming for the current William, but still.
Elisha nodded inwardly.
The reason William took away the achievements of the highly qualified pupils that he accepted was because he himself had no particular interest in magic formulas that are closely related to the use of magic…
As his understanding of it was low compared to magic theories.
As a matter of fact, as an archmage, outstanding achievements should continue to be announced. However, William, who had no interest in magic theory, had not achieved anything visible regarding the magic that will play a major role to reach the 8th circle.
Therefore, what Elisha had written on this paper was a shortcut for William, who did not want to waste time elsewhere over his life's long-cherised desire.
The understanding of the nature and flow of mana, the talent that made William an Archmage, was one of the best on the continent.
Elisha, who watched William's face fill with joy, silently counted backwards.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Tuk, Trutukk!
As the number was silently recounted, the rain of mana fell on William's head.
The liquid was overflowing as it tried to push him over the wall that was blocking him.
The world beyond the wall that he so desperately wanted.
Is he finally reaching a different dimension?
A handful of enlightenment, a new path of mana!
It was a small clue, but the fate that comes out of it will never be the same!
Because this is the only obstruction, making many genius swordsmen and wizards on the continent wither into losers.
The ones who have achieved it in time will shine and sit on a glorious throne regardless of the nobility of blood!
Three.
A little bit more!
Two.
Just a little bit more!
William's, who was constantly scanning the letters from left to right, lips twitched, and suddenly!
"Cough!"
He vomited blood and his torso leaned forward…
He looked at the paper on the table and turned his head, startled.
"Woogh!"
Blood spilled onto the floor next to the table.
William wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and shot his gaze at Elisha as if to kill her.
Elisha was not surprised at all as if she had known the outcome from the beginning.
"Why… are you doing this! How dare you, dare to deceive me…!"
"When did I deceive Master?"
"If you did not, then what is this?"
William lifted the paper from the table and showed it to Elisha.
"Does my theory seem fake or ineffective?"
"Does it not?! Why are there only half theories! I lost my pulse at the most important moment! The most important moment of my life!"
Elisha interrupted William's excited words.
"Master, who in the world is going to make a contract and pay the balance all at once?"
"… What are you saying?"
"Am I not right? I have clearly shown my hand: a magic formula that can make the wizards of the tower praise you, and a magic theory, which is a clue that will help you get to the 8th-Class. But, what has Master given me? Are you not going to show me that I can trust you first?"
"… And what if you don't give it to me in the end?"
"If that happens, Master will surely rush to death with me, but I won't put my children in such a risk. As long as there is a guarantee that my two children will be safe even without the protection of the Western Tower, then I will definitely fulfill the contract."
"Will that day ever come?"
Elisha, who had given her teacher a glance of what she had, raised the corners of her lips vaguely for the first time.
"So, there. Please pay the price. Actually, isn't your bargain cheaper compared to the 8th circle magic theory? At least that's what I'm guessing."
Not saying it was wrong, William held his breath without bursting into tantrums.
Elisha opened the door right away without waiting for her teacher's answer.
And ran out the hallway.
It was true that she had sold the clues of reaching the 8th-Class at a low price, but it could not be said to be a loss to Elisha either.
It's an investment for the future when there isn't much that can be used right now.
Moreover, the mana theory was invented by William himself in the past when he was driven to the extreme.
It was strange that at least half of it went back to the original owner.
"It was a very good thing to take down the tower at that time."
'Thanks to it, I've gained so much, and it's been so useful up until now, isn't it?'
In gratitude to her master in the past, who had raised the tower to the fullest, Elisha diligently moved forward.
***
"Your Majesty the 1st Empress! The 2nd Empress came out of the Famian's Garden after meeting the Archmage of the West…"
The maid, who was rushing to report, stopped.
It is because the eyes of the 1st Empress who looked back at her were extremely cold.
'I just did what I was told, why are you glaring at me?'
Beyond the 1st Empress, a man who was sitting at the table in the garden, caught her eye.
"Akh! Y- Your Majesty the Emperor!"
Then the maid knelt down on her knees and put her forehead on the floor, trembling.
"The 2nd Empress. I've lived without knowing whether she was alive or dead, but lately I've been hearing about her in many places."
The mouth of the man sitting at the table opened.
A low and clear voice resounded.
Even in the calm wind, his fine black hair fluttered lightly on his forehead.
Both eyes, as if they were studded with the finest blue gems, narrowed.
The maid, whose intrusion was allowed with one gesture, was pardoned with another stroke of his hand.
In the garden, which was quiet again, Emperor Kaiden drank tea, while the 1st Empress Isabelle trembled, tightly clasping her hands that were hidden under the table.
The sudden visit of the emperor was delightful, but because of that, she hated it so much that the story of the 2nd Empress entered the man's ears once more.