Siblings Reincarnate as Enemies

Chapter 77 — In which they have a nightmare (2)

“It seems that we’ll be able to move to the next phase of your plan soon.”

Crimo placed fresh reports and lemon puff cookies in front of Vern.

To Crimo’s disappointment, Vern seemed to be more interested in the reports in front of him rather than sweets.

But Vern didn’t see it as he frowned at the numbers displayed.

“That’s more people than I expected. If they continue like this, they may soon face some manpower problems.”

The numbers counted the mages who were expelled or ‘sent on vacation’ by the guilds after Vern’s Eternal Fire Fraud at the Magic Exchange.

Those mages were no different from people who suddenly lost their jobs and found themselves on the streets.

Even if being a mage was lucrative, the moment they lost their backings, they would face a difficult predicament.

Because it was difficult to practice their craft without any resources, and the contracts they had with the guilds meant that they couldn’t make profit in any way from their knowledge outside the guild.

“They’re anxious because of the situation, so they’re taking heavy-handed measures to prevent their losses.”

“I would think the slowed progress of research and lack of experts would be a loss here.”

“Progress and knowledge don’t have physical form and weight like money does. It’s easy to blind your eyes with it.”

Crimo looked at the numbers with a heavy expression, as if it was exactly as he expected.

Vern nodded at Crimo’s words.

He once again realized that the world was different from the era when he ruled.

In his time, coins, which didn’t even have a uniform shape yet, were just a symbol used to simplify the deals and contracts.

What he had to pay attention to as a ruler was not little pieces of metals but the intricate web of alliances, grudges and objectives of each faction.

Well. It wasn’t so different now.

Crimo still had to manage a similar political landscape, but there was an additional figure besides everyone’s profiles, and that was money.

‘Was that why Saf hated the idea of money?’

He remembered his younger sister, who returned from an especially exhausting meeting with merchants, pouring out the entire bag of coins and melting everything, and then shaping it into the strangest thing and shouting ‘Behold! I created a monster!’.

It seemed that she even brought that creation of hers before the same merchants, and Vern never heard about them again.

Looking at the numbers, Vern wished he had such a monster with him right now to show it to the guilds’ executives.

But the guilds’ reckless actions were good for Crimo and Vern, so all he could do was to curse them internally and let it go.

Because their next step in the plan was to draw all those mages, who were anxious to find a new home, under Crimo’s wings and create the power that could rival those of the seven great guilds.

“What about Eternal Happiness Foundation?”

Vern asked as he glanced at the scrap of newspaper with the article about the foundation offering the relief and shelter for the mages hurt in Vern’s fraud.

Crimo shook his head.

“They don’t seem to have much of success. Their offered policy isn’t bad, but they lack sufficient recognition and trust among the mages. It’s hard to imagine that a foundation that mainly operates orphanages and clinics would have facilities and capabilities of accommodating mages, so most people are hesitant. Besides… They don’t belong here.”

Vern blinked and understood only a second later.

The Eternal Foundation wasn’t part of Rubrun.

It also had branches in Flavun, and its headquarters were in Purplus.

In the tense political landscape it was natural to be suspicious of such an organization.

‘Well, that’s not bad.’

Though Vern didn’t hold the same prejudice others had for Flavun and Purplus, he didn’t like the foundation’s name.

As Vern fell into thought and Crimo didn’t add anything, the topic naturally came to an end.

When Vern put the puff cookie into his mouth and enjoyed the slightly sour taste of lemon, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

He cleaned the corner of his mouth and asked:

“Why does Hibis call you old bastard?”

Crimo almost dropped the charcoal pencil he was holding.

“You met Hibis?”

“No.”

Crimo looked at him weirdly at which Vern blinked innocently as he said:

“I told her that I won’t tell anyone about what she was doing in the place she shouldn’t be in the hour she shouldn’t be there.”

“I see…”

Crimo’s lips curled up slightly.

Then, as if he remembered Vern’s question, his face darkened.

“Probably because of what I said when our Mother died. I’m not sure if she was angry for hiding the truth or because she felt I’m disrespecting her by taking her place, but she hated me ever since.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I just said that Mother went on a very long journey, and she might not see her again for a very very long time….” His eyes dropped and he smiled warily. “The situation was very chaotic at the time and… I didn’t feel ready to tell her, so I made up that stupid story as an excuse.”

“… Okay, I understand.”

He truly did.

The sincerity even tinted his voice, making Crimo look up at him with a somewhat half-surprised, half-moved gaze.

Vern briefly considered if he should give Crimo one of the cookies, but recalling Crimo’s eating habits, which boiled down to eating almost nothing, he gave up on this idea.

Crimo also seemed to recover quickly, as he quietly said:

“I’m glad that you and Hibis are getting along.”

And then changed the topic.

Sadly, it wasn’t a topic that Vern was particularly fond of.

“About your birthday and coming of age ceremony…”

Vern’s birthday was two weeks away, at the very beginning of the month.

“As customary, we sent the invitations to Flavun and Purplus’ rulers.”

To maintain a somewhat friendly relationship, the rulers would send invitations to other states during the big events.

But most of them were ignored, and only symbolic delegations were sent.

“Who is coming?”

“Purplus replied as expected. They will be only sending a delegation. But Flavun is the problem. It appears that both of the throne’s candidates are coming.”

“They’re going to play their own political game on our field, huh?”

“Exactly. The situation will be tense. There is a high risk of something going awry, or even an assassination attempt… therefore…”

Crimo hesitated for a moment, as he looked Vern in the eyes.

“I wish Scarlen would accompany you during the entire procedure.”

“… Hm? Ah, okay.”

Vern nodded easily.

It seemed that Crimo didn’t expect such easy agreement, as he stared at him blankly for a second.

Then smiled slightly.

“You warmed up to him.”

“Excuse me?”

“Before, you seemed to be wary of him.”

Crimo’s eyes were quite sharp.

It appeared that he didn’t completely lose his intellect when Scarlen was involved.

Crimo didn’t ask about the reason for wariness or for the sudden change, just nodded in satisfaction.

“I’m glad.”

Then he added words that for some reason sent a shiver down Vern’s spine.

“Then I’ll make sure to prepare the best clothes for both of you.”

*-*-*

“Sir Citrie?”

“Uh? Yes? Excuse me, I spaced out a little.”

Five women at the table looked at the only man in their company with strange gazes.

“How curious. I thought that even if Sir Citrie didn’t sleep a wink for a week, he would appear as energetic as always. No, considering Sir Citrie’s tendency, I should say I’m certain that he would appear so.”

Saffra tilted her head, as she crossed her arms and tapped them with her fingers.

“What happened for you to look so tired? Are you sick?”

“No, no. Please don’t worry, Young Lady. I’m fine, there is just something on my mind.”

She gave him one long glance, her golden eyes narrowed as if she was looking at something very intently.

Then she nodded.

“I see. Then I may have a solution to this problem.”

Citrie suddenly stiffened.

He didn’t have an idea what the solution was, but his instinct was telling him to run.

“Young Lady…”

But it was too late.

“Miss Apric, do you mind bringing some of the braised red chicken?”

“Ah! Yes. Please wait a moment, My Lady.”

Apric disappeared like a wind.

“Young Lady, there is no need…”

Citrie tried to save himself again, but just like before, he was too slow.

Apric appeared again, holding two plates.

She put the two plates of chicken in deep cheery red sauce in front of Saffra and Citrie.

“I brought an additional one for My Lady, as you enjoy the spicy food so much.”

“That’s because Apric’s parents’ cooking skills are superb.”

“And we’re blessed that they can satisfy Our Lady’s spice buds.”

But they couldn’t satisfy Citrie’s buds.

Rather than satisfy, they were going to torture and annihilate them.

Citrie stared at the plate as if he was facing his worst enemy.

And he looked wide awake.

“Seems like it worked.”

“Our Lady really cares, she even chose the most red dish among the available.”

“Sir Citrie, why are you glaring at your favorite color?”

The three ladies-in-waiting chirped.

Citrie looked up, confused.

“Why do you think red is my favorite color?”

“Oh? So it’s red in general? We thought you like the deep, vibrant red. ”

“Why?”

Citrie seemed to be very confused by the words of the ladies.

“You didn’t realize it?”

And the ladies-in-waiting were also confused.

“You always choose to eat the red dishes when you have a choice.”

“And your hair ribbons and earrings are all red.”

“If there is a man wearing red around…”

“Okay. That’s enough.”

Citrie shook his head with a frown.

Then he said, as he put the piece of red chicken in his mouth:

“I don’t like red. I have no right to like red.”

A moment later, they had to rescue him with milk, because it turned out the chicken piece was hotter than anyone expected.

*~*~*