CHAPTER 096
The magic circle of the temple was revealed only to the Crown Prince.
That was the rumor circulating in high society.
Philip reportedly confirmed it, but it was still hearsay since I hadn't heard it directly from Philip.
"I confirmed it."
Lewis must have known about the rumor involving Philip that had reached me.
Upon hearing the rumor, Lewis quickly verified its authenticity.
"So, it wasn't just a rumor."
"I'm going to the temple too."
But it seemed that after confirming the fact, Lewis had also made some kind of decision.
"The Marquis, too?"
"Yes."
Why? He didn't care about the magic circle before.
I looked at him with a puzzled expression, and Lewis spoke.
"The Crown Prince shouldn't see what I can't see."
Ah, so he's going to block both of us from seeing it?
"I'm going today. I've already informed the temple."
He's quick to act.
Lewis then offered me a suggestion.
"Would you like to come along?"
I had no other plans, so I agreed without much hesitation.
"Yes."
I followed Lewis out.
A little later, we arrived at the temple.
We waited for a moment in the temple's reception room before the high priest appeared.
It had been a while since I last saw the high priest.
He seemed uncomfortable, perhaps anticipating what we were about to request.
"What brings the Marquis here?"
"You initially invited me to investigate that magic circle together, did you not?"
Lewis spoke sternly.
Could he be a bit more polite? After all, the high priest is like a grandfather.
Unfortunately, my inner thoughts didn't reach Lewis, who continued to address the high priest with a cold demeanor.
"I heard that after a meeting, the temple decided to keep the magic circle confidential. Why was it then disclosed to the Crown Prince?"
"That was at the Crown Prince's request..."
Philip made the request?
Lewis immediately questioned that.
"You refused to disclose it to anyone else, yet you opened it up just because the Crown Prince asked?"
Isn't it because he's the Crown Prince?
As expected, the high priest cited the same reason I had in mind.
"We cannot refuse a request from the Crown Prince. He is, after all, the Crown Prince of this country."
Anyway, Lewis clearly expressed his displeasure at the blow to his pride.
"Then disclose it to the magic tower as well. The temple knows that the magic tower excels in magic, don't you?"
Hold on. Reveal it to the magic tower too?
"If blocking both of us isn't possible, then this is the next best solution, isn't it?"
I recalled Lewis's earlier words.
He wouldn't let Philip see what he couldn't.
In other words, if Philip could see it, Lewis should be able to as well.
"Hmm..."
The high priest's face became serious, reflecting his inner turmoil.
* * *
After Philip visited the temple with Madden, it wasn't long before news about Lewis spread as well.
Philip spoke to Sir Schuster, who had just entered his office.
"Marquis Bloomberg has gained the right to investigate the magic circle, hasn't he?"
Sir Schuster responded, slightly surprised.
"I was just about to inform you of that."
"Is that so?"
Philip smiled faintly.
He didn't need to hear it from his aides or bodyguards; rumors circulated even in the palace.
"Madden is a court mage, so this can be seen as a competition between the palace and the magic tower. But haven't we heard anything from that side yet?"
Although Philip showed interest in the magic circle, he wasn't inactive regarding Lewis.
He had abandoned the idea of persuading Selina.
He had been rejected once already.
Even with the Crown Prince's name at stake, he had failed.
Instead, he planted a spy.
When a position opened at Duke Croft's residence, he sent one of his people.
And he was waiting patiently.
Waiting for the spy to bring back useful information.
"By now, it would be nice to hear at least something."
At that moment, Philip's aide, who was responsible for communicating with the spy, knocked and entered the office.
"Your Highness."
The aide's face was unusually serious today as if he had something important to report.
"What is it?"
The aide approached Philip and whispered something in his ear.
Philip's eyes widened slightly at the news.
It was indeed information from the spy, but it was something completely unexpected.
"They mentioned 'noise'?"
Noise? What are they talking about?
Philip tilted his head in confusion.
The aide explained.
"I don't know the exact situation, but Miss Elsner mentioned 'noise' when she held the Marquis's hand. This happened in the garden."
"In the garden? Are they still secretly dating?"
Philip still misunderstood that Selina and Lewis were in a relationship.
'It seems even the Croft people aren't aware of it.'
That's probably why they were talking quietly in the garden.
"Why would they be secretly dating? Is there a reason for that?"
Rather than dwelling on that, it seemed better to focus on the information the spy provided.
"They mentioned 'noise'? What do you think that could mean?"
Both Sir Schuster and the aide remained silent.
No one knew except for the Croft family and Selina.
Therefore, understanding that 'noise' referred to Lewis's chronic illness was not easy.
The aide continued.
"Our informant also said he wasn't sure. What he saw was the Marquis checking if the noise was loud, holding hands, and then saying it was better."
"It's better? The noise?"
Philip pondered for a moment before speaking.
"I don't know what 'noise' refers to, but one thing is clear."
Selina's presence helps Lewis. By holding hands.
"So that's why they're dating? Because it helps?"
Philip could only think this way.
For Philip, dating someone beneficial, even without feelings, was entirely possible.
His feelings for Charlotte were sincere.
"So, the Marquis isn't so different from me after all."
Philip scoffed.
With this new information, Philip's voice turned cheerful.
"I suppose we should confirm it."
Before trusting the spy's word, confirmation was necessary.
Philip decided to confront Selina again.
* * *
I received another invitation from Lady Redmond.
I did receive an invitation for the last tea party, so what's this one for?
"Oh, Lady Redmond is having a birthday party."
I muttered to myself as I read the invitation.
Bella had received the same invitation.
"What should I wear that day?"
It seemed Bella was planning to attend, judging by her concern for her outfit.
But would Lewis go too?
I was curious if he had also received an invitation.
After all, Lady Redmond had shown interest in Lewis before.
Though she didn't seem interested the last time I saw her.
I decided to ask Lewis when he returned.
However, evening came, and Lewis still hadn't arrived at the Duke's residence.
Michael had come back long ago.
There's no way to know since he doesn't inform me when he'll return.
Should I contact him?
Just as I reached for the communication device to contact him, it lit up.
"Marquis?"
-What are you doing?
It was a call from Lewis.
"Oh, I was just about to contact you!"
Oops, that sounded too eager.
Sure enough, Lewis replied with a laugh.
-We must be in sync, you and I.
Well, we were this time...
Anyway, I decided to ask Lewis what I was curious about.
"Marquis, did you receive an invitation from Count Redmond's house?"
-Something seemed to have arrived? I don't remember exactly.
Lewis replied in his typically nonchalant manner.
-Wait a moment.
I heard the sound of rustling as Lewis searched for something.
Then his voice came back.
-No, I didn't get one.
Oh, he didn't receive an invitation?
Has Lady Redmond really lost interest?
She had shown quite an interest in Lewis before but hadn't asked about him at recent gatherings.
She did seem to light up when Philip was mentioned though. Has her interest shifted to him?
In any case, this meant Lewis had no reason to attend the birthday party.
-You should go with Bella. There's no need for me to be there. It's just a birthday party, right?
It seemed Lewis felt the same way.
"Then I'll go with Bella. Lady Yaniels will probably join us too!"
And so, the conversation about Lady Redmond's birthday party ended.
* * *
Time passed, and it was the day of Lady Redmond's birthday party.
As expected, Charlotte was also on the guest list.
I attended the party with Charlotte and Bella.
"Thank you for coming to my birthday party!"
The atmosphere was lively.
Typical of Lady Redmond, the party was vibrant and bustling.
"She seems to be in a really good mood."
Bella whispered to me as we watched Lady Redmond.
"Well, it is her birthday!"
Though I replied like that, I had never seen Lady Redmond smile so broadly before.
Something good must have happened.
It seemed there was more to her good mood.
Lady Redmond addressed the guests once everyone had gathered.
"There's a very special guest at my birthday party today."
A very special guest?
"Who could it be?"
Charlotte asked curiously.
"Who indeed?"
Just as I was pondering, Lady Redmond excitedly announced.
"The Crown Prince has graced us with his presence!"
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