Water Magician

Chapter 0522 Individual Movements

Translator: Jay_Forestieri

Editor: Tseirp

Two days later, an apology letter arrived from Duke Kang, addressed to Sue Ku.

“A misunderstanding, he says? Apologizing? There’s no way a misunderstanding could lead to the deaths of subordinates.”

“It says he wants you to come tomorrow.”

Mifa confirmed, looking at the letter Sue Ku handed her.

“Hmm. I’ll go. Mifa, you’re visiting Princess Shio Fen’s villa tomorrow, correct?”

“Yes. As the princess mentioned previously. I’ll be accompanied by Master Abel.”

“Good. That puts my mind at ease. Take a squad with you for protection. As for me, I’ll be taking an entire battalion, fully armed.”

“…To prepare for anything?”

“Precisely. Even if it turns into a battle.”

Mifa looked startled, but Sue Ku’s expression suggested the remark wasn’t entirely in jest.

In truth, Sue Ku considered the possibility of armed conflict.

And if it happened, she intended to bring enough forces to secure victory.

Even though mobilizing such strength in the capital would surely lead to a reprimand from the king later… she would rather face that than die due to insufficient preparations.

The next day.

“Alright, let’s go, Mifa.”

“Yes, Master.”

As the two stepped out of the mansion, they were met by rows of assembled troops.

There were 20 guards from Captain Solon’s First Patrol Squad and an additional 200 soldiers—Sue Ku’s maximum deployable force within the capital.

“It looks like we’re marching off to war…”

“Sue-sama did say she was preparing for war, just in case…”

Abel muttered, and Mifa recalled their previous day’s conversation.

The assembled troops were all in full battle gear.

While Sue Ku could command many times this number back at her home base in the city of Mifasoshi…

The force she had gathered here was still remarkable for the royal capital.

It was a testament to her influence.

As Abel and Mifa passed in front of the troops, eight guards stepped forward.

“Abel-sama, Mifa-sama, we’ve been assigned as your escorts. I’m Milan, captain of the Seventh Guard Squad.”

“You helped Ryo and me with our riding practice, right? Thanks for today as well.”

Captain Milan greeted them, and Abel responded.

Mifa, standing beside Abel, bowed her head.

Together, Abel, Mifa, and the eight members of the Seventh Guard Squad, a total of ten people, all mounted their horses and headed toward the detached palace of Princess Shio Fen.

The decision to travel on horseback rather than on foot was due to the much faster retreat speed in case of an emergency.

Whether returning to the mansion or fleeing to the palace, speed would be of the essence.

“So, other than the stable at the mansion, Sue Ku-dono also has horses elsewhere?”

“Yes. Sue-sama owns a ranch on the outskirts of the royal capital. Of course, she also has one in Mifasoshi… I believe, aside from the royal family, she likely owns the largest number of horses.”

“Impressive.”

Abel said, genuinely amazed.

“By the way, where is Ryo-san today?”

“He was summoned to the Censorate.”

“What? Did he get tangled up in something troublesome?”

Mifa asked, her tone filled with concern.

The Censorate handled problems within the royal capital, conducted inspections, and fulfilled many roles akin to a police force.

It also served as a prosecutorial body, making it a place most ordinary people avoided.

As such, whenever someone shouted, “The Censorate is here!”, anyone guilty of wrongdoing would scatter like spiders.

In modern terms, it might be akin to shouting, “It’s the police!”.

“No… it seems that during the last hearing with the Censorate, Ryo requested access to certain documents. Apparently, one of them has been found…”

“Uh… what?”

“Exactly. It doesn’t make sense, does it? I don’t get it either.”

Seeing Mifa tilt her head in confusion, Abel nodded emphatically in agreement.

“Well, that’s Ryo for you. It’s just how he is.”

Even so, the fact that Abel could sum it up with “That’s just Ryo” indicated he was already somewhat accustomed to Ryo’s quirks.

Ryo was simply… Ryo.

“Ah, thank you for coming. You must be Abel-sensei. I am Shio, holding the title of Princess Fen. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’ve heard about you from Mifa, Princess Shio Fen. I am Abel of the Knightley Kingdom. It’s a pleasure.”

Princess Shio Fen and Abel exchanged greetings.

The tea party with the three of them proceeded harmoniously.

Until a certain moment.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed— something clearly out of place in the serene, elegant detached palace.

A person who appeared to be a guard burst into the room, shouting:

“Your Highness! There’s trouble! The palace is under attack!”

“Wha…”

Princess Shio-Fen was struck speechless.

Mifa, too, was rendered silent.

Abel sharpened his senses, listening carefully.

Faintly— ever so faintly— he could hear the clash of swords.

The distance from the gate to the princess’s chamber was considerable.

If the gate had not yet been breached, it made sense that the sounds would be so faint.

“Who are the attackers? Do they bear any insignias?”

“The insignia is ‘a rising sun over the mountains’! It’s Duke Kang’s forces!”

“…I see.”

Princess Shio Fen frowned at the guard’s response.

“Shio-sama, please, you must escape.”

Mifa urged.

However, Princess Shio Fen shook her head in refusal.

“Impossible, Mifa.”

“Why not?”

“There are three underground tunnels leading out of this palace. Secret escape routes. But they are likely all being watched. There are probably soldiers lying in wait at the exits.”

Princess Shio Fen said with certainty.

Her voice firm.

“Why are you so sure?”

Abel asked.

“This detached palace was once occupied by Duke Kang during the reign of the previous king. As he was the king’s younger brother at the time. He would be familiar with the entire layout of the palace, including the underground passages.”

“Could the attackers have come through those underground tunnels?”

“That’s unlikely. When I was assigned to this palace, the ‘Alchemic Keys’ to the underground passages were modified to open only by my presence.”

Princess Shio Fen replied.

As they discussed this, another guard burst into the room with an urgent report.

“Both the front and back gates are under attack! The narrow path to the back gate makes it hard for a large force to maneuver, but the front gate is on the verge of being breached!”

“I understand.”

Princess Shio Fen replied and, after a brief moment of contemplation, spoke.

“I apologize, Abel-sensei, Mifa. Could I ask for your assistance?”

“Of course. Tell me what you need.”

Abel responded with a resolute nod.

“Please assist at the front gate.”

“Understood. Mifa, stay here and protect the princess.”

“Huh? But I want to help at the front gate as well…”

“No. Do not leave the princess alone.”

Abel said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

“Mifa, isn’t your swordsmanship meant to protect the princess? Now is the time to fulfill that purpose.”

“But…”

“If I were the enemy commander, I would find a way to strike at the heart of the command. In this case, the heart is Princess Shio Fen herself.”

“So… you think the attack on the front gate is just a diversion?”

“Yes. Of course, if the gate is breached, the tide of battle will shift decisively, so it can’t be ignored. That’s why I’ll go. But their true aim is the princess’s life. Someone must stay here to defend her. Who will that be?”

“…I will. I will protect Shio-sama with my life.”

Mifa declared resolutely in response to Abel’s question.

Her expression showed no hesitation.

Only unwavering determination.

And resolve.

“Then it’s settled. Princess, Mifa will protect you.”

“Understood. Mifa, I’m counting on you.”

“Leave it to me, Shio-sama. Master, may fortune favor you!”

“Thank you. I’m off.”

And so, the battle to defend the detached palace began.