Chapter 34 — Cutting Ties
“It’s not about protecting him.”
“Then, according to Lord Roywick, who would investigate this? People who weren’t even in this room? How? Is there something watching over this place? Or are you planning to take the word of the very person who tried to attack us as evidence?”
I went through each point carefully. Roywick, who had initially tried to brush things off as if I were insignificant, gave an awkward smile.
“Well… that is…”
“Anyway, it’s fine. Even if you investigate now, you could just say that the Archmage wasn’t the one trying to attack, that he’s innocent. But then you’d probably use our actions as an excuse to bring it up to His Majesty the Emperor. So let’s leave it at that.”
Roywick frowned at my unexpected words.
“Just like that?”
“Yes. But I’m a little curious. Will you continue to protect the Archmage despite knowing all the things he’s done…?”
“The things he’s done?”
“The reason I came here today was to report the Archmage.”
Roywick glared at the Archmage as if asking, Is this really the end? The Archmage, large and imposing, who had been sprawled across the sofa in defiance, shook his head slowly, pretending to know nothing.
“Report? I don’t understand what you’re saying. To whom, and about what?”
“I intend to report to the Head of the Council and the mages of the Tower here. I will reveal the things the Archmage has done using his position and authority.”
Roywick’s expression worsened with each word. He couldn’t possibly know how long I had waited for this moment—how I had arranged for the Council and all the mages to be present, all eyes fixed on me.
“What report! Nonsense, Lord Roywick.”
“I think we can speak after I’ve finished. Archmage, seeing you step up like this… does that mean there are things I shouldn’t say?”
“Well…!”
Realizing that saying more would only harm him, the Archmage finally shut his mouth tight.
“Recently, the prices of magical artifacts have skyrocketed. Were you aware of this at the Tower?”
“Of course the prices would rise. Demand is high, supply is limited.”
“Yes, exactly. And due to the rarity of items only the Tower can produce, no one dared even speak about it. But some strange things have been happening. Not just recently, but over the past several years.”
I glanced at Ron and Ken. The Emperor must have given them something. That he allowed me to go to the Tower with military backing meant all investigations into the Tower had been completed—everything about the Tower’s operations.
Yet the two of them just stared blankly at me.
“…Nothing from His Majesty?”
“Ah! H-he entrusted it to me. I’ll just go fetch it!”
Sigh… Ron, it seemed, had really been entrusted with it. He smiled brightly and walked out, while Ken tilted his head, watching him. But Ron cheerfully ran outside without a sweat or even panting, and the atmosphere shifted strangely. Roywick snorted and looked at me.
“…In any case, the important thing is that the investigation is complete. The Archmage wields significant authority over the Tower—distribution and management of magical artifacts. He oversaw nearly everything in the Tower.”
“And?”
“With that authority, he embezzled a huge amount of money. He committed fraud.”
“Men sometimes skim off a little when they work. Perhaps Lady Isabella doesn’t know because you’re a woman…”
That sexist remark—he was no different from the Archmage himself. Roywick kept making ridiculous statements, unwilling to accept the truth.
Embezzlement isn’t something to shrug off.
“You seem to already know, given you’re not surprised.”
“Regardless, these are internal matters. Even if it’s true, it’s something we’ll handle ourselves. And considering all the effort we’ve endured, a little understanding is expected.”
“Ah, I see. I didn’t anticipate that. So, there’s no need for me to report it? Because it’s just an internal practice?”
Of course, the other mages weren’t so calm. They were underpaid, struggling to survive, yet the Archmage and the Head of the Council were openly pocketing money behind the scenes. Their anger was perfectly natural.
Some began whispering, and the voices grew louder, reaching Roywick’s ears.
“Quiet! Quiet! Don’t talk about safety!”
“But Head of the Council…!”
At that moment, oblivious as ever, Ron returned, holding stacks of documents with a bright smile.
“I’m back!”
His cheerful return was strange. Not only did he interrupt the tense atmosphere, but he looked entirely unharmed—no sweat, no panting, no sign of using a portal. He got here remarkably fast.
He handed me the documents.
“Here you go.”
“Ah. Thank you.”
“Though none of this may be necessary. The future Empress herself has come to report, and what a fuss it caused…”
Roywick turned back, seemingly to prevent further chaos, motioning for everyone to disperse. Mages grumbled but began leaving one by one.
“Yes, that’s what you think. But the Tower is remarkable, isn’t it? So generous.”
“If you’re going to talk about embezzlement again…”
“Considering they diverted enough money to build a kingdom, and yet you excuse them—it’s truly astounding.”
“That much… really?”
Roywick’s face stiffened, realizing the gravity of the matter.
“You didn’t know the full extent, did you?”
“Th-that’s impossible. There’s no way they could divert that much. A whole kingdom… hah, what a joke.”
Even the mages who were about to leave began murmuring in outrage. Poorly paid and restricted, they were forbidden to sell magical artifacts due to contracts imposing steep penalties. They endured hardship, hoping only for their contracts to expire.
Yet to think, the Archmage had embezzled enough to fund an entire kingdom!
Roywick demanded explanations, but the Archmage could only roll his eyes nervously.
“You’ve made impossible things possible. First, you raised the prices of magical artifacts.”
“That alone couldn’t have made that much money! Lady Isabella, you don’t understand…”
“Then you started producing magical artifacts privately, and any profits were yours. With free labor from the orphans at the Tower, it was even easier. You amassed a fortune, didn’t you?”
In the novel, it wasn’t explicitly stated he profited from the orphans—only that he took credit for their work. But given his attempts to keep Sasha close with money and attention, the pattern was clear.
The Archmage hiccupped, a sign of guilt.
“You can’t lie, can you, Archmage?”
“N-no, I was just surprised…”
“Then explain. Is there any part of what I said that’s wrong?”
“It’s all wrong. I couldn’t possibly embezzle that much…”
Despite his size, his body trembled uncontrollably.
“Which part? How did you plan to pay me? You said if I entrusted Shanesia to the Tower, you would personally give that huge sum.”
“Th-that…”
“So, you were just bluffing with money you didn’t have?”
He nodded vigorously, like a pig caught in a trap.
“You didn’t deny saying it?”
Exactly as I had anticipated, the cornered Archmage played into my hands.
“Unfortunately, your vast fortune has already been investigated. Quite audacious. Even routed under another person’s name. Does that person even exist?”
“That’s…”
“Where did all that money come from?”
Even Roywick, who had defended the Archmage until now, stiffened. The Archmage looked at him pleadingly, but this wasn’t something Roywick could resolve—it was beyond his authority. In fact, he looked angry.
“I tried to overlook some things, but to think the Archmage embezzled that much while in office…”
“Th-that…”
“No wonder… no wonder it felt strange. Ever since he kept bringing me gifts… This is intolerable!”
“All the items you accepted were well received, but now you act like this, Head of the Council!”
Clearly, they had been quietly taking items behind the scenes.
“Those were mere gifts. Well received? The way you speak, people could misunderstand, Archmage.”
“Ha… you can’t possibly say that!”
“Why not?”
Roywick cleared his throat and looked at me.
“Thanks to you, Lady Isabella, I now fully understand. I never imagined he’d cause such a huge scandal. This will be handled by the Tower.”
By ‘handled,’ he meant the Archmage would be removed from his position. In the novel, he disappeared after embezzling huge sums—so nothing much differs from the past, except this is happening sooner, and the orphans’ involvement is revealed.
“Yes.”
“Then let’s conclude for today.”
“I would like to, but I have other information I must take to His Majesty the Emperor. Also, what he did to Sasha and me cannot go unchecked.”
“You said earlier you’d let that matter slide…”
It seemed Roywick wanted to resolve as much internally as possible, persuading me in a softer tone than before.
“Yes. I said I’d let it slide. But the Emperor will not.”
