Chapter 39
Within the 15-minute time limit, they said it was fine no matter how I intervened.
Maybe that’s why—neither Aldensis nor Zikren noticed that the magic circle had been altered. They just thought I was standing there idly.
“The young lady can’t see draconic magic, so you must be wondering what’s going on…”
“But even just looking at this, you can roughly guess, right?”
They kicked the broken golem rolling on the floor.
“Once the trap is activated, the target can never escape from it. The problem was luring him inside…”
“A treasure exhibition to celebrate the department store’s grand opening—no matter how you think about it, it’s convincing. My brother agreed wholeheartedly too.”
“We’ve even prepared the department store building and named it Imperial Department Store. Now we just need to bring in goods to sell there and display the treasure we’ll use as bait… and I heard the young lady would prepare that?”
“No.”
“Hm? Zikren definitely said…”
“I’m not planning to prepare it. I already have.”
I replied proudly.
“I didn’t ask Prince Zikren to write an official document for nothing. I showed it to my father and borrowed a very fitting treasure. A treasure that will be revealed for the first time in 33 years!”
“What is it?”
“The Ice Crown of Saint Agneta.”
It wasn’t me who answered. Suddenly, a voice from beyond the garden trees responded in my place.
‘Ah.’
I turned toward the sound.
‘Looks like you’ve finally finished your homework.’
A white figure emerged between the trees.
It was Luelian, dressed in ceremonial robes symbolizing a divine representative, holding a scripture in his arms.
“……”
He glanced at me first, like a hunter spotting his prey. I pretended not to notice.
‘Heh. This is all part of my plan too.’
The reason I was running around like this was ultimately for my own benefit…
But as a result, he would soon avoid the death that had been awaiting him.
Unaware of that, Luelian grumbled lightly.
“How cruel. I even postponed my prayer schedule to purify the holy relic for you, yet you were scheming something without me.”
“Th-that’s…”
Pretending to be flustered, I looked at Aldensis and Zikren.
“We were speaking quietly among ourselves—how did you hear us? And even Your Highnesses, who are transcendent beings, didn’t notice your presence at all…”
“My lady, that’s enough. It’s not much of a secret anyway. The rumors have already spread—that the three of you are plotting something.”
“A plot? Your Excellency, we simply met briefly because we had business matters to discuss.”
“I’d like to let it slide, but didn’t you say that imperial business was just a cover?”
“It’s no use, Aristina.”
Zikren shook his head.
“Once Luelian finds something suspicious, he won’t let go until he understands it. Who can stop that personality?”
“That’s right. Once you’re caught, it’s wiser to just come clean.”
Aldensis nodded as well.
“Then I’ll say it honestly. The treasure Lady Aristina just mentioned is preparation for our operation. We plan to display it at her new business and capture the phantom thief known as the ‘Black Phantom.’”
Luelian paused for a moment.
The two declaring they would capture him—right in front of the person himself. And that very person hearing it just now.
To me, who knew both sides, it was a strangely amusing scene.
‘The crown prince brothers don’t suspect Luelian at all.’
Understandably so. A high-ranking priest. A man who helps the weak and lives righteously in pursuit of truth. How could they suspect him?
‘Besides, his acting skills rival mine.’
Even that slight pause earlier would only be noticed if someone observed carefully, like I did. He wore a perfectly natural mask.
If someone had told me “Luelian is the phantom thief,” I wouldn’t have believed it either. He must have avoided capture all this time by feeding on information from people who never once suspected him.
“A phantom thief?”
Luelian asked calmly.
“So that’s your secret operation?”
“Well… yeah.”
Zikren scratched his nose awkwardly.
“We were going to tell you after catching him. Actually, the injury I showed you before—that happened while trying to catch him.”
He already knows very well. After all, he’s the one who stabbed him.
“Getting injured made me furious. This time, my brother’s joining in—we’re going to crush him properly. Even strong-willed people like Aristina find him unsettling, so we should show him getting completely beaten right in front of us.”
“Is that so?”
Of course, Luelian took it as if it were someone else’s business.
…Or so it seemed. His brow twitched slightly.
“Is that even possible? I heard that phantom thief hasn’t appeared lately.”
“He will.”
Aldensis replied confidently.
“He cares a lot about his reputation. To maintain his notoriety, it’s about time he makes a big move.”
“Is that so? Still, you shouldn’t let your guard down talking about crushing him in front of others. He’s as slippery as an eel.”
Luelian’s brow twitched again.
‘That hurt his pride.’
It was a little funny seeing him subtly show it, believing no one here knew his identity.
I didn’t miss that reaction and threw in a pointed remark.
“It seems Your Excellency is defending the phantom thief?”
His slightly furrowed brow smoothed out immediately.
“That can’t be, my lady. Our order has also had holy relics stolen by that thief.”
He even staged stealing his own relic? How thorough.
Smiling, I continued:
“So you acknowledge his abilities to some extent? But this time, he’ll have no choice but to fall into our trap.”
“Why?”
“A treasure revealed to the public for the first time in 33 years, displayed to celebrate the opening of a new department store run by Aristina of the infamous Rosen Duchy, under contract with the imperial family. Isn’t that an irresistible target for a phantom thief?”
I spoke confidently.
“And even if his standards are too high to be tempted by that alone, we’ve prepared a secret weapon.”
“Really?”
Luelian asked with interest.
“What is it?”
“‘Provoking his pride.’”
I answered brightly.
“We’ll openly taunt him at the exhibition. ‘You won’t be able to steal this. Though you’re an undefeated phantom thief, you’ll suffer your first defeat against the Rosen family.’ That way, he won’t be able to stay away, even out of pride.”
Zikren clapped his hands.
“That’s brilliant!”
“Indeed. They say the ‘Black Phantom’ is nothing without his pride.”
Aldensis nodded repeatedly.
Since we were on the topic, I pushed further.
“Oh, by the way, Your Highness. I have a suggestion I’ve been thinking about.”
“Go ahead.”
“Shouldn’t we change his nickname? Criminals shouldn’t be given flashy names—it just builds a favorable image with the public. How about calling him things like ‘Jokester,’ ‘Mutt,’ or ‘Flying Squirrel’ instead?”
“That makes sense.”
“As expected of Your Highness.”
Then I turned to Luelian, who was watching us with a look that said these people are ridiculous.
“What do you think, Your Excellency?”
Luelian replied calmly.
“I think it’s a good idea.”
“Really? Then would you like to choose one—‘Jokester,’ ‘Mutt,’ ‘Flying Squirrel,’ or ‘Pink Slippers at the Crossroads’?”
“Haha. That’s an odd one.”
He chuckled.
“I’m busy right now. I’ll choose later.”
“I suppose you are busy. Your prayer schedule was delayed due to purifying the holy relic.”
I said casually.
“Oh, that reminds me… since your order also has a grudge against the thief, how about you personally deliver the purified relic to the exhibition hall? It would attract even more attention.”
“Well, sure.”
“That’s a promise?”
“Of course.”
He replied.
“I trust that you, my lady, haven’t forgotten your promise either. I look forward to the thick report you’ll be bringing me soon.”
So he planned to safely lie low during the prayer period, then resume investigating me intensively.
‘Persistent, as always.’
After everything I just acted out, his suspicion that I might know his identity should’ve been resolved.
So why won’t he let it go?
‘With someone this persistent, there’s only one way—save his life and negotiate to turn the situation in my favor.’
Reaffirming my decision, I smiled.
“Yes, of course. I’ll come see you.”
Though not when you expect—but much earlier. When the great leader of the holy order falls into the trap.
Unaware of my thoughts, Luelian gave a small nod and greeted the crown prince brothers.
“I’ll take my leave.”
As if he had achieved everything he came for, he turned around.
Watching his retreating figure, I finally relaxed.
‘That should do it.’
If he comes to the first exhibition of the holy relic, then 90% of my plan is complete.
It was exhausting.
Meeting him under the pretense of purifying the relic, subtly baiting him, guiding him here, and staging this whole act—while pretending to be foolish with all my might.
All those efforts flashed before my eyes.
Thanks to that, I managed to lure that fox-like man into moving exactly as I planned.
‘My acting helped, but so did the image I built over 20 years.’
Even though I showed some intelligence by surviving the holy trial and securing an imperial contract, the impression people had of Aristina over the past 20 years was too firmly ingrained to change easily.
And thanks to that, I’ll save Luelian’s life—and prevent the disaster that would befall Aldensis and Zikren.
I felt a little proud.
‘Am I basically a national savior disguised as a troublemaker?’
