Absolute Mana Dominion: All My Talents Are SSS

Chapter 58: 58 - Possible War

Margaret studied Vikir for another moment after hearing Adrien’s name, then held out her hand. "Vikir, then. Alright, let me see what you brought."

He reached inside his coat and carefully removed a thick bundle of documents. There were copied ledgers, payment records, names and routes, several marked with initials Margaret recognised immediately.

She took them and started reading as they walked back toward the gardens. It took less than a minute for her pace to slow.

The papers described an operation north of Greymoor that had been running for years. Payments moved through intermediaries, routes avoided Crown inspection, and House Arquenay appeared far too often for coincidence.

Margaret stopped beside one of the paths and turned another page. ’Gaspard Arquenay.’ The deeper she read, the worse it became, with references to cages and captured people.

The first drops of rain landed on the paper before Margaret noticed the sky had changed. Nimbus took one look at the weather and sprinted toward the nearest covered entrance while Margaret pulled the documents against her chest.

"Traitor," she muttered, making Vikir blink. "My cat. Apparently he only likes rain when there’s a window between him and it."

Margaret hurried beneath the covered walkway. "Come inside with me, please. I need you to explain what’s happening, because I’m starting to wonder why my family is only hearing about this now."

"Of course, Your Highness." Vikir followed her into the castle. "I was one of the people held in those cages. I’d been there for quite a while before Lord Adrien found the camp."

Margaret looked up. "You were a prisoner there?" Vikir nodded.

"Yes. Greymoor had been suffering irregular beast attacks, and Lord Adrien realised something was forcing creatures out of their usual territory. He started investigating what remained of the Clairmont lands." Vikir hesitated. "The part the Crown allowed them to keep."

Margaret slowly looked at him, and Vikir cleared his throat. "My apologies, Your Highness. That slipped out."

"A free stab at my family." Margaret resumed walking. "I’ll survive. After what happened to the Clairmonts, I’d expect some resentment."

Vikir looked uncomfortable. "I meant no disrespect."

"I know. Keep going." Margaret reopened the documents while they walked.

"Lady Ariane later went out during the investigation and didn’t return when expected. Lord Adrien went looking for her, and that was when he found the people operating in the forest."

"The slavers?" Margaret asked. Vikir’s expression became more serious.

"Yes. There were several prisoners there, but there was someone much more important among us." He waited until Margaret looked at him. "The Princess of Sylvamir."

Margaret stopped hard enough that Vikir almost walked past her. "You’re certain?"

"I was imprisoned beside her people. Lord Adrien was the one who helped free them." Margaret looked down at the documents again.

’This is much worse than Arquenay running slaves.’

Relations with Sylvamir were already strained. An elven princess abducted inside Valleroy territory with a Great House involved could turn that tension into something far worse.

"This could start a war," Margaret said quietly. Vikir gave a small nod.

"That’s what Lord Adrien was worried about."

Her first thought was her father, but she hesitated. She had no idea who around the King would see the papers first or how long they might be delayed.

Margaret glanced at Vikir. "Is that everything?" His expression answered before he spoke.

"No, Your Highness. Before I left, Lord Léon Arquenay entered Clairmont territory with armed men and tried to kidnap Lady Ariane."

Margaret stared at him. "Léon?" She remembered Adrien taking Umbral Root from him at Oathday while half the people watching tried not to laugh.

’Apparently he took that worse than I thought.’ Margaret folded her arms. "What happened?"

"Lord Adrien reached them before they could take her. Léon died during the confrontation, and one surviving man was allowed to return with his body and explain what happened to Duke Gaspard."

Margaret exhaled slowly. "So Adrien thinks Gaspard might retaliate." Vikir’s expression hardened.

"He expected the possibility. By the time I left, House Clairmont was preparing for the worst. Arquenay has hundreds of soldiers available. If Gaspard moved quickly, they may already be marching."

"Already?" Margaret asked.

"I’ve been travelling for some time now, Your Highness. I came as fast as I could, but I had to reach a teleportation port first." Vikir glanced at the documents. "I don’t know what’s happening in Greymoor now. The battle may not have started yet, or it may already be underway."

Margaret looked down at Gaspard’s initials again. Slavery, an abducted princess, Léon attacking Ariane, and hundreds of Arquenay soldiers possibly marching toward Greymoor.

’This morning was going so well.’

Her father was still an option, but Margaret knew someone else who would understand exactly how dangerous this was before she finished explaining the first page.

"Aurelian," she murmured, then turned toward Vikir. "We’re going to see my brother. Stay with me, please, and while we’re inside I’d rather you didn’t explain any of this unless I ask."

Vikir nodded. "I understand." He fell into step beside her as Margaret headed deeper into the Royal Castle.

A servant eventually told her Aurelian was in a private meeting inside an administrative wing. Two Royal Guards stood outside the doors, and one stepped forward when Margaret approached.

"Your Highness. His Highness is currently in a meeting." The guard stayed polite, but he didn’t move aside.

"I need to speak with him, and this really can’t wait." Margaret lifted the documents slightly.

"I’m afraid he asked not to be disturbed unless there’s an emergency."

"Then this should qualify. It involves two Great Houses and the Kingdom of Sylvamir."

The guard hesitated. "Your Highness, I still need permission before I can let anyone into the room."

"That’s fair, but we don’t have much time." Margaret held his gaze. "If you’d rather be the man who delayed information about a possible war with Sylvamir, you can explain that choice to Aurelian afterward."

The guards exchanged a look and moved aside. Margaret opened the doors and walked in with Vikir behind her.

Several men sat around a long table covered in maps and documents, none of whom she recognised, while Aurelian occupied the seat at the head. The look he gave her made it clear she had interrupted something important.

"Dear little sister," Aurelian said, leaning back. "I sincerely hope barging into one of my meetings without warning means something is on fire."

Margaret raised the documents. "It’s a message from Adrien Clairmont. I think you’ll want to hear it before you continue whatever this is."

Aurelian’s expression changed almost immediately. His eyes moved from Margaret to Vikir, then settled on the papers between them.

After a few seconds, he looked around the table. "Gentlemen, if you’ll give us the room, please. We’ll continue once I’ve dealt with my sister."

The men began gathering their papers while Margaret watched Aurelian. For once, he wasn’t smiling.