I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep

Chapter 46 

I quickly shielded Katana.

 

“Katana grew up in the Magic Tower since she was little. The mages there didn’t really teach proper etiquette.”

 

“The Magic Tower? …Don’t tell me this girl is the mage you mentioned?”

 

“Yes! She may be young, but she’s more talented than anyone there!”

 

“Of course I am!”

 

Katana, who had somehow ended up right next to me, puffed up proudly.

Caesar, on the other hand, looked down at her with clear disdain.

 

Before another argument could start, I quickly stepped between them.

 

“Anyway, that’s not the important part. I came to ask for your help.”

 

“What kind of help?”

 

I explained the lucky ticket situation to Katana as quickly as possible. Since I had mentioned it before, it didn’t take long for her to understand.

 

“So, basically, you need a paper that can’t be forged? And a lot of it too.”

 

“Yeah… Do you think it’s too difficult?”

 

Katana frowned as if insulted by the question.

 

“That’s nothing!”

 

“Really? You’re saying you can do it?”

 

Caesar was still doubtful, eyeing her suspiciously.

 

Katana snorted.

 

“I just need to inscribe a mark that no magic can copy or erase. Then you can check the winning tickets for the mark later, right?”

 

“As expected, Katana, you’re amazing!”

 

“But… Why do I have to do this?”

 

“Yes?”

Katana jabbed a finger toward Caesar.

 

“I’m happy to help you, Evelyn. But isn’t this all for him?”

 

“He’s not just ‘him,’ he’s the Crown Prince…”

 

“Whatever! He keeps glaring at me, and he clearly doesn’t trust me either.”

 

It made sense. After all, Katana had been exiled from the Magic Tower under false accusations of making a contract with a demon. Caesar’s sharp gaze didn’t help either.

 

But I had prepared for this. I delivered my next words carefully.

 

“But helping him means helping me too.”

 

“Ugh…”

 

“Remember when I first told you that you could become the Master of the Magic Tower?”

 

“… Yes?”

 

“I said I’d help you get revenge on the mages who mistreated you. Help you develop your talents and rise to the top, remember?”

 

“Yeah… And?”

 

“He’s the one who can make that happen. If His Highness ascends the throne, he can appoint you as the Master of the Magic Tower.”

 

“Wait, Evelyn—”

 

Caesar looked startled by my claim, clearly not expecting it.

 

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I can vouch for Katana’s skills. She’s already capable of becoming the Master of the Tower.”

 

After all, in the original timeline, Katana had become the youngest Magic Tower Master solely based on her abilities. Advancing that timeline a little wouldn’t hurt.

 

“Really? You’d help me?”

 

Suddenly, Katana came out from behind me and looked straight at Caesar and asked. There was no malice in those eyes as before.

 

“I don’t care about becoming the Master of the Tower. But… I do want revenge. On the people who did this to me.”

 

Caesar didn’t know much about Katana’s past, but something in her words struck a chord with him.

 

After all, he’d grown up surrounded by slander and mistreatment too… Even now, it’s the same.

 

Caesar met Katana’s gaze with the same seriousness.

 

“If you’re truly more skilled than the current Tower Master, then prove it. I won’t give power to the unworthy.”

 

“Prove it…”

 

“I’ll judge you without prejudice or rumors. That’s a promise.”

 

His words were blunt, but sincere.

 

Katana’s lips curled into a confident grin.

 

“I can do that!”

 

“Good.”

 

It was as if they had silently come to understand each other, two people scarred by similar pains.

 

I thought they’d be at each other’s throats… This worked out better than expected!

 

Feeling proud, I refocused on the task at hand.

 

“So, that’s settled, right? You’ll make the paper for us?”

 

There was no time to waste. Someone might have already noticed Caesar’s absence.

 

Katana nodded.

 

“Yeah, fine. I’ll do it.”

 

“Thank you, Katana!”

 

I hugged her tightly in gratitude, then asked,

 

“By the way, how long will it take? Is the spell really complicated?”

 

“No, once you prepare the paper and decide on the pattern to be engraved, casting the magic itself is simple. Of course, it’s simple because I’m so talented!”

 

“How simple is it?”

 

“Estimate it generously…”

 

Katana, who was worried, spread out her three fingers and smiled. Are you talking about 3 months? Or 3 weeks?

 

“About three minutes?”

 

  *****

 Having secured Katana’s promise, the tasks ahead were ones I couldn’t help with. They involved meeting the paper merchant, deciding on the paper, and determining the sales volume and amounts.They were matters for Duke Bryden and Caesar to discuss and decide together.‘Duke Bryden seems to be following Caesar completely.’Now that we had successfully brought the imperial faction to our side, the next step was clear. It was time to threaten—no, persuade—the Empress.

“Evelyn, why are you so late yesterday?”

The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, Devit asked me. It was like she was waiting for me to wake up.

“You came back hours later than usual. Did something happen?”

I was in the same room and didn’t come in like I usually do, so I was worried? Although her face was closer to curiosity than worry.

“Mm, I just had some personal matters to deal with.”I said as I sat up in bed. As I got up to prepare, Devit followed, chattering away.“Personal matters? What kind of personal matters? What time did you get back anyway? I was so scared sleeping alone!”Feigning a pout, Devit pressed for details.“Oh, you know. Family stuff.”“Family? The Baron Chester? Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything about your family.”Well, there was no reason to tell her. Swallowing my true thoughts, I simply smiled. But Devit didn’t let it go.“Is something wrong? I’m just worried, that’s all.”Why was he being so persistent? Devit was always talkative, but today she was over the top.

“Thank you for your concern. But it’s not really a big deal.”

I finally managed to push Devit out of the bathroom and slammed the door shut.I thought she’d have given up by now, but even after I finished washing up and changing clothes, she was still standing there.“…Devit? What are you doing there?”“I’m waiting to go with you.”“Go with me? Where?”“To work, of course. The palace.”With that, she glued herself to my side. While we lived in the same room, were close in age, and (mostly one-sidedly on her part) talked a lot, we had never commuted together before.‘What is this?’Her overt behavior solidified a theory I’d been entertaining for some time.“Hold on a second.”I pulled my arm away from her. A good idea had come to mind—a way to confirm whether my theory was correct.“Why?”“Oh, I just need to grab something.”I walked to my desk and used the key I always carried to open the bottom drawer. Inside were the papers Devit had tried to sneak a peek at last time. They were sketches and notes I’d made while brainstorming for the lottery project.

“

I carefully folded the now-useless papers and tucked them inside my clothes as if they were precious. Devit, who had sidled up to me without my noticing, asked with barely hidden curiosity,“What’s that? Is it something important?”“Just something I need to show someone.”“Someone?”I didn’t answer Devit’s question and walked out of the room. I could hear the hurried sound of her footsteps following me. 

  ****

 While I was at the Crown Prince’s palace, handling simple tasks, the door suddenly burst open, and Caesar walked in. He looked a bit tired but didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.I greeted him with a bow and stepped back a few paces. Caesar quickly sent Arinne and the attendants out of the room. By now, it had become a habit for him to dismiss others whenever we were alone.Caesar stepped behind the curtain and began changing his clothes.“Do you have to head out again right away?”

The answer came from beyond the curtain.

“Yes, I’ve arranged a meeting with a paper merchant from the southern continent.”“The southern continent?”“It’s for the lottery paper. Even with the best magic protections, it’s hard to eliminate all risks. Using a rare type of paper would provide an additional layer of security.”Soon, the curtain was drawn back, and Caesar emerged. Instead of his uniform, he was now wearing casual attire that merchants might wear. It suited him well, though the shoulders of the outfit seemed a bit tight—likely tailored a while ago.

“What are these clothes?”

“I disguised myself as the son of a merchant family who wanted to start a paper business. Because I can’t show that I’m the Crown Prince.”

Fair enough.I approached him as he adjusted his top in front of the mirror and fastened the cuffs on his sleeves for him. Seizing the moment, Caesar grasped my hand and asked,“What are you planning to do today?”“Me?”“There’s not much for you to do if I’m not around, is there?”“Well… actually, I do have someone to meet today.”