Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

Binaeril didn’t return to Ayaxen. Although Ayaxen was the closest city to Thornwinter Swamp, it was under the strong influence of Marquis Schiller. So, he decided to head southwest, even if it meant a longer journey. He diligently traveled and reached a city named Albaten, where he acquired a horse. The journey from Albaten to the capital took a full eight days, largely because Binaeril was not yet skilled in horseback riding.

As Binaeril looked up at the entrance of Essen Castle, he was struck by its grandeur, fitting of the so-called “Thousand-Year Empire.” It was on a different scale from the royal castle of Ruben, his hometown. After a brief moment of admiration, Binaeril dismounted and walked toward the castle gate. The ride had been so long that even walking made him feel like his buttocks were dancing separately from his body.

“Feels like half my spine has fallen off somewhere…”

-Stop whining.

“Do you want to try riding?”

‘Can I just walk in like this?’ he wondered. Naturally, the gate was guarded by soldiers clad in imperial armor.

“Who goes there! State your identity and business!”

The guards raised their spears as a ragged, dusty boy approached.

No matter how low the empire’s prestige had fallen, how could a beggar think of entering the castle?

Binaeril looked at the two guards with innocent eyes. He bore them no ill will but felt a certain delight that the moment he’d been waiting for had finally come.

“I’m here to see Rike.”

“Rike? Who’s Rike?”

“Isn’t that a maid’s name?”

“Hey, who’s Rike? And state your name!”

One of the guards poked Binaeril’s chest with the butt of his spear.

Binaeril was willing to endure this level of humiliation for the fun of it. 

“Rike is a nickname for Friederike, and my name is Binaeril Dalheim.”

He flashed a mischievous grin at the two guards.

One guard was shocked, while the other was skeptical that a beggar would mention the Second Princess’s name. However, both quickly recalled the name “Binaeril Dalheim,” which the captain of the castle guard had firmly instructed them to remember.

They were astonished, and their shock echoed through Essen Castle.

Binaeril laughed heartily for the first time in a while.

“Oh, you should have seen their faces.”

Laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face, Binaeril stood next to a stern-looking girl with brown hair, Sylvia.

“Wasn’t that a bit too much? For those men, it’s a matter of life and death.”

“I was just teasing them a little. I’m not going to retaliate or anything.”

“Your little tease will have them on edge for days.”

“Alright, I’ll apologize if I see them again.”

Sylvia, who had shed her usual simple attire, was now wearing a navy blue uniform. Her short hair, which had grown slightly during their travels, was neatly tied back, revealing a long neckline.

Seeing her like this…

“You really look different.”

Binaeril offered his honest impression.

“How do I look?”

“You look like a natural-born general.”

Binaeril pretended to cover his ears and changed the subject.

“How was your journey?”

“Nothing much happened. I went to the lord of Edenver and demanded a carriage. The lord isn’t a royalist but is quite timid, so he wasn’t likely to harm the princess. Besides, I was there to protect her. Then we just traveled down the main road straight to the capital.”

Binaeril briefly recounted what happened in Ayaxen and Thornwinter Swamp.

“The Platinum Knight? You met Dominic Schiller?”

“You know him?”

Sylvia’s face hardened slightly.

“Of course I know him. The Schiller family is a prominent noble faction.”

Royalists and noble factions. Princess Charlotte, the regent of the empire, and Binaeril’s friend, Princess Friederike, were the ones the nobles supported for the next imperial throne. The royalists favored Princess Charlotte or Friederike for succession, while the noble faction opposed the first female emperor, preferring one of the high-ranking lords to inherit the throne. Simply put, they were their enemies.

“I didn’t know that.”

“In the current palace, any noble’s name you mention is likely a noble faction supporter.”

In the current political landscape, the royalists were relatively weaker compared to the noble faction. Sylvia mentioned that the support Princess Charlotte had mustered was the only reason the royalists had any standing. Meanwhile, the noble faction boasted so many famous figures that it was hard to keep track.

“Duke Dux, Marquis Schiller, Marquis Papen, Count List, Viscount Hartman… You should remember at least these names.”

The deluge of names overwhelmed Binaeril.

He responded half-heartedly while letting most of the names flow in one ear and out the other.

“Got it. Completely understand.”

“…Doesn’t seem like it.”

They were on their way to meet the second princess. Before that, Binaeril, looking too dirty, had taken a bath and was dressed in proper court attire. The attendant guided them to Princess Friederike’s reception room. Sylvia stepped forward, bowed, and greeted. Binaeril raised his hand to greet Rike.

“Hey, long ti… Ouch!”

Sylvia forced Binaeril’s head down, making him adhere to proper etiquette. Binaeril, like a puppet, followed Sylvia’s lead.

Above him, he could hear Rike’s soft laughter.

He looked up to see one of his few friends, someone he was meeting again in their hometown. Princess Friederike looked stunning. The woman before him seemed almost different from the Rike he remembered.

Her burgundy dress shone mysteriously in the midday sunlight. The top, showing her elegant collarbones, narrowed down to her waist before flaring out from her hips.

“Hello, Binaeril.”

Friederike greeted him with her head slightly tilted at a 45-degree angle, as advised by her maid for the best appearance.

“Does your neck hurt?”

“Why are you holding your neck so awkwardly?”

“Uh… huh?”

‘This isn’t right…’

“Why are your clothes so fancy? Do all princesses in the empire dress like this?”

Sylvia quickly stepped forward and smacked Binaeril’s mouth.

“You insolent brat, how can you talk to the princess like that!”

“Ouch, ouch! I’m sorry!”

“I didn’t want to wear it, but my sister and the maids insisted so much…”

That was a lie. The maid recalled how Rike had hurriedly asked for the most fashionable dress to be put on as soon as she heard Binaeril was coming.

‘She’s adorable.’

Though her efforts didn’t seem to have the desired effect.

“Really? It didn’t seem like that in Ruben. I guess things are different in the empire.”

Rike smiled awkwardly.

“Well, it is different, being on opposite ends of the continent…”

The three of them were thrown into an awkward silence.

Even though it hadn’t been long, meeting in a different place made things uncomfortable.

But then, there was a commotion outside the second princess’s room.

The sounds of an argument could be clearly heard even through the thick doors of the palace.

“Regent, please wait…!”

“What do you mean wait? I’m here to see my sister. Move aside!”

A bright blonde, identical to Friederike, appeared.

Charlotte Albrecht, the regent.

The first princess and acting emperor, an unprecedented female regent of the empire, had arrived.

“Huh? Rike? Why are you wearing such an uncomfortable dress in the middle of the day?”

“Sister!!”

Friederike shouted.

“You startled me. Rike never yells like that.”

Charlotte Albrecht dismissed the maids, leaving only the four of them.

Herself, her sister, Sylvia, and Binaeril.

“You said something unnecessary.”

“Oh my, you’ve changed a lot. Blaming your sister now.”

Pretending to be surprised, Charlotte ran over to her sister and hugged her tightly.

“Come here, let me hug my dear sister!”

“Sister! Please!”

Friederike blushed and pushed her sister away, constantly glancing at Binaeril.

Curious about Charlotte’s over-the-top reaction, Binaeril asked, “Didn’t Rike arrive before me? Didn’t you meet already?”

“I’ve been so busy, I only managed a quick glance. But… Rike?”

‘Uh-oh.’

Binaeril wondered if he’d made a mistake by being too informal.

But Charlotte didn’t point it out. Instead, she grasped Binaeril’s hands with teary eyes.

“I’m so moved! Our Rike has made a friend!”

“Huh?”

“Our Rike has always been so gloomy, shy, and reserved, never making any friends at Elfenbine except Sylvia. I worried she’d never make a friend. And now, a friend! And a boy at that! So, a boyfriend!”

Charlotte couldn’t see it, but Binaeril noticed Rike trembling behind her sister’s shoulder.

“Just stay still!!” 

Her outburst, laced with faint magical energy, startled even the attendants outside the door, who checked on the situation. It took a moment before they could settle down and begin a proper conversation.

“How’s the headmaster?” 

“He’s doing well.” 

The four of them finally sat down calmly, enjoying the tea and refreshments brought by the attendant.

“It would be nice to visit him and thank him.”

“Both of you are so busy, it can’t be helped.”

“Once this is all over, let’s visit Elfenbine together with sister.”

“Once this is all over.” 

By “this,” they meant the successful succession of the throne by one of the sisters and the subsequent handling of any rebellious nobles. How long that would take, no one at the table knew.

“And how’s father?” Rike asked her sister. Charlotte shook her head slowly.

“Not well. It’s a miracle he’s alive day by day.”

The emperor’s death would undoubtedly be the spark for war. Although it was an indefinite wait, there was still much to be done before the emperor’s passing.

“First, we need to host a banquet for the nobles.”

“A banquet?”

Rike and Sylvia understood the workings of high society to some extent, but Binaeril did not. Coming from a distant eastern land, he had lived a life far removed from the social activities of the nobles.

“A banquet, very grand, so that many nobles can attend.”

Seeing Binaeril’s puzzled expression, Charlotte kindly continued to explain.

“In simple terms, it’s a performance to show that the Albrecht royal family is still strong and that no one should dare think of taking the throne.”

“Ah…”

“Besides showing off Rike, who hasn’t been seen in public for a long time, your debut, Binaeril Dalheim, is also a key agenda.”

“Huh? Me?”

Charlotte stood up and placed a hand on Binaeril’s shoulder, solemnly declaring.

“Binaeril Dalheim, as the regent of the empire, I command you.”

Binaeril was taken aback by her sudden action. Charlotte brought her finger to her lips, signaling Binaeril to be quiet, and continued.

“I hereby appoint you, along with Sylvia Forzia, as the official protectors of the second princess. As the acting emperor, I bestow upon you the rank of baronet, and the investiture ceremony will be held soon.”

Official protector? Baronet?

As Binaeril tried to process this, Rike stood up, gently holding her dress, and bowed.

“I look forward to your protection, Baronet Binaeril.”

In moments like these, it was clear how well the sisters complemented each other.