Chapter – 10
“You could just wash with cleansing magic.”
“I hate light attribute magic.”
Magic had different attributes, and cleansing magic belonged to “light,” which was incompatible with Sara’s “dark” attribute.
Still, most people used cleansing magic in daily life because it was extremely convenient, but Sara was stubborn about such things.
“How picky.”
In any case, Sara was a habitual latecomer. Already used to it, I decided to let it slide and pointed at the paper on the table.
“Sara, can you take a look at this?”
But the moment Sara saw the paper, she frowned sharply and stepped back.
“Princess, this is a high-level defense spell. And it feels extremely unpleasant. Who on earth cast this?”
“Unpleasant?”
“There are multiple overlapping spells. Dark, wind… and fire is the strongest. I hate these mixed attributes.”
I didn’t particularly care whether Sara liked it or not, but I was a kind master. I stepped closer and held her hand tightly.
“Sara, you still have a lot of debt to repay. How about we go to the Galatia Bank and check your balance to reaffirm our master–servant relationship?”
“…One day I will blow up that bank.”
“Oh dear, the Galatia Bank is a continental financial institution. You’d have to destroy the Serbi Kingdom’s magic tower first. They’re protecting the bank, you know?”
Sara frowned deeply and pulled her hand away from mine.
Then she snatched her staff from the air and walked briskly toward the table.
“Anyway, there’s a tracking spell on this. It’s possible the fact that Your Highness touched this document has already been recorded.”
Sara lifted her staff, then looked at me.
“I know.”
“You might be in danger. Is that alright?”
“There’s a barrier over the entire princess palace. And I also have plenty of protective items you made. If needed, would you stay nearby for a few months?”
“I hate bright places. I prefer researching magic in dark, damp places.”
What an unfriendly companion mage.
I already knew Sara lacked affection, but I also knew she lacked it to the point where she wouldn’t care even if the princess died.
“You’re too cold.”
“Isn’t that all Your Highness’s fault?”
We continued our friendly back-and-forth while staring intently at the paper.
Sara’s staff was as thin as a chopstick. It had no jewels or decorations whatsoever.
I heard it was carved from a tree with extremely strong magical energy, but as expected of Sara, who found everything bothersome, the design was utterly plain.
Sara poked the string binding the paper with her staff.
At that moment, a vortex began swirling over the string. It was small but powerful enough to whip both our hair upward violently.
The bookshelves shook, curtains flapped wildly, and ink and pen nibs on the table fell to the floor.
Knights and maids waiting outside, ordered not to enter, shouted anxiously asking what was happening.
“It’s fine! Don’t come in!”
I shouted firmly, then looked at Sara. Beads of sweat were running down her cheeks—unlike her usual self.
‘This must be a seriously powerful spell. It’s the first time I’ve seen Sara struggle.’
Right now, Sara was forcibly breaking the defensive spell with an offensive one. In other words, she was attacking a high-level defensive magic layered on the string with even stronger magic, causing a clash that formed the vortex.
How many minutes had the wind raged?
CRASH!! CLANG!!
All the glass in the room, including the windows, shattered, and the string finally came undone.
Even the glass spheres encasing the chandelier candles broke, nearly causing the chandelier to fall.
Sara quickly grabbed me and pressed me against the wall. Startled, I blinked while being held in her arms.
“Sara, th-thank you…”
“What is happening!!”
Knights and maids rushed into the room. They were horrified by the state of the room.
“W-what on earth…”
Then they noticed me pressed against the wall in Sara’s arms and immediately drew their swords and spears.
“Release the princess at once!!”
“Stop it! Sara did nothing wrong!”
At my shout, the knights slowly lowered their weapons. Sara loosened her grip, and I stepped out of her arms.
“Thank you, Sara.”
“…Yes.”
I nodded at Sara and slowly approached the paper on the table.
‘To think such a powerful spell exists. This must definitely be classified.’
My curiosity, once ignited, refused to stop. My hand had already unfolded the paper.
And the moment I saw its contents—I froze.
“Princess, is something wrong?”
“….”
“Princess.”
Sara called me several more times, but I couldn’t say anything.
It wasn’t just because of the contents.
The content itself was shocking—but more importantly, the writing on the paper was in a script that should not exist in this world.
[ On the final day of the birthday banquet, kidnap Saintess Aurora and teleport her to a cave in the Resher Desert. ]
“Hangul…!”
Still in shock, I sat in my study and stared at the paper.
‘Is there someone else who knows Hangul besides me?’
My thoughts branched endlessly, spiraling in all directions.
‘No… maybe it’s the script of a small tribe or an unknown race. It is a novel world after all—I might not remember everything…’
But I had years of experience reading romance fantasy novels.
Generally, protagonists awaken and instantly think: Oh my god! I can somehow read, write, and speak this unknown language!
They adapt effortlessly with some genius-level ability.
So such a thing like Hangul simply shouldn’t exist in this genre. And after transmigrating, I had naturally started using Singkester’s language instead.
It made no sense for Hangul to exist in a medieval fantasy world.
Moreover, the content itself was a problem.
Since it had been dropped by Eric the aide, it must have been a secret order given to him.
[ Kidnap Saintess Aurora… ]
Anger surged and I shot up from my seat.
“Kidnap the Saintess? How outrageous is that! It must have been ordered by Prince Leonard.”
That polished face—how dare he deceive me? Did he think being handsome meant I would fall for it?
…Well, I did, but still.
While my anger boiled—
A sound suddenly came from the window frame.
“Sir Aaron?”
I turned around, thinking my brother had come, and my heart nearly stopped.
The person sitting on the window frame was not a white owl. It was Prince Leonard, wearing a chilling expression I had never seen during the birthday banquet.
I didn’t even have time to scream.
He moved faster than anyone I knew and covered my mouth.
The princess palace had a magical barrier that prevented anyone except those I allowed from using magic.
In addition, a divine barrier was also set. Only overwhelming force could intrude into my study.
In other words, the man before me was a monster beyond comprehension.
‘You prince bastard… what the hell are you?!’
As I panicked, a bitter taste spread in my mouth and my consciousness began to blur. My eyelids slowly grew heavy, and his words echoed in my ears.
“Princess, you’ll need to come with me for a moment.”
Drip.
“Ah, it’s cold!”
A cold droplet hitting my crown snapped me awake. When I opened my eyes, I was somewhere completely unfamiliar.
There were no windows, and moss covered every surface.
Even more chilling—iron bars were visible in the distance.
A prison.
“You’re awake?”
Startled, I turned around.
Behind me stood the man who had abducted me just before I lost consciousness.
His face was hidden in shadow.
He looked like a grim reaper.
“W-where… am I?”
