TPSR 30

Chapter 30

A subtle question appeared on the Master of the Mage Tower’s face.

“The purification stones are monopolized by the Imperial Family, aren’t they…?”

“Not anymore.”

“Oh? That’s surprising.”

He looked at me without bothering to hide his curiosity. His expression seemed to be measuring whether the girl before him was truly the Imperial Princess.

Well, I understood.

The princess who had been called a puppet of the Imperial Family was suddenly declaring that she would break their monopoly over purification stones.

“…I really am Loreia Frize. I have no ulterior motive. I simply intend to make it impossible for the Imperial Family to continue monopolizing purification stones.”

“They say people change when they’re about to die. Are you terminally ill?”

The Master tilted his head.

‘Technically, I died and came back.’

I answered only in my mind. He wouldn’t believe it even if I said it aloud.

After scrutinizing me for a long while, his violet eyes curved into crescents. It was a sly smile.

“Hmm. No intention of telling me where these purification stones come from?”

“No.”

I answered firmly.

No one could ever learn how the purification stones were made. My life depended on it.

‘Besides, if I’m determined to hide it, there’s no way for him to find out.’

They came from my body, after all.

The Master sighed in faint disappointment.

“The Princess has more secrets than I expected.”

“I was taught that concealing some of your cards is the key to negotiation.”

“Wow. Negotiation…”

His eyes widened.

“The Princess?”

The exclamation burst out in disbelief. His violet gaze scanned me persistently, as if I were some fascinating new lifeform.

‘…What is that look?’

Seeing my slightly displeased expression, he chuckled.

“Then let me change the question. I’m curious why you suddenly made this decision. Is that reason also a secret?”

“That…”

I trailed off.

‘This much should be fine to tell.’

After all, if I wanted his cooperation, I needed to clearly explain my situation. This wasn’t something I could simply conceal.

“…Because I don’t believe the Imperial Family should monopolize purification stones. I intend to distribute as many high-purity stones as possible throughout the Empire.”

“Did you fight with your father?”

“…What?”

The unexpected question made me forget my composure entirely.

Father? Did he just call the Emperor my father? And before that—did we fight?

What kind of absurd question was that?

But the Master looked perfectly serious.

“You’re thirteen this year, right? It’s about the age for adolescence.”

“That’s not it.”

What in the world was wrong with this man?

I was discussing something serious, and all he could ask was whether I’d fought with my parents? He was treating me like some teenager rebelling after an argument at home.

Was this how an eight-hundred-year-old mage viewed a thirteen-year-old?

“You shouldn’t take out your anger here just because you’re upset with your parents.”

…Correction.

He wasn’t treating me like a teenager. He was treating me like a child.

My face twisted.

“I am the Imperial Princess. My judgment is not so poor that I would make a decision of this magnitude on impulse.”

I enunciated every word carefully.

“Do you truly think I would risk my life stepping onto the land of mages simply to throw a tantrum?”

As I deliberately emphasized each syllable, his expression grew even more peculiar. His eyes widened, his lips twitched, and then he burst into bright laughter like bubbles popping.

“Ah, fine. I understand.”

He took the purification stone from my hand and lifted it toward the sunlight, turning it this way and that. Red light shimmered around the room.

“So the puppet is planning to oppose the Imperial Family… What a remarkable puppet.”

I was newly grateful that this was the land of mages.

Had anyone else heard such words, I would have been dragged to an underground dungeon without question.

“I wondered what you meant when you said it wasn’t a trade. So you intend to use me as a chess piece?”

I flinched involuntarily.

The Master smiled lazily.

“Did I hit the mark too precisely?”

His gaze drifted sideways.

He wasn’t wrong.

This wasn’t really a trade—it was me borrowing his abilities unilaterally.

All I could offer were purification stones, while what he had to do was far greater.

I hesitated, then quickly added,

“…But it’s not a bad deal for you either, is it?”

I had to say something.

“You’ve never seen purification stones of this purity before. It would be an interesting study for you. And if you use them to protect the land of mages and neutralize the Imperial Family, wouldn’t that benefit you as well?”

“Hmm.”

He stroked his chin, drawing out the sound.

“You’re half right, half wrong.”

That habitual smile returned to his lips.

“I agree with the first two points to some extent. But dealing with the Imperial Family is extremely bothersome for me.”

He shrugged demonstratively.

“If necessary, I can simply leave the continent. Why go through the trouble?”

I forgot to manage my expression and frowned slightly.

‘Truly… he’s not easy to handle.’

Unlike Hella, who took responsibility for wandering mages out of a sense of duty, the Master was driven purely by interest. An unpredictable eccentric.

He governed the vast western lands—but that was all. Allowing mages who reached the west to remain without driving them away was, to him, the height of generosity.

‘Which is why, the moment demonic energy spread to the west, he abandoned the land without hesitation.’

A sense of defeat crept in. I hadn’t anticipated this reaction.

‘Even so, I thought a crimson purification stone would be enough to capture his interest.’

Should I propose different terms?

But I had nothing else to offer. I couldn’t even begin to guess what might tempt someone who had lived over eight hundred years.

‘What do I do?’

Anxiety gripped me.

If I failed here, the entire plan would collapse.

Meanwhile, the Master was carefully observing my ever-changing expressions. He looked more entertained than curious.

At last, after glancing between the purification stone in his hand and my face, he gave a light shrug.

“Fine.”

“…What?”

I thought I had misheard.

“It’s troublesome, but you’re quite interesting. I’ll help you.”

“…Really?”

My tightly furrowed brow twisted at an odd angle.

He’d just said it was bothersome.

Why the sudden change?

“There’s nothing more entertaining than betrayal. Especially when it’s a family feud within the Imperial House.”

He muttered to himself.

“This will be fun.”

Finding amusement in an imperial family feud—

That wasn’t exactly a normal mindset.

‘…What an eccentric.’

Before my regression, he hadn’t seemed this extreme. Or perhaps I just hadn’t known him well enough from our brief encounter.

It didn’t matter.

In the end, he had agreed to help me.

“You won’t be disappointed.”

“I hope not.”

He nodded as if in agreement.

“Is that all you wanted to discuss?”

“For now.”

“Then you should go. The gaze of your companion outside has been quite heated for a while.”

The Master shivered theatrically and withdrew the barrier.

Beyond the wall, Damian—who had apparently been biting his nails—snapped his eyes upward.

‘…He was biting his nails?’

Was he actually worried?

“Have you finished speaking?”

I wiped the lingering smile from my face and lifted my chin proudly.

“Yes. I persuaded him.”

I couldn’t quite hide the satisfaction in my voice.

It couldn’t be helped.

I had truly succeeded.

Damian looked at me with an odd expression.

“…Persuaded him? Your Highness?”

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s just hard to believe.”

Honestly, these people.

I am capable of persuasion, you know.

Is it so strange to convince someone with words instead of threats or coercion?

…Well, before my regression, perhaps it would have been.

Back then, I relied solely on the Emperor’s authority to intimidate others.

But things are different now.

Even as I clenched my fist, Damian didn’t seem inclined to change his skeptical gaze.

From the side, the Master rested his chin on his hand, watching us.

“You two seem quite close.”

“We’re not.”

“We are not.”

Damian and I recoiled at the exact same time.