Chapter 31
When we came down from the Mage Tower, the sunset was already sinking beyond the horizon.
Before I left, the Master of the Mage Tower slipped a ring onto my finger, saying it was a way to contact him directly.
It was a silver ring with a small purple gemstone set into it.
“…So I can use this ring when I need to contact you?”
“Yeah. Tap the ring twice. As long as I’m not outside the continent, it’ll connect immediately.”
I held up the ring on my index finger and examined it with curiosity. Every time the angle changed, the gemstone emitted a mysterious glow.
‘…It’s pretty.’
From Carlos’s artifact to this communication device from the Master of the Mage Tower—
Ever since my regression, it felt like I was seeing every kind of fascinating object imaginable.
“I’ll come collect the purification stones soon, so don’t forget.”
“Yes.”
“But if I come to pick them up and, hmm… you’re dead, that would be troublesome.”
‘…….’
That was hardly an ordinary farewell.
I couldn’t decide whether to take it as a blessing or a curse.
Meanwhile, the Master of the Mage Tower, who had placed the horses Damian and I had ridden in the center, flicked his hand in the air.
The ground beneath our feet began to glow.
“This is a favor from me. When you open your eyes, you’ll be in the Grand Duke’s territory.”
It had taken us a full day and a half to get here, yet it seemed the return trip would take less than a minute.
Feeling the greatness of magic once again, I bowed my head slightly.
“I’ll see you again, Master of the Mage Tower.”
“Sion.”
“…Yes?”
“My name.”
Before I could even react to the name that suddenly struck my ears, a brilliant light filled my vision.
“Call me that next time.”
His faint voice was the last thing I heard.
When the light finally faded, we were standing at the entrance of the Grand Duke’s territory.
“…It actually worked.”
I muttered blankly.
Everything had happened so quickly that it felt like a dream. Damian, standing beside me, seemed to feel the same way as he looked around with a stunned expression.
“The Master of the Mage Tower truly is remarkable.”
Even if it were the land of mages, the inland areas near the capital had long been consumed by demonic energy.
In such an environment where ordinary mages could barely even release mana, he had cast large-scale magic without the slightest error.
“You seem surprised, Young Grand Duke.”
“Yes, it’s my first time seeing it. With purification stones so scarce, large-scale magic is impossible in the inland regions.”
I pressed my lips together. I had tried to tease him a little, but it ended up backfiring.
“By the way, what exactly did you say to the Master of the Mage Tower to gain his cooperation so easily?”
“Trade secret.”
“…What?”
“If I intended to tell you, would I have put up a barrier to talk?”
A dubious gaze clung to my back.
“Did you speak like that to His Highness the First Prince as well?”
“If I had, Vincent probably wouldn’t dislike me.”
“…So it’s possible to be even more irritating than this.”
Damian shook his head as if sighing in disbelief.
Then he pulled the reins and guided his horse toward the Grand Duke’s residence.
“So what will you do now, Young Grand Duke?”
“What do you mean?”
“Considering the Grand Duke’s personality, he must have told you to report if I did anything suspicious. I’m curious what you’ve decided.”
At my calm words, Damian’s expression turned strange.
“Did you perhaps turn thirty-three instead of thirteen without my noticing, Your Highness the Princess?”
“…Suddenly?”
“You’re talking about something that could cost lives, yet you seem far too calm.”
Well, I wasn’t thirty-three, but I had once reached twenty.
Startled by Damian’s unintended sharpness, I steadied myself before replying.
“It’s the truth.”
Damian pressed his lips tightly together. His expression looked uncomfortable, as though something were stuck in his throat.
After moving his lips for a long time, he finally muttered,
“…For now, I intend to wait and see. I can’t submit a false report.”
“So you’re postponing your decision?”
“Yes. We’re not exactly in a position to trust each other.”
I had already shown him everything when I met Vincent, yet he still said we weren’t in a position to trust each other.
I couldn’t say I didn’t understand, but it was still a little deflating.
He had even held my hand in front of the Master of the Mage Tower. Yet in matters like this, he was completely ruthless.
“Right… well.”
As I let out a long sigh, Damian moved his lips a few times before slowly adding,
“Do your best.”
“……”
“Until I feel like believing you.”
“Oh my! Why are you back already?”
As soon as we stepped into the main building, Mia—who had been moving lamps in the first-floor hall—stopped in surprise.
The trip was supposed to take at least a week, so returning in just three days must have been unbelievable.
She blinked in confusion before hesitantly asking,
“Did something happen?”
For some reason, she kept glancing at me.
‘…Does she think something went wrong because of me?’
The Master of the Mage Tower, Damian, and now Mia as well—
At this point, I was starting to reflect on myself.
“No, we safely visited the land of mages, and I successfully persuaded the Master of the Mage Tower.”
“Persuaded him? You did, Your Highness?”
Her immediate response was disbelief.
I could see Damian coughing to hide a laugh.
That man, seriously.
“See? That’s the normal reaction, Your Highness the Princess.”
“I’m already painfully aware of how terrible my reputation is, Young Grand Duke. You don’t need to remind me.”
“Oh dear.”
Damian curled his lips in a smug little smile.
‘I can’t even punch him.’
Mia, who had been watching us nervously, waved her hands hurriedly.
“Oh no, Your Highness, that’s not what I meant—”
“It’s fine.”
What was the point of talking about it?
I waved my hand dismissively and headed straight up the stairs to the second floor, using travel fatigue as an excuse.
However, before I even reached the top of the stairs, I ran straight into Carlos, who was coming down from the upper floor.
Carlos looked me up and down silently before speaking in a flat tone.
“So you managed to come back alive.”
It was a rather dry greeting for someone returning home.
“Yes, I’m back.”
At my calm reply, Carlos’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Watching him, I felt a strange emotion. He acted as though he didn’t care whether I died, yet he had still sent an artifact through Damian. I couldn’t understand his reasoning.
While I was lost in thought, Carlos—who had been standing at the top of the stairs—started moving again.
But he didn’t come down.
Instead, he turned around and began walking back the way he had come.
Then he spoke to me, who was looking up at him in confusion from below.
“Follow me. I have something to tell you.”
“Now?”
There was no reply.
The silence was confirmation.
‘What is it?’
Though puzzled, I obediently followed after him.
Carlos headed to his office.
Crossing the room, he picked something up from his desk and handed it to me.
“There’s a problem.”
It was a letter bearing the seal of the temple.
‘…Why the temple?’
A bad feeling made my heart sink.
I hadn’t even sent the documents regarding my guardian yet.
As if confirming my suspicion, Carlos added in a low voice,
“The Imperial Family has already made their move.”
