Chapter 28
Duke Sandrin ordered the knights who came with him to carry the sack.
Even though they knew there was a person inside, the knights moved the sack without questioning anything.
No one witnessed it.
“I’d already sent the palace staff to Eva’s side to help with the wedding preparations, since they were all busy.”
Thanks to that, Brilliante and Duke Sandrin were able to cram the short escort into the carriage without anyone noticing.
“Then we’ll be taking our leave now,” Duke Sandrin said, bowing his head to me.
“…Thank you, Your Highness,” he added.
I responded innocently, “Don’t mention it! I hope my advice helped!”
At my words, the duke looked at me with a complicated expression before turning and getting into the carriage.
Now he must know that my bright demeanor was all an act.
But the duke won’t reveal my true nature to anyone.
He’s not one to break trust.
Besides, the duke rarely leaves his territory anyway.
Once he gets Agasa back, he’ll likely become even more reclusive to protect her.
If I had continued acting cheerful in the drawing room, I probably wouldn’t have earned the duke’s trust.
So it’s fine to have shown this much.
While I was thinking that, Brilliante, who had been standing behind the duke, approached me.
“Your Highness.”
Looking at her, I calmed my unsettled heart.
…I didn’t want to show my true self to Brilliante.
I deliberately answered brightly, “Yes!”
Brilliante made an odd expression, as if she understood something but wasn’t quite sure.
I found it hard to look at her face, so I unconsciously turned my gaze to the side.
“We won’t see each other for a while, huh?”
I didn’t know how she would react to finally seeing my real self.
Would she feel betrayed by someone who had been acting all this time?
…It can’t be helped.
I had already… prepared myself for everything.
Just as I was swallowing the bitterness rising in my chest, I felt a warm embrace that made me flinch.
Brilliante hugged me tightly without saying a word.
I held my breath for a moment before whispering softly.
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Not that.”
Brilliante quietly patted my head.
“I thought I knew everything about you, but… that was arrogant of me.”
She chuckled softly.
“Still… please don’t forget that I’m always on your side.”
At her words, I blinked slowly, then gently leaned my cheek against her shoulder.
And I admitted it.
“You’re the only person I ever truly trusted in this place.”
“It’s an honor, Your Highness.”
“Even you… are leaving my side now.”
It’ll be lonely.
I kept that thought to myself, not voicing it aloud.
Even so, Brilliante patted my back gently, as if she understood everything.
Brilliante’s carriage grew smaller as it moved farther away.
Before getting in, she had gripped my hand tightly and reminded me again and again:
—Your Highness, if you ever need me, send a letter anytime!
If Duke Sandrin smuggled out Agasa, no one could predict what Govard might do.
That’s why it was safer for Brilliante to leave her position as my maid and return to her territory.
Brilliante accepted this, but she still seemed uneasy about my final words and continued to worry about me.
—No matter what happens, I’ll come to find you. And when things settle down, I’ll definitely return to your side.
I had nodded at that, but honestly, I knew it wouldn’t happen.
This palace will soon be in ruins—how could I call her back to a place like this?
Brilliante, you should live peacefully in your territory now.
With your father, and the younger sibling you’ve finally found. Enjoy family life together.
Until the carriage of the Duke of Sandrin became a tiny dot and disappeared from view…
I stood still for a long time, as if nails were driven into my feet.
Then, a breeze brushing my cheek brought me back to my senses.
[Master!]
Modway?
Right in front of my face, Modway flapped his wings excitedly.
[Master finally noticed me!]
[Oh my~. We called you so many times~.]
[She must not want that human to leave.]
Only then did I notice the spirits fluttering around me.
They were all chattering loudly, refusing to leave my side.
Since I knew all of it stemmed from worry for me, I gave a small smile.
I’m okay. I have you all, after all.
[Master! Me too!]
[Oh my, you’re so sweet~.]
[How admirable, Master.]
But Modway, why are you here? Did something happen with Hist?
At my question, Modway fluttered down to my shoulder and answered energetically:
[Yes! There’s something to report. Hist said to meet him at the greenhouse!]
…Really?
[Hmm~? Modway, your tone when talking about that human has changed~?]
[Now that you mention it?! What’s going on, Modway!]
[Hehe! Hist is a good human! He’s actually nice, it turns out!]
[You spineless bird! You fell for him already?!]
[Master! Let’s go! Hist is waiting!]
[Oh my~. Nesgal’s being ignored~.]
[Grrr!]
I walked back into the palace, surrounded by noisy spirits.
After naturally shaking off Is, who had followed me, I headed alone to the greenhouse. But when I reached the entrance, no one was there.
Where is he?
I was looking around when—
“Over here, Princess Neroli.”
A breeze blew with that voice.
It was a little different from the natural wind created by Modway…
A magical, artificial breeze.
At the same time, Hist appeared.
He met my eyes and asked cheerfully,
“Have you been well, Princess?”
I responded with a question of my own.
“Was that teleportation?”
“It’s my specialty.”
“Where did you come from?”
“From over there—” he gestured casually behind the greenhouse.
“There was a perfect tree to lie on. I was waiting for you up there.”
Among the trees back there, the only one large enough for a grown man to lie on was the big tree where my hideout was.
…Now I’m the only one in the palace who knows that hideout exists.
As that lonely thought swept over me again—
Hist’s voice cut through it abruptly.
“By the way, there’s a big hole in that tree, you know? Did you know about it?”
“…”
“It kind of reminds me of the secret hideouts I imagined as a kid.”
“…”
“From now on, whenever I wait for you, I’ll do it there~.”
He hummed as he said that.
Somehow… his tone was annoyingly smug.
Of all people, he had to be the one to discover it.
I concealed my annoyance and unlocked the greenhouse.
“I thought you’d just go in without waiting.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
As the lock clicked and the door opened, I stepped inside briskly.
“Locks like these are meaningless in front of teleportation.”
Teleportation is a top-level spell that requires three mages to gather massive magic power.
Without a defense spell of equal level, it’s hard to block.
The important areas of the imperial palace are always protected by such top-level defenses.
But my greenhouse wasn’t considered a high-security zone.
So to someone like this monster of a Tower Master who could teleport alone, the greenhouse was an easy space to enter at any time.
“Then why did you bother waiting outside for me?”
“What do you mean, Princess?”
Hist followed me into the greenhouse and answered as if it were obvious:
“You didn’t give permission. Of course I couldn’t just barge in!”
At his words, I paused on my way to the small fountain in the middle of the greenhouse and looked back at him.
“You really thought that? The same guy who wandered around the Imperial Museum without permission?”
A few days ago, Hist had barged into the Imperial Museum—which housed the empire’s rare treasures—and wandered about as if it were his own house. It wasn’t exactly a secret.
Every newspaper had splashed it across the headlines.
“Eccentric Tower Master Causes Trouble Again!”
“Just How Far Will His Rudeness Go?!”
Something like that.
For the record, the Emperor had been furious, but ultimately couldn’t kick Hist out.
The imperial palace desperately needed the Tower and Hist’s magic.
Most of the convenience spells in key imperial facilities are outdated.
While the Emperor had shunned the Tower, it had continued developing cutting-edge magical tech.
Imperial court mages tried to keep up, but in the end, they couldn’t.
Eventually, it became impossible to sustain things with outdated magic.
This vast palace needed safe, modern magic.
The Emperor, especially, was humiliated that his personal residence was falling behind other nations, which finally made him re-invite the Tower.
That’s why massive renovations are underway in the palace right now.
That’s also why Hist was allowed to stay in the palace for an unusually long time.
Given the Emperor’s immense pride and arrogance, letting Hist in must’ve taken a great deal of resolve.
So his subordinates could only turn a blind eye to minor incidents like that one.
Though they did try to humiliate him with that news coverage…
“Hahaha! Princess, did you see the papers? I thought my photo came out well!”
Judging by how carefree he was, he clearly hadn’t been affected at all.
He strolled over to me casually.
“To be honest, I do barge into places when I’m interested~. But I try to behave in front of people I want to look good for.”
“You want to look good for me?”
“Of course!”
“But not the Emperor?”
“Hmm? Why would I need to impress him?”
Hist was already standing in front of me with a genuinely puzzled expression.
I like that he cares more about my opinion than the Emperor’s.
