Chapter 39
Then he quickly looked around as if on guard and lowered his voice.
“Are you speaking like that because you’re worried someone might overhear us? Well, that’s understandable.”
Soon he snapped his fingers and smiled with satisfaction.
“No need to worry now, Princess! I’ve set up a soundproof barrier in this drawing room.”
[Oh my~, that was supposed to be my job~.]
Marin appeared and lightly smacked Hyst’s cheek with her tail.
Hyst giggled and was about to greet Marin familiarly, but after noticing Moren, he quietly closed his mouth.
I glanced at him slightly and smiled sweetly.
“It’s only natural to show proper respect to the Tower Master, who is an honored guest of the imperial family!”
‘What’s the point of setting up a barrier? Moren is inside it.’
I had never once shown my true self to Moren.
To him, I was just a kind, bright, and gentle older sister.
‘In this situation, I can’t behave the way I do when we’re alone.’
Hyst had discovered my real personality far too quickly.
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I changed the topic.
“Ah, Moren. I heard a rumor about you and the Tower Master.”
“A rumor?”
“Yes. That the eccentric Tower Master has been bullying the powerless youngest prince!”
“Oh? That’s quite an interesting rumor.”
Hyst chuckled, then tilted his head.
“Well, can we really call it just a rumor? What do you think, Moren?”
As he spoke, Hyst ruffled Moren’s hair roughly.
It seemed to happen often, because Moren looked quite used to the gesture.
“It was certainly difficult… but it was all necessary.”
Moren calmly fixed his messy hair as he spoke.
I carefully examined my younger brother.
For reference, the rumor that had quietly spread throughout the palace was intentionally spread by Hyst.
‘Unlike his secret meetings with me, he openly came and went from Moren’s palace.’
The reason Hyst moved so openly was written clearly in Moren’s growth journal, which he faithfully recorded.
- Princess, if Moren becomes my disciple, we cannot hide it. The moment his dormant magic awakens, the skilled ones will notice. And to begin with, a member of Lornod’s imperial family seriously learning magic will draw everyone’s attention. You know that, right?
Of course I knew. The imperial family rarely learned magic.
And yet that unnoticed youngest prince becoming the Tower Master’s disciple?
‘Everyone will carefully watch how Moren’s skills grow.’
That was why Hyst believed openly showing their connection would actually reduce suspicion.
I agreed.
‘However, I asked him not to create the impression from the beginning that they were master and disciple.’
I didn’t want to divert attention from Agasa, Gobard, and the princes’ competition.
Hyst accepted my request and deliberately acted as if he were bullying Moren.
‘Fortunately—or unfortunately—Hyst had committed so many eccentric acts before that no one found it strange.’
Of course, Moren, who didn’t know the discussions between us, quickly spoke up.
“Don’t misunderstand, Sister. The Tower Master didn’t really bully me.”
I smiled faintly at his attempt to defend Hyst.
“I know.”
I knew Hyst had carefully taken care of Moren when he was falling into lethargy.
As an outsider, he had been able to provide what Moren needed more than anyone else.
‘Otherwise, he couldn’t have written that growth journal so carefully.’
Even Modway seemed to have completely opened his heart to Hyst.
That was why I sincerely expressed my gratitude.
“You took care of Moren. Thank you again.”
“…You’re only recognizing my efforts now? That makes me strangely happy, Princess.”
Hyst scratched his chin awkwardly, answering a beat late.
“How strange. Why does this make me feel so…”
He muttered, then shrugged and looked at me.
“And Princess.”
“Yes?”
“I told Moren everything.”
“…Everything?”
“About us.”
“…What?”
This time, I reacted a beat late.
Seeing my expression, Moren smiled brightly and cut in.
“That’s right. I heard it all. Sister, you became ‘friends’ with the Tower Master?”
“What?”
“He said you asked him to take me as his disciple. I heard everything.”
“Friends?”
“Yes! I knew you had many friends, Sister, but I never imagined you’d even make the Tower Master your friend!”
Moren’s eyes sparkled.
“You’re amazing, Sister!”
“….”
I smiled gently at Moren’s shining eyes and then looked at Hyst.
Hyst laughed loudly, interpreting my gaze however he pleased.
“Do you know how hard I worked to become the Princess’s friend? Right?”
“Ah, haha… yes.”
“I even told him we agreed to speak casually. The Princess speaks comfortably with her friends!”
Listening to his carefree voice, I tilted my head slightly.
‘Friend….’
There was no better word to neatly wrap up the ambiguous relationship between Hyst and me.
I also needed an excuse to explain things to Moren anyway.
So I didn’t refute Hyst any further and smiled even brighter.
“Yes. We’re friends.”
Of course, I would have to say something later to Hyst for speaking so freely.
“So you’ve been talking however you like because of that?”
“I only told Moren. That’s not exactly talking however I like.”
Hyst grinned.
“And Princess, that tone suits you better.”
He looked oddly proud.
I shot him a look, annoyed for no reason, but he suddenly stood up.
“Well~ I’ve set up the barrier and bragged about my friendship with the Princess. I should get going.”
“Already?”
“You’re disappointed, aren’t you?”
I lightly ignored his pointless question.
“I was wondering why you suddenly visited my palace with Moren. It was because of the barrier?”
I looked at Moren, and he nodded.
“I haven’t learned how to make a barrier yet. In the imperial palace… we have to be careful everywhere.”
A strong wariness passed over his face.
The bitterness in my mouth deepened, thinking how Mother’s death had changed him like this.
[I can make a soundproof barrier too!]
[Me too! Me too!]
[Hmm~ I’m the best at it~]
The spirits appeared eagerly, but of course Moren couldn’t hear them.
I calmed them inwardly and waved Hyst away.
“Alright. Go safely.”
“Isn’t that a bit too casual?”
“I speak comfortably to my friends.”
I returned his earlier words exactly. He blinked, then burst out laughing.
“I like that insincere farewell of yours.”
[When the Princess only shows her honest side to me, it secretly makes a person excited.]
A voice suddenly whispered right beside my ear. My eyes widened.
I looked at Hyst, but he stood there without moving his lips.
‘Magic?’
As if sensing my confusion, the voice sounded again.
[I wanted to have secret conversations with the Princess like the spirits do, so I researched a new spell.]
‘I don’t want to.’
[Oh? You feel the same? I thought so!]
With a mischievous smile, Hyst bowed politely.
“Princess, please continue catching up with your brother.”
With that, a familiar gust of wind blew, and Hyst disappeared.
I stared at the empty space and let out a small sigh.
‘So chaotic.’
Perhaps misunderstanding my reaction, Moren hurried to sit closer to me.
“The Tower Master was teasing you just now, right? He’s really impossible.”
“It’s fine, Moren. His skills are unquestionable.”
“That’s true. Even the invisibility spell he used when we came here wasn’t detected by anyone!”
That was because the palaces of powerless princes and princesses like us only had basic protective barriers.
Still, avoiding the eyes of all the imperial mages was truly impressive.
“To become the disciple of one of the greatest archmages in history… It still feels like a dream!”
At his words, I watched his profile for a moment and then gently stroked his hair.
“Really? I felt uneasy because I pushed things forward on my own… You want to learn magic?”
I turned fully toward him.
“Imperial members of Lornod are naturally bad at learning magic. Hyst said you have talent, but no one knows how it will turn out. Even so, do you want to learn?”
Moren did not hesitate for even a second.
“Yes. I’m going to become strong. I have to become strong.”
I froze.
It was the first time I had seen that expression and heard that tone from him.
There was an unfamiliar desperation in Moren.
‘I knew he took Hyst’s hand because he wanted to grow stronger.’
It was written clearly in the growth journal.
Hyst had suddenly visited him, persuaded him with his smooth tongue, and suggested becoming his disciple. After days of consideration, Moren finally agreed.
‘He said he wanted to become strong.’
He had always faithfully followed Mother’s advice—that becoming strong would only make him a target.
Yet now…
The reason wasn’t written in the journal.
Even Modway, who had stayed by his side, didn’t know why.
Neither Hyst nor I knew where that desperation came from.
Perhaps that was why—
“Why?”
Even though I was the one who arranged for him to become Hyst’s disciple, the question slipped out.
“Why do you want to become strong?”
Moren hesitated for a long time, looking at me.
An inexplicable anxiety rose within me.
‘Is Mother’s death related to this?’
‘That day, when you said Mother didn’t commit suicide—what did you mean?’
‘What exactly do you know?’
Countless questions surfaced and disappeared chaotically in my mind.
