Chapter 05
The Empress nodded calmly, as if she had grasped the way of the world.
Erkina waited nervously by the door. Soon, a voice broke the silence of the audience chamber.
“So, Mernelia, are you planning to raise Erkina alone all this time?”
“Erkina is an Inbern. No one could hope for a nobler status than that—who would suit the position of my husband?”
“Mernelia, get a grip. If you cannot become Emperor, do you think Pailord would let you and your daughter live in Inbern untouched? I have not yet chosen an heir to follow me.”
The practical advice brought another pause inside the chamber.
Erkina couldn’t see the scene directly, but she could guess it.
Prideful Mernelia hearing such words in front of a common magician—how furious she must be. She would surely hate Zertemion, who had caused this situation.
“Even so, shouldn’t you have a husband who can support you and build a power base behind you? If you aim to ascend the throne.”
Then came the Emperor’s coaxing tone aimed at Mernelia.
“Master of the Magic Tower, what do you think?”
“Your Majesty’s guidance is, as always, correct.”
“Yes, Master of the Magic Tower. You understand, then. Who do you think would suit my daughter as a husband?”
The Emperor already had an answer in mind. But the magician came up with an even better one.
“Wouldn’t the head of the knightly family guarding the borders, Marquis Verden, be suitable?”
It sounded like he was trying to pass the responsibility. Yet the Emperor seemed pleased.
“Well, he is indeed a prime candidate for a husband.”
Erkina pounded her chest in frustration at Zertemion’s words.
‘Why are you recommending some other man like an idiot? Didn’t you like Mom from the beginning?’
At that moment, the Empress also sighed while lightly patting her chest.
“Erkina, it seems it’s time for you to go in.”
The Empress shook her head.
The kindly grandmother now wore a slightly stern expression and led Erkina as she opened the audience chamber doors wide.
“Empress, Erkina, what brings you here?”
“Erkina said she has a birthday gift she wishes to receive from Your Majesty.”
Before Erkina could even think, the Empress had announced it, and she found herself standing before the Emperor.
The Empress lightly pushed Erkina’s back and raised and lowered her eyebrows in encouragement.
“Oh, right. Today is our granddaughter’s birthday, isn’t it? Erkina, tell me what gift you want. I will grant anything.”
Erkina glanced subtly at the two who got along worse than expected. Mernelia’s lips trembled slightly.
That sealed Erkina’s resolve.
A quarrelsome friend is someone you must meet often to clear misunderstandings.
“I want to become Master of the Magic Tower’s student and learn magic!”
“Magic?”
The Emperor raised one eyebrow.
Erkina gave the saddest look she could muster and glanced at the Empress.
“Your Majesty, your words carry weight. Didn’t you say you would grant anything?”
Under the Empress’s subtle pressure, the Emperor spread his arms.
Erkina ran forward and jumped into the Emperor’s embrace.
“Is it not allowed?”
“How could it not be, Erkina? Your grandfather is the Emperor, after all…”
The Emperor patted his granddaughter’s head.
“However, magic cannot be learned without talent…”
Thinking of how disappointed his granddaughter would be, the Emperor’s heart ached, and he struggled to continue speaking. Instead, he sent eager signals to the Master of the Magic Tower standing before him.
“Master, is this possible?”
“I had intended to discuss this very matter with Your Majesties.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It seems the young princess possesses magical power.”
“What?”
The Emperor looked between Erkina, Zertemion, and Mernelia.
“In the garden a moment ago, the princess unconsciously used magic. I also witnessed this in the city, which is why I came to the palace.”
Erkina’s eyes widened in shock at Zertemion’s words.
She had secretly used magic earlier to create a gust of wind and trip Count Blent, who had been so annoying.
How long had he been watching?
“Using such power without learning magic is dangerous both for the princess and for others.”
“So you’re saying Erkina must learn magic?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Zertemion answered very respectfully.
“Oh, wonderful! Then we can entrust our granddaughter to the strongest magician in the world. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”
The Empress’s overt support followed.
Erkina felt satisfied as everything seemed to be going according to plan.
If she became Zertemion’s student, she could often invite him over to the house…
“You cannot entrust Erkina to just anyone, Your Majesty. Someone may try to use her for their own ambitions.”
Mernelia clenched her teeth and spoke. She glared at Zertemion, fingers twitching as if she wished to strangle him.
Zertemion, as if used to this, straightened his neck to make it more visible to Mernelia.
“If the princess does not wish me to be her teacher, I can introduce another magician—one of noble birth.”
Would he put a hole in the pot of soup already boiled?
Anxious, Erkina stomped her foot and noticed her own shadow. Her small, cute shadow could be her greatest weapon—especially in front of grandparents who would melt at the sight of their granddaughter.
“Grandfather, may I borrow your ear for a moment?”
The Emperor inclined his head toward Erkina.
Erkina pressed her hands together and whispered her ambitious plan to him.
Then the Emperor laughed heartily.
“Ha ha ha, yes. The Emperor should not contradict himself.”
In truth, the Emperor had been on Erkina’s side since the day she was born.
For a while, Erkina was sent outside the audience chamber.
Unlike before, the adults now spoke quietly enough that even pressing her ear to the door, she could not hear.
“Tch.”
She reluctantly sat in the seat outside the chamber and waited obediently.
After some time, the adults came out.
The Empress winked at Erkina, who wagged her tail like a happy puppy, following them but retreating slightly.
Unfortunately, the tension between Mernelia and Zertemion had grown even more intense.
If the desert before had been barren and dry, now it was a winter night sandstorm, teeth grinding against the sand.
“I shall take my leave now.”
“Yes, Master of the Magic Tower.”
Only the Emperor and Empress smiled in satisfaction.
“And…”
Zertemion turned to Erkina.
“Please just call me Erkina, Teacher.”
“Yes, Erkina. Can you read at all?”
“I can read the common language well. Ancient texts… a little.”
In fact, she was second only to Zertemion in the empire.
“I see. Then I will send you a book. Can you read it by the time I visit tomorrow?”
“Of course. I’ll memorize it perfectly.”
Even though she had likely already known it all, Erkina was excited.
The first piece of the puzzle she had prepared had found its place.
The next morning, Erkina peeked outside the garden early.
Excited by the thought of Zertemion coming to her home, she couldn’t sleep.
The guards smiled at the sight of the precious princess.
“Princess, we will inform you as soon as the magician arrives.”
“How can a student sit still while the teacher is coming?”
Despite the chilly spring breeze, Erkina’s cheeks bloomed like bright flowers.
“Why is he so late?”
She peered around the door repeatedly, unable to wait, and eventually stepped outside the main gate.
At that moment, a suspicious shadow appeared from an alley behind.
The shadow bypassed the guards without giving them time to react and ran straight toward Erkina.
She froze, staring at the large shadow of the man.
As if meeting someone incredibly familiar, she had no defenses prepared.
When Erkina blinked, the huge shadow vanished like a mirage.
In its place stood a boy with silver hair and gray eyes…
A boy?
Erkina tightened her gaze, wary.
“Who… are you?”
The boy she had never seen suddenly embraced Erkina, as if reunited with a beloved companion.
