Chapter 35
A brief, awkward silence hung in the air as the carriage slipped out to the outskirts of the capital.
Before long, they arrived at the royal-family-exclusive gate.
The knights stationed there came forward to greet them.
“Welcome, Your Highness the Seventh Prince.”
“Which is the closest arrival gate to the Verdi Territory?”
“One moment, please.”
The knight fiddled with a device powered by magic stones, then answered.
“Milton Territory—it’s about two days away from Verdi Territory by carriage. Shall I set the gate to that destination?”
“Yes.”
Calliope and Lerazie climbed back into the carriage. The coachman carefully guided the horses onto the magic circle.
The knight covered the horses’ eyes and warned the coachman.
“Make sure they don’t get startled and move. Once, a horse moved while the gate was active… and only half of its body made it through.”
“Eek…!”
The coachman sharply inhaled, swallowing his scream, and gripped the reins tightly, nodding furiously.
Hearing the exchange through the open window, Lerazie turned to Calliope.
“Can’t magic prevent that kind of accident?”
“Of course it can.”
Calliope shrugged, as if it was obvious.
“According to 101 Safety Rules for Gate Use written by the former Tower Master Molin, the Magic Tower developed safety magic formulas to prevent such accidents over thirty years ago.”
“Really? Then why hasn’t it been implemented?”
Lerazie asked in puzzlement, and Calliope rubbed her brow.
“Because the attempt to commercialize it failed. Just running the gate alone consumes a large amount of magic stones. Adding the safety magic would take at least ten times more.”
That’s why it was left as nothing more than a theoretical achievement. Calliope gripped the armrest of her seat tightly.
A low woong sound filled the air as the gate activated, and a faint vibration ran through the carriage.
“The ride quality still hasn’t improved… and this is the royal gate.”
Calliope closed her eyes, grumbling about her nausea and dizziness.
Lerazie watched her quietly for a moment, then suddenly asked,
“You can’t do it?”
“Do what? My head’s spinning—don’t talk to me unless it’s important.”
Calliope kept her eyes shut, but Lerazie pressed on.
“That safety magic formula you mentioned. Can’t you improve it?”
At that, Calliope’s eyes flew open.
Her amethyst-purple eyes sharpened as she studied Lerazie’s face. Then, relaxing her expression, she replied.
“Do you know what you’re implying? Saying I could improve a formula created by the Tower Master means—”
“That you have magical power and skill on par with the Tower Master. Yeah, I know.”
“…”
For just a moment, Calliope was at a loss for words.
No way… does this guy know something?
A chill crawled down her spine. But she forced herself to keep a straight face and stared back at Lerazie.
“Absolutely not.”
Her tone was firm.
“If I had that level of ability, I would’ve taken the Tower Master’s seat already. Don’t you think?”
With that, Calliope shut her eyes again. She couldn’t keep meeting Lerazie’s piercing golden gaze any longer.
Please, just drop it, okay?
Whether by luck or mercy, Lerazie said nothing more.
Wooooong—!
With a loud hum and a sudden drop in her stomach, they were transported.
Fortunately, Calliope’s group (animals included) arrived at Milton’s gate, near the Verdi Territory, without injury.
“Oh, right, the boarding pass!”
Just as they exited the gate, Calliope remembered and pulled it from her clothes.
“I forgot to hand over the pass. I get why I didn’t, but why didn’t the knights take it either?”
“Of course they didn’t.”
Lerazie smirked mischievously.
“You were with a royal. Royals don’t pay boarding passes for the royal gate—makes no sense.”
Lerazie chuckled. Realizing she had been tricked, Calliope’s face crumpled.
“Hey!”
“So… do you not want it?”
“Would I dare refuse, Your Highness the Seventh Prince?”
Calliope, who had lifted her heel threateningly in retaliation, quietly set her foot down again.
Lerazie snickered at the sight.
“Seriously, serious types are always so fun to tease—oof!”
“Know when to quit.”
Having brought it on himself, Lerazie shut his mouth after his foot was stomped on.
Once through the gate, the carriage rolled into the quiet countryside. The scenery here felt very different from the capital.
As they passed through the residential area, both their faces hardened at the same time.
“The situation’s serious. I knew it was bad, but it seems worse now.”
“It keeps getting worse.”
Calliope nodded at Lerazie’s remark.
“That’s why people are flocking to Verdi Territory—it’s one of the better-off areas.”
For years, the empire had suffered from drought, drastically reducing crop yields.
The capital managed with its stockpiled food to keep public unrest in check, but territories farther away had it much worse.
“But being a border territory, residential zones are fixed for safety, so there’s a limit to how many can be accepted. That’s why Grandfather’s been asking nearby territories for help so these people can settle elsewhere.”
Calliope explained, sounding genuinely pained. Lerazie listened intently for once before speaking.
“That’s not easy. It’s not like all those people can settle quickly, and the cost must be huge.”
Calliope made a circle with her thumb and forefinger.
“Luckily, the Verdi family’s built up enough reserves over the years. Think of it as an investment and just spread it around.”
Then, waving the VVIP gate pass Lerazie had given her, she added,
“How much do you think I’d get if I auctioned this?”
Right after, she began scheming how to sell it for the highest price.
“Don’t tell me you want another one?”
“Might as well bleed a flea dry, huh?”
Lerazie shook his head.
After a hard run, the carriage finally stopped at an inn near the Verdi Territory. The sun was already sinking, and darkness was creeping in.
It was an inn mostly used by commoners. Surprisingly, the first-floor dining hall was nearly full.
“Welcome!”
Wearing hooded cloaks to conceal their identities, Calliope and Lerazie entered, and the innkeeper greeted them loudly.
“We need a room.”
“Perfect timing! We’ve got a nice big bed—roomy enough for two to roll around in!”
Laughing cheerfully, the innkeeper took out a sturdy-looking key. Calliope quickly interjected.
“Ah, we’ll need two rooms.”
“Pardon?”
The innkeeper glanced between Calliope and Lerazie, then clapped his hands in sudden understanding.
“Ah, I see! You two must be fine employers. But no worries—our inn has separate quarters for servants and coachmen.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Calliope waved her hand.
“We really need two rooms. One for me, and one for this guy—er, this gentleman.”
“Uh…”
The innkeeper’s face turned awkward.
“I’m sorry, but we’ve only got one room left.”
