Chapter – 28
I blinked my eyes wide open several times in shock.
“Pardon…?”
Unlike me, whose pupils were practically shaking, Calysion’s tone remained strictly formal.
As if he were asking about next week’s meeting agenda, he even handed me a piece of chocolate.
“We met a few days ago, so you should understand this well. In truth, this banquet was prepared by my uncle for me, since I’ve reached marriageable age.”
I accepted the chocolate on a small, pretty plate, trying to calm my pounding heart.
“Yes, I know.”
He continued in a slightly heavier tone.
“If I hesitate again and fail to choose a crown princess this time, there’s a high chance my uncle will take the lead in the future. In some ways, His Majesty trusts my uncle even more than he trusts me.”
“Well, your uncle is an adult, after all… It’s not that His Majesty doesn’t trust you, Your Highness…”
Calysion smiled faintly at my clumsy attempt at comfort.
“Still, April, to be honest, I have no intention of marrying the prime minister’s daughter and giving my uncle even greater power. To me, that could…”
His voice dropped lower.
“…bring danger. Do you understand what I mean?”
If I were truly the Princess of Bristol, I would’ve been better educated and handled this more cleverly, right?
But even Mage A wasn’t stupid enough to miss the implication.
“O-of course.”
I nodded quickly and waited for what would come next. Judging by the sudden seriousness of the topic, it seemed I wasn’t the only one who’d come here with a plan today.
Calysion’s smile deepened.
“If you understand, this will be easier. That’s why I want your help, April.”
Choosing his words carefully, he asked,
“Will you marry me?”
…What? Did I just get proposed to by the Shining Star himself?
Something so unbelievable happened that I nearly forgot who I was and why I was here.
My mind froze.
When I stared at him with my mouth hanging open like an idiot, he laughed.
“You said you understood, so why are you so surprised? Didn’t you come all this way because you wanted to marry me? Or do you dislike me? Am I worse in person than in the portrait?”
I couldn’t believe the nonsense I was hearing.
I shook my head frantically.
“You’re much better in person…”
Calysion burst into laughter, as if he’d heard an amusing joke.
“Then there’s no problem, right? You’ll marry me?”
Answer him, April.
If I accept the proposal, I might be able to stay in the palace tonight. Then I can hide the pouch again.
Thinking that, I slowly nodded.
“Yes, I will.”
“…You will?”
Calysion subtly adjusted his posture.
One shoulder tilted closer to me, and his starlike silver hair cast a shadow over half his face.
It was only a small change, but somehow it made him look entirely different—as a man.
I was too focused on answering to pay it much attention.
But before I could reaffirm my answer, he tilted his head to the other side and spoke again.
“If you’re agreeable, April. If you truly intend to marry me.”
For a moment, his amethyst eyes gleamed strangely.
Had his gaze always looked that dangerous? Was it because I was scared by my own string of lies—or was it just the dim light?
Noticing how unnaturally deep his purple eyes seemed, I curled my toes anxiously. Beneath the table, my hidden fingers—useless for now—twitched restlessly.
Calysion’s voice followed, almost like a declaration.
“Before that, however, you’ll need to give me answers to two questions. If both satisfy me, you may stay here tonight or leave as you wish. Naturally, you would then become the crown princess.”
No, it wasn’t the lighting.
The crown prince, who had treated me like an honored guest until now, was interrogating me like a criminal.
Granted, I had plenty of sins—but did he really know any of them?
Still, the man before me was the heir of the suzerain empire.
Confused, I asked,
“What… answers? You don’t have to be so frightening—I’ll answer anything you ask…”
“Is that so?”
Calysion replied indifferently, then suddenly ordered toward the door,
“Bring it.”
I had thought no one was there. I was sure he’d ordered everyone dismissed.
Yet, as if waiting all along, his guard appeared carrying a small tray.
I had to hold my breath when I saw him approach. Even from my seated position, I could clearly see what was on the tray.
Calysion spoke slowly, his voice dripping with leisure.
“I apologize for rummaging through your clothes. But really…”
His sharp purple eyes stared at the two pouches on the tray.
“What are these pouches?”
One pitch-black, the other slightly less so. The one I’d brought today in my robe, and the one I’d hidden in the crown prince’s bedchamber two weeks ago.
Before I could make any excuse, Calysion added,
“And… who are you, really?”
…Since when did he know?
“April.”
Unable to utter a word, I only blinked at him. He smiled gently.
“By nature, I like you. You’re attractive enough for my tastes, and I find your clumsiness rather endearing. That’s why I gave you the wish token.”
…He gave me the wish token two weeks ago.
In other words, only one week after I arrived at the imperial palace.
He knew from then?
Suddenly, my friends’ voices echoed in my ears.
“A, don’t you dare think you can make a living as a fixer without us. You’re careless to the bone. Give you an infiltration mission and you’ll be exposed within a day and end up behind bars.”
Oh god, Raph. Please save me…
I’m seriously screwed…
But with Millicent kidnapped and Raphael off searching for her, I had no choice but to save myself.
Calysion’s amethyst eyes glinted lazily, like a lion playing with its prey.
“Answer me, April. Then ask for forgiveness—use your wish token. It’s not difficult.”
Use the wish token?
I’m not a princess or a foreign noble. I’m just an unregistered mage, an orphan.
My client is holding my friend’s life hostage and ordered me to kill you, so I had no choice but to come here.
That’s why I plan to kill you on the day of the hunt.
Am I supposed to confess all that and then say, ‘Please forgive me, Your Highness, it’s my wish’?
There’s no way I’d be forgiven… What on earth is he expecting?
Calysion rose from his seat and slowly walked toward my frozen form.
His subordinate placed the tray down and withdrew, but this time did not leave the room, instead standing guard by the closed door.
Calysion didn’t spare him a glance.
He simply pulled out my hand hidden beneath the table, removed my glove at will, and turned it over to inspect it.
“Warm, pretty hands.”
He spoke as if praising me, then added,
“Did you know you have a habit of twitching your fingers when you’re in danger? To someone who’s long observed mages, it’s very obvious.”
…Yeah. I’m done for.
While I remained silent, my thoughts raced chaotically.
If my identity is exposed here, Millicent dies. I die too.
And Raphael, having lost us both, would never truly live another day.
Calysion asked again,
“Were you ill because of your mana? Is that why you couldn’t register with the Mage Tower?”
There was no way to deny it.
An unregistered mage like me would be finished the moment I was taken to the tower.
They’d recognize my mana at a glance, drain it somehow, and kill me afterward.
Having made my decision, I finally straightened my shoulders and looked up at Calysion.
Resigned, I spoke.
“If you want answers from me, let me use my wish token first.”
The crown prince, who had been observing me closely, found my change amusing. He tugged one corner of his mouth into a crooked smile.
“…Who said you could speak casually to me?”
