Chapter 43
“Damn it!”
The Emperor, Heliod Milton Frise, could not contain his anger.
Veins bulged in his hands gripping the armrest.
“Lorea Frise, that troublesome girl!”
How dare she. Dare to refuse to return?
The Emperor glared at the report on his desk. His golden eyes burned as he roughly threw the stack of papers aside.
The refined stones were running low.
Lorea’s blood was essential to make them. He had worked tirelessly to keep that troublesome girl confined in his comfortable “cage.”
“And yet she betrayed me!”
The Emperor gritted his teeth. Refined stones weren’t just jewels—they were the foundation of imperial power.
The mana concentration in the capital had been growing denser every year, and magical collisions were worsening. Only the refined stones could manage it. Without them, loyalty from nobles and citizens would waver. More importantly, his own body might not withstand it.
“Ugh…”
He pressed his temples. Lately, headaches had become frequent. His magic fluctuated slightly, signaling he needed more refined stones—but reserves were dwindling.
“Call Rendal.”
A servant left, returning shortly with a man responsible for researching refined stones.
“Y-Your Majesty. You called?”
“How is the substitute for the refined stone?”
Rendal hesitated.
“We’re still researching. We’re trying to find a substance similar to Princess Lorea’s blood, but it’s… difficult…”
Bang!
The Emperor hurled an ink bottle at the wall. Black ink splattered everywhere.
“I didn’t call you here for excuses!”
He stood abruptly.
“How many years have you been researching? What have you been doing all this time?”
“I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty! But the princess’s blood has unique properties…”
“Enough!”
Rendal collapsed to the floor, pale as death.
“P-please spare me!”
The Emperor’s golden eyes glimmered ominously.
“Find it, by any means. Three months. If there’s no result… your neck will pay the price.”
“…Understood, Your Majesty.”
Rendal’s trembling voice answered, and he bowed before leaving.
The Emperor looked out the window.
Why the Grand Duke Carter’s household?
Of all places, why there?
When Vincent first reported it, he almost wished it was a mistake.
He had spent eleven years raising Lorea as a princess while turning the Grand Duke Carter into an adversary. But now, the royal envoy confirmed that Lorea Frise had clearly taken refuge with the Grand Duke.
She couldn’t possibly know…
No. That was impossible. The carriage accident from eleven years ago had been completely covered up. Lorea had no way of knowing. She had to remain ignorant.
She couldn’t know.
The Emperor reassured himself, though unease lingered.
She must not complete the guardian registration.
If Lorea became the Grand Duke’s ward, the royal family would have no control. Then acquiring her blood for refined stones would become even harder. He had done everything possible to prevent her formal registration at the temple—but now, Lorea and the Grand Duke would inevitably go to the temple.
I cannot allow it.
Lorea Frise belonged solely to the Emperor.
Meanwhile, in the library…
“Ughhh.”
I lay sprawled across the desk, my feet dangling.
A sigh escaped me. I had sent the envoy away successfully, but the biggest challenge—going to the temple—remained.
Damian sat beside me, resting his chin on his hand.
“Even after all this searching, there’s no other choice. We’ll have to go to the temple.”
“…I guess so.”
I couldn’t hide my unease.
“Are you scared to leave the Grand Duchy?”
“It’s not that…”
I bit my lip, unable to say what I was thinking.
“Why did you stop speaking?”
“I’m not going alone.”
“Oh… ah.”
Damian realized and let out a low whistle.
“You’re worried about my father, Princess?”
What does he think I am?
Of course, it was partly my fault. But I couldn’t stop worrying about Carlos having to face danger for me.
I came to protect him, but now I’m just causing trouble.
I had wanted to keep him safe and comfortable.
Then, suddenly, the ring on my finger grew warm.
“Huh?”
Before I could even notice, a small rabbit popped out from the gem.
“Peep.”
It wrote words in the air:
[I’ll come soon.]
What kind of message was that?
I froze, staring in confusion. Damian narrowed his eyes at the strange rabbit appearing out of nowhere.
“What is that?”
“Uh, it’s a message from the Mage Tower Master. But why all of a sudden…”
Before I could finish, a flash of white light filled the room.
When it faded, and I opened my eyes…
“Hello.”
Sion stood there, right in front of the desk.
Damian reflexively placed his hand on his sword hilt but froze at Sion’s face.
“The Mage Tower Master… but what’s with this form?”
Damian looked confused. The last time he saw Sion, he was an adult. Now, in front of him, he looked like a boy of thirteen.
I sighed.
“…It’s complicated. Too long to explain.”
Sion didn’t care about Damian’s confusion. He glanced around casually, then smiled with a blank, childish expression.
“Library. Lots of books.”
“Uh, what’s going on here?”
“Didn’t you see the message? I said I’d come.”
Sion tilted his head.
“Saw it? About ten seconds ago.”
“Then why act surprised?”
I thought about saying, Who suddenly appears three seconds after sending a message? but held my tongue.
“I came because I wanted to see you.”
“…Huh?”
“Mage Tower is boring. No fun.”
He casually perched on the desk. Damian frowned.
“…At least send a proper message before barging in.”
“I may look young, but I’m picky. Are all nobles like this?”
Sion’s brazen and innocent attitude left Damian speechless. Even I couldn’t react normally.
This is the Mage Tower Master? How do they handle this daily?
“Lorea, you don’t look happy. What’s wrong?”
Sion leaned closer, staring at me with his violet eyes.
“…It’s the temple.”
“Temple?”
“I have to go to the Eastern Temple for guardian registration.”
Sion finally noticed the piles of books on the desk—scriptures, temple law guides, and related documents. He picked one up, skimmed it, and set it down.
“How long to the East?”
“Three days by carriage.”
“Ah.”
Sion swung his legs with a small smile.
“Perfect, I have business there too.”
“…Huh?”
“Hera asked me to bring something from the East. Mana samples or something.”
He waved lazily, then smiled at me.
“Since we have to go anyway, it won’t be boring if I go with you.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“The East has strong mana. It’ll be hard for the Grand Duke to handle, but I can help. Probably a lot.”
I blinked in surprise.
He’s coming with us to the temple? Just like that?
The Mage Tower Master had immense magical power and complete control over it. If anyone could move safely through heavy mana, it was him.
“It’ll tire me out too, but I can manage,” Sion said, his violet eyes folding like cosmic spirals.
“Shall I go with you?”
He whispered as if he had planned this from the start.
