Chapter 24
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Crown Prince's Invitation
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The next day after Eirana returned to the inn and turned in for the night.
As she lightly stretched and rose from her seat, Black Fang asked her.
-You actually told that suspicious guy about this place.
Black Fang was puzzled that his ever-vigilant master had so readily revealed her current lodgings.
"Well, he didn't strike me as a bad guy."
Eirana said as she changed her clothes.
"If he's from some highborn family, I figured I could ask him to help me land a tutor position."
-Still on about that?
Silver Fang, rolling around on the bed and pulling Eirana's discarded nightclothes over his head, peeked his face out from between them and narrowed his eyes.
Ignoring Silver Fang completely, Eirana headed down to the first-floor dining hall for breakfast.
As the other guests ate, excluding Eirana, Rine approached with a bright smile and served her breakfast.
"Good morning, miss. Did you enjoy the night market yesterday?"
Eirana lifted her water cup and replied to the friendly girl.
"I did. By the way, any news overnight?"
"Nope, nothing in particular."
Rine shook her head and then scurried off at the sound of the innkeeper calling her.
'There was that much of a commotion last night—it should've caused quite a stir.'
It hadn't spread into a full uproar, but there had been a few witnesses.
Even if most were homeless folk that people ignored, given the current atmosphere in the capital, it could've easily become a topic of conversation.
And inns like this were where such rumors spread the fastest.
'Not your average guy, huh.'
As Eirana narrowed her eyes, recalling the hooded man from the night before.
The street outside grew noisy.
From the crack of dawn, the neighing of horses echoed through the street, leaving everyone in the dining hall with puzzled looks.
The inn door opened, and a well-dressed blond young man stepped inside.
Anyone could tell at a glance he was nobility, and his appearance in a commoners' inn drew shocked expressions from all.
But as a man bearing the family crest stood rigidly behind him, everyone gasped and dropped to their knees.
Eirana was the only one sitting there blankly.
'What's this now?'
As Eirana furrowed her brow at the interruption to her meal, the young man scanning the dining hall spotted her and his eyes lit up.
He strode straight toward her.
Arriving before Eirana, the young man asked.
"Didn't you help someone in an alley last night?"
"I did, but...?"
"Good thing I found you so quickly."
He nodded in satisfaction and continued.
"I've been ordered to bring you along. I'd appreciate it if you'd come with me."
"You have to tell me where before I decide whether to go or not."
As Eirana scowled in response, everyone in the dining hall flinched.
The young man, briefly surprised by her reaction, soon chuckled and said.
"The royal palace."
"The royal palace?"
Eirana was a bit taken aback by the unexpected destination.
Seeing her surprise, the young man leaned in and whispered just loud enough for her to hear.
"The one you helped last night was none other than royalty."
Eirana's expression turned awkward at that, while the young man smiled warmly.
Introducing himself as Jedman, the young man helped Eirana into the carriage he'd arrived in and sat across from her.
Soon, the carriage set off.
As it traveled along the capital's main avenue for a while.
While Eirana silently observed Jedman, he spoke up.
"Isn't that hood stuffy?"
Jedman had easily picked her out from the crowd thanks to her attire.
Normally, people didn't wear hoods indoors.
Touched her hood at his question, Eirana replied.
"It's not a face I'd want to show off to others."
"Still, isn't it uncomfortable?"
"Not really."
To Eirana, hiding her face was quite familiar.
In her previous life as the young lord of the Demonic Cult, she'd always veiled her face when venturing into the central plains.
Her striking looks drew attention, and as the young lord, her face was too well-known.
At her response, Jedman tilted his head, thinking she was an odd woman.
Eirana, watching him, asked.
"So, why was someone as high-ranking as royalty wandering around back alleys?"
Jedman answered her question.
"Let's just say personal circumstances."
Eirana propped her chin on her hand and gazed out the window at his vague reply.
Before long, the palace came into view.
The carriage carrying Eirana and Jedman headed not to the central palace but to an annex on the outskirts.
It looked like a fairly large building at first glance, but compared to the others, it was plainer and more modest.
Jedman explained it was his private annex and led Eirana to his study.
Having personal quarters in the palace meant he held significant position.
Once inside the mansion, Eirana realized there were no servants anywhere.
As she followed Jedman, admiring the interior, they arrived at what appeared to be a reception room.
Following his guidance into the room, Eirana paused upon spotting two men already seated inside.
The one in the highest seat was a young man in his early to mid-twenties with silver-gray hair.
He smiled warmly at Eirana as she entered.
Beside him sat a man with brown hair and green eyes, of ordinary appearance.
After locking eyes with Eirana for a moment, he chuckled softly and looked away.
"Have a seat."
As Jedman gestured to a chair, Eirana sat.
The young man in the high seat spoke to her.
"Nice to see you again. I'm grateful for what you did last night."
His relaxed voice was one Eirana recognized.
It was the young man she'd helped the night before—Winsor.
Despite Winsor's greeting, Eirana just stared at him blankly, showing no particular reaction.
Winsor let out a dry laugh at her response and continued.
"Anyway, let me introduce myself properly since we couldn't last night. I'm Winsor Kall to Adea."
Watching Winsor state his name so straightforwardly, Jedman standing beside him looked slightly surprised.
But even with that introduction, Eirana merely gazed at him without much response.
"You're not surprised?"
"Why should I be?"
Since he'd revealed himself as royalty, Eirana used formal speech unlike last night, but she showed no sign of being intimidated.
Winsor looked a bit embarrassed at her matter-of-fact retort.
"Heh."
The brown-haired man, who had been silently observing, burst into laughter.
"Ah, sorry."
As all eyes turned to him, the man raised his hands in apology.
He then introduced Winsor's status.
"This is the crown prince of our kingdom."
Crown prince—the next in line for the throne.
At that, Eirana asked in surprise.
"What was someone as high as the crown prince doing in some alley?"
Even upon meeting the kingdom's second most powerful figure, Eirana felt no particular excitement.
Unable to stand it, Silver Fang asked incredulously.
-The crown prince, and that's your reaction?
Of course, Eirana didn't so much as blink.
Jedman was dumbfounded by her utter nonchalance, while Winsor let out another dry laugh.
'What an unusual woman.'
Winsor muttered inwardly and said.
"There were circumstances that warranted it."
Eirana eyed him for a moment before asking indifferently.
"So, you're not summoning someone like me just to hand out a reward, right?"
Winsor replied to her question.
"Good, you're quick on the uptake."
He clapped lightly and continued.
"The reason I had you brought all the way here is simple. It's your skills."
As he spoke with a meaningful expression, Eirana propped her chin on her hand.
"The palace must be full of skilled swordsmen."
"Well, yes, but your swordsmanship was exceptionally outstanding."
Winsor's eyes gleamed as he stared intently at Eirana.
"Even as crown prince, I have my share of annoying troubles. I could use some talented help. How about working under me?"
His confident grin and direct approach oozed self-assurance.
Eirana narrowed her eyes at the sight.
For the kingdom's number two to try hiring someone of unknown origins, even if skilled, was certainly odd.
'He really is the crown prince.'
She'd been invited to the palace, and there was no point in a lie that would be exposed so easily.
'Something interesting must be brewing.'
As she thought that, her eyes met the brown-haired man's.
He gazed silently at her, then smiled faintly at Winsor.
"Your Highness, allow me to speak with this young lady alone."
"You, Sir Ross?"
Jedman asked, mildly surprised by the proposal.
"Yes, Jedman. I'm a bit intrigued by her myself."
Sir Ross stroked his chin and eyed Eirana.
At his words, Winsor and Jedman exchanged glances, nodded, and stood.
"Then I'll await a good answer."
Winsor said to Eirana before leaving the room.
Watching his retreating figure silently, Eirana asked curiously.
"Why would someone as high as the crown prince be short on manpower?"
"Quite the sudden question."
He laughed, then crossed his legs comfortably and replied.
"I can't just reveal internal affairs to an outsider."
"Didn't you send that guy out to explain it to me?"
As Eirana frowned slightly, Ross pondered briefly before nodding.
"Fair enough. Shall we start with introductions?"
Straightening up, he introduced himself.
"My name is Elliot Ross. Ah, but just the name might be rude. Right."
He paused, nodded once, and smiled broadly.
"I'm Tessras of the Red Clan. And you?"
"Eirana of the Silver Clan."
Tessras smiled in satisfaction at her introduction.
"Normally, we don't reveal our true natures during wanderings, but... it's been ages since I met a fellow dragon. Forgive me."
Eirana tilted her head at his warm smile.
"Ages?"
"Yeah, about seven hundred years of sleep?"
She clicked her tongue at his cheerful reply.
Even for a dragon, sleeping seven hundred years straight wasn't easy.
"By the way, Eirana of the Silver Clan... not a name I've heard before."
"Born five hundred years ago."
As he muttered with furrowed brows, Eirana answered, and he nodded in understanding.
"I see. Whose child are you?"
"Daughter of Karman and Erannis."
"Karman and Erannis?"
Tessras looked shocked.
"Karman makes sense, but... you're that troublemaker Erannis's daughter?"
Even hearing her mother called a troublemaker by a dragon she'd just met didn't bother Eirana.
It was the truth, after all.
Or rather, that was putting it mildly?
Tessras gazed at her in wonder and smiled.
"So, your first wandering?"
"Yes."
Eirana nodded.
"Must be exciting."
Having lived as a human before, she wasn't as thrilled as other dragons, but she did hold great anticipation for seeing the world she hadn't experienced.
"Anyway, what's the crown prince's angle in hiring someone of unknown background?"
"The Adea Kingdom is in a complicated internal situation right now."
Eirana tilted her head quizzically at that.
"Speaking of which, as Erannis's daughter, you're Elder Elencan's granddaughter?"
"Yes."
Tessras was just over 5,000 years old.
Elencan, an elder dragon over 8,000 years old, naturally warranted respect.
"Then this kingdom might have ties to you—or not."
"What do you mean?"
As Eirana tilted her head again, Tessras chuckled.
"If you're curious, find out yourself."
She blinked at his words and nodded.
"The kingdom's messy internal affairs... simply put, it's a succession struggle."
Eirana narrowed her eyes at that.
In the short time she'd observed him, Winsor clearly wasn't ordinary.
For someone like that to hold the crown prince position amid a throne dispute?
"Sounds fun, right?"
Tessras asked with a grin.
A succession struggle was no small matter.
One misstep could bring a bloodbath—a highly dangerous situation.
His evident enjoyment of it showed his true colors as a dragon out wandering.
"Plus, Winsor's a good guy. I'm just here for the show, but watching from the sidelines has its own rewards."
Tessras's eyes sparkled.
"What do you say? If you work under Winsor, I could offer some minor help."
"If you want to help him that much, why not use your own power directly?"
"Me? I'm just an advisor."
He shrugged.
Meaning he'd do no more than that.
"So, what's your choice?"
-Sounds fun.
Silver Fang chimed in excitedly.
Eirana asked.
"I'd rather not get involved in dirty business if possible."
"..."
Tessras looked surprised at that.
Then he chuckled and replied.
"I'll make sure you get clean work. But for that, you'll need an official identity."
"Do I?"
As Eirana asked wearily, Tessras gave a meaningful smile.
"Didn't you say no dirty jobs? Then you need some role that places you openly by the prince's side."
He gazed steadily at her and asked.
"How about a maid in the crown prince's palace?"
"With this face?"
Eirana removed her hood, and upon seeing her features, Tessras fell silent.
Even by his standards, Eirana's beauty was exceptional.
"That'd be tough."
Too eye-catching for a maid.
No, for any job.
Pondering what role to arrange, Tessras asked.
"Any particular job you're interested in?"
Blinking at the question, Eirana smiled and replied.
"A tutor."