Chapter 87
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Palace Mage (9)
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“Nice to meet you, Lunaris Evermoon!”
Prince Valerius cut in before Senior Miriel could even finish her sentence.
“That's right. I am the Second Prince of this great empire, Valerius Belhart. Feel honored that I came to see you in person!”
The Second Prince looked down at me with an arrogant expression and eyes that sparkled with inexplicable excitement.
I'd figured he was some spoiled young master from a wealthy family, but it hadn't crossed my mind that he might actually be a prince.
I mean, come on—which prince would come bursting out like this without any regard for decorum?
I blinked vacantly for a moment before giving a polite bow.
“Hello.”
“Hm, impressive indeed. Not even flinching in front of royalty.”
The Second Prince gazed down at me with a satisfied look.
“To be honest, the magic you showed at the appointment ceremony was truly amazing.”
Prince Valerius seemed genuinely thrilled as he poured out his words in a rush.
“It's on a whole different level from those phony 'great archmages' who strut around! You even purified that ancient curse from the ghost of Arke in one shot!”
“Ah... yes...”
“And that once-in-a-lifetime spell that warped space itself...! I got a ton of inspiration from it.”
“Th-thank you.”
All I could do was nod awkwardly with a bewildered expression.
I had a bad feeling I'd gotten tangled up with someone really weird.
“But I still can't quite sort out everything I saw today. So, Lunaris Evermoon.”
The Second Prince leaned in close, his eyes gleaming.
“I want to have a deep discussion with you about the world beyond the wall. Talk it out and organize these insights I gained today!”
“Uh...”
“Come on, come on! Not here—let's move somewhere else. I've got so much to say!”
A near-scream escaped me at what was basically a command from the Second Prince.
No. Absolutely, intensely, vehemently no.
I just wanted to head back to the dorm and sleep until classes started.
What deep discussion?
Those blazing red eyes didn't look like they'd wrap up in an hour.
I'd bet my life it would take all day, at least.
But outright refusing felt tricky.
Something told me if I said no, he'd drag me off anyway.
His gaze was that obsessive.
Mess with someone whose eyes were spinning like that, and you'd regret it big time.
As I racked my brain for an escape, my eyes landed on Senior Miriel, standing there dumbfounded.
...Wait. If I played this right with her, maybe I could wriggle out of this mess?
I darted behind Senior Miriel and hid.
Hunching my body and clutching the hem of my dress tightly.
“?!??!”
Senior Miriel jumped in surprise and turned to look at me.
Her eyes glared—what the hell are you doing?
Playing innocent, I pressed myself even closer behind her.
“What.”
Prince Valerius's voice turned icy cold.
A stark contrast to the friendly tone he'd used with me.
He looked at Senior Miriel like she was some bug.
“Still here?”
“S-sorry, Your Highness! I'll leave so you can talk in private—”
“Senior.”
Senior Miriel was scrambling to flee.
I tugged firmly on her dress hem.
Where do you think you're going?
“Don't go.”
“...!”
As I whined in a flat tone, she tried to shake off my hand but froze instead.
“Th-that's...”
Senior Miriel glanced back and forth between me and the Second Prince with a stunned expression.
Caught right in the middle, she looked like a dwarf with a burst back in a dragon fight—unable to move either way.
“So... um...”
Sweat beading on her forehead, she stammered.
Her eyes darted wildly; she looked thoroughly broken.
As the Second Prince furrowed his brow impatiently, she finally spoke.
“Your Highness, it seems Lunaris... er, Miss Lunaris... gets really anxious without me...”
“Is that so?”
Prince Valerius's eyebrow twitched.
“Guess you're someone she really relies on, then.”
His voice softened a touch.
To drive the nail in, I pressed my forehead against Senior Miriel's back.
I felt her body stiffen rigidly.
“Yes, well... since we're in the same Four Seasons Society, we naturally interact a lot.”
“Hmmm—”
Not missing the beat, I tugged at her collar again.
“Senior, I'm tired.”
Senior Miriel looked down at me with utter disbelief.
What? Come on, Senior—interpret for me already. Read the room?
She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them.
“My apologies, Your Highness.”
With a resolved expression, she addressed Prince Valerius.
“Miss Lunaris seems exhausted from the appointment ceremony.”
Facing the prince, whose eyes narrowed in displeasure, she continued firmly.
“She poured massive mana into Arke and even performed that space-warping spell. It must have taken a huge toll. She needs rest.”
“Tch! This is exactly the problem with mages. What's the point if they're so frail?”
The Second Prince clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“Well, I suppose with all that time spent struggling to breach the wall, they wouldn't have had room for physical training.”
“Ah... yeah...”
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
Not wrong, really. Every waking moment felt like exercise for me anyway.
“Fine. We'll call it here for today and set something up later.”
Prince Valerius waved his hand regretfully.
Then he stared pointedly at Senior Miriel.
“Lady Miriel, make sure you coordinate well.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
“I have high expectations for you.”
The Second Prince nodded approvingly, adding one last remark.
“You'll have plenty of roles ahead, so do your best.”
“I'll live up to them, Your Highness.”
With one final glance at me, the Second Prince led his knights back into the hall.
Silence hung in the corridor until the clanking of armor faded completely.
Just Senior Miriel and I remained, standing awkwardly alone.
“...Haa.”
Senior Miriel finally let out the long-held sigh.
If I hadn't caught her as her legs buckled, she might have collapsed right there.
I stepped away from her carefully.
“You did great.”
Job done.
At my dry tone, Senior Miriel stared down at me intently.
Then she let out a small, choked laugh.
“You really used me good, Lunaris.”
“Won't deny it.”
I shrugged nonchalantly, owning up coolly.
“Did it bother you?”
Senior Miriel pondered for a moment before slowly shaking her head.
“Nah, not really?”
The tension she'd shown in front of the prince was gone.
“More like... in a way, I might be using you too.”
She gazed at me steadily.
Her usually haughty, upturned eyes looked especially weary today.
A familiar expression.
That was my face after pulling an all-nighter.
How'd I know?
...I wasn't exactly thrilled about sleepless nights either.
“Out of the blue, but... thanks.”
Truth be told, being in the palace felt suffocating.
She confessed with a bitter smile.
“I just felt so pathetic about myself...”
Her voice trembled faintly.
It wasn't hard to guess what this character, Miriel, had been through.
Even in the original story, she was from Duke Adrian's family but treated like an outcast in the palace.
The Second Prince's attitude toward the duke's lady just now said it all.
“Well, thanks to you, my standing's improved a lot.”
Senior Miriel smoothed her dress with a wry smile.
“Without you, I'd have stayed just a tool to the Second Prince—less than human.”
Pulling off her haughty, aloof act like nothing happened, chin raised high.
But her eyes betrayed exhaustion and subtle relief she couldn't hide.
I watched her quietly, then let out a soft chuckle.
“Senior, don't get all pitiful on me.”
A light, joking remark.
Senior Miriel blinked in confusion.
“That doesn't suit you at all.”
“...!”
“The arrogant, overbearing queen of the academy—who acts like she owns the world—that's what fits you best.”
Even if she messes up a few times and racks up some cringey history.
Generously handing out favors so the original story's heroine, entering next year, can roll around as the academy's punching bag.
“...R-right!”
Senior Miriel's cheeks flushed as red as her hair.
“I'll head out now.”
She fanned herself frantically before spinning around.
“You go rest up too, Lunaris.”
She hurried off like someone was chasing her.
Mixed faintly into the click-clack of her heels was a tiny, tiny sniffle.
...Yeah, Senior Miriel's definitely acting off.
She's not supposed to be like this.
Guess the palace air really is toxic after all.