The Path of the Trial
The dean looked much older than the first time I’d met him.
Even compared to a week ago, he seemed to have aged years in mere days. The way his face had crumpled so quickly told me someone had put him through the wringer.
“You always ask for the impossible, Jeanie Crowell.”
“Who else can I rely on if not you, Dean? You know how much I respect you, right?”
“I wish you had even a shred of shame…”
I’d spent the last three days relentlessly pestering—no, politely requesting—that he arrange for me to join the king’s entourage to Elan. And he had proven to be an exceptionally useful connection.
“You promised me before, didn’t you? That if the chance ever came, you’d send me to Elan.”
“That was nine years ago… Honestly, your memory is only sharp when it’s convenient for you.”
“I’m talented like that.”
The dean let out a long sigh. “His Majesty has granted special permission. Be grateful and obey.”
“Of course!”
I beamed. For every bad thing, there was always one good thing to balance it out.
“Your duty is not to enjoy the party, but to protect His Majesty’s safety. Keep that firmly in mind!”
“Yes, I’ll engrave it into my soul. Multiple times.”
I’d have to pack the blue dress my parents sent me. I’d felt bad about never having anywhere to wear it, but now it worked out perfectly.
“Now that I think about it, have you ever attended a party before…?”
“Nope?”
“…What?”
“Don’t worry! My theoretical knowledge is flawless.”
The dean looked like he had completely overlooked this fact, but this would be my very first party debut in this life.
There was no way a girl who had spent all her time cooped up in the training room would have had any reason to attend parties. Considering the average debut age was around fourteen, I was making my entrance quite late.
Still, debuting at Elan’s founding millennium celebration party wasn’t a bad start at all.
Especially since my escort was the King of Dmitry himself.
“W-wait! That’s a bit problematic!”
“Oh? It would be even more problematic for me if you changed your mind now.”
“If you end up committing some discourtesy toward His Majesty…”
“Dean. Do I really look that stupid to you?”
“Well, even if I look at you… even if I look…”
The dean muttered in a tiny voice, “This isn’t good.”
“Lady Crowell? We’ve arrived.”
I had reached the royal palace with a mountain of luggage.
The knight who opened the carriage door took my hand, then helped carry my heavy bags as well.
It had been a very long time since anyone treated me like a proper lady.
“The other members of the entourage arrived a little earlier.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll take care of your luggage.”
The handsome knight politely kissed the back of my hand.
The royal palace was a wonderful place! I should visit more often.
I felt strangely excited, like I was going on a trip.
I hated warp travel, but the hope of seeing Ash made my steps feel incredibly light.
The place I’d arrived at was the warp facility inside the palace where Bright worked. Normally, it was reserved exclusively for the royal family.
But this time, as a special exception, the entourage had been granted permission to use it.
That was the kind of influence the Elan Empire’s founding millennium celebration party carried.
“Jeanie! Jeanie!”
I spotted Bright running toward me from inside the building.
Oh my, did he come out to greet me? How thoughtful.
“We’re in big trouble, Jeanie!”
“Ugh, don’t jinx me like that.”
I was in a really good mood right now, you know?
I’d appreciate it if you didn’t ruin it.
“Huff, huff… I only found out this morning… but…!”
Bright caught his breath urgently and quickly glanced around.
Then he whispered into my ear as if sharing a top-secret matter.
“Prince Ephiros isn’t at the imperial palace right now!”
“…Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry!”
What the hell?! Then what was the point of me coming all the way to Elan?!
“Explain yourself properly! How can the prince not be at the imperial palace?!”
“It seems the news only just broke because of the founding party… All the princes appear to be away from the palace.”
“No way…”
“It’s true. It looks like the Path of the Trial has begun.”
So that’s why there haven’t been any rumors about Ephiros coming out of the imperial palace lately!
I fell into despair.
Of all times, why did it have to be now? Right when I was finally coming to Elan after nine years! If my luck was this bad, there had to be something seriously wrong with it.
“This can’t be happening…”
Since its founding, Elan had maintained one particular tradition for determining the crown prince.
When there were two or more candidates for the position, and their abilities were so evenly matched that neither could gain a clear advantage for a prolonged period.
The emperor would issue them a command.
It was called the Path of the Trial.
It was a primitive and simple method of sending the crown prince candidates outside the palace to gather their own companions. It was also a way to honor the youth of the empire’s first emperor, the great Mitos.
He was said to have defeated a dragon and conquered the continent alongside his outstanding companions.
Following that spirit, the crown prince candidates had to gather companions while hiding their identities. Those companions were officially called Guardians.
The core of the Path of the Trial was to see who could gather the most outstanding companions within a set period of time.
The test measured how well one could recruit talented individuals, earn their recognition, and win their trust using only their own abilities—without revealing their true identity.
But that was beside the point.
“What am I supposed to do now…”
Should I just run away? If Ash had entered the Path of the Trial, there was no reason for me to endure the agony of warping.
“His Majesty the King has arrived!”
I was debating whether to start pretending to have a terrible fever when I spotted the king’s ornate carriage approaching from afar.
“I’m screwed.”
When I turned around, Bright had already fled.
Elan Imperial Palace Warp Facility.
A brilliant light enveloped the warp circle.
Five figures who hadn’t been there before the activation slowly materialized.
A middle-aged man dressed in heavy, dignified attire, three men in sharp white uniforms, and one golden-haired woman.
They were the guests from Dmitry who had come to attend Elan’s founding millennium celebration party—Dikel III, King of Dmitry, and his entourage.
They were, of course, esteemed guests who would receive state-level hospitality.
However, the moment the light from the warp circle faded, one of them collapsed with a heavy thud.
It was Jeanie Crowell.
A long silence fell over the warp mages in charge, the King of Dmitry and his entourage, and the Elan nobles who had come to greet the foreign king as they stared at the woman who had fallen face-first instead of backward.
The one who broke the silence was Dikel III.
“A priest! Bring a priest! Quickly!”
What should have been a warm and welcoming atmosphere instantly turned into complete chaos.
And there was no need to say that the golden-haired woman sprawled across the warp circle was at the center of that commotion.