Chapter 109
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: The Second Princess
The man currently occupying the emperor's throne of the present empire was now frail with age, but once upon a time, he had been a man more passionate than anyone.
And that passion had even influenced his nights.
The current emperor's children consisted of five princes and seven princesses, totaling twelve.
These were only the offspring from his official empress, and if you included those from his extramarital affairs, there were countless more.
In any case, there were fully twelve children officially recognized as princes and princesses.
"The person who visited the Magic Tower this time is the Second Imperial Princess."
That said, the princesses' positions were inevitably weaker compared to the princes.
Not only had there never been a female emperor in the empire's history, but overall, while the princes possessed exceptionally high levels of talent, hardly any of the princesses stood out in that regard.
However, among those princesses, only one—the Second Imperial Princess, Katrina von Eldraon— was praised for possessing talent that was in no way inferior to that of the princes.
In fact, she was a figure who actively demonstrated her talents and wielded influence in various places without letting them go to waste.
'Why would someone like that come all the way to the Magic Tower?'
The problem was why such a person had come to the White Magic Tower.
"They said it was related to the Third Prince's visit last time... but honestly, she hasn't done anything in particular since arriving. She's just been touring the Magic Tower here and there."
However, even the mage explaining this to Jeon and his group didn't seem to know the princess's exact intentions for visiting the tower.
"This is something."
After the mage who had given the explanation departed,
Jeon and his companions, left standing there alone, scratched their heads awkwardly.
They had only just returned, yet the Magic Tower was already in such an uproar.
It felt like their hopes for some relaxation had turned uncomfortable once more.
'I hope nothing major happens this time.'
Especially for Jeon, who had experienced things escalating every time he got involved with imperial family members, a slight headache was beginning to form.
"For now... we should go make our report."
Still, duties had to be fulfilled.
Regardless of the Magic Tower's unrest, reporting on the dispatch mission they had just returned from was unavoidable.
Moreover, there had been so many events during this mission.
Thus, the group left the turbulent atmosphere of the Magic Tower behind and headed straight for the Dispatch Team office.
"I've heard the rough outline, but it seems you all went through something far more serious..."
In the Dispatch Team office,
Knect wore a grim expression as he listened to the report from Jeon and his group.
"Still, I'm truly relieved that everyone returned safely. From my position of always staying in the office, this is all I can say, and I'm really sorry."
On top of that, he bowed his head at a full ninety degrees in apology.
Jeon, in the middle of his report, awkwardly stood up at the sudden gesture.
"No, no. You're always busy yourself, Knect."
"Somehow... every mission you take on seems to involve life-and-death crises, so I'm truly sorry and grateful."
But Knect had his own reasons for acting this way.
Jeon hadn't taken on many missions in number,
but the scale of the incidents he encountered each time was enormous.
Moreover, each of those missions would have ended in disaster without Jeon.
'He's truly a great treasure for the Dispatch Team.'
Though only an apprentice, Jeon's achievements were arguably top-tier within the team.
He'd gone on two external missions: one against an archmage, the other against an apostle of the Ruin Church.
"You all worked incredibly hard."
"Oh, no, not at all."
Jeon waved his hand dismissively in his still-awkward posture amid Knect's repeated thanks.
Having lived his previous life in Korea, he found it hard to accept such direct praise or gratitude.
"By the way... nothing major happening at the Magic Tower, right?"
To change the subject, Jeon brought up another topic.
"Ah."
And since that topic was none other than the princess visiting the Magic Tower,
Knect, who had been repeatedly expressing his gratitude, straightened his posture and sat back down.
"No major disturbances. And the princess hasn't made any significant demands while staying here, but..."
"But?"
"The problem is there's no set departure date. She came to investigate something related to Lord Lucius, but all she's done is tour the tower here and there."
Just as Knect said,
Katrina's actions didn't align well with the purpose of her visit.
If she was truly here to investigate, she should have gathered all relevant documents and witnesses first for a thorough review.
Instead, she was simply using the investigation as an excuse to wander the tower.
"That's strange."
"Yes. So everyone's wondering if she has some other motive, creating this subtle tension."
The Second Imperial Princess lingering without a timeline
had the entire Magic Tower—and Linkraft as a whole—in an uproar.
And they couldn't just chase away someone of her stature, making it all the more so.
"In any case, you all worked really hard. I won't assign any other missions for a while, so rest easy."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Just like last time,
given the magnitude of this mission, Jeon and his group were granted an extended vacation.
As everyone comforted each other, saying they'd earned it after all the hardship,
'Maybe I should just leave for another city for a bit.'
Jeon felt an odd unease at how things were unfolding similarly to before.
Last time during an extended break, an imperial family member had shown up, even seeking him out directly.
This time, he was seriously considering leaving the city until the princess departed.
"Jeon, what are you gonna do during the break?"
"Hm? Me?"
On their way out of the office after receiving the extended vacation from Knect,
Lena, walking beside him, suddenly asked.
"Well... I have some things to check, so maybe hole up at the lodging, or head to another city altogether?"
"Another city? Why?"
"Just a bad feeling?"
"Hmm..."
"What?"
Her sudden question and the way she oddly drew out her words
made Jeon suspicious enough to probe for the reason this time.
"Just thought if you had nothing to do, you could teach me some Imperial Language."
"Imperial Language? You're already good at it."
Jeon immediately countered the somewhat out-of-left-field reason.
And for good reason.
Before coming to the White Magic Tower, Lena hadn't just improved her magic skills.
Now, she could communicate fluently in Imperial Language even without Jeon or Risar by her side.
In fact, the two of them were conversing in it right now.
So why suddenly ask for language lessons?
"Speaking's fine... but reading and writing are still hard."
Lena grumbled in response to Jeon's reaction.
'Hm, could be.'
He'd heard that when learning a language in a place where it's spoken, conversational skills often develop before reading and writing.
If Lena had focused on speaking first, it wasn't impossible.
"But I'm busy."
Still, Jeon had too much on his plate to make time just for Imperial Language lessons.
Especially since he hadn't properly sorted through everything he'd gained this time.
He planned to hole up for a while and accurately gauge his own abilities and level.
"...Who said I need you to? I was just thinking of asking if you had nothing better."
Lena pouted at Jeon's somewhat curt response.
But Jeon was too preoccupied with his growing unease to notice her expression.
'Better get out before I run into her unnecessarily.'
With plenty to organize already, hearing about the princess's presence made leaving the tower his top priority.
But that unease became reality before he could act.
"Ah, are you the ones who just returned from the recent dispatch mission?"
At the end of the hallway outside the Dispatch Team office,
a group of people was approaching Jeon.
And leading them was a woman with long golden hair distinctive of imperial blood.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Katrina."
Spotting Jeon, she strode right up to him with purpose and offered a handshake with a bright smile.
"Ah, yes! It's an honor to meet you. I'm Jeon."
He couldn't very well refuse a handshake from imperial family—let alone the Second Princess.
Jeon quickly clasped her hand with both of his and bowed deeply.
Lena and Risar beside him followed suit, bowing respectfully.
"No need to be so formal."
Katrina, scanning them once with her smile intact, gestured for them to raise their heads.
The moment Jeon looked up,
"...?!"
Whoosh.
Katrina yanked the hand she still held, pulling Jeon's body toward her.
Their bodies naturally overlapped, her lips drawing near his ear before pulling away again.
"Found you. It's you, right?"
But in that fleeting moment,
Katrina clearly conveyed what she wanted to say.
'...What the hell?'
Hearing her words, Jeon stared at her in bewilderment, unable to respond.
The people around were equally flustered by the sudden closeness and separation.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
"Did this guy do something...!"
The knights around her immediately fretted over her safety and growled at Jeon.
But Katrina raised a hand to stop them.
"I'm fine, so no need to worry."
With that simple gesture, she calmed her guardian knights and turned back to Jeon.
Her eyes gleamed with striking golden irises.
"Well then, I hope we get another chance to meet."
And with that, she released his hand and turned away without a hint of hesitation, departing.
"Wha... what just happened?"
"Beats me."
From entrance to exit,
it had all been so sudden that Lena, who had watched everything, muttered blankly.
Even Risar was caught off guard, struggling to process the absurd yet bewildering event.
'Another chance to meet... I hope?'
Jeon, the person involved, stared down at his palm from the handshake with Katrina.
And on that palm was a short message she had written using mana.