Chapter 136: To the Magic Tower
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 136: To the Magic Tower
“Now, come say hello, Kendrick.”
Henrietta brought a young boy before me. He was my nephew, born while I was asleep. Looking at him, my smile widened.
“G-greetings to Her Imperial Highness.”
“It’s been a long time, Little Lord.”
Kendrick, possessing the pitch-black hair and red eyes that were the symbols of House Winston, blushed shyly.
I believe they said he was two years older than Kairen. Still, standing side by side, there wasn't a huge difference in their height.
Perhaps because they were born around the same time, they had been playmates since they were babies. Kairen chuckled beside him, as if he’d found something to tease his friend about.
“Sister, Sister. To tell you the truth, the one who first called you a fairy was Little Lord Kendrick.”
“Is that true?”
“Y-Your Highness!”
Kendrick shouted in embarrassment. Henrietta promptly scolded him, and a dejected Kendrick hung his head low.
“I’m honored, Little Lord. Do I really look like a fairy?”
“I... I apologize.”
“Hehe.”
How cute. Kairen was adorable, but Kendrick was certainly a match for him.
I chatted amiably with the people of Winston. I also met Hamilton. Having suffered from the guilt of failing to protect me, his expression was much brighter than when we first reunited.
“It brings me peace of mind to see you grown so well.”
“It’s thanks to Sir Hamilton protecting me.”
“...That is not the case.”
Nevertheless, as if some lingering bitterness remained, Hamilton let out a heavy sigh. I reached out and patted him on the shoulder.
The former High Priest, Diandre, had attacked with full intent; there was no way Hamilton could have fended him off.
Still, I could understand his feelings, so I didn't add anything more.
“Princess.”
“Ah.”
“It has been a long time.”
I looked to see who it was—it was Lawrence, the Grand Duke. Recalling my brief encounter with him in the past, I bowed my head slightly.
“It has been a long time, Grand Duke.”
“Hmm.”
“...”
And the man standing next to the Grand Duke was...
‘What’s this? This little chestnut is the Ducal Lady’s daughter?’
It was Nicholas Agrabain, the Grand Duke’s son and the Grand Ducal Prince.
I curled my lips into a smile as I looked at him, now grown beyond recognition.
“It’s been a long time, Grand Ducal Prince.”
“Hmph. Greetings to the Princess.”
When he was young, I thought he looked a lot like Dantalion, but that wasn't the case now that he was grown. Only his hair and eye color were similar; he resembled the Grand Duke beside him more than Dantalion.
While the Grand Duke gave off a frail impression due to his sickly nature, Nicholas looked much more energetic and healthy.
“Congratulations on your awakening.”
“Thank you.”
He offered polite words, having become quite mature. It was unexpected for me, as I still vividly remembered the things he had said to me when he was a child.
‘I feel like he used to pick fights more back then.’
As soon as we met, he had been loud, demanding to know if I was the Ducal Lady’s daughter. He even called me a fake princess.
Remembering the events of ten years ago as if they were yesterday, I stared at Nicholas with cold eyes. His large frame flinched.
It seemed he remembered to some extent as well. I gave him a suspicious look, and Nicholas subtly avoided my gaze.
“Princess.”
“Yes?”
I had been glaring at Nicholas with burning eyes without realizing it, and I started when I noticed Nathaniel blocking my view.
“Are you not hungry?”
“Oh, me?”
“Yes.”
He suddenly asked that and led me toward the food. I followed him, caught off guard.
But seeing the food made me realize I was hungry. I had been starving all day while preparing for the ball.
“Thanks, Niel.”
I said with a smile to Nathaniel, who was taking such meticulous care of me. Nathaniel gave a slight nod.
“You eat too.”
I brought over a chocolate dessert that Nathaniel liked. He didn't refuse it.
The first ball I attended since waking up ended quietly like that.
*
Finally, the schedule for going to the Magic Tower was set.
Because we couldn't take many guards due to the Magic Tower’s secrecy, I ended up going with Melissa and Nathaniel.
Even though my mother had finally given her permission, she remained depressed, so I had to work hard to comfort her.
“This way, Princess.”
“Yes.”
My departure was carried out in secret. It wasn't a good thing for a princess to be away from the Imperial Palace for a long time.
It was officially stated that I was staying confined to the Princess’s Palace for extended private tutoring, so only a very few people knew I was going to the Magic Tower. Even among the mages of the Magic Tower, only a handful knew my true identity.
Once again, I used a magical tool to change my hair and eye color. Since my appearance wasn't well-known, people wouldn't easily recognize me if I hid my distinct hair and eye colors.
“You’ve used a Warp Portal before, right?”
“Yes.”
“It can be dizzying, so be careful.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
Melissa, who had kindly informed me, gave me a bright smile. As I stepped onto the magic circle, she chanted a spell.
It felt new to see Melissa using magic directly. Until now, she had only used simple magic while teaching me. I looked at Melissa with eyes full of admiration.
“Ugh.”
A moment later, the blue energy surrounding us flared up and then settled. In an instant, the space changed from the Imperial Palace basement to somewhere else.
“Welcome, Your Imperial Highness.”
“...?”
As I looked around the unfamiliar place, someone was waiting for us. It was a person completely shrouded in a black robe, covering both face and body.
“Master, you were out here?”
“...!”
I was even more surprised by Melissa’s startled voice.
The Master of the Magic Tower?
Looking again with fresh eyes, the man lowered the robe that had been covering his face.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Anakin Gray, the one in charge of the Magic Tower.”
“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you too.”
“I am not well-versed in etiquette, so I do not know if I am being rude.”
“Haha, no, not at all.”
Anakin Gray, the Master of the Magic Tower.
My eyes widened as I looked at him; he appeared much younger than I expected. I had heard that he had been a recluse in the Magic Tower for a long time, so I thought he would be quite old.
It seemed mages didn't age much either. Melissa also looked younger than her actual age.
The Master was a man with long, flowing dark grey hair. His eyes, similar in color to his hair, were a brownish-grey, like burnt-out ashes.
Grey hair and ash-colored eyes. Perhaps because they were such somber colors, they suited the Master’s gloomy atmosphere quite well. I gave him an awkward smile.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation. And...”
The Master’s gaze shifted to the side. He stared at Nathaniel, who was standing next to me.
“I am Nathaniel Valentino.”
“So you are the rumored prospective High Priest.”
The Master gave a bright smile as he looked at Nathaniel’s blunt face. For some reason, he seemed more pleased to see Nathaniel than me.
However, Nathaniel only gave a slight nod with his characteristically expressionless face. Even from the side, it was a reaction that could have made the other person feel embarrassed.
“I will guide you to where you will be staying.”
“Yes.”
But the Master acted as if it were nothing. I wondered if he was used to reactions like Nathaniel’s, or if he was just a generous person.
I’d had a certain image of the Master of the Magic Tower in my head, but seeing his excessively kind demeanor made my nervousness fade a little.
[Don't let your guard down, Master. He's a tough one.]
[That's right. He's a real big shot!]
‘Really?’
I heard the warning voices of the demons. They were acting sensitive, like wild animals wary of a predator.
On the surface, the Master had a gentle impression. I suppose you really can't judge a person by their cover. I braced myself once more.
“It is here.”
“Wow.”
The room the Master led us to was quite spacious. And even though it was indoors, it was incredibly bright. Since the Magic Tower was hidden away from outside view, there wasn't a single window.
“Though they are made with magic, all the lights here emit a glow similar to the sun.”
“Is that so?”
I thought it was unusually bright for a reason. I looked around the room in admiration. The Master asked:
“Is it to your liking?”
“Yes, it’s great.”
Of course, it couldn't compare to the Imperial Palace, but it was clean and nice. I wasn't the type to be picky about such things anyway.
“Where is Niel’s room?”
“It is the room right next to this one.”
“It’s close by.”
“It would be inconvenient if you were far apart.”
The Master, speaking considerately, grinned as he looked back and forth between Nathaniel and me. A cold sweat broke out on my neck for no reason.