Chapter 40

“It seems like they have high expectations for the harvest festival. Is it a big event? Or do they have difficult guests? Just like high-ranking nobles and high-ranking officials.”

Luce, who was lost in the thought of why the Baron bought such a large machine, didn’t see Rev startled by what she said.

Rev was also thinking about the same thing.

“Since they told us in advance that there will be an academic festival, don’t you think we should go there? They will want to see you study hard, and most of all, I don’t think there are many visitors who are interested in the academic festival in the territory. Besides us, is there at least one more person like Brother Dietrich?”

Has there ever been a time when special seminars or academic events were fun?

Recalling her memories, Luce quickly concluded. It never happened. There’s no way an event like that would be fun in the first place!

But she has to go.

If the students sponsored by the Lord didn’t come, he would lose face, so it’s a must anyway, and Rev, who has a lot of interest in learning, will definitely want to go to whatever field it is.

‘It’s not bad to go together. If I don’t understand, I’ll sit in the back seat and play with paper indents.’

“If I’m having a hard time listening, can I go to the back seat? Hide me behind your back.”

“….”

“Rev?”

“Oh, Luce.”

“What are you thinking about?”

When she usually asks, the same answer from him is, ‘Oh, I was thinking about the academic festival for a moment. ‘Yes, it’s okay to sit in the back.’ will come back.

But?

“…I need some time to think.”

At least, it was the first time she heard such an answer from him.

‘Why does he seem like a different person today?’

Luce thought, nodding her head bewilderedly.

*****

“Duke of Ximel, Count of Menelik, Count of Bradbury. I’ve narrowed it down to three families, Your Majesty.”

“What’s the standard?”

“There are young people who are about the same age as Prince Delmar, but they have never rebelled against the Emperor. Their prestige and legitimacy are also flawless.”

The Emperor, who slowly moved the stem of his thin wine glass up and down, raised his head at Diana’s last words. 

Diana stared at him, biting into the soft flesh in her mouth. Their eyes met.

“Any part you don’t like?”

Averting one’s gaze, curling one’s tail, and withdrawing are typical behaviors of prey.

The beast is very aware of the weakened prey.

“Just your voice like the stem of this wine glass.”

The fingers that skimmed through the wine glass were long.

The sound of fingers rubbing against the glass surface was disturbing and obscene.

“I thought it was slender.”

“Should we be a little bit clearer?”

“It wasn’t a report worth hearing twice.”

The neck over the wine rose steeply.

The Emperor sighed slowly but didn’t take his blue eyes off her. Diana was suffocated.

“I wonder why you are pushing for Delmar’s marriage at this point.”

“…As a mother, I want to find a good spouse for the Prince. You may think it’s urgent, but considering Delmar’s tendency….”

“A good spouse.”

The Emperor, who interrupted Diana, raised his lips.

“I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of people who have been married for political purposes. And yet you believe it will make Delmar happy?”

Ordinary aristocrats have political marriages.

The Imperial Family is no exception. That’s common sense.

Is there any mother who wants her child to be unhappy? Of course, she believes he will be happy.

…At least more than me.

Countless words lingered in her mouth, but all that came out of Diana’s mouth were short and tired words.

“Yes.”

“Yeah.”

The consent has been returned. She succeeded in deceiving that predator.

Feeling a little dizzy but quickly straightened up her face, Diana stood up.

The wind is unusually strong. She was about to go back as she watched the black curtains shake wildly.

“But… What should I do?’

Clank—.

What Diana heard as she turned around was the sound of the wine glass breaking, which was like her own voice.

“I have a right to question why the three families you have presented are all so close to the western frontier.”

“….”

“As if you’ve been recommended by someone.”

Diana turned to him. Then she knelt down. The Emperor sat down and looked down at her face.

The hand dripping with bright red wine headed toward her white face.

“Will you drink it too?”

The Emperor laughed.

Leaving the black curtain behind, which was no longer shaken, Diana raised the corner of her mouth and smiled.

“Of course.”

She stuck out her tongue.

The wine flowing from the fingertips tasted bitter.

*****

The wizard in a black robe headed to his lab.

There are no people in the hallway. As long as ancient magic was protecting the palace, it was impossible to harm members of the imperial family, so naturally the number of troops was reduced, and the number of people to monitor him also decreased.

Radanum strode through the empty hallway. 

Click.

A small glass bottle fell from his sleeve as he locked the door.

He easily crushed the bottle with just a little bit of the red drug left in it, which was a color no one would know if it was in wine, and opened the subspace to take a few empty bottles.

The long-necked bottle will be used to hold drugs for one person.

Radanum, holding bottles full of sticky green medicine as if they were presents, cut through the air.

The space is torn apart. What was visible through the swaying gap was the second floor of an old, dark, house with a portrait of a single person.

“Your Highness the Prince.”

“Radanum.”

“Did you take the medicine?”

“Four hours ago.”

“You should take it soon.”

The exile Prince didn’t answer but rolled up his arms and held out his hand.

The marble-white and lifeless forearms were gripped by muscle. The veins, which were so quiet as those of the dead, pulsate finely.

The wizard tore off the skin.

If there is only one thing that hasn’t changed for the changed Prince, he doesn’t groan even during this extraordinary time of pain that can’t be adapted.

He collected the dripping blood and made a bead. The blue light was projected and passed through the beads.

The wizard, who glanced at the neck of the prince, who had filled the button to the end, stitched the skin together again. 

“Then I will leave.”

He put down the medicine and was about to turn around, but he paused, which is rare.

“Wait, Radanum.”

The Prince spoke to him.

It’s the first time.

“Yes. What’s the matter?”

“I think you know about my trip abroad.”

“If you’re on a trip, what would it be?”

“Don’t bother asking me for an answer. You’re asking something you know.”

Thinking of Diana’s attitude, Radanum smiled.

“I knew a lot of things, so if I put it in the wrong mouth, it would make Your Highness angry. Well, I think you might call it a foreign trip to visit Baron Felice’s castle, Lord of Rodante on a regular basis.” 

“The Baron holds the event.”

“Yes, he’s a guy with a temper like a poison bird. He has the ability to mimic, but it doesn’t suit him to hide. He has a desire to show off. That’s not surprising.”

The red eyes seen over the glasses seemed to be unmoved by words that didn’t know whether they were favorable or unfavorable reviews of the Baron.

“So, you probably don’t want to ask things like when the Baron’s event starts.”

“Are any of the participants likely to know me?”

“Are you asking me to see the future?”

Radanum smiled briefly.

“My prophecy is very expensive, Prince.”

“What do you want?”

“As you know, I don’t take money. I want something more valuable than money.”

“So what is it?”

Radanum wondered whether the Prince’s question, which demanded an immediate answer, was due to his unique way of thinking or because he wanted to go to the event with someone.

“Think again and answer what is the most valuable and precious thing to you, Your Highness. Can you give it to me if I ask for it?”

“….”

He can’t give it to him.

“I guess you don’t want to have my prophecy. No matter how dangerous it may be, you don’t think it’s worth what’s precious.”

‘Miss Lucette, the girl with red hair?’

The gaze of the Prince, who had been keeping his composure, shook weakly. Radanum laughed again.

“One person.”

The Prince’s gaze rose.

“There is one. Someone who knows the face of Your Highness Prince Aurelio at the festival.”