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Chapter 18
After wrapping up what felt like a short yet long meeting, Licht and I once again boarded a carriage under the guidance of the attendants from the Imperial Prince’s palace. The palace grounds were so vast that it seemed impossible to move between buildings without a carriage unless you wanted to waste a great deal of time.
At least I don’t get motion sickness anymore.
Compared to the crushing pressure I had just endured, carriage rides now felt like nothing more than a mild inconvenience.
Before long, the carriage came to a halt.
“Woah…”
I couldn’t keep my mouth from gaping open at the spectacle that unfolded before my eyes.
If the previous palace had been decorated with dark wood and golden accents—imposing and steeped in old grandeur—Licht’s palace was a completely different expression of taste.
Is this supposed to be… young and modern by this world’s standards?
The blue-hued marble gave the whole building a cool, restrained elegance.
“How is it?”
“…Pardon?”
“My palace. Do you find it to your liking?”
“Oh, yes. It’s beautiful, in a completely different way.”
Why was he so curious about my impressions of interior design? Even with my simple answer, Licht kept staring as if expecting more. I had no choice but to pile on extra compliments.
“Well, it feels like… refined beauty. Less flashy, but there’s a sense of dignified luxury!”
…Silence. Still not enough?
“And the garden really matches the aesthetic, so it feels very cohesive!”
“I see.”
Only then did Licht nod in satisfaction, and I could’ve sworn he even smiled a little.
Seriously, what’s with him…
When I’d been lying down earlier, I hadn’t noticed it, but the prince clearly had some peculiar quirks.
As we stepped out of the carriage, rows of attendants filled the front of the palace.
Guess it’s a big deal when the prince comes back.
This must be what power feels like: everyone waiting for you, everyone watching.
Life here isn’t any easier than back home, huh…
I felt a strange sense of kinship with them, like office workers waiting for the boss to enter a meeting room.
While my eyes darted around, Licht passed through the lines of bowing servants with practiced ease, striding through the wide-open palace doors. I trailed after him, quietly taking in the atmosphere.
Inside, a dignified middle-aged woman greeted him. The head lady-in-waiting, surely.
As soon as Licht appeared, she knelt, and in perfect unison, everyone else in the hall followed suit. It was as awe-inspiring as any knightly salute.
“It has been a while. I trust all has been well?”
“Your Highness’s safe return alone brings us joy.”
Again, such crisp, restrained words.
“You must be weary from your long journey. Shall we escort you to your chambers?”
The lady-in-waiting smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping over Licht and then me.
“Yes. I trust you’ve been informed. See to it that nothing is lacking.”
“As you command.”
Ah, so that’s why no one had reacted to me. Whatever Licht had told them, it was enough. I felt a little uneasy about the explanation, but as long as they treated me properly, I wouldn’t complain.
“Magician, allow me to guide you.”
Before the head lady could say anything, a maid with chestnut hair approached me. Her face was unfamiliar, yet oddly familiar.
“Thank you.”
I glanced at Licht for approval, but he was busy conversing with the head lady. Well, of course—he’d just returned after two years. He was bound to be buried in work.
Leaving him to his duties, I followed the chestnut-haired maid up the stairs.
“We’ll be heading to the third floor.”
From faint memory, I recalled that most palace maids were of noble birth. That might explain her poise: the graceful way she walked, the neatly tied hair, even the cut of her dress—it was clear she wasn’t just some common servant.
“This is your room.”
We stopped before an ornate door adorned with blue gemstones, echoing the design of the palace itself. Attendants bowed and swung it open.
“Ohhh…”
I’d expected it to be large, but the sheer scale blew me away. At least ten times the size of my old apartment back in my previous life.
I could still vividly remember the suffocating pain of skyrocketing rent and the misery of switching to a dingy monthly lease. And now… I had all this.
So this is what happens after dying and coming back to life, huh?
I stepped inside and let my eyes roam. A massive bed big enough to roll around on without ever falling off, bedding that looked softer than clouds, a table by the window with a fresh bouquet.
This place hits both my inner real-estate dreams and my inner “European luxury” fantasies.
For a moment, I forgot I had willingly walked into the dangerous heart of the imperial palace.
“If you need anything, just pull that cord.”
Ah, right—I’d been gawking while someone stood right next to me. Embarrassed, I nodded.
“You must be tired. We’ll leave the formal greetings for later. I’ll return at mealtime. Please rest well, Magician.”
“Ah, thank you.”
The chestnut-haired maid gave me a warm smile and a respectful bow. She treated me as a superior, which left me awkward and unsure how to respond.
I’m still technically a commoner… is this really okay?
But the thought vanished the moment I was alone.
“At last! Time to relax on my own!!”
I threw off my cloak and dove headfirst onto the enormous bed.
“So soft—!”
It was everything I’d hoped for. The mattress hugged my body, the bedding wrapped me in comfort. Compared to the rough blankets at the Magic Tower, this was paradise.
“Perfect…”
Sprawled out, I stared at the glittering chandelier on the ceiling, my mind filling with stray thoughts.
The story was truly beginning now. No—technically it had already begun. The flow of events had shifted for some unknown reason, but Licht had awakened, and that was the important part.
“Melize said she’d research my trait…”
In truth, the only thing my ability could do was reduce the danger posed by curses. It wasn’t offensive, nor defensive—just… vague.
Which meant there was really only one solution.
“Sepina.”
No matter how I looked at it, she was the most efficient answer. Licht’s trials were far from over, and Sepina had always been the one to help him through, to save him, to shield him from danger.
But… how to find her?
“At least I’m in the palace now.”
This was better than the Tower. With so many influential people coming and going, there was bound to be someone connected to the temple, and that’s where Sepina would be.
“And maybe I can gather some information useful for… job hunting.”
After all, if life had taught me anything, it was that connections often mattered more than merit. Especially for career moves, networking was everything.
“Plenty of high-ranking people must wander these halls…”
As a commoner and a low-level magician, Edel had spent her life shut in the Magic Tower. She had no connections at all. But now? She was in the palace as the honored guest of a prince. Eyes were already on her.
“Not bad at all.”
The image of the elegant maid came to mind. She seemed about my age. Befriending her could be the first step in building a network.
“Yes, that’s perfect!”
I was practically energized by the thought.
But lying on a bed was no place to be making grand plans. Before long, my body betrayed me, and I drifted into sleep.
“…Mmm. How long did I sleep…?”
When I came to, the sky outside was already dark. It had to be dinner time—or maybe I’d even slept through it.
Wow, I’m starving.
After a day of nonstop tension, a full rest left my body craving food.
I got up lazily, reached for the cord, and gave it a pull.
Not long after, the chestnut-haired maid entered with a polite knock.
“You called, Lady Edel?”
“Yes, I—”
And then—
Grrrrooowl.
My stomach let out a loud, desperate complaint.
Ah.
So much for first impressions.
