DSPT 20

Chapter 20

‘Is proper food even served in the Magic Tower?’

After asking himself that, Licht came to the conclusion that it wasn’t. Of course, in the Imperial Prince’s Palace only the finest ingredients were used, and the empire’s best chef served as head cook. Even so, Edel’s reaction was a bit too much.

‘She must never have tasted proper food before.’

It was clear that either the Magic Tower’s cook was atrocious, or meals weren’t provided regularly there. Deciding he’d have to look into it later, Licht focused back on the magician in front of him.

Having wolfed down the main course, she was now tapping her fork against the dessert cake, hesitating over how to cut into it.

By clumsy etiquette she might have been scolded, but as a magician Edel had no need to follow courtly manners. Nobles of the Ludenza Empire, who treasured tradition, would likely have clutched their necks in horror, but Licht cared nothing for what they thought.

‘She carries many unique colors, doesn’t she.’

While confined in the Magic Tower, he had become able to guess Edel’s moods and state just by listening to her voice. Now that he could actually see her face and movements with his own eyes, it was a delightful stimulus.

His gaze lingered on her face. Perhaps because of her small build, she looked much younger than he had imagined.

Her silvery hair, neatly braided and draped over one shoulder, shimmered as her clear violet eyes blinked. At a glance she resembled a fairy from a children’s tale. Her white skin, tinged with a faint blush, made her look all the more lively.

‘A fairy, really.’

It was such a laughable thought—so foreign even to himself. Since meeting Edel, strange emotions had constantly stirred within him.

From childhood, Licht had disliked the unpredictable. Perhaps it was because, born as the First Prince without solid backing, his position could collapse at any time.

Thus whenever he rested, he sought calm and quiet. He avoided unnecessary human relationships for the same reason.

Edel was without a doubt an unpredictable stimulus. And yet Licht had come to realize that in this world there existed a kind of tension that was pleasant.

Her expressions alone were astonishingly varied. Each time she saw something new, her round eyes would widen in wonder. Watching her like that made him want to bring her all the rarest treasures of the continent just to surprise her again.

‘So that’s why Duke Melize took her into the Tower.’

Typically, magicians were gloomy and reserved, so it was only natural to want someone with pure, bright energy nearby. Still, though Edel had no extraordinary magical power, the Duke cherished her. Naturally that drew jealousy, especially from noble-born magicians of the capital.

His jaw tightened as he recalled the magician who had tormented her—the one who now no longer existed in this world.

‘I ended it too easily.’

That man had many sins yet to answer for. Though it was over, the regret remained.

Meanwhile, Edel was still struggling to cut a strawberry on her dessert with her fork. Perhaps he should give instructions to have fruit pre-sliced next time.

Now that she was in the Prince’s Palace, she deserved nothing less than the finest treatment. After all, she had watched over him faithfully, even in life-threatening moments.

Of course, Licht knew well what feeling had driven that devotion. He recalled the moment of her confession, warmth rising faintly to his cheeks.

‘Hmph.’

Edel finally managed to cut the strawberry and pop it into her mouth. When the taste pleased her, a smile spread across her face.

‘This is strange.’

He thought of the noble ladies he had shared meals with before—in breakfasts or in banquets he’d been forced into by the Emperor. They usually nibbled without appetite, stealing glances at him all the while.

Yet here, in the Prince’s Palace itself, Edel sat before him.

‘Isn’t she a little too unselfconscious… No, what am I even thinking?’

In fact, it was Licht himself who was overly conscious. The thought made him laugh inwardly.

Yes, from the moment he set out with her for the palace—no, from the moment he awoke from the curse and held her—an unfamiliar tension had never left him.

He recalled vividly. Edel had confessed her love to him more than once, called him beautiful and praised him. She had said those things.

But since his awakening, she seemed not to pay him much mind. Or perhaps—

‘Perhaps she’s just pretending it’s nothing.’

That, too, was a trick many noble ladies used: feigning indifference to catch his attention. But such things never worked on him.

Edel, however, was already special to Licht.

And Licht had sworn on his honor to repay her properly. Giving her the room closest to his own was the beginning of that promise.

Edel did not know, but the chamber she now occupied was the “Moon Room,” prepared only for a prince’s fiancée or consort.

That its doors had opened at all would naturally spread outside the palace.

Outwardly, it would be said the room was given to the magician who needed to stay close by for the prince’s safety. Few would be naive enough to believe that completely.

Fortunately Edel seemed to like the palace. He remembered her pressing close to the carriage window, drinking in the view of the gardens when they first arrived.

There were still many places he had not shown her. Slowly, he would. All that he had—and all that would now belong to her.

That was how Licht would repay her.

‘There’s no need to rush saying it.’

While he mused, Edel finished her meal and set down her fork. Her smile showed she was content. Seeing it, Licht’s lips also curved into a smile.

“Such meals you may enjoy whenever you wish. Simply say the word.”

“Thank you…”

Despite having been wholly absorbed in eating moments before, now she glanced about self-consciously. The sight struck Licht as rather cute, and he let slip a faint smile.

What should I call this feeling? Comfortable and cozy, yet at the same time uncomfortable?

That was my thought the next morning, after finishing the simple yet elegant breakfast brought by Lelia.

Outwardly, I was here as a magician dispatched to manage Licht’s magic. But in truth, there was nothing wrong with his magic at all. Which meant I had, essentially, nothing to do.

So after eating, I had spent an hour just staring blankly out the window at the garden below the Prince’s Palace. I hadn’t noticed last night, but the view from this room was spectacular.

Summer was near, and flowers of vivid hues were blooming proudly, dazzling in their brilliance. Staring at each one could make the time fly. Truly, it was a garden worthy of the imperial palace. But still…

It was nice, but also unsettling.

I looked down at the hem of the blue dress Lelia had dressed me in that morning, fingering the soft fabric. Simple yet refined, it was clearly of high quality—palace-provided, after all.

‘So I end up wearing dresses after all.’

When I first transmigrated here, I had shouted, “Yes! I’ll wear dresses! Nobles! Royals! That’ll be fun!” But now that I was actually inside the palace, it wasn’t as enjoyable as I thought.

Even while resting in such comfort, an uneasy feeling lingered. Like quitting a job without lining up another one—secure, yet not secure at all.

‘I feel like I should run to the library and start job-hunting prep right now.’

“Lady Edel, shall I bring you some tea?”

Lelia, who had apparently been watching me space out, approached with the offer.

“Oh, yes, please!”

“Honestly, you really can speak comfortably. I’ll also bring some of the dessert you had yesterday.”

They say only those used to being waited on can accept it naturally. From last night on, Lelia’s care had been both pleasant and awkward for me. And now she wanted me to drop formal speech?

‘I absolutely cannot speak informally to someone I just met.’

Maybe it was my Confucian upbringing in my previous life, but the words just wouldn’t come out. And besides—

‘She’s Lucas’s younger sister.’

Yes, Lucas Enderke. Head of the neutral faction of the Ludenza Empire, now a staunch supporter of Licht, from the long-established Enderke Count family. And his younger sister, Lelia Enderke, had become my handmaiden.

If I made even a small mistake, it could be a serious problem. Even if I’d only read about it in novels, I knew well enough that nobles thought very differently from ordinary people in my old world!

“Haha, thank you!”

Answering awkwardly, I saw Lelia give me a tolerant smile before leaving the room.