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Chapter 12
“Lillith…”
“Oh no, if I stall any longer, I’ll be late for the banquet. Thanks, Riese! See you next time!”
Alina covered her mouth with both hands as she watched the person who had just stolen her sandwich disappear in a flash.
Lillith Mariam von Holtzrigger.
The one who snatched Alina’s sandwich was none other than the Princess of the Malehark Empire.
Alina stood frozen until Lillith’s silhouette disappeared completely.
When she had infiltrated the palace under disguise, she had heard a rough explanation about the imperial family tree from Marika.
The Emperor of Malehark had one princess and two princes with the late Empress. The Empress had passed away years ago, leaving the position vacant.
And soon, the emperor’s throne would likely become vacant as well—because the Emperor’s illness had worsened.
As far as Alina knew, the imperial succession hadn’t been decided.
The Princess and the First Prince were currently fighting for the throne.
In Malehark, birth order didn’t matter—whoever was more capable inherited the throne.
In this generation, rumors said the Princess was expected to be the next Emperor because her magical power was overwhelming and powerful.
It was also why she commanded the Blue Lion Knights, the knight order traditionally led by the future heir to the throne.
When Alina heard the knights mention the Princess, she never imagined she would actually meet such a powerful figure.
Even meeting the Chamberlain, who oversaw all palace affairs, felt like an enormous event.
But why does the Princess know Richard?
Alina blinked slowly and looked up at the massive building in front of her.
Could Richard really be the Second Prince?
Her green eyes darkened like moss-covered grass.
Could Richard be the Second Prince who had killed her in her previous life?
“Richard…”
Alina repeated his name under her breath. No—Richard wasn’t the Second Prince.
“Richard.”
No—he shouldn’t be.
“Why?”
Just as Richard’s name slipped repeatedly between her lips, a beautiful boy suddenly appeared beside her.
A familiar face. A gaze full of blind affection. A sweet smile.
“Riese!”
Richard grabbed her hand, overwhelmed with joy.
“You came to see me?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
Alina nodded blankly. She had been thinking about Richard, so his sudden appearance left her stunned.
“I came to see Richard. You are Richard, right?”
“Huh? If I’m not Richard, then who else would I be?”
Richard pouted. Alina narrowed her eyes and murmured,
“Yeah, you’re Richard, but…”
Something felt off. She tried to figure out why.
It had only been a day, but he seemed taller.
Is it because he told me he’s fourteen?
Looking closely, his limbs seemed unusually long for a ten-year-old.
Or could he really be that Prince?
Alina tried to overlap Richard’s appearance with the Second Prince in her past memories.
But in her past life, the only thing she had seen were his military boots.
Aside from the knights storming into the dining hall, she remembered nothing. When she regained consciousness, she had already been forced to kneel.
Yes—her past life was utterly useless now.
She stopped trying to force the memory out.
“Richard. Are you the Second Prince?”
She decided to go straight for it.
At her question, Richard frowned slightly.
“No.”
He answered immediately—without hesitation, as if he had prepared for the question.
“You’re not?”
“No. I’m just… extra. Spare. Like—an emergency-use magic stone you keep on hand just in case…”
“Stop.”
She couldn’t listen anymore. Alina clamped a hand over his mouth.
“Do you really believe that?”
“It’s not what I think. It’s what I’ve always been told.”
A warm breath hit her palm.
Feeling it clearly, Alina asked quietly,
“By who?”
“My brother…”
That damn brother again.
Alina removed her hand and clenched her fists.
“The Princess seems to know you. Right?”
“Yeah, she does. But… why?”
Richard studied her expression, sensing her anger, but still answered diligently.
Seeing him behave like that made Alina’s heart twist.
Why does he look so used to reading people’s moods? Who hurt you?
And simultaneously, her fury toward Richard’s brother flared even hotter.
“The Princess knows? That your brother treats you like that?”
“Well…”
His gaze dropped to the basket on the ground.
“Of course she knows.”
Seeing his drooping silver head made Alina’s chest tighten painfully.
“She’s too much. She said she’s rational and reasonable, didn’t she?”
When Alina recalled the princess’s beautiful face—the one who said abandonment was different from neglect—her tightening chest burned with anger.
She clicked her tongue at the empty basket.
“If I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have given her the sandwich. Sorry. I’ll bring another one right away.”
“…Riese, you really aren’t from Malehark.”
“How is that relevant right now?”
When Alina made a baffled face, Richard spoke softly.
“In Malehark, lacking ability, lacking strength… being weak—that’s the greatest sin.”
“…”
Richard gently took Alina’s clenched hand.
He held it carefully, as if it were precious, and began reciting a spell.
When he finished, a faint sky-blue glow—like dawn before sunrise—spread out.
Fwoosh—
The light starting from Richard’s hands wrapped gently around Alina before fading away.
He held her hand until the light disappeared completely.
“Ah…!”
As the final spark went out, Richard swayed and collapsed.
Alina, mesmerized by the spell’s glow, cried out in shock.
“Richard! Are you okay?”
“…Does it hurt less now?”
She looked flustered as she supported him.
“What hurts?”
“You’re not in pain anymore?”
Richard wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve.
“You shouldn’t hurt anymore. You wrote that you were sick… that you couldn’t come today.”
At his words, Alina realized what the light had been—a healing spell.
She had been too shocked to notice, but now she felt it. Her fever was gone. Her body felt light.
“…Yeah. It doesn’t hurt.”
“Good.”
Richard let out a relieved breath and showed her his trembling hand.
“This. This is why I’m extra.”
In his palm was a small gray magic stone fragment. As Alina watched, it disintegrated into powder and scattered.
He stared at the falling dust with bitter eyes.
“This is the best I can do with my magic. And even then, I had to borrow the magic stone from my brother. This is why I’m extra. Because I’m useless.”
“So you’re useless if your magic is weak?”
Alina grabbed his cheeks with both hands, her voice trembling.
“Look at me. I can’t use magic at all. I’m from Xenotat. And I… I was…”
I was thrown away.
The Princess had said neglect was better than being discarded, yet she had been both discarded and neglected.
Used as her father’s shield… and eventually killed.
“…Alina?”
Alina snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly dropped her hands. Her voice trembled.
“It was just a mild cold. You didn’t have to go this far.”
She hid the burning turmoil inside her and held his fragile shoulders. They were so thin it hurt her heart.
Richard whispered with pale lips,
“Alina… you saved my life.”
“What did I do?”
“You stopped me from eating poisonous herbs. You gave me delicious food. And also…”
He folded his fingers one by one, then smiled faintly.
“And you said you’d be on my side.”
“…”
His smile was so bright and pure that Alina couldn’t smile back. Her throat burned.
Like she might cry.
Richard hugged her tightly.
“Riese, don’t make that face. There’s nothing for you to be sad about. You’re just too kind for Malehark—that’s all.”
Alina let out a sigh and hugged his thin back in return.
“If that’s the case, then you don’t belong in Malehark either.”
“But I—”
“Til! Til!”
A white bird fluttered loudly between them, asserting itself.
Til grabbed the handle of Alina’s basket and flapped as if trying to lift it.
But Til was far too small, and the basket didn’t budge.
Finally giving up, Til landed on Richard’s head.
“Delicious! Delicious!”
“What do we do, Til? There’s nothing tasty today.”
Til clacked its beak indignantly.
Alina couldn’t help letting out a soft laugh.
“Sorry. I’ll bring something delicious tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow! Delicious!”
Til perked up and flapped excitedly.
Watching him, Alina gently patted Richard’s back.
“I’ll come here every day. At lunchtime.”
“Every day…?”
“Yes. Every day.”
Warmth returned to Richard’s pale face. He nodded and buried his face in her shoulder.
“Promise.”
Richard hugged her tighter, and the tips of his ears turned bright red.
