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Chapter 17
The imperial palace of Bichern was structured with four towers, each placed at the corners of a vast square. At its very center stood the main palace, where the Emperor resided.
On the immense red-domed ceiling of the main palace was a mural depicting Emperor Cyrilca’s battle for the throne from half a millennium ago.
The barrier that protected the palace originated from the main hall. From there, it extended outward, wrapping the imperial fortress completely. It climbed up the outer walls and formed a great dome that shielded the entire palace.
The barrier ceremony took place in the central courtyard — the only place within the main palace where the sky could be seen. Thanks to that, one could witness both the barrier along the walls and the one forming above in the air.
When the ceremony began, the usually invisible barrier slowly revealed itself. Those attending for the first time, like me, couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.
“It looks like a giant soap bubble.”
That was all the impression it left on me.
There had been several barrier ceremonies in the past, but Norman Erdona had never once brought me along. Even after he fell into a coma, it remained the same.
As always, Giselle attended alone — and I never complained about that. Had Pavel not sent me a personal invitation, I wouldn’t have attended this year either.
There were just over fifty officially registered mages in the imperial household — fifty across the entire empire. That was enough to understand just how rare mages were.
“I wonder how many mages Sersia has.”
Not every mage was needed for the barrier ceremony. Only a handful of those especially gifted in handling mana were permitted to attend.
“Just like Giselle.”
I hadn’t realized it before, but after attending the ceremony today, I came to a sudden realization.
This whole ceremony was yet another stage — something designed to showcase the heroine of this world, Giselle.
Here, she would flaunt her natural-born talent, making everyone believe she was destined to become the next Imperial Mage.
“How boring.”
To me, it was nothing more than a well-scripted play.
Among the five mages participating today, including Giselle, Dalia was also present. While they examined the barrier, I obediently stood beside Pavel, just as he had ordered.
The nobles stood in a large circle around the mages, their gazes burning into me from across the courtyard.
“This is exactly why I didn’t want to stand here.”
Just as Giselle was almost certainly to be named the next Imperial Mage, people also firmly believed that Pavel would become her fiancé.
After this, everyone would assume that I was so jealous of Giselle that I even dared to covet the seat beside Pavel.
“You don’t look well,” he murmured.
“…I’m feeling a bit unwell,” I replied.
It wasn’t a complete lie. I truly didn’t like enduring the whispers and stares, but more than that — I really did feel nauseated.
Maybe something was wrong with the fruit wine I had earlier with Dalia. But she seemed perfectly fine while focusing on the barrier, so that couldn’t be it.
I took a deep breath to calm my stomach.
“Oh dear. Are you very ill?” Pavel’s voice lowered, soft but concerned.
Something about his tone made me think that if I said the right words, he might actually let me leave.
“Yes. I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but may I withdraw for a moment?”
He turned to look down at me, as if judging whether I spoke the truth. I tried to look as pitiful and earnest as possible.
“No.”
His answer was short and firm — utterly crushing my hope.
I didn’t have the courage to ask again, so I turned my head forward quietly.
I could feel Pavel’s gaze lingering on me, but I didn’t dare to meet his eyes again.
The mages examining the barrier now conjured small replicas upon their palms.
The shimmering orbs looked like soap bubbles, fragile enough to burst at a touch — yet they were slowly but surely strengthening.
Ancient incantations flowed from their lips, in words I couldn’t understand.
Watching them, Chadwick’s words came back to me.
“A mage? Me? That’s ridiculous.”
Maybe there was something wrong with that judgment stone. The more I thought about it, the worse the nausea became.
Finally, when the chant left Giselle’s lips, the barrier’s glow intensified rapidly. Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd.
My stomach churned violently. Even standing was becoming a struggle.
“I thought you were just pretending to be sick,” Pavel murmured.
“…You hate lies, don’t you, Your Highness?” I whispered weakly.
“For someone who knows that, you rarely listen to me,” he replied, almost amused.
He had been watching me the whole time, and then —
“You may go now.”
Contrary to my expectation that he’d keep me there until the end, he suddenly gave permission to leave. I didn’t hesitate a moment longer.
“Then, please excuse me, Your Highness.”
“Go.”
It was clear he’d kept me by his side for no particular reason at all. With his usual indifferent face, he turned his gaze back to the ceremony.
I walked away slowly. I wanted to run, but too many eyes were watching, and my condition wouldn’t allow it anyway.
The barrier stretched upward, climbing along the courtyard pillars. As I neared the arched exit, I saw the energy along the pillar filling in slowly.
Just as I was about to step out, my vision wavered. I caught myself on a pillar, barely avoiding a fall.
Then came a strange sensation — a rush, followed by an icy chill that spread through my veins.
“Oh, my goodness!”
Someone exclaimed behind me, but I couldn’t care.
If I stayed any longer, I might throw up in front of everyone.
I clamped a hand over my mouth and stumbled out of the courtyard.
The corridor stretched endlessly before me. Each step made it feel longer. My movements slowed, my body heavier with every pace.
Then, suddenly, I collapsed. The hard, cold floor pressed against my cheek as darkness pulled me down.
My eyelids fell shut against my will.
I should’ve pretended to be sick from the start, I thought with a flicker of regret.
Before losing consciousness completely, I heard footsteps approaching — and then felt someone lift me up.
After that, everything went black.
The barrier ceremony required immense focus and power.
Giselle was keenly aware of the expectations everyone held for her.
She was to be the next Imperial Mage — and that wasn’t arrogance but certainty. She possessed a gift that no one else could match.
But the ceremony was no easy feat. It consumed a tremendous amount of energy.
She began reciting the ancient incantation — one she had never once forgotten.
As her lips moved, the barrier strengthened, its pulse quickening with every syllable.
Giselle’s lips curved faintly, but she quickly straightened her expression as murmurs of admiration spread.
The spell demanded prolonged concentration. From now on, it was all a matter of endurance.
As the barrier expanded, layer upon layer, Giselle’s pride swelled with it.
“Oh my goodness!”
Suddenly, the energy surged skyward. The gathered power fused at the center, spreading outward into a magnificent dome.
“What’s happening…?”
It had come out of nowhere, as if someone else’s force had joined hers.
Startled, Giselle steadied herself before anyone could notice.
Gasps of admiration filled the hall again — all directed at her.
She heard the praise but felt no joy. Something was wrong.
“That wasn’t me.”
She wasn’t foolish enough not to realize that. She subtly scanned the area, but saw only the other four mages — all struggling to keep up with the ritual.
“Then who…?”
Despite the confusion swirling in her mind, her lips continued to utter the incantation.
When the barrier was finally completed, the audience erupted in applause.
Giselle responded with the most elegant and confident smile she could muster.
But as she glanced around the circle of nobles — one face was missing.
“Pavel’s gone.”
It felt as though something she’d been holding in her hand had slipped through her fingers.
For the first time in her life, Giselle tasted the bitter feeling of helplessness.
My eyelids felt unbearably heavy. Even blinking took effort.
“Where am I?”
Even with blurred vision, I could tell this wasn’t Erdona’s estate.
When I finally regained enough control of my body to move, I still couldn’t figure out where I was.
“…Hello?”
My voice sounded pathetic — hoarse and small, barely enough to swat away a nearby gnat.
I gave up on calling anyone and forced myself upright.
Just raising my upper body made the world spin.
“Why did I even collapse?”
During the ceremony, I’d only felt nauseous, not faint.
It wasn’t as if I had lied when I told Pavel I was unwell — but my condition hadn’t been that bad either.
Then I remembered that sudden, rushing sensation — something draining from within me.
That was when things had gone wrong.
After that, I barely made it out of the hall before everything went dark.
When I swung my legs off the bed and tried to stand, it felt as if an invisible force was dragging me back down.
“Is this still the imperial palace?”
I remembered — right before I blacked out, someone had lifted me up.
“…Pavel?”
He was the only one who’d been near me. Could it really have been him who found me—
“Seems you’ve been calling my name quite a lot.”
“Ahhh!”
