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chapter 24
The Kamar Academy Festival was not only a major event for students and nearby residents, but also an important day for the staff working there.
That morning, I stared for a long time at the survey sheet that had been handed out.
[Here is the list of costumes Kamar Academy staff may wear during the festival. Please select one and submit your choice.
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Fairy tale princess or prince.
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Horror character (bleeding victim, serial killer, etc.).
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School uniform disguise as a student.
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Masked costume, concealing the face.]
There were more than a dozen ideas listed. The staff would all dress according to whichever option received the majority vote.
It was a lighthearted idea. Normally, I would have joined in cheerfully no matter which costume was chosen.
But this time was different. I had already resolved to speak with the monster in the laboratory on the day of the festival.
“There’s no better timing than this.”
Everyone would be distracted by the festivities, and even if I acted a little strangely, it would be dismissed as part of the celebration.
No other day was more perfectly suited for covering things up.
“Then which costume should I pick for the best effect?”
That was my greatest concern. Which of these might help me, even slightly, in talking with the monster?
Of course, my single vote wouldn’t decide the outcome, but I couldn’t help being cautious.
I was deep in thought, walking, when a husky voice suddenly sounded right behind me without warning.
“You’ll trip one of these days if you keep wandering around so absentmindedly.”
“…!”
Startled, I turned around.
There stood Teansis, his golden hair shining, calmly watching me. He had been absent for some time, yet now appeared as if nothing had happened.
“Your Grace?”
I stared in disbelief.
Just then, the chatter of nearby schoolgirls echoed faintly.
Perhaps realizing before I did, Teansis quickly grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a narrow alley.
It all happened so fast that in the blink of an eye I was caged within his arms. With both hands braced against the wall, he sheltered me inside his frame as he kept an eye on the passing students.
“Uh, um…”
“Shh. Just a moment.”
He whispered softly.
When the voices outside faded away completely, he finally turned his head back toward me.
“They’re gone now—”
But his words trailed off. The space between us was so close that if he merely tilted his head down, our faces might touch.
Pinned so tightly, I couldn’t even breathe properly.
I expected him to step back once he realized, but instead, he just looked down at me with a stiff expression.
“Y-Your Grace?”
At my flustered voice, Teansis finally withdrew a step.
“My apologies. That wasn’t my intention. I only reacted because someone was approaching.”
It was uncharacteristic of him to ramble an excuse, and I couldn’t help letting out a small laugh.
“It’s fine. I know you didn’t mean it.”
My reassurance softened his expression. His usually cold face seemed strangely gentle.
“I suppose because I can touch so few people without my gloves, I unconsciously lose my sense of distance with you.”
Now that he mentioned it, he wasn’t wearing gloves. I was still curious about that, but I knew he wouldn’t explain, so I didn’t ask.
“Just now… was there someone you wanted to avoid?”
He glanced toward the students who had gone and replied.
“More accurately, I don’t want anyone to see me with you. Not a specific person—just anyone.”
“Why… ah!”
His words made me recall the box with the dead bird.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
“There is nothing happening to you that I don’t know of. That incident likely occurred because of me. I kept my distance to avoid causing you trouble, but… it seems the culprit won’t be caught easily.”
“So that’s why you didn’t show yourself for a while?”
Relief washed over me. He hadn’t vanished without reason—he had hidden out of concern for my safety.
Sensing my feelings, Teansis gave a faint smile.
“Did you miss me?”
He hadn’t specified, but I immediately understood. He was asking if I had missed him.
“Well…”
Heat flooded my cheeks, as though he had seen through every thought in my heart.
Before I could answer, he continued.
“I think I missed you.”
I gaped at him.
“Sometimes I wondered… does she think of me too? Does she ever wish to see me? And then I realized… it was just me wishing to see you.”
Was this a dream?
Should I pinch myself?
I stared at Teansis, half-suspecting my imagination had conjured him after too long without seeing him.
“Though I always knew how you were, I still wanted to appear before you this badly. That’s how much you’ve been on my mind.”
Words failed me. Only one action came to mind.
“Wait. Can I just pinch your cheek? This feels way too much like a dream.”
“…Heh.”
Teansis let out a low laugh, unable to hold it in.
It was such a rare sight that I couldn’t look away.
He was laughing. In front of me.
It wasn’t the first time, but each time I saw it, my heart warmed.
“You always say things that exceed my imagination. I never expect your answers.”
“It’s just… everything feels unreal.”
“Does that mean you missed me too?”
At his blunt question, I hesitated only briefly before nodding. There was no reason to hide it—it was the truth.
Just hearing his footsteps near the dispensary had made me poke my head out in anticipation.
I had missed him.
Once, I’d been used to watching him from afar. But the thought I might never see him again had been unbearably sad.
He smiled faintly.
“I thought so. I believed you would miss me too.”
“Y-you saw right through me.”
“Looking at you, I sometimes wonder… is this what it feels like to be loved? I’ve only heard of it. This is the first time I’ve felt it myself. It’s… very pleasant.”
“Hearing that you’re happy makes me happy too. I’m sure you’ll feel it even more often from now on. So many ladies in the Vulcanus Empire admire you, after all.”
“But I doubt I could feel this with just anyone.”
“Perhaps not with everyone. But you’re certainly someone deserving of love, so you’ll experience it more. I hope you do.”
I truly wished Teansis would be loved by many and find happiness. It was a wish born of genuine affection for him.
His violet eyes fixed on me.
“Do you realize? You’re unlike any woman I’ve ever met.”
“Is that… in a good way?”
He only smiled, offering no answer. That made my heart pound harder than words could.
Then footsteps approached.
His gentle gaze darkened. Looking toward the sound, he said softly:
“There’s something I want to tell you.”
“Something for me?”
“I know you visit the alchemy professor’s laboratory every evening.”
“Ah…”
I was momentarily at a loss for words. He truly knew more than I thought.
Without waiting for me, he continued:
“Don’t go there today.”
“What?”
The unexpected warning stunned me.
He added firmly, cutting off questions:
“Absolutely not today. Do you understand?”
I couldn’t answer easily. Something felt wrong.
By coincidence, today was the very first day I hadn’t planned to visit Jer’s lab. Jer had suddenly said he needed to check something outside and told me to rest. It had only been a short while since I heard that.
And now Teansis was warning me not to go, as if he knew everything. It only heightened the unease curling in my chest.
As I hesitated, the approaching footsteps grew louder.
Casting them a glance, Teansis lowered his voice.
“I’ve made myself clear. Don’t go to the lab today.”
With that, he turned away, unwilling to let others see us together.
I knew it was for my safety, but still, questions burned on my tongue.
“Your Grace…”
I reached out, but he was already too far, out of reach.
Left staring at the empty space where he had stood, I felt an inexplicable dread.
With Jer absent today, I didn’t need to go to the laboratory. He had even told me I could rest.
Still, I had planned to visit anyway—to learn the lab’s layout in preparation for secretly speaking with the monster. At least, until I met Teansis.
“He wouldn’t have warned me without reason. But why tell me not to go?”
No matter how much I thought, no answer came.
Instead, I stayed behind in the empty dispensary after everyone else left, quietly gathering Munochos.
If the monster happened to be hungry during the festival, I wanted to be ready to offer some.
They weren’t useful now, but if too many disappeared at once, Petryn would notice. So I had been stashing them little by little each night.
“If it’s big, it’ll eat more, right?”
In my imagination, the monster locked in Jer’s lab had grown larger and larger. If it was special, it must be stronger than the others—and likely larger.
Then—
Murmur, murmur—
A sudden commotion outside.
At first I ignored it, but the voices grew louder, urgent.
“Fire!”
The clear cry froze me. I dropped the pouch of Munochos I was holding.
Thud, thud, thud!
Footsteps pounded. Then another shout:
“The alchemy lab is on fire! Everyone evacuate!”
I sprang up, forgetting all about the scattered herbs.
If Jer’s lab was burning…
That meant the monster trapped inside was in danger too.
“No.”
I bolted out of the dispensary.
The lab wasn’t far, and soon I could see the blaze with my own eyes. The heat was palpable even from a distance.
The flames were so fierce that I instinctively staggered back.
I was terrified. Anyone would be.
But—
『Wh-who are you? Can you hear my voice?』
The monster’s delighted voice when I first spoke to it came rushing back.
And so did the memories of the many monsters who had risked their lives in the warehouse to protect me.
『Your Majesty! We must protect Her Majesty!』
To run away now would be a betrayal of them all.
I had only exchanged words once with the monster in the lab, but even without ever seeing me, it had risked its life to guard me.
Steeling my trembling legs, I glared into the flames.
“This time, I have to save them.”
