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Chapter 69
Jun greeted her with a bright smile, but soon wore a troubled expression as he brought up that the analysis of the black powder was progressing slowly.
“Sorry… I’ve been busy meeting with my professors since I’ll be graduating next spring.”
Ah, my brother, so annoyingly kind.
“Jun, don’t overwork yourself. I already requested an analysis separately, so that will be handled somehow. Just focus on your current studies.”
“Requested an analysis?”
“Ellen helped. There’s no answer yet, but you’ll hear from them soon.”
Rune forced a smile, recalling the purple card she had placed on the corner of the desk. She didn’t want Jun to feel any more burden than necessary.
“But… I said I would analyze it myself first… I’m curious about the results, so I want to see it through.”
“…It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just feel like I asked too much.”
Jun carefully chose his words and clasped his hands behind his back. Whenever he wanted to hide something, he would hide his hands too. Rune had learned to wait quietly until he chose to speak.
Probably, Jun was well aware of this.
“Can you wait a little longer?”
“Of course.”
Rune suppressed her unease and put on a composed smile.
“…It’s okay, right?”
Jun didn’t answer, only smiling warmly.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Crossing the plaza toward Kyliann’s room, Rune was lost in thought.
Jun was still analyzing the black powder, and the trail seemed to slip away every time, making her even more frustrated.
“Every time I analyze it, some powder is lost. I think I’ll need a bit more.”
The small portions of powder they had been using were now depleted. Rune remembered Jun speaking earnestly, his light green eyes serious:
“The results will come out soon. Just wait a little longer.”
‘There’s been no contact from the wizards, and Jun says the same, so I have no choice but to trust him and wait…’
Lost in thought, Rune accidentally bumped shoulders with someone walking ahead.
“Ah, sorry…”
“Ahhh! Ouch, I’m dying!”
The other person let out a loud scream and fell hard onto the stone floor.
‘Wait… that wasn’t that hard of a bump?’
Rune frowned but widened her eyes when she saw the woman sitting on the ground.
‘A woman?’
My goodness, are people really this fragile? Then again, these were the kinds of women who used to collapse easily on their own, so it made sense that such a minor impact could knock them down.
Flustered, Rune knelt on one knee and helped support the woman’s shoulder.
“Lady, are you alright?”
“Ahhh… this hurts! Damn it! Wearing these high heels, how does anyone even walk in them?”
The woman’s face was twisted in annoyance, and her husky voice sounded genuinely in pain. Rune felt truly sorry.
“I apologize. I was distracted.”
“Distracted? How can you not see properly when you have two eyes?!”
“…?”
Rune, stunned, opened her mouth slightly. Whether she was right or wrong, it didn’t matter—he still had to help her stand.
“Sorry. Can you stand?”
“Ughh!”
She grabbed his hand with surprising strength. Brushing off her skirt as if nothing had happened, she stood up abruptly.
“Ugh! And these cumbersome clothes! Nothing about them is comfortable…”
Swaying like a reed, she clutched Rune’s shoulder for balance.
“Ugh! I’d rather walk barefoot, seriously.”
As she muttered curses, she suddenly noticed Rune’s face and widened her eyes.
“You…? Wow, I didn’t expect you to find me this quickly.”
Those amethyst-like eyes sparkled strangely, and Rune frowned.
It was the girl who had given him the card.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
“Why are you here…?”
The lady who had bumped into him was the same girl who had handed him the purple card at the inn.
“You seem to have a lot of interesting things.”
“Lady, what—!”
She suddenly reached for Rune’s neck. Startled, he quickly grabbed her wrist, and her red lips curved into a smile.
At that moment, a man with a picturesque mustache came running from afar.
“El…! E, Miss Eloni!!!”
“You came quickly. Kenneth, you’re late.”
She brushed her pink hair behind her ear and gave a glare.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
She even spoke informally. Rune was bewildered, unsure how much courtesy he should show her. Her firm wrists and strong lines gave her a commanding presence.
“I’m Rune Adeluze Este. Who exactly are you?”
“Don’t you know? I’m Eloni.”
She smiled with her eyes closed. She was beautiful, and a small beauty mark under her left eye was quite charming.
“More importantly, your necklace… ugh!”
Just as she reached for him again, Kyliann appeared and grabbed her by the back of the neck. She struggled, choking on her dress.
“Gah! I’m dying!”
“Lord Kyliann!”
Rune, shocked, reached to stop him.
“What are you doing here, Elroi Francis?”
Kyliann growled lowly. Rune’s hand froze mid-air at the name.
Seeing Elroi grabbed by the collar, Kenneth shouted from afar, pale-faced:
“Prince Elroi!!”
Rune’s jaw dropped.
‘No way… he’s a man?’
More importantly, why was the prince acting like this?
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
“What is this ridiculous situation?”
Kyliann crossed his arms, scowling. He looked as if he had seen something unbearable.
“I didn’t know you had such hobbies. Or rather, when did you enter the empire?”
Seeing him after a long time was truly astonishing.
Elroi Francis was someone Kyliann had met at Lepium Academy when he was seventeen—the first prince of the Francis Kingdom and a wizard.
“Tch, as strict as ever.”
Elroi scratched his ear and slouched sideways in the chair.
“I’m on a little ‘trip’ at the moment.”
Trips were usually fun, but Elroi’s weak stamina made it difficult to enjoy fully. The cursed heels and heavy dress were enough to exhaust his frail body. A sturdy walnut chair felt surprisingly cozy.
“Well, as long as it’s not too bad. I was already tired anyway.”
If only Kyliann wasn’t glaring at him. Kyliann scoffed and spoke low:
“A ‘trip,’ for the first prince of Francis, sounds like a comfortable excuse.”
“Hmph, you wouldn’t know how to enjoy life even if you tried.”
Elroi brushed his long pink hair to the side and replied, lying back on the chair with a white cushion under his head.
As soon as he sat, Kyliann’s brows furrowed completely.
“I think I know better how to end your so-called enjoyable life.”
Kyliann stepped forward and grabbed the cushion.
“Argh! You scoundrel!”
“You’ve touched something filthy. Might as well wash it.”
There was a sharp sound, but Kyliann nonchalantly handed the cushion to Rune after brushing it off.
Rune, unexpectedly taking the implicit seat, sat on the opposite sofa, staring at the scene in disbelief.
“Elroi Francis… Kyliann has friends after all. I thought he only kept Sir Ethan around.”
It was the first time Rune had seen someone from the magical powerhouse of the Francis Kingdom. And it was a Francis prince in disguise as a woman.
“You seem quite close to Lord Kyliann.”
Elroi frowned, rubbing his throbbing head.
“We met when I studied abroad at Lepium.”
“Ha, calling just a few months ‘studying abroad’ is an exaggeration.”
“…A very rotten connection.”
Sparks flew between them again.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have time to deal with you right now.”
Kyliann brushed back his hair, glaring at Elroi. He had just grabbed someone approaching Rune and now faced Elroi Francis—after avoiding Crown Prince Lawrence, now encountering the Francis prince.
Kyliann was on his way to meet Princess Roselina at the dean’s office.
Roselina would surely chatter all day if he arrived late, and the thought alone exhausted Kyliann. He glared at the heavy dress Elroi wore.
“When you return, I hope you at least look like a human.”
“What?! How dare you insult my beauty! I can’t let that slide!”
‘Beauty…’
Rune watched Elroi bristle and clicked his tongue. Elroi Francis truly was beautiful. His slightly drooping eyes and the small mark under his left eye enhanced his charm.
‘But… can someone actually say that about themselves?’
It was annoying that he knew exactly how attractive he was.
“You noisy brat.”
Kyliann adjusted his cuffs and turned to Rune.
“I’ll be back soon. Wait here.”
“Yes, understood.”
Rune nodded quietly. Kyliann frowned as if dissatisfied.
“…Don’t follow him just because he tells you to. Understand?”
Rune’s expression froze at words that sounded fit for a five-year-old.
