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Chapter 73
“Traveler’s Rest” was an inn, but it was hardly ever occupied.
Only the first-floor hall was in operation, and the only guests who came to eat there recently were two regulars.
So locking the inn’s door posed no problem, and at this hour, no one was expected to come by.
“I just saw Prince Eloi go inside, though. Are you sure the business is closed?”
Kenneth clicked his tongue inwardly. After all his nagging about being careful not to be followed, he had even brought Prince Este along!
“Well, um… we were closing the shop, but—ah!”
Kenneth, hurriedly hanging up the sign, accidentally slammed his forehead on the suddenly opening door. Startled by the loud bang, Rune instinctively caught Kenneth’s shoulder as he slumped to the floor.
“Are you okay, Sir Kenneth?!”
“Oh dear, that must hurt.”
The one who calmly emerged from the door was not pink-haired Eloi, but an older man with a flushed, red nose, clearly having had a drink.
The man laughed heartily at Kenneth clutching his forehead. After a long moment of laughter, he gestured to Rune, who was supporting Kenneth’s shoulder.
“Good to see you, Rune. Come in.”
At the man’s invitation, Rune lifted his head, and the old man beckoned him inside the inn.
“Do you drink?”
Rune was momentarily speechless, staring at the amethyst eyes that were far too familiar.
Then the realization hit, and Rune furrowed his brow.
“Prince Eloi?”
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“You enjoy your drink, it seems.”
“There’s little pleasure in this boring life, so I find solace in it.”
Contrary to his words, Eloi, in the guise of an old man, looked somewhat tired. Wiping his reddened nose, he smiled faintly and poured ale into Rune’s cup.
“Ah, I really shouldn’t drink.”
“Just a taste. Nothing beats a cool beer when your chest feels tight.”
Eloi shook his head exaggeratedly, as if his chest had just been cleared of a blockage.
“No, thank you, but I’ll just take your kindness. I’m still too young to drink, so it’s inappropriate.”
Rune set the large wooden cup filled with beer neatly on the table, and Eloi’s expression betrayed clear disappointment.
“Don’t be boring. It’s a shame we can’t share a drink before you leave.”
“Are you leaving again?”
“Traveler’s Rest” is meant to be found on the road, after all.”
“You really do speak in riddles from start to finish.”
Rune, accustomed to this strange style of speaking, chuckled softly. Seeing him smile, Eloi asked with a subtle grin:
“You’ll follow in your father’s footsteps, right? The sword mage Edmund Este?”
Rune slightly frowned, still not fully accustomed to Eloi’s bold manner, and shrugged.
“It’s my duty to continue my father’s lineage and achievements.”
“Wow. Someone as lively as you talks only about such boring things.”
Eloi waved his hand in disdain, and Rune couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny about me?”
“Hmm, let’s see…”
Eloi rested his elbow on the table and ran his index finger along Rune’s lips. A soft light glimmered at his fingertip. The old man’s face had returned to its original form.
Because he often worked undercover, disguises were nothing new to Eloi. Of course, matching Rune’s pace when she mistook him for a woman was particularly enjoyable.
‘So this is a meeting between a woman in men’s clothes and a man in women’s clothes. The first meeting was certainly interesting.’
Eloi had instantly recognized Rune as a woman when they first met. It was laughably obvious to anyone paying attention.
‘Foolish boy, thinking I’m a man. What will he do now?’
Kylean Herace circling around Rune certainly didn’t seem like a trivial infatuation.
‘Well, not my concern.’
Eloi twisted a strand of his luscious pink hair with his fingers, smiling faintly.
“Your fun trait? Not much—just that you have many secrets.”
He didn’t say it lightly. Runeadeluz truly had more than one secret.
‘Secrets…’
Had he noticed she was a woman? Her heart skipped a beat, and Rune struggled to maintain her composure.
“Then it seems, Prince Eloi, you have your share of secrets too. I wish I’d known from the start that Traveler ‘L’ was you.”
“Hmm, you’re right. I do have many secrets. My identity itself is a trade secret.”
Rune glared at Eloi, who shrugged with a playful face.
“You destroyed the black powder I was supposed to get information on. How do you intend to take responsibility?”
“If you’re curious about the powder, don’t worry. Your father’s knights already know its true nature.”
“What?”
“Even before you, the Este family requested information about the black powder. I didn’t tell you, but that seems fair. Just forget it—there are plenty who will chase it even without you.”
Forget it? Rune sighed, weary from hearing such talk endlessly from her father and Kylean.
It felt as if the whole world wanted her to live like a puppet in a carefully staged play.
“This request is of my own will, separate from my father.”
“Sorry, I’ll have to decline. Today is the last day I’m operating here anyway.”
Rune frowned at Eloi but nodded in understanding. Though hard to find in the empire, the world was vast, and many mages existed. She could simply find another mage to continue the black powder work.
“Can’t be helped. I’ll need to find another mage to take the request.”
“I did warn you about the powder. It’s dangerous, so better not to keep it.”
“Thank you, but I’ll pass on that concern as well.”
“Wow, you’re stubborn.”
Rune sighed deeply at Eloi’s exasperated look.
To meet Traveler ‘L’ only to discover he was Prince Francis’ son, and to have hoped he’d easily accept her request due to his goodwill… ‘Back to square one.’
Finding another mage via the Gotham Guild would take significant time. Missing someone as quirky yet highly skilled as Eloi in person felt disappointing.
“By the way, this is the first time I’ve seen a mage in person, Prince Eloi.”
“Is that so?”
“Mages are rare talents in the Leonal Empire.”
“Indeed. Consider it an honor. I am the greatest mage in Francis’ tower.”
He seemed pleased by Rune’s recognition, his cheeks flushing as he cleared his throat and puffed up his chin.
“Well, since I’m leaving after meeting this grand mage, here’s a little gift.”
Ah yes. Eloi’s magical ability was formidable, but his smug expression was slightly irritating.
“That necklace… your mother gave it to you, right?”
“Yes. It’s a family heirloom.”
“I see. If that’s true, your mother must have been an extraordinary person.”
Rune tilted her head at Eloi’s strange remarks.
When he lifted his index finger, a bright light shimmered, wrapping around Rune’s neck.
A small breeze lifted her hair slightly before settling it back.
Wide-eyed at the sudden occurrence, she saw Eloi smile faintly.
“You’ll be grateful for my arrangement someday.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s late, so I’ll let you go. I need to prepare to leave as well.”
“Wait—”
Snap. Eloi snapped his fingers, and silence filled the old inn.
Rune’s seat now held only the large beer mug Eloi had been drinking from.
Kenneth approached, naturally moving the cup onto a tray and tidying up.
“Leaving today?”
“The sooner, the better. Have they left?”
“Yes. They returned to the Este Marquessate immediately after receiving the letter.”
“Good. Then let’s get moving too.”
Eloi had genuinely enjoyed this place but could not linger any longer.
‘As expected, the Black Forest.’
The trail of black powder in the Empire led toward the northern Black Forest, bordering the Este Marquessate.
Having informed the marquess’ retainers of the powder’s nature, they would soon take action.
“When someone starts chasing it, he’ll likely lay low for a while.”
The awaited moment had come, but it was too early to celebrate.
“We’ll follow the trail when he’s pinned down.”
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“You seem to have a fever.”
Kylean’s large hand covered her forehead. Normally warm, his hand felt cool against her skin, confirming her temperature rise.
“It’s not too uncomfortable.”
“…Wasn’t your fever around last summer?”
Rune swallowed nervously at his seemingly concerned expression.
Recently, she had often felt drained by sudden heat throughout her body. It had started when Eloi teleported her into the dorm room.
‘I can’t tell anyone about that day.’
She had avoided reproach for leaving the grand duke’s residence late at night that day. Fortunately, Kylean seemed to believe her explanation that she returned to the academy because her bed was uncomfortable.
‘Damn, a grand mage… and now this necklace has a crack.’
The fine fracture in the moonstone from yesterday’s shower had startled her.
Teleportation required precise coordinates. Since Eloi sent her to a place without knowing her dorm’s location, the resulting spatial strain had surely caused the crack.
Seeing Rune’s expression darken, Kylean shook his head.
“I’ll inform Rose, so skip riding class today.”
“It’s fine. Really, it’s not necessary.”
Kylean eyed her skeptically as she waved him off.
Between the academy’s training schedule and the open house events, Rune had been kept busy constantly. Fitting in riding lessons as well couldn’t have been easy. Yet she had participated diligently, caring for Roselina.
‘Seems like she’s gotten quite close with the princess. Or is it because he’s a man?’
