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[CHAPTER 140]
“I pre-installed the same setup at the mine as well. This should drastically reduce the time spent going back and forth.”
Indeed, without a magic circle, we would have had to take the carriage to the base of the mountain and climb the trail.
No matter how much I increased mobility with patches on my feet, it would still have been cumbersome.
“Good idea. Is there a place you’re referring to?”
The caretaker kindly pointed to the back of the building.
“There’s a large storage shed in the backyard. How about there? It was originally for unused carriages, but it’s empty now.”
“Perfect.”
“Let’s go together.”
We followed the caretaker toward the backyard.
The path was filled with the quiet of winter. Snow lay lightly, as if fallen overnight, and each step made a crisp sound.
Between the snow-covered fields, a neatly maintained path stretched, with trees lining the sides, each branch coated in white frost.
When the wind blew, snowflakes scattered lightly, like sprinkled glitter.
A modest but well-kept garden had a frozen fountain, with droplets trapped in ice reflecting the cold sunlight with a gentle shimmer.
Sylvia looked around, clearly impressed.
“It’s really beautiful. It’s as if time has stopped here.”
I smiled softly and replied.
“That’s why it’s perfect for research. Nothing will disturb us here.”
Following the caretaker’s lead, we reached the storage shed deep in the backyard.
It was a single-story building made of ordinary bricks, the exterior showing signs of age, but the door and roof appeared recently maintained.
When the caretaker opened the door, a spacious interior was revealed. High ceilings and solid stone floors stood out, as it had been used for carriages.
The empty space made it ideal for setting up a magic circle.
Sylvia entered excitedly, rubbing her hands.
“It’s perfect. The floor is solid, and the space is wide. Being isolated from outside, wind or birds won’t disturb anything.”
She immediately took out the Magic Stone fragments from her pocket.
Placing one in each of the four directions, she knelt on one knee and placed her hand on the floor.
Soon, magic spread from her fingertips, and a blue light radiated in a circle.
The light flowed along the floor, forming a detailed magical circle.
Watching quietly, another scene appeared in my mind.
“…Ah.”
My heart fluttered anxiously. I touched the back of my neck and let Sylvia draw the circle while I stepped outside.
It was past afternoon outside, but the scene from my earlier vision had been at night.
I found myself looking in the direction of the capital.
‘She must be busy…’
***
As darkness fell outside the palace, the Crown Prince’s office remained brightly lit.
Vincent stood in the quiet room, looking sharper than usual, as if he had lost weight.
His normally gentle emerald eyes flickered coldly.
The door opened quietly, and someone approached from behind.
“Your Highness.”
Vincent, still staring out the window, spoke.
“Have you located the Mage Tower Lord?”
“We mobilized the palace mages and barely tracked him. He moved while concealing his magic, so it wasn’t easy… but it seems he is heading north.”
“North?”
Vincent’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
What lies to the north? Lunetten and Briarden were north, and Amelia was there.
From the moment Amelia left the Crown Prince’s palace, this outcome was somewhat predictable, and she had left with it in mind.
But thinking the Mage Tower Lord was actually following her sent a tight anxiety through his chest.
If something happened to Amelia, she might use the situation to try to return to the palace.
In that case, the timid emperor might, out of guilt, yield to Duke Wentworth’s demands.
Vincent crossed his arms and tapped his fingers, deep in thought.
“For now, monitor Duke Wentworth’s movements. Intervene if he attempts anything reckless.”
“Understood.”
Oscar replied briefly and bowed. Vincent gestured him away.
The room fell silent again.
Vincent sighed and walked to his desk, sitting down.
Papers and reports were stacked haphazardly, but they did not catch his attention.
He picked up a thick book instead.
Opening to the middle, he found a thin, flat maple leaf sandwiched between the pages.
The crimson leaf, dried and fragile, was gently touched so it wouldn’t crumble.
He had kept it because Amelia once gave it to him. Even after she left the palace, he occasionally looked at it when he remembered her.
His fingers slowly stopped moving.
‘Why hesitate now?’
Was there something more important to guard here? The unease and longing wouldn’t disappear until he saw her in person.
But was there any reason to delay further?
All conditions for movement were already met, both here and there.
Vincent closed the book decisively and stood with a firm expression.
Before leaving, he left a short note for Oscar, just in case the absence of the Crown Prince caused trouble.
Then he moved to the bookshelf.
Pushing a corner of it with his hand, the heavy shelf slid quietly, revealing a hidden compartment.
On the floor of the space, a pre-infused magic circle glowed softly.
