chapter 04

Just as the atmosphere was about to turn tense, fortunately, a savior appeared.

Knock, knock.

“Princess, it’s me. Grace.”

“Mm, come in.”

As soon as Shuni gave her permission, the door opened.

“I’m here because I need to speak with Lady Reyna.”

“Huh? Me?”

I never expected her to be looking for me. Tilting my head, I asked, and Grace nodded.

‘I have a bad feeling about this…’

Grace was the capable head maid who always valued rules above everything else.

For someone like her to come looking for me during class wasn’t normal. What could have happened?

I quietly tidied my seat and stood up.

“Our Princess really is talented at painting.”

Unable to resist, Grace immediately drifted over to peek at Shuni’s drawing. As a result, Nora’s expression only grew darker.

If there was one person who could make the usually calm Grace lose her composure, it was Shuni.

‘…I thought it was something serious.’

Judging from her behavior, it didn’t seem to be that urgent after all. Feeling relieved, I cleared my throat loudly on purpose.

Only then did Grace come back to her senses.

Following Grace as she opened the door, I stepped out into the hallway.

We stopped in the middle of the corridor to talk.

“I’d like you to go to the Magic Tower in person.”

“…?”

What?

The sudden request, without any explanation, left me bewildered.

“There’s a barrier that was already somewhat unstable… Today, one of the new servants who just arrived at the Imperial Palace accidentally touched it and ended up breaking it.”

Realizing she had been far too abrupt, Grace hurriedly explained.

“But those mage idiots aren’t answering any of our messages.”

If even Grace was calling them “idiots,” they had to be a real headache.

“No matter that the Magic Tower isn’t under the Imperial Family’s direct control…”

After grumbling for a while, Grace cleared her throat before making her request.

“Anyway, I’d like you to help us, Lady Reyna. His Majesty is very busy right now, so we’d rather avoid reporting this to the Emperor’s Palace if possible.”

“Um…”

No matter how busy the Emperor was, this sounded pretty serious.

“Shouldn’t we still report it to His Majesty?”

“The truth is… Princess Shuni said the other day that she wanted strawberries from Porcia. So His Majesty is preparing for a war with that country… Anyway.”

“…”

Right. Nora had said something terrifying earlier, and I’d almost forgotten.

This was supposed to be a child-rearing novel.

Looking embarrassed, Grace coughed awkwardly once more.

“I’d like you to ask Sir Selgrize personally. If it’s you, he’ll meet with you when you visit.”

“Huh? Sir Selgri… who?”

It was a name I’d never heard before.

Grace blinked in confusion.

“Sir Selgrize, isn’t it? Lady Reyna’s… um…”

“Um?”

“Old friend. That’s what I heard.”

She hesitated before repeating herself, and I could no longer pretend I didn’t know.

I nodded absentmindedly and came up with an excuse.

“Well… we’re in the middle of class, so it’s a little difficult for me to leave…”

“It’s an emergency. I’m sure the Princess will understand.”

…The problem is, this isn’t something I can actually do.

Sir Selgrize.

I had no idea who that was.

I was only just beginning to learn about Reyna Soilet herself…

“I know, but…”

It wasn’t that I wanted people to end up in danger.

But what if I got involved without knowing anything and only made things worse?

‘Why does that Milton guy have to be gone at a time like this?’

Normally he was always hanging around the Princess’s Palace.

“I suppose it can’t be helped.”

After I remained silent for a long time, Grace smiled awkwardly.

“I’ll report the truth to His Majesty.”

Before she could change her mind, I quickly answered,

“Yes. Please do.”

“Then I suppose the servant who touched the barrier is as good as dead.”

“…”

Come on.

Even if the Emperor was a tyrant, would he really execute someone over a single mistake?

This was a healing childcare novel.

Things couldn’t possibly get that bad.

Besides, what difference would it make if one extra disappeared?

‘If I’m being rational, it has nothing to do with me…’

But…

“Um… hello?”

“Where have you come from?”

I wasn’t exactly a saint, but neither was I the kind of person who could just stand by and let people die.

“I’ve come from the Imperial Palace.”

“Oh, then please come in.”

Getting inside was easier than I expected.

Since the Imperial Palace and the Magic Tower had a mutually beneficial relationship, it seemed people from the palace weren’t treated with much suspicion.

Well, putting that aside…

‘Who in the world is Sir Selgrize?’

No matter how hard I tried, nothing came to mind. Maybe he wasn’t in the original novel at all?

‘Still…’

Grace must have had a reason for specifically asking me.

“Old friend. That’s what I heard.”

The past tense made me a little uneasy…

After wandering around for quite a while, I finally gave up.

Grace had looked desperate.

I’d probably have to ask one of the mages.

“Excuse me.”

After giving it some thought, I approached the mage who looked the friendliest.

“Yes?”

Fortunately, he didn’t look at me strangely.

I greeted him as politely as I could.

“Hello. I… came from the Imperial Palace. It’s my first time visiting the Magic Tower, so I was hoping you could help me.”

“Ah, of course.”

The mage nodded readily.

I quickly spoke the name Grace had given me.

“Um… I’m looking for Sir Selgrize.”

“…A guest for Theo?”

The mage’s face instantly stiffened.

Startled, he hurriedly backed away and waved both hands.

“I-I didn’t do anything! She… she was the one who came up to me first…”

“…?”

Just a moment ago he’d acted as though he’d gladly help, and now he was suddenly drawing a line.

It was baffling.

“Right… okay.”

I nodded awkwardly.

Carefully, he pointed toward a room at the end of the hallway.

“The Missing Persons Search Department… is over there.”

I bowed my head in thanks and headed toward the room he indicated.

The dark brown door was slightly open.

I knocked cautiously.

Thump, thump.

The wooden door echoed.

“Come in.”

It was a voice that felt unfamiliar…

Yet strangely familiar.

I carefully opened the door.

Inside sat an unfamiliar young man around my age, lounging in boredom.

My eyes were immediately drawn to his neatly kept blond hair and fresh green eyes.

Wow… he’s really handsome.

Handsome enough that I wondered if he might be the male lead’s father.

“Um…”

I didn’t know what to call him.

Damn it. What am I supposed to do?

Old friend.

Right, she said we were friends, so…

“Theo?”

That was what the mage had called him earlier, so this should be fine.

But no reply came.

“…Um.”

Feeling awkward, I hesitantly stepped into the room.

Before I knew it, curious green eyes were fixed on me.

To avoid his gaze, I pretended to look around the room instead.

Unlike what I had imagined, the inside was surprisingly peaceful.

Still, when no answer came, I continued in a cautious voice.

“I was sent by the Imperial Palace…”

If he were a complete stranger, that would almost be easier.

But an old friend I didn’t even know I had…

I worried he might suspect I wasn’t the same person he used to know.

“We need to reinforce a barrier… but we haven’t been able to contact any of the mages…”

As soon as I finally finished speaking, he slowly rose to his feet.

“So I actually have a guest who’s come looking for me.”

A smile spread across his previously lazy expression.

“Then of course I should welcome you.”

“Welcome.”

Theo served some simple but delicious-looking refreshments.

This really isn’t the time to be eating…

I sat down on the sofa with a conflicted expression.

“What happened at the Imperial Palace?”

“U-Um?”

I didn’t want to react like that, but I was so nervous that only a weak response came out.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

Theo quietly smiled, the corners of his lips curling upward.

It was embarrassing.

“I told you a moment ago. It’s about reinforcing the barrier. They need a mage…”

I cautiously stumbled through my explanation.

Theo slowly nodded before speaking in an even tone.

“That’ll be fine. We won’t just sit back until magical beasts start pouring in.”

I see.

Then my business here was finished.

Hearing his answer, I set down the bread I’d been holding and stood up.

But before I could even say, “Then I’ll be going,” Theo stopped me.

“Rena.”

“…Yeah?”

“If you’re just going to leave like this… and if that’s really the only reason you came back…”

Then…

To be honest, the atmosphere had suddenly become a little strange.