chapter 05

Even though it was our first meeting for me, for some reason he had been looking emotional ever since earlier.

If she had to compare it to something, it was as if I weren’t an old friend, but an old lover.

“You’re far too generous to me. To someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

“…?”

“Even now, you were disappointed that you had to leave again, so you turned back.”

“…”

Keeping a calm expression with great effort, I tried to figure out the situation.

He said we were old friends…

Did we have a fight? We didn’t see each other after that, and now we’re meeting again after a long time?

…We were just ordinary friends, right?

Ahem.

I cleared my throat and cautiously asked, just in case.

“D-Did something happen between us?”

“Well… there is one thing I wanted to do.”

“…”

I’m doomed.

I couldn’t say another word and just opened and closed my mouth.

With the atmosphere like this, anything I said would sound strange. Were we really just friends?

“If you’re that worried, should I come with you?”

Fortunately, Theo stood up and changed the subject. I was relieved that he didn’t seem intent on questioning me any further.

“The mages won’t just stand by while a magical beast invades the Imperial Palace.”

“Oh.”

Now this makes my trip to the Magic Tower worthwhile.

“Umm… if you’d do that… thank you.”

It had only been a short conversation, but I felt like I understood what kind of person he was.

At the very least, we had once been close in more ways than one.

…As soon as I get back to the marquis’s estate, I need to find out exactly what kind of guy he is.

Determined, I headed toward the front gate.

Just then—

“You damn beast!”

A booming voice echoed from somewhere.

What’s going on?

Even Theo tilted his head, as if he didn’t know.

A moment later, something opened with a loud clank.

Flap!

A huge white creature with enormous wings dropped right in front of me.

“E-Eek!”

And our eyes met perfectly.

“Kyaaaak!”

It had strange, white-rimmed eyes.

Its glittering golden irises were beautiful…

…and terrifying.

“Prepare binding magic! Layer it several times!”

Another shout rang out.

This looks dangerous…

“Stop it!”

A thick tail came swinging toward me.

“Ah…!”

Theo grabbed my shoulder and pulled me toward him.

I stumbled, nearly falling into his arms, but barely managed to steady myself.

“Grrrr…”

Once again, our eyes met.

Its jewel-like golden eyes shone brilliantly.

* * *

It had been another eventful day.

The surprising part was that class still wasn’t over.

Shuni had insisted on watching the barrier reinforcement, so the lesson had been completely forgotten.

Then why am I, the art teacher, even here?

When we arrived at the backyard of the princess’s palace, where the barrier had been damaged, I saw three mages—including Theo—and a single knight.

“Ah, Princess Shushu.”

The knight, who had been glaring stiffly at the mages, immediately softened when he spotted Shuni.

“What brings Your Highness here?”

He bent deeply at the waist and asked politely.

His eyes were full of affection.

“I wanted to watch the barrier being repaired myself.”

“Oh my, I see. Even so, it’s dangerous, so please don’t come too close…”

While he spoke, my thoughts drifted back to the utter chaos at the Magic Tower.

From now on, I shouldn’t get involved in anything.

Please… let my transmigration life be peaceful.

My first visit to the Magic Tower had left the worst possible first impression.

Not only did I discover that the friend I didn’t even remember seemed to have had a relationship with me that wasn’t exactly ordinary…

…I had also locked eyes with a mysterious creature.

Even thinking about it now gave me chills.

“What are you doing, Lady Reina? Hurry over.”

When I remained frozen, Nora quietly whispered.

To be honest, I’d developed a bit of a fear of mages, so I didn’t really want to approach them…

“Y-Yes.”

Unable to resist Nora’s urging, I walked toward the barrier.

Two mages diligently repaired it, while Theo simply leaned against a pillar near the entrance, watching like a spectator.

“I’m glad I helped you get a job at the Princess’s Palace. You really suit the Imperial Palace, Rena.”

At that moment, Theo noticed me and smiled.

…Helped me get a job at the Princess’s Palace?

My eyes widened.

So it was you.

You’re the one who forced me into becoming the heroine’s attendant when I wanted absolutely nothing to do with the original story.

Well… Shuni is one of the most influential people in Magran, so maybe he meant well…

Hesitantly, I walked toward the friend who had unknowingly handed me a massive headache.

“Um…”

I looked at his handsome face, then lowered my gaze in embarrassment.

That was when I froze.

I coughed awkwardly.

“Um… could you do something about your clothes?”

Like the other mages, Theo wore a magnificent cape.

His face was dazzling enough that it suited him perfectly.

But whether it suited him or not wasn’t the issue.

When Theo lowered his head toward me, the collar shifted, exposing the back of his neck completely.

“Why?”

Even as he asked, he tilted his head in an exaggeratedly innocent way, as if he already knew.

Ahem.

Maintaining a composed expression, I answered.

“In public… everyone should…”

Just then, the knight, who had been making sarcastic remarks toward the mages, abruptly interrupted me.

“Ah! Princess, please don’t come any closer! Of course, I’ll protect you, but…”

He looked genuinely worried that Shuni might get hurt standing so close to the barrier.

“…Hmm.”

Thanks to that interruption, my lecture about proper manners died on the spot.

Embarrassed, I closed my mouth.

Theo raised an eyebrow and glanced at the knight.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward, so I turned to Shuni instead.

“Princess, should I go clean up the painting supplies?”

“The maids will take care of that. Rena, stay beside me.”

“Well… I also wanted to see how much you’ve painted while I was gone…”

Once again, the knight’s dramatic voice cut me off.

“This simply won’t do, Princess! I’m too worried. I’ll escort you all the way back to the Princess’s Palace…”

At this point, I seriously began to wonder if he was doing it on purpose.

I wasn’t exactly pleased, but it wasn’t an easy situation to complain about.

As I gave an awkward smile and looked up—

Theo spoke gently to the knight.

“If you interrupt the young lady of the marquis’s house one more time, I’ll carefully plant you, wide awake, in front of the palace where the princess you care so much about lives. So choose your words carefully.”

“…”

It was quite impressive how politely he made a threat about burying someone alive.

At least now I knew one thing.

He definitely wasn’t an important character in a heartwarming childcare story.

“…Excuse me?”

The knight stared blankly at Theo’s bright, cheerful smile, unable to respond.

Then again, if I saw that face, I wouldn’t know how to argue either.

The way he smiled with his eyes made it impossible to tell whether he was joking…

…or completely serious.

“Fine. I’ll go. That’s what you want, right?”

Just as the atmosphere became even stranger, Shuni suddenly spoke.

“Sigh. Do these people really think I’m an actual ten-year-old child…?”

For some reason, that sigh sounded like it carried decades of experience.

Maybe I was imagining it.

“Uh… then, I’ll be going.”

Before following Shuni, I gave Theo a small wave.

The moment he looked at me, something flickered in his eyes.

“You haven’t changed at all.”

He reached out his large hand and gently stroked my cheek.

“Take care.”

“…Mm.”

Seriously… something about all of this feels very, very wrong.

As I stood there under his touch, I quietly swallowed.

* * *

One month since I transmigrated.

If there was one thing I’d learned during that time, it was this:

Whenever I wanted to find something out, the easiest person to trick into talking was Litsa, the most innocent person in the marquis’s household.

“Litsa, about Theo’s father…”

“The Duke of Selgrize?”

“Yes. His Grace…”

“Come to think of it, it’ll soon be a year since he passed away.”

Okay. Good.

It doesn’t seem like Theo and I had that kind of relationship after all…

I mean…

The way Theo looked at me and the things he said had made me wonder if he was some sort of ex-boyfriend.

But judging from Litsa’s reaction…

Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Still, I thought he’d come from an ordinary family because he was a mage… but he’s from a ducal house?

Theodore Selgrize was the second son of the Duke of Selgrize.

According to Litsa, his older brother had inherited the title a year ago.

That was unexpected.

Usually, the higher a noble’s rank, the more they preferred serving in the Imperial Palace rather than joining the Magic Tower.

There was one more noteworthy thing.

He was extremely, unbelievably handsome.

If he’s an original-story character…

The safest option is to stay away from him.

He didn’t seem to be one of the major characters, but with a face like that, there was a good chance he was someone like the male lead’s father.

He was unmarried, and the princess was only ten years old.

A younger male lead wasn’t impossible at all.

“Ah, right.”

At that moment, something suddenly came back to me.