“Ruby, let’s pack this to go. The atmosphere in this restaurant isn’t great.”
Dad stood with a cool smile. I hurriedly grabbed the Duke’s sleeve.
“Dad, it tastes better when we eat it ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) here...”
Seriously, who taught this Duke table manners?
Ah. Must’ve been Grandpa.
“Hahaha, can’t even take a joke?”
The emperor laughed heartily.
“To think I’d ever see a duke like this. Fine, fine—eat slowly.”
Licht kept touching his teacup, lips pressed shut, like he was embarrassed.
Then—
“Your Majesty.”
A servant rushed over. The emperor’s gaze turned a shade colder.
“What is it?”
The servant bowed and whispered.
“There’s been a small accident at the southern mines...”
“Because Arcadia cut off the supply of magic tools?”
“Yes. It seems like retaliation for not allowing the Tracking Magicians to continue their search.”
“Tch. So it’s co to this.”
A deep crease ford between the emperor’s brows.
I quietly set down my fork.
So that’s...
Because the Vamilon imperial family kept refusing to let them pursue , the Magic Kingdom retaliated by cutting off magic tools.
“In the end...”
My fist tightened in my lap. I could feel Licht’s glance.
“Cough, cough.”
Maybe from the stress, my cough ca back. Dad clicked his tongue.
“Your Majesty, we should take our leave. The child still isn’t well.”
The emperor jolted out of his thoughts.
“Ah, right. I should get up too.”
He told the servants to wrap up all the remaining cake. He patted my head gently, eyes kind and soft.
“Sorry, young lady. I wanted to keep you longer. Next ti, I’ll invite you to the Imperial Palace. Oh—and you’re entering the competition, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be cheering for you.”
He really felt like a kind uncle... though I don’t actually have one.
“Yes. And, Your Majesty...”
Feeling oddly sorry, I lightly took his fingertips.
“Hm?”
“Please... stay strong!”
“......”
His mint-colored eyes trembled a little.
Uh-oh. Maybe I shouldn’t have touched the emperor?
A long sigh escaped him. He looked at Dad with a bit of envy.
“Truly... this is the first ti I’ve ever been jealous of a duke.”
Clack.
The door closed.
“Goodbye!”
I bowed properly to the end and left. Licht ca along to see us off.
The emperor chuckled and scanned a letter a servant brought.
Really...
That Zebret Duke—having a child like that?
“From now on, things will be even noisier.”
If that pale face were shown fully, she’d beco an even bigger topic.
He rembered the soft warmth of the girl’s hand and her bright, clever voice telling him to stay strong.
He groaned quietly. A daughter really is different.
“Bring the base magician.”
The emperor’s mask returned.
Before long, Asha Drukan hurried in.
“Y-You called for ?”
Sitting at the head with his legs crossed, the emperor asked bluntly:
“I’ll be direct. Do you know anything about the Arcadian magician who ran away?”
“Eh—no. Not at all.”
She answered imdiately. The short-haired woman glanced up nervously, her plain clothes covered in flower petals and colored scraps. Those gentle eyes didn’t look like a magician’s at all.
“Um... is sothing wrong?”
The emperor sighed at her unhurried face.
“The kingdom stopped supplying magic tools because I refused to let them search for the runaway.”
Asha groaned.
“Well... if it’s urgent magic tools, I could try making so...”
She muttered about magic stones and circles—at least that part sounded like a real magician.
The emperor recalled the letter.
Negotiations about magic tools? Obviously they just want an excuse to snoop around here.
It said they would send one magician for negotiations.
So they think I’m hiding the runaway? Too bad.
He himself wanted to know where that child was.
Should I allow in a Tracking Magician?
They’d only been allowed in the southern border villages until now—he had refused them entry into the Empire proper.
I ant to hold out, but in the end...
He gripped the armrest tightly. Duke Zebret’s face kept flashing in his mind, but he pushed it away. He wore Vamilon’s crown.
“If the runaway really were here, Asha Drukan would’ve noticed first.”
He sighed again.
“Hide well, naless child. Wherever you are in Vamilon—just don’t co here today.”
He called a servant.
“Authorize the gate portal. But only one magician may set foot in Vamilon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He hesitated, then added:
“Keep this secret. Especially from Duke Zebret.”
“Eh?” The servant’s eyes went round.
“If only Vamilon profits, that’s enough? Hah—I’ve beco a rchant.”
“...Lately I hear nothing but correct words. My ears hurt.”
A weary sigh slipped out.
“Bye, Licht! See you on competition day!”
I waved hard. Licht—unusually—stared at the whole ti as he walked out. His lips worked like he had sothing to say. Sure enough, he stopped .
“Rubian, um... could we talk for a mont?”
“Ah, sorry. I’m busy... not feeling well.”
Sorry, Licht. I’ve got sothing urgent too.
“Ah.”
He gave a faint smile and stepped back.
“No, I’m sorry. You’re still unwell. Then... after the competition, can we talk?”
“Of course!”
I nodded quickly.
From the distance, a servant relayed Dad’s words. I hurried him along.
“Let’s go ho, Dad!”
“Why the rush?”
“Uh... reasons!”
I had to see Khalid right away!
Khalid set down his wooden sword. Looking up, he saw a hawk circling.
“So that’s what it was.”
He left the training grounds and headed to a secluded courtyard.
He raised his hand; the hawk dove toward him.
A ssenger bird from the Allen rcenary Corps.
Khalid untied the small note from its leg.
“One Tracking Magician passed through the southern portal. Destination expected: the North.”
His brow furrowed.
They crossed the gate?
They’d only been scouring the far southern edge until now.
And during the biggest festival—the Verdant Festival—of all tis... a tracker was coming north.
He had a bad feeling.
What are they plotting?
Clenching his teeth, Khalid started moving.
Ruby’s out right now. Should I go et her?
Just then, a girl ca running, yelling his na.
“Khaaal!”
It was Rubian, sprinting full speed.
Khalid frowned. What if she tripped? She’d gotten way too confident about running.
He hurried to close the distance.
“Ruby, perfect timing. My animal friend just...”
He quickly told her the ssage.
“Ah, I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“I had a bad feeling. The emperor’s mood was... off.”
Ruby bit her lip. A shadow crossed her face. Khalid tightened his grip on his sword and stepped closer.
“What should I do, Ruby?”
“Hmm...”
“I could have my animal friends guard the portal and take care of—”
“I told you not to make scary jokes.”
She frowned slightly. Khalid shut his mouth. (It wasn’t a joke.)
After thinking, Ruby lifted her head and stared into his eyes.
She stepped closer—Khalid flinched. At tis like this, he couldn’t control his face.
“You know, Khal... when I play hide-and-seek with my brothers—”
Suddenly?
He raised a brow at the random start.
“Once they check sowhere and don’t find , they rarely co back.”
“......”
“But actually, I was hiding there the whole ti.”
Her voice dropped.
“Of course, if they search the entire mansion and still don’t find , they co back eventually. Isn’t that what’s happening now?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I don’t think we can avoid the trackers forever. So maybe... we should let them confirm sothing once, for sure.”
Khalid’s lips tightened. What was she planning?
“The conclusion is...”
Ruby just grinned.
Then her pale little hands shot out toward him.
“Give it to !”
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