Edith had recently received a recommendation letter for the Royal Mage Corps from her professor. Strictly speaking, she had merely earned the first qualification to apply for the Royal Mage Corps examination held once every three years. Considering that recommendation letters typically went to second sons of noble families, this was certainly an uncommon opportunity.

She wanted to do well. She was confident she could. The exam consisted of three subjects: theory, application, and reagent preparation, scheduled immediately after graduation. Though only a little over two months remained until graduation…

It was still an opportunity. A chance to leave the insufferable South and escape her family.

For this reason, Edith was currently in the capital despite the Academy being on break. Preparing for the exam before graduation.

The Academy also made it easier to find materials about the North, so it was beneficial either way. Edith had truly never forgotten Brote for a single moment.

However, the real problem was…

‘She hasn’t written… I specifically instructed the butler to send me any letters from Brote by the fastest gate service possible, regardless of cost.’

Yet, there had been no word from Brote. Not to the Hopper family in the South, nor to the Academy in the capital. Not a single letter had arrived anywhere.

It had been a month and a half since Brote left the South. No matter how great the distance between the North and South or the capital, at least one letter should have returned by now. Despite this, there had been no contact from Brote.

Edith glanced at the time while transferring a sample of the reagent she was preparing into an empty flask. The closing time for the reagent preparation room was approaching. She stuffed the empty flasks into the sink for tomorrow and searched for a stopper.

‘Miss! Miss Edith!’

Was it her imagination? She thought she heard the butler’s voice somewhere.

“Miss! No, wait… Look, I’m not an outsider, I have urgent news and couldn’t contact you beforehand! Really…! Look at this!”

The corridor was bustling with commotion. Somehow, it felt ominous. Edith carefully opened the door to observe the situation outside. Sure enough, a disheveled young man, looking like some peddler who had wandered in, was struggling in the grip of the security guards.

“Butler?”

It was the Hopper family butler.

‘So it wasn’t an auditory hallucination.’

Edith calmly opened the door, walked over, and tapped the guard’s shoulder. She then pointed first at the still-struggling man, then at herself.

“Ah… Well then. We’ll be on our way.”

“Sorry for the trouble. Go on… But butler, why do you look like that?”

“Ah, well…”

Acting as if she hadn’t asked, Edith waved her hand dismissively and pushed the butler into her research room. She closed the door behind her with a thud and extended her hand toward the butler.

“Never mind that. Hand it over. I didn’t expect you to take the initiative to rush here yourself, but… well done.”

“What? Oh, no, that’s not it. His Lordship says you must return to the South immediately as he has urgent matters to discuss with you.”

“Are you insane? I’m not going. I can’t go!”

“I thought you might say that, which is why he sent me…”

Edith flipped her eyelid once in exasperation, shrugged her shoulders, and brushed past the butler. She resumed organizing the flasks she had been tidying up, as if she hadn’t heard anything.

But the butler was persistent. “Miss!” At the butler’s scream-like exclamation, the flask slipped from Edith’s hand, spilling all the diluted solution onto the floor.

“Miss Edith! You must go. He said it’s truly urgent. Perhaps… it could be important to you as well, so please prepare to—”

“Butler. Are you threatening me?”

Her face resembled that of a demon. The butler gulped, unconsciously stepping backward while shaking his head. He even showed his palms to Edith as if to prove his innocence. Seeing this, Edith brushed back her fallen hair and exhaled deeply.

Already at such a busy time. Barely swallowing the curses that threatened to escape, Edith stepped on the broken glass pieces with a crunch and pulled up the corners of her mouth in a smile.

“…Fine. I’ll go. For your sake, butler, this better be important.”

* * *

“Your Lordship, Edith is here.”

“Enter.”

Click. The doorknob turned. Edith pressed her forehead as she watched the butler struggle to push open the door. It was predictable. The image of the chaotically messy office came to mind without even trying to recall it.

After much effort, the butler managed to push open the door to the Marquis’s office. Edith calmly entered, navigating around documents, ashtrays, and a half-collapsed phonograph.

The Marquis, somehow hearing her nimble footsteps that made no sound, lifted his head while gathering his breath after bending over and panting heavily.

“Do you remember?”

“…What? How Mother would overturn your office in rage whenever you brought home new stepmothers?”

“…Ah, no. What she said.”

Edith spotted a relatively clean place in the office that looked like it had been hit by a magical bombardment. A sofa with a pink teapot and matching teacups.

“…Brote, I mean.”

Edith turned around, halting her sequential steps at the unexpected name.

“She said there would be reforms at the Academy.”

‘Thank you, Your Lordship. That’s… because there will soon be reforms at the Academy.’

For a moment, Edith could almost see young Brote before her eyes. With her long black ponytail, fluttering her long, full eyelashes like butterfly wings, slowly reciting her words in a low, calm voice unlike that of a child.

The Marquis passed by Edith and claimed a seat on the sofa first.

“At first, I didn’t believe her. I sent you to the Academy because… I was curious what made her eyes so confident. Well… you wanted to go too.”

Edith bent her stiffened legs and took another step toward the sofa.

“But what happened? Just as she said, a storm swept through the Academy. Reforms were implemented exactly as she predicted. For the first time since the kingdom’s founding, commoners could complete studies at the Academy… Like a lie coming true.”

Edith sat on the plush sofa and reached for a teacup to moisten her parched throat.

“I’ve received information that the missing princess will return.”

And with that, she froze in that position.

‘Princess.’

About ten years ago, there was an incident where the youngest princess was kidnapped by intruders who attacked the royal family. The royal family had been tracking the culprits in every possible way to find the princess, but as far as Edith knew, she was still missing.

“The major families in the capital already know this, apparently. Damn central nobility! …So I was wondering… did she perhaps give you any hint about this matter?”

“Have you found out who it is?”

“Ahem, ahem. …We haven’t confirmed it for certain. The royal family has hidden it so thoroughly… However.”

“However?”

“She apparently concealed her identity and attended the Academy. Edi, I don’t distrust you, but… you haven’t done anything that might get you in trouble, have you?”

Edith laughed hollowly and withdrew her hand that had been reaching for the teacup.

‘Concealed her identity?’

For some reason, she felt utterly disgusted. The face of someone who was once a friend and the face of a woman with revolting shamelessness simultaneously came to mind.

‘Terminal illness, identity.’

At that moment, she questioned why she had never doubted it before.

Could someone with a terminal illness look so healthy?

“Is that all, Your Lordship?”

“Huh? Yes, that’s it. Edi, the tea doesn’t taste—”

“Then I’ll be going now.”

Ah…

The Marquis gazed longingly at the closed door and picked up the teacup Edith hadn’t even touched to taste it. His face contorted, and he called for his aide with vigor.

“Hawen!”

* * *

“Eric, what is all this…?”

“Oh, you’re awake?”

Ariel frowned at the messy desk. Truly… if the king hadn’t given her such a short time, she would never have taken the hand of this superficially polished young man. With that thought, Ariel inadvertently showed Eric her raw, frowning expression.

However, the man simply smiled despite clearly seeing Ariel’s bare face. He pushed aside the documents scattered across the desk.

‘He must have heard the rumors.’

Rumors. Rumors that one of the commoners attending the Academy might be the princess. Rumors that the king had deliberately spread.

This man before her must have heard those rumors too. If even the tiniest hope hadn’t sprouted in his heart after hearing them, he would have to be a god rather than a human. Or an immovable statue unaffected by anything.

No, despite knowing this unpretentious man wouldn’t be swayed by mere rumors, a crooked feeling suddenly rose within her. Wasn’t she the one who had deliberately deceived him from the beginning?

‘…Well, it’s not entirely a lie. It’s true that my life as “Ariel” is ending.’

“Did you sleep well?”

At his gentle question as he turned to face her, Ariel forced a smile. She reached out affectionately and lightly grasped his collar.

Ariel chose him for no particular reason.

‘…A pitiful human who, like my mother, cannot ignore the unfortunate and walks willingly into traps even knowing they are traps.’

She knew his type all too well, and more than anyone, Ariel herself was most suitable for considering herself the most unfortunate. More than anyone else.

Gently caressing his cheek with her fingertips, Ariel answered his question.

“Yes. Rick, how about you?”

At that moment, the man’s lips parted with an indescribable expression. Then his eyes crinkled as his face filled with a smile. The morning sunlight spread over his long, luxurious golden eyelashes, making his face exceptionally beautiful.

“If you slept well, that’s enough for me.”

It was a slightly delayed but quite satisfactory answer. Ariel stroked Eric’s cheek with her hand, calloused in a way unbelievable for a princess’s hand.

Yes. Whatever minor points displeased her could be corrected gradually. Looking back, wasn’t this man the luckiest thing she had obtained in her life?

‘A kind-hearted, tender man is rare enough, but one who’s beautiful as well is even harder to find.’

Ariel gently sat on one of his legs as he guided her and rested her chin on his shoulder. She raised her arms to embrace his neck tightly. His thin but firm body supported hers with stability. His embrace felt peaceful.

As Ariel blinked her drowsy eyes, the man’s body moved slightly. Without showing any reaction, she remained in his arms, carefully observing his actions.

Thinking she had fallen asleep, he slowly pulled the books he had hastily put away back in front of him, while supporting her back with one hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah… studying.”

“Why?”

“You know I have no talent for swordsmanship. If we’re going to live together in the capital, I need to join something else.”

Ariel stared at the man who was indirectly expressing his intention to take responsibility, and smiled faintly. Then, a hint of mischief sparked.

“Do you regret it?”

She asked if he regretted letting go of that Veritatis woman. If he had chosen her, he would have at least secured the dowry that would have been allocated to her. Instead of worrying about life after graduation while staying in this old hotel, he could have attempted a small business venture.

“El. Don’t worry about me. Just think about your health. You need to stay by my side for a long, long time.”

“…Sure.”

Ariel rolled her eyes, avoiding his gaze. Her eyes wandered over the desk cluttered with books, documents, papers, and pens.

‘Northern expedition?’

Was he planning to join an investigation team?

Whatever it was, she had no intention of stopping him from the beginning. Just as she had no intention of letting him go first, despite him being somewhat clumsy.

Ariel needed him. More desperately than anyone else. To protect her own life.

In any case, it was that woman’s fault for stupidly failing to protect what was hers, not Ariel’s. Ariel felt righteous.