“My, Your Majesty. I’m not just anyone, am I?”

I asked Antias with a hurt expression.

Just anyone! How could you say that when I’ve been praying so hard for both of you to be happy?

“…But…”

“Of course, I’m not asking for it without offering something in return. How about I give you monthly updates about Lady Alice?”

“No.”

Though Antias’s eyes flickered slightly, his answer remained firm. Why is this young one so stubborn? Fine, I’ll add something more.

“I’ll throw in letters from Lady Alice too.”

Antias’s hesitation deepened. The crease between his brows suggested that just a little more pushing might do it.

“I’ll also send photos quarterly.”

I played another card like driving in a wedge. He let out a groan, seemingly unable to resist the photos.

“Lady Rischefeld, the forbidden library isn’t a place you can enter through such negotiations.”

However, after brief consideration, Antias firmly refused once again. Though he looked like a mere child, he was still the Emperor.

I removed the playfulness from my face and looked at him seriously.

“I heard that the Duke helped Your Majesty greatly in reclaiming your current position.”

“I’m always grateful for that.”

“Then perhaps, for the Duke’s sake, couldn’t you grant my request?”

At my plea, Antias looked at me with a serious expression. He seemed to sense that my request wasn’t merely due to curiosity or stubbornness.

“Is something wrong?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that.”

Hearing my answer, Antias heaved a deep sigh. This seemed particularly difficult for him to decide.

After a long deliberation, Antias nodded reluctantly.

“Very well. I’ll permit it on the condition that you’re accompanied by an imperial mage. But you must not tell anyone about this.”

When I heard about a mage, I had a feeling.

“Hello, Sir Michael.”

“It’s been a while, Miss.”

Sure enough, it was Michael. I had hoped it would be someone else, but unfortunately, I had no choice.

Given what I had done before, it was quite embarrassing to face him. Finally, I followed quietly behind him while exchanging awkward greetings.

“Are… are you not busy these days?”

“I am busy. Thanks to someone.”

Yes, you’re very busy because of me. And now you must be more annoyed being called here because of me again.

“Miss, as I always say, I want to work here for a long time.”

Michael, walking ahead, muttered words that could have been either self-reassurance or advice to me. Probably the latter?

“Of course. I understand that feeling well, Sir Michael.”

“After someone I know showed you around the palace, you went and did such things.”

Michael clenched his jaw as if the memory still made his teeth grind.

“Well, life is too boring if it’s too peaceful…”

“I want to live a peaceful life.”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

I quickly nodded and apologized.

Quietly following Michael down the spiral staircase, we came to a large door blocking the way.

Michael took out a key from his pocket and inserted it into the lock. Soon, a soft blue light enveloped the door, and the heavy door began to move on its own.

“Come in.”

The inside was a large cylindrical structure, with bookshelves full of books surrounding it. Could all these be forbidden books?

When I unconsciously reached for a book in front, Michael hurriedly stopped my hand.

“You shouldn’t touch any books here carelessly. Some of them are alive.”

“Alive? The books?”

When I tilted my head in confusion, Michael took out the book I was about to touch and showed it to me. It looked too ordinary to be alive.

However, the moment he opened the pages, suddenly a large, thick hand shot out and moved as if trying to grab me. If Michael hadn’t quickly closed the book, I might have been dragged in.

“You see?”

“I-I’ll be careful.”

I nodded while trying to calm my racing heart. Perhaps Michael thought showing me would be more effective than verbal warnings.

Or maybe it was a subtle revenge. Either way, it was certainly effective.

“By the way, what book did you come to find?”

“A book written by Kasiel.”

“Kasiel, the dark mage? Why?”

He seemed puzzled about why a normal lady would be interested in dark magic.

“Just curious.”

“It doesn’t seem like you came just out of curiosity.”

At my flimsy excuse, Michael scratched his head and sighed.

“People usually come here with a purpose.”

Saying that, he pulled out a book from one section of the bookshelf. The black book had nothing written on either its cover or spine.

“The witch Kasiel is famous because she, who was an ordinary person without mana, used magic that surpassed mages. Of course, her cruelty and superhuman magic also played a part.”

I nodded, remembering reading similar passages in books.

“Do you know why such exceptional magic was forbidden and its existence was tried to be erased?”

“Because it was a threat to the Empire?”

Michael shook his head at my answer.

“No. It’s because the end of those who used dark magic was all horrific. It would be fortunate if they only lost their lives.”

“……”

Michael handed me the book and quietly advised,

“Miss, whatever you’re thinking, remember that power that defies the natural order comes with an equal price.”

***

The cold wind that crossed over the snowy mountains struck sharply against the cheeks.

“This cold is getting fiercer by the day.”

“Who doesn’t know that? I’ve been here for years but still can’t get used to it.”

The soldiers around the garrison gathered near the fire to warm their frozen bodies. The snow that had crept between the gaps of their armor slowly melted away.

“Speaking of which, where’s the Duke who came recently? I haven’t seen him around.”

The Celestine barracks, which had been buzzing with talk about the Duke’s arrival from the capital, was quiet.

“He took a platoon out for monster subjugation.”

“Hasn’t he been doing that non-stop for a week now?”

Whether it should be called impressive or terrible, he clearly wasn’t an ordinary nobleman.

It wasn’t ordinary to begin with, walking into such a dangerous area of his own accord.

“Who doesn’t know? Those Celestine Knight Order fellows were looking quite grim. Serves them right after looking down on us with their arrogance.”

The surrounding soldiers nodded and laughed at those words.

“Fortunately, our lord isn’t like that.”

“True. When the master is too exceptional, it’s the subordinates who suffer.”

The man muttered while throwing another log into the fire. With a crackling sound, the flames rose again.

“But why did he come here?”

Though they asked hoping the knight order might have heard something, everyone seemed clueless.

“Well, I heard he even postponed his wedding to come here.”

“The monster situation doesn’t seem that serious though.”

While they were indeed short on manpower, that was a year-round issue, and if anything, the monster population was decreasing. There seemed no particular reason to visit at this time.

“I heard he has connections with the newly enthroned Emperor, so why would he voluntarily come to this barren land when he lacks nothing?”

“Who knows.”

The nodding soldier glanced toward the barracks and asked,

“But isn’t it unusually quiet today?”

Though it wasn’t unusual for the Duke to take a squad out for monster subjugation, today was strangely quieter.

“Ah, come to think of it, earlier at that barracks…”

The man who was about to start a new story closed his mouth. In the distance, the sound of clanking armor could be heard as the Celestine family flag came into view.

The men hurriedly ended their conversation and returned to their posts to avoid any potential trouble.

Upon returning to the garrison, Ilion disbanded the knight order. Forming a unit to go on subjugation seemed to have been somewhat excessive.

Although they returned without any injuries, everyone looked extremely tired.

He knew there was no need to push others as hard as he pushed himself, but that wasn’t easy to put into practice. Was it because he felt rushed?

It had already been a week since he arrived here. Thanks to the holy power Artia had bestowed, he hadn’t experienced any seizures yet, but his physical condition was deteriorating day by day. Even he could feel it.

He briefly thought he might die before even encountering any monsters at this rate.

Unconsciously letting out a quiet sigh, Ilion dragged his tired body into the barracks.

Though he knew he shouldn’t, he particularly missed Ravenne today.

“Oh my, you’re back?”

“……”

Am I seeing things? Even though I miss her, now I’m having hallucinations.

“Why do you look so dumbfounded?”

“…Is it really you, Ravenne?”

“Of course it’s real. Are there fake versions of me?”

Ilion stared at Ravenne, still unable to distinguish whether this was reality or an illusion. Was he dreaming?

“How did you…”

“You asked to know my conditions, right? I came to tell you about that.”

Ravenne said this while pulling out a stack of documents from her bag. It was the same paperwork she had presented when she asked for the engagement cancellation.

“I told you to send it by mail.”

“Well, I’m someone who hates waiting. I wanted to get your response right after making my decision.”

Ravenne said while practically throwing the stack of documents at Ilion’s chest.

“Take it. These are my conditions.”

Seeing her speak, it seemed this wasn’t a dream. What could she want that made someone who’s sensitive to cold come all this way? He would have agreed to anything she asked.

Well, it was fortunate that he could see her face once more because of it… Trying not to show his happiness, Ilion casually flipped through the documents.

“Whatever you wanted, Sebastian could have handled…”

Ilion’s eyes stopped at the last page as he muttered.

“Your condition is…”

As he looked at her with disbelieving eyes, she answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Ilion Celestine, I want you.”