Chapter 17

Various magic circles and formulas scattered everywhere were, for the most part, accurate in form, save for a few exceptions.

Some unknown liquid clung to the floor and tables, forcing Kanna to tread carefully.

If she returned with stains on her clothes, Michael might subject her to another round of mental harassment.

“This one’s familiar, isn’t it?”

The Princess gestured toward a corner of the research lab where no sunlight reached.

The emaciated mage she had once encountered in the Imperial Library was, fortunately, still alive and now found in the lab.

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived.”

“So, how’s the progress?”

“Well…”

The young mage, whose hair clearly hadn’t been washed in ten days and nights, stepped aside to let the Princess see the table.

On it lay a supply shield used by the Imperial Knights. The Princess turned toward Kanna and asked.

“Do you happen to know? How a ‘normal person’ can become a mage?”

It didn’t seem like she was asking to hear the usual answer everyone knew.

When Kanna withheld her reply, the Princess answered herself.

“Is it impossible for those not blessed by the World Tree’s love to ever become mages? Have you ever thought that was unfair?”

“…”

“Why must we entrust our lives to mages? The so-called grace of the World Tree, bestowed to protect us from monsters, is so limited.”

Kanna read the residual mana emanating from the shield.

As she began to grasp what type of magic it was, she also realized what the Princess was trying to say.

The Princess wanted to become a ‘mage.’

Kanna couldn’t help but let out a faint laugh.

She couldn’t understand the Princess.

If it was simply about obtaining power, she would undoubtedly regret it.

The Princess boldly reached out to touch the shield with her bare hand.

However, before her hand could even make contact, a red mana barrier formed around the shield, pushing the Princess back with intense force.

The shield flew off from the rebound and smashed into the wall.

The Princess staggered backward, flailing her arms as she stumbled.

Though it might have been an undignified sight, no one present laughed.

The Princess, too, straightened herself with her cane, her expression unperturbed.

“We managed to embed magic into an object, but we overlooked one thing. That thing now creates a defensive barrier against everything. In short, it’s become useless.”

The Princess clenched and unclenched her fist repeatedly, as if her hand was numb, all while smiling.

“But this will soon become a revolution. We’ve decided to call it ‘enchantment.’”

Kanna responded with an entirely unimpressed expression.

“Have you ever considered there might be a reason why no one else does this?”

“That’s because they’re weak, lazy, and foolish.”

The Princess scoffed.

“If you think it’s impossible, then even what’s possible won’t succeed.”

“That doesn’t mean that armor will start casting magic on its own.”

“True, the magic completely dissipates within a few hours. It reverts to being just another piece of junk.”

The Princess abruptly cut off Kanna’s words, her eyes gleaming even more brightly than before.

“Of course, we’re also researching ways to extend its duration.”

As if to say that this was the entire point of her tedious explanation, the Princess picked up a thick book from a shelf behind her.

“Well? Isn’t this what you came here for?”

After their encounter at the Imperial Library, Kanna had come here alone, so it wasn’t hard to guess her intentions if one had any sense.

“I’ll give you one book for every useful piece of advice you offer for my research.”

Even without Kanis’s presence, Kanna now had a way to obtain the books.

Still, Kanna didn’t look at the Princess’s legs.

She simply asked in the coldest voice she had used since arriving at the Imperial Palace.

“Haven’t you heard before? There are things even magic can’t achieve.”

“…”

“It’s a hopeless endeavor, Your Highness.”

“Are you misunderstanding something?”

The Princess opened the hand holding her cane.

The cane fell to the floor of the lab and rolled away.

“These legs are no hindrance to me!”

The Princess, her face flushed, limped closer to Kanna.

Her eyes burned with intensity and fervor.

Kanna’s expression wavered with confusion and doubt.

“I want to create a world where Kanis Riventi is unnecessary!”

As the head servant of the Princess’s Palace silently picked up the cane from the floor, the Princess grasped Kanna’s shoulders firmly.

“Do you understand, young daughter of Kanis?”

For a moment, Kanna was left speechless, unable to stop her thoughts from wandering.

This Imperial Family… truly… every single one of them… 

It was as if they were all desperate to somehow get a hold of her.

***

When Kanna returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace, she was utterly drained.

Jehel, watching her slowly climb onto the sofa with a weary face, clicked her tongue in pity.

“I figured you wouldn’t listen even if I tried to stop you, so I let you go. How do you feel now?”

“Ugh.”

Sylan, also pale-faced, silently walked over to the sofa opposite Kanna and collapsed onto it.

“Was this the first time you saw Her Highness the Princess up close?”

“You know, the Master of the Mage Tower is definitely stronger, more powerful, and more impressive…”

“And?”

Even without hearing the rest, Jehel chuckled knowingly.

“Then why do I feel so chilled to the bone?”

“She’s not such a bad person, though.”

Jehel, suppressing a light laugh, replied while looking up from the documents she was reviewing. Kanna glanced at her.

“You sound like someone who knows her well.”

“Didn’t I mention it before? Before I was assigned under His Highness Michael, I worked at the Princess’s Palace.”

As Jehel signed off on one stack of documents and pulled another toward her, Sylan gently placed her hands over Jehel’s.

“…To think you escaped to the Crown Prince’s Palace. Your life has been quite eventful, hasn’t it, Aide?”

“Ugh… Why are you being so creepy?”

Jehel pulled her hands away in disgust.

Kanna, lowering her gaze, muttered in a drained voice.

“So why are you working here instead of with Michael?”

Realizing how quiet it was, Kanna opened her eyes and recognized her mistake.

“Miss Kanna.”

“I know. It just slipped out.”

Kanna’s ears turned bright red as she turned away. She couldn’t understand why such words had come out of her mouth.

“But, Miss Kanna.”

“I said it was a mistake.”

“That’s not it.”

“I wasn’t curious about him.”

“Miss Kanna.”

“Not even for a second—”

“The thing is, Miss Kanna, the Emperor’s Palace sent word that you’re to attend tomorrow’s banquet.”

“…”

“Were you curious about His Highness?”

“…”

“When you see someone every day and then suddenly don’t, it’s normal to feel that way, Miss Kanna.”

Jehel’s gentle words left Kanna unable to respond.

Sylan, looking between Jehel and Kanna with a smile, spoke as if envious.

“I’m really glad you’ve grown closer to His Highness.”

“…”

Unable to endure any longer, Kanna began to rise, but Sylan beat her to it.

“Aide, should I escort Miss Kanna to the banquet tomorrow?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then I’ll take my leave for now. Rest well, Miss Kanna.”

As Kanna stared at Sylan’s retreating figure for a moment, she suddenly asked.

“So, what kind of banquet is it?”

“It’s the usual private banquet held around this time of year. Nobles bring their children to introduce them to one another.”

“And the Emperor’s stance?”

“It was decided at today’s council meeting. Naturally, His Majesty approved it.”

“Got it.”

“Got it?”

“A banquet’s no big deal.”

Kanna confidently recalled the annual year-end banquets she used to attend in her original form.

All she had to do was sit through it, become the center of attention, and quietly slip away once everyone got drunk enough to start repeating themselves.

Of course, what Kanna failed to consider was that her current circumstances were vastly different from back then.

***

When Kanna first entered the banquet hall, her expectations did not seem to be wrong.

After the private, formal dinner concluded, the nobles gathered either at the central stage hall or near the terrace to converse.

Among them were a few faces familiar to Kanna, but most were strangers.

Though she might have crossed paths with them at some point over the years, engaging in conversation with them had been rare, and Kanna had no intention of remembering them.

And there, at the distant podium on the highest seat, sat the Emperor.

“Please pay your respects to His Majesty first.”

Following Sylan’s advice, Kanna crossed the banquet hall and walked toward the Emperor.

Without realizing it, all the murmurs in the hall had ceased.

The nobles’ gazes focused entirely on Kanna, their stares sharp enough to make her cheeks sting.

It was so blatant that it could have been uncomfortable, but Kanna made no effort to check the expressions of each noble.

She didn’t need to look to know.

Their thoughts, busy calculating usefulness and weighing gains and losses, were always poorly concealed.

“…If you’ve come, stay for a while and then leave.”

As Kanna approached and bowed her head in greeting, the Emperor did not bother to hide his disapproving gaze as he spoke.