Chapter 2

“…Dad? Did Dad come?”

The innkeeper cast a pitiful glance at Kanis before getting up.

“Who’s this ‘Dad’ now?”

While Kanis continued mumbling to herself, the innkeeper silently stepped aside.

There were more people outside the door.

“Oh.”

Kanis’s jaw dropped.

The man who stepped forward in front of the innkeeper was someone Kanis knew.

Crown Prince Michael Clobern.

Black hair, violet eyes. Dressed in a dark cloak and black uniform, his towering height gave him the impression of a grim reaper.

With his pale face and strikingly red lips, the Crown Prince of the Empire knelt on one knee right in front of Kanis.

His movements were graceful and without any unnecessary motion.

Kanis thought to herself that she could never figure out what this man was thinking.

His reddish-purple eyes scanned Kanis from head to toe.

“Silver hair, blue eyes… A little child.”

How on earth did this guy find this place?

Indeed, one should never associate with the Imperial Family. They’re more persistent than even mages.

“Could this child be the one you were looking for?”

A young woman, seemingly an aide, showed a badge stamped with the Imperial Seal to the bewildered innkeeper.

“This is an important matter for the Imperial Family. Could you step aside for a moment?”

“Weren’t you looking for the child’s mother? Are you planning to harm the child now or—”

“I assure you in the name of the Imperial Family, nothing of the sort will happen.”

The hesitant innkeeper stepped aside.

This bastard, as expected, really seems to be searching for her.

What should I do? Did he figure it out?

An awkward silence stretched between the three of them.

“Could this child be connected to the Master of the Mage Tower? She certainly resembles—”

“She does.”

“Well, they are practically identical.”

“Yes. She looks astonishingly like the Master of the Mage Tower during her childhood.”

“…How do you know what the Master of the Mage Tower looked like as a child, Your Highness?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“No, it’s fine. Anyway… So this child said she was waiting for her mother?”

“Yes.”

“…Then could it be.”

Michael sighed, resting his chin on his palm, and stared intently at Kanis.

Kanis desperately held herself back from stepping backward.

If she moved, she might instinctively launch a magical attack.

Of all people, why did it have to be him who caught her, ending her escape in such a humiliating manner…

“…The hidden daughter of the Master of the Mage Tower.”

“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?”

Huh?

Kanis almost asked him to repeat himself because she couldn’t believe her ears.

Daughter?

Hidden daughter?

I hid a daughter?

And that daughter is…

“How old do you think this child is?”

“Well, five? Six?”

…That’s supposed to be me?

What in the world…

“Five years ago, the Master of the Mage Tower did go into seclusion and didn’t show herself. The timing matches.”

“Of course, the Master of the Mage Tower usually stays locked up in the Mage Tower, but… Could it be she did that to hide the child?”

“It’s understandable if the invincible Master of the Mage Tower wanted to hide her weakness.”

“So… Could the reason she disappeared this time also be?”

Michael murmured in an unusually somber voice.

“…Perhaps, even if it’s late, she wanted to show the child the world.”

“To think the Master of the Mage Tower had such a heartbreaking reason. It’s unbelievable.”

No! That’s not it!

Don’t make it a fact! You lunatics!

While Kanis was dumbfounded by their absurd reasoning, their mistaken assumptions were spiraling further out of control.

She needed to explain something quickly.

But what should I say?

That I look exactly like the Master of the Mage Tower, that I babbled about visiting the village with my mother, but in reality, there’s no mother I was waiting for, and I was just a normal little kid wandering around the dangerous areas near the Mage Tower?

No.

Hey, you crazy people! Make some sense! I am the Master of the Mage Tower, Kanis Riventi!

How could I give birth to myself?

Even if I’m this tiny right now!

And even though my magic is nearly unusable right now!

And I was in the middle of escaping!

No!

Absolutely no!

In the end, Kanis’s lips moved like a goldfish, but she failed to form any words aloud.

“Child, is your mother Kanis Riventi?”

“…”

“Where is your mother? Can you explain?”

As Kanis’s silence stretched, suspicion began to show on the aide’s face.

“Could it be… If she’s not the Master of the Mage Tower’s child—”

“Yes, yes! I’m the Master of the Mage Tower’s daughter! A hidden daughter, at that!”

Damn it!

Kanis wanted to cry.

The last thing she wanted was for the weakened ‘Kanis Riventi’ to be taken to the Imperial Palace.

Especially not in front of that idiot Michael, in this tiny form, and hear something like, ‘Could it be… are you the Master of the Mage Tower herself?’

That, above all else, was absolutely unacceptable!

Ha…

Is this what life is supposed to be like…?

Kanis, overwhelmed by a sudden wave of melancholy, noticed Michael staring at her intently before he finally spoke.

“Is that so? Then prove that you’re the Master of the Mage Tower’s daughter.”

“…”

What the hell, you bastard?

Even the aide widened her eyes, looking at Michael as if he were insane.

Michael, still kneeling in front of Kanis, was now smiling brightly.

You’re the one who claimed I’m her daughter, and now you want me to prove it?

Fine. If that’s what it takes.

Kanis was quick to assess the situation.

“The Master of the Mage Tower has silver hair and blue eyes.”

“Everyone in the Empire knows that, except perhaps newborns.”

“The Master of the Mage Tower has a disciple who lives with her. His name is Yenen. He became her disciple five years ago… A male with blond hair and golden eyes.”

“That information doesn’t directly prove you’re her daughter.”

What?

Kanis felt a vein throb on her forehead.

“…I know why the Master of the Mage Tower has always complied with the Imperial Family’s excessive demands.”

“What? Was there such a thing? I just thought the Master of the Mage Tower was a pushover—”

“Jehel. Could you step aside for a moment?”

The aide, Jehel, shrugged and stepped back.

Did she just call me a pushover?

When Kanis glared at her, Jehel waved at her playfully from afar as if finding her adorable.

Annoyed, Kanis turned her head away sharply.

“Now, go on. What’s the reason?”

“Actually, I’m not sure if you even know the answer.”

“…I know. So, tell me.”

Kanis clicked her tongue. The Imperial Family truly had no secrets. If even a rookie like him, who’s only been Crown Prince for two years, knew about this…

“Well, it’s not exactly a secret. Kanis Riventi and the first Emperor were—”

Michael and Kanis spoke simultaneously.

“Master and disciple.”

“Lovers?”

Michael and Kanis frowned at each other. Then, again in unison:

“What? Lovers?”

“Just a simple master-disciple relationship?”

Both fell silent. Finally, Michael spoke in a cold voice.

“You’re lying.”

When did he ask for proof, and now he’s more interested in the story’s truth?

“They were indeed just master and disciple. What nonsense are you spouting? Go ask the Emperor yourself.”

Kanis grumbled irritably.

“That doesn’t explain it. Just being a master-disciple—”

“She could act like a leashed dog for over three hundred years.”

“…”

“She could. That’s reason enough.”

“Why?”

“Because Kanis Riventi’s master died in her place.”

“…”

It wasn’t a story she liked.

Kanis realized it had been almost three hundred years since she last spoke of it.

It felt strange, as if she were a third party to her own life. Strangely liberating, too.

Kanis chuckled softly.

“Anyway, does that prove it now?”

“Yes.”

Michael beckoned for his aide to return.

“Now, let’s escort our hostage to the Imperial Palace.”

“What?!”

Kanis’s eyes widened.

“Aren’t you going to let me go?!”

“Who said that? To my recollection, no one.”

“…”

Why does it sound even more annoying when Michael says it?

Kanis imagined poking Michael’s eyes with her fingers.

Meanwhile, the aide cautiously approached and offered another suggestion.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stake out near the inn instead?”

“If she hasn’t shown up until now, she’s unlikely to appear. Holding the child ensures we’ll meet her… one way or another.”

Kanis folded her arms and glared at Michael with a crooked stance.