‘The healing magic will try to restore me to my adult form, but the black magic in my body will resist its effects. By casting healing magic on myself, the black magic will activate, allowing my tracking spell to find similar energy signatures.’

I gritted my teeth against the headache and pain shooting through my entire body. Despite the agony, I forced myself to squeeze out every drop of magical power to maintain the tracking spell.

[Find energy identical to the force currently opposing the healing magic.]

The butterfly that had been fluttering before me instantly vanished. I continued channeling the healing magic as waves of pain threatened to overwhelm my consciousness.

‘This really isn’t something anyone should attempt.’

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how successful this plan would be. It required two essential conditions: first, the black mage must be actively using black magic at this moment; second, the black magic cast on me needed to remain active. 

Both conditions had to be met for the tracking spell to work—if either failed, the magic would fail too. An additional limitation was the range—even the strongest tracking spell has its limits.

‘This is truly excruciating.’

I clenched my teeth harder. Just then, I sensed Lerrhagen sighing. His reaction seemed to suggest my plan was reckless, which irritated me despite my pain.

“Why are you sighing like that!”

“I’m not sure whether to call this reckless or brilliant. How is this different from using yourself as bait?”

“This isn’t the same as being bait. I’m just… ugh… using a method to provide black magic energy.”

“…”

“You used the same technique when you gave me this ring!”

Lerrhagen still didn’t seem to agree. He stared at me intently before slightly extending his hand, only to withdraw it moments later.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, a sharp tingling sensation shot through my fingertips, like a foreign substance disrupting the normal flow of magical energy.

Found it.

I turned to Lerrhagen with a triumphant expression. “I found them! I’ll give you the coordinates, so please warp us there immediately.”

As I finished speaking, I withdrew my magical power. The headache vanished completely, almost like it had never existed. The moment I recorded the coordinates and passed them to Lerrhagen—

“Huh?”

I froze as a strange sensation crept up from my toes. Lerrhagen must have felt it too, as he narrowed his eyes and spoke.

“Seems like reverse tracking magic.”

“Reverse tracking?”

“It identifies the location of whoever cast the tracking spell. And—”

At that moment, the sunlight that had been slanting over us suddenly disappeared. An immense darkness enveloped us before vanishing just as quickly.

“What’s happening?”

I turned to Lerrhagen with a rigid expression, but the space beside me was completely empty.

Everything had happened in an instant.

* * *

Lerrhagen observed the scene before him with cold eyes. Black magic came in many forms, but the worst kind was undoubtedly the type that reversed an opponent’s power back against them. In other words, he was now experiencing the same illusion magic he had cast earlier.

‘Whoever they are, they’re clever.’

Completely neutralizing his illusion magic would be impossible even for a black mage, especially a human one. However, reflecting the same magic back at its caster was relatively simple for a black mage.

The mysterious black mage hiding in the forest clearly expected Lerrhagen to struggle against the illusion magic just as they had, giving them time to escape from their own hallucinations.

What they hadn’t anticipated was one simple fact.

‘There’s no way I couldn’t neutralize my own magic. It’s not like illusion magic is some ultimate technique.’

With that thought, Lerrhagen casually surveyed his surroundings, preparing to leave immediately.

‘Where is Esht?’

Hopefully she wasn’t trapped in an illusion, crying somewhere. That would be troublesome.

Just as he was about to cast his spell—

– Why are you always alone, Lord?

Lerrhagen’s face hardened at the sudden voice echoing in his ears.

* * *

“Princess, it’s time for your bath.”

I stared blankly at the ceiling when I opened my eyes. The familiar ceiling greeted me as sunlight slanted through, occasionally stabbing my left eye. I instinctively shielded my vision with my hand before turning my head slightly.

The head lady-in-waiting stood there. After Sever found me in the wardrobe, he insisted that the servants who failed to find their mistress despite midnight having passed should be severely punished—and surprisingly, Father agreed. 

As a result, not only the maids and servants in my palace but also the knights were collectively punished for dereliction of duty.

Perhaps because of this, she had shown a somewhat respectful attitude since then. However, her respectfulness only manifested when others could see; her harassment and contempt had simply become more subtle and traceless.

“His Majesty wishes to have breakfast with you. The other princes and princesses are waiting, so please hurry.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I’ll help you with your bath.”

“No, no. That’s fine.”

I quickly shook my head at her offer to help with my bath. Her “help” was always painful—she would yank my hair forcefully under the pretense of washing it and scrub my skin roughly while claiming to create lather.

The head lady-in-waiting gave me a cold stare, but soon smiled faintly and spoke. “No, helping with your bath is my duty. I must assist you.”

I ultimately had to endure the bath according to her wishes. My skin felt raw afterward, and I gently rubbed my arms to soothe the discomfort.

Soon after, she began dressing me. “You’ll wear this dress today.”

“Um…”

“Is it not to your liking?”

“Is there another color…”

“The other princes and princesses will already be wearing other colors. This teal dress suits you best, Princess.”

I pressed my lips together at the sight of the dress with its elaborate frills. Beyond not being pretty, I had a feeling my siblings would mock me for looking like a clown.

My prediction proved correct. When I entered the dining hall after finishing my preparations, I was met with my siblings’ sneering faces.

“My goodness, Estria. Have you taken a job with the circus?”

“What terrible taste. Where did the Elvierts ducal bloodline go to produce something like that?”

“It’s not about the Elvierts family—maybe there’s something wrong with her bloodline altogether? Is she really of imperial blood?”

“How upset Her Majesty the Empress would be if she saw this. Oh dear. Estria, would you like your sister to lend you some clothes?”

“No, that’s okay.”

“It’s fine. Just say the word. Your sister can at least spare you some clothes.”

“If needed, your brother can give you his shoes too. Since you’re growing, you can just drag them around.”

Laughter filled the dining hall, though I couldn’t understand what was so amusing. I remained silent.

I knew better than anyone why they treated me this way. And the biggest reason was—

“You’re all quite lively this morning, Ameli.”

“Father!”

As soon as Father’s voice was heard, Sister Ameli smiled brightly. Father’s pleased gaze fell upon her. When his eyes eventually turned to me, he spoke with obvious disapproval.

“Duke Elvierts would be furious if he saw this.”

“…”

“He made such a fuss about producing a crown prince from his family.”

“…”

“How pathetic.”

I kept my mouth firmly shut. All I could do was remain silent and sit quietly. If I talked back, I might be thrown out of the dining hall.

At that moment, a voice deep within me whispered unexpectedly.

‘What’s so bad about being thrown out?’

Huh?

‘Why are you trying to please these worthless people over something so trivial?’