Chapter 1 (Part 9)

The next day, many people learned that the rumor circulating in the social circles had become a fact, and it became a hot topic.

Those who didn’t know better had high hopes for the new Crown Prince’s fiancée, but those who had already experienced Meryl were disappointed and mocked Crown Prince Patzraelli behind his back for having no discerning eye.

However, there were more families who were overjoyed at Meia’s broken engagement.

“If only she weren’t the Crown Prince’s fiancée.”

“Lady Meia would be perfect as the mistress of our family.”

“Is the broken engagement real?”

“If she weren’t the Crown Prince’s fiancée now, she would be perfect as my daughter-in-law.”

The heads of families who had such thoughts were delighted by the broken engagement and began sending all sorts of gifts and marriage proposals to Meia to bring her into their families as the mistress.

The biggest interest was now on which family Meia Hatzbellua would marry into.

*   *   *

“My lady, do you really have to go?”

“I’m going. Did you see the marriage proposals sent to me? Are they really sending them in their right minds?”

Since the decision of Meia and Crown Prince Patzraelli’s broken engagement, gifts, love letters, and marriage proposals sent to Meia had been piling up in front of the ducal residence day by day.

Of course, Meia refused and returned them all.

However, the families who were rejected did not give up on Meia. They began to propose marriage family to family since individual proposals were rejected.

But the Duke could not accept. As long as there was a free marriage contract certified by the temple.

Meia smiled inwardly as she looked at Luman’s angry face, frustrated that he couldn’t sell his niece at a high price as he had hoped.

“I’m worried about what might happen to me if I stay here, nanny. The Mage Tower is safe. I can receive protection there, and I want to live quietly.”

“That’s true, but…”

“I’ll return before my coming-of-age ceremony. Please understand, nanny. Okay?”

At Meia’s earnest words, Yudy began to cry again.

“I cry more as I get older… Sob sob.”

“Nanny, you always blame your age when you cry. Don’t cry and give me a hug.”

“My tears will stain your clothes, sob sob.”

Meia approached Yudy, put her arms around her shoulders, and buried her face in her embrace, whispering.

“Nanny, you are like my second mother. Thank you, nanny.”

At Meia’s words, Yudy lost her composure and began to cry loudly. Meia also tried to hold back her tears but couldn’t resist Yudy’s sobbing and eventually cried too.

“Nanny, you know I’m grateful and love you, right?”

“Of course. This nanny loves you very much, more than my own life.”

“I know, and nanny, do you see these letters?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Send them all. And if you happen to meet His Highness the Crown Prince, please deliver this letter to him.”

“I understand. I will wait here like a stone statue, so you must return and don’t get sick.”

“I’m a 4th Circle mage. Unless it’s a Sword Master, I won’t get hurt, so don’t worry.”

Meia’s face, smiling as she spoke, was as fresh as green leaves. Still, Yudy’s face was filled with concern.

“I’ll be taking Juan with me, so don’t worry.”

“Yes. Juan, you must take good care of the lady.”

But only Yudy and Meia were in the room.

When Meia looked at her shadow and whispered, “Juan, come out,” the shadow began to ripple.

A figure wrapped in a black robe slowly emerged from the shadow.

“Yes, my lady.”

The man who emerged from Meia’s shadow was from the Shadow Clan.

The Shadow Clan had the ability to hide in shadows and were skilled in assassination and combat.

“Juan.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“I plan to go to the Mage Tower.”

“I will stay by your side.”

The loyal Juan lay flat on the ground, pledging to protect Meia with his life.

“Nanny, don’t worry. Juan is like family.”

“I know well…”

“Juan, can you visit Agnita before we leave?”

“Agnita?”

“She hasn’t returned since she left for the valley to find my parents’ bodies. Tell her to protect the Ducal residence while I’m gone.”

Juan frowned deeply at the thought of going to Agnita.

“I sent a letter through the earth spirits, but it seems it didn’t reach her.”

“I understand.”

After sending Juan on an errand, Meia took out a cloak and boots from her magical space to withstand the heat and cold.

The cloak looked a bit worn, but the material was far from ordinary. It could deflect most magical attacks and block some physical force. The cloak bore the emblem of the Hatzbellua Duchy.

She also took out a magically enchanted bag. It had a lightweight spell, so no matter how heavy the items inside, it felt weightless.

Yudy packed cold magic stones and food into Meia’s magical bag. She also prepared warm magic stones separately to guard against the cold.

Dressed lightly, Meia left the ducal residence and headed to the teleportation site.

“My lady, I’m worried.”

“I’ll be back, nanny. I’ll write to you. Don’t worry! Take good care of Agnita, and don’t cry your heart out when I’m gone.”

“I understand, my lady. Please send a letter as soon as you arrive.”

Meia waved goodbye to Yudy with the prettiest and brightest smile she could show and left.

Though she could easily reach the entrance of the Mage Tower by teleportation, Meia planned to see the sea and travel to the Mage Tower via the port.

She had never seen the sea in her life.

She thought she could feel alive if she saw the sea, which she had only seen in books, in real life.

*   *   *

Meia arrived at Elrn Port via teleportation.

She had enough money, so she first needed to find a hotel to stay at.

She also needed to check the port guidebook and find a ship to the Mage Tower.

“There’s quite a bit to look into.”

[My lady.]

It was Juan from within the shadow.

“Are you back? How is Agnita?”

[Agnita is well. She said she would return to the ducal residence.]

“She’s a grateful child. My uncle, who shares my blood, acts as if he doesn’t know me…”

[It’s only natural.]

“Thank you for your hard work.”

[It’s nothing. Please command me to do anything.]

The salty taste of the sea breeze could be felt.

Her silver hair fluttered aimlessly in the sea breeze. Meia found a ribbon in her bag and tied her hair up.

‘First, let’s find a place to stay.’

Looking around, she saw the most luxurious-looking building.

“It looks like a nice hotel.”

As she entered the splendid hotel entrance, a guide approached.

“Welcome!”

Meia nodded in response to the greeting.

The guide had already glanced up and down at Meia as she entered the hotel entrance.

The cloak looked old but was of high-quality material. Although she looked like a traveler, everything she wore, from the ribbon tying her silver hair to her accessories, was expensive.

The fact that she nodded in response to the greeting indicated she was someone used to commanding subordinates.

And the aura she exuded gave the guide, with ten years of experience, the feeling that she shouldn’t be treated lightly.

“I will guide you to the VVIP room.”

Meia nodded.

The VVIP room was a room where the cost of one night’s stay was a hundred times more expensive than other rooms. The guide was delighted that Meia nodded and asked to be guided without even asking the price.

The hotel guide walked out proudly, confident in his intuition.

“I’ll book a room for you, Juan, too.”

[No, my lady. I will guard you from outside.]

“Tell me if you need a room.”

[Understood.]

“If you haven’t eaten, please try our hotel restaurant. It’s really delicious.”

“Do I just go down?”

“I will make a reservation. Just mention your room number.”

“Okay.”

“And I will send three maids to attend to you.”

“No. I’ll be alone, so there’s no need for maids.”

“Oh! I understand. Please let us know if you need anything.”

The guide disappeared quickly to do his job, smiling broadly.

Meia took out a light dress from her magical space and put it on before heading down to the hotel restaurant.

When Meia mentioned her room number upon arriving at the restaurant, the manager personally guided her to a table.

As soon as Meia sat down, she received many glances from all around.

With her radiant silver hair and blue eyes like the sea, she couldn’t help but attract attention.

“Please sit here. I will bring the recommended menu right away.”

“Okay.”

As soon as she sat down, the meal was served. The sight of various dishes, including a tender steak and cream soup, made her mouth water.

“The flavor is deep.”

As Meia enjoyed her satisfying meal, a fat man approached, reeking of alcohol.

“Ahem, young lady.”

As the fat man started speaking to her, Meia’s pleasant meal time quickly ended.

“You are truly beautiful. Young lady, may I join you?”

“No.”

“I will buy you a delicious meal here.”

“Can I pay you to stop talking to me?”

“I like your haughty attitude, ha ha ha.”

“Whatever family you’re from…”

“I am Viscount Mahurava from the Zentas Empire, beautiful young lady.”

Meia felt irritated by Viscount Mahurava’s words as he spoke with a lecherous smile.

He should have left after being rejected twice, but he persistently stared at her with a lewd and dirty gaze, which she found distasteful.

Just as Meia was contemplating whether to throw water in his face, Viscount Mahurava began to speak his mind.

“Seeing you travel alone, you don’t seem to be a noble young lady.”

It was true that it was rare for noble young ladies to travel alone. However, Meia looked at Viscount Mahurava with disdain for making such an assumption.

“You are very beautiful, so I will overlook your lack of manners. It might be cold tonight due to the sea breeze; shall I warm your bed?”

Meia unfolded her napkin and wiped her mouth with a frown.

“This…”

Just as she was about to strongly refuse again.

“Is it common for nobles from Zentas to persistently bother a lady who has already said no?”

Meia turned her head towards the direction of the voice and met the eyes of a man with black hair and black eyes who had been dining behind her.

Viscount Mahurava also followed Meia’s gaze and looked at the man with black hair.

The man with black hair slowly sliced his steak with a knife and spoke.

“It’s uncomfortable to see you keep talking to the lady after she has rejected you twice.”

“Do you know who I am to be speaking like that?”

“Then do you know who I am to be speaking informally to me?”

Viscount Mahurava hesitated for a moment at the words of the man with black hair.

Meia did not find this situation enjoyable at all.

“This is annoying.”

Annoyed, Meia began to chant a spell.

A strong wind started to swirl around, enveloping Viscount Mahurava.

“What is this? Aah!”

Viscount Mahurava’s body floated up and was instantly blown to the entrance.

As he fell awkwardly, people started laughing at him.

“Eek! That girl is a mage!”

Frightened by the laughter and the fact that he had been blown away, Viscount Mahurava quickly exited.

Meia turned to the man with black hair and spoke haughtily.

“Thank you for stepping in like a knight of justice.”

Though she thanked him for helping, the man with black hair said something entirely different.

“Are you a mage?”

“As you can see, yes.”

“Meeting a mage…”

Looking closely at the man who blushed in admiration, Meia saw that he was quite handsome.

Seeing him here, he must also be from a noble family. She had to be careful not to get involved with him.

“A mage, I see. No wonder you weren’t intimidated by a noble.”

“It would be best if you didn’t come any closer, knight of justice.”

The man with black hair, not hiding his thoughts, stood up and approached Meia with a wide smile.

“Miss Mage, could you tell me your name?”

At that moment, Meia’s shadow began to ripple.

“Whoever you are, do not approach my lady.”

Juan emerged from Meia’s shadow, drawing his dagger and pointing it at the neck of the man with black hair.

“Juan, put down your knife. This person helped me.”

“As your shadow, I am in a position to point my knife at suspicious individuals approaching you, my lady.”

Juan gritted his teeth. Just as he was about to grab the collar of the Zentas noble, the man with black hair intervened.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Juan immediately lowered his dagger and disappeared into the shadow.