Knock knock.

The sound of knocking echoed through the quiet study.

Rachel, who had been reading a book to learn about the Tears of Licorice, looked up toward the study door.

Soon after, a maid entered the study and handed a letter to Catrin.

Catrin checked the sender with a puzzled expression, then her face suddenly froze.

“Ah, m-miss.”

“Who is it from?”

Rachel tilted her head, wondering who would send her a letter.

Catrin respectfully handed the letter to Rachel.

Rachel also hesitated momentarily after taking the letter.

This was because the front of the letter was stamped with an eagle-faced seal symbolizing the imperial family.

“What could this be about?”

Only the Emperor of the Empire could use the eagle-faced seal.

Rachel opened the envelope with a letter knife and checked its contents.

[Dear Rachel Pluret,

I invite you to lunch today, and hope you will attend barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Reynold P. Carwen]

The content of the letter was very brief. But Rachel frowned at the unwelcome message.

An imperial lunch invitation.

Rachel wasn’t particularly pleased with this letter, knowing it was a discreetly arranged meal invitation.

What she wanted was to live quietly.

It burdened her to keep getting entangled with others against her will.

Still, she couldn’t ignore an invitation bearing the Emperor’s official seal.

Rachel sighed deeply, removed the glasses she was wearing, and turned to Catrin.

“Could you prepare me for going out?”

“Yes, miss. This way, please.”

Rachel followed Catrin’s guidance and began preparing to go out.

* * *

Upon arriving at the imperial palace, an attendant guided Rachel to the entrance of the dining hall.

The attendant knocked on the door habitually, then opened it for her to enter.

As Rachel slowly walked in, the person sitting inside stood up and approached her.

It was Ryan.

Ryan came to the seat Rachel was about to take and pulled out the chair for her, replacing the attendant.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I’m doing it because I want to, so please don’t worry about it.”

Ryan pushed in the chair as Rachel sat down, then took a seat across from her.

“I heard you were coming. It’s good to see you again today.”

Ryan smiled pleasantly.

“I’m pleased to see you too, Your Highness.”

Ryan looked disappointed at Rachel’s relatively formal tone.

“Couldn’t you be a little friendlier with me? We are friends after all.”

“Friendly?”

“Yes. Like how you were with the Hestein lord last time.”

Recalling what happened at the Magic Tower, Rachel briefly smiled before erasing the expression.

“Edward and I have known each other since childhood, so I can be comfortable around him. Plus, he’s helped me a lot.”

“Then if I help you too, will you treat me as warmly as you treat him?”

“Pardon?”

Ryan didn’t hide his disappointment as he continued.

“Honestly, I felt quite envious. I wonder why I didn’t meet you sooner.”

“Well, I attended the academy. Your Highness studied imperial subjects privately at the palace.”

“I don’t mean that kind of formal explanation.”

Ryan cut off Rachel’s words.

“There are things we can still do now, aren’t there?”

“What do you mean…”

“Names, for instance.”

“Names?”

Rachel, who was usually calm, opened her eyes wide, making Ryan laugh quietly, finding her cute.

“Yes. I keep calling you Lady Pluret or Miss Pluret. And you call me Your Highness.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“If it’s not too disrespectful, how about we use just our names?”

Rachel pressed her lips together at Ryan’s suggestion.

The Crown Prince was proposing something that was only acceptable between close friends.

Since Ryan as the Crown Prince was making such a suggestion, refusing would be impolite.

However, Rachel couldn’t be certain if they were that close.

“Do you dislike the idea?”

Ryan asked Rachel in a dejected tone.

Rachel hesitated briefly before shaking her head.

“No. It’s not that I dislike it, I’m just wondering if it’s appropriate.”

“What does it matter? We agreed to be friends, didn’t we?”

Ryan was quite nonchalant.

Rachel was momentarily surprised, wondering if Ryan had always had this personality, then parted her lips.

“Is it really all right to call you that?”

When Rachel asked Ryan for confirmation, he nodded readily.

“I’m the one who suggested it, aren’t I? It’s fine. I welcome it, actually.”

Seeing him shrug his shoulders as he answered, Rachel reluctantly nodded.

“Then call me that.”

“Alright, Rachel.”

Ryan spoke Rachel’s name without a moment’s hesitation.

Then he smiled, his lips curving upward.

“Now you try, Rachel.”

“…Ryan. Is this right?”

“Yes.”

Ryan nodded, seemingly satisfied that Rachel had called him by his name.

Just then.

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives!”

The attendant’s voice rang out as the door opened. Rachel and Ryan reflexively stood up to greet the Emperor.

“We greet His Majesty the Emperor.”

Unlike Ryan, who simply bowed his head briefly in respect, Rachel greeted the Emperor with proper etiquette.

“My, I hope I haven’t interrupted a pleasant conversation between you two?”

Rachel smiled and shook her head at the Emperor’s question.

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Please, sit down.”

The Emperor spoke with a pleased look directed at Rachel.

With the Emperor’s permission, Rachel and Ryan sat down. The Emperor also took his seat at the head of the table.

“Then let’s have the meal prepared.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When he instructed the attendant to bring the food, attendants and maids immediately began serving the dishes.

Baron Berndel, the head chef, explained the details of this meal.

Only after the chef’s explanation was complete did the meal properly begin.

“Is the food to your liking?”

The Emperor suddenly asked Rachel.

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

The Emperor, satisfied with Rachel’s answer, moistened his lips with wine.

“The reason I invited you to lunch today is to propose that you become an imperial mage.”

“…An imperial mage?”

“Yes.”

Rachel paused, completely taken aback by the unexpected proposal.

Meanwhile, the Emperor continued speaking.

“I heard that you declined the position of Magic Tower Master candidate. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then how about coming to the imperial court? I know the Magic Tower is like a home for mages. I also know they provide generous support for mages. But if you become an imperial mage, the imperial family can also provide generous support. What do you think?”

The Emperor looked at Rachel with expectant eyes.

Rachel had correctly guessed that the Emperor had invited her to lunch with some purpose in mind, but this proposal exceeded her imagination, leaving her unable to readily answer.

As long as the Magic Tower existed, imperial mages would inevitably be considered inferior to the Tower.

This was because talented magic practitioners preferred to join the Magic Tower rather than the imperial court.

The Emperor seemed to want to recruit Rachel, whose power was presumed to match that of Magic Tower Master candidate Edward Hestein, to maintain some balance.

“Your Majesty, I…”

“It’s true that important magical artifacts gather at the Magic Tower, but some also come to the imperial palace, Rachel.”

Ryan interrupted Rachel as she hesitated, trying to decline the Emperor’s offer.

Rachel frowned slightly as she turned to look at Ryan.

Ryan, appearing apologetic for interrupting her, smiled awkwardly and continued.

“I’m sorry for interrupting, Rachel. But I thought you should know this. Rachel, you’re currently looking for something, aren’t you?”

“That’s right.”

When Rachel confirmed this, Ryan opened his mouth, pleased.

“Someone of Rachel’s caliber—the Magic Tower wouldn’t withhold information about what you’re looking for. Besides, you have a connection with Lord Hestein at the Magic Tower, don’t you? So you can get information from there, and if you become an imperial mage, you can also access information about magical artifacts that come to the imperial court.”

Ryan’s point made sense.

It would benefit Rachel to have access to information from both sides.

“And one more thing, if His Majesty would allow.”

Ryan then turned to address the Emperor.

“What is it?”

“How about setting the term for one year? If Rachel wishes to continue after that, the term could be extended. Wouldn’t that be less burdensome for Rachel, and better overall?”

The Emperor paused to consider Ryan’s suggestion.

Then, after looking back and forth between the two, he nodded.

“Yes, that seems good. What do you think?”