“Wow.”

Rachel let out a small exclamation of admiration as she entered the artifact storage room.

While it was true that magical artifacts gathered at the Magic Tower, many magical artifacts had also been presented to the imperial palace.

The room contained densely organized magical items made of high-grade mana stones and precious magical tools.

Rachel looked around.

Being a mage herself, she couldn’t help but marvel at the wondrous items before her eyes.

Ryan found it refreshing to see Rachel, who had been so cold until now, marveling like a child.

Her display of wonder surprised him.

‘Creon, is it possibly among these?’

[Just a moment.]

Since the storage room contained many magical tools in the form of accessories made of transparent jewels, Rachel scanned the items with her eyes, checking if the Tears of Licorice might be among them.

Creon also concentrated his mind to search for the Tears of Licorice.

And not long after, Creon’s voice was heard.

[Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be here.]

‘…That’s disappointing.’

She hadn’t expected to find it easily, but she had hoped there might be one among these many magical artifacts.

Rachel stepped back, putting aside her bitter feelings.

“Are you done looking already?”

Ryan asked Rachel. She looked at him and nodded.

“Yes. The Tears of Licorice isn’t here.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Ryan looked around the interior once more before extending his hand to Rachel again.

Rachel took Ryan’s hand and together they left the artifact storage room.

“And this is the research lab that you’ll be using from now on.”

After the artifact storage room, Ryan showed Rachel the research lab she would use. The interior of the lab remained empty as no items had been brought in yet.

“You can fill the interior as you wish. Since you’ve become a member of Rose Castle, you’ll receive a budget that you can use as you see fit.”

Rachel nodded after checking the seemingly spacious research lab.

“Is there anything specific I need to do as an imperial mage?”

“Well, as you know, the reality is that we still receive cooperation from the Magic Tower for all magic-related matters, so there won’t be any particular duties yet. But they’ll gradually come, so until then, feel free to be at ease.”

“I understand.”

Rachel quickly agreed, as she knew the situation well. This actually benefited Rachel, who focused on finding the Tears of Licorice. At least for the time being, she could concentrate solely on her own task.

After finishing the tour, Ryan explained the internal geography of Rose Castle to Rachel.

“Are you leaving now?”

Ryan, unable to hide his disappointment, asked Rachel after completing the tour of Rose Castle.

“I’ve finished my business, so naturally I should go back.”

“Then may I accompany you until you leave the grounds?”

Rachel nodded at Ryan’s proposal.

“It would be my honor.”

As soon as Rachel gave her permission, Ryan escorted her again.

“Come to think of it.”

Suddenly, Ryan stopped in his tracks.

“Come to think of it, today… did you come by carriage?”

When Ryan hesitantly asked, Rachel understood his question and laughed softly.

“Of course. I couldn’t walk to the imperial palace, could I?”

When Rachel spoke in an obvious tone, Ryan opened his mouth awkwardly.

“I apologize. Of course you would… I think the memory of you coming to the Magic Tower alone without a carriage that time left a strong impression on me.”

“That’s possible.”

As Rachel nodded and deflected the comment, Ryan caught a servant who followed them and instructed him to prepare the Pluret family carriage.

Ryan and Rachel, who had been slowly walking out of Rose Castle while enjoying what seemed like a stroll, finally arrived at the front of the main building where the carriage waited.

“Should I come to Rose Castle starting tomorrow?”

“That would be fine.”

“I understand. Thank you very much for guiding me today. I’ll be heading back now.”

“Take care, Rachel.”

Rachel, who had boarded the carriage, gave a light bow toward Ryan who was visible through the window.

The carriage slowly began to move along the ground.

Ryan stood rooted to the spot, watching until the Pluret family carriage disappeared into the distance.

* * *

Tervan witnessed Rachel and Ryan coming out of Rose Castle and heading toward the main building.

Smiling warmly and conversing, they looked just like a couple of lovers.

“That’s Lady Pluret, isn’t it?”

A knight familiar with Tervan approached him, receiving only a distracted nod as Tervan maintained his focus on Ryan and Rachel. The knight then shifted his attention to the animated pair, noting how Rachel smiled and engaged with Ryan’s conversation, clearly enjoying whatever topic brought them such evident pleasure.

“She seems to be on good terms with His Highness the Crown Prince. I also saw them dancing at the banquet that was held recently. Could it be that His Highness has taken a liking to Lady Pluret?”

“…”

“Perhaps Lady Pluret might ascend to the position of Crown Princess, which has remained vacant all this time.”

“What?”

Tervan, who had maintained silence until now, frowned with displeasure and turned to the knight.

Sensing Tervan’s unusual mood, the knight stammered.

“I-Isn’t that right? After all, His Highness the Crown Prince hasn’t shown interest in any other woman until now.”

The knight’s words had merit.

Crown Prince Ryan, despite knowing his position, had not formed connections with other families. Because of this, families with daughters were on edge.

Knowing this, Ryan had declared that he would marry the woman he loved.

As a result, countless women had tried to catch Ryan’s eye, but he remained unmoved. This led to rumors circulating quietly that Ryan might be impotent.

And then for the first time, he danced with a woman of his age at the banquet. The implications of that event were quite significant.

Rachel, who had been chosen by Ryan, might become the Crown Princess.

Moreover, now that Ryan strolled through the imperial palace with Rachel while enjoying what appeared to be a walk together, the knights who witnessed this couldn’t help but draw the same conclusion.

“It’s not like that.”

Tervan denied this. Yet, his gaze fixed on Ryan, who was holding Rachel’s hand.

Strangely, seeing the two in contact made him feel very irritated.

“…It’s not?”

“That’s right. It seems that due to the recent subjugation team incident, His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince have taken an interest in Rachel. Given her outstanding abilities, it’s only natural.”

“Well, if you say so, Young Lord.”

The knight, seemingly not wanting to delve into more complicated matters, nodded while pursing his lips. Then he immediately returned to his position and began wielding his sword again.

Tervan glanced at him briefly before fixing his gaze back on the two.

Previously at the banquet, she had rejected all of Tervan’s advances. It disturbed him to see such a Rachel walking with the Crown Prince’s escort.

‘Why?’

He asked himself repeatedly, unable to understand his own feelings. However, he couldn’t find a satisfactory answer.

By this point, he felt self-doubt.

He had pushed Rachel away all this time. He knew how much pain Rachel might have suffered as he gave up and resigned himself.

He had even thought it was for the best that she had given up on him.

But now, seeing her getting close to Ryan made him feel this uncomfortable.

He barely managed to withdraw his gaze from the two, but he couldn’t concentrate on training at all.

After repeatedly adjusting his grip on his sword, Tervan finally sheathed it with a long sigh. When he appeared to be stopping his training midway, the gazes of those around him converged on him, but he paid no attention.

His intention was to call out to Rachel under the pretense of greeting her. He hadn’t thought deeply about what would happen afterward. He just wanted to stop her and have a serious conversation with her.

But seeing Ryan and Rachel laughing cheerfully together, he couldn’t bring himself to call out to her.

It shocked him that Rachel, who had rejected his advances at the banquet, now naturally engaged in physical contact with Ryan.

Tervan felt his fingertips growing cold at the thought that this might be the natural order of things.

Because for Rachel, he might remain as someone less than even a friend.

Just as Tervan, who had been unable to reveal his presence until Rachel boarded the carriage and departed, finally turned his body toward the training grounds.

“Are you stopping your surveillance now?”

Ryan asked as he turned his body in Tervan’s direction.

Tervan, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Ryan. Ryan stared at Tervan with a frown, clearly displeased.

“Young Lord Tervan Sanchez, why have you been following us?”