Chapter 3: Founding Anniversary Festival (7)

People were left speechless at the words coming from the Iron-Blooded Knight, words they could hardly believe. Even Chloe looked up at him with a dumbfounded expression.

‘Did I hear that right?’

The mage, turning slightly to look intently at the Grand Duke, noticed his neck and ears were flushed red. His hands were tightly clenched with veins bulging from the embarrassment and self-consciousness, yet the arm wrapped around her held no tension, showing his careful consideration.

In summary, as he put it, because he was cute.

“Pfft……!”

Breaking the profound silence, Chloe burst into laughter. Her joyful voice rang out loudly as she laughed heartily.

Her eyes curved pleasantly as she turned her head to speak to the Princess while still holding Tehis close.

“You heard him, didn’t you, Your Highness? I can’t leave my lover because he’s just too cute.”

“I…… see.”

The Princess, who had been looking at Tehis with a sour face, replied a beat late. She was still reeling from the shock of witnessing such a side of the Grand Duke, something she never expected to see. Some nobles even pinched their cheeks to make sure they weren’t dreaming.

Ignoring the strange expressions of others, Chloe poked Tehis’s waist teasingly and whispered playfully.

“How could I leave you, my love? You’re my perfect ideal type, remember?”

Of course, that ideal type was something she had made up on the spot.

Chloe didn’t hide her chuckles, as the reason for Tehis’s anxiety seemed trivial to her.

If the conditions the Princess offered were enough to attract mages, there would have been many Imperial mages by now.

There are only a few. Only a handful of apprentice or official mages succumb to the temptation.

It’s because the advantages of the Mage Tower are far more valuable to a mage.

Mages are typically like that. People who pursue the thirst for knowledge, detached from most desires, including the lust for power. Those who would confine themselves to the Mage Tower, satisfied for life with the thousands of years of accumulated magical knowledge.

From the beginning, such people are chosen by mana, making it extremely rare for a mage to leave the Mage Tower of their own volition. The magical materials circulated only on the Sky Island and the guaranteed basic necessities were undoubtedly a plus.

Most mages stay in the Mage Tower, occasionally dating the Grand Duke through a contract.

And marrying a member of the Imperial Family, being expelled from the Mage Tower.

These are incomparable choices.

“……Then that’s a relief.”

Finally, a somewhat calmed Tehis lowered his hand from his face. As he quickly gathered his stirred emotions, the deputy commander of the Red Griffin Knights entered from outside.

“Your Highness, the situation is resolved. We have dealt with all remaining enemies except for a few captured for interrogation.”

“Well done, Sir Allen. Is there anything else I need to know?”

“A small group, including a dark mage, fled, and the second squad is pursuing them. I will report as soon as we receive any news.”

“Alright. Have you heard anything about His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Sorry, but we haven’t received any separate communication……”

While the Princess and the knight were discussing various matters, Chloe played with Tehis’s hand. As she fiddled with the large, thick hand of the knight, an awkward question came.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Because it’s fascinating. I wasn’t sure if your face was small or your hands were big, but it’s both.”

Tehis understood the meaning only after a few seconds. 

Was she saying this because I had covered my face with one hand just now?

He had never thought about it before, but looking at Chloe’s face, he spread his hand over hers as if measuring. The two hands, with similar temperatures, differed by more than a finger joint in length.

“Then you are small in both respects.”

“I told you, it’s because your hands are big.”

“Is that so?”

The two, who appeared to be flirting to others, only turned their attention to their surroundings when the Princess began to announce her decisions.

“The banquet scheduled for tonight will be postponed until His Highness Kaishan returns! Those who wish may return, but keep silent about what happened here. Anyone spreading rumors before the Imperial Family officially addresses the incident will be severely punished. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Satisfied with the unanimous response, Helena looked at the mage. Seeing the Grand Duke oddly guarding Chloe, she sighed and shook her head.

“Miss Chloe, I will prepare to deliver the promised reward within a few days. To open the Imperial treasury to an outsider, His Majesty’s approval is required, and there are many urgent matters to handle.”

“Of course. There’s no rush, so it’s fine. But could I get a top-grade mana stone first?”

Chloe took off her earrings and showed them. The once brilliant jewel had turned black and cracked. It meant the mana stone’s life had ended, and it could no longer be used.

“I originally should have received an advance payment, but I used mine because it was urgent. Time magic isn’t something you drag out.”

“Of course, you should have it! We have some reserved for the warp gate, so please wait a moment, and I’ll bring it right away.”

The Princess gestured to a maid, who had been waiting like a shadow, ordering her to fetch a top-grade mana stone from her personal storage. As the maid left to carry out her task, Chloe asked casually.

“Do you travel a lot if you use top-grade stones for transportation?”

“Rather than that, it’s more about maintaining the dignity of the Imperial Family. It’s better to have an abundance than a lack of anything.”

While waiting, the two women chatted lightly, and Tehis watched them quietly. He never imagined Chloe would get along with the Princess, so he didn’t know how to react.

It was understandable that the Princess easily gave up on him, but proposing to Chloe out of the blue was beyond his imagination.

‘Really, I can’t understand.’

Where did it go wrong?

He wondered if it was because his contract lover was too outstanding.

As Tehis’s gaze shifted from Helena to Chloe, he met her orange eyes.

“Tess, what do you think? Shall we go to the festival with the Princess?”

“No.”

The mage blinked at the Grand Duke’s flat refusal, and he explained.

“One of the targets of today’s attack was Her Highness. It’s dangerous to go outside at such a time.”

“What could be the problem when the two of you are around? Be honest, Grand Duke. Aren’t you just wary of me getting close to Miss Chloe?”

“……No.”

At Tehis’s reluctant answer, Helena shrugged.

“Never mind, then.”

Before the uneasy Grand Duke could say anything, the maid returned. The Princess received the pouch containing the top-grade mana stone and handed it to Chloe.

“Here it is. You used it as an earring before; would you like it crafted the same way?”

“I’ll take care of it. I’m quite skilled in alchemy.”

“As expected, Miss Chloe! You’re amazing.”

“Well, thank you. The Mage Tower also praises your versatility, Princess.”

Tehis remained silently behind the two women, who maintained a harmonious atmosphere by complimenting each other. When it came to Chloe’s alchemy, he could only think of the anecdote where she extracted poison from a monster and tasted it.

“Even if we skip the festival, how about visiting the palace sometime…….”

Bang.

“Helena!”

“Your Highness?”

The Crown Prince almost burst through the door of the banquet hall, calling for the Princess. Rushing over, he sighed in relief at the sight of his unharmed sister.

“You’re safe. Thank goodness.”

“Do you think I would fall to mere assassins? The Red Griffins are with me.”

“That’s true. But…….”

Kaishan, who had been trailing off, whispered closely to Helena.

“We fell for a diversion tactic. Chernin is in critical condition.”

“……!!”

The Princess’s eyes widened at the news of the third Prince. His guards wouldn’t be easy to defeat, yet the attackers managed to cause trouble.

Chloe, who overheard the conversation by chance, had a strong feeling she would get entangled in troublesome matters if she stayed.

“Tess, let’s go.”

“Wait.”

Before the Grand Duke could respond, the Crown Prince raised his hand to stop them and looked at the mage earnestly.

“Miss Chloe, would you consider taking on a request?”

The eyes of the Empire’s most handsome man shone desperately.

In response, the mage smiled brightly.

“No, I wouldn’t. Goodbye.”

“W-wait!”

Startled by the firm refusal, Kaishan grabbed her again. No one had ever turned down his request so bluntly, causing him to stutter.

“I believe it wouldn’t be a difficult task for a high-ranking mage like you, Miss Chloe. I heard you restored the banquet hall alone?”

“Yes, but it’s a hassle. Good luck.”

“Grand Duke!”

As Chloe began to leave, holding her lover’s hand, Kaishan urgently called Tehis.

The Grand Duke, who had no choice but to stop at the Crown Prince’s call, bowed respectfully.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I cannot force Chloe to do anything.”

This was one of the clauses in their contract. It wasn’t that he was living under her control.

At least, that’s what Tehis thought.

“Can’t you at least ask her for my sake……!”

“Chloe, would you do it if I asked?”

“No. Let’s go home.”

“Yes, Chloe.”

What on earth…

Kaishan watched the fake couple’s retreating figures in bewilderment. He couldn’t even bring up the request before they left.

The Princess, patting the Crown Prince as if to console him, spoke half-jokingly.

“You were rejected too, Your Highness. I was also rejected.”

“…….”