Chapter 5: Invitation from the Imperial Family (2)

“If that’s the case, I’ll just point you in the right direction.”

“Great. Don’t be too flustered and just relax.”

Using a familiar wind spell, Chloe lifted both of them into the air and swiftly flew in the direction they were heading.

Struggling to maintain balance in mid-air, Kaishan hurriedly shouted midway.

“Left from here! It’s left!”

“How far?”

“At the next building, turn right…! Left! It will appear after passing through the central garden.”

The words changed rapidly due to the unexpected speed. Actually, there was no need to change directions each time; they could just head straight towards the target point. However, he was too distracted by his first flying experience to realize this.

“This is the place.”

“It’s not that far.”

Having arrived at the warehouse quickly, Kaishan staggered a bit before standing properly. If he traveled like this regularly, walking would indeed feel frustrating.

“Indeed, a high-level mage is different… Flying freely without even a spell.”

“I’m a bit special.”

“Haha, it certainly seems that way.”

Kaishan thought of the few mages recruited by the Imperial Family and agreed. Even those who had completely submitted during the contract and whom he, as the Crown Prince, rarely met, were lacking compared to Chloe’s abilities.

‘They say she’s almost like a Senior Mage, considering she can restore an entire palace at once.’

Destruction is easy. But turning back time falls within the realm of miracles.

It’s no wonder mages are described as those who defy the laws of nature.

‘And from what I hear, she’s the Mage Tower Master’s prized disciple.’

The Crown Prince glanced at Chloe and then passed by the guards to unlock the massive warehouse.

She’s an exceptionally desirable talent. If she’s a mage who understands love, surely there’s a way to win her over?

…Despite having prepared for such hope to the best of his ability, he felt it was still lacking.

“It took a long time to decide what level of treasures to offer. I managed to raise the access level to the maximum of my authority, so I hope it pleases you, Miss Chloe.”

“I’m grateful. May I take a look around?”

“Please, come further inside.”

Like Escalante, the Imperial warehouse also had a double lock system, so the two moved to the corner. As the Crown Prince touched his finger to the hollow groove in the floor, a magic circle shone brightly. In an instant, the multi-layered security magic was lifted, and the revealed door opened to the sides.

A staircase leading underground appeared, but Chloe’s attention was entirely on the remnants of the magic.

“As expected… It seems designed to be opened only by the Imperial Family?”

“You recognize it. I heard that several generations ago, a former Emperor specially commissioned the Mage Tower Master.”

As Kaishan withdrew his slightly bleeding finger, Chloe’s eyes sparkled. Magic circles activated by blood were extremely rare, and she hadn’t seen many herself. If it was a type that responded only to a specific lineage, it was naturally of high research value.

“May I dismantle it?”

“Pardon?”

The mage shrugged at the Crown Prince’s voice, which couldn’t hide his surprise. Realizing her request was quite unreasonable, she brushed it off as if she hadn’t said anything.

“Never mind. Let’s go down quickly.”

“Yes… I’ll guide you.” 

Sweating at the unpredictable behavior of the mage, Kaishan led the way down to the underground. He had dealt with many people before, but he swore it was the first time he encountered a woman like Chloe.

He was increasingly curious about how the very straightforward Grand Duke dealt with her. He had thought they matched well when he saw them together, but seeing them separately, there couldn’t be a more different couple.

Who would have guessed that I, the Crown Prince, who had everything, would take an interest in someone else’s romance?

Chuckling inwardly, Kaishan led her to where the materials were located rather than the finished products.

“You may choose two from here. Originally, I intended to give you three, but they are so precious that I hope you understand.”

“Two top-quality items are much better than three high-quality ones. I’ll look around gratefully.”

Until that moment, Chloe had no particular thoughts. Even though it was the Imperial treasure vault, she didn’t expect to receive national treasures just for restoring a building.

‘But why is this here?’

The mage stopped in her tracks with a bewildered look. She had to admit she underestimated what the Crown Prince meant by the maximum level of authority.

The names on the labels of the preservation boxes were nothing but rare treasures. Even if they owed a debt of life, they were too rare to give to an outsider.

‘What on earth is he thinking, offering me something like this?’

While suspecting the Crown Prince’s intentions, Chloe picked up one of the boxes. The label read “Dragon’s Blood.” Even if it was a trap, it was an item tempting enough to risk the danger.

“You’ve made a good choice. I thought you might pick that one.”

“I didn’t expect the spoils of the first Emperor to still be here. Can I really take this?”

The last dragon slayer of humanity, Lecatrin Harpeon. Rumor had it she was close friends with the Mage Tower Master of her time after capturing the last recorded dragon and founding the empire.

‘Judging by the preservation magic on all the boxes being of ancient techniques, it seems genuine.’

Chloe examined the hexagonal box and glanced at Kaishan. The Crown Prince, smiling kindly as he answered her, was hard to read.

“Haha, it’s not here by mistake, so it’s fine. Please take it with peace of mind.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll gladly accept it, but…”

He was offering not just one but two materials of this caliber. No matter how much she thought about it, the excessive reward made her uneasy, and Kaishan gave a charming smile.

“Given the contract and the desire to build a rapport with the Mage Tower Master’s disciple and the youngest mage to become a Senior Mage, I thought this level of sincerity was necessary.”

By opening the secret vault for Chloe, he gained three major advantages.

The first was gaining the favor of a figure who could become an enormous ally, and the second was demonstrating the value of the Imperial Family to an important mage of the Mage Tower. This was akin to showing directly what could be done if she became affiliated with the Imperial Family or at least maintained a good relationship.

The third benefit was the potential to slightly mend the previously strained relationship with Escalante.

‘Or perhaps the opposite.’

Would the Grand Duke be wary, thinking I was trying to woo his woman?

Kaishan thought of the Grand Duke and responded to Chloe’s voice.

“You’ve found out quite a bit. Did someone tell you?”

“If I told you, wouldn’t that reveal all my secrets?”

That’s true.

Chloe nodded to the grinning Kaishan and moved to find another material. She vaguely guessed the Crown Prince’s intentions, but there was nothing harmful to her, so she willingly accepted the excessive reward.

As she looked around, she soon found another eye-catching rare item. Even for the Imperial Family, there was something that was difficult to understand why they possessed.

‘It’s understandable they have dragon items since an ancestor captured one, but where did they get a leaf from the World Tree?’

Did they scam the elves or something?

With a curious expression, Chloe picked up the box, and Kaishan spoke beside her.

“It was an item we weren’t sure how to use, so I’m glad it’s found its rightful owner.”

“I don’t know how to use it either, but it’s hard to come by again if not now. Thanks to you, I’ve obtained a very intriguing research material. Thank you, Crown Prince.”

“Like the Grand Duke, it’s fine to just call me by my name. It’s Kaishan.”

Chloe’s eyebrows raised and lowered at the Crown Prince’s sparkling face. She let out a small laugh at his blatant attempt to befriend her.

‘Having received such precious items, there’s no harm in playing along.’

However, it was up to her to decide who the friendship would be for, and she smiled from within her robe.

“Alright, Kaishan. Please call me Chloe too.”

“Yes, Chloe. I look forward to working with you.”

His handsome face formed a gentle smile. In the windless underground vault, the illusion of the Crown Prince’s golden hair swaying occurred.

Even the mage, who wasn’t interested in appearances, was inwardly impressed, but that was all.

‘He’d sell well if made into a statue.’

Chloe, pocketing the box and tucking away her thoughts that would make Kaishan faint if he heard them, turned around.

“Shall we leave now?”

“Before that, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

She slightly turned her upper body to look at the Crown Prince.

“What is it?”

“Do you know a spell to find a person?”

“If they’re nearby, it’s possible, but beyond a city is too much. Are you looking for someone?”

It was a very light and ordinary question, asked out of courtesy.

Had she known Kaishan would mention a sensitive imperial matter, she would never have asked.

“The second Prince has gone missing…”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Good luck.”

Following Chloe as she quickly exited the underground, Kaishan wore a troubled expression.

“We’re discreetly searching the entire empire, but we can’t find my brother. Is there no way?”

“If it’s my Master, it might be possible, but I can’t recommend him. He’ll handle matters as the Mage Tower Master, but he doesn’t take personal requests.”

“Even if his disciple asks?”

When Chloe quickly turned around, Kaishan raised both hands in a gesture of surrender. Sweat trickled down his face behind his brazen smile.

“Just a joke, Chloe. It’s scary when you glare like that.”

“Stop exaggerating when you can’t even see.”

“That may be true, but.”

Sighing, Chloe fiddled with the box in her pocket. She would usually ignore it, but the gift was too significant to leave without doing anything.

‘That’s probably what he intended from the start.’

Regardless of the talk about friendship, ultimately, he offered a bribe because he wanted something.

Watching Kaishan with narrowed eyes, she loosely crossed her arms. After weighing things for a moment, she reached a straightforward conclusion.