“…In case you haven’t heard, I should mention that I’m not originally a scholar who researches demonic beasts. So there’s probably a high chance that I won’t meet Your Highness’s expectations…”

Aris fidgeted with her hands as she spoke the truth as it was. She kept hesitating, feeling like she was showing her weakness to him. After all, he was someone who could point out her flaws at any time.

“I’m well aware of Lady Eldeiz’s field. I’ve even read the book you authored.”

“What? You’ve read that?”

Aris’s face flushed red in surprise. That was the first and last book she had written, boldly recording her research and thoughts even before graduating from university.

“After reading your book, I understood. You’re someone who willingly puts your all into work that helps people. I believe in you. You’ll likely produce excellent results soon.”

Kalaian looked at her with smiling eyes. For a moment, it felt like her heart fluttered. She looked into his eyes and hesitantly asked.

“May I ask… why you evaluate me so highly?”

Despite her hesitation, he answered readily.

“I’m your ardent fan.”

* * *

[Hello, dear Mr. E.

Have you been well? Something incredibly surprising happened to me. Even more so than having my name added to the Hall of Fame.

Come to think of it, did you see me receiving the commendation?

I was extremely nervous at the thought that you might be watching me from somewhere. Thoughts like, does my appearance look okay today, is my posture alright, am I smiling well… these kept running through my mind.

Of course, more than all these tensions, the joy of knowing you were watching me was the greatest. Thank you for coming to see me.

Ah, you must be curious about what that surprising thing was? I suddenly remember it now. Remember when I was being petulant with my sponsor some time ago?

Do you recall? When I said a bunch of things to pique your curiosity without concluding, you immediately urged me in your reply.

If you weren’t interested, you would have just given me a perfunctory reply no matter what I said. I was really happy that you seemed to be continuously interested in my affairs, and I found it so cute when you grumbled about why I stopped talking midway.

You might still be grumbling now. Because I’m still dragging it out.

I wonder if you noticed that the return address on this letter has changed? Actually, I’ve been transferred from the Magic Department to the imperial palace.

It’s a newly established research department by His Majesty the Emperor. It seems to be temporary, but I don’t know when it will end. So, from now on, I’d like you to send letters to the address I’ve attached separately.

It wasn’t easy to find a place to stay suddenly, but His Highness the Crown Prince was considerate of me.

Anyway, I’m not sure if I’ll do well here, but I’m going to try my best. This work is also about helping people, which is what I’ve always wanted to do.

It feels like I’m always just talking about myself… I’d like to hear about your story someday, Mr. E, even if it’s just a line or two. Can I look forward to it in your next reply?

Well, I thank you again today.

—Your dear friend, Aristena Eldeiz—]

Exhausted from encountering Kalaian and touring the imperial palace since morning, Aris collapsed onto the bed as soon as she finished writing the letter. She could see the much higher and cleaner ceiling compared to her previous modest home.

‘I was wondering where I would stay after suddenly coming to Belita, but to think that person would personally find a house for me.’

Not to mention, it was in the heart of the capital, a major commercial area. It was only about an 8-minute walk from the imperial palace, and the house was so grand it could be called a mansion.

As if providing such a place wasn’t enough, he even said he would support the rent. Just how excellent are the benefits of working at the imperial palace?

If not that, then how harsh must the work be for them to treat me this well…?

Aris was seriously pondering this when she gradually drifted off to sleep.

* * *

The next day, on her way to work, Aris mailed the letter she had written yesterday. Right in front of the mansion where Aris was staying, there was a red mailbox that looked like it had been installed recently.

‘I’m really lucky. To think there’s a mailbox right in front of the house!’

When she was at the Magic Department, it was quite troublesome as she had to walk quite a distance to find a mailbox. With a mailbox right in front of her house like this, it seemed she could send letters every day.

Aris smiled happily as she headed towards the imperial palace.

‘Oh, but that might bother him? He must be busy, being a wealthy person…’

The distance was so close that she arrived at her research room in the blink of an eye. She immediately started preparing her research materials. She took out the monster-related books she had borrowed from the library in advance from her leather crossbody bag.

‘Since I don’t know much, I should start with investigation.’

Although she had basic knowledge, what Kalaian probably wanted was advanced research data. Now that she had been assigned here, Aris decided to pour all her efforts into it.

As Kalaian had said, Aris could give her all for work that helped this empire and its people. It was her past life that had shaped her current self. She hated the helplessness of not being able to do anything back then.

And… she always wanted to be like Kalaian, who always protected the empire.

“Let’s see…”

Aris stacked up the thesis-focused materials and started to go through them carefully. Her shoulders felt like they were about to collapse from bringing all these when she came up to the capital.

After being immersed for a while, Aris rubbed her eyes to take a short break. When she checked the clock hanging on the left wall of the research room, several hours had already passed.

“It’s not easy…”

Yawning softly, she stared at the picture in the book. It was a drawing depicting a war between monsters and humans. Suddenly reminded of that great war in the past, Aris’s eyes sank.

‘Because I know about that incident in this life… Maybe there will be less damage here than in my past life.’

She thought that perhaps being assigned here was a sign from heaven to prevent that incident.

Although much time had passed, the tragedy of that day was still vivid in Aris’s memory. The terribly red sky like blood. The chaotic screams and the pungent smell of blood on the battlefield. The miserable corpses…

‘Come to think of it, what happened to that place after I died?’

Since she had brought the Sword of Time to Kalaian, the war must have ended not long after.

Do people know about my death?

At my funeral, did anyone wipe away tears?

Did my father and mother finally feel triumphant at the death of their disgraceful, worm-like daughter?

As thoughts continued to chain together, there was a knock. A knock so loud it startled her. Aris abruptly lifted her head that had been bent towards the book.

She saw a man leaning slightly against the doorway, staring at her. He lowered his raised hand.

“…Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

“How focused were you to not hear the knock and keep looking at the book even after I came in?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Startled, Aris jumped up from her chair. The chair soon fell over with a loud noise, pushed back by the recoil.

Aris looked at the chair once, then at him once, and then set the chair upright with lowered eyebrows. Kalaian, who had been watching her with a mysterious expression, soon let out a small laugh.

“Your apology is quite violent.”

“What brings you here…?”

Kalaian approached and handed her the file he was holding.

“I thought the materials our knight order and the palace have might help with your research preparation, so I brought them.”

Aris, who had inadvertently flipped through the file he had given her, looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with apology and a bit of bewilderment.

“You could have asked someone else to do this. Thank you for coming personally.”

“His Majesty has delegated overall responsibility to me. So shouldn’t I pay attention?”

“Ah… I see.”

“But you don’t look well, are you alright?”

Kalaian stared intently at her face. Aris raised the back of her hand to lightly touch her face, then smiled modestly.

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“Please don’t overwork yourself.”

Kalaian’s gaze was still full of concern. Aris looked up at him carefully, feeling puzzled.