As evening fell, Count Furst came to my room.
“The princess is in the hall. Let’s go together.”
It seemed he wanted to make an entrance alongside the mage.
“Should I take out my staff too?”
“Don’t be silly.”
He dismissed my joke and walked ahead.
I followed him and said,
“I have some bad news. It’s unrelated to the princess of Franche, so if you want to focus on this meeting, I can tell you after it’s over.”
“No. There might be some unexpected connection, so tell me now.”
“Merlin is alive.”
The Count stopped walking and turned to look at me.
“Are you certain?”
“I was doubtful too, but based on what Master Avana said, yes. It’s certain. Oh, and Master Avana said she would look for the treasure that serves as the communication link.”
The Count pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
“I should have waited to hear this later. Let’s focus on this meeting for now.”
He started walking again. His expression had darkened considerably.
“You should brighten your face.”
Count Furst raised both hands and swept them over his face once.
“Thank you, Ran.”
We soon arrived at the hall.
There stood a woman with a noble air different from other aristocrats, standing proudly in front of two maids and four knights.
Princess Elisabeth de Franche, the second princess of Franche, glanced at Count Furst as he entered and slowly extended her right hand.
Count Furst walked up to her with confident steps, knelt on one knee, and kissed the back of her hand.
Elisabeth spoke.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person after hearing so much about you, Count Furst.”
Count Furst stood up, faced her, and said,
“It’s an honor to meet you, Princess Elisabeth.”
“Please, just call me Princess. I shall call you Count as well.”
“As you wish, Princess.”
Elisabeth revealed her snow-white teeth in a smile, then turned to look at me.
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
“You, you? Could it be, Ran?”
The formal tone that had been overflowing until now vanished, and casual speech tumbled from the princess’s lips.
I can’t believe she knows me.
At that moment, the Count turned to me with a sharp gaze.
What’s going on?
I’m sorry, but I don’t know either.
“Hello. Um, do you know me?”
Elisabeth’s eyes curved like crescent moons.
She walked up to me with clicking steps, grabbed my face with both hands, and said,
“Of course I do! Don’t you know how much I adored you?”
“……”
“Don’t tell me you don’t remember me?”
Elisabeth raised her hand and tapped the tip of my nose.
At that moment, it felt like something exploded in my head.
“Ah, Sister Lisa!”
“Yes, yes! It’s Sister Lisa.”
I think the last time I saw her was five years ago, when I was nine years old.
The Prejean region was quite famous as a resort, so royalty and famous nobles often visited. Among them, I remembered Lisa visiting every year.
I looked at Lisa’s face again.
Just as I had grown over the past five years, she had matured as well.
Back then, she was just a girl about my current age.
I guess I couldn’t immediately recall her because her name was different and her appearance had changed.
“Princess. You know my mage?”
The mental barrier had already been lowered.
Lisa stroked my head and spoke casually.
“Of course I do. Ran was so famous. Those deep eyes that you couldn’t look away from once you saw them. That voice that seemed to enchant you once you heard it. Everyone was certain that when he grew up, he would steal the hearts of all the women in Franche. But…”
Her hand that was stroking my head stopped.
As a strange atmosphere settled in, the Count quickly interjected.
“How about we go to the terrace behind the mansion? We can discuss state affairs under the cool night breeze and bright moonlight.”
Lisa resumed stroking my head, finished, and said,
“Sounds good. Ran?”
“Yes?”
“I want to hold you like I used to. Is that okay?”
Saying that, she went behind me without waiting for my permission and wrapped her arms around me, trapping me in her embrace.
I looked at the Count with pleading eyes, but he avoided my gaze.
I looked up at her and said,
“Holding me is a bit much. I’m 14 now.”
“Hehe. How cute. Alright, but why the grumpy face?”
She let go of me. But instead, she firmly held my right hand. Her firm grip showed she had no intention of letting go.
The Count walked ahead, Lisa and I followed, and behind us came Lisa’s maids and knights.
Lisa started recounting stories from the past one by one, which naturally made me think of my hometown.
“By the way, how did you end up becoming the Second Princess? If I remember correctly, you weren’t in the line of succession.”
“Why? Because everyone above me died, so I naturally rose up.”
“……”
“Hehe. Cute Ran. You said you’re 14, right? It’s about time you face the cruel reality. Oh, right! If you don’t know how your family was wiped out, should I tell you?”
I shook my head.
“Later. First, talk with the Count, and then I’ll listen to your story. You’re staying here for a while, right?”
“Not for long. About three days? I’ll just rest from the journey and then head back right away.”
If that were true, they would have rested first and discussed state affairs tomorrow instead of right now.
It’s strange, but for now, I buried my suspicions and said,
“Then let’s talk tomorrow.”
“Sure, do as you like.”
A princess is a princess indeed.
Even the death of her siblings doesn’t seem to matter much to her, so the annihilation of my family is probably nothing more than another story to her.
It makes me feel strange.
Why does my desire for revenge suddenly feel so trivial?
We entered the terrace.
“Wow! It’s truly beautiful!”
This was my first time seeing the terrace too.
It seemed that the architect who planned this place had meticulously calculated everything, from the stars visible in the night sky above to the night breeze that settles here.
At the center of the terrace stood a statue taller than a person, with water flowing from it to form a small waterfall.
“Please, have a seat here.”
The Count personally pulled out a chair.
Lisa slowly walked over and sat down, then patted her knee.
“Ran.”
“I’ll be too heavy. I can’t sit on Your Highness’s lap out of consideration for your knees.”
“How cute. Then can you at least stand close by my side?”
As I was about to say something again, Count Furst glared at me.
I had no choice but to stand next to her, and she half-embraced me with a rough touch.
“You’ve definitely grown a lot. You used to fit perfectly in my arms before, but now it’s not so easy. Still, I like it.”
She brought her cheek to mine and rubbed them together.
When I sighed, the Count glared at me again.
I get it, okay?
After rubbing her cheek to her heart’s content, Lisa rested her chin on my shoulder and said to Count Furst,
“Well then, Count. Shall we get to the main point?”
Saying that, Lisa raised her right hand and gently pinched my cheek.
***
The conversation went smoothly.
Despite the Count’s somewhat demanding requests, Lisa accepted them as they were without much concern.
To be more precise, she seemed uninterested. She wasn’t really focusing on the Count’s words, often asking him to repeat what he had said.
It seemed like she had come just to play with my cheek.
In less than an hour, Lisa was visibly showing signs of fatigue.
The contract that Count Furst had prepared in advance was signed without any modifications.
Lisa openly yawned repeatedly, then quickly retreated to the guest room. With a parting word to meet again tomorrow morning.
As the guest room door closed, two knights stood guard in front of it. The other two seemed to be resting in another room.
Count Furst followed me to my room, quietly closed the door, and said,
“What did you think?”
I replied bluntly,
“She seemed completely uninterested.”
The Count tilted his head.
“Right? I thought it would be an intense debate, but now I regret all the worrying I did.”
I sat in a chair and said,
“Honestly, I don’t even understand why she came in person. Do you think she has some other motive?”
Count Furst stroked his chin.
“Because we’re from different countries, the contract wouldn’t be valid unless it was signed in person. So she had to come here to finalize the contract.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
“More importantly, Ran. How exactly do you know Princess Elisabeth?”
I shrugged.
“I didn’t really know her until we met. I was too young to remember. Well, honestly, we weren’t that close. Lisa was just one of many princesses I knew. But now…”
“She’s become a big shot that even the King of Franche can’t easily deal with.”
“It’s strange.”
“Could she be a mage?”
I shook my head.
“I had that suspicion too. But she didn’t have any magical power. She did have a relatively high level of dignity, but… that can’t be attributed to magic. She’s a princess after all.”
“Really?”
“Well, it’s fortunate that things went smoothly. But somehow, I feel like my head is even more complicated now.”
Count Furst was silent for a moment, then said quietly,
“I know what you mean.”
“Let’s just keep watching for now. She said she’ll stay for three more days, so we can see if she has any other motives by observing what she does during that time.”
“Alright, I understand. Thank you for today, Ran.”
“It’s nothing.”
Count Furst left.
I was left alone in the room.
“The world is wide and treasures are many. That’s the first maxim of mages. Therefore, we can’t be certain of anything.”
Lisa might have a treasure that hides her magical power. Or she might have learned concealment magic.
“It’s strange. As soon as Lisa touched the bridge of my nose, I suddenly remembered her. It could be a real memory, but…”
I usually don’t forget things I’ve seen once. If we were as close as Lisa said, there’s no way I wouldn’t have remembered.
Psyche can manipulate memories with magic. If she used a similar magic?
Or maybe I just forgot.
“It’s still strange. I need to confirm this. Hmm. She said she’d tell me about my family tomorrow, right?”
I jumped up from my seat.
Then I left the mansion.
The night air was quite chilly.
After riding a horse for an hour.
The Sangria port at dawn had a different atmosphere from its daytime self.
While everything belonging to the sunny side slept, things of the shady side filled the streets.
Without bright lights to illuminate them, unsightly things had no hesitation in revealing themselves.
I quickly passed through the town.
And sat in front of the fountain in the square.
How much time passed? A few thugs who seemed to think I was some rich young master whispered among themselves, licking their lips.
Some of them grouped together and approached me.
I took out my staff and glared at them.
“I don’t need your services. So go and call the jester.”
They froze in place.
Looking at each other, they seemed to gain unnecessary courage and pulled out sharp weapons.
This is why the difference between recklessness and courage is intelligence.
I raised my staff, and one of their bodies floated up.
If I dropped him now, he’d break at least a leg, but I gently lowered him back down.
Everyone’s eyes widened.
“I won’t be lenient anymore. I’ll say it one last time. Go and bring the jester. I mean the leader of the Assassin’s Guild.”
They were flustered, then quickly retreated.
I made a pillow with my arms behind my head and lay down on my side.
As I looked up at the night sky like that, suddenly a clown face appeared from one side.
“Good evening, Mage Ran. You were looking for me?”
Honestly, I was surprised.
I didn’t notice until he got this close.
To think he could be so stealthy as to deceive even a mage’s senses with mere techniques.
Fortunately, I didn’t show my surprise outwardly.
As if I had known all along, I calmly turned my eyes to meet his.
“Did you find any good information about the Prejean family?”
The jester smiled, his mouth stretching from ear to ear.
