Prince Erid’s office was located in a secluded room on the third floor of the Imperial Guard Defense Headquarters, a hideout that was known to have such poor service that it was almost infamous, the inn called “Beer and Song.”

 

Erid set up his desk in a corner of a room on the third floor, only bringing in a new desk and decorating it with a single sprig of rosemary in a vase. It was an office that was far from the grandeur of the palace.

 

Even within the Defense Headquarters, there were various speculations as to why the second prince, who had the most noble lineage in the empire, would set up his office in such a shabby inn.

 

Some speculated that it was to prepare for the possibility of being pushed aside in the competition for the throne and to learn frugal habits.

 

Some speculated that the benevolent second prince wanted to empathize with the suffering of the people and took on menial tasks.

 

Some speculated that he was trying to find weaknesses in the Defense Headquarters and destroy it.

 

However, there was only one agent who knew the true reason.

 

“Your speculations are all garbage.”

 

Agent C, who assisted Erid in his work, thought to himself.

 

“Next.”

 

“Yes, the next item is about an unidentified dungeon found near the academy. According to the investigation by the exploration team, signs of a dark magician have been found throughout the dungeon.”

 

“That alone doesn’t seem like something that would warrant a report to me. Is there anything unusual?”

 

“Yes. The elite mark has been found. After borrowing the malignant ticket overview from the Goddess Church and confirming, the owner of the mark is ‘The Terrifying Corpse Flower.'”

 

“⋯⋯It’s in my memory. I’ve heard of it in a fairy tale read by my sister. The black magician who burned down a castle in one night with a white crow and a black swan⋯⋯. Let’s hold off on this case. We need to improve our hand a bit. Next.”

 

From Noble mtl dot com

 

“Yes, for the next matter. A petition to increase the royal support funds from the Red Pagoda has arrived again.”

 

“The royal family does not have the authority to allocate support funds⋯⋯ Have they been informed of this again this time?”

 

“Yes. And it has arrived again. This time, they went a step further and scattered the petition printed in the upper airspace of the flight permit zone.”

 

“Sometimes, I think we should confine the mages to religious facilities once a week for their mental well-being. Ignore it. Next.”

 

“Yes, for the next matter. It’s a letter from Princess Elaine. She wishes to visit in the near future⋯⋯.”

 

“I don’t know what it’s about. First, hide the bothersome confidential documents. Send the agents who swore allegiance to me on an overseas mission, and store Centra’s portrait in the underground vault──”

 

Thud.

 

A sound that shouldn’t have come from the door was heard as it opened.

 

And a assailant in a red dress confidently stepped in.

 

“Hello, my dear brother-!”

 

“W-What, an ambush?! Or is it a trap?! Competing for the throne through force is prohibited in the name of the Emperor──Ugh!!”

 

Crack!

 

The vicious grip of Princess Elaine seized Irid and lifted him into the air. And she held him tightly. It was a hug filled with joy and love. Witnessing the situation at the time, Defense Ministry agent C testified as follows.

 

“Just as the round sun was setting between the mountains, so was the face of the Second Prince.”

 

After spinning on the spot 35 times, Elaine finally set Irid down.

 

————-

 

Irid sat at the table, massaging his sore shoulder as Defense Ministry agent C.

 

Elaine, like a child visiting a theme park for the first time, looked around excitedly and asked without reservation.

 

“Why are you working in such a cramped room?”

 

“That’s none of your concern.”

 

“If the room is this narrow, there’s no escape route. It’s not only disadvantageous in the event of an attack, but also vulnerable to explosive magic.”

 

“I assure you, I am taking safety precautions… Wait a moment, I distinctly remember placing a protective barrier around this room.”

 

“And did you pay attention to the windows as well?”

 

Eirid looked up at the crystal hanging from the ceiling. The crystal that was supposed to emit the protective barrier had lost power and turned into a pretty decoration.

 

When suspicions arose in the Second Prince’s mind that C had betrayed him, Elaine revealed the trick she had used.

 

Snap. Elaine flicked her finger, and the window opened on its own. A gust of wind blew in, activating the crystal and swiftly retreating.

 

“…You had this ability?”

 

“I obtained it through dimensional magic. It wasn’t too bad.”

 

“I thought the poison had left my eyes, but there was a reason behind it.”

 

“…You could see that too?”

 

“I thought I might die at any moment, so I can’t discern so many things. It’s not possible to be able to read everything. Like how you secretly care about your weight or contemplate whether to eat macarons, but end up regretting it in the end… Argh!”

 

The Human Empathy Separator spun seventeen more times.

 

C quickly rearranged Eirid’s scattered thoughts with a sudden burst of speed.

 

“Ahem. You’ve really become mischievous and changed a lot, Eirid.”

 

“Actually… it’s you who has changed, not me.”

 

I became bolder because of you becoming more comfortable. Eirid murmured with that meaning. With the previous First Princess, there was always a sense that she was ready to snap at any moment, willing to tear out someone’s throat at the slightest mistake.

 

But where could a fool be found who would dare to play tricks on a lioness baring her fangs?

 

“I have summarized it in a 2 to 8 ratio, Your Highness.”

 

“Do not mess with the crown prince, C, and return things to how they were.”

 

After giving a warning to the elite agent C, who could devour two servings of Madeleine in one sitting, Elyde fell into deep thought.

 

He had obtained love, but Lady had undergone a significant change in her abilities.

 

He knew the original abilities of the princess. The storm that walked, the blood mist that engulfed the battlefield. They said that by the end of the battle, a red fog would form from the neatly divided bodies of the enemies, a tale of extreme fantasy mixed with self-harm.

 

There was a reason why the priestesses of the Goddess Church held protests in front of the princess’s residence every month, pleading, “Please listen to our words just once before you go,” and why they were dragged away to prison. Extreme fantasy creates extreme devotion.

 

And those with extreme devotion are close to madness.

 

History had proven it. The sword ghost (劍鬼), who had been active 100 years ago, and the wraith (投鬼) who had committed massacres due to insanity 10 years ago and was now imprisoned in the research center of the golden mausoleum.

 

At the stage of fantasy, they were restless and anxious, but the moment they reached devotion with their twisted minds, they became enemies of the empire. If Lady had also reached devotion, wouldn’t she have been called a blood vampire?

 

So, it was fortunate.

 

“…Should I hug you one more time?”

 

“Forget it and fulfill your duty. There must be a reason why you came here.”

 

“In broad terms, there are two reasons. One is important, and the other, I’m not sure if it’s important, but I personally want to talk about it…”

 

“You talk too much, start with the first one.”

 

“What will you do? The purple mausoleum.”

 

“I don’t understand the meaning.”

 

“Quite literally, I’m asking about treatment. Ah, it doesn’t mean harming you… But I thought it would be a waste to keep it as a secret without saying anything.”

 

“Indeed, yes. It would be a waste.”

 

It could be applied in various ways.

 

The second prince, who had experienced death firsthand, knew it well. It was secure, allowed for valuable experiences, and the fact of experiencing death itself changed one’s attitude towards life.

 

Also, they needed an illusion mage even if it wasn’t dimensional magic… They needed a professor who could lecture on illusion magic at the

 

Though I may not know how to use fantasy magic, there is a need for a lecture on dealing with fantasy magic. And then…

 

Shalalak.

 

Second Prince Elid pulled out a few sheets from the pile of documents. The academy’s enrollment list, the trends of dark magicians, and nearby unexplored dungeons.

 

“It’s time for the annual event.”

 

“The academy assault, you mean?”

 

“Yes. It’s a premonition before the assault, but I think there’s a high probability of dark magicians having a field day inside the academy. Normally, it would end with sending a young knight to the academy, but…”

 

“Well, that’s noisy. The inter-species council is just around the corner. They should pay attention to that side…”

 

Elid pictured the big picture in his mind. Strengthening academy students, preparing for dark magicians, and resolving faction formation and rivalry within the academy with one solution.

 

An idea struck.

 

Sending in a lunatic magician.

 

“Attach a suppressor to the mad magician and send them to the academy.”

 

Elid looked at C.

 

C maintained a blank expression and internally detonated a firework. The academy was a sweeter workplace than expected. There was even a famous dessert cafe.

 

“If you entrust it to me, I’ll do it wholeheartedly…”

 

“Ah, no, you should work by my side.”

 

“In that case, the intention behind that gaze…”

 

“Try interrogating a suitable person. Someone with a slightly twisted mind would be fitting for the task, I suppose.”

 

“Well, truth be told, my mind is slightly twisted.”

 

“Don’t belittle yourself just because you’re endlessly normal.”

 

Elid wrote the necessary orders for pushing forward with this task, stamped them, and handed the stack of documents to C. C, bidding farewell to the Academy Montblanc in his heart, went out to work.

 

He let out a sigh and leaned back on the chair’s backrest.

 

“…So?”

 

Elaine, who had been watching her younger brother with interest, was taken aback by his call.

 

“Yes?”

 

“You have something to say, don’t you? It’s written on your forehead.”

 

“Oh, that’s… well. If the First Prince was the culprit, would you believe it?”

 

“Haven’t we talked about this many times before?”

 

“…This time, it’s different.”

 

Ireed turned his head to look into Elaine’s eyes. It was still impossible to read everything. The mask he had built up over a long time was not easily removed.

 

But there was clearly a change.

 

There was a cool breeze blowing in his eyes. Not the stagnant, swirling wind, but a freely extending one. And… hope.

 

A sincere hope that she would listen to his story and believe. Ireed also harbored hope. Regardless of how many times he would doubt and question the odd parts, and demand evidence, at the end, if he could trust his sister. They could return to their innocent childhood.

 

“…Listen carefully. Don’t just stand there, sit down. No, don’t sit on the bed. That’s my designated spot.”

 

“Then where should I sit…?”

 

“On the floor, or on the desk.”

 

“Can’t we just move to a bigger room…?!”

 

The story continued for quite a while. Elaine unraveled the truth of that day, and Ireed listened attentively. The twisted feelings that had blinded each other were dispelled as if by some magician’s illusion. That alone resolved the misunderstanding.

 

The only tragedy of that day was when Elaine, tears of joy in her eyes, hugged Ireed and spun around 28 times.