Episode 29
The only sound was the rhythmic thud of footsteps.
I tried to see where we were going. I was following the Crown Prince somewhere, but I didn’t know the destination. As I had felt during the Emperor’s birthday banquet, the Imperial Palace was vast.
‘It’s the perfect environment to get lost. But I have a bad feeling about this, like we’re going deeper and deeper into the palace. Is he planning to send me somewhere?’
I wondered if I should ask where we were going. I cautiously spoke,
“…Excuse me, where are we going?”
The Crown Prince glanced at me and chuckled.
“You’re a guest entrusted to me by the Tower Master, aren’t you? So I have to take you somewhere befitting your status.”
‘That “befitting place” isn’t the underworld, is it?’
I broke out in a cold sweat and tensed up, as if my feathers were on end. Then, the Crown Prince spoke,
“We’ve arrived.”
‘Huh, already?’
I looked ahead. There was a building that looked like servants’ quarters. It was far from the splendor of the Imperial Palace, and few people passed by.
As I tilted my head, wondering why he brought me here,
“We need to do something about your attire.”
‘Huh, attire? Whose attire is he talking about?’
As I blinked blankly, several unfamiliar people appeared and bowed their heads. They seemed to be the Imperial maids.
“You summoned us.”
“Yes. I have a task for you. That… Hmm. What was your name again?”
‘Name? Oh right, he didn’t even ask my name. He just threatened me first.’
This was exactly like being threatened when I first met Cesar. Lamenting my unfortunate fate, I was about to say my name.
“I’m Li…”
“Li?”
‘…I almost said Lily!’
I quickly shut my mouth, startled. Come to think of it, I was a human now. I couldn’t keep introducing myself as Lily.
As I desperately tried to think of a new name, I suddenly realized something. If I changed my name, no one would call me Lily anymore.
Then, strangely, I recalled a low voice whispering while stroking my head.
‘Lily.’
Deep purple eyes that looked at me with a smile whenever he was in a good mood. I had sometimes thought they were even more beautiful than the sparkle of jewels. Whenever his flowing silver hair and god-like face turned towards me, I would marvel at how he was truly befitting of a sub-male lead.
‘…It hasn’t even been a day since I left, and I’m already thinking of my owner. What am I going to do?’
Even though I knew I should erase him from my mind, I spoke the name that held traces of my time as Lily.
“…Li. You can call me Valerie.”
“I see. No last name?”
I nodded. I couldn’t have a last name since I had just suddenly become human.
“Then are you from another country?”
“Pardon?”
“Even I can’t meet the Tower Master so easily. So if you’re someone he cherishes, you must be a prominent figure I would know. I was curious because I’ve never seen your face or heard your name before.”
At his clearly wary gaze, I nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m from a faraway land, outside the Empire.”
I smiled nonchalantly, realizing I was getting better at lying. He then spoke,
“Then change your clothes first and come see me later. The maids will assist you.”
As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, I felt hands gently lowering me. Arenz looked at me intently and whispered,
“See you later, Lady.”
‘I don’t think we need to see each other again. I don’t want to get any more involved.’
I wanted to live a peaceful life alone in a remote house far away from the Imperial Palace.
As I brought my forehead to the back of his hand to bid him farewell, I flinched in surprise. I saw Arenz’s eyes widen as well. It seemed the habits from my time as a bird still lingered.
“I apologize. I made a mistake…”
As I lowered my head in embarrassment, Arenz chuckled and spoke,
“It’s alright. But it would be best to be careful not to make such mistakes in the future.”
“Yes…”
‘Sigh. I rejected his kindness, I couldn’t even walk properly and had to be carried, and now this mistake, too.’
I quietly sat on the grass, avoiding eye contact with Arenz. Then, I felt the surroundings darken.
‘This feels like I’m surrounded by people. This is ominous.’
I lifted my head and saw the maids smiling at me. Their eyes gleamed dangerously, as if they couldn’t contain something.
‘I know that look. That’s the same expression the maids at the Dukedom had when they were dressing me up…!’
I spoke quickly,
“You don’t have to go all out.”
“I didn’t hear you.”
The maids pretended not to hear me. I desperately tried to avoid the inevitable.
“Really, there’s no need… Eek!”
“You can go now. Lady Valerie.”
I was carried away by the maids, slung over their shoulders. Ding, dong. It felt like a bell was tolling, signaling the beginning of a torturous time.
“We’ll make sure you shine brighter than any other lady.”
“It’s okay. Put me down!”
I screamed as I was dragged away. But the heartless maids ignored my cries.
I lamented the fact that my life as a human wasn’t much different from my life as a bird, even though I had escaped the cage.
Returning to his office, the Crown Prince sighed. Frowning, he asked Arenz,
“Has there been any contact from the Tower Master yet?”
“No.”
The Crown Prince rubbed his temples. What was he supposed to do, receiving a person without any explanation?
Just then, Arenz, who had been quiet, spoke,
“Is there a possibility that the Tower Master and the Second Prince have joined forces?”
“There’s no way the Magic Tower, which has maintained neutrality for hundreds of years, would do that. There’s no merit in it. More importantly, is the investigation into the surge of monsters from the Estero Mountains in the north progressing?”
“Yes. We’re proceeding with Duke Clovis’s assistance, but we haven’t found any clues yet.”
The Crown Prince recalled the fruitless attempt to catch the Second Prince red-handed at the festival. He was clearly expanding his power and raising funds in secret, but the source of the funds was unknown.
Furthermore, the frequent monster intrusions into the Imperial Palace, which shouldn’t have been possible, bothered him.
“Is there a problem with Petri, the heart of the Empire, under the Second Prince’s management?”
‘Petri’ was the protector of the Empire, known as its heart. It had always been managed by the Emperor, but the Empress, favored by the Emperor, had requested that its authority be given to the Second Prince.
As the Crown Prince, he had opposed granting authority to the Second Prince, who wasn’t even the Emperor, but somehow, the Empress had persuaded the Emperor, and the authority had been transferred to the Second Prince.
It was clear that the Second Prince was aiming for the throne. He had to get rid of him before he became Emperor.
But the Empress’s defenses were formidable.
‘I have to cut off the Empress and the Second Prince’s factions and completely eradicate their sources of funds and military power.’
The Crown Prince, rubbing his aching forehead, looked at the shimmering communication device.
Just then, the person he had been waiting for contacted him. The Tower Master’s face, smiling brightly, appeared in the light.
[Did she arrive safely?]
The Crown Prince was taken aback by his brazen question, as if asking about a delivered package. He let out a long sigh and spoke,
“If you’re talking about the woman who fell from the sky, I’ve placed her in the place where you sealed the monsters. Didn’t you send her to me to finish some unfinished business?”
He had threatened to do as he pleased, but there was no way he could harm someone cherished by the Tower Master.
Besides, although the Tower Master seemed to live carelessly, there was always a reason behind his actions. He guessed that he had sent her to eliminate the improperly sealed monsters.
But if that was the case, why not just say so? The woman had spoken in riddles.
[Hmm… Of course, she’ll handle that well. But I also have something I’d like to ask of you, Crown Prince, for the time being.]
The Crown Prince frowned.
“Are you asking me to protect her?”
[You could say that.]
“Do you think I’m some kind of babysitter?”
[Such impudence, after I sealed that monster rampaging in the Imperial Palace for you.]
“I wonder if you’re aware that the servants have been staging a mass protest because of the strange noises coming from that building every night.”
[Ahem. I must be getting forgetful in my old age.]
He was saying he didn’t remember.
‘That damn old man.’
The Crown Prince felt exhausted every time he talked to the Tower Master.
“Just what is that woman?”
The Tower Master just chuckled nonchalantly at his question.
[Do you really need to know?]
It was a vague, evasive answer. He was refusing to tell him.
[Just keep her with you while you resolve the issue. You can send her away after it’s resolved. Oh, and compensate her generously. The Imperial family is overflowing with money, isn’t it?]
“The Magic Tower could manage her. You know the Imperial family is in turmoil due to the succession issue.”
[That won’t do. There’s a risk of her being discovered. So I’ll ask you to take care of her for the time being. Also, I have something to send to her, so please deliver it along with her.]
After granting one request, he made another. The Crown Prince, gauging the situation, spoke.
“I’ve already granted one request. Are you asking for another without offering anything in return?”
The Tower Master looked at the Crown Prince, amused by his bargaining stance.
[What are you curious about?]
“Even the neutral Magic Tower must be well aware of the political climate in the Empire. Don’t you know anything about the Second Prince?”
It would be beneficial to gain any information he could. He had to get rid of the Second Prince as soon as possible to secure his own position as Emperor.
The Tower Master’s eyes gleamed at his question. The Crown Prince sometimes found that all-knowing look chilling.
[Are you planning to find some fault with him and execute him? Unfortunately, the Magic Tower doesn’t interfere in such dirty power struggles, so I can’t help you with that.]
“Then I can’t deliver your package either.”
[How foolish. You don’t know if what I’m sending might become a valuable asset to you. Are you going to throw away that opportunity?]
At those words, the Crown Prince’s eyes flashed.