That night, I found myself in my room, contemplating what lay ahead.
“Me, taking my brother’s place at the Magic Guild’s educational institution… huh?”
Thinking it over, it didn’t seem like a problem at all. After all, I had intended to learn about the history of this world. The Magic Guild in the royal capital should have at least some historical texts. I could investigate the detailed history after my past self had died and find out what happened to Lyle and the others in Fila Village. If I also studied Ancient Magic, I might uncover the reason for my reincarnation.
I had a long life ahead of me, after all. Spending two or three years in a human organization learning about humans didn’t sound too bad.
Moreover… if I turned down this offer, it would ruin Her Royal Highness’s reputation. If that led to House Glossaria being scrutinized by the royal family, it would be troublesome. After all, I was technically a member of the baronial house.
“I can’t let House Glossaria fall apart.”
If the house were to disappear, my father, Lumia, and Brother Zeros would all be in trouble. It couldn’t be helped. I decided to visit the royal capital under the pretense of “observing humans.”
“Young Master Yuuki, Her Royal Highness has summoned you.”
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
“I’ve shown her to the reception room in the annex. Young Master Yuuki, please join us.”
“Her Royal Highness is here?”
“Yes, it seems she slipped away from the party.”
“She really likes to go incognito, doesn’t she?”
“You two seem to get along well.”
“Not as much as with Martha, though.”
“…………”
“What’s wrong, Martha?”
“I sometimes wonder if Young Master Yuuki is trying to stop my heart.”
“That would be a problem. I trust you more than I trust myself.”
“Thank you. To repay that trust, I’ve decided to accompany you, Young Master Yuuki.”
“Accompany me to the Magic Guild?”
“What else would there be?”
Martha sighed heavily.
“It seems that those recommended by the royal family are allowed to bring attendants to the guild’s educational institution. Upon learning this, my lord insisted that I accompany you. So, I will be your escort.”
“…I’m sorry about that.”
“No, it’s easier than worrying about you here.”
“I’m sorry for being such a useless master.”
As I left the room, I high-fived Martha.
“Let’s keep this up, partner.”
“If I end up being late to marry, it’ll be your fault, Young Master Yuuki!”
“I’ll take responsibility if that happens, as long as I’m not out wandering.”
“Please stop giving me both hope and despair at the same time, Young Master Yuuki.”
Martha smiled, looking a bit troubled.
──In the reception room of the baronial house annex──
“Thank you for your help today.”
Her Royal Highness and I were in the reception room of the annex. The tea that Martha had served was long gone. I had sipped it slowly, trying to fill the silence, but it had disappeared before I knew it. I didn’t know what to talk about with Her Royal Highness. It reminded me too much of Alice, Lyle’s daughter, who had been my best friend in my past life.
“Excuse me, but it’s not ‘today,’ is it? It’s ‘today as well,’ isn’t it?”
“The last time I helped was with Clara.”
“That was my disguise.”
“Why would Her Royal Highness use a pseudonym?”
“I sometimes assist with investigations for the Magic Guild. As a princess, I can’t go out freely. When I want to move about freely, I operate under the name ‘Clara.'”
“So that’s why you were in the mountains…”
“Yes. Now, about the proposal I mentioned earlier, would you be willing to accept it?”
“You mean the one about making me a trainee at the Magic Guild, right?”
“I got a bit too excited earlier and declared it without hearing your opinion…”
Her Royal Highness’s face turned bright red.
“However, it’s true that I was impressed by your abilities and would like someone I can trust by my side. If you were with me, I could conduct my magical research at the Magic Guild with peace of mind.”
I understood that. Her Royal Highness had been attacked by monsters in the mountains and by Kachel in the baronial territory.
“So that’s the reason for wanting to bring me into the Magic Guild?”
“It does sound strange, doesn’t it? A member of the royal family being so fixated on magic.”
“I don’t quite understand why you’d go to such lengths.”
“…Allow me to explain why I am so fixated on magic.”
Her Royal Highness looked down, deep in thought. Then she met my gaze.
“Actually, I have something that sets me apart from other princes and princesses.”
“Something that sets you apart?”
“My mother was a commoner from a marquis family. And my grandmother, who married into the marquis family, had a rather unusual constitution.”
“Is it alright to share that with me?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“I can’t ask you for a favor while keeping secrets from you. Besides—”
Her Royal Highness chose her words carefully.
“I feel that you would listen seriously. Just a hunch, but still.”
“I understand. I’m all ears.”
“To return to the topic, my grandmother had two unusual traits. One was that she had a larger capacity for magical power than ordinary people. The other was that she remained youthful for a long time. I met her once, and even though she was over sixty at the time, she looked as if she were in her twenties.”
“What about your grandmother?”
“She passed away quite some time ago. My mother had an accident not long ago.”
“Could it be that Her Royal Highness is also in her thirties?”
“No, no, I’m still thirteen.”
“Right.”
A larger capacity for magical power. Remaining youthful… I recalled that the familiar I had given blood to had a longer lifespan than a normal bat. Its magical capacity had also increased.
How much Mystel Blood had I given to cure Alice’s illness in my past life? I couldn’t remember. I had a vague memory of hurriedly giving her a large amount of blood because her Death Mark Disease was severe…
“May I ask your grandmother’s name?”
“My grandmother’s name was Rachel. Are you interested?”
“Yes.”
If Her Royal Highness had met her when she was sixty, she must have been a different person from Alice.
“I would have loved to meet her and hear her stories…”
“I understand. It’s hard for anyone to imagine what it’s like to live forever.”
“Do you know the cause of your grandmother’s condition?”
I asked. Her Royal Highness shook her head.
“I don’t know. My mother was an ordinary person.”
“Do you think you inherited that condition?”
“I believe so. My magical capacity is larger than most. Very few in the royal family can use Ifrit Blow, you know?”
“Is that so?”
I had inscribed the Ifrit Blow emblem on the wings of the bats, Dick and the others. I had been able to analyze it when Her Highness used it in the mountains.
“In the marquis family, my grandmother’s condition was not a problem. However, it was different in the royal family. There were many discussions about my condition. My joining the Magic Guild is also to discover who I truly am.”
“You’ve had a tough time.”
“To learn about my roots.”
Her Royal Highness smiled.
“I want to train at the Magic Guild and become a recognized sorceress. I want to become a high-ranking sorceress, conduct research, and discover who I am. That’s why I am so fixated on the Magic Guild and why I want you by my side.”
“I understand.”
I grasped Her Royal Highness’s situation well. I also understood why her hands were trembling slightly. She had shared so much with someone she barely knew. It was only natural to feel scared.
“Yuuki Glossalia will join the Magic Guild, as per Her Royal Highness’s words.”
“Thank you!”
Her Royal Highness took my hand.
“Um, if it’s not too much trouble… would you consider becoming my knight protector?”
“My knight protector?”
“Yes. Royal children can choose a knight protector when they turn thirteen. While most choose from among the nobility, I would like to ask you, Young Master Yuuki.”
“Isn’t that different from studying together at the Magic Guild?”
“You would become someone closer to me. At the Magic Guild, we would study under the same master and act together. Please, just for the duration of our time as trainees. Would you be my friend and protect me?”
“Is it acceptable for a baronial house’s commoner to do that?”
“I have seen your abilities, so I have no objections.”
On the contrary, I wanted to help Her Royal Highness in her quest to discover her roots. If she happened to be a descendant of Alice from Fila Village… her condition might be my fault. It was possible that my giving Mystel Blood to Alice two hundred years ago had affected her descendants.
“May I ask you something, Princess Iris?”
“Please, Your Royal Highness.”
“Does Princess Iris enjoy Venison in Puff Pastry with Spicy Sauce?”
“…Huh?”
Princess Iris looked at me with a blank expression. Well, I just wanted to confirm. Martha mentioned that family recipes are passed down through generations.
“…No, I’ve never had it.”
“That’s what I thought.”
It’s a village dish, after all. There’s no way someone from the royal family would eat it.
“However, I do like spicy food.”
“Thank you very much.”
For now, I’ll hold off on confirming whether she’s a descendant of Alice. Just because I found out she is… doesn’t mean I can say anything about it. Still, this must be some kind of fate. While I’m in the royal capital, it wouldn’t hurt to spend some time together.
“Then, after Yuuki Glossalia visits the Magic Guild, I will serve as Princess Iris’s bodyguard.”
I stood up and knelt before Princess Iris.
“…Is this just a verbal agreement?”
“No, formally, I need to get my father’s—His Majesty the King’s permission.”
“After you visit the Magic Guild?”
“Yes. Including the admission permission, I will speak with my father. I would like you to come to the royal capital before the entrance ceremony.”
Since it’s before the entrance ceremony, that means about a month from now.
“Understood. I will come to the royal capital before the entrance ceremony.”
“You truly are an impressive person, Yuuki Glossalia.”
Princess Iris clasped her hands together and smiled. It was a strangely childlike smile—then again, we are the same age, so she is still a child.
“Your quick decision-making and adaptability, along with your magical skills and sense of humor. It’s no wonder my brother would want to teach you magic.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to seeing how much talent you display in the royal capital.”
Princess Iris stood up, gathered her dress, and bowed.
“Lastly, please tell me. The Sacred Domain Church has been destroyed, correct?”
“It has been destroyed.”
“Then why did Kachel do such a thing?”
“When Burns and the others searched his room, they found a copy of a letter.”
“A letter? Was it addressed to his companions?”
“There was no addressee. It contained content that revered the Sacred Domain Church. It’s unclear how he obtained that Amulet. However…”
Princess Iris seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking.
“I’ve heard rumors of a group that idealizes the fallen Sacred Domain Church.”
“…A group like that?”
“While it’s taboo to discuss the Sacred Domain Church, I’ve heard there are those who study it. If you’re interested, I can arrange for you to meet with a researcher.”
“Please do.”
“Understood. Then, I shall take my leave.”
With that, Princess Iris exited the reception room.
“So, my job is to guard the princess while she’s training at the Magic Guild.”
The conditions aren’t bad. If there are people researching the Sacred Domain Church, I might be able to gather information about them. Considering Kachel was a worshiper of the Sacred Domain Church, there might be others like him. You never know what the Sacred Domain Church might do. I should prepare for that.
“…Well, I guess that’s a discussion for when I get to the royal capital.”
I left the reception room. I’ll have Martha bring me a snack, and then I’ll take a nap.
Next time, Chapter 21 is scheduled to be updated tomorrow evening.