BSPD 38

Chapter 38

“…You heard it? How?”

They say nothing’s impossible when someone’s desperate. Could it be that I’ve awakened some ability to use magic myself? It’s common enough in desperate life-and-death situations!

But at Luce’s next words, I had to sheepishly unclench the fist I had just balled up.

“That ring. What do you think it is?”

“The ring?”

On my finger was the ring Luce had given me some time ago.

“How should I know? You just tossed it at me without any explanation.”

All I’d guessed was that it would somehow be useful to me.

“It’s a magic tool. It reacts to the word I set.”

“So if you set your name, you’d get a signal when I call you?”

Luce gave no response at all to such an obvious statement.

[That Luce guy, too! Normally he shows up whenever he wants, but at times like that he just disappears on his own! Because of him I—]

[So that’s what you were doing—having fun badmouthing me.]

Only now did I realize how Luce had appeared at just the right moment.

“You should’ve told me beforehand! That way, I’d call your name first in an emergency!”

At that, his expression shifted oddly. Eyes wide, lips slightly parted. A face that looked… almost surprised.

“…Then now that you know, you’d better call me first.”

What on earth was he saying? I laughed in disbelief and shouted:

“Of course! But you’d better come running when I call, got it? I’ll try not to say your name for nothing. If the signal comes, you should assume, ‘Something happened!’ and show up, okay?”

I hooked my finger with his. After that little pledge, I opened my hand and gazed at the violet jewel sparkling there.

“So this was a magic tool. No wonder I sometimes felt déjà vu….”

“You could sense that? You really are—”

“Don’t even think about bringing up being your assistant. The ring is nice, but that’s a separate matter.”

He wouldn’t stop saving me just because I refused, right?

“What’s so bad about being my assistant? Offers like this don’t come often.”

“I’m satisfied with my life as it is. And what would I gain from being your assistant anyway?”

“Why not? You’d get to stay by my side.”

…And how is that a good thing?

“How is that supposed to be good?”

I blurted out my incredulity. Without a trace of hesitation, his reply came:

“You’d get to admire me up close.”

He even propped his chin with his hand, as if inviting me to take a good look. I forgot how to speak and just opened and closed my mouth soundlessly.

“Wow….”

If only I had that kind of self-love.

“I’ll even pay you a salary if you want.”

“‘If I want’? You’re supposed to pay a salary!”

He said something so obvious as if he were being generous!

“I’ll provide room and board.”

“I’m already getting that now! You need to give me something more compelling.”

“Just being ‘my assistant’ is special enough.”

No matter how I looked at it, I didn’t want to work under someone like him.

But Luce seemed genuinely intent on recruiting me and actually began to consider terms.

“You like animals, don’t you?”

“I do?”

“I’ll give you a magical beast.”

“I don’t need one! Why would I keep that?”

“You reject this, reject that. Then what do you even want?”

“Exactly! Think of something that would actually appeal to me!”

He closed his eyes, deep in thought.

His jet-black hair, pale skin bathed in moonlight, jeweled earrings swaying as the wind brushed past. This wasn’t the time to be admiring him, but the sight of such a handsome man thinking with his chin propped on his hand was… lethal.

‘Honestly, if I had that face, I’d be a narcissist too.’

“…Should I tell you my name, then.”

At last he opened his eyes and spoke. Caught in the act of staring, I quickly averted my gaze.

“I already know your name. It’s Luce.”

– Jingle.

His earring shimmered faintly as it swayed. The magic tool must’ve reacted to the word he’d set.

“…Edward’s too careless.”

Edward? That was my father’s name.

“Why bring up my dad all of a sudden? Anyway… you’re not going to stop rescuing me just because I said no to being your assistant, right?”

“If I used that to pressure you, would you agree to be my assistant?”

“I refuse to work under someone that petty.”

I could only hope he wasn’t that small-minded.

The ring on my hand still stung from my burns. Even healing magic hadn’t erased the wounds left by divine flame. I’d have to wait for Thearn to come to the palace.

“Ah! But my ingredients! I was supposed to prepare them for the pesticide tomorrow!”

The thought of herbs scattered among broken glass made my heart ache.

“Tomorrow’s the last day before the Founding Festival. Many seniors are going on break… I really wanted to show them how to make it….”

“So this is your way of asking me to take you there.”

Yet even as he said that, Luce stood up and scooped me into his arms.

My hands instinctively clung to his shoulder and neck.

“Wah!”

He carried me effortlessly, striding forward.

“That woman being linked to black magicians seems certain, doesn’t it?”

“Hard to say.”

“Still, isn’t it strange you’re not pursuing her more aggressively?”

Two possibilities came to mind. Either he already knew exactly who she was and had no need to chase her… or—

“…Because there’s no point in chasing her? Catching her wouldn’t help?”

Luce met my gaze quietly. I could already guess his answer.

“I’m not being your assistant.”

“You turned me down even faster this time.”

So I was right. Most likely the latter. Which explained why he felt no need to bother.

“But are we really moving like this the whole way? Won’t you get tired? Wouldn’t teleporting be easier?”

“I don’t mind. The one uncomfortable should be you.”

What did he mean by that? He was the one carrying me.

Only when we arrived where the greenhouse had stood, and I saw all the eyes staring at us, did I understand his meaning.

“My herbs! My precious herbs!”

“Mr. Pell, please calm down. They’re just plants. You can always grow more.”

“You speak too lightly. Do you have any idea how much toil goes into raising a single herb?”

“…My apologies, Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Oh! Isn’t that Professor Linnegrimm?”

Of course a huge explosion in the greenhouse at this hour would draw people. Knights of the Holy Order on patrol, Pell the herbalist, and even Hellion, all gathered in the wreckage.

“Luce! Put me down…!”

I didn’t have the shamelessness to stay in his arms in front of all these people. I wriggled until he set me down.

But the moment I put weight on my legs, they gave out. It was Hellion who caught me.

“Linne, are you alright? What’s with that bandaged arm? Did you get hurt when the greenhouse collapsed?”

“No. I was inside when it collapsed, but that’s not it.”

“You were inside? Then do you know why it collapsed?”

I wanted to stay loyal, but my eyes involuntarily shifted to Luce behind me. Hellion’s blue gaze followed.

“…It was him?”

“But there was a reason! I got trapped inside the Black Greenhouse, and he blew it apart to save me!”

“You were trapped in the Black Greenhouse? You?”

“Shh! Your Highness, please lean closer.”

Even flustered, Hellion bent his ear toward me. I whispered:

“Someone swapped my purification stone and poisoned me with spores, then locked me inside. I’m certain the black magicians are behind this. Considering how deliberately they targeted me, it has to be.”

“…Do you remember the culprit’s face?”

“Unfortunately, even if we caught them, it wouldn’t help. Luce seemed to think the same.”

“But you could have been seriously hurt! Shouldn’t we at least punish the one responsible?”

I shook my head.

“If we seize one of their pawns, the black magicians will just go deeper into hiding. Better to leave them free and watch them. That is… assuming Luce cooperates. But since they’re involved, he won’t just sit back.”

“…If that’s the case, then fine. Still….”

Even as he said it, I was scared. Who knew when or where another threat would appear? I couldn’t rely on the ring alone. What if they swapped it out next time?

“I’ll assign you a guard detail. Please be careful.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Gratefully accepting his kindness, I turned to the wreckage. The shattered glass, the ruined herbs—useless as medicine now.

Tears welled up, but I couldn’t show it. Two others were surely hurting more.

“…It’s alright. We can grow them again.”

“My poor herbs…!”

Hellion gave a rueful smile while Pell outright fell to his knees. Watching their grief, I heard measured footsteps. Luce stepped forward.

“I can’t just stand by.”

With a snap of his fingers, it happened. Time inside the greenhouse began to reverse.

Shards of glass rose into the air, reforming into panes. The structure rebuilt itself, restoring its pristine form as if nothing had happened.

Every mouth hung open in astonishment.

Before long, we stood before the greenhouse, whole and unbroken.

“Wh-what is this…?”

Pell muttered, stunned.

Even after casting such overwhelming magic, Luce remained composed.

As everyone blinked at the restored greenhouse, a voice came from the bushes beyond.

“Well, wasn’t that an entertaining sight. A devotee of the Demon God strutting about the imperial palace, bold as day.”