MLWP 10

Chapter 10

What on earth was he saying right now?

“Partner? In what sense?”

“I’ll provide what you need, and you’ll teach me magic—”

“…Isn’t that just tutoring?”

Asking a complete stranger to tutor him in magic—what a spoiled brat. She was just about to politely refuse, even if it meant losing the fee, when Crondel suddenly grabbed her hand and pressed his forehead against the back of it.

“Please.”

“Knock it off!”

In this kingdom, pressing one’s forehead to the back of someone’s hand was one of the highest gestures of respect.
But between a man and woman of the same age, it was practically a proposal.

If anyone saw this…

Silia instinctively scanned her surroundings.
If rumors spread about her and this prince she’d just met, she’d have to face the royal family directly—and the noble houses that wanted to marry into royalty would start targeting her. Everything she’d been planning would collapse.

No way I’m getting screwed over like that.

“Grow up already, will you.”

“I just wish you would accept me…”

“Don’t create a scene that could be misunderstood!”

Silia yanked Crondel upright in one motion.
He let out a bewildered “Huh?” as his taller frame was lifted effortlessly by the petite woman’s grip.
She couldn’t give this idiot a chance to think.
She set him back down on the bench and immediately went on the offensive.

“You can just ask the royal magicians to teach you. Or go to the Magic Tower.”

“I’m banned from the tower, and the royal magicians have no desire to teach anyone. They’re all bureaucrats now.”

“Banned?”

“…I, uh, almost blew up the tower when I was little…”

“……”

What on earth had he done? Crondel cleared his throat and continued.

“Besides, you’re better than they are. You drew the sword Periot. That legendary blade chose you.”

He was flattering her—subtly but clearly.

“To be chosen by it, you must have strong mana. And just now, when I approached, you channeled power into your sword and activated a spell. The structure of the formula was clumsy, but still—”

Did I?

When she’d drawn her sword earlier to stop him, something had glowed faintly… maybe?
But that had been pure instinct, not intention. The clumsiness made sense—she didn’t know the first thing about magic.

Still, seeing someone who looked like a born swordsman ramble on about magic like this was almost amusing.

“You really like magic, huh?”

“For someone this interested, my skills are… lacking.”

The bitter smile on his lips surprised her. She hadn’t expected a royal to admit his own shortcomings so easily.

So he’s not as arrogant as I thought.

A thief and a magic maniac, yes—but oddly down-to-earth. She was reassessing him when Crondel suddenly clung to her again.

“You’re my savior. To appear at such a perfect time…”

“Hmm.”

He might be a decent person, but that didn’t make him any less of a potential nuisance.
While she was trying to think of an excuse to refuse a prince’s request—

Wait. A prince.

Realization struck.

“Your Highness Crondel Ahaim, Star of Ahaim.”

Silia’s voice dropped low.
Now it was Crondel’s turn to freeze. He tried to pull away, but her grip tightened like an iron clamp.
Face paling, he stammered,

“W-why are you talking like that all of a sudden?”

“I have a favor to ask, too.”

“Huh?”

“If you agree, I’ll consider teaching you magic. Find someone for me—better yet, arrange a meeting.”

“Consider?”

“I can’t teach you right away. I still have to learn myself. You said so—you could tell my magic formula’s amateurish.”

It sounded like an excuse not to teach, but it was the truth.

I barely understand spell structure—who would I be teaching?

“…Who are you looking for?”

Got him. Silia immediately named the one she’d been desperately trying to find.

“Ilrod Heinz.”

You bastard. You didn’t think I’d track you down this soon, did you?
Her lips curled into a wicked grin.
Crondel’s face went stiff, like he’d just seen a demon.

“…From the Grand Duchy of Heinz?”

“Exactly.”

“Ahem.”

The prince furrowed his brow, slipped his hand free, and made an awkward “flower pose” with both hands.

“…If it’s a man you’re looking for, could it not be me?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

As expected, Crondel dropped the pose at once and sighed.

“Why are you trying to find him? I’ll need a reason to summon him.”

“If you call him, that’s reason enough. You’re royalty—why would you need one?”

“…Fair.”

He accepted that far too easily, but quickly added,

“Still, the Duke of Heinz isn’t someone even a prince can just summon.”

“You’re a prince, aren’t you?”

“Then how come you’re talking to me like this without getting charged with lèse-majesté?”

“It’s not that kind of era anymore!”

The words slipped out automatically—then realization followed.
She’d been so used to the strict hierarchy of military life in her past world that she’d forgotten—this wasn’t that kind of society.

“Right. Not that kind of era.”

Crondel nodded calmly.

Maybe four generations ago, during the age of absolute monarchy and tyrant kings, that kind of power still existed.
Even back in her previous life, when she’d drunk with others and gossiped about the royals, she’d known they only got away with things because the monarchy’s power had long since waned.

Nowadays, you didn’t get beheaded for insulting a prince.
If anything, the current king’s blunders had weakened the crown further.

No matter how royal he was, he couldn’t order a high noble around without cause—especially not that Heinz.
The Heinz family were founders of the kingdom itself; their power rivaled the royal house.

Crondel spoke with a troubled look.

“You’re talking about the duke’s only son, right? I heard the family keeps him close—rarely lets him out.”

“……”

“He used to attend the Royal Academy, but I haven’t seen him for months.
Word is, he’s being tutored privately at home by the best instructors money can buy.”

Damn.

So he’d gone into hiding in this life.
Crondel looked at her sympathetically.

“Let me be blunt. A nobody like you won’t get an audience with the Heinz heir. No offense, but are you from a powerful house or something?”

“What if the name Silia Broniew, heir to House Broniew, rings a bell?”

“Broniew? Never heard of it. Wait—Count Diaman’s full name is Broniew-Diaman, isn’t it? Are your houses related?”

“…Are you trying to hurt my feelings?”

“S-sorry.”

“It’s fine. My house is practically in ruins, so it’s normal you don’t know it.
But yes, it’s related to Diaman. I’m staying as their guest, and the Count himself recommended me for the Royal Academy.”

“The Royal Academy?”

“Yeah. I’ll be taking the transfer exam soon.
But if even a prince can’t summon Heinz, then I doubt the Diaman name will help either.”

Even while they talked, Silia’s mind was spinning.

‘Can’t introduce a total stranger,’ huh?
Then what if I become someone everyone knows?

“If I got famous enough, would it be possible?”

“If you could, sure. That’d work.”

Crondel nodded easily.
So she needed fame—serious fame—to get an audience with Heinz.
Then Crondel suddenly looked thoughtful and said,

“Wait. You said you’re taking the transfer exam, right? In that case…”

His blue eyes sharpened, the air around him subtly shifting.

Huh?

Gone was the bumbling fool from earlier. His gaze was clear, calculating—like this was his true self all along.

Silia narrowed her eyes.

So that’s what you really look like.

A slow, alluring smile spread across the prince’s face.

“I have an idea.”

He leaned close, lips brushing her ear, and whispered for a long while.
When he finally drew back, Silia tilted her head and smirked.

“I just thought of something even more fun.”

Later that afternoon — The Royal Academy Admissions Office

Tap, tap.

The clerk, nose buried in paperwork for the upcoming transfer exams, looked up when a neatly sealed envelope was placed before her.
It bore a familiar crest—a lion’s head.

The Diaman family.

She recognized it instantly.
Raising her eyes, she saw a person wearing a worn cloak and a deep hood.
A glimpse of vivid red hair spilled from beneath it—so bright it was mesmerizing.
The clerk found herself staring until the stranger spoke.

“They told me to bring this here.”

“…What is it?”

“My transfer exam application.”

The clerk frowned slightly.

“Are you a prospective student? Applications aren’t usually handled here.”

“I know. The main desk told me to come here.”

She wasn’t low-ranking enough to be doing this kind of task herself,
but she couldn’t exactly ignore a document from House Diaman.
With a sigh, she broke the seal.

“……”

Inside were a standard recommendation letter and an application form.
After reading them, the clerk couldn’t help asking,

“…Are you sure about this?”

“Yes. I even signed a waiver.”

Now she understood why it had been sent to her.
If she refused it outright, she’d be offending a noble house.
So, suppressing another sigh, the clerk stamped the form.

“Combat exam for you, then.”

If they wanted to take it, fine. Whatever happened afterward wasn’t her problem.
After signing the receipt, she looked up to hand it over—

—and froze for a second.
Beneath the hood, a graceful smile curved the girl’s lips.

“Thank you.”

With a flutter of the stamped form in hand,
the mysterious applicant walked away, leaving behind an odd, lingering impression.