TPM 10

Chapter : 10

Finally, the day of the banquet for Princess Aria had arrived.

The staff who had come from Calante’s shop to assist with the event helped me with everything—from changing clothes to makeup and hairstyling.

“You look beautiful. At today’s banquet, you’ll be the one shining just after the princess herself.”

The compliment was so flattering that I couldn’t deny it, even though it embarrassed me. The face staring back at me in the mirror didn’t feel entirely real—it felt almost like someone else’s.

I had tied my naturally curly silver hair up just enough, leaving a few loose strands framing my face. With my hair neatly arranged, my eyes seemed even more striking.

The pale, almost ethereal hue of my eyes, which I usually didn’t even pay attention to myself, looked unusually vivid and unfamiliar.

“…….”

My slightly flushed cheeks and naturally tinted lips looked beautiful in their own way, and, strangely, they made my heart flutter.

This unfamiliar feeling… it felt like magic.

‘Though, I am already late for the banquet.’

Master never arrived at events exactly on time. He usually came in once the banquet had started, when everyone had settled in and the main proceedings were about to begin. He would quietly take care of his business and leave shortly after.

‘Shall I go now?’

Hiding my excitement as best I could, I opened the door and walked down the Mage Tower’s corridor in the most awkward steps imaginable. This was the first time I had dressed up this much, and it made me self-conscious.

I wanted to go somewhere out of sight, but before I could, people swarmed around me.

Since it was the time when the mages of the tower were most active, the hallway was crowded.

When they saw me all dressed up, their eyes widened in surprise as they rushed toward me.

“What’s all this, Themis? Why are you dressed like that?”

“You’re going to the banquet today, right? Are you planning to meet some handsome man there?”

“And what about the Archmage?”

“Themis, have you already forgotten the Archmage?”

Huh?

I lifted my head to see their teary-eyed faces staring at me.

What on earth were they talking about?

I furrowed my brow and lowered my voice.

“That’s impossible. My feelings for Master haven’t changed.”

I pushed back the crowd of mages and answered seriously.

“Feelings?”

“Eek!”

I jumped in surprise when Master suddenly appeared from the side.

“……It’s pure admiration, full of passion.”

“I like that answer.”

As I finally managed to speak, Master smiled knowingly.

‘Wow…….’

Only then did I properly look at Master, silently admiring him for a long moment.

‘So this is another side of him.’

I had never seen Master, who usually left a few buttons of his uniform undone, dressed perfectly in his uniform with every button fastened up to the collar. His neatly combed hair and upright posture made him look almost like a disciplined priest rather than the usual rogue-like figure he normally was.

Though, seeing his still-sleepy gaze, there was also a strangely decadent air about him.

Seeing such a beautiful Master stirred feelings in me that I couldn’t quite explain. My heart raced, and my cheeks flushed.

‘If Princess Aria sees him like this, she’s bound to fall for him.’

Who wouldn’t fall in love with someone like that?

‘I just hope Master is happy.’

I didn’t want the ending where he sacrifices a manacore to the princess and leaves this world. I hoped he could live a long life, showing more of that joyful, radiant smile.

For a very long time.

…That would be enough for me.

“Master, you look really handsome today.”

I sincerely complimented him, giving a thumbs-up, and quickly turned my head out of embarrassment.

“Shall we go? We can’t keep Princess Aria waiting.”

“Yes.”

A faint smile lingered in Master’s voice.

Avoiding his gaze, I teleported from the Mage Tower to the Royal Palace.

The Mage Tower and the Royal Palace were directly connected by a portal, so anyone with prior approval could move freely between them. Of course, the only ones approved were me, Master, and his assistant, Rider.

“Welcome!”

The steward greeted us with a bright smile, seemingly unsurprised by Master’s slight delay.

“Please proceed this way. Princess Aria has stepped out for a moment……”

The banquet was held in the largest hall of the main palace, the Vivace Hall.

As I approached the hall, my nerves became unexpectedly tense, twisting my stomach.

“Master, may I step into the lounge for a moment?”

“Let’s go together.”

“You could go alone……”

I said that because the steward’s gaze from behind was piercing. I wondered if it wasn’t proper to let only Master enter the banquet hall.

But Master, ever stubborn, ignored the steward’s gaze and led me along.

“You’ve been stubborn in unusual ways these days. Let’s go.”

And so, I accompanied Master to the lounge.

“……Huff.”

There, I found a woman breathing heavily.

Princess Aria.

Master had suggested a larger, more open lounge, but I chose a closer, smaller one.

It was a women-only powder room, so I entered alone, separated from Master.

‘It’ll only take about ten minutes anyway.’

That was enough time to prepare myself. Seeing Master’s face alone would make me nervous again, so I needed some private time.

I sat on the sofa in the partitioned space and finally let out a sigh.

‘Stay calm.’

I couldn’t let my own state ruin anything.

The lounge respected privacy with its partitions. Normally, I wouldn’t pay attention to other noises here, but…

“Ugh…….”

A distressed groan was too loud to ignore.

I tapped on the partition and asked,

“Are you alright? Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

A different voice answered, probably that of a maid. Since she didn’t know who I was, she probably couldn’t call for help recklessly.

It made sense that a noble of high rank might hide her condition, so I understood the maid’s sharp tone.

“Though I’m not a priest… I am Themis, a mage of the Mage Tower and a disciple of Archmage Akilan. If there’s anything I can help with, please tell me.”

“You’re a mage?”

A surprised voice called, and a woman emerged from inside. It seemed to be the maid who had refused help earlier.

“Before the priest arrives, perhaps I could help……”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but when I saw the woman lying almost fully on the sofa beyond the partition, I immediately knew who she was.

“May I examine Princess Aria’s condition?”

Her chocolate-brown hair was damp with sweat. Her eyes were red like the setting sun. With her pure, elegant demeanor and porcelain-like skin, she exuded grace…

‘Princess Aria.’

She would become Master’s first love.

I understood why Master had never fallen for anyone else. Someone this perfect had appeared!

“It’s an honor to meet you, Princess. I am Themis, a mage of the Mage Tower.”

Mages from the tower always began their introduction with the Tower’s name.

“……So you’re a mage too?”

Aria’s eyes, still catching her breath, showed curiosity.

“Yes, I am.”

“……So even the princess can look like this at the first meeting.”

I answered, and Aria gave a faint smile, brushing her hair neatly back. I could already guess why she was in pain. Any mage could.

When an ordinary person manifests magic, the power within transforms their heart into a manacore.

The manacore produces the mana needed for the mage to cast spells… but the human body remains unstable until it adjusts.

Experienced mages adapt and maintain their condition, but for someone newly manifested like Aria, regular treatment by a priest was necessary until her body adjusted.

‘Even I, after all this time, haven’t fully adapted to my manacore.’

It would be the same for the princess.

‘She said she called a priest.’

No doubt Everett would come. Their first meeting in the original story began like this.

“Before the priest arrives, may I assist you?”

If so, I could create a situation where Everett didn’t need to come at all.

“I can help ease the pain you’re feeling right now.”

At my words, Aria immediately responded.

“Good… no, yes.”

She wasn’t quite used to speaking informally yet.

Somehow, it reminded me of when I was first picked up by Master and had spoken politely to everyone.

“Call me however you feel comfortable, Princess. I have no one else to speak to.”

Maybe that was why, despite usually being awkward with people, I felt at ease with her.

“Shall we move to another room?”

“I don’t want to show that I’m in pain, so let’s manage here.”

Aria, still panting, shook her head. That was why she didn’t insist on moving to another room.

“So, what’s the method?”

She whispered the question, looking fragile.

“……May I ask the maid to step out for a moment?”

I wanted to share a secret only I knew. She was destined to be closest to Master, and… I felt a strange sense of kinship.