Chapter 40
I coughed. Tears welled up.
“Cough… What did you just say…?”
“Archduke. He’s your real father, right?”
Zion asked again, his blunt expression unwavering.
“Then the emperor is a fake father?”
I was speechless.
How could he even ask this without a filter? How did he even know something I didn’t say?
Reading my expression, Zion shrugged and answered casually:
“Their energies are the same.”
“Energies?”
“You and the archduke. Energies match. That only happens between parent and child.”
So that’s something a Master Mage can sense.
I felt flustered. I thought only the emperor and I knew this truth.
“So you didn’t come to fight dad… you came to see your real father.”
He dabbed my mouth gently with a handkerchief, murmuring.
“…It’s a secret. You can’t tell anyone, please.”
I was too stunned to reply, only managing to make small mumbling noises as I let him touch my face. Finally, I squeezed out a tiny voice.
Zion tilted his head, puzzled.
“Why?”
“…I’m the former princess.”
“Okay…?”
“The archduke hates the royal family. He wouldn’t be happy just because I’m his daughter.”
“Ah, true. You were terrible when you were at the palace.”
Zion nodded lightly. He seemed to have a talent for saying sharp things without hesitation.
“Alright, I won’t tell anyone.”
That was it.
He didn’t ask how he knew, what I planned to do, or why I was hiding it. My most important secret suddenly felt trivial.
Fidgeting with the banana stick in my hand, I murmured:
“…Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For keeping my secret.”
Zion rolled his eyes once and laughed.
“You’re more fun than the archduke. I’ll be on your side.”
Then he held my hand gently. Warmth spread through it.
“Let’s go back. Our hour is up.”
When we returned to the archduke’s residence, of course…
“Loreah.”
Carlos was standing there.
He must have been coming from the garden. The timing couldn’t have been worse.
“Where have you been?”
“Just walking.”
I didn’t answer. Zion, standing beside me and still holding my hand, lightly shook it toward Carlos.
Carlos’ gaze fixed on our joined hands. His eyes narrowed briefly.
“A bold attitude for an uninvited guest. Are all mages from the Mage Tower like this?”
“Not all, I don’t know them all.”
“…Going or not?”
“I’m leaving now.”
Zion answered casually. He let go of my hand with a hint of regret, looked at me and Carlos alternately, and then suddenly said:
“Archduke. Treat her well. Don’t regret it later.”
Carlos’ expression darkened slightly. He had no idea what he meant. Zion didn’t explain. He just waved goodbye to me.
“Then, goodbye. See you again.”
“Uh…”
“Yeah?”
“…I had fun today.”
I stammered. Zion’s eyes widened, then he smiled brightly.
“Me too. Let’s do this again sometime.”
In a flash of light, he disappeared. Just like when he had appeared suddenly, it was instantaneous.
Only Carlos and I remained.
“…….”
A hellish silence fell. Carlos looked down at me, his face still puzzled. I avoided his gaze and turned away.
A few days after Zion left, Carlos summoned me to the study.
“We’re going to the Eastern Temple.”
He said it abruptly.
“…The East?”
“With the west blocked, we have no choice but to go directly.”
I immediately understood: it was about registering a guardian.
‘…Eastern Temple.’
It was the most practical destination, though still outside the archduchy.
Two problems stood out:
- Me. The moment I stepped outside, the royal family could forcibly take me. Immunity only works inside the archduchy.
- Carlos. The stronger the magic, the harsher the backlash. Going to the East and dealing with that… just thinking about it made me dizzy.
“Any alternatives?”
“Does a princess have another option?”
He turned my question back on me.
“The capital temple is too close to the royal family. Northern and Southern Temples are two to three times farther than the East. You know the longer we stay outside, the higher the chance of exposure.”
He was right.
Three days to reach the Eastern Temple. North or South would take over ten. The nearest Western Temple was practically abandoned.
‘I know the East is best, but…’
“How’s your health?”
I had to ask if he could endure that magic.
Carlos looked down, coldly:
“That’s not your concern.”
“But…”
“You asked me to be your guardian. It is my duty. Why this half-hearted attitude when I am trying to fulfill your wishes?”
His flat voice hit my chest like a hammer.
‘I can’t help worrying.’
I had so much to say, but I stayed silent. He never changed a decision once made.
“…Understood.”
I left the study without another word, my chest tight despite having my wish granted.
The only solution I found was to bury myself in the library.
After talking with Carlos, I spent every free moment searching law books, temple records, old case files—anything I could find.
“Here you are again.”
I turned. Damian stood there, carrying a tray with sandwiches and juice.
“You haven’t eaten lunch and now you’re skipping dinner?”
“…I was just going to eat soon.”
“Liar.”
He set the tray on my desk. Clearly, Mia had prepared it.
“Eat. It’ll be troublesome if you collapse.”
“Thank you.”
I took a bite. Damian plopped down beside me.
“Why are you hiding here instead of training? You suddenly take an interest in studies?”
“Are you upset I didn’t go?”
“…Upset? Me? Are you insane?”
I covered my ears as he yelled.
“I was looking for other ways to reach the Eastern Temple.”
“…I heard you’re going with Archduke.”
“Yes. With his body in a high-magic region, it’ll be hard even with refined stones…”
Of course, I could force it by producing massive amounts of refined stones, but any use of magic would risk an out-of-control surge.
Damian fell silent.
“…Should I help look as well?”
“Eh?”
“Two people can find things faster.”
I was stunned. I hadn’t imagined Damian would offer to help.
“Why do you look like that? If you don’t want to, say so.”
“No, it’s not that I don’t want to.”
“Then?”
“If I become your formal guardian here, I’ll have a legitimate reason to stay. Archduke knows, right?”
In other words: ‘You dislike her, yet I’ll help you stick around.’
His eyes narrowed.
“Do you think I’d help without knowing?”
“Weren’t you about to throw me out?”
“When did I ever say that…”
He grumbled but scanned me carefully. It seemed he didn’t mind me staying. Spending so much time near Damian had softened him.
“So, help or not?”
“Help.”
I felt I could even borrow a cat’s paw if needed—but it was perfect.
Damian murmured, “You should’ve said that sooner,” and turned away. I pretended not to notice his slightly red ears.
