“You’ll take care of it?”
“Yes. I know better than anyone that the First Prince would never be interested in me.”
I spoke with confidence. Surely, I understood the First Prince’s mindset better than someone jumping to absurd conclusions.
“He has absolutely no feelings for me. You just told me something I already knew.”
“So you’re doing this despite knowing?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re trying to provoke jealousy. I thought you were just excited because my brother showed interest… but…”
“That’s an utterly ridiculous assumption.”
I laughed. The Second Prince frowned at my words.
Was it wrong to respond when he was staring at me like I was hopeless?
“If you keep insisting I still like the Prince, then that’s all you’ll ever see. But I hope you realize it’s nothing more than your own misunderstanding.”
Misunderstanding. I deliberately emphasized the word.
“You gave me completely unnecessary advice. But I’ll assume you meant well, so I’ll be careful. Is that fair?”
I said it as if granting a favor and walked past him. I could feel his gaze on my back, but I ignored it.
What was the point of dragging out an unpleasant conversation?
Even without full understanding, the Second Prince seemed to think the First Prince had given me something valuable. When in fact, all I received was a mana stone to confirm my alleged crime.
If only it had been a gift—at least then I’d feel good about it.
He had no reason to give me a present, so why would he make such a wild assumption?
Every time I encounter Andreas in this world, I’m reminded of how much he despises me. Why did another version of me ever end up in such a relationship with the Second Prince…?
In any case, I planned to return the mana stone to Killian.
But when I entered the ballroom, he was nowhere to be seen.
“What did the First Prince say when you two left together?”
Milan approached, noticing how I had been looking around. He must have been watching since we stepped out and was curious.
“Tell me. Why did the Prince take you with him?”
“It wasn’t anything serious.”
“You’re saying he took you aside for nothing serious?”
He clearly didn’t believe me. Maybe it was better to just tell the truth.
I had once told my family that the First Prince had suspected me of something. Since it had been resolved, I figured it was okay to share.
“He realized I was the one he saw at the auction. He wanted to confirm it, so I explained everything. It went well.”
Milan’s eyes widened in surprise.
“He admitted he misunderstood and wrongly accused someone?”
Now that I was cleared of suspicion, it was good news for my family too. Remembering that lifted my mood, which had soured after speaking with the Second Prince.
Milan muttered as if pondering something.
“No wonder he left the banquet so quickly. Seems like you were his reason for coming.”
“He left?”
So he was already gone by the time I noticed he wasn’t in the ballroom. Milan retraced the timeline of recent events.
“Did he also attend that dinner last time because of you?”
I hadn’t even mentioned the dinner, but Milan had already guessed it.
“Since he caught your tail, maybe he came to our mansion to check for himself.”
“…I guess so.”
“I wondered why he showed up out of nowhere.”
Milan muttered in disbelief, then asked,
“You’re sure it’s been resolved?”
“Yes. Don’t worry. You can tell I’m fine because I came back in one piece, right?”
He gave me a reluctant look. I guess he knew I was telling the truth.
Still, I’ll need to return this to the First Prince myself.
I thought I’d be able to meet him again at the ball.
Because of the mana stone’s special nature, I couldn’t hand it over through someone else. Left with no other option, I decided to take it back with me to the estate.
Aside from the unexpected encounter with the First Prince, the banquet went smoothly.
I came to prove to my father that I had no interest in the Second Prince.
Aside from a brief meeting in the garden, I didn’t even speak to the Second Prince inside the ballroom.
And with the misunderstanding with the First Prince resolved, I could return home with a lighter heart.
____________.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓆰♕𓆪 ֶָ֢._________
The next morning.
“What… is this?”
The mana stone had changed color.
I had left it on the desk before falling asleep, so it was definitely the same stone—but now it was red.
“Why did it change color…”
Any remaining sleep fled from my mind. The First Prince had given me this to see if it would change, hadn’t he?
A surge of anxiety hit me. He had let the scented incense slide, but now this was reacting strangely too.
If I were him, I’d definitely be suspicious.
“Oh no…”
A groan escaped my lips.
How is this even happening?
Now I couldn’t return it even if I wanted to. As I stared at it in distress, a knock came at the door.
“Young Lady.”
“Huh?”
Startled, I quickly grabbed the mana stone and hid it in my hand.
“Yes, Anna?”
“I brought your breakfast, miss.”
“I’ll skip breakfast. I’m not hungry.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
The hallway went quiet again.
I sighed and leaned against the door. When I opened my hand, the red mana stone was still there.
“Why is it red…?”
I didn’t understand why the color had changed. It was supposed to be a tool to detect connections with a sorcerer.
I have nothing to hide—so why this?
Staring at it wouldn’t make the color go back. Maybe I should just leave it alone.
“If the color changed because I touched it… maybe it’ll change back later?”
Hoping for the best, I tucked it away in a drawer.
For now, I’d wait and see. Maybe the color would revert.
But two more days passed—and it didn’t.
“Maybe it didn’t have enough time?”
Or maybe… it would never change back.
If that were true, I was in serious trouble.
What if the First Prince asks for it back?
Regardless of whether I was guilty, I’d be dragged off for sure.
“Is there a way to reverse it?”
I began to seriously consider it.
“No, how would I even restore something a sorcerer specially crafted?”
It was impossible. Even if I made a perfect replica and tried to switch them, the First Prince had access to the original sorcerer. I’d be found out immediately.
“What do I do now…?”
I was about to lose my mind. Why did it have to change color?! I clutched my head in despair.
Wait.
A sudden thought crossed my mind.
“What if the First Prince never asks for it back?”
Three days had passed since he gave it to me. He could’ve contacted me anytime—but he hadn’t.
Maybe he wasn’t planning to retrieve it.
“Right. That’s why he hasn’t said anything.”
I decided not to panic. That change in perspective eased my anxiety.
But just then, another knock sounded.
“Young Lady.”
“Hmm? Anna?”
“Yes, miss. A royal courier is here from the palace.”
“The palace…?”
Ignoring the dread in my chest, I went down to the entrance. A messenger from the palace was waiting there.
“This is a letter from His Highness, Prince Killian.”
“Prince Killian…”
What now…?
Why does he show up the moment I feel relieved!
I smiled at the messenger, but inside, I wanted to cry.
What else would he contact me for? I braced myself.
Please. Just please…
Please don’t let it be that.
I opened the letter in front of the courier. And as I read it, my face fell.
He had simply forgotten to retrieve the mana stone last time. Now he was asking for it—and of course I still had it.
I’m completely doomed…
I’d clung to a tiny hope that he wouldn’t come for it, but that hope shattered instantly.
Right. No way he’d forget something so valuable unless it was disposable.
The letter was brief. He asked me to visit the First Prince’s palace tomorrow to return the mana stone.
Tomorrow? Already?!
I wanted to delay the meeting as long as possible. So I decided to stall.
I wrote a polite reply saying,
I’m terribly sorry, but I already have plans for tomorrow. It was such short notice… Would it be possible to reschedule?
A flimsy excuse, but the best I had. I didn’t actually have plans—but I was desperate.
The First Prince probably knew my social calendar wasn’t exactly full, which made it riskier, but I had no better excuse.
It’s just a temporary fix, that’s all.
“I’ll deliver this to His Highness.”
“Thank you.”
The messenger left. I returned to my room and let out a sigh of relief.
“That bought me some time.”
Now I could think carefully about how to handle this mess.
But the courier returned less than an hour later.
“What is it this time…?”
“His Highness has sent a reply.”
Already?
I masked my panic and accepted the letter.
Since Lady Burkell is too busy to come to the palace, perhaps I should visit you instead.
“…!”
I almost crumpled the letter right there. So much for a temporary fix!
Why did it wear off so fast?!
The letter even mentioned tomorrow again. He clearly meant to see me no matter what.
The messenger was waiting, so I had to write back right away.
Why is he so impatient?
Grudgingly, I penned my reply.
No, I’ll come. I’m short on time, but I’ll make it. I’ll visit at the time you suggested.
After sending the messenger off again, I let out an even deeper sigh.
“This is bad…”
I went to my drawer and pulled out the mana stone. It was still red. And now I had to show it to him tomorrow.
As I stared at it, a thought occurred to me.
Do I really have to return it?
If I show him, I might get accused of something I didn’t do.
I made up my mind.
I picked up the mana stone I had kept in that drawer for days.
“There’s no way I’m giving this back.”
