episode_0012

-Let the duel… BEGIN!!

The duel commenced with the master’s shout.

Once again, I felt—viscerally—why I had vowed never to become a mage myself.

-Whoosh! -BOOM, CRASH!!

“GYAAAAH!!”

Spells rained down on me in an instant. I didn’t even have time to recognize what they were.

Fortunately, I wasn’t badly hurt.

-Rumble…

A sudden chill ran down my spine, and it seemed my instinctive magic barrier had saved me.

Now I understand why the master insisted on memorizing incantations.

If I couldn’t read my opponent’s spell circles, I couldn’t tell what magic was coming. If I couldn’t tell what magic was coming, I couldn’t counter it effectively.

Maybe I should’ve studied harder.

But who could’ve predicted this? That Her Highness would suddenly drag me to the rooftop with a “Follow me”?

The duel continued in the same pattern. Her Highness unleashed incomprehensible offensive spells, while I barely blocked them, yelping things like “Eeek!” or “Gah! I’m sorry!” like an idiot.

Even after this back-and-forth had gone on for ages, Her Highness showed no signs of slowing down.

By this point, I couldn’t help but flare up a little.

-Whoosh, BOOM.

“Why are you doing this to me…?!”

I deflected another fire-based spell with a magic barrier and shouted. Clearing away the now-useless remnants of my barrier, I glared straight at Her Highness.

She said nothing, merely steadying her breath as she prepared the next spell.

-Huuuung…

Honestly?

I was a little angry too.

The unexpected sharpness in my voice was probably because of that.

“What is it about me that displeases you so much?!”

“…What?”

“What is it that you hate so much you have to torment me like this?!”

For a moment—

-Halt.

Her Highness, who had shown no reaction to anything I said or did, paused.

She closed her eyes briefly, as if lost in thought.

“What angers me, you ask.”

-Perhaps.

The way she said it, honestly…

She looked lonely.

Profoundly.

—

The emotion she felt when she first saw that child was—though not an ordinary occurrence—

Admiration.

“Wow.”

For the first time in her ten years of life, the princess, Flora, felt it.

“A person can be… this lovely.”

From her smooth hair to her skin—everything about her was white.

Though Flora prided herself on her own beauty, this child seemed to possess something beyond mere appearance.

“What is it?”

The way she chattered nonstop beside her was also quite endearing.

But Flora quickly realized that Serena Riel’s strength wasn’t just her looks.

-Huuung…

“This can’t be.”

If her appearance was astonishing, her magical talent was reverent.

Flora was certain—Serena had the power to change the fate of the Empire. No, the continent.

Despite being only ten, the princess naturally arrived at this conclusion.

If this child stays as she is for ten… no, even seven or eight more years, she’ll undoubtedly reach the level of the current Tower Lords.

This insight was only possible because Flora, too, was a prodigy of innate talent and intuition.

Until now, Flora had taken pride in her exceptional insight and growth.

But this time—

She couldn’t help but resent her own precocious perception.

Because she had realized something unavoidable.

“Ah.”

I’ll never…

Even be able to stand in her shadow.

It was the moment the dream of a ten-year-old girl—to become the continent’s greatest mage—was crushed before it could take flight.

And from the moment she realized it—

A corner of Flora’s heart began to darken.

“Why?”

Why can’t I?

I’m the Emperor’s daughter.

The future Empress.

I’ve worked myself to death every day.

So why can’t I be like her?

These thoughts only grew with every lesson she shared with Serena.

“Why can’t I…?”

Why can’t I reach it?

Why can’t I fly?

Why…

Just why?

How much time had passed like this?

Fortunately, Flora was a resilient girl.

Rather than collapsing with broken wings, she chose to gather her fallen feathers and try flying again.

“Right. She is her, and I am me.”

Let’s admit it.

She’s extraordinary.

No matter how hard I try, I might never surpass her.

But—

“I won’t just sit here and wallow.”

That day, the princess changed her goal.

From becoming the continent’s greatest mage—

To becoming Serena’s rival.

“I will chase after you, no matter what.”

With this shift in mindset, her heart felt lighter.

The tattered pieces of Flora’s heart slowly began to mend.

Around this time, Flora thought:

“Hmm. Then building a friendship with the future greatest mage of the continent is important too.”

For the Empire’s future, of course.

Too young to recognize the other emotions tangled in this thought, she found it easier to open her heart.

“I’ll grow alongside Lady Riel, watching her rise.”

Because of this mindset—

The shock was all the greater when Serena announced she would pursue music.

“Lady Riel… you intend to compose?”

“Yep.”

In that moment—

Flora’s thoughts came to a screeching halt.

“Why?”

You can’t do this.

You can’t waste a talent like that.

I wanted it so badly but couldn’t have it.

So…

“You must do magic.”

Flora was desperate.

She tried every means to reignite Serena’s interest in magic—all in vain.

But she couldn’t give up.

“You must do magic.”

I’ve already seen the sun that is you.

Where else could you possibly go?

I’ve already decided to follow you.

Please.

“Please, be my goal.”

Flora was desperate.

So desperate that—

Even after exhausting all her spells, with Serena still standing unharmed—

She kept squeezing out mana, forcing herself to chant another attack.

“Hah, hah…!”

Her mana had long since bottomed out.

Sweat poured like rain.

Her vision blurred.

Yet Flora gathered her mana once more.

“Block this… too!”

[1st-Class Magic] [Flash Freeze]

The temperature around Serena plummeted instantly.

Of course, Serena effortlessly blocked it with another mana barrier—

“Not done yet!”

[1st-Class Magic] [Playing with Fire]

The princess immediately layered another spell.

As heat surged against the frozen barrier—

-Crackle.

It shattered in an instant.

-CRASH!

Sensing this was her last chance, Flora cast the strongest spell she could muster in her state.

[2nd-Class Magic] [Fusion] [Fire Arrow & Spring Breeze]

-Fwooosh!!! -KABOOM!!

The spell struck Serena directly, unleashing a deafening blast.

“Please… let this be the end…!”

To be honest, when she first proposed the duel, Flora had been confident.

“Lady Riel never specialized in combat magic.”

Meanwhile, as the princess, Flora had trained in countless combat spells for self-defense.

She knew it was unfair.

But she couldn’t let it go.

She didn’t know why.

It was just… the first time she’d ever felt this way.

This desperate desire for someone to stay in front of her.

That’s why she didn’t understand—

-Fssst…

When Serena emerged unscathed from her strongest attack—

What the emotion welling inside her was.

“Ha, haha…”

Serena was fine.

Just as she had been at the start.

The only difference? A little dust on her clothes.

She had blocked every single spell the Imperial Princess threw at her—

With nothing but mana barriers and evasive maneuvers.

Realizing this—

Something surged in Flora’s chest.

“What is this feeling?”

Was it envy?

Sorrow?

Frustration?

Despair?

“None of those.”

Only now could she name her own emotion.

“Admiration.”

I’ve…

Been admiring you.

From the depths of my heart.

I want to be you.

I want to catch up to you.

No.

I want…

To walk beside you.

As she stood there dazed—

Serena’s worried voice reached her ears.

“…Your Highness.”

Only then did Flora truly see Serena’s face.

It was filled with emotions.

Embarrassment.

Guilt.

And… concern?

“Ah.”

Flora finally realized her own state.

Her body, long since drained of mana, trembled violently.

Her clothes were drenched in sweat.

And her face—

Tears streamed uncontrollably, her lips twisted between a smile and a sob.

Assessing her condition, a hollow laugh escaped her.

-Hah, hah…

“How pathetic.”

I’m the Imperial Princess.

Looking around, she noticed a black curtain had been erected around the dueling grounds.

Likely Rachel’s doing, to preserve the princess’s dignity.

Serena spoke to the collapsed Flora.

“Your Highness. Surrender.”

“Surrender…?”

“Yes. You can’t… keep pushing yourself.”

Pushing.

Pushing myself.

I have been pushing.

But at what?

Dreaming of becoming the continent’s greatest mage?

Aiming to rival Lady Riel?

Forcing an unwilling opponent into this duel?

“I’ve pushed too far.”

Flora closed her eyes, lifting her head.

Then slowly, deeply, she took a breath.

-Inhale… -Exhale…

After steadying herself, she spoke.

“Flora Lorientes… surrenders.”

With her declaration—

The curtain lifted, and mages rushed in.

The duel was over.