episode_0039

It was late at night when John was finally able to return to the Perbace mansion after completing his mission.

The small street festival of the commoners went on longer than expected, and the mission ended with taking Rudel to the Topaz Palace.

When I returned to the mansion, the butler and servants were waiting in line even though it was late at night.

“Are you here, Harsen Youngshik?”

“What are we all gathered here for?”

John tilted his head. Even if there was a butler, it was unusual for servants to line up and wait for him.

“The princess is waiting.”

“The Princess?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go right now.”

John nodded once and went upstairs, entering the guest room of the mansion that was now his room.

Click.

Francia sat cautiously on the edge of the bed. Her deep, even breathing echoed through the room as her hair swayed under the dim lamplight.

Although she was tired from the long wait, her hands were still clasped together. Even in her sleep, she seemed to be tense as she prepared to greet John.

“Francia?”

“Yes, net?”

Francia, who had been nodding her head and shaking her hair, opened her eyes. Her face was tired from waiting, but she couldn’t hide the joy in her eyes.

“Ah, John. You’re here.”

“I came right away because you said you were waiting.”

“That’s right. I’ve been waiting.”

Francia smiled awkwardly and patted the seat next to her with her hand. Johan sat down next to her without question.

“Did you know that today is harvest day and there is a festival on Hwangdo Street?”

“I know.”

“I heard there were fireworks, so I waited to go, but John’s mission ended late… … .”

Her expression was filled with regret. Judging from the fact that she stayed up late and waited, she must have really wanted to go to the festival.

“… I’m sorry.”

John offered a brief apology, but his feelings were complicated. No matter how much he had done it in the name of mission, the fact that he had left her lonely remained unchanged.

“It’s not John’s fault. It was a mission.”

Francia pouted her lips. Even though she said it that way, she still looked regretful, so Johan slowly stroked her head.

“There are many festivals coming up. We don’t have a limited amount of time to spend together like this. We can go next time.”

Even if it wasn’t right now, there was still plenty of time left for her to spend with him in the future. Duke Pervace had also given her permission to date him.

“Huh, that’s right. We have a lot of time left.”

She smiled brightly, the corners of her lips raised, as if she was pleased by John’s words.

But perhaps because he liked the touch of her head, he closed the distance even further.

John’s fingers gently pressed against her scalp. Francia’s shoulders slowly slumped.

There was a relaxed calmness on her face, a sense of trust and comfort.

John focused more on the small comfort he could give her.

“Whoa… … . I think Yohan is really good at scalp massages.”

Perhaps because it was a massage given when the patient was tired, the face that looked like it would fall asleep at any moment and the blurry, relaxed eyes were impressive.

“Isn’t it because it’s a hand full of love?”

John laughed lightly.

“Ugh. It’s difficult for you to come in like that when I’m relaxed like this. I don’t know how to react… … .”

Francia bashfully pulled her hair to the side to hide her face. Johan, who thought she looked like a small animal, rubbed the back of her neck with his other hand.

“Whew… … .”

Then Francia’s entire body began to sag.

“So, am I not that good?”

“No way… … .”

“Then let’s continue.”

“Like.”

Francia let out her characteristic, hoarse laugh and rested her head on Johan’s chest, entrusting herself to him.

“I know that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you go to the festival with Lady Bismark?”

“… … .”

John’s body froze. How did he know? It’s unlikely that Fedelian would have told him. Francia hates him so much that she won’t continue the conversation.

“How did you know?”

“I just thought it would be like that.”

“I’m sorry.”

All Johan could do was apologize when he saw Francia smiling bitterly. He could make excuses later.

“It’s okay. It was a mission. I don’t really care.”

Her voice was hoarse as she said that. John was sure. Francia was not okay at all.

“Actually, there are circumstances.”

“What is it?”

“Lady Bismark is a pitiful person.”

“You feel sorry?”

“That’s… ….”

John told the story of Rudela Bismark’s life that he had heard in the cave. Francia nodded as she listened to his words calmly.

“So he told me to call him sometimes when he was taking a break, thinking it would be a good excuse.”

Even though he was complicatedly entangled with Rudela’s life, his feelings for Francia remained unchanged. The only reason he helped her was because he felt sorry for her.

“Then, John’s thoughts about Lady Bismark are not special feelings, but simple sympathy. Then I feel relieved.”

Francia placed a hand gently on John’s thigh, as if comforted by his words.

As her hands affectionately caressed his thigh, John gently wrapped his hand around the back of his hand.

Just that little touch made us feel like we were sharing each other’s warmth.

“What Francia is worried about won’t happen. I’m not easily shaken.”

“Haha, thank you for saying that.”

Francia smiled awkwardly and closed her eyes.

John thought as he slowly pressed his fingers against her warm skin.

In fact, it didn’t matter if Rudela Bismark had feelings for him.

It was a fate that could not be shared with her unless she gave up all the privileges she enjoyed by severing her family line.

The woman named Rudela Bismark was destined to become the crown princess.

So, the relationship between Rudela and Johan is one where they just lend a helping hand when needed.

It was nothing more, nothing less.

“Shall we go to sleep soon?”

“… … .”

Francia’s breathing was shallow as she was getting a scalp massage. She seemed to have fallen asleep due to exhaustion.

John slowly laid her down and pressed his lips to her forehead.

* * *

the next day.

John went to work as usual.

He spent time being greeted by friendly female officers and chatting with male officers who were kind to him.

As for work, all I had to do was write military-related documents in preparation for the possible war with Sanburg, so I had time to learn other magic.

“Are you studying hard?”

Francia spoke from the side, smiling brightly. She could see the neatly organized documents, as if she had just finished working.

“Because I told the Duke that I wanted to become a Transcendent Wizard.”

I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been able to focus, but I had to start now. The process of reaching the level of a Transcendent Wizard.

The level of a first-tier magician was not enough to keep in check the magic towers and small villains that one might encounter later.

“Um, I’m sorry for disturbing your studying hard.”

“No. Did Francia just finish work?”

“Yes. There are a lot of documents to process because it’s a mess internationally.”

Francia also had to deal with military-related documents. Although she was a non-combat wizard, she was also a top-class wizard.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Haha, this is nothing special.”

Francia put her hands on her waist with a proud expression. Johan, who thought she was cute, burst into laughter.

“Harsen Special Wizard. Are you busy right now?”

At that moment, an officer approached and called John. He turned his head from where he had been focused on Francia and looked straight ahead.

“No. What’s going on?”

“The captain called me.”

“… Again?”

Surely Rudella hasn’t given me another mission?

“Let’s go right away.”

“Yes.”

John got up from his seat, told Francia that he would be going, and headed to Fedelian’s office.

Click.

I opened the door and went in. Fedelian was sitting at his desk, processing paperwork with a dull expression on his face.

“Are you here?”

“Another designated mission?”

“That’s not it.”

Fedelian slowly put down the documents he was holding and met Johan’s gaze.

Although his face was still wrinkled, he was able to distinguish between public and private life as he played the role of the perfect crown prince to the outside world.

“There’s a special mission, you know. There’s a report that a den has appeared in a village in the west of the empire.”

The cave appears without any warning. There is a hypothesis that it is created by mana that has been corrupted by negative energy, but nothing has been clearly proven.

“Magul… … is it?”

“That’s right.”

John’s expression hardened with a trembling face. As a special magician, he could not avoid special missions.

‘I think he’ll do something weird again then.’

Even though I tied Fedelian and Cassis’s feet, I couldn’t guarantee that they wouldn’t do something bad. They both have a bit of a quirky disposition.

He will certainly do bad things without being noticed by the Grand Duke and the Emperor.

“Am I going alone?”

“I’ll go with the civil servant’s articles.”

Fedelian looked around the corner of the desk where papers were piled up, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Johan.

“Read it.”

John took the paper from him and examined its contents.

There is a story about a place believed to be a cave discovered in a village near the territory of the Count Ekarsi family in the west of the empire.

Naturally, the villagers who discovered him reported it to the Count, and Count Ekarsi requested the public servants to reconnoiter and confirm it.

“It’s just a simple check, so it’ll be simple.”

“When is the date?”

“The sooner the better. Let’s go right away.”

“Okay.”

After exchanging polite greetings, John left the office. When he returned to his seat, Francia looked puzzled.

“What’s going on?”

“A special mission has been assigned.”

“Special mission?”

“A den has been discovered in the Ekarsi territory, west of the Empire. Your mission is to check it out.”

“… Is it a cave?”

As soon as she heard the word ‘magul’, Francia’s face darkened visibly. She knew too. What could happen there?

“Don’t worry too much. What Francia is worried about won’t happen.”

“Still… … .”

Francia pursed her lips in worry. She had no idea what Cassis and Fedelian might do, and she couldn’t do anything about it.

Even though she knew future knowledge, it wasn’t something she could use right away unless she found something like an artifact.

“It’ll be okay.”

Reading Francia’s expression, Johan smiled and patted her head.

Francia seemed to like the touch and obediently offered her head so that Johan could stroke her comfortably.

“When is the date?”

“From today.”

“That fast…?”

“The sooner you find the cave, the easier it is to manage.”

A den is like a cancerous mass. If it is not discovered and managed early, the number of demons will increase without stopping.

Francia said, her expression hardening.

“Please keep the pendant and jewels I gave you.”

“I know.”

John smiled again and reassured her. Francia’s stiff face relaxed for a moment at his affectionate smile.

“Then, I’ll be right back.”

It was possible that Cassis and Fedelian might have been scheming, but Johan was confident.

No matter what they plan, I am confident that I can completely overcome it.