episode_0141

“How’s the research coming along?”

“Haha-! It’s going well. Thanks to the materials you provided.”

Leonardo adjusted his magnificent beard with his hand, leaning back in his chair and gazing out the window.

“The number of formulas I’ve considered is surprisingly large. Still… knowing that my past failures will simultaneously become a stepping stone to success—”

Seeing him pretending to be cheerful and energetic,

I realized his physical condition wasn’t so good.

Of course, he’s not one to lie about his research results.

We have a kind of contractual relationship with mutual goals, and he’s always been sincere about magic.

The research is definitely progressing smoothly.

However, Leonardo was overworking himself.

He probably intended to hide it with a mobile whiteboard or cloth, but through the gaps, I could see research materials piled up like winter snow.

Enough to take a full month just to read through it all.

Considering that I spent my childhood traveling the world with my adventurer mother, there was no way he, at his age, could maintain decent condition while doing such intense all-nighters.

But what good would it do to pry into something he’s trying to hide?

I decided to subtly change the subject.

“Did you hear about the recent Academy incident?”

“Yes… yes, I did. Thanks to your efforts with the Knights’ Order, there weren’t any major casualties… phew-”

Honestly, you shouldn’t expect humanity from mages.

Socially and politely, I mentioned the casualties first… but there’s something more important.

The academic materials of ‘Pure Mana Studies,’ proposed by my mother and established by Leonardo.

Even I feel the loss more painful than bloodshed, so how must he feel, having experienced that era and situation firsthand?

It would hurt less to poke his eyes with a red-hot skewer.

As I watched Leonardo with a profoundly sad expression,

I wondered if my thoughts were a little off.

“Because of that, our adorable, kawaii-kyute Emil hasn’t even come home lately—”

“Yes, yes- I did meet him.”

“Kuhk- you met our Emil?!”

Fortunately, perhaps, having already adapted to his new life and found a new purpose, he seemed to feel less pain from the loss of the research materials.

So, before his daughter boasting began, I preemptively started talking about Professor Rhys.

Something that would pique his interest.

If I had just listened quietly, I might have had to spend the night here.

“Actually, following my mother’s teachings, I discovered a substance called mana superconductor and gave some to Professor Rhys.”

“Ah, yes- I know! I know- that’s when our Emil wore such an angelic smile—”

“Anyway, so-”

I brought up the story of how his materials were also stolen this time, and he apologized profusely, looking exactly like her.

It was Leonardo, the lord of the magic tower, apologizing profusely with the same expression and posture as her.

Through that little incident, I finished the ‘Emil allocation’ and brought up a few things I needed to know.

One was about Lulu.

“Yes- no, yes-? Where… did she go…?”

“The Holy Kingdom. She went there a month ago because the World Magic Conference is being held there…”

So that’s why I couldn’t reach her.

Anyway, she’s hard to see these days.

No news is good news, and since I got both no news and good news at the same time, I told myself it was a good thing. I didn’t want to cling to someone who was finally setting off on their own path.

Even commissioning the Academy’s security this time… I wondered if it was overkill, considering our Knights’ Order’s strength.

So.

If I could just help them once, when they really need it, that would be more than enough.

It’s not polite to keep a tired person talking for too long, so I handed him a box and got up.

“This is-?”

“Tea. I’ve been interested in tea lately, and this is a blend I made myself, so please try it.”

“My, my, this is something—”

As I reached towards the Filbrogue Barony, searching for the coordinates of the teleportation formula,

Leonardo, as if something had occurred to him, smiled brightly and said,

“Come to think of it… Lea liked tea too.”

Instead of answering, I made the instinctive expression my mother used to, and left the magic tower.

And it was so similar to the expression my mother used to make, that a few tears welled up in Leonardo’s eyes at the last moment.

. . .

The next day.

I put on a dress for the first time in a while and went home.

Putting everything else aside, I went to meet my father after a long time, showering him with every affectionate expression possible.

It’s a perfectly natural thing.

Unless that father happened to be the king of a country.

“Kuhk… Narita-”

“Your Majesty-!!”

My father, overwhelmed by his beloved daughter’s heartfelt affection, fainted on the throne, his age finally catching up to him.

“If something like this might happen, why wouldn’t you give me a little heads-up…? At my age, the mere mention of such terrible things makes me jump and my heart feels like its going to fall out…”

Unable to bear watching him barely clinging to the armrest, the soldiers rushed forward to support him wholeheartedly.

“Hey… to deceive the enemy, you have to deceive your allies first, right? This is a trap we laid to lure them in, so if we leak too much information—”

“Yes, after hearing the post-incident report, I fully understand… I understand, but… if you’d just given me a little warning, ah—”

My father fainted repeatedly, overcome with joy at the long-awaited emotional reunion.

Seeing my family’s poor health breaks my heart.

So, I gently pushed forward the small box I brought.

My father asked what it was, and I replied, tea.

“I’ve been taking up tea making as a hobby recently, and I’ve personally blended this tea with effects for mental and physical restoration.”

“You’ve finally picked up a girlish hobby-”

“What do you mean?”

“Ahem- Nevermind…”

Oh, no, this won’t do.

I almost snapped at the King just then.

I sent the box to the head chef by the hand of a soldier. He’ll probably be surprised and ask me for the tea recipe, as his experimental nature wouldn’t let him leave it alone. It is a unique product after all.

Enough chatter.

I knelt down properly, bowed my head and politely asked for the floor.

“Speak.”

“That being said- I am truly sorry for acting as I did, your Grace, I sincerely regret it.”

“It’s fine…if you feel that way.The outcome was fine and the damage wasn’t considerable—”

Suddenly-

-With great conviction, yet modestly respectful, I raised my hand,

carefully interrupting His Majesty’s words.

“I wanted to speak about that matter…”

“Go ahead, tell me everything… don’t worry about my reaction…”

In a moment of resignation, he released his clasped hands and sat comfortably back on the throne.

“Since I undertook this matter alone, I would humbly like to entrust the conclusion to this girl.”

“…I hear that the mastermind behind this is the Empire’s dark side. We can’t avoid the political conflict, and that which the First Prince has stepped into-”

They are Moriarity, Acastos’ strongest and most vicious villains. It is not something that can be wiped out with a simple mission.

“I daresay, this delegation by Evans-hyung will not achieve the desired outcome. At best, they will condemn an innocent noble as the mastermind.”

“Is there any point to delve deeper…?”

“I dare say it is impossible. Those bandits have already fabricated a web of lies, so tight that not even an ant can slip through.”

A groan came from above my head.

I feel the same way.

What good is cutting off the arm wielding the sword?

The head is still alive and well, obviously planning to wield another arm.

Therefore, we must not show any further hostile movements now.

“To ultimately and decisively sever that head… for the time being, we must strengthen our national power instead of keeping up the offensive.”

“…Your words are correct. And, I know. That you are the most qualified to handle this matter.”

“That is too much praise.”

Having perfectly sweetened my tongue, I spilled everything before everyone.

As a result, I obtained not only command of the Knights Order, but also exclusive operational rights against the Empire and .

That’s the power of a special morning blend of royal tea!

Oh, Narita’s special blend of tea!

Order now, one gold coin per kilogram, cheaper than a hotel room!

With a single bow, I reaped countless rewards and opened the doors of the audience chamber with a bright step.

Aspy, who accompanied me, greeted me with a proper posture.

“Regarding our relationship…”

“Ah, I’ve already told them. That you belong to the Knights’ Order. Thus, you naturally belong to me.”

It sounds like something you’d only hear in a slave trade market. Nonetheless, she blushed, happily following me at a brisk pace.

“Heehee- When can I offer my body again?”

“Well…I have a reservation today, so maybe tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?”

“Unngh… You’re teasing me. If you continue like that, I’ll have to engrave Your Highness’ name on my sword hilt—”

Well, some people may not understand just by words.

Before the door to the audience chamber fully closed, I grabbed Aspy’s chin and kissed her.

“Woop—”

“Just kidding. Shall we go to my room right now?”

I picked up Aspy in her full armor, carrying her like a princess, and headed towards my room, which I hadn’t used in a while.

“…Yes.”

It might have been my imagination, but her pupils had turned into pink hearts.

. . .

Returning to the Academy after having a good time.

Thanks to the help of everyone, it’s been restored to its former peaceful state.

And to prove that the peace isn’t just superficial.

The Academy proclaimed once more with the new morning.

“Putting the horrible days behind us, we will resume the suspended final exam competition—!!”