The prince reflexively wrapped himself in magic, his eyes widening in recognition of the figure before him. His tension melted away, replaced by a look of confusion, as he hurried toward the boy standing against the door.
“Kai!?”
It was none other than Kai, the servant of the rumored girl, Leonora.
“What’s going on? Shouldn’t you be in Elrand with Leonora?”
“My apologies for the sudden intrusion, Your Highness. Please forgive me…”
“Never mind that. Tell me what’s happened.”
With Kai gasping for breath, the prince frowned and half-carried him inside. Oscar, who already knew Kai, and the friendly Rolf both looked at Kai with concern and offered him some cooling tea. Kai, however, pushed the cup away.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I came here in haste to report my master’s dire situation…”
“What!?”
The prince’s face tightened in an instant. He leaned closer to Kai, shaking him with urgency.
“What do you mean? Has something happened to Leonora? The Snow Songbird hasn’t left!”
“The Snow Songbird is kept indoors to avoid the sun, my master said. It only flies in moments of clear danger. My master may not see his current situation as a crisis, but I…I can’t bear it any longer!”
Kai shivered, detailing the events that had transpired. Leonora, dressed in rags and forced to endure awful conditions from the moment they arrived at the temple, was subjected to mistreatment at every turn: foul meals, long walks under the harsh sun, verbal abuse, and more. She remained resilient through it all, yet Kai’s heart ached for her plight.
“This is outrageous.”
“Such trials may be expected, but the treatment my master received is beyond any limit. I feared for the outcome of the impending ritual… I entrusted Leonora’s protection in Elrand to the knights, but I knew I must reach you without delay.”
Kai explained that he had raced on horseback to reach the border and then relied on transportation magic, though he lacked experience, to arrive in Richert. The exhaustion was evident on his face.
“I informed the marquess of the situation, and he considered mobilizing the entire order of knights. However, his anger drew the emperor’s attention, and he is currently unable to act.”
“I see.”
The prince nodded, acknowledging the delicate situation. Since Leonora was an envoy from the empire, any complaints about her treatment should have come from the emperor, not her relatives. The marquess’s intention to mobilize forces on his own was a breach of protocol.
“Protests from the empire on behalf of someone who isn’t even your official fiancée would be contentious and time-consuming…”
“That’s why I came to you, Your Highness.”
Kai hoped the prince could provide some intervention to protect Leonora from further harm. The prince pondered the situation briefly, his hand resting on his chin.
The beautiful Leonora was potentially vulnerable to attackers during her travels, which is why precautions had been taken. Once she entered the temple, the risk diminished, but no one anticipated the host country would mistreat her.
“The head of the knights believes Elrand is intentionally provoking Weitz, hence the importance of restraining military action. But if something happens to my master, it will be too late!”
Kai’s plea echoed in the room. Oscar, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
“Kai, you’re asking a lot from him. He doesn’t have the authority to lodge an official complaint, nor the means to mobilize military forces. Yet you’re expecting him to protect Leonora without these resources?”
“Yes, but I believe the prince can find a way…”
Kai’s hope was met with Oscar’s scrutiny. Kai understood his request was significant, but Leonora’s safety was his priority.
Oscar knew the prince would want to help, but it wouldn’t be easy given the constraints. His understanding of the political implications had grown, and he didn’t want to see the prince suffer any repercussions.
“I can’t abandon Lady Leonora…”
“Kai.”
Kai, on the verge of tears, turned to the prince for guidance.
“Understood. Let’s go to Elrand,” Albert said.
“Oscar?”
Oscar was the one who seemed surprised. His sharp features hardened with astonishment as he stared intently at his younger friend.
“Hey, do you realize what you’re saying? If an imperial prince with magical powers barges into Elrand during the Contract Festival, it will be seen as an insult to Elrand. I hate to say it, but Leonora wasn’t physically harmed, and it could be viewed as excessive self-defense.”
“Is that so?” Despite the hesitation in Oscar’s words, Albert remained composed.
“Given her situation, she has suffered enough. All of it—everything she’s gone through—reignites her painful memories of the past.”
“That’s true, but… you’ve put a gag order in place to prevent other countries from learning about her past, right? That reasoning won’t hold in Elrand. If you overstep your authority not only in the military but also in diplomacy, even you—”
“Oscar, senior.” Albert raised an amused eyebrow at Oscar’s persistence.
“You seem to go easy on anyone you’ve taken under your wing. I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s no need to worry.” He flicked his hand, which had been resting on his chin moments before.
Albert smiled and spoke in his usual melodic tone. “If a Snow Songbird were to fly in, I would have set aside my princely title and rushed to Leonora’s side. Admittedly, since my judgment wasn’t triggered, I had some doubts.”
“What?” Oscar was at a loss for words at Albert’s casual mention of abandoning his royal status.
Albert’s radiant smile remained undiminished. “After the Spirit Festival, I decided to abandon the notion of being the ‘perfect prince.’ As long as I remain a prince, I’ll strive to be the best ruler. But there’s no need for me to stay a prince forever. I mustn’t misplace my priorities.”
Albert’s smooth voice carried an undercurrent of determined resolve. He pulled out the pouch Oscar had just given him and played with the silver coins in his palm.
“Of course, as a foolish prince, I won’t recklessly wield my magic in Elrand. If my father noticed, I would be detained, just like the marquis.”
“So, what will you do?” Rolf, who had been listening, tilted his fox-like face in confusion. Albert smiled gently at him.
“Senior, we had a lot of fun together today, didn’t we?”
“Huh?”
“We were able to enjoy ourselves without interruption, had a great time, and your stories about the Contract Festival made me want to visit Elrand incognito.”
“Wait, what?” Rolf’s response was incredulous.
Kai wasn’t present, but Albert hinted that he was going to Elrand not because of a girl’s distress, but because he wanted to.
“If an imperial prince with magical powers barged into Elrand during the Contract Festival, it would be a national disgrace. But if a somewhat skilled martial artist without magical abilities simply goes sightseeing in the lively festival of Elrand, what’s the harm? This person may not hold power, but he can still act as a shield for the girl. Besides, the people of Elrand are known for their hospitality and might offer some accommodations.”
Oscar and the others were speechless at Albert’s audacious plan. Entering Elrand as a regular person, staying vigilant for the girl’s safety, and making informal moves as necessary seemed a wise strategy.
“I admit it’s smarter than confronting them head-on, but how will you physically reach her? Even if you teleport to the border, you can’t use magic within Elrand. Hiding your princely status would prevent you from using royal transportation.”
Albert smiled and tilted his head.
“Senior, how can you, a Bernstein Trading Company heir, say that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll use civilian transportation when needed.” Albert flicked a silver coin in his hand and offered it to Oscar.
“The renowned Bernstein Trading Company has a more efficient transportation network than the royal one, with ample replacement horses and local guides who know every shortcut. I’d like to buy that service.”
Oscar was momentarily stunned before he burst into laughter.
“An imperial prince relying on the connections of a mere merchant? Using money instead of power or magic to solve the situation? This is rich!”
The imperial family were descendants of dragons, possessing immense magical power and authority. Albert’s willingness to rely on wealth was unprecedented.
“Ah, this is amusing! No one has ever seen an imperial family member do this before!”
Oscar couldn’t hold back his laughter as Albert casually shrugged.
“Did you not know? I’m not the chosen one of the Holy Grail or the Sword; I was given the Dragon Sigil of gold coins. I’m the Gold Coin King.”
Albert spoke with confidence, his face no longer showing any traces of doubt or worry. Instead, his fair, handsome face now bore a sense of adventure and pride, as he smiled gently.
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