After looking at the quiet bushes, Casey emerged with leaves hanging from her hair.
"Really impressive acting, Master."
"This is just normal."
"I was about to step in if necessary, but I'm a bit disappointed that it wasn't needed. It would have been a chance to show you my cool side."
I was also a bit disappointed, as I was curious about Casey's combat skills, which were said to be excellent despite being a mage.
"But they didn't really touch me. It seems Rayvid's goal was solely the Essence of the World Tree."
"Hmm. I think there was another reason."
"What do you mean?"
"How could anyone lay a hand on Master, who is so incredibly cute and adorable? It's absurd! There's no way anyone could do that."
It seems Casey has a serious case of rose-colored glasses.
"Casey, are you taking a walk? Make sure to eat three meals a day and do some light exercise occasionally..."
"I'm very healthy, you know?"
"No, you've been stuck in the lab for too long. Casey, you're rotting."
"I'm fresh as a daisy."
To think someone could become so haggard, I even wondered if I had made a mistake by setting up the lab.
"So, Casey, how's the research going? Did you make everything I asked for?"
"I brought the prototype after receiving the message that you would come today."
I took the box Casey proudly handed over. Inside, two flat gems with engraved magic arrays lay side by side.
"These are communication magic tools. Due to a lack of materials, they can only communicate over short distances. The only place to get the necessary materials, phorint, is the Devlin Empire. I could only obtain a small amount through the dark market."
"Ugh. Devlin again?"
"Devlin has a lot of the materials. It's almost a monopoly. They didn't become a magic nation for nothing. Historically, they have a bad relationship with the Ermanno Empire, so there's no exchange."
No wonder I thought it was strange that there were no communication artifacts in a world where magic exists. It turns out Devlin has a monopoly.
'That's one more reason to crush Devlin.'
I'll take everything and make the Ermanno Empire prosperous. As I chuckled to myself, Casey asked casually,
"Will you share this with the public, Master?"
"Yeah. I need to contact them quickly. But what's with that awkward title?"
"There are two Masters, so I don't know what to call you."
"Call Eidan Master."
"What about the real Master?"
"Call me whatever you want, as long as it doesn't reveal my identity."
"Alright, Miss."
Casey called me with a casual air, as if she had been waiting for it. I looked at her in disbelief, and she shrugged confidently.
"The other magic tools you mentioned are currently in development. They are all so interesting, I can't even describe how fun it is. Can I contact you with the communication magic tool when they're done?"
"Sure. Don't worry about the research budget, just request as much as you need."
"Your boldness is refreshing. ...Oh, by the way, what about that man Rayvid? Should we just let him go? What if he reveals your true identity?"
"Initially, I let him escape to find out if he has any accomplices, but he seems to be just a lackey. Anyway, he won't be able to cross the Devlin border. I've already contacted Eidan."
"Haha, you're thorough..."
Casey laughed, seemingly impressed. She suddenly looked up at the sky, which had turned dark.
"Is it okay to be away for so long? You are the princess, after all."
"It's fine. I pretended to be having a lesson with Franz!"
***
'...Franz.'
I entered the royal palace through the hole Eidan made. I immediately ran into trouble. I was a fool to trust Franz!
"Ouch..."
It seemed my brief absence from the palace had been noticed, and the entire palace was in an uproar. I was caught by a soldier on patrol and followed him like a criminal, trying to come up with excuses.
'I wasn't planning to get caught.'
What an incompetent Franz. I had slipped out during a security lapse under the pretext of a supplementary lesson, but now I could see a bleak future where sneaking out would be much harder. At the very least, I shouldn't have been caught outside the palace.
'If Dad finds out, he might lock me up...'
I returned to my bedroom with a pounding heart. There, Dad, Oscar, Lysandro, the nanny, Larima, and Xavier were all gathered. Franz was standing with his head bowed, receiving Dad's stern gaze.
"...Mabel!"
Dad rushed over and enveloped me in his arms. His face was pale, and I could tell something had happened during my brief absence.
"You just disappeared! Do you know how worried I was?!"
Dad, holding my shoulders, shouted with a white face.
"I'm sorry."
I was taken aback by his anger.
"Where were you without any guards?! What if something happened?! What were you thinking?!"
I knew it was Dad, but my body reacted first.
'...Again.'
I thought I had completely forgotten the image of my father from my previous life, who would yell and shake me by the collar.
"You damn brat. You lie as soon as you open your mouth!"
"Yun Gyeul. You need to be beaten to come to your senses."
My mind went blank.
"I'm sorry..."
"...Mabel?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
I held his trembling hand and begged for forgiveness. It would reduce the beating. If I ever talked back, I would be bruised all over.
"...Mabel. Why are you shaking like this?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"Mabel. Mabel?"
I knew someone was calling me, but I couldn't hear anything. I was still Yun Gyeul, poor and timid.
"Your Majesty, something seems wrong with Mabel."
"Mabel, calm down. Did my shouting scare you? Don't worry."
I heard their voices. As the loud voice subsided and a gentle voice soothed me, my heart gradually calmed down. When I finally opened my tightly shut eyes, I saw Dad's worried face looking at me.
"...Dad."
"Yes, it's Dad. I'm sorry for scaring you, Mabel."
Even though I was the one who had suddenly disappeared and frightened everyone, Dad was the one who apologized.
'Foolish Mabel. You're not Yun Gyeul anymore.'
I had caused everyone worry and even showed a shameful side.
"I'm sorry to everyone. I was playing hide-and-seek with Yang and fell asleep."
"Why did you go out without guards, Mabel?"
Dad's voice was gentle, perhaps worried that I might be startled again.
"Hide-and-seek has to be a secret..."
"Still, always take guards with you. No matter how fun hide-and-seek is, the most important thing is your safety, Mabel."
"Okay... I understand."
Dad's expression softened as I nodded silently. It seemed my brief disappearance was coming to a good end. ***
After confirming that Mabel was asleep, Esteban left the bedroom. Outside, the soldier who had first found Mabel was waiting.
"You have something to report."
"Yes, we found a small hole in the wall."
"A hole?"
"Yes. It seems the princess used it to leave the palace."
"...Mabel was outside the palace?"
"Yes. There were signs of recent use. The hole is small, allowing only children to pass through."
Mabel had said she fell asleep while playing hide-and-seek with Yang.
'But we searched the palace thoroughly and found no trace of Mabel.'
This confirmed the soldier's report. However, since no one had seen her enter or leave, Esteban didn't jump to conclusions.
"Let's keep an eye on things for now. Don't let this story leak to anyone else."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
"If it does, you'll have to take responsibility."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After ensuring the soldier's silence, Esteban returned to his bedroom. He couldn't focus on his paperwork.
'Mabel is strange.'
He had felt something odd about Mabel since she was very young. Today was no different.
'What is making my child so afraid?'
Esteban recognized the nature of Mabel's behavior. It was fear, deep-seated and impossible to shake off. He had seen such fear in people on the battlefield.
'How could a child who has rarely left the palace know such fear?'
Until now, he had thought it would be fine, but he realized it couldn't be left unchecked. For his own sake and for the sake of his beloved child. ***
"Caw-!"
A crow perched on Eidan's arm after circling in the air. Eidan untied the note from the bird's leg.
"Caw!"
Perhaps a new recruit who didn't know Eidan's temperament, the crow cawed for food.
"Be gone."
"Caw...?"
A moment later, the crow flew away in fright as black energy swirled around Eidan. Eidan, ignoring the crow's mournful cries, unfolded the note from Mabel.
'A spy from Devlin.'
This time, it seemed Devlin was trying to recruit Ermanno's people rather than planting their own agents. Eidan, annoyed, carefully stored the note and changed direction. The crow, which had come to inform Eidan of Rayvid's location at Mabel's request, circled mournfully and flew above Eidan's head.