𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗: 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞
(. . .)
Now, three days have passed since the shocking statement from His Highness.
I’ve been restless ever since.
His Highness said he couldn’t stay with me as things are now, and our daily training behind the second school building suddenly came to an end.
To begin with, do I like His Highness?
His face is very handsome. He’s so strikingly beautiful that it’s mesmerizing. His legs are long, he’s tall, and he’s really cool.
And, although he has a disrespectful attitude, he’s kind.
When I see His Highness showing a soft, small smile, my heart warms up.
. . .Is this what it means to like someone?
I still don’t know.
I’m very lonely right now.
It’s only been three days, and I haven’t seen him. I can’t help but think that I might never see His Highness again.
I just want to see His Highness soon. That’s what I thought.
――Jingling.
At the sound I’m familiar with, I quickly lift my head.
“. . .”
“. . .Your Highness.”
Even if I don’t see his face, I know who’s come. It’s His Highness. He’s the only one who makes such a jingling sound.
His Highness was looking at me with his usual disrespectful expression.
“You, you’re still coming here.”
“Well, Your Highness.”
“Hmph, it’s a whim. I’ve been coming here long before you.”
Saying that, His Highness turned his face away and walked off.
・・・
『”𝘼𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨.𝙘𝙤𝙢” – 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 “𝙙𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨” 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙤 “𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨”.』
・・・
But then, another day.
When I was aimlessly wandering behind the second school building, His Highness was there again.
The moment our eyes met, the Evil-Banishing Items under His Highness’s cloak burst with a bang!
“Your charm magic control training doesn’t seem to be progressing, does it?”
“Uh. . . I’m working on it. . .”
While I was squeezing out an awkward voice, the Evil-Banishing Items were bursting with a bang!
――Is my charm magic (targeting only those who like His Highness) that strong?
I was puzzled.
However, while I was puzzled, the Evil-Banishing Items continued to explode, so I quickly disappeared from His Highness’s sight, saying “Excuse me!”
Yet another day.
Habit is a scary thing, and when I’m spacing out, I end up going behind the second school building. His Highness wasn’t there yet today, so while I was meditating for magic control training, sitting on a conveniently growing stump, I heard a jingling. . . bang! A sound indicating a certain person, and I regained consciousness.
“. . .I disturbed you.”
When our eyes met, His Highness hurriedly tried to leave.
(. . .Does His Highness have nothing else to do but come here?)
I couldn’t help but think such a disrespectful thing. Isn’t His Highness a very busy person? I was puzzled about this point as well.
After all, His Highness is a person with a noble purpose of finding a bride, a candidate for princess, at this school. Now, it seems that I can’t control my charm magic only for His Highness, but instead. . . or rather, I’m not doing any harm to anyone other than His Highness, so there should be nothing to hinder His Highness’s bride search now.
“By the way, Your Highness! How’s the bride search going?”
“Shut up! It’s going slowly!”
When I asked the departing back, a loud reply came back, making a jingling sound.
Yet another day.
Well, it’s a foregone conclusion, but. . .
When I go behind the second school building, I run into His Highness. I met him again today.
His Highness, under his cloak, pointed his index finger at me, making a lively explosion sound as usual.
“You make me run out of Evil-Banishing Items when you’re around! My crisis isn’t just your charm! Hold back!”
“Your Highness! But, but, but, the reason Your Highness’s Evil-Banishing Items are exploding so much! You say it’s like my charm magic is causing all the trouble, but isn’t it also because you get excited when you’re with me?!”
“Shut up! That’s part of it!”
“Kyaaaa!!!”
I drew out His Highness’s bombshell statement and screamed, turning bright red. His Highness’s face was also red. The Evil-Banishing Items exploded again.
I ran away as I was that day.
・・・
『”𝐴𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠.𝑐𝑜𝑚” – 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑎 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒, 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ “𝑑𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑢𝑝𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠” 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡𝑜 “𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠”.』
・・・
Well, needless to say, His Highness is or will be behind the second school building.
So, I ran into His Highness again today.
“. . .You, you’re here again without learning your lesson.”
“But. . . Your Highness.”
We glance sideways at each other. The sound of the Evil-Banishing Item bursting fills the awkward silence.
“. . .This is a place where I’ve worked hard with Your Highness. My feet just naturally lead me here. And when they do, Your Highness is here.”
“. . .Ah, really. . .”
His Highness ruffles his magnificent golden hair. It’s an unusual gesture for him, who is always arrogant yet elegant (though flashy).
From the sound of His Highness’s cloak rustling, it’s clear that my special training to control my charm magic against His Highness has so far been completely ineffective.
Even though the other students and teachers seem to be completely fine.
Why does this only happen with His Highness?
(. . .Is it because I like His Highness?)
When was it? His Highness said that charm magic is more effective if the caster already has positive feelings for the person.
According to that logic, His Highness must at least not dislike me.
. . .But.
(But, His Highness. . . must find a suitable princess. . .)
I don’t think I’m that person. I’m just a nouveau riche Baron’s daughter who bought her title with money.
Even if His Highness has a shred of affection for me, he would never choose me.
(I can’t stay like this forever. . .)
When I thought I might never see His Highness again, I felt truly lonely. And my determination to face His Highness again was real.
But when I found out that I could meet His Highness if I came to the back of the second school building, I was easily pleased. I indulged in this situation.
I have two options.
One is to never see His Highness again. If I do that, at least the only connection I have with His Highness, who is the only one affected by my charm magic, will be gone. His Highness can focus on finding a wife. And he will rule this country prosperously with his wonderful chosen wife. It’s a happy ending.
. . .But, if I fall in love with someone other than His Highness, I might unconsciously activate my charm magic on that person.
The other is to master my magic control technique so that I don’t accidentally unleash my charm magic on His Highness.
(. . .I. . .)
Even if I put aside my romantic feelings, I admire His Highness. I don’t want to never see His Highness again, or not be able to talk to him. I think that once I graduate from the academy, my connection with His Highness, I, who is just a nouveau riche daughter, will be over, but at least while I’m at this academy, I want to meet and talk to His Highness normally.
I’m sure I’ll fall in love with someone someday. I don’t want to accidentally activate my charm magic on that person without realizing it.
In that case, there’s only one path for me to choose.
“. . .Your Highness. I have a favor to ask.”
The cold wind blows between me and His Highness, rustling the fallen leaves.
・・・
『”𝓐𝔀𝓮𝓫𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼.𝓬𝓸𝓶” – 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓬𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓪 𝓬𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮, 𝓹𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓭𝓿𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮, 𝔀𝓱e𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓾𝓵𝓰𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓪 𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵𝓼 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 “𝓭𝓪𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓾𝓹𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓼” 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓬𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓽𝓸 “𝓪𝓭𝓿𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼”.』
・・・
――And so, I stepped into that place again.
“. . .I see. The seal on that box, once again. . .”
“Yes. I’ve trained a lot since then! I won’t waste my efforts anymore!”
Chief Priest Zilva-sama lowered his eyes and nodded deeply.
This time, I will unlock that box and master the charm magic!
(. . .I might still be lacking in power. . .)
Because I still can’t control my charm magic against His Highness.
If I’m going to unlock that box, I might need to be a powerful person who can control my magic even against His Highness.
(But, I. . . won’t go home until I unlock this box!)
I was determined.
When I said I wanted to challenge the seal of the charm magic again, His Highness said “I understand.” with just one word. And although it might have been just my imagination, he seemed to be smiling in support of my challenge.
By the way, the Evil-Banishing Items that don’t read the atmosphere were exploding at that time too.
His Highness has always been watching over me. He patiently trained me in magic control. So, there’s no way I can’t do it.
Because His Highness, who has been watching me, is an amazing person!
◆
◆
And so, after how many hours, no, how many days had passed?
I had lost all sense of time, to the point where I didn’t even feel hunger. Only the nerves in my fingertips, touching the box, were sharpened.
Click. A small sound. My magic flowed smoothly through the circuits of the box, racing through.
“Oh. . .”
Zilva-sama, who had been accompanying me, exclaimed in admiration.
The sealed box was opened.
(This is the charm magic. . .!)
I picked up the small diary that was inside the box. In that moment, the incantation and the construction of magic flowed directly into my mind.
(This feeling. . .)
I understood. The order had been reversed, but I already knew the sensation when this magic was activated. The state I had always thought was normal was actually the state of the magic being activated.
Now that I had become skilled in controlling magic, I was able to understand. If I had carelessly opened this box without knowing anything, I would have just wondered, “What is this box?” and that would have been the end of it.
I gently placed my hand on my chest, which was pounding due to the fatigue from consecutive sleepless nights and extreme tension.
And in that state—though I hadn’t realized it because of something overflowing in my chest when facing His Highness—I became aware that I had been unintentionally triggering the charm magic when I was with him.
“. . .You have accomplished it.”
“. . .Yes!”
Chief Priest Zilva-sama gently placed his hand on my shoulder and turned around, smiling.
Without thinking, Zilva-sama and I high-fived.
・・・
『”𝙰𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜.𝚌𝚘𝚖” – 𝙳𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘v𝚎𝚛 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚒v𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚘v𝚎, 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚍v𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚞𝚕𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕e𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚗𝚘v𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 “𝚍𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚞𝚙𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜” 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚒v𝚎 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚘 “𝚊𝚍v𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜”.』
・・・
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