Chapter 10.1

“Now that I think about it, Master Nia hasn’t come lately. Is she busy?” Siliya asked, looking into the oven at the cookie dough. I was lying sprawled over the table, looking at a book on artifact crafting, and I answered in that same position.

“She said she has some urgent business. She just sent a bunch of books and homework through magic. There are five assignments!”

“Isn’t that a good thing? She’s giving you extra lessons. She’s so diligent.”

“Ugh, I don’t know, I don’t know. It’s getting harder and harder. Studying for a single day isn’t going to cut it. Unnie, can you do just one for me?”

“I’m busy baking cookies for you, so I can’t.”

“Waaah…”

I rubbed my face all over the book. The scent of old paper and ink mixed with the delicious smell of baking cookies. Siliya, who had sat down across from me at some point, stroked my head. Her kind touch was similar to Sion’s, yet different. It was a little softer and warmer. As I closed my eyes and enjoyed her touch, a thought flashed through my mind.

‘Since I have no lessons and Jeras isn’t here, Siliya won’t have a chance to be alone with Sion.’

Sion wasn’t with me 24/7, but when Jeras wasn’t around, he focused entirely on guarding me. Even without my escort, given their rigid personalities, it would be difficult for the two of them to even talk without a good reason. I subtly lifted my head. My lips twitched at the thought of seeing Siliya flustered.

“Unnie.”

“What are you planning to say with that suspicious look on your face?”

“Are you not going to go carving with my brother today? Should I leave you two alone?”

“It’s okay. It would be a disaster if I messed up the cookies while carving.”

“So you’re so focused on carving with my brother that you can’t even smell the cookies burning? I see. No wonder you two didn’t answer no matter how many times I called you. I guess I’m just oblivious?”

“Stop teasing me. You know that’s not what I mean.”

“So, what did you talk about with my brother at the restaurant that day? Huh? Huh? What did you talk about?”

“Just… this and that. About carving, about you, Eloe.”

“Aww. Is that really all? Don’t hide it, just tell me a little bit!”

“There wasn’t a single thing you’re hoping for. We’re not like that, Eloe.”

“What kind of ‘that’ are you talking about? I have no idea.”

I pouted and teased Siliya. The tips of Siliya’s ears were red as she sighed. She says no, but her body is honest! I felt like if I pushed a little more, Siliya would give in and tell me the story. I was so curious to see what Sion was like when he was in love.

I was about to press Siliya again when the door burst open with a loud bang. Thomas, the oldest boy living in the temple, came rushing in.

“Thomas, you’ll break the door if you open it like that… What’s that blood? Are you hurt?”

“I’m, I’m not hurt! It’s Brother Jeras!”

“Jeras?”

I followed Thomas, who was covered in blood, out. Jeras was lying on the ground in front of the door, covered in blood. His clothes were torn to shreds from something sharp, and there wasn’t a spot on his arms or legs that wasn’t wounded. Thomas was trembling and grabbed my clothes.

“Is brother going to die?”

‘Die? Jeras?’

The fear in Thomas’s eyes and the thick smell of blood in the air made my head spin. Jeras had never been so severely injured, not even in the original story, except for his final battle with Kieryk. He was lying on the ground, motionless. I had expected him to get up and laugh, saying it was a prank to fool me, but that didn’t happen. He looked like he was really dead.

“Eloe, what’s wrong? I heard a loud noise, Jeras?”

I only came to my senses when I heard Sion’s voice. 

‘This isn’t the time to be like this!’ 

I hit my dazed head with my palm. I felt for a pulse on his neck, which was soaked in blood and sweat. I could feel a faint, slow pulse. ‘Thank goodness.’

“Jeras, Jeras! If you can hear me, move a finger! He’s unconscious. We have to hurry. Let’s move him inside.”

“Thomas, come here. Let’s get you changed.”

Siliya took the pale Thomas away, and I helped Sion lay Jeras flat on the bed. Looking at him properly, his injuries were severe. Especially the deep gash on his left side, which was still bleeding. It looked like a wound from being torn apart by an animal. Sion quickly used a clean cloth to apply pressure to the wound. The cloth turned red in an instant.

I left the hemostasis to Sion and quickly used my divine power to scan his entire body. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t poisoned or cursed. I didn’t feel any signs of demonic residue.

“I’ll start by healing the biggest wound. He’s losing too much blood, and it’s dangerous. Ah, but… what was the healing spell? Oh no. I can’t remember.”

“Eloe, calm down. It’s okay.”

My mind had gone blank, and I couldn’t think of anything. All I could think about was that I had to save Jeras, that I wanted to save him. Siliya grabbed my trembling hand. The warmth from Siliya’s hand calmed me down.

“I’ll help you. Priest Mason will be here soon. Calm down and let’s take it one step at a time. Okay?”

“Yes, yes…”

“Sir Sion, please continue to apply pressure to the wound. It’s a deep wound, so it won’t heal right away.”

“Don’t worry.”

Siliya moved my hand over Jeras’s wound. My heart sank at the feel of the damp cloth soaked in blood and his skin, which had no warmth. I was more scared that he wasn’t even groaning from such a severe injury. Siliya cast the healing spell first, and I repeated her words like a parrot. Soon, both of our divine powers seeped into Jeras.

 

***

 

“Eloe, let’s switch now.”

“…No, I’m fine.”

“You look worse than Jeras. You’ll collapse first at this rate.”

Sion’s usually gentle voice was stiff. I stared at Jeras, who was lying down with bandages wrapped around his torso. His face was like a doll’s, neither in pain nor at ease. It wasn’t until I saw his chest rising and falling at a steady rhythm that I felt he was really alive. I gave Sion a sorry smile and shook my head.

“I’m really fine. I wouldn’t be able to rest comfortably anyway. I’ll tell you if it gets too hard. I’m sorry, brother.”

“Sigh… It’s okay. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Jeras so hurt. I have no idea what happened.”

‘Don’t endure it if it’s too hard.’ Sion hugged me once and left the room.

I held Jeras’s limp hand and poured divine power into him. I had already finished all the treatments I could. Since Grandpa Mason came in the middle, the treatment was finished faster than expected. All that was left was to wait for Jeras to open his eyes. I knew divine power wouldn’t help anymore, but I couldn’t stop this useless act. I couldn’t bear this moment without doing anything. Jeras’s lukewarm hand was a small comfort.

“…Elo, e.”

A thick, hoarse voice called my name. Jeras still had his eyes closed, but the hand in my grasp twitched. I shot up and moved closer to him. When I was close enough to see the trembling of his eyelashes, his red eyes finally and slowly revealed themselves. I was relieved and, at the same time, angry. ‘What was he doing to show up in this state and drive me crazy?’

“What in the world… were you doing to end up like this? You almost died!”

“Don’t shout… my head is ringing.”

“You don’t like your head ringing, but you’re okay with a hole in your stomach?”

“I only did enough not to die… I can’t die and leave the princess behind.”

“Did you do this on purpose?”

I was speechless. Jeras didn’t answer my question and averted his gaze. ‘He’s gone completely mad.’ I was about to scold him, but then I noticed that Jeras’s expression was remarkably dark.

‘Something must have happened to Jeras.’

“Princess, you really like Sion, don’t you? As family.”

It was an abrupt question. Why would he ask something like that? I kept silent, unable to guess his intentions, and Jeras closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. He looked much more pained than when he was lying on the floor.

“I like my brother too. That’s why I didn’t want to admit it. I tried to ignore it. As if that would change the truth.”

“Jeras, don’t tell me.”

“The princess knew after all.”

Jeras gave a resigned smile. He sat up and leaned against the headboard. His blank eyes stared at the ceiling.

“I can’t see my brother’s soul properly.”

The end of his despairing voice trembled slightly. Jeras covered his distorted face with his hands. My heart ached at the sight of him, as if he were about to cry. It was the first time I had ever seen him so broken, him who had always shown me only his playful and lighthearted side. I thought it would be better if he were just angry. The despair and resignation in Jeras’s face were pitiful.

Jeras closed his eyes. I had a feeling that he was about to begin a deep story he had kept hidden for a long time and hadn’t told anyone else. I gently took Jeras’s hand. 

‘I’ll listen to you to the very end, no matter what you have to say. So it’s okay to tell me everything.’ I wished that my feelings would reach him.

“My mother passed away right after giving birth to me. She was weak and had lost a few children before me. My father was vehemently against it, but she took the risk, saying she wanted to fulfill her duty as empress. And she never opened her eyes again.”

This was a familiar story to me, having read the original novel. At least, I thought so. But the moment it came from Jeras’s lips, it became a new story with emotion and life. The story I had known until now was just a string of words, literally nothing more than a character’s background from a distant world. I was finally hearing the real story that Jeras was telling only to me.

“From my father’s perspective, who loved my mother dearly, I was nothing more than a lump of misfortune who killed my mother. I didn’t resemble my mother at all and was born with strange eyes, so he must have hated the sight of me. My father didn’t see me until I was old enough to hold a sword. I still remember what he said when he saw me, a child who learned to wield a sword before he could even speak.”

‘This is a monster.’

Jeras’s brow furrowed, as if recalling a painful memory. I silently squeezed the hand holding Jeras’s. Jeras looked down at our joined hands and let out a soft laugh.

“Anyway, no one took proper care of me, who was abandoned even by my father. A prince without the emperor’s attention is useless. He’s just a seed of discord. Someone reached out to me, who was confined to a palace where no one ever visited, and was swinging a sword like a madman. ‘Hello, Jeras. My name is Kieryk,’ a boy with the same red eyes as me said. He told me he was my older brother. And that he would take care of me from now on.”

Jeras opened and closed his other hand.

“I didn’t believe him. Because everyone who came to take care of me ended up disappearing. I didn’t even pretend to listen, but my brother came to me every day. He didn’t do anything special for me. What could a 10-year-old boy do? He just had meals with me and watched me train. That was all. But it was so good. The fact that someone was with me.”

“…You were lonely.”

“Yes. I was lonely. My brother might have been looking for a refuge too. I was, but a sickly prince from the empress’s side also had no future. If I may change the subject for a moment, Empress Florese’s obsession with the empress position might also be because of my brother. If she becomes empress, my brother can become the crown prince.”

Jeras was right. Empress Florese’s ultimate goal was to make Kieryk the emperor. But since she couldn’t become empress and there was no way for Kieryk to be legitimately crowned crown prince, she ended up involving demons. I was a little surprised at how coolly Jeras was assessing the situation even while he was in despair. On the other hand, it pained me to see that he was so tormented that he would purposely get hurt by a demon.

Jeras took a moment to catch his breath. Between the silences, our soft breaths floated in the air.

“I started to trust my brother completely when I snuck out of the palace. I was sick and tired of my father treating me only as a tool to clean up monsters. I thought it would be more enjoyable and happier to live alone outside the palace. As soon as I left Rivai, I was surrounded by demons that had been waiting for me. I barely managed to take one down, but my body was a mess. Just like now.”

“I was so shocked I almost fainted, but you’re making jokes?”

“I won’t do it again. I don’t like being in pain either. Anyway, my brother protected me and took the attacks for me when I was in danger. I have no memory after seeing my brother fall, bleeding. I only heard that I went berserk like a madman afterward. My brother risked his life to protect me. Just because I was his brother.”

It was a story I wouldn’t have understood before. But now that I had a family, I could understand Kieryk’s heart, who protected Jeras, and Jeras’s feelings of trusting and cherishing him. I had also tried every method I could think of to save Sion, hadn’t I? I didn’t risk my life, but still.

“My brother is my only family. I can’t even protect him, yet I’m supposed to harm him with my own hands… But if I ignore him, a lot of people will be in danger. Even the princess. I thought pushing my body to its limits would clear my head, but it’s no use. I’m still on the verge of losing my mind.”

‘If the princess wasn’t here, I would have gone crazy.’

Jeras whispered this to himself and brought my hand to his cheek. His tightly shut eyes were filled with deep fatigue. I used my other hand to gently caress Jeras’s eyes.

When I thought about it, Kieryk was also a victim. He was simply chosen as a scapegoat by Empress Florese, who wanted to fulfill her desires through the wrong means. I couldn’t help but remember the ending of the original story. The ending where Kieryk, who was fully possessed by a demon, was defeated by Jeras. If that were to happen, Jeras’s heart would be shattered. The guilt of killing his precious family with his own hands would turn his heart into ruins. Even if he overcame the guilt, he would live with that sorrow for the rest of his life.

I… I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to see Jeras sad. I wanted to help him.

‘There has to be a way to turn Kieryk back to normal. I already saved Sion once.’

“It’s pathetic. I almost made the old man faint because he wasn’t here, and now I’m whining like a child.”

“I don’t think it’s pathetic. I don’t think you’re a child either.”

“You scolded me for making jokes.”

“Well, should I praise you for coming back half-dead? ‘Well done, Jeras! I’m sure you’ll come back as a corpse next time! Oh, I can’t wait!’ Should I do that?”

“The princess is scary when she’s mad. Don’t be mad. I’m a patient.”

Jeras rubbed his cheek against my hand, acting cuter than usual. Any other time, I would have told him to stop, but there was no strength in his movements, so I just let him do what he wanted. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it at a time like this. I also didn’t want to say anything rash. I knew from experience how much a thoughtlessly spoken word can hurt someone. I looked at Jeras, who was gently resting on my hand, and thought deeply. Sometimes, a warm touch is more comforting than empty words.

“It’s okay.”

I got up from my chair and gently hugged Jeras’s shoulder. Because of our height difference, I couldn’t hug his whole body, but it was enough to convey my feelings. Jeras’s eyes widened, and he looked up at me. I think this was the first time I’d seen that expression on his face. He looked kind of cute. I gave him the gentlest smile I could muster.

“Warm, isn’t it?”

“…Yes. It feels good.”

“Don’t think about anything right now and just rest. Your head will clear up after a good night’s sleep. After that, we can all get together and find a solution.”

“Aren’t you disappointed in me? That I’m a pathetic guy.”

“Why would I be disappointed? Life isn’t always good. It’s okay to complain and whine when you’re tired and exhausted. You’ve helped me a lot, too.”

“That’s right. I’ve done so much for the princess. I’m more than qualified to get a hug from you.”

Jeras’s tone was natural, but he carefully wrapped his arms around my back. I patted Jeras’s shoulder.

“I’m not disappointed. Thank you for telling me a story that must have been hard to share.”

“No one knows this story except for my brother. I’m telling you because you’re the princess.”

“Don’t you like me too much? Do you like me that much?”

“Yes.”

It was a joke I made, imitating Jeras to lighten the mood, but he responded with sincerity. My hand, which had been patting his shoulder, stopped in mid-air. Jeras grabbed my hand and kissed my palm, the back of my hand, and my fingertips in order. His chapped lips were not rough at all, but soft and warm, and a tingling sensation rose from every place he touched.

Jeras stared intently at me with fiercely burning eyes.

“Eloe, you are…”

“I don’t think this is right, Eloe. Let’s switch—”

Sion, who had just opened the door and entered, froze. Jeras, with his face completely buried in my arms, triumphantly shouted at the now statue-like Sion.

“You’re here? You’re late.”

“…Take your hands off Eloe. Now!”

“Brother, brother! Calm down! He’s not fully recovered! Jeras, you stop, too.”

“I don’t want to. Hmm, Princess, you smell good. Did you put on perfume? You smell nice.”

“Jeras! I told you not to touch Eloe!”

The enraged Sion lunged and grabbed Jeras by the collar, pulling him away from me. Jeras chuckled, as if he was teasing Sion.

‘Ah… What a mess. What a mess. I don’t know what to do anymore.’

 

***

 

Jeras, who had been insisting on staying the night at the temple because he didn’t want to go back to the palace, finally gave in when Sion drew his sword. Sion seemed to have a lot to say to me as well, but I feigned ignorance. My head was already hurting because of Kieryk, and I didn’t want to be lectured.

Two days later, Jeras appeared at the temple again. He was completely fine without a single scar, as if he had received some final treatments from the priests.

“I’m here. What, why are you looking like death warmed over, Princess? Where’s Sion?”

“I sent him and Siliya Unnie on an errand. Oh, I’m dying…”

Unlike the lively Jeras, I was a wreck. It was because I hadn’t slept for two days. Hearing that Sion wasn’t there, Jeras naturally came closer and looked at my face.

“You’re not a squirrel anymore, you’re a rabbit. Your eyes are red.”

“Ugh… I don’t have the energy to talk. First, take this.”

What I handed to Jeras was a brooch in the shape of a symbol of the goddess Aletheia. I had asked Grandfather Mason to get me a real one that priests wore and had it modified. Jeras looked at the brooch and then at me, grinning.

“Did you stay up all night to prepare a gift for me? You didn’t have to do that. Don’t you like me too much?”

“What? It’s not for you.”

“Yaaaawn.” I let out a long yawn and said to Jeras, who was crumpled like a finished soda can.

“Give that to the First Prince.”

Jeras’s expression was not just sullen, but it was plastered with spite. He grumbled, poking at the brooch with his fingertips. 

‘How can he be so childish?’ 

Even little Thomas, who was very greedy, wouldn’t act like this. It was only two days ago that he was saying he felt like he was going crazy because of Kieryk. He had no idea what I had gone through to try to help him. I thought about just taking the brooch back, but the time and effort I had put into it was too precious.

“Why are you being sulky again?”

“Give me one too. I’m the one who protects the princess. Why do you give one to my brother but not me? I want one too.”

“Listen carefully, little Jeras. This isn’t a toy. Look at this. See the jewel in the middle? It’s a mana stone. I put light mana into it. If you attach the brooch near your heart, the mana will react and block and purify the demon’s bad energy. You don’t need this, little Jeras.”

“I don’t know what you’re saying. Your explanation is too hard. Jeras wants one too! Give me one! Give me one too, give me one!”

“Ugh, seriously!” He treated me like a child, but now he was taking it a step further and using the third person to refer to himself. It was scary. I once again realized that a normal person can never win against a crazy one, and I slapped Jeras on the head, who was thrashing on the floor.

“Stop that and get up! I sent my brother and Siliya Unnie away and waited for you so we could talk about the First Prince.”

“Then let’s trade the gift for a hug from the princess. Come on.”

Jeras spread his arms and closed his eyes. I had no intention of hugging him with affection like I did two days ago. 

‘Was he crazy?’ 

The saying, “Give an extra rice cake to the hateful one,” is all a lie. The hateful one should get an extra beating. I pinched Jeras’s cheek with all my might.

“Ow! Ow! Ow!”

“You get what you give, right? Don’t play any tricks and just answer my questions from now on. Got it?”

“I got it! I got it!”

“Tell me exactly what the First Prince’s condition is. What does it mean that you can’t see his soul properly?”

Jeras rubbed his red cheek and sat down next to me. His movements were as natural as water flowing. 

‘He’s not even trying to keep his distance anymore.’ 

It was strange that our close proximity didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable. He rested his chin on one hand on the table, keeping his eyes on me.

“When I activate my ‘eyes,’ I can see the color of a soul, and with that, I can tell the difference between humans and demons. Humans are generally yellow, but my brother’s was a mix of yellow and black.”

“So it wasn’t completely black. What was the ratio?”

“It looked like the black was a little more than half.”

“Half…” In the original story, when Kieryk lost his will, his soul was completely black, as if it had been doused in ink. It was certain that Kieryk was being possessed, but there might still be hope. I was glad I had gone to the trouble of getting the brooch. I reread the contents of the books I had finished in the last two days. They were books on ‘light mana and magic.’ Since it was a magic used only by Haiola, there wasn’t enough information. But I had my eyes on a part that said it could perform a stronger purification than divine power. In fact, there were quite a few cases where Haiola saved people who were cursed in a way that couldn’t be helped by others.

‘If it’s possible with my mana… I won’t have to kill Kieryk.’

“Are you done with your questions?”

Jeras’s fingers tapped on the back of my hand, light and cheerful like they were playing a piano. I ignored his long fingers playing with my hand and spoke seriously. I had a feeling what his reaction would be.

“Take me to the palace. I need to see the First Prince in person.”

There was no doubt that Kieryk was the culprit who summoned the demon to target me. Now that even Jeras had to admit Kieryk’s true identity, this was the perfect opportunity. I just had to find out if the light magic would work. 

‘If it doesn’t… No. I don’t need to think about negative things yet. It won’t be too late to think about that when the time comes.’

And besides Kieryk, I had another reason for wanting to go to the palace. I was also curious about how much Empress Florese had prepared for the summoning ritual. If possible, I wanted to go to her palace as well. I knew where it was, so I just had to find a way to get in.

“Princess.”

Jeras’s low voice cut through my thoughts. His fingers, which had been tapping on my hand, now went between them and intertwined. Jeras held my hand so tightly that my knuckles ached.

“You didn’t say that thinking I would take you, did you?”

‘I knew it.’ Why does he go crazy in every way except when he’s being predictable like this?

“It’s not that hard. We can just hide with an invisibility cloak.”

“You know me well. Taking you isn’t hard. I just don’t want to.”

“I’ll stick right next to you. Just let me meet Prince Kieryk. I have to meet him. Please?”

“Are you asking me to be your bridge? You’re giving him a gift you made yourself. That’s enough, Princess. I’m starting to get angry.”

‘I won’t take you even if I die.’ Jeras’s fierce tone put his foot down.

‘This is ridiculous. Who am I doing this for? I’m doing this for you! And here you are, a guy who said he was worried sick about his brother, just having so many conditions.’ 

But seeing him jealous because he liked me didn’t make me feel bad. I had to restrain my lips from smiling widely and my jaw from dropping.

“Jeras, are you jealous?”

My itchy mouth finally caused trouble. A strange sense of deja vu came over me right after I said it. I thought about it and realized it was something Jeras had said to me before my birthday party. I never thought I’d get to use it back on him. I watched Jeras with a strange sense of victory. ‘Let’s see if you can be so slick and get out of this one.’

Jeras, who didn’t avoid my gaze, slowly opened his lips.

“Yes. I’m jealous. Is that not allowed?”

“Uh… huh?”

“I don’t like it when you give gifts to anyone but me. I don’t like you talking to other men, or even looking at them. Even if it’s Sion.”

‘Wait, wait! This is not what I was trying to hear!’ 

Jeras was so nonchalant about what he was saying, but I was the one who was getting embarrassed.

“I’ve been holding myself back because I thought it might overwhelm you. So don’t provoke me anymore.”

“…Are you really holding back?”

“At least you get to see the sunlight, don’t you?”

Jeras smiled widely. I didn’t know if he was serious or joking, but either way, it wasn’t normal, and it sent a slight chill down my spine. 

‘He’s crazier than I thought. What do I do? How do I convince him?’

“Make a promise. That you’ll only be by my side. Then I’ll take you.”

“I promise! I swear! I, Eloe, will stick to my guide, Master Jeras’s side, like a shadow during my visit to the palace!”

He was such a capricious person that I immediately shouted out my promise, just in case he changed his mind. Jeras narrowed his eyes and didn’t react. He seemed to be annoyed about something.

‘I did what he asked, so why is he like this again? Did he get upset that I called him a guide?’

“Should I correct it to Master Jeras, who is cool but very jealous?”

“Haa… Fine, whatever. What can I expect from a dense princess.”

“You’re the first person to ever call me dense. Seriously.”

“I was being subtle, but you just didn’t get it. Because you’re dense.”

“Would you stop calling me dense? It’s not a compliment.”

“We’re going to the academy first. I have to report to my master.”

Jeras got up with a sullen expression and held out his hand to me. The moment I took his hand, Jeras’s mana shimmered at my feet.

It was only then that I realized I was wearing a plain, functional outfit. I couldn’t go to the palace looking like this. There would be all sorts of rumors. I turned pale and tried to stop Jeras.

“My clothes! I’ll go change!”

“No. You’re fine as you are. You’re beautiful enough. I’ll be the only one to see you at your most beautiful.”

“You’re really…!”

“I can’t help it. I’m a cool but very jealous person.”

With a devilish smile, the magic circle activated.

 

***

 

“That’s a reasonable suggestion. If my disciple goes with you, you’ll be able to make an accurate judgment. Jeras, please protect my disciple well.”

“As long as the princess keeps the promise she made to me, there won’t be any danger. Right?”

The pressure I felt from Jeras’s soft smile was considerable. 

‘Promise?’ 

Nia tilted her head and asked, but I just nodded without saying a word. It was a promise that had never been made, so anyone who heard this would misunderstand.

“Disciple, how is your research on light magic? Were the books I gave you helpful?”

“Ah, yes. I read all of them and they were very good. I even completed the artifact.”

“You already read all of them…?”

“Yes, I was in a hurry… Are there any other books?”

“Those were the last books I had…”

Nia stared blankly at the mountain of books and cautiously began to speak.

“There’s Master Haiola’s personal library in the District of Light. But as you know, disciple, there’s a barrier around the District of Light, so even I have never been inside. It was a barrier designed to only react to a specific mana. You might be able to enter, disciple.”

“Won’t it be dangerous? It’s a place even you can’t enter, Master. There might be monsters inside.”

“Still, there’s no better place than that to get information about light magic. If you wish, I’ll make arrangements for you to enter. What do you think…?”

Jeras shook his head, saying no, but I nodded.

‘Haiola’s personal library.’ There was no reason to refuse the chance to enter a hidden place that didn’t even appear in the original story. It would be great if I could find some secret settings, advanced information, or even a more detailed explanation about light magic.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll get it ready, so please go and check on Kieryk.”

We left Nia’s laboratory and headed to the portal terminal in the academy’s basement. Jeras didn’t look at me and said with a deeply sullen voice, “The princess doesn’t seem to know what ‘dangerous’ means. Or do you know and you’re just doing it on purpose? Are you trying to kill me with stress?”

“If I hide because it’s dangerous, I won’t be able to do anything. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do my best.”

“What if something goes wrong with you?”

“You said you would protect me no matter what. Have you lost your confidence already?”

Jeras was speechless and was silent for a moment. In the meantime, the magic circle was ready. This time, I stepped onto the magic circle first and looked back at Jeras.

“Aren’t you coming? You told me to stick to you.”

“I can’t win against you. Seriously.”

Jeras let out a deep sigh and pulled me to him. The moment I was half-hugged by him, the magic circle transported us. And as soon as we arrived at the Imperial Palace, I apologized to Jeras.

“Jeras, I’m sorry. I can’t keep my promise.”