Side Story 2.1

After my engagement and investiture ceremonies, it was already autumn. The leaves hadn’t fallen yet, but the air was noticeably cooler. This summer had been so busy that I didn’t even have time to feel the heat.

After getting my dad’s permission, Jeras and my family got along quite well. This was partly due to his long-standing friendship with Sion, but a new bond had also formed between them. This new bond? Gushing over me.

With Jeras joining in, the gushing squad had become unstoppable. They shouted in unison, “Let’s have the most extravagant engagement ceremony in the history of the Empire!”

I tried to stop them, but eventually, I gave up. If they were the kind of people who would listen to me, they would have done so already. Honestly, it wasn’t my money they were spending, and I was happy that they wanted to give me the best engagement ceremony.

As I prepared for the ceremony, I wanted to hit my past self for thinking that way.

How could it take two weeks just to choose a single dress?

And the dress wasn’t the only thing needed for the engagement ceremony. There were necklaces, earrings, tiaras, and rings. Oh, I don’t even want to think about it. Just thinking about it again is mental torture.

The gushing squad bothered me until the day before, no, until the morning of the ceremony. They’d say things like, “Doesn’t this look prettier?” “This one suits you better,” “It’s pretty to put your hair up,” and “Eloe’s face is small, so it’s okay to wear it down.”

On days Jeras was busy, Sion would help. On days Sion was busy, my dad and mom would come. Even Siliya had something to say. I trusted her… I trusted only my unnie!

By the way, things were going well between Siliya and Sion. I was worried my parents might object since her family was ruined by Empress Florese, but they seemed to like Siliya. Her calm and composed personality suited a duchess well. More than anything, they were amazed that Sion, who had never shown any interest in women, had brought her to them.

Anyway, the engagement and investiture ceremonies, decorated with all sorts of precious things, were held with great splendor. Jeras became the Crown Prince, and I became the Crown Princess-to-be. “To-be” was just a formality since we had already set a wedding date; I was basically the Crown Princess.

After the big events, my family returned to the duchy, with Siliya. That was when I realized the season had changed.

“Aaaaaah!”

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Jeras, who was lying on the couch, sprang up. I slammed my forehead against the desk.

“My thesis… I can’t make any progress!”

“My lady, calm down. You’ll hurt your head.”

“I can’t think of anything… My mind is a blank slate. It would be better to not have a brain at all!”

“I’m okay even if my lady is a fool. What are you so worried about? You have me. So please calm down…”

“A fool? Did you just call me a fool? Yes, I’m a fool. I’m a fool who can’t even write a thesis! So what!”

“Sigh. My bad. I was wrong, my lady.”

“I’m sure you’re so happy that your fiancée is a fool!”

I fumed and flailed my arms wildly at Jeras as he tried to calm me down. I hate everything. I hate everyone! Most of all, I hate this thesis!

Jeras skillfully grabbed my wrist and kissed the palm of my hand. The smacking sound was loud.

“I think there’s still a lot of time until the presentation. You don’t have to be so impatient.”

“You know what? You… You said the same thing a month ago. Look at me now. Nothing has changed since a month ago.”

Sob, sob. After a fit of anger, I felt like crying. I buried my face in the desk and cried, stamping my feet. I could faintly hear Jeras’s sigh from behind me.

“If you’re really stuck, why don’t you ask master for a hint? She’d probably spill everything happily.”

“I don’t want to resort to cheating and barely pass…”

“Cheating? That’s what a thesis advisor is for.”

“Jeras, think about it. I have the label of ‘Crown Princess-to-be’ on me, and my thesis advisor is the head of the academy. It’s obvious what people will say if I get even the slightest bit of help from Teacher Nia.”

“Wouldn’t the fact that you’re being judged on your thesis prove that it’s fair?”

Ah, that man talks so much. Who asked you for a solution!

It’s not that I hadn’t thought about asking Nia for advice at all. But Nia was busy these days building a place to store the book where Agtatius was sealed.

And as Jeras said, there was a high possibility that Nia would be so excited that she would give me too many hints.

“I need empathy and comfort. Can’t you just accept what I’m saying and say, ‘Oh, I see’?”

“Why not? Everything my lady says is right. You’re having a hard time because of your thesis. Let me give you a massage to cheer you up, my lady.”

Jeras spoke with his usual charm and began massaging my shoulders. Oh, that feels good. Yes, right there. That’s where it’s all tensed up.

With his strong grip and large hands, Jeras’s massages were incredibly refreshing and pleasant. The heavy fatigue that had built up slowly melted away.

“You said you wouldn’t have to write any more theses if you pass this one.”

“If they tell me to write one more thesis, I’ll quit being a professor.”

“Then all that’s left is teaching practice?”

“Yes. They said I’ll practice for a month and be evaluated.”

“My lady will get even busier, and I’ll get lonelier.”

Jeras grumbled in a grumpy voice. What is he talking about? He’s the busiest person in the Empire.

After the investiture ceremony, Jeras officially started his work in state affairs. He had handled most of the work before, but he was limited in what he could do since he wasn’t officially the Crown Prince.

The Emperor, as if he had been waiting, began to hand over all his duties to Jeras. Rumors are spreading that he will soon abdicate the throne to Jeras.

So he’s receiving the handover, and of course, there’s a lot of work since the Empire isn’t a small corner shop.

That’s why it’s been a long time since I’ve actually seen Jeras. My thesis wasn’t going well, and Jeras was so busy that we couldn’t even properly see each other or say hello for a week.

If Jeras hadn’t appeared suddenly at the Grand Duke’s mansion looking half-dead, I would have gone to see him.

“It’s better this way, right? If one of us was free, only that person would feel lonely. It’s unfair.”

“I’m lonely right now, my lady. I miss my lady so much every night that I cry until I’m exhausted and fall asleep.”

“You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”

“I’m serious. Look, my eyes are red.”

With that incredibly believable line, his lips came closer. He wasn’t showing me his “red” eyes; he was up to his old tricks again. Well… not his eyes, but it is red.

Just as I was debating whether to push his brazen lips away or accept them, a doo-doo alarm sounded in my ear. It was the sound from the communication crystal ball.

“Wait a minute, I have a call.”

“Answer it later.”

“What if it’s an urgent call? Ugh, just move!”

“Who is it? Me or him?”

I’ll know when I answer, you leech!

In the end, I answered the call with Jeras hanging onto my neck. The light that had been blinking at regular intervals went out, and a familiar face appeared in the crystal ball. Jeras and I both shouted at the same time.

“Brother!”

“Lord Kieryk!”

– My guess was right. I thought you two might be together.

Kieryk gave a gentle smile from inside the crystal ball. Jeras seemed to have completely forgotten his question to me and pressed his face against the crystal ball.

“I was worried because you hadn’t contacted me in a while. Are you okay? Are you doing well?”

– I’m sorry for the late reply. I’ve been in the mountains where the flow of mana is not good. I’m sorry for making you worry.

“Were you sick or hurt?”

-No. I rested well in the mountains. The air was clear, and the scenery was beautiful.

Kieryk’s complexion and voice were bright. It was a change that was close to a miracle considering his condition right after leaving the Imperial Palace.

Kieryk, who had lost his mother and even abandoned his position as a prince, was wandering the continent like the wind. Of course, he had also resigned from his professorship at the academy.

One of the reasons I was rushing to prepare my thesis was to fill Kieryk’s empty spot.

Jeras had secretly put people on him, worrying that Kieryk might get sick and die on the road or fall into despair and make an extreme choice.

Fortunately, Kieryk was living his life in his own way, helping people who were in need as an excellent mage and artifact maker.

Perhaps that was Kieryk’s atonement for his mother’s sins.

“Where are you now?”

– I’m on my way north. I heard that a village near the demon realm needs a mage.

“You should tell me about things like that, brother!”

– It’s not a difficult or dangerous task that would require Your Highness’s attention. The water in the area near the village has all dried up, so I’m going to investigate the cause.

Kieryk always spoke to Jeras respectfully. Jeras didn’t hide his disappointment and got angry or grumbled a few times, but Kieryk was stubborn, too. Of course, brothers are brothers for a reason.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

– I won’t know for sure until I get there… but I suspect there might be a problem with the water source or a blocked water vein.

“Should I send you an artifact to find water veins?”

– Would that be okay? You’re busy writing your thesis…

“Of course, it’s not free. Where in the world is anything free? Please help me. My thesis!”

-The topic of your thesis is… ‘Artifact with an automatic attribute conversion function,’ if I’m not mistaken. Our master praised it highly.

My main magic was light magic, and it had significant potential. But I couldn’t make that my thesis topic. That’s because I’m the only one who can use light magic.

After consulting with Nia, I decided to make artifacts my major. Artifacts were fun, too. I could also make the items I used in my original world.

Nia praising me was nothing new, so that wasn’t what was important. I confided in Kieryk about the part that was giving me a headache.

As expected of an incredibly skilled artifact maker, Kieryk pointed out a point I hadn’t even thought of. As soon as I heard Kieryk’s words, the blockage in my mind was completely gone.

“Why didn’t I think of that before? Thank you. Thank you so much! Kieryk, you’re my savior! Kieryk is the best!”

– Haha… It’s nothing. I’m glad I could be of help to Your Highness the Crown Princess.

Kieryk answered politely. Again! I had another question! I have to ask Kieryk everything! I’m going to get my money’s worth!

As I rummaged through the thesis I had thrown on the desk, a shadow fell over the paper.

“The best…?”

A chilling murmur echoed ominously.

The next moment, I was startled and yelled at Jeras.

“What’s wrong with you! Are you crazy?”

My vision instantly went dark. Jeras had covered my face with the coat he had been loosely wearing on his shoulders. I knew it was his by the unique refreshing and heavy scent that filled the air.

“Jeras, what is this? Take it off!”

“Brother, your vast knowledge is always amazing. But brother, I’m sorry, but Eloe and I have somewhere to be urgently.”

– I’m fine, so please go ahead. I’ve almost arrived at the magic circle as well.

Oh, no. I still have a mountain of questions to ask, so you can’t go, Mr. Know-It-All! Take responsibility for my thesis! We have nowhere to go. That devil is lying.

I frantically waved my hands to pull the coat off. The coat slowly slid down.

Jeras quickly hugged me. He squeezed my body tightly, and I could feel his determination not to let go.

“How long do you plan to stay in that village?”

– I don’t know… I can’t give you a definite answer yet because I don’t know the cause. I will contact you again soon.

“You must contact me. I won’t accept the excuse of ‘unstable mana’ a second time.”

– Hahaha. Then, until we meet again, I hope you both stay healthy. I wish Your Highness the Crown Princess good luck with her thesis.

If my thesis is going to go well, Mr. Know-It-All needs to answer more of my questions!

Without knowing my thoughts, Kieryk ended the call. No matter how I looked at it, Jeras gave him a signal to end it.

Having achieved his goal, Jeras released his arms and pulled the coat away.

“You, really! Why are you doing this to me? I finally found a thesis slave… no, a reference… no, a helper, so why can’t I even ask questions properly!”

“Why are you doing this to me, my lady?”

“What did I do?”

“I know you’re busy because of your thesis. I understand that you’re frustrated because you’re stuck. You probably want to rely on someone. And brother happens to know a lot about artifacts.”

Jeras spun my chair around to face him. His eyes, looking down at me, were incredibly heavy and sunken. His eyes looked like they did when he was angry.

“…Are you angry?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry. I got all cranky at you for no reason. It’s something I chose to do, but it’s so difficult now that I’m facing it… I won’t get cranky anymore.”

“That’s not it. Do you think I’m angry because you’re cranky? I never thought you were being cranky in the first place.”

It’s not that? Then why is he angry?

Don’t tell me… Jeras’s mumbling replayed in my head. Please, don’t let it be that. There’s no way the man I’m going to live with for the rest of my life is a petty, jealous person.

I stared up at Jeras. Sigh. With a sigh that sounded like the earth was collapsing, Jeras ran his hand through his hair.

“I should have become a professor instead of an emperor. What’s the use of being an emperor if I can’t be the best?”

“Uh…?”

“You said brother was the best. With me right here next to you.”

Jeras’s eyes narrowed. Wow, I can’t believe it. Is this real? Is it? I couldn’t and didn’t want to believe it.

Whether Jeras knew what I was thinking or not, he gently grabbed my chin and lifted it. His long fingers fiddled with my lips.

I had a strong, ominous feeling that I shouldn’t open my mouth. I pressed my lips together tightly.

“But even if I were to stay up all night studying to become a professor, your thesis would be finished first, right?”

Excuse me, what are you talking about? You should be diligently doing the work you’re supposed to be doing!

“I can’t believe I’m this insecure even after we’re engaged. It’s all your fault, my lady.”

What did I do? I’ve been cooped up at home doing nothing but writing my thesis!

“This won’t do. You have to take responsibility. Marry me quickly. I can’t live like this.”

We’re going to get married soon anyway!

Jeras knelt in front of me, who was screaming silently. And he rubbed his face against my knees.

“Uh, Jeras? I need to write my thesis…”

“No. I’m going to do this because it’s unfair. I’m the only one who wants to see my lady, and I’m the only one who gets jealous.”

He has everything, but he has so much to complain about. If you were the only one who wanted to see me, would I be letting you rest your head on my knees?

I thought Jeras, who was making such ridiculous complaints, was pathetic, but seeing this big guy rub against me like a cat made me think he was… cute.

‘I’m crazy. I think I caught his sickness!’

I pinched my cheek to snap myself back to reality. Jeras didn’t see me because his face was on my knees.

“It’s unfair. It’s so unfair. Of all things, your major had to be artifacts. I want to be the best, too.”

Jeras’s grumbling continued for a long time after that.

It finally stopped after I, swallowing my embarrassment, said “you’re the best” and “you’re the coolest” more than ten times.

After sending Jeras back to his seat, my face and neck were on fire. Jeras, who knows what was so good, smiled brightly as he looked at me.

Well, if you’re happy, then that’s all that matters. Today, too, the shame and embarrassment are all mine.

 

***

 

Time flows equally for everyone. No matter how hard a human tries to hold on, time cannot be caught.

I, Eloe, a mere human, struggled to hold onto time.

The rapidly approaching thesis deadline was tightening its grip on my neck with every passing moment.

I poured my energy into the final stages of my thesis, parceling out my time for eating, sleeping, washing, and even breathing.

And finally.

“…I finished it!”

“Congratulations, my lady!”

“Congratulations!”

“I must share this joyous news with His Highness the Crown Prince at once…!”

“Ugh, don’t… I don’t want Jeras to see me looking like I’m not even human…”

I saw my reflection in the glass of a display cabinet. The image of myself, having just placed the final period on the last sentence, was nothing short of disastrous.

My greasy hair was tied up tightly and pushed back with a headband, my clothes were thoroughly wrinkled, and the area under my eyes was dark with circles.

“No, my lady. It’s alright! You’re beauti… beautiful! Yes! My lady is always beautiful, after all!”

Why did you hesitate? When I playfully glared at Hilda, Hilda flinched and avoided her gaze.

“Lord Jeras will love you no matter what you look like, my lady. Even if you were a hairy beast!”

“But I would hate that.”

Jeras would probably hate it too. My current state was better than a hairy beast, but it was still a hideous sight.

To find this pretty, one would either need to be blinded by ten layers of love goggles or have terrible eyesight. Either that, or they owed me a debt from a past life.

I shook my head and stood up from my seat.

“First, I need to sleep. Hilda, can you take me to my room? I have no energy left.”

“Yes! I’ll help you.”

Hilda helped me lie down on the bed and drew the curtains, darkening the room. The moment I lay down on the soft bed, my eyes fluttered shut.

“Shall I bring you some warm milk?”

“…No… it’s okay…”

“Oh my, you’re already half asleep. Sleep well, my lady.”

Hilda, who had quietly exited the room, thought her heart would drop. Jeras was waiting right next to the door.

Hic! Startled, a hiccup escaped, and she covered her mouth with both hands. Jeras stared at her with a cool gaze.

“Don’t make a loud noise. What if Eloe wakes up?”

“I-I’m sorry. I was just so surprised… hic.”

“Go. And make sure no one comes near here.”

Hilda scurried away on her tiptoes, afraid her footsteps would echo. Jeras entered Eloe’s room.

Despite it being daytime, the room was dark from the tightly drawn curtains. He moved skillfully without making the slightest sound.

He brought a chair to the bedside and sat down, hearing the sound of Eloe’s breathing. Had all the fatigue she’d been holding back rushed in at once? Her face was completely relaxed as she slept, her mouth even slightly agape.

“How cute.”

Eloe would have jumped up and down in protest if she had heard him. The Eloe who reacted to his every tease was lovable, but sometimes, this quiet version of her wasn’t so bad.

Jeras leisurely admired the sleeping Eloe.

Her long, full eyelashes were pretty. The bridge of her nose, which resembled her sharp personality, was pretty, and her full lips, which knew how to express her will clearly, were pretty. Her soft, rosy skin was pretty, and her dainty ears, which knew how to listen kindly to others, were pretty.

There wasn’t a single part of his fiancée, who would soon be his wife, that wasn’t pretty.

“It seems I’ve been thoroughly bewitched.”

He reached out and took Eloe’s hand. Even with his murderous schedule, the thought of running away never crossed his mind. The place where Eloe was was the place he was meant to be.

He had a feeling that he would live his entire life like this, under her spell.

No, it wasn’t a feeling. It was a certainty. That it would absolutely be so.

“Now that my lady’s thesis is done, I’ll have to pray for time to pass quickly.”

‘I want to announce, even a day sooner, that I am your eternal partner. I hate the sight of other bastards loitering around you, even in my dreams. Do you know? My heart, which wanted to hold even the engagement ceremony in secret because I hated the thought of your image being reflected in anyone’s eyes but mine.’

Jeras gently pressed a kiss to the back of Eloe’s hand. He watched her with a look of adoration the entire time, until she woke from her sleep.

***

Once a year, during the transition from autumn to winter, Haiola Academy held its thesis presentation conference.

It was a place where mages active in various fields gathered to present their research findings, and it was one of the few festivals that satisfied the mages’ passion for learning.

This year’s conference, in particular, was scheduled to feature a talent who had shaken the world of magic. The thesis of a hero who had inherited the magic of light and protected the world from an ancient demon!

Although the thesis was not about light magic, the topic was of little importance to the mages.

Eloe! We can see Eloe!

Mages who heard the news of Eloe’s thesis presentation rushed to apply for attendance. The limited seats filled up much faster than in previous years.

And the day before the presentation, the mages who had applied gathered in secret. All of them, except for one person: Eloe.

“So, everyone is here…”

“Greetings, Lady Nia!”

“It’s been a while. I trust you’ve been well?”

“You’re still as small as ever, hohoho.”

“Quiet… Let’s skip the greetings. We’ll get straight to the point…”

“For Lady Nia to issue a summons personally. What on earth is this about?”

Someone brave asked the question. The mages swallowed dryly.

A summons from Nia Voltaire, the most powerful mage of the era and the leader of the magical world, surely meant it was a matter of great importance.

Could it be that the ancient demon, thought to have been annihilated, was showing signs of revival?

“It’s about tomorrow’s thesis presentation.”

Nia looked around at the mages with a resolute expression.

“A fair and thorough evaluation is a given, so I won’t mention that. However, tomorrow… if anyone tries to gain the upper hand by finding unnecessary fault with my precious student…”

Thesis presentations had a uniquely sharp atmosphere. Eloe was in a position that was particularly vulnerable to attack. There were quite a few who looked unfavorably upon her status as the Crown Princess-to-be.

However, Nia, who had reviewed the thesis in the second stage, had concluded that Eloe’s paper was of a level that should not be disparaged by such trivial factors.

From its concept to its operating principles, evidence, and experimental results, Eloe’s thesis was exceptionally brilliant.

Nia’s odd-colored eyes flashed menacingly.

“I won’t let you get away with it.”