***
“Dad, I want to start studying now.”
To change my life from just playing around, this was the first step.
Since I had made the decision, it was better to start as soon as possible.
However, my statement seemed to have quite a shocking effect on Delight, as he blinked and tilted his head slightly in confusion.
“…I didn’t expect Ollia to be the one to say she wanted to study first.”
In fact, ever since I took my first steps, there had been talk among those around me.
Especially, when I wasn’t speaking yet, there were rumors that it was because my education hadn’t started early enough.
But Delight didn’t rush my education. Thanks to that, I had been able to live comfortably all this time.
“It’s okay to take it easy. But you really want to study?”
“Yeah!”
I deliberately placed my tiny hand on the table and clenched it into a fist to show my determination.
I had to prove how brilliant I was.
To do that, I had to start studying. And I planned to show him.
If I learn one thing, I’ll understand ten!
I’ll show him how I can remember everything in just one glance!
“If Ollia wants it, then of course Dad will find the best teacher for you. But there’s a condition.”
“A condition?”
I tilted my head, not expecting him to impose a condition. Delight extended his pinky finger.
“You must not forget about Dad even if you’re studying. Promise me. You have to come see me every day.”
“Okay!”
I shouted enthusiastically and hooked my pinky finger tightly around his.
That wasn’t difficult at all. After all, I had to show him how smart I was.
***
Soon, I had my first lesson.
The person Delight carefully selected to teach me was a linguist named Lightly.
He was studying a language that had already disappeared.
In addition, he also seemed to be researching and documenting ancient place names and family histories that had been erased from the world.
Although Lightly didn’t tell me this, I could guess from the books he had.
While I was listening to him and diligently answering his questions during our lesson, I glanced around the room that looked like Lightly’s private study.
Lightly’s eyes sparkled as he looked at me.
“Your Highness… surely not…”
His expression was one of disbelief, his eyes filled with amazement.
Heh.
This was nothing.
Even after just one lesson, I had already shown remarkable talent.
As soon as the lesson ended, Lightly wanted to take me straight to Delight.
However, he didn’t get the chance.
“Did our Ollia do well in her first lesson?”
Because Delight had arrived first.
“Her Highness is strikingly different from children her age,”
Lightly said firmly, without hesitation.
“Hmm, different in which way…?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s fine. I’m prepared to accept whichever way it turns out, so feel free to speak,”
Delight said, his kind face showing that he was already prepared.
The meaning behind his words was clear.
‘Delight, you’re not thinking I’m dumber than the other kids, are you?’
How could he even dare to think such an offensive thing!
I started to feel indignant.
‘What’s with that smirk?’
Delight’s lips were twitching slightly in a smile.
‘Again?!’
Ever since Delight woke up, the relationship between us had been really good.
It was definitely good, but…
Actually, it seemed like Delight had already noticed that I had been pretending not to speak all along.
Though I wasn’t sure if he understood the reason behind it.
Delight never asked me about it.
He seemed content and happy just that I was calling him ‘Dad.’
‘As a father, Delight definitely is like that.’
It didn’t seem like the Delight I knew as a disciple had completely disappeared.
Especially now!
These days, he seemed to be teasing me a lot.
Even though I knew that, I still burst out in anger like a child.
“I’m smart!”
I quickly shouted and gave Lightly a look to hurry up and explain.
I’m not just smart—I’m extraordinary!
I was about to show them what a true genius looked like, so they better be ready!
“If she learns this well, should we start etiquette lessons soon?”
Delight asked Lightly with a thoughtful expression.
That guy, he definitely asked that on purpose, knowing I wouldn’t like it!
“If Her Highness is at this level, then certainly…”
Lightly, who had witnessed my brilliance with his own eyes, was about to answer when—
“Huuuh…”
I let out a big sigh and stopped him.
At this rate, I’d end up having to take those boring etiquette lessons too.
There was no choice.
“To be honest, I only overdid it to impress Dad.”
I lowered my head and twisted my arms as I spoke.
“Mm. For now, I’ll just manage with Lightly’s lessons…”
“Hmm, really?”
“Yes!”
Delight let out a small laugh and smiled.
“Well, etiquette can wait. First, you should focus on getting used to the lessons you’re already taking. We can start the etiquette classes later.”
It worked!
Just as I sighed in relief, thinking Delight was in a good mood again—
“But we’ll still need to look into who would be suitable for teaching the etiquette classes.”
“I understand.”
Hearing his response, I frowned slightly.
He had left me a condition, but I guess it was still a compromise.
Well, sooner or later, I’d have to learn it anyway.
Hmph. Etiquette might be tedious, but when I do it, I’ll do it well!
I was quietly steeling myself for the challenge when Lightly pulled out some documents from his desk and handed them to Delight.
“Your Majesty, I have identified several mages among those who disappeared whose identities have not yet been confirmed. They came from regions that no longer exist.”
It seemed that Delight had another reason for coming to see Lightly, aside from just being curious about me.
“There are also some mages from these regions whose whereabouts remain unknown.”
Hearing this, I suddenly understood why there were so many books about old regions and families on Lightly’s desk!
“As expected, it seems likely that mages with unclear origins are the ones who disappeared,”
Delight muttered gravely, as if he had anticipated this.
But what was this all about?
Could it be that mages were secretly disappearing without anyone knowing?
This was the first time I was hearing about this.
So, I stayed quiet on purpose, listening intently to the conversation between Delight, Lightly, and Zaire.
“It is extremely rare to find a missing mage. And even if we do…”
“We find them dead,”
Zaire remarked pessimistically, as if to remind them of the harsh reality.
Delight responded calmly, seemingly used to this situation repeating over and over.
“We’ve never been able to properly find out what happened after they disappeared.”
“It’s important to find the missing mage to uncover the truth about the forged magic stone experiments.”
Unlike Zaire, who had no hope for the missing mages, Delight remained calm but hadn’t given up.
“More importantly, we need to prevent mages from going missing in the first place.”
Listening to Delight, it was clear this wasn’t just about gathering information.
“We can’t allow more victims just to find evidence.”
“Thanks to that, recently, the number of reported missing mages has decreased.”
“The last case we received was 2-3 years ago.”
“Still, check if there are any more unaccounted-for missing mages. If we can discover even one more… we might find a missing mage who’s still alive.”
Delight’s concern for the missing mages was obvious.
After all, he had been an unnamed mage who had been experimented on.
It’s possible similar situations are still happening now.
***
Near the Border.
Early in the morning, on an empty street where no one was moving.
“What’s that?”
A farmer, who was usually the first to start the day in the village, squinted at a shape in the distance.
Sometimes, wild boars would appear, so he had to be cautious. As he prepared to flee, he noticed that the figure was different from a boar and moved a little closer.
“Yikes! What the… is that a person?”
A man, so battered that he was barely recognizable, was staggering down the street. His flailing arms made him seem less like a living person.
Blood dripped from his head, leaving a trail on the ground.
Thud—
Eventually, he collapsed right there. At the same moment, the farmer let out a scream and tried to run away.
“Ahhh! It’s a ghost!”
The figure’s bloody and grotesque movements were too strange to be human.
“Ugh… please… help me…”
“….!”
But the faint voice calling for help came from a person.
The farmer hesitated and turned back to stare at the fallen man. His appearance was still hard to look at, but… this was a person who was on the brink of death.
“Good heavens, what happened to you?”
“…ugh.”
“Hey! Stay with me! Oh, what am I supposed to do…”
“Take… me…”
“What?”
“I… am… mage Heron… Take me to… the lord…”
With his last ounce of strength, the man managed to speak before he lost consciousness and collapsed.
“Just hang in there a little longer! I’ll take you there!”
The farmer, pale with fear, lifted the man who seemed like he might die at any moment. As he ran, he kept muttering “Mage Heron” to make sure he wouldn’t forget.
