Ian had just arrived at the Gallagona Mountains on the continent, a place notorious for dragon sightings. This region was infamous for being a frequent haunt of not just dragons but orcs and trolls since ancient times.
By the time Ian got there, the situation was already chaotic. Groups of red dragons soared through the skies, spewing fire as they flew. The hisses and roars of the dragons filled the air. People and dragons alike were collapsing under the onslaught of flames. Mages, swordsmen, and mercenaries sent from various empires were combining their strengths to prevent the red dragons from crossing the mountains into the villages.
“Lord Ian, you’ve arrived?” greeted the other mages upon seeing him.
Ian stretched out his arms, preparing to cast a spell at an approaching dragon. In a flash, something shot towards the dragon at the speed of light and decapitated it in a clean sweep.
“What was that I just saw?”
“Who is that? A monster?”
Amidst the awe and admiration from the crowd, Ricardo appeared, triumphantly waving the dragon’s head around. With fiery red hair and eyes that mirrored the madness of the red dragons, he looked as if one of them had transformed into a human.
“Shoot, the cut wasn’t as clean as I wanted. I guess I didn’t put enough strength in my right arm at the end,” Ricardo complained to his brother Geoffrey.
“Rick, that was impressive. I doubt there’s another swordsman in the continent who could take down a red dragon in one stroke, especially at the mere age of sixteen,” Geoffrey replied, ruffling his younger brother’s hair even as Ricardo kept grumbling.
“Darn it, it has to be perfect. I need to smooth out that cut surface so even bugs could slip off it!”
As Ricardo walked away, Ian asked in wonder, “Who is that guy?”
His appearance, personality, and incredible swordsmanship were all extraordinary.
“That’s Lord Ricardo of the Cheren Empire, also known as the ‘Mad Dog.’ He’s only sixteen but already hungry for the blood of war or monsters, running towards any sign of them,” a mercenary replied.
“Ricardo, huh?” Ian murmured.
Thanks to that nobleman, things were looking up. It felt like he might meet Ariel sooner than expected.
***
“Did you enjoy it?” Ludwig asked with a mischievous tone as he lounged on the office sofa, watching Rapunzel rush in breathlessly.
“What?”
Ariel, confused at first, soon nodded.
“Thinking of heading out for dinner again?”
Ludwig asked casually.
“Is that really okay?”
Ariel clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“You like it that much?”
“Yes, absolutely!”
“I can’t give it up…”
“Of course, I can’t give up.”
Ariel spoke firmly, causing Ludwig to look at her with displeasure.
“So, you mean you can’t give it up?”
‘…He means he can’t give up his feelings for Anna.’
Ludwig sighed softly.
“Yes.”
Ariel couldn’t give up after selling so many masks during lunchtime.
“…As you know, I’m tired of dealing with rumors about us. We need to quell those rumors somehow.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“It looks like I might have to lay paper under my feet again.”
“What? You’re going to use paper footrests again?”
“Yes, there’s nothing like it to suppress rumors.”
Ludwig’s eyes twinkled mischievously.
“Elias, bring me the papers we used before.”
He spoke to Elias, who was reviewing documents beside him.
“Don’t you remember? We sent all the papers to the monastery last time.”
Elias looked at him as if he was talking nonsense.
“Ah, that’s right. Then… it’s time to make a proper footrest.”
“You’re going to make a footrest?”
Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes, hurry and call the blacksmith.”
Although it was obviously a forced idea, Elias had to bring the blacksmith to avoid a bigger fuss.
An elderly blacksmith approached, bowing nervously. He was well aware of the notorious temper of the prince.
“Your Highness, do you need something?”
“Let’s see… I need a footrest. I think it should be made by attaching a long pole to a plate of iron or wood.”
When the blacksmith looked puzzled, Ludwig sketched a drawing with a pen.
“How long would it take to make something like this, lightweight and comfortable for resting feet?”
“It might take about three days.”
“One day! I’ll give you one day. Prepare yourself if it takes any longer.”
Ludwig stared menacingly, and the blacksmith trembled as he responded.
“…Yes, yes. I understand.”
As the blacksmith hurried out without looking back, Ariel asked something he had been curious about.
“Your Highness, what color will the footrest be?”
“Is that all you can think about, the color of the footrest?”
“Yes, since we have to paint it anyway.”
“Well, you’re not wrong. What color would you like?”
“I like gold.”
“Gold? Is there a reason you like gold?”
“Because it matches the color of your eyes, Your Highness.”
Ariel smiled brightly, revealing her pink lips, and Ludwig felt his heart skip a beat. She really knows how to make a statement and stir emotions.
***
Ludwig couldn’t sleep, so he wandered through the palace halls. That evening, the emperor had invited him to a banquet, but there was an ulterior motive.
“Have you found the person who handed Josephina that paper box on her birthday?”
“Not yet… but we should find them soon.”
“Good. We need to hurry.”
“Yes.”
“Speaking of which, how is Marisa doing? It’s been a while since the engagement; perhaps it’s time to hold the wedding?”
“Is there any rush?”
“It’s very urgent. We can’t leave the idle rumors to attract flies.”
The emperor’s sharp gaze made Ludwig feel suffocated.
He thought Marisa would be a suitable match for marriage. She wouldn’t cling to love, was intelligent, and dignified—well able to uphold her duties. Moreover, the Duke of Carmen’s house could reinforce the imperial authority.
Someday he would have to marry, but now was not the time.
With his feelings for Rapunzel still unclear, the thought of marrying Marisa felt like being dragged to a slaughterhouse.
“Isn’t that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?”
A voice emerged from the dim darkness.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Rapunzel.”
“Ah, Rapun, what are you doing out here not sleeping?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“What brings you out, Your Highness?”
“I also couldn’t sleep.”
Ludwig’s voice sounded unusually subdued.
“Ah, achoo!”
Suddenly, Ariel coughed, and Ludwig pulled him into his embrace.
“You must be cold. It’ll be warmer like this.”
“It’s alright.”
“Your hands are so cold…”
As he gently held the small hand, Ludwig looked at Rapunzel’s face.
“You’re wearing a mask in the dark.”
“Yes… I wore it because I was afraid people might be scared of me.”
“You’re not scary.”
“Really?”
“Yes, you’re not scary at all. It’s my own heart that frightens me more.”
Ludwig was unusually serious, which was unsettling. Rapunzel tried to pull away, but it was difficult with the tight embrace from behind, and his embrace was so comforting that it made her heart flutter.
In the darkness, Ludwig took off the mask. The gesture of caressing her face felt thrilling.
When Ludwig touched her face with his hand, he felt no swollen wounds.
“Has it healed?”
“Yes, thanks to the ointment you gave me.”
“Did you know it was me who gave you the ointment?”
“How could I not know? Aren’t you a wise ruler?”
“Haha, a wise ruler, huh? You make me laugh.”
Ludwig smiled pleasantly, and Ariel smiled along with him.
There was a rustle behind their laughter.
“Your Highness, it seems someone is around. I think I should wear my mask.”
As Ariel reached for her mask, Ludwig gently shaped it with his hand, covering the burn scars.
“Isn’t this enough?”
“What?”
“This is a mask I’ve made just for you.”
Ludwig’s hand on Ariel’s face was large and warm, stirring an endless flutter in Ariel’s heart.
***
After finishing a battle in the mountains, Ian used a teleportation spell to go to Ariel’s room. But Ariel was nowhere to be seen.
On the table, there were dozens of ointments, all stamped with the royal physician’s seal. Medicines bearing the royal seal could only be used by the emperor, the crown prince, or the royal family.
Could it be? Ian felt puzzled and hoped his suspicion was not true.
He used a tracking spell to find Ariel, who was in the palace garden. Ian hurried over, relieved to see her. But then he heard Ludwig’s voice.
Ariel was in Ludwig’s arms, and his face looked happier than ever.
As Ian approached and Ariel tried to put on her mask, Ludwig stopped her.
Ludwig extended his right hand to cradle her face and said, “This is a mask I’ve made just for you.”
Ian turned away, crumpling the mask in his hand. He felt maddened by jealousy.
“Being too late is truly no fun.”
Back at the mage tower, Ian was tormented and despondent, thinking of ways to bring Ariel back. If it were a matter of money, it would have been simple. However, the crown prince’s servant was bound by a spell cast by the prince himself, limiting her movements and putting her life at his mercy.
“I need to break Ariel’s binding spell…”
What did Ludwig’s actions in the palace mean?
Ludwig, who was known to love only himself and despised ugliness, seemed to act in ways only a man in love would.
Ian tried to deny it, but the ominous feeling wouldn’t go away.
After organizing his thoughts, Ian wrote two letters. The recipients were the king of the Kingdom of Charden and Alexei, the crown prince of the Empire of Prolands.
🍉🍉🍉
