“Are you saying you don’t hate me?”
“Huh…?”
“Don’t hate me, Arundel.”
The look in Hills’ eyes was strangely serious.
Arundel doubted her ears at the unexpected condition from Hills.
‘Don’t hate me…?’
Of course, she did hate Hills very much. She despised the devil, and among them, Hills was…the worst.
Because Hills was the devil who contributed to making her suffer so much.
But still,
‘Isn’t that too vague?’
For a devil who was rumored to be the best dealer, the price was neither precise nor persistent.
Arundel, who was pondering, asked conscientiously.
“But how will you determine if I don’t hate you? I could hide it on the outside and hate you on the inside.”
At Arundel’s question, Hills grinned as if he expected the question.
“I’ll leave it to Arundel’s conscience. Arundel is an angel, right?”
At the quite reasonable words, Arundel clenched her jaw.
Hills laughed playfully at Arundel’s thoughtful reaction.
“You wouldn’t lie to a devil, would you?”
“Of course not!”
Arundel shouted in anger, but it seemed like she fell for Hills’ provocation as Hills was grinning.
‘This Hills, he’s asking for quite a headache.’
Thinking about it again, it didn’t seem like an easy price.
‘The hardest thing is the human heart,’ she thought, ‘It’s not easy to suddenly stop hating someone you’ve hated.’
‘But… I’ve made a promise, so I have to try.’
Arundel accepted the condition for now.
“Now, grant my request!”
“Okay, where is Bianca?”
“She’s probably in the library.”
As Arundel finished speaking, Hills approached her.
“…Why are you suddenly coming closer?”
Instead of answering, Hills wrapped his arm around Arundel’s waist. And then,
“Warp.”
With Hills’ word, Arundel and Hills were transported to the front of the library.
Upon arrival, Arundel assessed the situation and charged at Hills.
“Hey!! What are you doing using magic when someone could see…”
The hands that were charging at Hills’ back stopped in mid-air.
‘Don’t hate me.’
The condition floated in Arundel’s mind.
She wondered for a moment if hitting was also one of the acts of hatred.
‘Let’s hold back for now.’
It was indeed a headache-inducing condition.
The condition of not hating, and the act of not hating, were both ambiguous.
In order to keep the condition without a standard, Arundel sighed and said,
“…Hills, please refrain from using magic as much as possible inside the palace.”
But Hills tilted his head.
“Why?”
“…Because if someone sees, it could cause trouble for me.”
“Oh, if that’s the case, I’ll be careful.”
At Hills’ insincere response, a vein popped on Arundel’s forehead, but Arundel didn’t say anything.
‘Yes… for Bianca, who fought for me.’
Arundel took Hills and went into the library.
Inside the library, Bianca was reading a magic book as usual today.
Arundel quietly approached her.
“Lady Bianca, would you come out for a moment?”
Bianca seemed surprised at the sudden approach of Arundel, but she quietly followed her outside.
When she saw Hills waiting outside, Bianca asked with a surprised face.
“Uh…? Your Highness the Crown Prince, what brings you here?”
Hills waved his hand lightly in response.
But now, greetings were not important. They had to go to a place where there were no people.
‘Since we warped, Zion wouldn’t have been able to follow if he had someone tailing us.’
If they saw us warping… it would be even more of a headache, but she didn’t want to think about it right now.
She had to finish her purpose quickly and send Hills back.
“A place where there are no people… Ah! Let’s go to the secluded path we went to yesterday.”
Arundel moved her steps to the secluded path where she had walked with Bianca yesterday.
The secluded path was still a quiet space where no one could be found.
The three of them sat on a bench on the secluded path. First, she opened her mouth to explain the situation to Bianca.
“Lady Bianca. You said last time that you wanted to know if you have magical talent, right?”
Bianca slowly nodded her head.
“Yes… I did. But why…?”
“Today, His Highness the Crown Prince will test the magical talent that Bianca has.”
“What…?!”
Bianca’s red eyes shook. Her mouth corners went up and down, looking a bit confused.
“It’s really a happy thing… but why…Your Highness.”
“I have heard about Bianca from Her Majesty the Empress. If that’s the case, I can do anything for you. It’s not a difficult thing.”
Hills shrugged and spoke. Only then did Bianca’s face flush with pure joy. At her reaction, Arundel felt a bit smug.
But that situation was only for a moment, Bianca looked at Hills with a thoughtful face.
“But… does His Highness originally know how to do magic?”
“Huh?”
“Because, as far as I know, the royal bloodline of Shalbon Kingdom has never produced a magician…”
“…”
“Ah! I’m not doubting it!”
Bianca even clapped her hands, insisting that she was not doubting, but Arundel herself thought that this situation might seem strange.
A prince suddenly becoming an outstanding magician from the Shalbon royal family, which has nothing to do with magic…?
It was enough to be doubted.
Arundel asked Hills for help with her eyes.
Hills winked with his left eye as if to say not to worry, and spoke to Bianca.
“Among the Shalbon royal family, I am the only one who inherited the blood of a magician. Because I am special.”
“…?”
“…?”
“Well, it’s like a hidden trump card of the Shalbon Kingdom? Haha”
‘…Ha… I’m a fool for expecting.’
At Hills’ nonsensical explanation, Arundel clicked her tongue inwardly.
“No wonder…! That’s amazing! So that’s why you ascended to the position of Crown Prince!”
…Bianca clasped her hands together and smiled brightly.
‘…She believes that?’
Well… whatever… as long as it’s passed.
“Now, shall we test your magical power?”
“Yes!”
Hills stood in front of Bianca. And he touched her forehead with one hand.
“Close your eyes and imagine that you are casting a tremendous magic.”
“Tremendous magic…?”
“Yes, magic like controlling a meteor or splitting the earth with a volcano.”
Bianca, who had been thinking deeply, closed her eyes. Her beautiful forehead wrinkled slightly.
Hills’ usual playful appearance was nowhere to be found. The incredibly serious look on Hills’ face was unfamiliar, and Arundel felt a little tense without realizing it.
A blue light emanated from Bianca’s forehead where Hills’ hand was placed. And not long after, the light disappeared.
Hills, who had his hand on Bianca’s forehead, spoke as he removed his hand.
“Well, it’s over.”
“Al… Already?”
Hills nodded his head.
Arundel, who had been tense as if she were Bianca’s parent, hurriedly asked.
“So… how is it?”
“Hmm… It doesn’t seem like she has magical talent…”
At Hills’ words, the expressions of Arundel and Bianca hardened.
“But she does have decent magical power.”
‘…Should I hit him?’
As soon as the test was over, Hills, who had returned to his playful self, delivered positive news.
“So if I learn magic properly, can I become a magician…?”
“Yes, but what kind of magician you become will depend on your efforts, right?”
Bianca jumped up from her seat.
“I’m so happy! This is all thanks to Her Majesty the Empress!”
“I’m really glad, Bianca!”
“Hmm.”
Hills, who was standing next to the two of them hugging and sharing their joy, expressed his presence as if to say not to forget him.
“I’m really grateful to Your Highness the Crown Prince too!”
“Don’t mention it.”
Bianca clenched her fists tightly.
“I will somehow persuade my father and enter the academy!”
“That’s right, I’ll support you.”
“I really don’t know how to repay this favor…”
“No, I’m the one who repaid the favor this time.”
Arundel smiled kindly.
“You punished those who insulted me, didn’t you?”
“No! It’s not right to slander anyone, no matter who they are.”
Bianca’s upright eyes sparkled.
Arundel often felt rewarded at times like this.
When good people appeared around her. Royden, Belle, Bianca, they were all good people.
Although life as a hated empress was not easy, she felt rewarded when such people appeared around her one by one.
‘In this way, Zion will soon…!’
Seeing Bianca burning with determination, Arundel once again realized her duty.
Arundel was filled with the determination to enlighten Zion and definitely return to heaven.
Looking at the two burning women, Hills spoke with a slightly flustered face.
“It’s okay, right…?”
“Of course! By the way, isn’t tomorrow the day of Your Highness’s welcome party?”
Arundel asked about the matter that suddenly came to mind.
She had heard that a welcome party was being held to celebrate the visit of the Shalbon Kingdom’s envoy, and it seemed like the date was around tomorrow.
“Yes, it’s tomorrow evening.”
‘This guy, his departure is not far off.’ Thinking so, Arundel felt good.
Now that the request was over, Hills had to be returned to his original place.
“Shall we go now?”
Arundel’s group left the secluded path.
The sky was so dark that it seemed like it would rain at any moment.
‘I need to get back before it rains.’
As she was about to turn her steps,
A familiar voice was heard from afar.
“Crown Prince-! Where are you?”
It was Royden.
For some reason, Royden was looking for Hills. Royden, who spotted Arundel’s group from afar, ran towards them.
“You were here.”
“Royden.”
Arundel looked at Royden, who suddenly appeared, with surprised eyes.
“By any chance…were you looking for the Crown Prince?”
“Yes, Duke Richard asked me to.”
“The Duke?”
“Yes. He said that the Emperor would soon come to the office, so he asked me to bring the Crown Prince quickly.”
Arundel seemed to understand.
If Zion went to the Prime Minister’s office and Hills was not there, he didn’t know what kind of torment he would suffer, so he thought to quickly put Hills back in his place.
It seemed like he had sent his son Royden to fetch him.
“Ah… hello, Captain.”
“Hello. I think this is the first time we’ve spoken.”
Bianca, who found Royden, greeted him. Royden also responded with a smile.
At Royden’s gentle demeanor, Bianca’s white cheeks turned red.
“I… I am the eldest daughter of Duke Hellen, Bianca.”
“I know. I am Royden, the captain of the Royal Knights.”
“I… I know too. There’s no noble who doesn’t know the captain.”
What is this…? This fresh scene that seems to come out of a youth novel…?
Arundel, who was staring blankly at the two, looked at the dark sky again.
Youth novels are good, but she didn’t want to get rained on. Because she expected a very hard day tomorrow when she attended the welcome party.
Arundel looked at the sky and said,
“It looks like it’s going to rain. Everyone should go back quickly.”
“…That’s right.”
Royden said with a slightly regretful face.
“I’m sorry. Today, taking the Crown Prince is a priority, so I don’t think I can take the two ladies.”
“Don’t mention it! Go quickly.”
Arundel waved her hand as if to hurry him. Then Hills, who was being led by Royden, turned around and shouted.
“Arund… no, Your Majesty the Empress! See you tomorrow!! And don’t forget our deal!”
At Hills’ shout, Arundel was shocked.
‘That kid, if he spits out such words, what would Royden and Bianca think!’
He looked at Bianca, wondering if she might think it strange, but she was lost in the darkening sky.
Pat-
Cold raindrops began to fall one by one on her head.
And not a few minutes later, it poured down as if a hole had been punctured in the sky.
Looking at the sky, Arundel thought.
‘…I’m screwed.’
