* * *
“Are you the client?”
Hilde asked immediately, as if he had been waiting for the chance.
Oswald cleared his throat before answering.
“No. As I said, the client is someone else. I am merely a loyal subordinate to that person.”
“…Who on earth is this person?”
“I will tell you in due time… Do you have any other questions?”
Since Oswald continued to hide the client’s identity, Anakin changed the subject.
“What was inside that box?”
“A relic. It is a vital item meant to break that person’s curse.”
“If it was such an important item, why didn’t you step forward sooner, Elder? You could have arrived much faster without even needing to post a request.”
When Hilde pointed this out sharply with a frown, Oswald gave an answer as if he had expected the scrutiny.
“I was busy with matters at the Magic Tower for a while and couldn’t return. Furthermore, rather than going myself, posting a request made it easier to clean up the trash who were after this relic.”
The Magic Tower—the headquarters of the Empire’s strongest mages and the seat of power and politics in the magical world.
Usually, Elders who had raised disciples to a certain level in their own schools lived at the Magic Tower.
Much like Mikhail, who was an Elder of Delphine and a member of the Tower.
Certainly, if someone of that caliber delivered it personally—teleportation aside—no one but a madman would try to steal it.
Unless they had a suicide wish.
“So, you used us as bait to catch Renatus.”
At Hilde’s keen observation, Oswald lowered his head deeply.
“…I apologize for that part. I will take any criticism, but I hope you understand it was the best choice at the time.”
“…”
“And I sincerely apologize that the rescue took longer than expected.”
At Oswald’s attitude, both Anakin and Hilde widened their eyes in shock.
For an Elder of such high status that even the Emperor could not treat him lightly to bow his head to mere noble brats—it was something that simply didn’t happen, regardless of fault.
Through that gesture alone, Anakin realized that this man was truly a person of integrity.
“I understand. We only accepted the request for the ‘reward,’ and we might have died if not for you, Elder.”
As Anakin smiled, resting his chin on his hands as if he had been waiting for this, Oswald replied as if remembering something.
“Ah, the reward will be paid as promised. 100 gold coins and an artifact. I will prepare them for each of you separately.”
Anakin’s expression turned satisfied. Hilde’s was much the same.
“Mine too?”
When Gilbert looked at Oswald with expectant eyes, the Elder nodded as if it were obvious.
Gilbert let out an internal cheer and grinned.
With all his questions answered, Anakin could finally set his mind at ease.
“Then, please tell us who ‘that person’ is now.”
Hilde asked about the mysterious person they had been hiding.
At those words, Oswald stood up silently and told them to follow him.
“You said you’ve met before. You’ll likely recognize him immediately.”
‘Someone we know?’
Hilde and Anakin’s eyes widened.
For someone to have a status high enough for Oswald to use the honorific “That Person,” and to have met them before… only one person came to mind.
‘Could it be…?’
With a stiff face, Hilde grabbed Anakin’s wrist.
Anakin also turned back stiffly to look at Hilde.
“Anakin.”
Hilde murmured Anakin’s name, his eyes wavering intensely.
“…”
Anakin couldn’t say a word.
The Crown Prince, Kamil von Kirstan.
He was here right now.
Anakin had often imagined what he would say if he ever met him again.
But whenever he recalled that face, a corner of his heart ached, so he always had to stop himself from imagining.
The things he had come up with were: resentment, asking why he did that, or just ignoring him.
If he had known it would be this soon, he would have thought it through properly.
Knowing he was about to face him made his palms sweat; he felt tense.
Was it because the meeting was so unexpected?
‘What should I do…’
Seeing the confused Anakin and the grim-faced Hilde, Oswald asked as if he didn’t understand.
“What’s wrong? If meeting him is uncomfortable for you…”
“No.”
Anakin, who had quietly opened his closed eyes, clenched his fists as if he had made up his mind.
“Please lead the way.”
“…Understood. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, let me know.”
Anakin and Hilde followed behind Oswald.
Hilde took Anakin’s hand and spoke.
“I’m here, so he won’t be able to try anything foolish.”
Hilde’s hand was firm and strong.
Anakin looked up at Hilde with a surprised face, then turned back as Hilde continued to look straight ahead.
By “anything foolish,” did he mean the Pheromone Shower?
Anakin wouldn’t let himself be caught so easily this time, but it was true that having Hilde there was reassuring.
Before long, Oswald placed his hand on a wall made of vines and grass.
Slowly, an arched secret passage leading to another garden appeared, and Oswald stepped through.
“Let’s go in.”
‘It really is a secret passage.’
‘Was it made for the Crown Prince?’
Trailing climbing roses led all the way to a deep door.
Beautiful and mysterious, the place felt like a paradise, overflowing with life and the fresh scent of nature.
Anakin could easily predict that the Crown Prince would be behind that door.
Only then did Hilde release his grip on Anakin’s hand.
“Say what you need to say.”
“Yeah, thanks… Hilde.”
If not for the reliable and supportive Hilde, Anakin might have frozen from the nerves.
“I’ll leave you here. I’ll be waiting when you come out, and then I will teleport you back to Pasadian.”
“Thank you.”
Oswald said those words and turned back.
Anakin glanced at Hilde.
When Hilde nodded, Anakin grabbed the doorknob and turned it.
It was a fluttering feeling, as if stepping into another world.
The scenery visible upon opening the door was, as expected, beautiful.
An ethereal purple sky that seemed to sit on the boundary between day and night, and a pond with a rising fountain.
In the center sat a round table.
A boy with reddish-gold hair was leisurely lifting a coffee cup, and another familiar boy sat beside him.
Anakin and Hilde naturally approached them.
Wildflowers in bloom and lush trees lit the path.
Sensing their presence, the boys turned toward Anakin and Hilde.
“It’s been a long time.”
It was the Crown Prince, Kamil, greeting them warmly.
With reddish-gold hair that seemed to hold the sunlight and mysterious violet eyes like crystals, he boasted a sculptural beauty just as described in the original work.
The noble Crown Prince of the Empire smiled, his eyes crinkling.
His solid frame and more developed physique only made him stand out more.
At fifteen, he still retained some of his boyish charms, but he was gallant and possessed the dignity of an absolute ruler that no one could imitate.
His face was still dazzlingly handsome, but Anakin vowed once again not to fall for his looks.
“I greet the Little Sun of the Empire, His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”
At their greetings, Kamil smiled and told them to sit.
Once Anakin and Hilde were seated, Kamil spoke.
“You remember him, I assume. The son of the Marquis, Serdic Lanoir, who took classes with us. He is your client.”
He was the most shy and quiet child among the social circle members.
As expected, he simply bowed his head quietly in greeting.
“It really was Your Highness’s request.”
At Hilde’s words, the Crown Prince nodded.
“There was something I needed. Regardless, I heard from Elder Oswald that you were badly injured while performing the request. Is your body alright?”
As he said this, the Crown Prince’s gaze turned toward Anakin.
Anakin flinched slightly when his eyes met those vivid violet ones, but he soon regained his composure.
“I am fine. I was injured quite a bit, but there was a skilled healer.”
“Is that so? If I had known you two would take the request, I would have sent someone else.”
Anakin didn’t know if those words were sincere, but he didn’t believe them.
The fact that Anakin and Hilde had taken this request in the first place was suspicious.
‘Wasn’t this all his scheme?’
Anakin felt uneasy but focused back on the conversation.
Kamil, as the main lead of this world, maintained a relaxed attitude even while looking at Anakin.
“How long do you plan to hide that beautiful face, Anakin?”
“…”
Anakin remained silent for a moment at Kamil’s request to see his face, then quietly pulled back his hood.
His strikingly beautiful features were revealed.
His red eyes and slightly upturned, chic eyes were marvelously flamboyant and mysterious, instantly capturing everyone’s gaze.
Even the quiet and stoic Serdic widened his eyes in surprise.
Kamil, too, could not tear his eyes away from Anakin.
“It’s been a long time.”
When Anakin crinkled his eyes and smiled beautifully, none of the boys present could say a word.
It was a beauty so unrealistic they couldn’t even remember what they had been saying a moment ago.
“…”
“Sitting here like this really brings back memories of taking classes with Sir Mikhail.”
Excluding Kamil, it was certainly a nostalgic group.
Having been stuck in Pasadian, Anakin was actually glad to see his old friends.
When his eyes met Kamil’s again, Anakin beamed.
But seeing him treat the past incident as if it had never happened caused a strange anger to slowly bubble up inside.
* * *
