Tap, tap, tap—
The day started with a ruckus.
Tap, tap, tap—
Around dawn, a fluffy white bird was pecking at my window, silhouetted against the bright sunlight.
It was a beautiful scene, but I had a headache.
“Ugh…”
How much did I drink last night? I can’t recall.
Right, that means I drank enough to forget.
Tap, tap, tap— tap, tap, tap—
The bird kept knocking at the window. Even when ignored, it wouldn’t stop. It seemed like it had to reach me.
Thunk.
Still dazed on the couch, I flicked my fingers and opened the window. For a mage, using telekinesis was a piece of cake.
The bird hopped onto my thigh energetically. Immediately, it tilted its head and stared up at me, as if trying to identify my face.
I got into a staring contest with it, narrowing my brows.
“A letter?”
Clutched in its beak was a neatly folded letter. Even a passing glance revealed it to be a luxurious correspondence.
Before I could even ponder what kind of letter it was, the bird spread its wings and jumped out the window, leaving just the letter and me.
I picked up the letter with my fingertips.
It had been ages since I touched something like this. It felt like forever since this medium had been part of my life.
Swish—!
The letter unfurled on its own.
====================
The day when imagination finally becomes reality. Such a day truly exists.
Magic is about bringing imagination to life.
Those were the words you said during my first lesson, my magic master.
Come to think of it, back then, I was too scared to meet your gaze. You were nearly twice my height, right? With such a sharp look, you never smiled.
Seems like those who specialize in ice magic are all like that—cold as ice and sharp as icicles. It terrified my young heart.
Training was harsh enough to make me cry, and my whole body ached, but now, every time my achievements are recognized, I realize afresh it’s thanks to your rigorous training that I am who I am today.
So, how are you? I think I’m doing well.
The burden of the imperial family was overwhelming, but surprisingly, I’ve grown accustomed to it. Am I now a proper member of the imperial family, an adult?
Doing what I have to do is boring but not difficult. But sometimes, when I’m weary, I occasionally imagine, just occasionally, what it would be like if I could contact you.
And that imagination has now turned into reality. Just like magic.
…If the letter contents are as I imagined, will you tease me?
Anyway, you managed to propose to me. Thank you.
I opened this letter after staying up for two nights, and because of that, I couldn’t sleep an additional day. At first, I couldn’t believe it. Was someone playing a cruel prank on me?
It wasn’t a joke. After reading it several times, I barely managed to believe it.
Of course, even after I believed it, my head hurt a lot. I know better than anyone how much harm I caused you in the imperial family. Plus, I wondered if I was a worthy woman… I pondered countless times.
After much deliberation, I could finally arrive at a decision.
Yes. I will become your woman.
But everything has its time, right? This isn’t exactly a situation to hold a wedding. The empire and the imperial family’s situation aren’t great.
When you closed the door to the demon realm, I thought eternal peace would come, but recently, erosion phenomena are occurring all over again.
Now, all five of us princesses are of age to inherit the throne. Thanks to that, the atmosphere feels perilous, like walking on thin ice.
On the day I ascend as the emperor, let’s definitely get married.
Do you have any idea how much effort I put into secretly sending this one reply? You’ll be shocked when you hear it.
…I wrote this calmly, but now I keep thinking of you, and it’s quite troubling. Why must it be now? You should have contacted me sooner.
I’ll keep my complaints to this level. Like an adult, like a mage, like a princess.
You said everything is like ice; it sparkles but will eventually melt someday, right? That’s not true. The magic, words, and actions you showed me are still intact and haven’t melted away.
I’ll pray that our meeting is hastened, even just a little.
Thank you. Really, thank you.
====================
I set the letter down and crossed my arms in thought.
Even after thinking multiple times, there was only one thing that stood out clearly.
“…Another assassin?”
Ice magic, the feat of closing the demon realm’s door, having been a tutor to the princesses in the imperial family, and the behind-the-scenes work for the royal family… Those are facts, but all of it is top secret. It’s not information anyone should know.
The problem is, I have no memory of proposing to anyone.
“It seems quite the high-level guy has attached himself this time.”
I chuckled before putting on my outer garment. Time to grab a hangover remedy.
Is an assassin really that big of a deal? The hangover is the real issue.
The town was eerily bustling.
As I made my way, just like any other day, to the general store, there were an unusual number of people. It’s not surprising given the weather was so nice.
But the issue was their expressions and whispers. They didn’t look like they were out enjoying something good.
More like they had something weighing heavily on their minds.
Advanced sensitivity to energy applies to hearing too. Without even trying, I began to catch snippets of people’s whispers.
“So, someone contacted the royal family?”
“It’s a disaster. Why would anyone do something so reckless?”
“Considering the emperor’s personality, the entire town is in trouble. Real trouble.”
It was astonishing news, causing my head to snap in their direction. Those who met my gaze flinched.
“Hey.”
“Uh, Jekiel. What’s up?”
“Was what you just said true?”
“Uh, yeah. Someone told the royal family. That’s why everyone’s worried. You know the reason, right?”
Of course, I know. How could I not?
“…Whoever it is isn’t all there.”
The imperial family— the highest of the high beneath the heavens.
Years ago, the empire changed its policy to ‘definitely’ read every correspondence that approaches the imperial family. It’s a well-known story without anyone left unknowing.
All to listen carefully to every letter? Not a chance.
It means that those sending nonsense will face merciless punishment. It means not to bother sending it unless it’s important. In fact, after the change, all communication towards the royal family plummeted.
Or rather, it’s safe to say it nearly disappeared.
As I kept walking, there were particularly many people staring at me.
Some even dared to strike up a conversation.
“Hey Jekiel, did you send something to the royal family?”
“Speak sense.”
“If not, I’m sorry. But you’re the most unpredictable person I know. The others are all too predictable.”
“Well…”
After shuffling my feet, I finally reached the general store.
A red-haired figure in an apron was busy sweeping the floor. The shop’s owner, Apple, was cleaning vigorously.
“Apple.”
As I called her name, she turned around.
“Give me a hangover remedy. The strongest you have.”
“…”
Time seemed to freeze as Apple stared at me for a moment.
“…!”
Then her eyes bulged three times bigger.
What followed was unbelievably swift. She rushed to the door, slamming it shut with a bang! After locking it, she double-checked, almost frantic.
Then she looked up at me and asked,
“Jekiel, what happened?!”
“Just as you see, I’m suffering from a hangover. My head hurts.”
“Not that! What about the other thing?!”
She jumped up, her pale face filled with concern.
Mr. Hangover Headache was just annoyed.
“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”
“Jokes? Do I look like I’m joking?”
Apple looked utterly flabbergasted.
“What’s going on?”
“What’s going on? You don’t remember what happened last night?”
“Last night?”
“Really, really… You don’t remember…?”
Apple grabbed her hair tightly.
“I knew it would come to this! I should have talked you out of it! What were you thinking? The hangover isn’t the issue here!”
And she aimed the duster at me like a sword.
“You wrote a letter last night, remember? You said you’d send it to the princesses! I tried stopping you so many times, but you didn’t listen!”
“Me?”
That was a chilling joke.
Or maybe it wasn’t a joke after all.
Memories began flooding in haphazardly.
“….”
Yeah, I think that happened.
In my desperate role with a terminal illness, feeling wronged for dedicating all my time to the royal family, I must have gotten drunk and blurted out a proposal. Not just any ordinary woman, but a princess.
I pressed my palm against my throbbing forehead.
“Wait a second, what about that letter from the morning…?”
“Letter? What letter? Did you get a reply? What did it say? Did it say they’d kill you?”
Apple jumped again.
“Tell me! Are they going to wipe our village off the map? Aaah! A prank letter to a princess! Because of you, all the people in this village will die!”
I couldn’t rush to answer.
It wasn’t that; there was something else that mattered more.
“Apple. What did you just mumble?”
“Are you going to get mad at me? Is this even the time for that? You drunken fool!”
“Not that. You said ‘to the princesses’, not ‘to the princess’?”
My expression must have been serious.
As Apple met my gaze, her face slowly drained of color.
“Uh…? Now that I think about it, you wrote five letters…?”
Then, with a pale face, she asked me,
“W-what did the replies say…?”
No. More important than the content of the replies was something else.
“….”
I swallowed hard.
…Out of the five, who was it? Who on earth received my proposal?
My previously uneventful life was about to face a massive tsunami.
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