From the Middle School Division of the Academy, students can choose their major subjects to graduate.
Among various fields, Amor chose ‘Magic Tools Studies.’
Everyone has mana, but only those who inherit the blood of a wizard can utilize it in the form of magic.
Even the direct children of wizards cannot use magic if they fail to inherit that power.
That’s where ‘magic tools’ come in, allowing ordinary people to enjoy the effects and privileges of magic.
These are tools crafted with magic that enable their users to wield magic.
Amor was very interested in magic tools.
Firstly, her mother was the most powerful archmage in the entire world, throughout all of history.
Since she was young, she had a keen interest in magic, but unfortunately, the emperor’s children did not inherit the blood of wizards.
Thus, Amor opted for magic tools instead.
Magic Tools Studies could also be learned comfortably if one had a talent related to mana.
And fortunately, Amor had such a talent.
This was revealed during her first aptitude test.
“Your mana stored within your body is quite substantial. And your sensitivity to external mana far exceeds the average. At this level, you’re in the top 1%… Have you ever realized that?”
These were the words of Epona, the head of the magic department and former professor.
Magic Tools Studies was a department under the magic faculty.
She was the former head of the Magic Tower and the current deputy head of the Royal Palace’s Wizard Order, also teaching magic at the Academy.
“No, I haven’t felt that way.”
“Since it’s not an easily accessible field during regular studies. It’s a talent that will shine when learning Magic Tools Studies, for sure.”
Thus, Amor began her major in Magic Tools Studies.
Due to the nature of the subject, many students who inherited wizard blood also attended the classes.
In that place, during the first class, Amor met a male student.
He was a third-year student in the middle school division and introduced himself like this.
“I am Alejandro de Cataluna. You may rejoice at having met me.”
“……”
His chin was held high.
A smug smile on his face.
His tone and voice were somewhat nauseating and twisted in a way.
‘He clearly doesn’t know who I am.’
It was a slightly arrogant thought, but Amor was aware of her own fame.
She was a princess, after all.
Yet it seemed the students in other grades did not specifically know who this princess was.
‘I’ve never encountered someone like this; it’s a bit awkward…’
If the young Eliya had been present, she would have looked on with disdain.
However, Amor had grown into a patient and considerate child.
She simply smiled and introduced herself.
“I am Amor…”
“Shh. You don’t need to say the rest. In front of me, anyone is just a dim light.”
‘I wasn’t planning to say anything…’
Strictly speaking, it was prohibited to mention surnames at the academy.
Surnames imply one’s origin.
In other words, they reveal social status, and all students, as well as staff, are only allowed to use their first names.
Yet Alejandro… or whatever his name was, mentioned his surname while cautioning others not to do so.
‘What a strange… No, rather, peculiar and unique individual.’
Amor merely smiled in response.
“Ah, yes.”
What a coincidence that she ended up sitting next to someone like him.
Magic Tools Studies class was going to be tiring.
He was a wizard, after all.
He proudly ignited a small current at his fingertips.
“Look at this. I was born from the blood of a great wizard.”
“Is that so?”
With a mother who could casually part the seas, Amor wasn’t impressed.
Moreover, the electricity dancing on Alejandro’s finger didn’t shine brighter than the fireflies she had seen as a child.
‘There’s an even better wizard in our class…’
He mostly dealt with wind magic and had the ability to lift a person with ease.
Though he was a bit annoying since he always begged to meet the archmage Eliya just once, he was still a good kid.
“Hoo hoo. Are you starting to respect me? It makes sense. The great Emperor Eliya, who saved this world, is the pinnacle of wizards. Therefore, wizards are deserving of respect from everyone. No doubt about it.”
This Alejandro… whatever… seemed to admire and hold affection for her mother.
Though a bit peculiar, he didn’t seem like a bad person.
Amor, unable to be curt with someone who acknowledged her mother, offered a gentle smile.
“Really?”
“……”
In that moment, Amor couldn’t interpret Alejandro’s expression.
*
After finishing the Magic Tools Studies class and heading back, Alejandro blocked Eliya’s path.
“Amor?”
“Yes?”
“I know this is a strange question, but will you answer it?”
“Sure, what is it…?”
“Do you think I’m strange? My way of speaking and such…?”
For a moment, Amor nearly nodded in agreement.
How frightening honesty could be.
Suppressing her reflexive reaction, she just shook her head.
“No.”
She didn’t particularly want to elaborate on it.
Alejandro blankly blinked.
This was a first for him.
He was tall but weak.
A wizard, yet lacking even the talent of a wizard.
As the only son of the noble Cataluna family, famed for its noble lineage, he lived a life full of expectations from many.
Yet, he accomplished nothing.
Though his parents never blamed him, that only made it more miserable.
He thought he would have a chance for change at the equal Academy.
But nothing changed.
He was still just a clueless child who only had his lineage to rely on.
Thus, he became even more obsessed with it.
What he had learned and perfected since childhood was nothing but arrogance backed by social status.
While he understood that this kind of arrogance was wrong, he had no choice but to hide his pathetic self.
At the academy, Alejandro acted arrogantly to escape his pitiful self.
Even if he was laughed at or ostracized behind his back, behaving like that meant he wouldn’t be ignored to his face.
So far, status remained a valid means of communication.
However, Amor did not follow suit.
She looked at him as he was.
She listened to him and recognized him.
He realized.
This is what it feels like to fall in love at first sight.
Amor watched as Alejandro’s expression turned grave.
A sense of foreboding washed over him.
He soon smiled leisurely.
Like a gentleman inviting her to dance, he extended his hand toward her.
That arrogant way of speaking had stuck to him, so he knew no other way to express himself.
“Would you formally date me? As lovers, I mean.”
Amor awkwardly laughed.
“Haha…”
*
Three days after that incident, on the weekend, Amor confided in Eliya about what happened.
“What would you do if you were me, Mom?”
Eliya took a moment to consider her words.
If she were in the situation of her 14-year-old self…?
‘……’
She couldn’t think of a gentle way to handle such a situation suitable to tell her beautiful daughter.
She merely redirected the conversation.
“Rather than what I think, what’s important is what you think, Amor. How do you feel?”
“I don’t like it… If I decline, he might be hurt.”
Unlike herself, who was warm-hearted and considerate, Amor had grown up to be a delicate and thoughtful child.
Eliya stroked Amor’s head and said, “Amor. It might be a difficult thing, but you should also learn how to hurt others. That too is a skill.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yeah, it’s true. If you don’t have that skill, you might end up hurting people more than necessary or even end up hurting yourself.”
Amor slowly nodded her head.
It seemed like a valid statement.
She couldn’t just accept every request or obligation that came her way.
Declining was indeed a skill.
“Think it over carefully. I’ll help you too.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“But what’s their name again?”
“Uh, it was something like Ale… Alejandro? He’s from the Cataluna family.”
“That’s quite a noble lineage. …By the way, keep this under wraps from your father for now. Got it?”
“Okay. Of course.”
Despite the mother and daughter’s careful planning, Judas had overheard everything.
The atmosphere was off when Amor returned today.
And sure enough, something had happened.
He wasn’t trying to eavesdrop.
He was simply sitting in the bedroom, with his senses unusually keen today.
What he heard wasn’t an invasion of privacy but two people on a stroll outside the palace, their conversation reaching his ears.
‘Alejandro, huh….’
He especially remembered that name distinctly.
Since it was about his daughter, he couldn’t meddle too much.
But he couldn’t entirely ignore it either.
What if the other person wasn’t someone who could accept rejection and became clingy?
That was a possibility.
‘Should I take a look at what kind of friend he is…’
*
“Did you hear everything?”
When Eliya returned and grilled him, Judas trembled his shoulders.
“What, what did I hear…?”
“I suspected it, but it’s true.”
“……”
“What are you thinking?”
“What, what do you mean?”
“You have that expression, as if you’re contemplating some mischievous deed.”
“That’s not true, right…?”
Seeing Judas awkwardly lying, Eliya let out a weak laugh.
“It’s better to let Amor handle it on her own.”
“Who said anything about that? Hrum hrum….”
Judas looked away like a guilty puppy.
Eliya stared at him with pressing eyes.
“…Could I at least see his face once?”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“No, just think about it. What if Amor declines, and that Alejandro can’t accept it and starts causing a scene? What then?”
“You’re overly worried.”
“Sometimes, parents can afford to worry about their children. Not too often though.”
“Hmm….”
Eliya looked up at Judas, then shrugged her shoulders.
If she left it as it was, he’d probably toss and turn all night, worried sick.
Better to let him do something, even if just a little.
How many children did they have in their household anyway?
“You can’t scare him or anything.”
“I only want to see his face. Just see his face! Maybe have a light meal while chatting and such…”
“You promised me that, right?”
“Of course.”
Judas nodded firmly.
*
Even on the weekend, academy students could freely use the educational facilities.
Alejandro was reading a book in the reading room.
It was a romance novel based on Eliya and Judas.
There were quite a few novels written about their stories in the world.
Alejandro was an avid fan of such novels.
A love that transcended social status.
A bond forged by saving the world together and ending in fulfillment.
Incredibly beautiful.
Even on his way back to the dormitory from the reading room, he was wrapped up in reminiscing.
“What a truly beautiful story… But novels always end when they get married. What about their children? I’ve heard they’re at the academy, but I’m curious about their names.”
As that thought crossed his mind, someone approached him.
“Alejandro?”
Judging by the attire, it was a staff member.
One of the security personnel composed solely of former knights.
The name on the ID hung around his neck read Shylock.
“Yes, I am Alejandro. How may I assist you…?”
When security staff personally approached someone, it usually didn’t bring good news.
However, the message Shylock brought was different.
The man named Shylock smiled kindly as he spoke.
“A certain female student asked me to deliver a message to you. She’d like to return what you said the other day and invited you to the common dining hall.”
“…!”
Amor immediately sprang to mind.
A grin crept across Alejandro’s face.
“Thank you.”
He politely bowed and quickly made his way to the common dining hall.
‘But wait, can security staff even convey such messages? And the dining hall should be closed by now…’
For a moment, his doubts flashed, then quickly scattered.
The critical point wasn’t that.
As Alejandro walked away, Shylock shook his head bemusedly.
“This is going to be interesting. I want to watch too.”
“Excuse me? Shylock, what are you doing here?”
Hermis approached.
“Why are you smiling? Have you done something weird again?”
“How do you see me…?”
“I think I see you as you are.”
“Come on.”
Shylock shook his head.
Hermis’s words were true to some extent.
He had changed Judas’s message and delivered it in his own way.
‘This should be entertaining… I’ll have to inquire later.’
*
In the academy’s common dining hall.
It’s a place where all students gather during meal times.
Meals are generally provided three times a day.
Breakfast is optional.
If you desire, they can prepare specific dishes as well.
The dining hall is open only until 7 PM, and any food sought after that time must be prepared using the dormitory’s makeshift cooking facilities.
During this time, the dining hall should have been closed, but it was bustling inside.
It sounded like several boys were conversing.
Alejandro found it odd, yet he opened the door.
As he stepped inside, he found the familiar spacious area before him.
The bright lighting remained the same as usual.
The savory aroma of meat wafted through the air, suggesting someone was having a meal.
At this hour?
However, there were unfamiliar shapes in that setting.
Giant… masses occupied the center table.
So massive they resembled a mound, but they were indeed people.
Like a wall, these individuals piled their tables with meat, laughing and chatting vivaciously.
‘Who are these people? Where is Amor…?’
In an instant, those men turned to Alejandro.
They all exuded an intimidating aura.
Some bore frightening scars on their faces or necks.
Alejandro’s gaze reached the far end.
Cold eyes.
Beast-like golden irises stared at him.
‘That person is… the Duke?!’
He suddenly thought how the Duke resembled Amor.
Especially his eyes.
That thought led to an alarming realization.
‘…No way.’
Alejandro grasped the whole truth.
Amor. She was the princess, favored by both the emperor and the Duke.
And here, these giant men were the Royal Guards, the sharpest sword and the sturdiest shield of the empire.
“So you’re Alejandro?”
The Duke, who was also Amor’s father, spoke.
His appearance matched his voice; it was beastly.
It rumbled low.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. You have feelings for our Amor.”
“T-that is, um….”
“What kind of friend are you? I just wanted to know who is interested in my daughter. Have you had dinner? I thought it might be too random just to invite you, so I arranged a meal. Come, sit down.”
“Uh, I-I… uh.”
BANG!
The door swung shut with a loud slam.
The wind had closed it.
Alejandro flinched, hunching his shoulders.
He wanted to escape, but his feet wouldn’t move.
“Why are you so scared? If anyone saw you, they’d think I’m going to eat you. I’m merely curious about the friend who likes my daughter.”
Several massive men, three times Alejandro’s size, stared down at the meager boy.
They too were curious.
Who dared to approach their angelic niece, princess Amor?
Alejandro felt as if he could hardly breathe under their gaze.
At the end of that gaze stood the most fearsome of them all, wearing a gentle smile.
What appeared to be a caring and warm expression felt entirely different to those watching.
“Shall we have a little chat?”
The knife he held for cutting meat glimmered sharply.
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