“Wow…!!”
The streets were filled with countless people and lined with stalls.
As Jade observed the scene, a low gasp escaped her lips.
“Looking at this, everything really does seem different.”
She, who had always looked down on others from a high place, was now experiencing the world at eye level with ordinary people for the first time.
Everything must look so unique to her…
“Princess, please don’t get too far ahead.”
“I’m sorry, I guess I got a bit too excited without realizing.”
Nodding at Leje’s words, Jade slipped on her sunglasses with a soft smile.
Right now, she was wearing a wide-brimmed white hat and a matching white dress.
Perhaps because her noble violet eyes were concealed, the noble atmosphere she usually exuded was significantly diminished.
Yet, despite that, the elegance and grace she carried stood out among ordinary people.
“I’m really grateful to you two. I couldn’t have dreamt of sneaking out like this if it weren’t for you.”
“Please don’t mention it, it’s just part of our duties as subjects of the kingdom.”
“I really wish other nobles would take a page from your book.”
With a quiet laugh at Leje’s calm reply, Jade continued down the path, followed closely by Rudell and Leje.
And then…
“Oh wow… This is incredible. I never knew such things existed…”
“How does this work? Like, like this…?”
“Did you just see that!? They spit fire and they’re not even mages!?”
Hours passed as Jade mingled with the crowd, absorbing the festival atmosphere…
“I really like this snack. I should ask the royal chef for the recipe.”
As the sun began to set, Jade’s eyes sparkled as she enjoyed a cream-filled crepe.
To an unsuspecting observer, it would have been a shocking sight, but Rudell and Leje silently followed behind her.
There was no room for surprise; their relationship had already been anything but ordinary.
Ding!! Ding!!
“Princess, don’t you think it’s time to head back?”
The chime of the clock announcing six in the afternoon rang out, and hearing it, Rudell addressed Jade.
According to the schedule they had been informed of, it was time for her to return soon.
“Has it really gotten that late already?”
Jade’s voice carried a tone of regret as she carefully finished the remaining crepe and looked towards Rudell and Leje.
“I’m sorry to bring this up, but there’s one last place I want to go. Is that okay?”
“Of course…”
“If it’s what the princess wants…”
There was no way to turn down a request like that.
In response to her words, Rudell and Leje nodded.
“Thank you so much, you two.”
With their answers, Jade smiled softly and began to walk towards a certain location.
At the same moment, Rudell and Leje followed closely behind her.
*
There was a place within the Academy that, apart from a very select few, no one knew existed.
And the reason was that this place had been closed off more than ten years ago.
“This is…?”
As Leje looked at the scenery before her, an empty, dazed voice slipped out.
A place overgrown with grass and the ruins of nearly collapsed buildings remained.
Only the distant sounds of the lively festival indicated that this place was actually part of the Academy.
“This is the closed Old Church School. Those who know this place call it that.”
“Is this really the right place?”
It was completely natural for her to have such doubts.
After all, for a princess to skip her schedule and come to a place like this ruins was unexpected.
Anyone who didn’t know the circumstances would react like Leje did.
“Yes, this is exactly it.”
In response to her question, Jade walked along the overgrown path with a gentle smile.
After a while, she stopped at a certain spot.
“We’ve arrived. It’s right here.”
“This is…”
Compared to the surrounding ruins, the building still stood with its shape intact.
This was the main building of the closed Old Church School.
For Jade, it was also a place filled with unforgettable memories.
“Let’s go inside.”
“Wait, just a moment!?”
“What is it, Duchess Lagrind?”
As Jade was about to take a step, Leje called out in a hurried tone, looking perplexed.
“Isn’t it dangerous? It looks hazardous just by looking at it…”
The building was already showing signs of cracks, and the walls were visibly crumbling.
If Jade were to enter here and get injured in a collapse, Rudell and Leje wouldn’t be able to evade responsibility.
However…
“I think it’ll be okay.”
“Huh? What does that mean?”
In response to Rudell’s words, Leje looked at him with a confused expression.
“This building… It seems to be under Preservation Magic.”
“Preservation Magic? The whole building?”
“That’s typical of Count Weinstein.”
Behind Leje, who spoke in disbelief, Jade nodded.
Preservation Magic was a spell that, in the absence of external interference, absorbed the natural mana to protect objects within its range from deterioration, decay, or corruption over time.
In other words, it was magic that halted the flow of time for an object, and as such, the cost of using such magic was immense.
For the entire building to be imbued with such magic implied a deep attachment Jade had for this place.
“Now, since that question is settled, shall we head inside?”
Jade stepped into the building, and Rudell and Leje followed behind her.
“This is what the old school looked like…”
Leje looked around, intrigued by the different appearance compared to the current academy…
‘It should show up soon…’
As he walked down the hallway pondering, Rudell looked outside.
There were no signs of the church moving just yet.
It would be great if it stayed that way, but the chances were slim.
With adequate forces ready, would the target willingly walk right in front of them?
Only a fool would let that opportunity slip away.
“We’ve arrived. This is it.”
After a moment, Jade stopped and opened the old wooden door.
As the door creaked open, the two of them were met with a classroom that seemed well-preserved enough to use with just a little bit of repair.
“…”
With a nostalgic expression, Jade walked into the classroom and headed to the back seat by the window.
This desk, in particular, felt exceptionally well-preserved compared to the others.
As Jade sat there, she gently swept her eyes over the desk, looking as if she were reminiscing about old memories.
“Sister…”
Then, a low voice escaped her lips.
The original occupant of that seat was Spinel Mary Perun Prucel, the first princess of the Prucel Kingdom and Jade’s sister.
She had died in an accident ten years ago.
“…”
Observing Jade’s face lost in memories, Rudell couldn’t help but wear a bittersweet expression.
Most people believed her death was due to an accident.
And Jade was no exception.
But the truth was different from what she understood.
Spinel’s death was not an accident, but an assassination.
By none other than the Church of the Eaters of Death.
‘I can’t let that happen again…’
If Jade were to die here, the future would surely become nothing but decayed matter.
Rudell had ample reason to stop that from occurring by any means.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Huh? I’m not thinking anything in particular.”
“Not thinking anything? You look incredibly serious.”
“I must have been mistaken.”
Rudell shook his head in response to Leje’s probing question.
“Alright, I guess we should head back. If we don’t, Paris will comb the entire academy looking for me.”
At that, Jade stood up with a soft smile.
Rudell and Leje began to move, and Jade followed them out of the abandoned Old Church School.
As the three of them emerged from the Old Church School…
“…”
Still lingering with regret, Jade looked back at the building but soon changed her expression as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you so much, you both, for indulging my stubbornness today.”
“It wasn’t a tough task.”
“Feel free to call on us anytime you need help again.”
Rudell and Leje replied graciously as they slightly bowed.
At that moment…
“No, there won’t be another time for you.”
“Who are you!?”
Shouting as they stood before Jade, Rudell and Leje turned back to see a man.
A man dressed in a dark black robe stood before them.
“I really feel lucky today. A pumpkin just rolled right into my lap.”
“Who are you? What’s your purpose!?
“You don’t need to know that.”
As Leje drew her sword and shouted at the man, he snapped his fingers into the air.
“You all will die here.”
At that moment, a black shadow began to loom above them.
