Veil’s face without the mask was far more unfamiliar than usual. That vivid red hair that stood out especially among the neat black-haired imperials, and the even darker red eyelashes. The amber eyes that seemed languidly relaxed yet followed Nigel’s every movement no longer contained the hollow rivalry of competitors.
“Already dressed?”
Veil’s low voice echoed in the quiet corridor.
Nigel felt a strange heat as if his skin was burning every time the guy’s gaze lingered beyond his shirt collar.
“Move. I’m going back first.”
Nigel snapped more coldly than usual to maintain his composure. But Veil only smiled bitterly and neither blocked the way nor grabbed Nigel.
“Fine, do as you please. You look tired today, so I’ll let you go for now.”
Veil slightly moved aside and patted Nigel’s shoulder.
“Go get some good rest, Prince. Call me anytime if you need me.”
I hope that won’t happen.
Instead of answering, Nigel roughly pushed past Veil.
Guardian’s Eye, still pulsing red on his wrist and transmitting Veil’s heartbeat, was resentfully hot.
The guy’s heartbeat was terribly stable, unlike Nigel’s own.
Even while crossing the corridor and moving away, he felt Veil’s persistent gaze piercing his back.
Nigel walked quickly through the dormitory corridor.
The Academy, whose festival excitement hadn’t subsided, was still noisy, but Nigel was expressionless as if completely uninterested in the excited atmosphere around him.
When he came to his senses, he was already standing in front of his dormitory room door.
He had walked without thinking, but unconsciously found his room. If he just entered his room and ended the day like this…
Just then.
One face flashed past Nigel’s eyes.
Nigel stopped his hand that was about to grab the doorknob.
…Rowen.
He recalled Rowen’s blue eyes that he’d met beneath the lakeside stage.
I need to explain.
Nigel sighed and turned his steps.
Then he headed toward Rowen’s dormitory room. Their rooms were close enough that there was no need to go between different floors or corridors.
Normally, Rowen would have rushed out and opened wide before he even knocked. But the door now before Nigel was blocking the way like a cliff colder and more solid than ever.
“……”
What should I explain?
Lies only birth bigger lies. But his current self had neither the qualification to face Rowen nor the leisure to appease him. Though he’d acted unconcerned in the corridor just now, it still felt like Veil’s passionate gaze remained on his body.
Today… just sorting that out would be overwhelming enough.
…Let’s just tell him tomorrow.
Nigel withdrew his outstretched hand. It might be cowardly avoidance, but this was the best he could do.
He turned his steps again and returned to his room as if fleeing into darkness. Nigel, who returned to his room, collapsed onto the bed without even taking off his shirt or removing the artifact on his wrist.
In his dreams, it somehow felt like Rowen’s blue eyes were chasing him.
***
The magical time arrived—only 3 days in a year when Kaiserion’s gates, thoroughly veiled and called the Empire’s cage, opened wide.
It was festival time at last.
The crowd mixed with tourists flooding in from across the Empire, diplomats dispatched from various countries, and families and friends directly invited by students filled the Academy plaza while continuously bursting into exclamations.
“As expected of Kaiserion. It’s the family’s glory that our child studies in such a spectacle.”
“Look at that magic barrier. Lord Silvanus’s magic remains skillful despite the passing years. One must learn magic in such a place to become the Empire’s greatest mage.”
Among the parents’ prideful conversations, the Empire’s nobles whispered about even more secret and heated topics.
“By the way, is Her Imperial Majesty the Emperor really visiting in person this year?”
“Of course. Wasn’t last year’s visit canceled because the Imperial Palace was so chaotic handling the aftermath of war with the Sihar Kingdom? Perhaps that’s why everyone seems energized this year.”
“Every powerhouse in the Empire is on edge about which department will catch Her Majesty’s eye at this Mardinia. Well, first of all, won’t Her Imperial Majesty most anticipate His Highness the Crown Prince’s achievements?”
As if responding to those cheers, massive magical sculptures symbolizing each department’s pride rose with roars from all sides of the plaza.
The Swordsmanship Department floated thousands of silver practice swords in the air and rotated them nimbly to create the shape of a giant imperial shield, flaunting overwhelming martial power.
Meanwhile, the Magic Department covered the midday sky blazing with sun with magic, creating an unrealistic scene as if brilliant nebulae flowed in a pitch-black night sky, showing off the wonder of intellect.
These were not mere decorative sculptures.
It was truly a festival where departmental pride was at stake, as priority for next year’s festival budget and the Student Council’s full administrative support would be decided based on the results of the competitions unfolding over three days.
Especially this year, there were many department students who held grudges against the Student Council, called the festival’s grim reaper, for mercilessly cutting budgets.
“This year was really tough.”
While some students shed tears of emotion without realizing it.
“…It’s because we fell in ranking last year. I can’t live through another year of shitty school life like this.”
“Right, we can’t lose to those ignorant bastards who just swing swords again!”
There were also students with fierce murderous intent as if they would prove their abilities with this opportunity. They scattered to their respective festival venues.
That scene mixed with joy and fighting spirit was truly a majestic yet chilling spectacle.
Amidst the commotion of the Mardinia festival, Nigel opened his eyes.
A majestic trumpet sound awakened the Academy’s morning.
Along with the brilliant morning sunlight pouring through the window, the dawn’s humid air disappeared as if washed away.
What filled its place instead was the vitality emitted by foreign guests and tens of thousands of students flooding in from across the continent, and the hot fervor of the Mardinia festival.
Though his whole body was stiff from collapsing and falling asleep as if fleeing from Veil’s room last night, his condition wasn’t bad. He instinctively checked his left wrist first.
“…Ha.”
The silver chain was blinking, emitting a faint red light in sync with his pulse. Veil Khalid, that crazy bastard’s words were true. An artifact that could only be released with its owner’s magic power.
Nigel tried pulling the bracelet as if to tear it off, but each time, the bracelet showed no gap as if stuck to his skin. Even trying a knife or other tools would only wound the wrist skin.
There’s no choice.
Nigel clenched his fist once in front of the mirror and quickly dressed in his uniform. Only then could he finally return to being the Empire’s perfect Crown Prince.
The central plaza was teeming with people.
Crystal stairs extending from the plaza to the sky high enough to touch clouds led toward a platform that seemed to fit only one person standing. Distinguished guests from various countries sitting toward the still-empty platform were each buzzing with anticipation.
“Did you see the festival schedule?”
“Yes, I saw it. It clearly said the opening ceremony would start by now, no, 30 minutes ago…”
“Strange. I wonder if something happened?”
At that time, behind the plaza, the Student Council preparing for the festival was in chaos.
“The thing is… the Headmaster has left to collect clouds! Without even giving the opening ceremony speech!”
Because of someone’s desperate cry. With just those words, the entire Student Council stirred.
They were already frantic because the Headmaster who should start the festival hadn’t shown himself even though all the distinguished guests for the Mardinia festival opening ceremony were seated.
Lios Cesare, who had been going around asking various faculty and maids about Silvanus’s whereabouts, widened his eyes and asked.
“What? Are you sure? It’s not a false rumor?!”
“I-I don’t know! I’m telling you I just found out after reading that letter!”
On the platform he pointed to, instead of Headmaster Silvanus, only a single magical letter with butterfly wings was floating.
