He heard the sound of the door closing.
Only then did Nigel look down at the glass he was holding.
“…Ha.”
He planned to return and drink it after his conversation with Veil ended quickly… but just in case, maybe he should take it with him. He might need to drink the medicine urgently.
Without hesitation, he walked to his desk. Then he pulled out a small silver portable flask from deep inside the desk drawer. He carefully transferred the medicine from the glass into the small vial.
Glug glug glug.
If he carried it like this, it would be convenient to take with him.
***
Soon, the promised time Veil Khalid had mentioned approached.
Nigel let out a big sigh as if he had no choice, then headed to the wardrobe. When he opened the wardrobe door, the first thing that caught his eye was the navy blue dress uniform box Rowen had left last night.
Nigel deliberately turned his gaze away from it and reached toward the very back of the wardrobe. There was a dress uniform he hadn’t worn even once since coming to Kaiserion Academy.
It was a style he didn’t favor wearing, so it was completely new, but he had kept it thinking there might be a suitable occasion for it someday. Now seemed like the perfect time for it.
What he pulled out was a dark gray suit with almost no decoration, far from flashy.
Creak—
Nigel opened the window. It was to gauge the atmosphere outside the dormitory building before going out.
Just then.
Shwoooom—
The murmuring noise and the sound of music being played from somewhere indiscernible hit his ears.
Bang! Pa-ba-ba-bang!
Brilliant magical fireworks shot up, cutting through the night sky and bursting. Bang, bang, bang. As the enormous fireworks painted the dark sky like a canvas, cheers erupted from here and there.
The Academy was already thoroughly immersed in the festival atmosphere. The eve of Mardinia, which had been prepared for months. Everyone was excited with anticipation for the festival that would begin tomorrow.
—”Wow! Look over there!”
—”Let’s hurry. I heard the spots by the lake are the best.”
Even from Nigel’s second-floor dormitory window, he could see students walking as if skipping with joy. His expression was coldly sunken.
He had prepared harder for the Mardinia festival than anyone else, but there was no enjoyment in the process. Rather, now that the festival eve had arrived, he even felt relieved. Once the festival began, both the Student Council’s responsibilities and his obsession with proving himself to the Emperor would all be resolved. So.
‘Let’s just endure a little longer.’
Nigel repeated this to himself inwardly while tightly gripping the silver mask Veil Khalid had tossed to him.
Nigel tidied his appearance in front of the mirror. And finally, he put on the silver mask. As the cold metal covered his face, the noble Crown Prince Nigel disappeared from the mirror, and a strange man harboring secrets stood there.
Just in case, he even took the pouch containing the Headmaster’s scales before finally opening his dormitory room door and stepping out. He chose the quietest back alleys possible to avoid the crowds.
Step, step.
Perhaps because he hadn’t drunk the medicine Eden Lake had given him, his body felt heavy. He also felt as if a subtle but faint headache was jabbing at his temples.
He didn’t plan to be out for long anyway. After his conversation with Veil Khalid ended, he could return and drink it—that would be sufficient.
‘The culprit must be among this commotion too.’
Nigel’s cold gaze swept over the people passing by from behind his mask.
Everyone was smiling. Even while Nigel had been turned into a frog, teetering between life and death, the world had been this peaceful and joyful—this fact gave him a strange sense of deprivation. Born into the imperial family, he had never envied anyone until now, but at this moment, he desperately envied the students enjoying the festival ordinarily.
‘No, once I find the culprit, I can return to my normal life too.’
The night air was excited with the festival’s fervor, but Nigel’s footsteps were heavier and colder than ever.
After passing through the forest path, his view opened wide and a massive lake appeared.
8 PM. Mirror Lake, north of the Academy.
Having reached the place he’d promised to meet Veil Khalid, Nigel blended into the bustling crowd and searched for someone with his eyes.
The night of the Mardinia eve festival, the biggest of Kaiserion’s annual events, was splendid. The lake’s surface played the greatest role in creating the atmosphere of the eve party venue. Silvanus Dragon had cast magic just for this one day.
Stride, stride. Nigel’s long legs stepped onto the water’s surface.
The ripples that should have been lapping under normal circumstances were frozen smooth like a giant obsidian mirror for this night only. People wouldn’t sink even when stepping on it, but with each step, blue waves spread out from beneath the surface—a strange and beautiful magic. Above that massive lake, thousands of magical lanterns floated by students from the Magic Department, flowing like the Milky Way.
“Woaah…!”
Hundreds of students wearing masks gasped in admiration as they walked gliding across the lake. A magnificent orchestral melody echoed through the night air, and every time fancy dress hems and tailcoats brushed the water, afterimages of light bloomed up dreamily. It was truly a dreamlike scene.
‘…Where is he.’
Nigel suppressed his irritation inwardly and adjusted his mask.
Thanks to covering his face with the silver mask, no one recognized that he was the Crown Prince.
Just as he was clicking his tongue and looking around.
“You’re late.”
A languid voice that scratched at his ear came from behind him. Nigel immediately turned his head sharply.
Ornately decorated dress uniform, and a red jeweled mask that only covered half his face. Even with half covered, the arrogance and leisure that couldn’t be hidden. Anyone could tell it was Veil Khalid.
The bastard was standing slightly away from the noisy crowd, leaning crookedly against a railing installed by the lakeside, swirling a champagne glass. The amber eyes beyond the mask had accurately found Nigel, who was wearing a mask.
“…If you’d spoken just a little later, I would have just left.”
Nigel answered in a voice quieter than usual, conscious of his surroundings. Hearing that, Veil smiled, lifting his lips as if finding this entire situation very amusing.
“Good timing. I have luck in these kinds of things.”
Veil placed the champagne glass he was holding with a thunk on top of a railing decoration and walked toward Nigel.
Then he casually reached out his hand. Confirming that he was beginning to move his fingers in earnest to draw a magic circle, Nigel irritably swatted Veil’s hand away with a smack. Because of that, the magic circle Veil had been drawing in the air disappeared with a whoosh.
“…Prince. Can’t you trust me a little? I’m helping you like this right now.”
Veil’s voice as he spoke as if wronged was mixed with playfulness. But Nigel replied coldly.
“I really hate magic touching my body without permission.”
“How picky.”
After saying that, Veil added an explanation as if he had no choice.
“I was just going to change your hair color a little. Even if height and build are similar, if the hair color is just a bit different, ordinary people won’t notice.”
“……”
Nigel pressed his lips tightly shut. No matter how much the mask covered his entire face, he had been anxious. Until now, he’d roughly blended into the crowd of students heading to the lake, but having arrived at the party venue, he noticed that because the lake was quite wide, there was enough space to be conscious of other people. As Veil Khalid said, it seemed safer to change his hair color at least.
“Makes sense, right?”
Veil Khalid smiled with his eyes folded in half. So I’m going to put my hand on you? Nigel let Veil’s fingers draw a small magic circle before his eyes again.
Immediately, he felt something like very weak static electricity sweep across the area near his head.
“Ta-da.”
Had there been a time when he’d seen those amber eyes at such close range? Probably this was the second time since that desert class. When he used magic, his eyes sparkled brightly once before returning to normal. This was a fact Nigel would have never known for eternity if this hadn’t happened.
The static-like feeling had already completely disappeared, but Nigel unnecessarily ran his fingers through his hair roughly to shake off that energy. Veil, who had been watching that with a peculiar expression, gestured with his chin toward the center of the stage.
“How long are you going to stay here? Even though I changed your hair color, if you stay like this, you’re just perfect for attracting attention.”
He was right. The railing area was tucked away, but the two men’s build and atmosphere were strangely attracting gazes even with masks on. When Nigel frowned, Veil suddenly held out his hand.
“Let’s go. We won’t get caught if we blend in.”
“…Don’t tell me.”
“If you came as a partner, you have to earn your keep. You wanted to check the bracelet, didn’t you?”
A silver chain bracelet jangled on the wrist Veil showed him. Nigel hesitated for a moment. The moment he took that hand, it felt like he’d be swept up in Veil Khalid’s pace.
But there was no choice.
Having even lied to Rowen to come here, he couldn’t return empty-handed. Nigel gritted his teeth and took Veil’s hand.
Thud.
Unlike the cold outside air, Veil’s palm was burning hot. And the moment that hand made contact—
Bzzzzt—!
The bracelet wrapped around Veil’s wrist began to vibrate violently while emitting a red light.
