The Princess Enjoys the Festival
"Wow…!!"
A low exclamation escaped Jade's lips as she observed the countless people crowding the streets and the numerous stalls lining them.
"Seeing it like this, everything really looks different."
She, who had always looked down on others from a high place, was now seeing the world at the same eye level as ordinary people for the first time. It was likely that everything appeared new and fascinating to her.
"Princess. Please don't go too far ahead."
"I'm sorry. I seem to have gotten a bit too excited."
Jade nodded at Leje's words and, with a faint smile, pulled up the sunglasses that were hiding her face.
She was currently wearing a wide-brimmed white hat and a white dress to match.
Perhaps because the violet eyes, a symbol of the royal family, were hidden, the noble aura she usually exuded was significantly diminished.
However, despite that, the dignity and grace she emanated still stood out among the ordinary people.
"I'm grateful to both of you. If it weren't for you two, I wouldn't have even dreamed of sneaking out like this."
"Don't mention it. We're simply doing our duty as subjects of the Kingdom."
"I wish the other nobles would follow your example."
Jade let out a soft chuckle at Leje's calm reply and continued down the street, with Rudell and Leje following behind her.
And so…
"Oh… Amazing. I didn't know things like this existed…"
"How does this work? Like this…?"
"Did you see that!? He breathed fire without even being a mage!?"
Several hours passed as Jade enjoyed the festival, blending in with the crowd…
"I like this snack. I should ask the royal chef to learn the recipe."
As the sun began to set, Jade's eyes sparkled as she ate a crepe filled with cream.
It was a scene that would shock anyone who didn't know her, but Rudell and Leje silently followed behind.
They were far beyond being surprised by such things; their relationship with her was already anything but ordinary.
-Ding!! Ding!!
"Princess, wouldn't it be best to return now?"
As the bell signaling six o'clock in the evening rang out, Rudell spoke to Jade upon hearing it.
According to the pre-arranged schedule, it was almost time for her to return.
"Has it already been that long?"
Jade spoke in a regretful tone, carefully finishing the rest of her crepe before looking at Rudell and Leje.
"I'm sorry to ask this of you both, but there's one last place I'd like to go. Would that be alright?"
"Certainly…"
"If it's what the Princess desires…"
It was a request that couldn't be refused in the first place.
Rudell and Leje nodded at her words.
"Thank you so much, both of you."
Jade gave a faint smile at their response and soon began to walk towards a certain location.
Simultaneously, Rudell and Leje followed behind her.
* * *
There was a place within the academy that, with the exception of a very select few, no one knew existed.
It was only natural, as that place had been closed off for more than a decade.
"This is…?"
A bewildered voice escaped Leje's lips as she looked at the scene before her.
A path overgrown with weeds and the remains of a nearly collapsed building.
Only the sounds of the bustling festival in the distance indicated that this place was still part of the academy grounds.
"The abandoned Old School Building. Those who know about this place call it that."
"Is this really the place?"
It was natural for her to have such doubts.
After all, the place the Princess had come to, even going so far as to break her own schedule, was this ruin.
Not just Leje, but anyone who didn't know the circumstances would react the same way.
"Yes, this is the place."
Jade replied to her question with a faint smile and walked down the weed-covered path.
A moment later, Jade stopped as she reached a certain spot.
"We're here. It's right here."
"This is…"
Compared to the surrounding ruins, this building's original form was relatively well-preserved.
It was the main building of the abandoned Old School Building.
It was also a place where irreplaceable memories resided for Jade.
"Let's go in."
"W-Wait a moment!?"
"What is it, Princess Lagrind?"
Just as Jade was about to step inside, Leje's urgent voice made her turn around with a puzzled expression.
"Wouldn't it be dangerous? It looks dangerous at a glance…"
Cracks were visible throughout the building, and some exterior walls had actually collapsed.
If Jade were to enter such a place and the building collapsed, injuring her, Leje and Rudell would not be able to escape responsibility.
However…
"It'll probably be fine."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
Leje looked at Rudell with a dumbfounded expression at his following words.
"This building… I think it has Preservation magic cast on it."
"Preservation magic? On the entire building?"
"As expected of Young Master Weinstein."
Behind Leje, who spoke in disbelief, Jade nodded.
Preservation magic was a type of magic that, in the absence of external interference, absorbed natural mana to protect objects within its range from deterioration, weathering, decay, and the effects of time.
In other words, it was magic that completely stopped the flow of time for an object, and as such, the cost of using it was enormous.
To cast such magic on an entire building meant that Jade's attachment to this place was that significant.
"Well, now that your questions are answered, shall we go in?"
Jade stepped into the building, and Leje and Rudell followed behind her.
"So this is what the old school building looked like…"
Leje looked around with interest at the different appearance compared to the current school building…
'It's about time they showed up…'
Rudell, walking down the hallway while thinking this, checked the situation outside the window.
There was still no sign of the Cult making a move.
It would be great if they just let this pass, but the chances of that were low.
If your enemy, with ample forces at their disposal, walks right up to your doorstep, would you let that opportunity slip?
No one in their right mind would.
"We're here. It's this one."
A moment later, Jade stopped and opened a worn wooden door.
With a familiar creak, the door opened, and what appeared before them was a classroom so well-preserved that it could be used immediately with just a little bit of repair.
"..."
Jade entered the classroom with a wistful expression and headed towards the desk at the very back by the window.
A desk that seemed particularly well-preserved compared to the others.
Jade sat down and gently traced the surface of the desk with a gaze that seemed to be reminiscing about old memories.
"Sister…"
A low voice then escaped her lips.
The original owner of that seat was the former First Princess of the Prusel Kingdom and Jade's older sister.
Princess Spinel Mary Perun Prussel, who had passed away in an accident ten years ago.
"..."
Rudell couldn't help but wear a bitter expression as he watched Jade's face, lost in old memories.
Most people believed that she had died in an accident.
And Jade was no different.
But the truth was different from what she knew.
Spinel's death was not an accident, but an assassination.
And it was none other than the Death Eater Cult that was responsible.
'I can't let that happen again…'
If Jade were to die here, the future would be set in stone as a tragedy.
Rudell had a reason to prevent that, no matter what.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Huh? Nothing much."
"Nothing much? You had a seriously grim expression on your face."
"You must have seen wrong."
Rudell shook his head in response to Leje, who narrowed her eyes and questioned him.
"Well then, let's head back. If we're any later, Ferris will turn the entire academy upside down looking for me."
At the same time, Jade stood up from her seat and spoke with a faint smile.
Rudell and Leje started walking, and Jade followed them out of the abandoned Old School Building.
And so, the three of them exited the Old School Building…
"..."
Jade looked back at the Old School Building, as if still feeling some lingering attachment, but quickly changed her expression as if nothing had happened.
"Thank you both so much for today, for indulging my whims."
"It was nothing."
"If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask."
Rudell and Leje responded to her words and bowed lightly.
At that moment…
"No, there won't be a next time for you."
"Who's there!?"
Rudell and Leje shouted and blocked Jade's path at the voice coming from behind them.
What appeared before their eyes was a man.
A man clad in a dark black robe.
"I really am lucky, aren't I? To have the jackpot fall right into my lap."
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"That's none of your business."
The man responded to Leje's question, who had drawn her sword, and flicked his finger in the air.
"You're all going to die here."
At the same time, a black shadow began to loom over them.
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