Chapter 4

For a week after that dance party, I didn’t leave my house. I spent my days leisurely, watched over by the kind maids and butlers. During this week, my favorite tandoori chicken was served twice, and for snacks, cookies and pudding alternated. I was grateful for the chef’s thoughtfulness.

For the eight years since I was designated as Prince Alan’s fiancée at the age of eight, I had never had a break. From my education as a princess to maintaining top grades at school, mastering magic, and visiting orphanages, I had been constantly busy. I had never spent my days so leisurely.

Father really didn’t make me do anything.

"The engagement has been dissolved, so you don’t have to worry about anything anymore."

He said this with a smile on the third night after the dance party. The thought that I wouldn’t have to see the prince again made me feel truly relieved. I had been waking up from nightmares every night, thinking about that night. While I didn’t have romantic feelings for the prince, I did have some affection as his fiancée. However, the experience of being confronted by four men had apparently weakened my heart more than I imagined.

"Miss, Lady Alusha is here. What would you like me to do?"

The maid, Karina, knocked on the door hesitantly.

"Thank you. It’s fine. If it’s Miss Alusha."

I replied.

Miss Alusha, my magic teacher, is a very fair teacher. While the school sings the praises of equality, she is the only one in the school who calls both the prince and me by our first names.

I went to the parlor with Karina.

"Miss Alusha."

"…Alice."

Miss Alusha looked at me for a moment, but quickly turned her eyes away.

"I’m sorry I couldn’t help you at the dance party."

"No, no. When you shouted at the prince, you saved me."

Yes, when I was so anxious and didn’t know what to do, Miss Alusha shouted at the prince. It was such a relief.

"…If I had arrived earlier."

"No! No, Miss Alusha. I heard that the dance hall was under a sacred light magic spell. You could only come at that moment."

This time, Miss Alusha looked at me.

"You knew…"

"Only light magic can break a light magic barrier."

Miss Alusha, who is always fair, just, and straightforward. There is no one more suitable to wield light magic.