Chapter 24

Lirika had been eating only light meals for a few days. Just as she was starting to get tired of the food, her mother brought in a custard pudding as a snack, and she cheered.

Rudia looked at Lirika happily munching on the pudding. She thought it was such a delightful thing to see her child eating.

"By the way, Mother, you look so beautiful today."

Lirika's words made Rudia chuckle.

"I'm going to the Grand Theater soon."

"The Grand Theater?"

"Yes, it's where they perform plays and operas."

"Are you going with His Majesty?"

"No, I'm going alone today. I hope Lirika can come with me next time."

After the Grand Theater, which had been destroyed by fire, was rebuilt.

Rudia swallowed her next words and kissed Lirika's round head.

"Then, I'll be off."

"I'll see you off."

Lirika put down her pudding and stood up.

"I'm completely better now. I'm strong. I don't need to stay in the room anymore."

Seeing Lirika's earnest plea, Rudia smiled. It seemed that recently Brin had been overly protective of her.

"Alright. Shall we go to the carriage together?"

"Yes!"

"Change into something comfortable."

Rudia looked at Brin and gently pushed Lirika's back. Lirika happily followed Brin, leaving her pudding behind.

It had been a while since she went out.

She changed her clothes and put on the new silver-buttoned boots she had made.

The sound of the new heels was pleasant. It was also nice to walk through the palace holding hands with her mother.

Her mother, dressed for an outing to the theater today, was truly, truly beautiful.

'I have to make and wear the same clothes as Mother when I grow up.'

The small hat tilted slightly on her golden hair was also beautifully charming.

Lirika squeezed the hand she was holding. She was proud that such a beautiful person was her mother.

The carriage was already prepared, and to her surprise, Altears was standing there waiting.

Rudia asked in surprise.

"Are you coming with us? No, you're not dressed for it. You're not going to the Grand Theater with me in that outfit, are you?"

"No, I just came to see you off. I can't bear to let my lovely wife go far away."

He smiled. Rudia also smiled in response.

"It's hard to let such a beautiful wife go out."

He reached out and gently stroked her emerald earrings. Rudia smiled faintly.

"I always come back to you."

'Wow.'

Lirika was amazed.

She knew that they were in a contractual relationship. So, this was just one of the contractual duties.

How should she put it?

Just the touch of His Majesty on Mother made her cheeks feel warm.

She glanced around and saw that the servants nearby had similar expressions.

"I know, but always, you."

His Majesty's voice grew lower and softer as he leaned close to her ear and whispered something, making her blush and giggle.

Her hand gently held His Majesty's arm.

Altears smiled and released his wife, saying,

"If you're late, you'll miss the performance. Tell me about it when you come back."

"Of course, I will."

"Then, Lirika, will you see your mother off with me?"

Altears extended his hand, and Lirika quickly took it. One hand was held by her mother, the other by His Majesty.

It was the first time both her hands were held like this.

Her mother bowed and said to Lirika,

"I'll be back."

"Be careful."

"I'll take the charm you gave me, so don't worry."

She smiled and, escorted by His Majesty, got into the carriage. As the carriage door closed and it began to move away, His Majesty suddenly picked her up.

"But you said it hurt?"

In response to Altears' question, Lirika nodded. He looked at her seriously.

"I'm fine now. It was just a stomachache."

"True, but still."

He chuckled.

"Maybe you should make a charm to make you stronger."

"!"

Lirika had an epiphany. He narrowed his eyes.

"I saw the charm you gave to Rudia... You said you made it yourself?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"That's..."

Lirika hesitated. Altears waited patiently. She wasn't sure if she should tell him about magic.

Altears started walking, and Lirika, surprised, grabbed his shoulder.

"Don't follow us."

At his words, all the servants and knights stopped in their tracks. But Laub took a step forward.

"Your Majesty."

He called Altears softly. Altears, with a fierce smile—Lirika couldn't understand how he could do that—said,

"Why? Laub Wolf, do you want to run on all fours and bark?"

Laub's expression hardened. Lirika, sensing something was wrong, shouted,

"Laub, wait!"

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence fell. Lirika, realizing the tension, said nervously,

"No, I really meant just wait... Why... Did I say something strange?"

"No, maybe you could say 'sit' or 'hand' too."

Lirika was puzzled by Altears' words. She had never owned a dog, so she didn't understand the metaphor.

To her, stray dogs in the slums were just objects of fear.

So she took his words at face value.

"Why would I ask Laub to do that? Well, I could ask him to sit."

What about 'hand'?

As she thought, Altears laughed and started walking again. Lirika, looking back, said,

"I'll be back."

She waved her hand to reassure him. Laub, standing still, quickly became distant. Altears walked straight toward the Sky Palace.

After a while, they arrived at an empty garden, and Altears said,

"Look."

He pointed to the roses in the garden. Lirika's gaze followed his.

"Wow!"

The petals on the ground were all swept up into the air and then fell like snow.

It was a literal storm of petals. Lirika, amazed, asked,

"Are you a magician?"

Altears laughed.

"Something like that. It's the power of a dragon."

"I thought you could freeze things?"

"That's possible too."

He opened his palm, and a snowflake appeared, then disappeared when he waved his hand.

"So, how did you make the charm?"

"That's—"

Seeing the magical scene, Lirika's heart opened up. She told him in detail about finding the magic book.

"Hmm."

After listening to her story, Altears was silent. Lirika, looking at the silent emperor, asked,

"Is that really magic?"

The gold coin was shiny, but she couldn't be sure if it had any effect as a charm.

Altears broke his silence, smiled, and nodded.

"Yes, it is."

"Of course."

Feeling confident, Lirika nodded. Altears' expression turned serious. He said,

"But that magic book seems dangerous. It's best to put it back where you found it."

"Dangerous?"

"The idea of moving people's hearts with magic itself is dangerous."

"Oh..."

Indeed, there were many such contents. Upon reflection, it was dangerous.

"I understand."

"And not everyone can use magic just because they have a magic book. You are special."

"Me?"

"Yes."

Lirika's eyes widened. She had never thought of herself as having special abilities.

"So, it's best to keep it a secret that you made the charm. It won't be good if people find out about magic."

"Yes. Oh, but Brin already knows I found the magic book."

"Brin Sol... The Sol family will be fine."

He nodded. Altears was silent for a moment, then sighed deeply.

"Why now? Why you?"

"What do you mean?"

"The reason why a magician has appeared again."

It seemed like he was muttering to himself, but when she asked, he gave a straightforward answer. Lirika, hearing his answer, fell into thought.

He chuckled.

"Indeed, I'm also entangled here."

After a moment's thought, Altears said,

"I'll teach you magic."

"His Majesty?"

"Yes. Once a week should be fine."

"Really?"

Altears nodded and continued,

"That's good."

Again, Altears jumped to a conclusion. He put her down and said,

"Be careful on your way back."

"Yes, yes."

Surprised, Lirika nodded and turned around. Checking the path, she asked,

"Your Majesty, is this the right... way..."

Turning around, she found no one there.

Lirika, surprised, realized that His Majesty must have disappeared using magic.

'I can just go back the way I came. I'm a magician, after all.'

Lirika started walking confidently through the rose bushes.