Chapter 6

"———That child"

As Mina walked back to the dormitory, Professor Raiser spoke up.

"She's the hidden child of a noble, isn't she?"

"Most likely."

"Hidden child?"

"There's no commoner who possesses such high magic power."

Professor Behrendorf answered Alphonse, who had asked.

"Her magic power rivals that of the prince."

"Perhaps she has the blood of a high-ranking noble."

"High-ranking noble... but I didn't think there was anyone with such black hair."

Alphonse said, recalling Mina's lustrous black hair.

"One of her parents must have black hair; it's a common color among commoners."

In this country, commoners usually have dark hair, while nobles have lighter hair.

Only the royal family has red hair.

"And that appearance! Such a cute face, you don't see that among commoners."

The adorable-loving Professor Raiser exclaimed.

"She looks like a doll. Her eyes are sparkling... Oh, by the way,"

Professor Raiser looked around as if she had just realized something.

"The color of the crystal's light was the same as Mina's eyes."

"Come to think of it, you're right."

Mina's hair was jet black, but her eyes were a light blue.

It was a color rarely seen among both commoners and nobles.

"The light when she extinguished the fireball was also blue."

"Professor Leibniz, what does that light blue mean?"

"…I can't say for sure without investigating."

Professor Leibniz replied.

"To my knowledge, there's no precedent for such a color. I'll check with the magic guild eventually."

"Does Mina know about her lineage?"

"Who knows. I can't tell from just that conversation."

"But her manners weren't bad."

"Whatever the case... she's a mysterious child."

Her appearance and abilities don't seem like those of a commoner, but she also doesn't have the air of a noble lady.

"———Well, I'll be going now. I'm sorry for the intrusion."

At Alphonse's words, the teachers hurriedly turned and bowed.

"Ah, professors... here I'm in the position of a student. I don't want you to be so formal."

"But..."

"I told Mina the same thing. In this academy, all students should be equal as comrades in learning magic."

—Even so, the atmosphere the prince exudes is clearly that of someone in a position of authority.

The teachers, thinking it impossible to be informal, saw Alphonse off.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"You kept me waiting."

As Alphonse got into the carriage, the young man waiting there urged the carriage to move and got in himself.

"The other students left a while ago, but did you stop somewhere, Your Highness?"

"Yes, I saw something interesting."

"Something interesting?"

"Friedrich, have you ever seen someone with light blue eyes?"

"Light blue...?"

The young man called Friedrich tilted his head.

"Like aquamarine."

"...I've seen blue eyes, but I've never seen such a bright color."

"I see."

"What about that color?"

"There was a girl with eyes like that gem. She has black hair and a lovely face."

"...Oh, it's rare for Your Highness to take an interest in a woman."

Friedrich's lips curved into a smile.

"———The light of her magic is the same beautiful color as her eyes."

At Friedrich's comment, Alphonse turned his face away.

"That's all."

"Even that is a big step forward."

The attendant, who had watched over Alphonse for years, sighed in relief that he finally mentioned a woman.

"Your Highness is already sixteen. It's time to have a fiancée."

"I've said this many times. I have no intention of making one before my brother."

"But Prince Hartwig..."

Alphonse's older brother, the first prince Hartwig, once had a fiancée, the duchess's daughter, Anneliese Trautner.

But when he was enchanted by a witch, he broke off the engagement and, along with Anneliese's brother, who was also enchanted, was exiled from noble society.

Since then, Anneliese has been missing for five years.

After that, Hartwig, stripped of his rights as crown prince, became the deputy leader of the magic guild and has continued to fight without a fiancée, dedicating himself to the extermination of monsters, which he himself caused.

That's why the people around him hope that Alphonse, who has a high chance of becoming the next king, will have a fiancée to stabilize his power.

"I believe my brother should be king."

Alphonse said, looking out the window.

"That's why I want to join the magic guild as soon as possible to take his place. A fiancée... I don't have time for that now."

Indeed, Alphonse is said to have more magic power and greater talent in magic and swordsmanship than his brother.

So it might be better for Alphonse to join the magic guild.

—But.

"…The proliferation of monsters is the fault of Prince Hartwig. Isn't it unnecessary for Prince Alphonse to be put in danger?"

"The fault of my brother is also the fault of the royal family. Protecting the people is the duty of the royal family."

For the past five years, the country has been in turmoil due to plagues and the proliferation of monsters.

Although the plague has subsided, the threat of monsters continues.

For the Kingdom of Blumenthal to return to its former peaceful state.

That is Alphonse's hope and duty.