Chapter 27

#027 The Curriculum of Pride and Prejudice (3)

And today, once again, it was a day without classes.

But it was also a day with a very important schedule.

"Prince Yeseo, how have you been?"

"Hello, Agnes. It's been a while."

I smiled broadly at Agnes, the forest keeper, whom I hadn't seen in a while.

Agnes bowed deeply, her sturdy body lowering.

She had come to confess and seek penance for tormenting the spirit beast, and she seemed much calmer and more composed than the last time I saw her.

"Say hello to this one too. I named it 'Demi.'"

"Ah, hello..."

*Chirp!*

Agnes, though clearly uncomfortable, waved her hand at Demi, who was perched on my right shoulder.

Demi slowly moved to my left shoulder.

It seemed like he was observing Agnes, tilting his head up and down, as if trying to remember her or perhaps forgetting something.

"Now that you're going to a really good place, you can go with peace of mind."

I told her. Agnes nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

I had invited her to say goodbye to Demi, hoping it would lighten her heart a bit, and it seemed my guess was right, which was a relief.

"Prince, they say the preparations for departure are complete."

Benzaméin came to relay the message.

In front of the Juliette Palace today stood a magnificent and enormous carriage.

It was specially sent by the Duehm Marquess family to take the spirit beast Demi, and the emblem of the illustrious marquess family was engraved beside the carriage door, making it seem as though no one would dare interfere.

I walked toward the carriage with Agnes.

Demi, perhaps not fully understanding the situation, swayed his tail leisurely in sync with my steps.

"Don't cause trouble. Don't chew on sharp things, and don't play around where people are working."

I explained to him in a low voice.

The lesser panda listened half-heartedly, nibbling on the fig piece I had put in his mouth.

The sound of the fruit being crushed echoed.

It was a mystery where the fruit in his stomach went, given that he didn't even need to relieve himself.

"I greet the Moon Prince of the Divine Kingdom, Yeseo Penethian."

I turned my head at the unfamiliar man's voice.

The one who called me was a well-built, handsome man with dark skin and clear features.

His attire was similar to Sir Elizabeth's uniform, but with more elaborate decorations and numerous medals.

I finally realized who the unfamiliar man was.

After all, it would have been strange for him not to be here on a day like today.

"Sir Erve Duehm, the Royal Guard Captain. It's nice to meet you."

"It's an honor to meet you here. I've heard a lot about you from Elizabeth, hahaha."

The man laughed heartily and extended his right hand to me.

It was the first time I had been offered a handshake since I arrived, which was quite surprising.

I shook his large, thick hand and greeted him.

Erve Duehm, the second son of the Duehm Marquess family and the Royal Guard Captain, seemed less authoritative and more physically imposing than I had expected.

He was considered one of the strongest mages in the empire and had even made the 'Top 10 Most Attractive Bachelors in Liester' list selected by *Weekly Liester* at the beginning of the year.

I wasn't interested in such rankings, of course.

"Will Sir Duehm be accompanying us?"

"No, I will only escort you to the border of the imperial road. Three priests and the imperial army will accompany you to the territory. While the spirit beasts are important, the most important thing for me is the safety of His Majesty."

"I see."

I nodded at his words, then paused, feeling a strange sense of disharmony.

"You mentioned 'spirit beasts'..."

"Yes, the other two are in the carriage."

"Other two?"

My eyes widened, and Benzaméin and Kanael, who were standing behind me, gasped in surprise.

The captain looked at us with a puzzled expression and opened the carriage door.

The three priests inside stood up and bowed deeply upon seeing me.

*Chirp!*

*Chirp!*

While responding to their greetings, I was stunned to see two lesser pandas rolling toward me from the carriage floor.

They were definitely larger than Demi and lacked the white tail stripes he had.

Just as Saeidi had said.

"His Highness the Prince brought them here this morning. The fact that all three have stayed near the Juliette Palace shows that your Aether is indeed remarkable."

Sir Duehm said with a smile.

Agnes, who had been quiet all along, confirmed, "Yes, these three are the ones I saw in the mountains."

I looked at the direction of the Roméro Palace with a complex feeling.

Since the night they left my balcony, Saeidi and the spirit beasts had not shown themselves.

I had assumed the child had simply taken them to the marquess family's territory, but now it seemed she had used her fire elemental power to keep the spirit beasts in the palace all this time.

It must have required a lot more Aether than usual...

*Chirp!*

Demi let out a long cry and started to climb down my right arm.

I carefully extended my arm into the carriage to prevent him from falling.

"Family reunion. I'm glad, Demi."

*Purr*

Demi, who had safely boarded the carriage, seemed to be exchanging greetings with the other two lesser pandas by sniffing each other and opening his mouth wide.

Then, he stood up on his hind legs and draped himself over one of the lesser pandas like a blanket.

The other lesser panda let out a *Chirp!* and placed its black front paws on the two bodies.

Soon, the three of them formed a bundle and rolled around on the carriage floor.

The priests groaned in pain as the bundle rolled from one corner to another, from right to left.

"Prince, my heart is aching so much..."

"It's normal, Kanael."

One was already adorable, but three were incredibly cute.

I watched the lesser pandas playing excitedly and then handed two bundles to one of the priests.

I had asked Benzaméin and Kanael to prepare them last night.

"This is fruit. Please share it with the spirit beasts on your journey. The one with the white tail stripes eats well. And this is a snack for you all."

The priests in the carriage were so surprised that they bowed deeply to me. I felt a bit embarrassed and waved them off.

I had only prepared the snacks for the people as an afterthought while focusing on feeding Demi, but their reaction was more intense than I had expected.

"Elizabeth mentioned that the desserts at the Juliette Palace are delicious. You priests are lucky."

Sir Duehm, who had been watching the entire scene, laughed heartily and held the carriage door. It was time to part.

"Demi, you need to stay healthy where you're going."

I waved at him.

By the time he had grown attached to me, I felt a lump in my throat, but he needed a better environment and a family to return to.

Demi, sensing the change in atmosphere, looked at me straight.

As the carriage door was about to close, I forced a smile and lowered my arm.

That's when it happened.

*Chirp!*

Demi let out a loud cry and swiftly escaped the carriage.

I was startled and caught the brown, fluffy ball that clung to my legs.

I had never seen him move so quickly, which left me speechless.

"No, you should go with your friends."

*Purr!*

"Why is he doing this?"

Benzaméin, Kanael, Agnes, and Sir Duehm all looked bewildered.

I smiled awkwardly and looked at Demi, who had taken over my shoulder.

The spirit beast clearly looked displeased.

His white eyebrows, like they had been dipped in paint, were twisted ferociously.

When Demi opened his mouth threateningly, a fierce pink tongue was visible.

My heart ached so much it felt numb...

"Demi, they say there's a fire elemental artifact in Sir Duehm's hometown. You'll like it."

I slowly stroked him from head to tail and carefully lifted his warm body.

I intended to put him back in the carriage.

*Chirp!*

Demi, however, turned his body quickly and landed on the ground.

At the moment I thought he might run away, he sprouted thorny vines from his feet with pointed leaves.

Upon closer inspection, the stems had thorns.

His face was squished, and the plants were prickly. Could it be...

"You don't want to go?"

"It seems so, Prince."

Sir Duehm's voice was filled with amusement.

The priests in the carriage were also flabbergasted.

I was both baffled and touched, at a loss for words.

Then, Demi lifted his tail.

*Crack!*

"Prince, say you'll raise him again!"

Kanael was terrified, looking at the cracked ground.

Demi, as if to say he had finally realized his own abilities, jumped up and down in place, demanding to be served.

Then...

*Crack!*

A small sinkhole appeared in front of the Juliette Palace, just the right size for Demi to take a nap.

I heard Benzaméin muttering about finding the spirit beast.

Afraid that someone might get hurt by Demi's tantrum, I quickly crouched in front of him.

"Demi, I was wrong. I won't send you away."

*Chirp!*

"I promise. Even if you ask me to send you now, I won't."

*Chirp!*

Demi tilted his head, still seeming unsatisfied.

At that moment, a priest in the carriage suddenly handed me a bundle of fruit.

It was a wise decision.

"Thank you. Here, there are blueberries."

I quickly offered a handful of the blue fruits.

Demi sniffed the fruit with his nose and finally started to climb up my arm.

He didn't seem to want to eat; he just wanted to show that I was committed to being a steady fruit supplier.

The thorny vines that had grown on the ground slowly withered.

He had certainly made a scene.

"Sir Duehm, it seems... Demi needs to stay with me."

"Hahaha. Yes, I'll report this to His Majesty. What a rare sight!"

The captain laughed heartily, as if he found the situation amusing. I stood up, feeling a bit awkward.

I noticed the servants of the Juliette Palace and the Roméro Palace had gathered around the carriage.

Well, it's quite a spectacle...

"Let's say goodbye to your friends. Goodbye."

*Purr*

*Chirp*

*Chirp*

Demi let out a short cry to the lesser pandas in the carriage, and they responded similarly.

"The 'Great Beast Hunt' will be held soon, so the three of them might meet again."

Sir Duehm, who had been watching, spoke calmly.

The coachman, who had been standing awkwardly, approached and closed the carriage door.

The guards, who had been hesitant, also approached with Sir Duehm's horses.

"Are you talking about the competition held next month?"

"Yes. My brother is sharpening his magic, waiting for that day."

The captain answered my question straightforwardly and mounted his horse.

The 'Great Beast Hunt' was an annual spring beast hunting competition held in the territory of the Duehm Marquess family.

It was famous for the grand prizes offered by the competition's organizer, François Duehm, the Marquess, and for the fact that the Emperor and the Cardinal always attended.

According to *Weekly Liester*, the Emperor even participated and won the special prize for the champion two years ago.

"Demi will enjoy it."

If such an event was happening, they might bring Demi to the palace to let him enjoy the breeze.

With Cardinal Boutier, who could use divine power, there was no way Demi would go astray.

I nodded, then suddenly thought of something and looked up at him.

"Sir Duehm, will you be attending my class tomorrow?"

"Class...?"

"The Cardinal said he would invite a mage to teach me."

While I had left out the part about Cristel, it wasn't a lie.

Sir Duehm shrugged and smiled broadly.

"I don't know. I haven't received such an offer. But I can guess who the Cardinal might invite."

He added, "The title 'Strongest Mage of the Empire' isn't mine alone."

Indeed, he had the demeanor of a superior to Sir Elizabeth, discarding any pretense of modesty.

I chuckled and took a few steps back.

"Please be careful on your journey. Take good care of the spirit beasts."

At my words, he placed his index and middle fingers on his forehead in a salute.

As Sir Duehm shouted a few commands, the carriage slowly started moving, and the guards' horses also moved forward.

Agnes took out a handkerchief from her bosom and waved it in the air.

We stood there until the spirit beasts and the guards were out of sight.

*Chirp!*

Demi, nestled in my arms, chirped again to his friends.

The thought that the three might be siblings briefly crossed my mind.