Chapter 75

#075 Observation Class (1)

If the initials were C.R., there could only be one person who came to mind.

Moreover, there was only one person who could suddenly appear in my room at this hour with such a lavish gift.

I recalled the balcony door that had been wide open when I brought the new spirits out of the bathroom.

His attitude of entering and exiting other people's bedrooms at will hadn't changed.

"......You even brought a birthday gift."

I could have asked my servant David to deliver it, but I couldn't understand why he insisted on delivering it himself.

The card, which didn't contain a single word of congratulations, I folded and put away again.

Then I looked at the golden box that shone so brightly it hurt my eyes.

"Dem, look at this. We could live off selling this box alone."

-Screech

Dem agreed with a loud cry.

Leah, Perry, and Tuksim, who had gathered around the table, eagerly expressed their curiosity.

I placed Tuksim, whose wings were wet and couldn't fly, on the table, then slowly opened the box lid.

What was inside sparkled brilliantly in the bright light of the bedroom.

It was something I hadn't expected at all, and my mouth opened wide on its own.

"Wow. A cup? No, a bell? It's a bell. It's beautiful."

It was a bell, intricately and ornately carved from crystal so transparent that the opposite side was clearly visible.

Including the handle, it was small enough to fit in one hand.

Every time I turned the bell in my hands, the reflection of the crystal brightly colored the ceiling and walls.

At the bottom of the bell, small gems were embedded at regular intervals, all of which seemed to be expensive minerals like emeralds.

The color combination alone was breathtaking.

"But there's no clapper, huh."

I muttered, shaking the bell.

Since no sound came from it, I looked inside and found that there really was no clapper.

It seemed it could only be used as a decoration. Was it a magical tool?

"Huh?"

I was startled and put my hand inside the bell.

It seemed as if the prince had hidden something deep inside where only I could see.

The touch of paper brushed against my fingertips. I quickly pulled it out and unfolded it. Was it an instruction manual?

'Dear Rosna.'

It was that note.

The suspicious letter from 'Vishal' that had been taken from Sae-dee at the palace had returned to me.

Even holding it in my hand, I found it hard to believe and read it several times, checking the back as well, but it was indeed the note in question.

I was surprised to get the note back along with the gift.

Why? Well, it's good for me, but didn't he say something about 'you surrender first'?

What sudden change of heart?

"Is it because of the oath?"

-Beep beep

Tuksim curled up inside the empty box like a pearl.

I recalled the oath I had given to the boy.

The promise of Aether, that I would never contact the Divine Kingdom and never would in the future.

The oath of a priest was a ritual to prove one's heart by borrowing the power of the deity.

It was a well-known fact that a priest who broke their oath would experience 'loss.'

Perhaps because I had gone to such lengths, he judged that it was fine to return the letter.

It would also be a task to search for where the note came from.

Was it mixed in with the birthday cards at the imperial palace, or did someone at Juliette Palace secretly put it in, or did a noble hide it in their card from the beginning? It was a mystery.

The content was just a casual greeting, so it might be a calculation to wait and see.

Still, it was a bit surprising that he didn't tell the emperor or the cardinal.

"......Does he really trust me?"

Well, it was fortunate. Trust was certainly more advantageous for survival than distrust.

Unlike Jeon Seo's impression, the prince didn't seem like such a bad guy to me.

I hadn't expected to share a secret with the prince after creating one with Cristel.

-Screech, screech

"Alright, let's go to sleep and think about it tomorrow."

I left the table, holding the new spirits in my arms.

Since the object of 'always carry' was missing, I placed the small bell on the bedside table and put the note in my pocket before lying down.

This way, both were resolved.

*

The next day, I felt a bit uneasy.

Benzam and Ganael were a bit surprised by my sudden announcement, but they quickly regained their composure and started doing their jobs.

First, Ganael went to the cardinal's office to inform him of my decision, and Benzam prepared a picnic basket with the help of the people at the annex.

Tuksim had gone out somewhere early in the morning and wasn't visible, but the three lesser pandas had completed their preparations for the outing.

"Your Highness, is there a reason you suddenly changed your mind?"

"Just, since we've seen each other often, it seemed impolite to act like we didn't know each other."

I gave a vague answer.

Ganael and Benzam, who usually supported my homebody lifestyle, were openly skeptical when I suggested going out first.

As I started walking down the open corridor on the first floor, my mood seemed to calm down a bit.

The two main characters' class was at 11:00 AM. If we left now, we would arrive just in time.

"The annex training ground is to the right from here, Prince Ese."

A servant from the annex, who had heard the story, guided us.

I nodded and followed her.

This was all to help the poor Sant and to make an objective judgment of the situation.

Listening to only Sant's words wouldn't be fair.

Moreover, Sir Johann Heins was a holy knight from the Vatican.

If I went today, I would surely gain some useful knowledge.

"Since I received a gift, I thought I'd go and thank him."

"That's true. That bell really looked like an incredible treasure."

Ganael nodded vigorously.

The boy and the middle-aged servant were stunned when they saw the box the prince had left in the morning.

They marveled, saying, "With this, we could buy twenty mansions with lakes in the capital," and after seeing the crystal bell, they praised it, saying, "It's more valuable than any dowry," and "Isn't it a national treasure?" until their mouths were dry.

They seemed worried that I might really sell it and seriously advised, "You must never sell a gift from the royal family."

Benzam's serious expression was rare, and it made me laugh.

"We've arrived. This way."

The servant said.

Coming out of my thoughts, I looked ahead to see the spacious outdoor training ground on the west side of the annex.

The northern air seemed to welcome us, embracing us once and then moving away.

The grass, cut short for activity, spread widely in all directions, and trees planted around the training ground formed a rectangular boundary.

There were large sofas made of crocodile leather in the shade, which seemed perfect for watching a sparring match.

"Yes, Prince Ese!"

A familiar male voice rang in my ears.

Turning my head, I saw the priest Sant bowing in a corner of the training ground.

Sir Heins, who had his hair tied up beside him, looked surprised but quickly bowed.

After returning the greeting and slightly averting my gaze, I saw the main character smiling brightly and a man who seemed to be eating his face.

"Prince, you finally came to observe!"

Cristel waved her arm high and greeted me brightly.

A few strands of pink hair fell by her ear.

The prince, as always, just stared at me expressionlessly.

I, too, was about to bow as usual when,

"Wait, why is he there?"

"Huh."

I noticed something that shouldn't be on the prince's head.

Ganael gasped. I quickly approached him and extended my hand.

"I'm sorry. I'll take care of it."

Tuksim, who had been sitting on his crown with his eyes closed, chirped 'Piririr!' and acknowledged me.

No matter how good the view from a high place, it's dangerous to bother a really tall person.

I clicked my tongue in my mind and quickly scooped him up with both hands.

Fortunately, there was no sign of displeasure in the prince's orange eyes.

"Then, study hard. Both of you."

I said anything to defuse the situation and gave a perfunctory smile.

*

-Kaga!

-Kikikik......

The sharp ice sword met the pitch-black flame sword.

The prince's power was much stronger, but Cristel stabilized her body by setting up an ice support behind her.

Instead of sparks, clear water droplets fell onto the boots of the two.

The gazes of the water and fire elements clashed intensely in a narrow gap.

Cristel could never defeat the prince with a sword.

However, creating such a weapon was clearly to provoke him.

-Tat!

-Kwakwak!

As she did a backflip and leaped, the prince swung his sword horizontally.

A red flame swept in a semicircle, enveloping Cristel. It was a dangerous situation since she was in the air.

At that moment,

-Zeze, zeze, zezere!

Ice stepping stones appeared in the air.

Cristel quickly landed on the ice and retreated step by step.

The prince's flames quickly advanced to her feet, melting the ice.

Cristel swung the whip in her right hand.

-Chulgeok!

-Kwaaa!

A wave much