Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Knock, knock.

"Young Lord Melance von Jeremier has arrived!"

Hank's voice sounded strangely excited from outside the door.

Riena set down her pen, climbed down from her seat, and moved over to the coffee table.

Click.

"I greet Your Highness the Imperial Princess."

Melance had grown noticeably taller since she last saw him.

There was already a mature air about him despite his young age.

In particular, his eyes, which looked indifferent to everything in the world, made him seem even older.

"Thank you for accepting such a sudden request."

Accept?

How was he supposed to refuse a request from the Emperor himself?

Melance gave a faint smile and sat down.

"By the way, what brings you to the Imperial Palace? The last time I saw you was at the tea party, right?"

In such an awkward atmosphere, it was probably better to act her age and ask whatever came to mind.

Melance answered calmly in his smooth voice.

"Every year, my father, Grand Duke Jeremier, has been responsible for managing the Imperial Library. This year, I have taken over the duty in his place."

"Wow. Managing the Imperial Library sounds amazing!"

Riena poured every bit of enthusiasm she could into her response.

Unfortunately, the awkward atmosphere remained.

"From now on, I intend to gradually take over more of the work myself. Of course, that will only be possible if I can show results."

"Mm. I think you'll do well, Melance."

"...?"

He looked at her in genuine surprise.

He might look cold, but apparently he was weak to praise.

"It's just... well, you could call it an Imperial Princess's intuition. Ahaha."

Riena took a sip of cocoa to hide the awkwardness.

Melance silently stared at her cup.

"What? You don't like cocoa?"

"It's not that, but... isn't that something children drink?"

Hm?

Riena barely stopped herself from saying, You're a child too.

Instead, she continued.

"Then would you rather have black tea?"

Melance's shoulders twitched.

He had already been forcing down bitter black tea until his mouth felt dry.

And now she was offering him more?

"No. I'm fine."

"No, no. Cocoa is only for children, right? So from now on, I'll make sure you only get black tea."

Melance watched Riena sulk and let out a quiet laugh.

In response, Riena very deliberately took another delicious sip.

"Ahh~ So good~!"

Her exaggerated enjoyment was clearly aimed at him.

Melance's brows furrowed beautifully.

He seemed annoyed by the way she was deliberately making a show of it.

But instead of looking unpleasant, the slight frown only gave him an oddly captivating air.

Riena hurriedly looked away.

Melance's violet eyes remained fixed on her.

"First, please tell me what time is most convenient for Your Highness. I will come according to your schedule."

"Hmm. What about around this time?"

"That works for me. However, there is one thing that concerns me."

Riena's golden eyes sparkled.

Something concerned him?

"You should understand that Ancient Language and magic circles are subjects even Academy students find difficult."

Melance's lips curved faintly as he glanced toward her cocoa.

"Everyone in the Empire knows how intelligent Your Highness is, but I believe you are still a child when it comes to studying Ancient Language and magic circles."

He had definitely said child.

And he had placed unmistakable emphasis on the word.

So he was striking back just because she'd teased him about the cocoa.

What a cheeky little brat.

Of course, he was technically older than Riena's current body.

Still, he was cheeky.

"We'll know once the lessons begin. Whether only my tastes are childish, or my abilities are too."

Melance's violet eyes narrowed with interest.

So the presence he had sensed from her at the tea party hadn't been an illusion.

She looked like a baby rabbit, but acted like a fox that had lived for a thousand years.

Even so, no matter how remarkable the Imperial Princess might be, the subject she wanted to learn was difficult enough to make scholars despair.

Melance gave a short nod, full of confidence.

"Then I will come at this time tomorrow. I will prepare an introductory textbook."

"No. You can bring the intermediate one."

His violet eyes widened.

Intermediate?

Even he, praised as a genius of the Magic Academy, had only started the advanced course a few days ago.

And this seven-year-old wanted the intermediate course?

A hollow laugh almost escaped him.

"If Your Highness insists, I won't stop you. But after I test you, we'll choose a book appropriate to your actual level."

"Fine. But don't tire yourself out carrying a heavy beginner's book for no reason. Otherwise, you'll have to make two trips."

"That won't happen. Even if I have to make two trips, or three, I will bring the book that suits your level."

Oh? So you're determined to see this through to the end?

Riena ground her teeth and forced an awkward smile.

Not to be outdone, Melance smiled just as stiffly back at her.

An intermediate course at seven? I suppose it's time someone shattered that childish confidence of hers.

The two stared at each other in silence, practically growling.

Knock, knock.

"I brought the cookies... Your Highness."

The servant who entered after knocking hesitated at the atmosphere.

He carefully placed a plate of cookies on the table.

Melance's eyes curved slightly when he looked at them.

"Do you like cookies too?"

"W-what? N-no?"

W-what? N-no?

It was already too late to take it back.

His red lips curled upward beautifully.

It was the smile of a victor.

"Try one too, Melance."

"I'm fine. Your Highness should eat them. You seem to like them quite a lot."

Riena immediately shot back.

"Really? You're refusing something the Imperial Princess personally offered you?"

It was petty.

But if that was what it took to make him eat one, so be it.

Melance hesitated for a moment before picking up a cookie with a resigned expression.

"Since it was personally offered by Your Highness, I will have exactly one."

He bit into the freshly baked chocolate cookie.

The crisp exterior broke apart, and slightly melted chocolate chips touched his tongue.

Despite himself, his violet eyes widened.

"You said exactly one, remember?"

Riena leaned against the table and looked at him with an arrogant expression.

His face was beautiful enough to look like a carefully carved statue.

Indifferent eyes.

Soft violet irises.

Even though he was still only a boy, his jet-black hair gave him a strangely decadent charm.

For a moment, Riena's heart thudded.

She immediately tore her gaze away and turned toward the window.

Was he always this handsome...?

Looking at the pink sunset, said to be one of the finest sights in the Empire, she secretly tapped her warming cheeks.

"It is... delicious."

The sweet scent of chocolate.

The pink sunset.

And Melance's lazy voice.

Strangely enough, they suited one another perfectly.

While everyone else prepared for bed, only Melance's room remained brightly lit.

"......"

The occasional sound of turning pages and the faint clinking of the small chandelier were the only noises in the room.

"Young Lord, are you really going to teach Her Highness starting tomorrow?"

"We're the ones in need of Imperial favor right now. If they ask something of me, I should do it."

The aide who had accompanied Melance tilted his head.

Melance turned slightly.

"What?"

"I was wondering whether Her Highness was simply speaking on impulse."

"About what?"

"No matter how you look at it, she's only seven. Ancient Language and magic circles seem far too much."

Melance answered with nothing but an arrogant smile.

"Am I the strange one here? We're talking about Ancient Language and magic circles. Scholars run away from those subjects. They're absurdly difficult and barely useful for making money...."

The aide hurriedly covered his own mouth.

"The more difficult something is to master, the more a scholar desires to conquer it. Especially someone with a strong hunger for knowledge."

Melance turned another page with long, graceful fingers.

His sharp gaze cut across the air.

"Someone needs to teach the young princess what reality is. That is also the responsibility of a teacher."

"Ah! Then perhaps Her Highness will make some excuse and give up. As expected, Young Lord, you're truly wise."

Melance hadn't liked the idea from the start.

Ancient Language was one of his favorite fields.

One of the subjects he valued most.

And yet he had been told to teach it to a seven-year-old child?

Even if that child was the Imperial Princess, it felt insulting to the discipline itself.

She may give up tomorrow.

The speed at which he turned pages noticeably increased.

"Young Lord, please don't push yourself too hard."

"If you're tired, go sleep first."

He had seen straight through him.

The aide hesitated, bowed deeply, and hurried out.

Melance continued reading without paying him any attention.

Then the cookies the Imperial Princess had packed for him caught his eye.

Pointless.

He turned back to his book.

But somehow, he kept rereading the same line.

"......"

Eventually, he shut the thick book with an irritated snap.

Letting out a long sigh, he walked toward the large window.

Streetlamps glowed throughout the garden.

Beyond them stood the beautifully maintained greenhouse.

"The greenhouse...."

He looked toward it in the distance.

The Grand Duke's northern estate was a harsh place where snow seemed to fall endlessly.

They had tried building a greenhouse before.

But there had never been enough flowers or trees that could survive there, so they had eventually given up.

Would Mother like it?

The Grand Duchess was weak and spent nearly every day confined inside the estate.

That had always bothered him.

I should ask for the Imperial greenhouse.

It contained many rare flowers and trees.

Wouldn't his mother be able to enjoy them warmly indoors?

Melance smiled faintly and picked up a rabbit-shaped cookie.

Looking at the little rabbit that strangely resembled the Imperial Princess, he let out a quiet laugh.

Perhaps he had remembered the way she had been happily sipping cocoa.