TYHL 178

~Chapter 178~

When I turned around, there he was—Licht, with his golden hair and a soft, teasing smile.

“Licht—! I mean, Your Highness!”
Since we were at the palace, I made sure to use the proper title. Licht just laughed and placed the materials in my hand.

“Yes, Lady Rubian.”
He answered playfully, then leaned in and whispered quietly, “There’s nobody else here right now.”

His soft, golden hair brushed gently against my cheek.

“Oh.”
So, I guess we don’t have to keep up the awkward formalities.

Licht looked at me for a moment, then naturally led me over to my seat.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“I’m good. But—how did you know I was at the palace archives?”

I was genuinely curious. He smiled, eyes crinkling.

“How could I not know when you’re here?”

Did he attach a bell to me or something?

“I told the guards to let me know,” he added.

Oh, that makes sense.

Wow, he’s gotten tall too.

I thought about tiptoeing to catch up, but I gave up. Even on my toes, all I could do was barely reach his shoulder.

Seriously, did I only get the stunted version of imperial nutrition?

It’s not that I’m small; he’s just too tall!
That reminded me of a friend who’d also hit a growth plateau. According to Dad…
Khalid must be shorter than Licht. He’d probably be a bit upset, too.

Their rivalry might get even worse.

“Rubian, did you eat breakfast?”
Licht tapped my fingertips lightly.

“I did.”

“Perfect.”
He pulled out a beautiful box from inside his coat.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Macarons!”

“Have some while you work. Tell me what you think. They were a pain to bake…”
The last part was muttered so softly I almost missed it.

“A taste review?”
That, I could do.

I grabbed a strawberry macaron and took a bite.

“Hmm, the crisp texture is on point, but it could be chewier. And the filling—about 20% more would bring out the balance. I like that it’s homemade, but honestly, store-bought jam might work better in this case—”

“No, no, that’s enough,” Licht cut in, looking a little downcast.

Oops. Is this from someone he knows?
Maybe I should’ve softened the review a little.

Still, they tasted good, so I kept nibbling while flipping through the archives.

“So, how’s the search for the Magic Kingdom going these days?”
I lowered my voice.

Licht turned the macaron in his fingers, answering a bit too quickly—definitely someone he knows runs the shop.

“We still haven’t found any trace of it. But we’re about to launch a new exploration vessel.”

“A new vessel?”
I asked as I turned another page.

“The artifact workshop—you know the one? The Emperor’s been recruiting magicians who never returned to the Magic Kingdom, and getting them to craft magical devices.”

“Of course, I know.”
I supply magic stones to that very workshop, after all…

Plus, I’m a magician myself…

Licht knew this, too. But even with just the two of us, he never brought it up openly.

“They developed a new magical detection device. We’re about to launch a ship equipped with it. So this time…”

Licht’s turquoise eyes sparkled.

“We should get some meaningful results.”

That was fast.

I only sent the schematics recently.
I’d included those designs with my regular magic stone shipments, but I didn’t expect them to act on it so quickly.

I paused, then gave Licht a little wave. He leaned in, as if he’d been waiting for it.

“So, recent reports say that the mist over the sea is probably illusionary fog. We should add a magical device that can disrupt it…”

Just then, a group of maids bustled past outside, chattering loudly. Caught off guard, I quickly changed the subject.

“Ahem! Look at this phrase in the book—‘Why don’t you bring it along?’ Or, well… that’s what it says here! Ahem, ahem!”

I jabbed at a random spot in the book. Licht laughed.

“Aha.”
He traced the passage with his finger, brushing mine aside playfully and grinning.

“This really is a great book.”

“You…”
“Yeah?”

“Stop looking at me like that!”
I shook my head, flustered.

Jeez, almost got charmed again.

Licht just laughed quietly and sat back.

“Oh, by the way, I heard Liam Zebert dropped by the palace.”

“Huh? My brother? What’s he doing away from the academy?”

“He must have business related to his research. But… will Liam ever graduate?”

Now, that was the question I wanted to ask.

After joining the university research department, Liam…
was doomed.

It’s not that the academy won’t let him go;

“My brother just won’t let go of the academy…”

Even Headmaster Odelli personally begged him to graduate.

“I’ve given my soul to the university research department.”
“No one asked you to! Please, just submit your thesis and graduate!”
“I did submit it.”
“On a relevant topic! I can’t pass you like this! If you love the academy that much, just graduate and become a professor! I’ll hire you! Starting salary—equal to Professor Yuliope Molton!”
“I’ll see you next year with even more exciting research.”
“Aaaagh!”

And so…

He was becoming a fossil in the academy’s archives.

Anyway, I should stop by and see him!

Actually, I’d run into him at the bookstore the other day when I was buying self-help books.

“Oh! Speaking of which, there’s a victory banquet coming up soon!”

The thought popped into my head.

“That’s right. Khalid,”
Licht said briefly, then corrected himself.

“Sir Khalid will be returning.”

“Sigh… You two should try to get along, you know.”

“I was intentionally keeping it formal, Rubian. Please pick up on it.”

Licht added gently,
“I think the King of Cassalia will be coming, too.”

That was news to me.

“Huh? Why?”

“This year’s Round Table will be held in Bamilon. The King of Cassalia asked Sir Khalid to be his escort.”

Ugh, poor Khalid—he’s already got enough on his plate! Now he has to play bodyguard, too?

I gave the King of Cassalia a mental side-eye.

“But… isn’t the Round Table always in the summer? Why’s he coming this early, in the winter?”

“This time, it’s in the spring. The Emperor extended a special invitation.”

“Why?”

“There are a few reasons… but this might be the biggest.”

Licht handed me a stack of news bulletins, including some from Cassalia.

International politics, here we go.

The Royal Jewel Returns to Cassalia Palace After 14 Years! The First Princess Makes Her Debut!

Controversy Over the Princess’s Legitimacy—Cassalia Royal Family: “No Room for Doubt.”

Princess Sevelena: “Turns out my family were royalty all along. Bloodlines don’t matter to me.”

So…

“They found their long-lost daughter? And she’s the princess?”

“That’s right,”
Licht nodded.

“Wow, that’s dramatic.”

Turns out I’m a princess?
I always thought that kind of twist only happened in cliché stories, but now it was happening just across the border. I couldn’t help but be fascinated.

“Long story short, the King of Cassalia found the daughter he lost during the start of the war. She survived among the western forest tribes in Iosia.”

“Oh…”
I’d once lied about being from Iosia myself…

Then my eyes landed on the second headline.

“But what’s this about a legitimacy dispute?”

“The King was so desperate to find his daughter that a lot of imposters showed up over the years, trying to get at the royal fortune. But…”

“But?”

Licht smiled.

“Princess Sevelena brought something back from the eastern Iosian tribes that proved it.”

“What was it?”

“I’m not entirely sure… They say it’s a secret technique unique to that tribe.”

I blinked.

Iosia was known for its advanced herbal medicine and strong village bonds, with many secret remedies and recipes never shared with outsiders.

I’d pretended to be an Iosian apothecary’s kid using that knowledge myself…

But really, it was my magic background.

“So what was the secret technique?”

“A potion to prove blood relations.”

Wait—a magical paternity test? Like a 21st-century DNA test?

“Well, other physical traits matched, too, but that potion clinched it.”

“I see.”

It was a fascinating story, but to be honest, it was just gossip to me.

I’ll have to sneak a peek if she shows up!

Will I ever get the chance to talk to her?
Will she wear a crown or something?

She is a princess, after all.

“Hmmm.”

I turned another page, lost in idle thoughts.

Of course, back then, I had no idea—

Just how much that Cassalian princess would end up changing my own fate.