Ch. 82
“Geenie Crowell?”
“Yes, Headmaster.”
The headmaster standing before me after so long looked much older than the first time I met him.
Even more so than just a week ago.
Judging by how much he’d aged in that short time, someone must have put him through a lot lately.
“You always make difficult requests.”
“Who else can I trust but you, Headmaster? You know how much I respect you.”
“I wish you had a little shame…”
I had pestered—no, asked—the headmaster for three days to let me join the King’s entourage to Elan, and he was an excellent connection.
“You promised, remember? That you’d definitely send me to Elan if the chance ever came.”
“A promise from nine years ago… Your memory only works for things like that.”
“I guess that’s just me.”
“Haa, His Majesty the King has given special permission. Be grateful and obey.”
“Of course!”
I beamed with a wide smile. If one bad thing happens, a good thing always follows.
“Your task isn’t just attending the party, but ensuring His Majesty’s safety. Don’t forget it!”
“Yes, I’ll remember, and remember again.”
I should bring that blue dress my parents sent me.
It was a shame I hadn’t had anywhere to wear it, so this worked out well.
“By the way, have you ever been to a party before…?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“…What?”
“Don’t worry! I’ve mastered all the theory.”
The headmaster must have completely overlooked it, but this was my first-ever party debut.
Someone who’d always locked herself away in the training hall would never have a reason to attend a party.
Considering the average debut age is around fourteen, mine was quite late.
But to debut at Elan’s Founding Millennium Anniversary Party—what a start.
And my escort would be none other than the King of Dmitri.
“Wa-wait! That’s a bit much!”
“Oh my, if you change your mind now, it’ll be even worse for me.”
“If you disrespect His Majesty even a little—”
“Headmaster. Do I look that stupid to you?”
“You do… you really do…”
The headmaster muttered “this won’t do” under his breath.
—
“Miss Crowell? We’ve arrived.”
I arrived at the palace with a mountain of luggage.
The knight who opened the carriage door took my hand and also took care of my heavy bags.
It had been a very long time since I was treated like a lady.
“The other attendants arrived earlier.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll take care of your luggage.”
The handsome knight politely kissed the back of my hand.
The palace really is a nice place! I’d like to come often.
I was buzzing with excitement, as if I were going on a trip.
I hated warping, but the hope of meeting Ash put a spring in my step.
I arrived at the palace’s warp facility, where Bright worked. Usually only royalty could use it.
But this time, attendants were allowed as a special exception.
That’s how powerful the Founding Millennium Anniversary Party was.
“Geenie! Geenie!”
I saw Bright running toward me from inside the building.
Oh my, is he here to greet me? How sweet.
“This is bad! Geenie!”
“Ugh, don’t jinx it.”
I’m in a really good mood right now.
Please don’t ruin it.
“Gasp, gasp… I just found out this morning… the thing is…!”
Bright caught his breath and quickly glanced around.
Then, as if it were a huge secret, he urgently whispered in my ear.
“Prince Epiros apparently isn’t at the palace right now!”
“…What?”
“My mistake!”
What are you talking about! Then I have no reason to go to Elan!
“Explain! How can the prince not be at the palace?”
“It only came out because of the founding party… but apparently all the princes are away.”
“No way…”
“Yeah. It looks like the Path of Trial has begun.”
No wonder there haven’t been any rumors about Epiros lately!
Despair washed over me.
Of all times, they had to do this just as I was about to visit Elan after nine years! With this much bad luck, there had to be something wrong with my fate.
“This can’t be…”
There’s a test the crown princes of Elan have faced since the founding.
If there’s more than one crown prince candidate, and their abilities and power are evenly matched for a long time, making it impossible for one to dominate—
The emperor commands them.
It’s called the Path of Trial.
It sends the crown prince candidates outside the castle to gather companions, an original and simple way to honor the young days of Emperor Mythos, Elan’s first emperor.
It’s said he conquered a dragon and the continent with his outstanding companions.
Following that spirit, crown prince candidates had to gather companions while hiding their identities, and those companions were called “Guardians.”
The goal of the Path of Trial is to see who can gather the most outstanding companions within a set time.
They must recruit talented people and earn their trust, revealing only their own abilities without disclosing their true identities.
That’s all well and good.
“What do I do…”
Should I run? If Ash was on the Path of Trial, I had no reason to endure warp sickness.
“His Majesty the King!”
I was about to start pretending to be sick, but far off in the distance I saw the King’s splendid carriage.
“I’m doomed.”
When I turned around, Bright had already escaped.
—
Elan’s royal palace warp facility.
A brilliant light wrapped around the warp array.
As the warp array activated, five figures who hadn’t been there before slowly came into view.
A dignified, imposing middle-aged man, three men smartly dressed in white uniforms, and a blonde woman.
These were the guests from Dmitri, led by King Dikel III and his attendants, here for Elan’s Founding Millennium Anniversary Party.
Of course, they were to be treated as honored guests.
But as soon as the light from the warp array faded, one of them collapsed to the ground.
It was Geenie Crowell.
With the blonde woman collapsed forward on the warp array, not even backward, a long silence settled between the mages in charge of the warp array, King Dikel III of Dmitri and his attendants, and the nobles of Elan who had come to greet the foreign king.
The one who broke the silence was Dikel III.
“Priest! Call a priest! Hurry!”
The atmosphere, which should have been warm and welcoming, became completely chaotic.
Needless to say, the blonde woman sprawled out on the warp array was at the center of all the commotion.
