Youre wandering the Imperial Palace without fear.

A stern, quiet voice pierced her hearing with each word.

Jennette stared at the person she had encountered before opening her mouth again, unable to overcome the intense emotions that stirred inside her.

I

Nothing came to mind at that time.

Do you not remember me?

Her father, whose face she had only witnessed up close once on the day of her debut three years ago.

Do you not remember that memorable day, just like the fateful meeting today, as if it were engraved in your soul?

Is there a reason I should remember your face?

However, Claude only responded with an even colder voice. Jennette couldnt say anything more with the cold eyes that she faced.

If youre an outsider in the palace at this time, you must have been invited to Athanasias tea party.

He muttered this to himself as he looked in the direction of the Emerald Palace.

His eyes softened as the name of Princess Athanasia crossed his lips, unlike the look they gave when he faced Jennette just now.

Jennettes heart ached as she saw Claude treat her like an outsider.

If that is the case, Ill let this slide for today.

Her hand hesitated for a moment before reaching for the ring on her finger.

Consider yourself lucky. If you werent a guest of Athanasia you wouldnt be allowed to walk freely after invading my palace without permission.

In the end Jennette left the ring on her finger that was hiding her jewel eyes. Her hand fell back to her side.

But there will be no next time. If you wander around the Imperial Palace arbitrarily, like you did today, and you happen to catch my eye on that day, you will suffer the consequences.

A bird could be heard chirping over her head. The flower that bloomed in front of her was a gorgeous purple. The foliage along the boundary was dyed a bright yellow-green, as if it were in the transition between spring and summer.

Youve been warned. Dont let me catch you in my sight again.

However, the voice that passed by her ear was a chilly blue that was devoid of all warmth. The dazzling sunlight fell behind Claudes back, but he stayed frigid to the end.

Tweet tweet.

Jennette was left alone in an unfamiliar area, with the setting sun in her eyes.

Despite the fact that she was surrounded by a rainbow of warm hues in front of her, she felt as though she had been thrown into the middle of winter alone.

It was cold. And lonely.

But in the end, there was no one here to warmly embrace her.

Jennette shielded her eyes with her hand. For the first time in her life, she was terrified of being utterly alone.

On a leisurely afternoon, Lucas suddenly recalled the events that transpired yesterday.

Yeah! You know the bubbles you blew at me when you came to steal Raven! Werent you trying to do something weird to me?

His memory replayed the voice that had asked him these questions. A deep crease formed in his smooth brow at the notion of it.

What are you talking about, they were just normal bubbles.

Why did I lie like that then?

Lucas had a lot of doubts. In truth, he had every intention of killing the girl who was chasing a divine beast ten years ago, when he had first seen her.

That way, she wouldnt have been bothered even had he stolen the divine beast. But, witnessing the bright appearance of being amazed by magic for the first time, he had felt a guilt that he never knew existed within himself.

As a special farewell gift, he put on a magic bubble show for the girl in front of him.

Because it wasnt normal magic, as Athanasia had thought, she would have died from oxygen deprivation if she had continued to breathe around the exploding bubbles.

It was Athanasias divine beast who had stopped his plan at that time.

Lucas frowned and thought. Youre not even a living beast and yet you had such a brilliant aspect?

Even though it was still a lump of unripe magic, it was able to cheekily break my spell. Of course, I was very weak because I had just woken up from a long sleep. I would have felt sorry for missing the chance in the past, but now I wasnt that disappointed since I had eaten part of the World Tree.

Anyway, that was it. Why had he lied to Athanasia saying that they were just normal bubbles.

Lucas had generally led a wild life up until this point, so he only lied when it was absolutely necessary.

When he did lie out of necessity, more of the reasons were because it would be fun or because it would be bothersome.

However, the reason he had lied to Athanasia yesterday was different than before.

If he had been the Lucas of the past he would have said, Oh, I was going to kill you. Didnt you know that? I thought you knew that or Yes, but it was a waste of time because I failed to kill you at that time.

But when he was faced with eyes staring at him as if asking, Its not true, is it? strangely he couldnt respond, Youre right. At that time, Lucas wished she would never know what he had done to Athanasia as a child.

Excuse me, there is a lot of scolding upstairs about the tower undergoing repairs.

As Lucas tilted his head, a wizard who had been staring at him finally spoke up.

Would it not be done faster if we all worked on it together?

But for what reason were the wizards suddenly so eager to repair the tower, which had been delayed for years due to deceptive laziness in the first place?

Wasnt it just a fleeting fear that the Guardian of the Black Tower, who had reappeared, might pay a visit?

There was no reason for Lucas to put up with the monkey-like fake wizard. Lucas answered bluntly with his legs crossed cheekily on the table.

Idiot Number One, you go and do it.

TL/n: Lucas calls this wizard a , which is slang for an idiot, or stupid person

Why am I Number One!

Immediately, an angry voice followed. Could it be because the head of the tower always called them idiots?

He was fed up with the name Number One, but he didnt seem to feel any incompatibility with the word idiot.

And wouldnt it be faster if you went to help instead of me?

He was a newcomer to the tower last year, and in terms of magical experience, he has the least amongst the wizards.

Of course, Lucas was the youngest, at seventeen years old, but what mattered to wizards was their magical accomplishments, not their physical age.

TL/n: They also dont know that seventeen year old Lucas was not seventeen.

However, when it came to the seventeen-year-old Lucas, he made a big mistake shortly after entering the tower for the first time.

And, after being devastated by Lucas, who, under the premise of I want you to be my practice partner for this newly invented magic formula, turned incredibly humble toward Lucas.

Still the last bits of his pride remained, so he was using ambiguous honorifics towards Lucas.

He fought back tears even now, as he watched Lucas leisurely play around next to him.

I should have known when the other wizards faces turned pale and trembled when they saw the young mans grin! Ugh! I was full of regrets, but it was too late.

Shortly thereafter, he acquired the honorary title of Idiot Number One. Tsk, tough life. Life is so absurd!

When he had first entered the tower, the holy land of wizards, and thought that the flowery path was finally unfolding before him.

The representative of these geniuses was this arrogant kid in front of him!

He flipped through the spellbook with anguish in his heart.

The Chief told us to practice mana management, but hes left all the repairs to us Ugh Did I come here to study magic or manual labor And not long ago, he was excited to finally receive the Princess hair so hes been immersed in his research

What? Whos received what?

As he grumbled in succession, Lucass attention peaked for the first time.

The Princess hair.

Where did he get it?

The Princess gave it to him last time. Its not just one or two wizards who have wanted to study the Princess magic, but these days everyone is interested

In the research lab?

Who, the Chief?

Do you think Im asking if the Princess is in the lab?

I just said the Chief is in the lab. Are you deaf?

Whered your manners go?

Erk!

Idiot Number One, who had been speaking casually to Lucas, suddenly flinched. Lucas red eyes were staring intently at him.

Danger Alert! Danger Alert! This was the ominous feeling I felt when I was ignorant at first and was attacked by the person in front of me. Number One suddenly reverted to a courteous demeanor and made excuses.

No, I didnt mean to do that I simply wanted to answer your questions quickly

The modern person should be more relaxed. Not having the time to add a few more words isnt good, right? Then you might as well be mute. Dont you think so too, hm?

Yes! I will be more careful with my time!

Okay, Lets be careful.

Yes!

After being confronted by Lucass intense presence, Number One crouched in a corner feeling himself rapidly age from the fear.

Then Ill be going.

He reflexively asked Lucas, who got up from his seat.

Uh, where are you going?

The lab.

Recalling their previous conversation, it was evident that the lab Lucas was referring to was the one where the Chief was working. Idiot Number One then inquired carefully.

Why there?

Its annoying to hear that someone else has something thats mine.

What do you mean, something thats mine?

Ignoring the suspicious gaze behind his back, Lucas left the room. And after a while, a loud roar and an unknown scream resounded from the Black Tower.

The head of the tower then stormed out of the lab, weeping, LUCAS, THE VALUABLE RESEARCH MATERIAL WAS BURNED BECAUSE OF THAT BASTARD, and sobs could be heard for the rest of the week.