Chapter 60: Feisty Tomboy

"...Please let go."

"Ah, sorry. I did it unconsciously."

Princess Eleanor, who was holding onto the hem of my jacket, smiled awkwardly and released her grip.

I didn't particularly welcome such actions even when we were alone, and especially now, with people around.

"Ahem."

I wish she would restrain herself, especially when King Orpheus was present because it could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

The reason we were gathered at the main gate of the Royal Palace was to send off Princess Eleanor.

The carriage was waiting for her as she had to return to the Loberne Academy after the incident was resolved.

"...Since Deus is a professor, can't he come along with me?"

Eleanor inquired, seemingly dissatisfied by something, while looking at me and the King.

Hearing that, Orpheus scratched his nape and shook his head.

"He still has things to do with the Royal Family."

If I could successfully complete the third and final trial, I would finally be the first dark mage in the Griffin Kingdom acknowledged by the King.

How long it would take was uncertain. Yet, even after completing the trial, there was no guarantee I could return to the academy immediately because it would cause a big commotion.

"Then can't I just wait for him and go together? After all, it's better to travel with company."

Orpheus was pleased to see the Princess, who had been suffering from chronic fatigue due to her nightmares, become lively again. However, he seemed to feel it was too much, and now he found himself in a predicament.

His expression suggested he didn't want to reject his sister's request too harshly.

"The midterms are approaching. You want to be the top rank this time, don't you?"

"Hmph."

When I intervened, Eleanor glared at me with an upset expression, then sighed and nodded as if complaining.

"Fine. I am Eleanor Luden Griffin, after all."

She knew the meaning and weight of her existence, so her smile was brilliantly beautiful.

I also nodded in satisfaction.

"That's a good answer."

Just like that, Eleanor walked to the carriage with a confident smile.

I attempted to end the farewell just like that, but noticing King Orpheus' and Archmage Ropelican's unsettling gazes, I cleared my throat and approached Eleanor again.

"Huh?"

Eleanor opened the carriage window and tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

"I have something to tell you."

I cleared my throat again, deliberately attracting the King's and Archmage's attention.

Upon hearing the seriousness in my voice, Eleanor, who was filled with slight anticipation, swallowed nervously and looked flushed.

"Uh, yeah. Just... say it."

Eleanor, who was cautiously checking her older brother's expression, nodded with determination.

To her, I sternly stated,

"At Loberne Academy, address the professors and students politely. Don't behave recklessly."

"...."

"Since you're a Princess, you should know how to maintain proper etiquette, right?"

After I said that and turned around, I saw the King looking bewildered and chuckling with an expression of disbelief.

And from behind, came a furious scream.

"You b—!"

The Archmage quickly used a spell to block the foul words from the Princess' mouth.

The carriage shook as the Princess attempted to jump out, but with a gesture from the Archmage, the coachman hurriedly urged the horses to depart.

"You are indeed mysterious."

Even as King Orpheus grumbled about being sick of something, he still subtly asked me, who placidly faced the Princess' departing carriage.

"This year you'll be...."

"...I'll be twenty-eight this year."

Kim Shinwoo was twenty-five years old, but Deus was three years older.

"Ahem, the age difference is quite noticeable."

"...."

"Consider your current position and situation carefully, and don't forget."

I wanted to dismiss it as an unnecessary worry, but seeing that the King's attitude might turn critical, asking where his sister fell short if I said such a thing, I chose to remain silent.

I simply closed my mouth and let the silence linger.

Only when Eleanor's carriage was no longer in sight did King Orpheus speak in a more serious tone.

"The next trial will be arranged for tomorrow since you must have had a tough time due to the research."

"Thank you."

"One more thing, you have a guest."

"...?"

Wondering what he meant, I looked at the path from which Eleanor had departed, where another carriage was approaching.

It was a carriage I had already ridden several times before, and it had the crest of Norseweden engraved on it.

The black-haired woman in the carriage hastily got off and immediately knelt politely before the King and Archmage.

"I am Deia Verdi, the sister of Margrave Norseweden. Thank you for allowing me to enter the Royal Palace."

"Well, if it's the Norseweden Margravate, you're always welcome. I'll give you some space. The wares behind the carriage seem to be gifts; you can unpack them later. For now, I'll let you two siblings have some time together."

"Thank you for your generous consideration."

Looking at Deia, King Orpheus jokingly nudged my shoulder.

"Deus, your younger sister is much better than you."

"...."

King Orpheus laughed like an old man at the young subjects, and Archmage Ropelican followed him as they left.

I was left alone with Deia.

Deia, who had remained kneeling until the King left, only stood up once the sound of footsteps faded and glared at me.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

I took a moment to think before responding to Deia, who had crossed her arms, openly expressing her discomfort.

"How have you been?"

"Well, how have I...?"

On hearing my question, Deia nodded dramatically and took a deep breath.

"Do you think I've been doing well? Huh?! Do I appear like I've been doing well? Who in the world acts like a crazy person and confesses about being a dark mage? I was terrified to death! Do you know how worried I was that you might be arrested for treason as soon as you entered the capital, possibly facing execution and dragging me along with you?"

Deia was aware that I had been arrested for confessing to being a necromancer.

From her perspective, her arrival in the capital city, Graypond, would have been like gambling with her life.

"...Yet you still came."

When I stated that right away, Deia hesitated as if her throat was blocked, then suddenly vented her irritation.

"I didn't have any other choice, did I? I had to assess the situation first!"

With one feisty girl gone, another appeared. However, it was more exhausting this time as she wielded a sharp tongue and harbored resentment towards me.

Facing a trial would have been easier.

Whether she noticed my thoughts or not, Deia glared at me with a pout.

Since I didn't have much to say, I wanted to ask her immediately.

How did she see me, who has taken over the body of Deus Verdi, her older brother?

If it were her, she must have come to me with an answer in mind as she opened her mouth with certainty.

"Wait a moment."

Deia stretched out her hand to stop my words.

After glancing around, she swept her forehead with her hand and spoke,

"You left Norseweden about two months ago, right?"

Yeah, I left in March, and it was currently May. The scent of flowers naturally permeated throughout Graypond's downtown.

"Assuming one month has 30 days, you asked me for 5 minutes, so calculating it..."

Deia suddenly made an irrelevant remark and began to calculate with her fingers.

"If one month totals 150 minutes, then two months will make it 300 minutes. If you convert this into hours, it's 5 hours."

Slide.

Deia spread her fingers to indicate five hours, opened her eyes wide, and shouted,

"Then, you can have five hours of mine!"

"...."

"So, how about that?"

While she seemed somewhat wanting to have a decent conversation while seated, I could sense her subtle reluctance to be the one to suggest it first.

"I don't need..."

"What?"

I was about to suggest going to a cafe or something instead of being swayed by those mere five hours, but Deia raised her gaze bewilderedly.

It seemed like she wanted to insist on being forcibly dragged along.

As this could be my last chance, depending on her choice, I, as her older brother, would have to be more considerate toward her.

"Well, if it's five hours, let's go downtown. Maybe considering the circumstances this time, they might allow that much."

Perhaps the Archmage's apprentices would be trailing me from a distance. However, if I considered my current situation, going downtown seemed unreasonable.

Graypond.

Come to think of it, although I frequently strolled through Graypond in the game, I had never done it with my own feet.

The thought made me somewhat excited.

"Graypond's downtown? It's my first time, too. Do you happen to know any good places?"

"....Yeah."

A place I knew.

Of course, I knew a lot since Graypond was a place with many small and miscellaneous side quests and events.

Thus, I naturally retrieved information stored in my head.

"There's a restaurant called Mersen. Their food will probably suit your taste."

"...."

"Let's go there."

As I walked past her to lead the way, Deia, who was hesitant at first, soon followed closely behind me.