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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Teleportation
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*'Still, it's a relief that she likes him.'*
Baron Kurtsson smiled warmly as he watched his superior from afar, the man who had become the White Tiger's cherished silver mouse.
Meanwhile, Jusielia’s eyes sparkled as she asked the Regent, who was shyly rubbing the back of his neck.
“Regent!”
“Yes?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
It was the first time Princess Jusielia had ever sought him out, the first time she had ever wanted something so clearly.
Jetaar was, therefore, quite surprised.
Suppressing the urge to shout for her to tell him immediately, he forced himself to speak calmly.
“What is it?”
“I have something urgent to discuss with His Majesty the Emperor. Would you accompany me?”
“W-With me?”
“Yes! I thought it would be faster if I went with you, Regent. To be honest, I need that ring of yours! Yours is the only access ring that can get into the private areas of the Emperor's Palace, isn't it?”
Jusielia said, pointing to the crimson ring on Jetaar’s left pinky finger.
Then she swallowed hard.
If he refused, she planned to find some other reason to persuade him.
Because on her own, she had no hope of seeing Ekiel right away.
She had just submitted a request to the Emperor's Palace but was denied.
The reason was the same as always: he was too busy.
She had to risk it all now.
Jusielia decided to go find Ekiel no matter what, and Regent Jetaar was her means to do so.
Jetaar stared down at Jusielia.
Nervous, Jusielia unknowingly clenched her fists.
*'Is he going to say no?'*
The possibility was high.
The Regent was the Emperor's loyal vassal, rumored to have raised him like a son and to cherish him deeply.
*'What should I do?'*
Just then.
Swoosh.
He extended his long, white hand before Jusielia's eyes.
“Sh-Shall we go?”
Lifting her head, Jusielia saw Regent Jetaar holding out his hand, clearing his throat.
He was fidgeting, finding Jusielia utterly adorable.
Jusielia, bewildered, took Regent Jetaar's hand tightly and asked blankly.
“Go where?”
“As you commanded, I will escort you immediately, swiftly, and comfortably. To the Emperor's Palace.”
“Huh?”
Regent Jetaar gave a gentle smile, and a complex yet beautiful silver magic circle brightly materialized around him and Jusielia.
*'Gasp!'*
Jetaar immediately activated the teleportation circle, whisking only Jusielia away from the office.
The remaining people, including Jusielia's attendants, stood stunned, staring blankly at the spot where the two had vanished.
His Excellency the Regent, who rarely used magic, dedicating all his energy to state affairs.
But they had forgotten.
He was the most powerful Archmage after His Majesty the Emperor, capable of casting teleportation spells in an instant without a chant.
Just then, his aide, Baron Kurtsson, came out of the building, grumbling.
“Honestly, His Excellency! It's only a three-minute walk to the Emperor's Palace from here!”
Baron Kurtsson picked up the documents the Regent had dropped and gave an awkward smile to the princess's head maid, Sophie.
“You see that way? If you take that back path, you'll be there in three minutes.”
“Three minutes.”
“Hahaha. He's always been one to enjoy using his talents in peculiar ways….”
Baron Kurtsson avoided the gaze of Sophie Langrasse, who was staring intently at him.
*'Damn it, how embarrassing.'*
His superior was undoubtedly a remarkable man.
Powerful enough to teleport instantly, not just by himself, but with 'someone' else.
*'So why do I feel so ashamed?'*
“Well then, I'm quite busy, so if you'll excuse me.”
Baron Kurtsson quickly fled to his office, escaping Sophie Langrasse, the princess’s head maid, who, though gentle, was famous for her frighteningly clear eyes.
Meanwhile, Jusielia's jaw had dropped.
*'Wow!'*
It had already been five years since she started living in the Rilberg Imperial Palace, the empire of magic, home to the Emperor and ten Archmages.
But this was the first time she had ever experienced teleportation magic herself.
If one were to ask why, it was simply how things had been.
Ekiel and Claude, the mages who spent the most time with Jusielia, never really tried to use teleportation magic with her.
Ekiel could have from the very beginning, but he always preferred to carry Jusielia and move at a slow, leisurely pace.
Claude had mastered teleportation magic a few years ago, but he likely felt burdened by the thought of taking Jusielia with him.
More importantly.
There had never been anywhere far enough for Jusielia to go that would warrant using teleportation magic.
*'…How frustrating.'*
Recalling that fact wounded her pride for no reason, and Jusielia clenched her jaw.
It meant that she still hadn't obtained a ring from Ekiel that would allow her to leave the Rilberg Imperial Palace.
Rumble-.
Experiencing teleportation for the first time, Jusielia was startled by the strange sensation of the entire space shaking and gripped Regent Jetaar's hand tightly.
“It's all right.”
Regent Jetaar whispered, his voice seemingly gruff yet gentle, and held Jusielia more securely.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
That was precisely how much time seemed to pass.
But strangely, it felt as though time and space had been stretched out.
Like a journey through the cosmos.
The celestial bodies spun around, and the starlight filling the dark void left circular afterimages, creating a spectacular view.
*'So this is what mages see when they teleport. Moving alongside the stars.'*
Jusielia thought that magic was truly wondrous.
Just then, her feet, which had been floating, touched the ground, and she came back to her senses, lifting her head.
*'Ah, I think we've arrived.'*
She opened her eyes wide and looked around, but this was not the Emperor's office she had been expecting.
*'Th-This is...'*
Clearly not her destination, a flustered Jusielia clung to Regent Jetaar, her face flushing as she asked quietly.
“Why did we come to the bedroom?”
“His Majesty is not in his office at this hour. He usually returns around this time.”
Ah, right. It was evening. He must be resting...
Just as Jusielia began to feel awkward, Jetaar continued.
“He washes up first, then starts his evening work in the study attached to the bedroom. Or he conducts research.”
“He works again? He doesn't rest?”
“Yes, that is correct. He sleeps a mere three hours a day. Aside from that, he is a workaholic who does nothing but work, train, or research. I hope Your Highness will scold him.”
Jetaar relayed the Emperor's schedule with a calm expression, asking her to give him a talking-to.
Jusielia raised her eyebrows, her expression one of disbelief.
Even for an emperor, this was too much.
Wasn't Ekiel Rilberg still a teenager?
She vividly remembered when Ijeten was Ekiel's age.
Ijeten had been diligent, but he had never dedicated himself to work to this extent.
*'This definitely isn't normal.'*
She had to let Ekiel know that he was already a perfect emperor and didn't need to push himself any harder.
As Jusielia was pondering what to say to reassure Ekiel.
“What's this, Regent? Showing up like this.”
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind a wall.
The partition connected to the bath, and steam was billowing up from it, suggesting Ekiel had just finished bathing.
Jusielia's face turned beet red.
No way!
But it seemed he didn't have a habit of walking around naked, as Ekiel emerged into the bedroom neatly dressed from top to bottom.
He must have still thought only Regent Jetaar was there.
Without even glancing toward Jusielia and the Regent, he picked up a towel and began drying his hair as he spoke.
“Judging by the atmosphere, it doesn't seem to be anything serious or urgent. What is it?”
Ekiel had already recognized the intruder's magic as Jetaar's, so he didn't attack or raise his guard, simply asking calmly.
Each time Ekiel ruffled his hair with the towel, water droplets flicked from his damp black locks.
Jusielia watched him dazedly, swallowing hard.
*'Isn't this... dangerous?'*
This was, after all, Emperor Ekiel's bedroom.
She had been in Emperor Ritain's bedroom before, but that was only possible because she was his daughter.
And only because she had been very ill.
One wasn't supposed to enter the emperor's bedroom so recklessly.
Jusielia had planned to meet Ekiel in his office, not barge into his bedroom like this.
*'What should I do? Should I tell the Regent we should bolt before Ekiel notices?'*
As Jusielia's mind raced, Ekiel rested the towel on his head, placed his hands on his hips, and sighed.
Then he spoke to Jetaar with annoyance.
“Hold on, Regent.”
“Yes.”
“Don't tell me you've brought another resignation letter at this hour.”
A resignation letter? What was he talking about?
Startled, Jusielia looked up at Regent Jetaar and unknowingly tightened her grip on his hand.
At that, Jetaar looked down and, meeting Princess Jusielia’s accusatory gaze, quickly shook his head in denial.
But seeing the panic in the Regent's eyes, Jusielia was certain he was lying.
So it was true. He had been submitting his resignation often.
