Chapter 126 · The Vanished Princess (4)

After the communication with Hashita, Basileo let out a sigh of relief and plopped down.

“I found her, Anastasia.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Splash, splash.

The sound of waves was ceaseless. He was now on the open sea. To think his first-ever sea voyage was for the sake of meeting her.

Hashita’s last words lingered in his ears.

—But Prince, I hugged the princess. I rubbed my face against her cheeks and touched her hair too. Jealous?

He bit his lip hard.

‘…As if I’d be jealous.’

It had already been over a year and several months, yet Anastasia’s image was drawn so vividly he could almost grasp it. He didn’t even need memory magic. Her white face, her fluffy hair, her shining eyes, and her smile sweet enough to melt ice, and that voice that chirped like a song.

Not long after Basileo arrived in Kalisa, he heard the news that she had disappeared.

His heart dropped like a stone. Before he could form any plan, he had left Anastasia beside the people who were after her life, and he hadn’t been able to sleep properly for even a single day… and now she had disappeared!

‘I really should have brought her to Kalisa.’

He should have persuaded her by any means. He should have tried harder instead of just getting angry.

‘I said I’d take responsibility…’

He refused food and sleep out of guilt and worry. King Pereus was frantic with worry over his son. To fall ill right after returning home—he wondered if the hardships of the past had finally broken him.

After that, Basileo spent a year in a hell worse than Santra. It was more stifling than his days confined in the Tower of Repentance, and his worry for Anastasia only grew.

He conducted his own secret investigation, but if the King of Santra had combed the country and failed, what special means did he have?

Still, he did not let go of the thread of hope. Because he believed that she—Anastasia—could overcome any crisis. The thought that she might have lost her life meaninglessly at someone’s hands or be helplessly imprisoned never even crossed his mind.

At last, he偶然ly caught a clue to Anastasia’s whereabouts. It was after seeing a rare item brought by a delegation from one of the countries that had resumed exchange with Kalisa.

‘An image magical tool that even non-mages can operate.’

He felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

“So, my clever prince, I’d like you to take a look at a magic I’m researching right now.”

The research Anastasia had shown him before.

That magical tool must operate based on the principles she researched. There was no way anyone else could have created such an original and groundbreaking object.

He pressed the delegation about the source of the item, but they would not easily open their mouths. They said it was obtained with great difficulty and in strict secrecy, so they could not reveal it.

After much effort and persuasion, Basileo was able to learn of the company that distributed the item.

The Pakula Company of Eldina.

Then was she now in a small island nation on the southern continent?

He couldn’t understand. She had decided to become king of Santra, so why run away to such a distant country? She had even refused to go to Kalisa!

Thinking it over, he could guess the reason.

‘She’s trying to build roots.’

Anastasia had always been threatened because of her origins. She lacked a faction to support her. She probably wanted to grow her own power without relying on anyone. The founding of the company must be the beginning.

He was somewhat relieved, but he wanted to be certain she was safe.

Yet he had no way to contact Pakula. He had to avoid the eyes of the Kalisan royal family, so he couldn’t ask anyone else. So he secretly contacted a foreign relative he hadn’t seen since he was an infant he couldn’t even remember.

Hashita had many guilds under her, so she could easily contact the Pakula Company. Through Hashita, Basileo exchanged messages with Pakula, and his certainty that its owner was Anastasia deepened.

‘Because even if the voice is altered by magic, the way of speaking can’t be hidden.’

Pakula Company. ‘Pakula’ means a small torch. It was a very Anastasia-like name.

Though she was a small torch now, might she not soon be a heretic who would bring a massive blaze to the whole world? Giving magic to those who cannot use mana is as great a deed as bringing fire to humanity when they did not know how to use it.

For now, only those in the know knew, but if it became widely commercialized, the ripple would be enormous.

‘It’s good for raising money, but it comes with danger.’

Especially if the Santran nobles were to learn that she had created such a thing…

His chest grew heavy with worry. Wondering if some fresh air might help, he went up to the deck.

“Prince Basileo.”

A large man approached him as he stood in the wind, gazing out at the endless sea.

“Knight Hartmann.”

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

He asked with a friendly smile.

“If you have worries, please tell me, just a little.”

“…It’s nothing.”

Basileo felt guilty. Since returning to Kalisa, he had wandered because of Anastasia and worried everyone. And yet his mind was still full of thoughts of her.

“I don’t know what’s troubling you, but I hope this trip helps you recover. Eldina is a good resort, after all.”

A few months ago, when his father was agonizing over which country to trade with next, he had recommended Eldina. He had praised it, saying he really wanted to visit once.

Neither his father nor Hartmann would ever dream of his ulterior motive.

Basileo bowed his head and muttered.

“…I’m showing a pathetic side in many ways.”

“Pathetic, you say!”

Hartmann waved his hands in surprise.

“Who would think the prince pathetic? You endured difficult times under those worse-than-dogs bastards and returned.”

“…”

“Besides, you taught yourself magic and even manifested aura. It’s been just over a year since you returned, and your magic swordsmanship has improved frighteningly. As expected of His Majesty’s son. It seems the day is not far off when the prince will stand at the vanguard and take revenge on them.”

“…”

Basileo’s face darkened further. Hartmann, unaware of his burning heart, interpreted his expression as one filled with vengeance. And he firmly resolved that he would surely bring ruin to Santra, which had made their fine prince suffer.

◇ ◆ ◇

Ten days later.

This was only the second time I had come to the central island since briefly stopping there for residency screening on the first day I arrived in Eldina.

Ashinak, the capital, was located on the largest island in the center of Eldina.

Having lived in a quiet place, coming to a center packed with countless tourists was overwhelming. My eyes spun trying to take in people of all sorts of hair and skin colors. The Konashia village festival hadn’t had this many people either—a sea of people was the perfect expression.

Emet giggled, apparently finding it amusing that I was gaping at everything.

“The princess is especially cute when she makes that face. Her already big round eyes get even rounder.”

“She was so excited that it’s a good thing we brought her.”

When Cyrus teased, I felt a little embarrassed and mumbled.

“I-I was just surprised because it’s my first time seeing so many people.”

“There seem to be more people because of the festival.”

Emet excitedly bought this and that snack. As I sucked the juice from a coconut the size of my head, passersby kept cheerfully striking up conversations.

「Good heavens, what a truly cute young lady!」

「Wow, her eyes are the color of the Eldinan sea.」

「Want me to draw your portrait? I’ll do it for free for a young lady like you!」

「Little lady, what country are you from? Do you speak Eldinan?」

“As expected, anyone with eyes can’t help but know the princess’s cuteness.”

Emet shrugged and held my hand tightly as if to protect me.

I had thought this atmosphere felt familiar—it was similar to Konashia village.

Southern continent people are naturally easygoing and cheerful, but Santra is individualistic, so people tend to be a bit cold. Konashia was an exception in many ways. Ah, thinking about it makes me miss it again.

‘I should buy presents for everyone!’

How much resentment will they pour on me when I return safely? I should buy something as a small apology. Hmm… what would be good?

As I was carefully examining the goods on the street stalls, a ringing voice cut through the street.

「The Kalisan delegation is entering!」

I turned my head in surprise.

Whoaah!

The people in the street cheered.

「Everyone, please show proper courtesy and welcome them!」

Cyrus also looked toward the plaza gate in surprise.

“I didn’t know the delegation would arrive now.”

A long procession was visible in the distance. It seemed they would march through the plaza to the palace at the top of the hill.

“The person at the front must be the prince!”

People rushed to see the procession. Emet seemed curious too and fidgeted.

“Princess, can’t we go a little forward?”

“I-I don’t think I should…”

The mask festival hadn’t even started, and my face was exposed!

“It’s quite a distance—would the princess be visible from there?”

“Still, just in case…”

“There are so many people that unless you use superpowers, you won’t be seen.”

“I’ll hide the princess! If you stand behind me, you’ll be completely covered.”

I couldn’t refuse Emet’s earnest eyes. Both Cyrus and Emet were tall, so a small child like me would be easily hidden.

In the end, I was led by their hands toward a spot with a good view of the procession.

“Careful, Princess.”

It was so crowded I felt like I’d be crushed. I grabbed Cyrus’s clothes so tightly they nearly tore.

The delegation that had looked like tiny dots gradually drew closer and became bean-sized. Then I spotted a black-haired boy riding a black horse at the very front of the procession.

‘It’s Leo!’

Thump, thump, thump.

My heart pounded violently. My body stiffened with tension.

Calm down, calm down. With this many people, there’s no way he’ll see me. My hair color is different now, too.

Yet my heart, once it started racing, would not calm down.

‘…Why am I like this?’