The Promise of Protection

Flowers piled up at my bedside. It started with Sierra placing a single large blossom atop my disheveled hair. While she worked diligently on her flower crown, she would find beautiful blooms that didn’t fit her “concept” and place them by my head one by one. Seeing this, Lamierre followed suit, adding vibrant petals or four-leaf clovers to the pile whenever he found them.

I thought about stopping them but decided against it. It was both funny and adorable to watch them choose flowers for my bedside so seriously. I especially loved seeing Sierra smile after “accidentally” tucking a flower into my hair or resting one on my cheek. I decided I would collect all of these later to dry them or have them preserved with magic. Bathed in the peaceful, warm atmosphere, I savored the creeping drowsiness and simply laughed.

I now had eight rings on my fingers, crafted by Sierra and Lamierre. The flower crown I had started—the one I abandoned halfway for Lamierre to finish—was now complete and sitting on Sierra’s head. I wanted her to wear it with Lamierre’s neatly woven side facing forward, but she insisted on wearing the crushed, mangled side I had made right at the front.

Lamierre was now working on a second crown, claiming it was for the Grand Duke. I told him it wasn’t necessary since Sierra was making one for me, but I was defeated by his otherworldly logic: “A man of Grand Duke status must wear at least two flower crowns.” I couldn’t argue with that—mostly because Sierra nodded in agreement. If Sierra told me to wear them, I’d wear ten, let alone two.

“The Headmaster is very excited.”

“I bet he is.”

I replied half-heartedly, keeping my hands resting peacefully on my stomach to avoid damaging the rings.

I had wondered why Headmaster Herenso was so obsessed with the independence of the Magic Faculty, and today I found out. While carefully weaving the flowers, Lamierre told me about the Headmaster’s past. It was a simple, relatable story: the person he respected most had been a professor in the Magic Faculty.

“Lamierre.”

I started to turn on my side to rest my head on my arm but stopped, worried about crushing the flower bracelet. I rested my head directly on the ground instead. The blades of grass rustled against my ear.

“What do you want to do once you become a Magic Tower Master?”

Lamierre, whose hands had been moving busily, froze and stared at me. I laughed at his bewildered expression. Brushing aside the grass tickling my face, I asked again.

“What will you do when you become the Tower Master?”

“Pardon?”

After a long discussion with Headmaster Herenso, we reached a final decision to allocate one-fifth of the Bennett Mine’s output to the Magic Tower. Even though towers are notorious money-eaters, one-fifth was quite a lot. It would likely make the ‘Bennett Magic Tower’ one of the wealthiest on the continent.

“You’re going to be the one doing it. My Tower Master.”

“Me?”

“Were you planning on not doing it?”

“Ah…”

Lamierre placed another flower by my head—a wild daisy with white petals and a yellow center. I picked it up to examine it.

“Why? Do you have no interest in research? A battle mage isn’t a bad choice either. Actually, it’s great. Very cool.”

If he becomes a battle mage, it would be difficult for him to remain affiliated with the tower. Headmaster Herenso had wanted to increase the Bennett Mine’s stake to one-fourth in exchange for complete independence of the Magic Faculty… but I refused that.

I thought of Cigarette, who had transferred from the Magic Faculty to the Political Science Faculty. Students need time to gain various experiences and study different disciplines. Therefore, the Academy’s Magic Faculty will operate as before, while the Magic Tower will function separately as a ‘research institution.’ The Academy will play the role of a university, and the Tower will serve as a graduate school and research center.

Lamierre watched my expression before asking cautiously.

“Then the position of the Grand Duke’s personal mage…”

“It’s a waste.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re going to be an Archmage.”

I tucked the flower I was holding into the hair of the blank-faced Lamierre.

“An Archmage is at least a Marquis. Even for me, keeping a Marquis as a personal mage is a bit burdensome.”

“Your Highness…”

Lamierre went back to weaving the crown. I watched his contemplative face and then looked back up at the sky. A large, pure white cloud cast a shadow over us, turning the bright scenery dark in an instant.

“Do you really think I will become an Archmage?”

“Yes.”

I wasn’t the only one certain of this. The Academy professors were scrambling to teach Lamierre even one more thing. Headmaster Herenso had laughed, saying they all wanted the title of ‘The Archmage’s Teacher.’ Lamierre seemed too busy learning to realize it yet, but he would soon understand. Even the fact that he could relay the Headmaster’s words to me was a testament to his own talent.

Headmaster Herenso predicted Lamierre would be the third Tower Master. Personally… I hoped Lamierre would be the second. The first Master has too much work to do, and since Lamierre is still young, being the first might be difficult. But he should definitely take the second spot. Absolutely.

Sierra approached and sat beside me. I let her pull my hand toward her and asked.

“What do you think, Sierra?”

“About what?”

“Do you think Lamierre will become an Archmage?”

Sierra, who was busy knot theming a thick flower bracelet around my wrist, nodded.

“Yes.”

“But why another bracelet instead of a crown?”

“A crown needs bigger, prettier flowers.”

I wonder just how magnificent a crown she plans on making. After neatly finishing the bracelet, Sierra gently rested my hand back on the ground. I caught her hand and stroked the small scratches on the back of it.

“You should be careful.”

“This is nothing… Your Majesty.”

Sierra and Lamierre stood up. Should I get up too? I debated it while lying down before finally letting out a groan and sitting up. Most of the flowers on my hair fell off, but a few remained tangled in the strands. I plucked away the blooms that were blocking my vision.

“I greet the Emperor.”

“I greet the Emperor.”

As usual, Kallios didn’t acknowledge their greetings. Should I start teaching him etiquette now? Sierra and Lamierre sat back down as if it were perfectly normal. Hmm. It’s not like he’d listen if I told him to, and they say people die if they change too suddenly, so it’s best to leave him be. Besides, Emperors are supposed to live as they please. It’s the people around them who have to adapt.

He’s a model example of being self-centered. Fine-looking, though.

The shadow from the cloud vanished. Kallios’s blonde hair shimmered as it caught the returning autumn sunlight. It’s beautiful no matter how many times I see it. I reached out a hand adorned with flower bracelets and rings. Kallios knelt on one knee before me.

“You’re here?”

“The ground is cold.”

“Not really.”

I tried to stroke his head but wobbled, because I was suddenly hoisted into the air. Leaning my head against his shoulder, I finished what I was saying.

“It’s not cold, though?”

“It is cold.”

I’ve lived for ten years being more used to others moving me than walking myself, but this was a bit much. Sierra was right there. Lamierre too. And it’s not like my body is so ruined that I’d fall ill just from lying in a field for a bit. …Or is it?

Kallios began walking toward a tea table set up some distance from the grass. I felt like a kid who had been caught by his mom after playing in the mud. I belatedly worried about my messy clothes and felt embarrassed by his sigh. It’s not like I played that roughly, honestly. I ran my hand through the back of my hair and plucked off a few stuck leaves.

“Your Highness.”

Just then, I heard footsteps that sounded like someone running. Kallios stopped. I tilted my head back to look. Lamierre had caught up, holding a finished flower crown.

“This is for you.”

I reached out to take it, but Lamierre was faster. The crown, woven with all sorts of flowers, was placed on my head. I adjusted the crown, which had tilted toward my forehead, and looked at Lamierre.

“How is it?”

“It suits you well.”

I knew it was just empty praise, but his bright smile was so endearing that I smiled back at him.

Kallios started walking again. I thought he would set me down at the tea table, but he walked right past it, so I tugged at his sleeve. Kallios looked down at me for a moment before gently placing me in a chair.

I showed off the Sierra-original flower bracelets on both my wrists to Kallios, who sat opposite me. He… had no reaction. I hadn’t expected a grand response, but seeing him immediately open a thick book and start reading as if his job ended at delivering me to the table was a bit disappointing. I stopped showing off, leaned back in the chair, and took off the crown. Ah.

“Lamierre.”

I called for Lamierre, but why did you look up? I pointedly ignored Kallios and waved my hand. Lamierre, who was sitting next to Sierra, waved back.

“Bring all of those here.”

I asked them to bring the flowers they had gathered for me, like squirrels gathering acorns. I covered my mouth with my hand as I watched them pick up the flowers. I shouldn’t laugh when they’re taking my request so seriously.

They’re just too cute.

As I watched them with a smile, I heard the crisp flip of a page being turned.

A bouquet, flower bracelets and rings on both hands, a crown, and even a small pile of loose blossoms. Trying to take care of it all, I realized there was quite a lot. Leaving the “extra” Kallios to his book, the three garden flower-slayers discussed how to handle the haul.

We decided to cast preservation magic on the crowns and bracelets and dry the rest. Initially, we planned to use preservation magic on every single flower, but when I saw Lamierre’s face turn pale after casting it on just four crowns, I quickly changed the plan. Lamierre insisted he could do it all… but I couldn’t bring myself to abuse the future Archmage just to keep a few flowers.

Lamierre looked dejected for a moment, but he cheered up when I mentioned that dried flowers have their own charm. He said that since dried flowers break easily, he would come back when they were almost dry to cast preservation magic then. He said it was much easier than doing it on fresh flowers, so I gave him permission. Even though he was casting magic to preserve my flowers, he looked as happy as if he were the one receiving a gift.

By 4:30 PM, Sierra, who had spent her entire play session handling flowers, went back inside.

Three people remained at the garden table in front of the spire under the orange glow of the sun. The “extra” Kallios reading his book, Lamierre still with a flower tucked behind his ear, and me.

Kallios was reading, and Lamierre was just beaming at me. Since I was the reason the three of us were gathered here, and I was the oldest, shouldn’t I bring up a topic we could all share? But no topic that included all three of us came to mind. Actually, there was one, but I didn’t want to bring it up. I didn’t have the confidence to handle it if I brought up the ruins here. Kallios was currently undergoing punishment, and Lamierre had also gone through a tiring ordeal for quite a while. Unless one of them spoke first, it wasn’t a story for me to tell.

“Your Highness.”

While I was debating what to talk about, Lamierre called me. I stopped fiddling with my teacup and looked at him.

“When are you leaving?”

“Huh? Ah.”

It was a much safer topic than the ruins. I mentally praised Lamierre and took off the flower ring on my middle finger. The ring made of wild daisies was Lamierre’s handiwork. I fiddled with the spot where the tough stem was tightly wound and thought for a moment.

“At first, I thought about a year. But… well, I think I should go sooner.”

“Sooner?”

Kallios flipped a page. I placed the ring next to the crown and pressed my thumb against my grass-stained index finger.

“Yes. Since I’ve decided to go, I thought it’s better to hurry. I have a lot to do.”

“Then, how soon?”

“Part of me wants to pack my bags and leave right now.”

Kallios flipped another page. I suppressed a laugh and picked up my teacup.

“I’ll go as soon as the agreement with the Academy is finalized.”

“Ah…”

Lamierre let out a deep sigh, his disappointment plain to see.

“Can’t you go after the Magic Tower is finished? Together.”

“Together?”

“Yes!”

Lamierre nodded vigorously and leaned toward me.

“You said it yourself, Your Highness. To protect you properly next time.”

Hmm. I did say that. But I didn’t mean I actually wanted him to protect me. Besides, even if he joined the journey to the Grand Duchy, nothing would happen that would require Lamierre to “protect” me. It wasn’t like only one or two people were going. But Lamierre seemed to have taken my words seriously.

“I’m studying magic very hard.”

“Yes, yes. That’s impressive.”

“So, I will protect you.”

I didn’t answer and just smiled. Whether the situation allowed it or not, his promise to protect me was cute and endearing.

“Sir Weaver?”

“Pardon?”

Just then, Kallios asked while flipping a page. Lamierre stared at Kallios with wide eyes.

“With that level of skill?”

I stopped with the teacup at my lips and looked at him.