I realized that painfully when I fell into the Abyss.
I was abandoned by them in exchange for wanting a father and a family.
'I made a deal with an evil god and came back.'
I took Aen as my teacher in exchange for finding <Ayla's Medical Book>,
and became Ligrin's disciple through a bet.
Everything is a repetition of deals.
If something comes, there must be something to give in return.
'So there must be a price for this too.'
Especially a mana beast core that can't be found even if you search the whole world.
I wonder how big the corresponding price will be...
"Ah, is that so? You're saying you won't accept it without a price?"
The Crown Prince seemed to think for a moment, then smiled brightly and said.
"Okay. I'll tell you if you want. The price the Princess wants so much."
Step, step. The Crown Prince slowly approached.
His hair, skin, and clothes were all covered in ash, but he was still dazzlingly beautiful.
It seemed that nothing in the world could ever tarnish him.
The Crown Prince, who had come right in front of me, lowered his head and whispered in my ear.
"What I want is."
Gulp.
I clenched my fist.
What on earth does the Crown Prince want?
Since it's being exchanged for a great material like a mana beast core, it must be something enormous that corresponds to it.
Can I really handle it?
If it's something I can handle, I have to handle it.
'I need this mana beast core.'
A mysterious substance with endless possibilities.
I can do anything with this.
Maybe even break the evil god's seal...
I focused all my attention on the voice the Crown Prince would utter.
But.
"Vedel."
"...Yes?"
"Call me Vedel. Instead of Your Highness the Crown Prince."
I was momentarily stunned by the unexpected words and only blinked.
If it's Vedel, it's definitely.
"You're saying...call you by your name?"
"You understand quickly as expected."
The Crown Prince smiled contentedly.
But unlike his words, I didn't understand at all.
Because.
"Why?"
"Huh?"
He tilted his head.
I understood even less.
"A name is...something that close people call each other."
To nobles, a name was like a nickname only used between family, friends, or lovers.
But I'm not anything to the Crown Prince, so why is he telling me to call him by his name?
'If it was Miracle, maybe.'
I don't understand his intentions at all.
"Is that important?"
"Yes?"
"Then how about this? That I want to get closer to the Princess."
With those words, the Crown Prince smiled brightly.
It was such a clear and pure smile that it was hard to believe he was the same person who had just burned ogres to ashes with a mysterious power.
For a moment, my heart fluttered.
"But..."
Even so, I hesitated.
Because.
'I've never called anyone by their name.'
Except for those like Vansis and Estio, I've never called anyone outside of Rodbel by their name, so I hesitated for no reason.
'Get a grip!'
I whipped myself hard.
The condition for obtaining the mana beast core is to call him by his name. Opportunities like this are rare in life.
...But my lips don't fall easily.
"Is it that difficult? Then how about this."
"...?"
"Lucia."
"...!"
I was startled by the name that suddenly came to my ears and looked at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince moved his lips slowly again, with a kind smile on his face.
"Lucia."
"Ah..."
"How is it? I called you by your name first, so you can do it too, right?"
He gently urged.
I stared blankly at him, then slowly parted my lips.
"Ve-"
But at that moment.
Clatter! Clatter!
The sound of many hooves echoed from afar.
Soon.
"Your Highness!"
"Lady!"
Desperate cries gradually grew closer.
"Ah."
Hearing the sound, the Crown Prince smiled regretfully and took a step away from me.
"Tell me next time."
"Wait, just a moment."
I urgently grabbed him.
I asked the Crown Prince, who was looking back at me.
"Why does it have to be a name? There must be many other things."
I couldn't understand at all, so I couldn't help but ask.
The Crown Prince stared at me intently, then smiled softly and said.
"Just because. I want to hear it. From you..."
At the same time as those incomprehensible words faded, people on horseback jumped out from behind the bushes.
I immediately stuffed the mana beast core into my pocket.
It's a relief that the mana beast core is small...
I was thinking that when a horse ran up and stopped in front of me.
And without even raising my head, someone jumped off the horse and hugged me tightly.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness. I'm so glad you're safe..."
I couldn't see their face because they were hugging me so tightly, but I immediately knew who it was.
"...Commander..."
It was Aen.
But...
'Your hands are shaking?'
I was momentarily embarrassed and looked up at him.
And the moment I saw his face, I couldn't breathe anymore.
Because...
'Aen is crying.'
It wasn't a mistake.
Tap, tap. I felt my shoulder getting wet.
'...Because of me.'
I felt so sorry that I had worried Aen.
I hesitated, then carefully patted his back.
Aen's body twitched slightly.
"...I'm sorry."
"...The Lady has nothing to be sorry for. It's not the Lady's fault. There's no need to be sorry. I'm just..."
The arms that held me tightened even more.
"I'm just thankful that the Lady is safe."
His tearful voice was trembling slightly.
It's genuine. Aen was genuinely worried about me.
'There's someone who was worried about me.'
I'm sorry to Aen, but at this moment I was so happy.
Just the fact that there was at least one person in this world who didn't want me to die was enough to fill my heart.
But...
Heeiigh-!
Another horse jumped out from between the bushes, and someone ran towards us.
"Lady! Are you safe?"
I knew who it was as soon as I heard the voice.
'It's Ligrin.'
Thinking it was an unusually urgent voice for Ligrin, I turned my head, and I paused.
Because...
'Ligrin...right?'
Green hair, dark green eyes, and silver-rimmed glasses were all Ligrin, but.
'...What a mess?'
His disheveled hair was covered in dry leaves, and the butler's uniform he always wore neatly was torn and crumpled.
Even the lenses of his glasses were cracked.
It's Ligrin, but it doesn't seem like Ligrin.
Ligrin, who had thoroughly examined my condition, took a deep sigh.
"I'm relieved that you don't seem to have any major injuries. First of all, after being diagnosed by a doctor..."
"I will protect the Lady..."
Ligrin and Aen were talking.
I stared blankly at the two of them.
'It wasn't just one person.'
There were more people in this world who were worried about me.
I never dreamed that that person would be Ligrin, though.
Somehow...
'I feel relieved.'
And sleepy.
At the same time as the tension was released, the world spun.
"─Lady!"
"Oh dear...!"
With the two people desperately looking down at me as the last thing I saw, my vision completely went out.
One month before the Rodbel Qualification Exam.
Kari, who was assigned to escort the Crown Prince with Aiden, couldn't sleep for a month with excitement.
And finally, on the day of the exam.
"I'll be able to see Aen Rixus, right?"
Aiden, who was walking down the hallway with him, twitched his eyebrows at his words.
It was a question, but as if he didn't want an answer, Kari continued to speak.
"I'll be able to see Duke Rodbel up close too. The one I've only heard rumors about!"
"..."
"The Rodbel exam is said to be held in a white building, and the building is known to be so gorgeous and beautiful that..."
Rodbel this and that. The Duke's residence this and that. The majesty of the Magic Knight Order this and that. The heroic tales of Aen Rixus this and that...
Kari rattled off everything he knew about Rodbel until he reached the end of the long corridor.
Finally, Aiden couldn't stand it and shouted.
"Please shut up, Kari!"
Kari's eyes widened at Aiden's sudden scream.
Soon, he lowered his eyebrows as if he was pitiful and said.
"You have a bad personality, Aiden..."
Unfortunately...
"Damn it!"
Aiden felt like he was going crazy at the sight of Kari, who was making a face that sincerely felt sorry for him and branding him as a psychopath.
'Who has a bad personality?'
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