AND so, I graduated from Grail Academy and my school days were over.
During the mornings, I received instruction in various spheres of learning from personal tutors. During the afternoons, I began performing official royal duties, including touring welfare institutions. I became very busy indeed.
Then one day, three days before my coming-of-age ceremony was due to be held…
Claude had come that day to teach me more about international politics. And he happened to mention that Karina would be arriving today from Nigren.
“Really? Today?”
“Yeah. Well, she’s due to arrive today. She was supposed to be here this morning, but she’s not arrived yet. Maybe she’s held up on the road somewhere.”
Claude was also hard at work in his new role as a diplomat. His first big career event was my coming-of-age ceremony.
Claude got up from the table and went over to the window. He stared down at the castle gates. Then, presumably seeing no sign of royal carriages, he shook his head and shrugged.
“Are the Nigren delegation our first guests?”
“Supposed to be. Most of the other countries’ visitors will arrive tomorrow. We’re going to have them settle in and relax today and tomorrow. Then we’re going to take them on a tour of the Magical Research Lab in three days.”
“Hmm.”
Our country of Najir was the most magically powerful in the world.
As such, our research lab was the world’s finest. Obviously, the foreign delegates would be fascinated to see it. Also, it’d be an excellent opportunity for us to show off some of our magical spells. They were the best in the world after all.
“After celebrating your coming-of-age ceremony, the delegates will spend another day or two in Najir relaxing before returning home.”
“That sounds like how things went when I visited the Sunruta Kingdom.”
“Yeah. Some countries like to do some sightseeing on the way home since they came all this way. And some countries use these occasions to have talks with each other.”
“That makes sense.”
Claude had a way of describing international politics in such a casual, chatty way. It was really fun listening to him. Sometimes Oliphia came along with him, and the three of us would have tea. I always enjoyed those times. It was so different from how things were around this time during my last life.
Today, in preparation for the ceremony, Claude was teaching me about the various countries that would be visiting. He also informed me about the babies that’d recently been born in each royal family and about their traditional foods, crafts, festivals, and so on. Basically, a general rundown of each country and its culture.
It’d be obvious that I had done my homework when it came time for me to converse with our foreign guests. At least, that was the intention behind today’s lesson.
If I could drop some knowledge during conversations with the visiting elite, it would show that Najir was paying close attention to their country and cared about their affairs. In other words, I would make a good first impression.
After a class filled with a ton of information to memorize, then lunch, I went back over my notes. I wanted everything to be perfect. If I reeled off an incorrect fact, that’d spoil everything and tarnish Najir’s reputation.
I must’ve been studying alone for hours.
All at once, I was distracted by a sweet scent. I lifted my head to see Ellie putting the tea set down on the side table. She’d brought tea and walnut cookies.
“Don’t study too hard, Princess. You’ll wear yourself out. Please, take a break.”
“Okay. Thank you, Ellie.”
I smiled and picked up my teacup.
The subtle flavors pleased my palate and the warm tea soothed my exhaustion.
When I gazed out the window, I could see a clear blue sky. The cold air had warmed up recently, and it was a new, bright day. Just perfect for taking a walk in the gardens.
Hmm, maybe I’ll go see Ed…?
Ed came once a week to give me my magic lesson. Aside from that, we communicated via letters. But we hadn’t been on another date, or a date-like meeting, since my birthday. I really fancied a walk around the gardens with him.
I picked up my notepad and scribbled a message. “I’ll be walking in the gardens. Would love it if you could join me.” Then I stared down at what I wrote, focusing all my concentration on the sheet of paper. Using the little bit of transference magic I’d been able to master, I made the letter disappear.
If my spell worked, then Ed should’ve received the letter instantly.
I headed over to the mirror to check that my hair and clothes looked okay. Then I put on the feather hat Charles had given me for my birthday and headed down to the garden.
There was a little gazebo located in front of the fountain in the plaza. Ellie and I made our way across the spacious gardens and sat there. Soon, a tall man dressed in a black cape emerged from the Magical Research Lab and headed across the lawn.
“Ed!” I waved at him. Realizing it was me, Ed smiled and changed direction to join us.
“Out for a walk, Princess?”
“Indeed. And you, Ed? On a break?”
“Yes. I thought a stroll around the gardens might be a nice change of pace. Would you care to walk with me?” Ed offered me his hand. We were both keeping up the pretense of this being a chance meeting.
“Yes, please. How long do you have for your break?”
“Around fifteen minutes. I do have a lot of work on my plate.”
“Very well. Ellie, do you mind if I walk with Ed?”
I turned to Ellie. Ellie nodded.
“Very well, Princess,” she said. “I shall wait here.”
I took Ed’s hand and we started slowly strolling through the gardens.
“Sorry, perhaps I shouldn’t have bothered you while you’ve got so much work…”
I was worried that I was distracting Ed from his important work. I peered up at his face in concern, but he shook his head, smiling at me.
“Worry not. I was due a break, anyway. This was the perfect opportunity. This way, I get to see your beautiful face.” Ed lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. “The sight of your smile always makes my exhaustion evaporate.”
My hand felt hot where his lips touched it.
“So…you’re very busy right now?” I tried to shift the conversation to more businesslike things, aware of my bright-red cheeks.
“Yes, it’s almost your coming-of-age ceremony, after all. We’re going to show the foreign dignitaries around the Magical Research Laboratory, and I’m going to demonstrate some of our magical techniques. If I screw up, it’ll tarnish Najir’s reputation, so I’m making sure I’ve got it all down pat. We’re going to have a practice run-through this afternoon, actually.”
Ed sighed a little as I craned my neck to look up at him.
During this morning’s session with Claude, he’d mentioned that a bunch of foreign emissaries would be coming to tour the Magical Research Laboratory the day after tomorrow. Everyone was surely very busy right now preparing for their visit.
But I was sort of glad to hear it.
After all, if Ed was going to be demonstrating magic and representing the might of the Najir Magical Research Laboratory, that must mean he was very highly regarded in his field. One of the world’s very best.
“You’re going to be demonstrating the spells? That’s amazing!”
“Yes. Remember the Illusion I showed you before? The Head of Research asked me to demonstrate that one for the foreign visitors.”
“Oh, wow! Yes, that one is seriously impressive. No one’s been able to do that in centuries, after all! Oh yes, your name is going to go down in the magical history books for sure, Ed!”
“Haha! Well, thank you.” Ed chuckled. Then he reached out to touch my hair. “You’re always wearing my gift whenever I see you.”
“Of course. It’s my special, precious gift from you, Ed.”
I reached up to touch my own hair, feeling the hard, delicate metalwork there. I made sure to wear them every day…the Magic Stone I’d received from the old world’s Ed and the hair accessory I had gotten from this world’s Ed for my birthday.
Ed smiled, then, seeing that we’d reached the flower bushes, he leaned down and picked a single scarlet flower which he then placed into my hair. It was the same red as the crystal he had gifted me.
“That looks nice on you.”
“Thank you…”
I looked down, his gaze somehow too intense for me to bear.
Then we heard the sound of people approaching.
We were in the castle grounds, so I knew it couldn’t be anyone nefarious. But who’d be moving about in such a big group? I turned toward the sound. Ed, also having noticed, turned too.
“Who is it?”
From the sound of the voice, its owner was a young woman. Probably some young royal had come to pay a visit to the royal family. The voice was growing louder as they came closer. They sounded very cheerful.
Then, as the group passed under the archway of trees, we could see them. My eyes opened wide in recognition.
“Oh? Princess Karina?”
It was the Nigren Princess, who I’d last seen several months before…Karina!
Karina seemed to have been unaware that I was out here. At the sound of my voice, her eyes widened.
“Oh my! Princess Annabel!” Beaming, she hurried over to me. “Oh yay! I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon! I’m so glad we decided on a stroll after unpacking.”
“You just arrived?” I asked, smiling in kind.