AFTER my first dance with Daniel, we headed into a corner of the ballroom for a rest. Then a young woman came hurrying over to join us.
“Princess Annabel, Prince Daniel!”
“Ah, Princess Karina.”
Karina was wearing a light pink, very cute dress. Her hair was like red fire as it fell down her back. She looked very pretty indeed.
“Congratulations on your coming-of-age, Princess Annabel! I’m so sorry I was so late in greeting you.”
“Thank you.” I smiled back at her.
The introductions and greetings earlier had taken what felt like years. I was glad Karina had held back until now, when we could have a proper conversation.
“Are you enjoying Najir?” I asked.
“Oh yes, very much! And I got to see the Magical Research Lab yesterday. It was filled with such extraordinary magic! It was quite amazing! Wasn’t it, Prince Daniel?” Karina shifted her gaze to Daniel.
“Yes, all the magic that was demonstrated was most impressive.”
“But the most impactful was the demonstration by your magic teacher, Princess Annabel. You know, he can change his appearance at will! I couldn’t believe my eyes!” According to Karina’s breathless report, Ed’s magical demonstration had gone perfectly.
I was happy to learn that Ed’s Illusion demonstration had been a hit.
“Indeed, Mr. La Boulacherie is one of Najir’s finest magicians. He’s still the only one in the land who can conjure an Illusion.”
“Oh, yes. But if everyone could do it, what a shock that would be! Elena was fascinated, too!” Karina nodded vigorously.
“Ah, that reminds me, Princess Karina,” I said. “Do you have any plans tomorrow or the day after?”
“Erm…I think we’re just going to be doing some sightseeing in town one of those days. The other one, I’m completely free, though!”
“In that case, I’d like to ask you to join me for a full day. Where should we go…? Oh, there’s a splendid scenic spot about an hour’s ride away… What do you think?”
“You’re going to show me around, Princess Annabel? Oh, yay! Incidentally, I’m an expert horseback rider!” Karina clasped her hands together in front of her chest and did a little hop.
After a bit more chit-chat, Karina was asked to dance, and away she went. Then Daniel asked me if I’d like to go out onto the terrace. I figured there’d be nothing to worry about as long as we were on the palace grounds, so I agreed to step outside with him.
A fresh breeze was blowing, setting the leaves in the trees dancing. The weather had gotten warm lately, so it was very pleasant out.
Daniel leaned his elbows against the terrace balustrade and gazed out across the gardens, which were illuminated by lanterns. I went to stand beside him, gazing out at the moonlit gardens, which looked most ethereal.
“Speaking of the Magical Research Lab that Karina mentioned…it really was most impressive. Our country is doing its best, but we can’t even hold a candle to Najir. I asked your researchers to conduct an educational lecture for the magicians we brought with us. They should be hard at work taking notes on that right now.”
“Oh, I see.”
My eyes widened. This was news to me.
According to Daniel, these magicians from his homeland had accompanied him on the Magical Research Laboratory tour the other day. When they’d seen just how advanced our facility was, they’d yearned to improve themselves. One of our Magical Researchers had agreed to conduct a private lecture for our magician guests.
“Who is the lecturer?”
“Ah, what was his name again? The fellow with black hair, red eyes…”
“Mr. La Boulacherie. He’s my personal magic tutor.”
I knew it was Ed from the description. Ed’s hair and eye color combination were extremely rare.
A lot of people didn’t like that hair and eye color, but I thought they suited Ed’s strong, serious persona perfectly. I loved them.
“And Mr. La Boulacherie, he’s…”
“Yes?”
“…Ah. Never mind.” Daniel clammed up, shaking his head. Then he heaved a huge sigh. “I intend to do whatever I can to bring my country to prosperity. But a lot of things have come up, and things haven’t gone the way I planned them to at all. Sometimes I feel so lost…I just don’t know what the right thing to do is…”
Daniel was talking to me, but it seemed almost like he was talking to himself, lost in his own thoughts. I watched him as he stared out at the moonlit gardens, not even seeing them.
“Has something happened? Something you didn’t predict?” I asked, feeling like there was more to this conversation.
“So many things. Nothing has turned out the way I wanted it to.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“Hmm… Well. I never expected you two princesses to go off riding together. I hadn’t imagined either of you could ride at all. I was hoping to invite you to ride double with me while we went in search of wildflowers. But now I’ve completely lost that chance.”
Daniel shrugged.
“Oh, hehe.”
You two princesses…he means Karina and me. So he was surprised to learn that we were both competent riders. Is there more of a reason why he would think that way?
Daniel chuckled a little before continuing. “There’s more, too. I came here to Najir hoping to form an alliance through the proposition of marriage. But Najir apparently is not eager to give up its most precious jewel just yet.”
I blinked rapidly.
So Daniel had come here with a mind to propose to me after all. But when he spoke to my father about it, he was turned down.
Yes…in the old timeline, my coming-of-age ceremony was when Daniel had asked for my hand.
“So—”
“A lot of other things happened too. But that’s the one that stands out the most. Well, I plan to try again…in two years.”
Daniel smiled at me in the gloom. He was trying to make a joke of it, so I didn’t feel guilty.
I smiled back at him.
In the old world, Daniel was always so kind. I still don’t know what had caused him to go through that monstrous change. But I know that when I first met Daniel, he was as sweet as tonight.
“I wish for the prosperity of Najir too. You and I are the same in that regard.”
“I see. Then let us both do our best to serve our countries.”
“Yes, let’s.”
The doors opened behind us, and someone else walked out onto the terrace to take in the night air. Daniel turned to face the ballroom once more.
“We should probably return. The guest of honor can’t really desert her guests, now, can she?”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“May I have the honor of another dance, Princess?” Smiling, Daniel offered me his hand.
“Of course.”
I took his hand with a smile, and we returned to the ballroom to enjoy my coming-of-age party.
The ballroom doors closed behind us, and the noise and bustle of the party were swallowed by the deep, dark night.
✦ ✦ ✦
THE day after the ball, I invited Karina, Daniel, and other royal guests horseback riding. The weather was fine, with blue skies ahead as we rode off to a spot where there was a medium-high hill, from which we could look out over the land.
“Now, south is that way. I wonder if we can see any of Nigren?” Karina shielded her eyes with her hand as she gazed into the distance, squinting. “Er, nope! Can’t see it. All I can see is that mountain range. Look over there.”
“Oh yes. The Barlay Mountains.”
The Barlay Mountains marked the borders between Najir, the Sunruta Kingdom, and Nigren. Daniel and Karina were chatting away animatedly, discussing the topography.
On the way home, I took everyone by the Magic Crystal shop preferred by the royal family, per their request. Since Najir is replete with magic, our Magic Crystals are greatly sought-after in foreign countries.
“Hey, Princess Annabel, is that crystal you’re wearing one of the ones from this shop?”
After perusing the crystals on display in the shop, Karina came over to me and pointed at the red stone on my necklace. In other words, the Magic Stone the old world’s Ed had given to me.
“Uh, this…this isn’t a Magic Crystal. This is a Magic Crystal.” I pointed to the red gem I wore in my hair. The one Ed had bought me to adorn my hair accessory. “It’s got protective powers. Like that protective spell Daniel had demonstrated for us in his country’s research lab, remember?”
“Ooh, a protective charm…” Karina leaned in, gazing at the stone in my hair with fascination.
“Why don’t you get a similar one made?” I suggest. “It will be my gift to you.”
“What, really? I’d love that!”
Karina’s face lit up and her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled.
A Magic Crystal with protective powers would be a rare item in her almost magicless country.
Maybe I should have Ed make one for her…
I could make one myself, of course, but a professional magician like Ed could make one that was so much better. As soon as we got back to the palace, I’d ask him.
“Then let’s choose a stone.”
“Ooh, which one should I choose?”
Eyes sparkling, Karina gazed at the glass cases filled with glittering crystals. I smiled, pleased that I could give her something wonderful to commemorate her visit to my country.