The prince slowly lowered his head. "Thank you, Father,” he said.
Thanks to his more docile reaction, the nobles seemed to be shifting toward the theory that Count Pyrex was indeed the culprit behind today's disaster.
The emperor smirked, quietly ridiculing the crown prince and the people. Foolish beings. They were so simple.
"But I don't need the necklace,” the prince added. "All I want is to commemorate the souls of those who have lost their lives today and give condolences to their families.”
The emperor skillfully escaping his crisis by using the crowd reminded me of a lizard running away by cutting its own tail off. Upset, I clenched my fists. He was blatantly lying! He obviously knew Count Pyrex's weakness and that he wouldn't confess. This was why he was putting on a show!
I was hoping that the emperor would be dethroned at this moment, so I was frustrated and infuriated that he managed to get out cleanly even after committing such atrocities. Upon the comment Max supplied afterward, however, I couldn't help but smile. I couldn't believe he screwed him over like this! He was asking the victims to be given top priority. Anyone with a functioning head would realize that the emperor neglected those who were sacrificed to the beast in favor of congratulating his son instead.
"Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!" The people conveyed their respect toward their prince with enthusiastic shouts. I knew this would give the emperor a sense of defeat, and unsurprisingly, he was trembling with fury, his face an unpleasant red.
He left the field shortly afterward. Watching my dad follow behind him, I bit my lip. I was worried since I had just seen how Count Pyrex—the emperor's most loyal dog—ended up. I didn't understand why such a strong man like my dad followed the emperor, but…
A thumb brushed over my lips.
"Stop it. You're bleeding,” Max said.
He was looking at me with worried eyes. Moved by his sweet gesture, I leaned on him, and he hugged me.
Soaking in his warmth, I pledged, I will save you from the emperor's magic, Dad.
"I’m sorry for all you’ve been through until now.”
Jubelian was the first person to recognize Beatrice’s pain. She had always lived in darkness. Now, Jubelian was her light. Despite being a weak person herself, she still tried to protect Beatrice.
"My friend and I got lost and ended up coming all the way here. Is this a restricted area by any chance?”
"Are you okay, Your Highness?"
Watching Jubelian snuggle into Max's arms, Beatrice let out a small sigh. She was immensely grateful that Jubelian was safe. However... what was that back then?
The memory of what had occurred with the beast began to manifest clearly in Beatrice's head.
The moment the beast had tried to kill Jubelian, despair had overwhelmed Beatrice.
No! she cried soundlessly, sobbing. Please, I’m willing to risk my life! Someone, please protect her!
Once she made this earnest wish, the world momentarily halted.
This was…
Beatrice's eyes were fixed on the unmoving beast when she suddenly heard a laugh.
"Well, well, well,” a voice began. "What do we have here? I didn't know we would have a wizard this generation.”
"Who are you, and what’s happening?” Beatrice wanted to ask.
"Stopping time with magic!” the voice nevertheless answered. "Isn't this great? Alas, you have yet to fully awaken—the ring won’t choose you just yet.”
The princess asked many times what these words meant, but there was no answer.
Time began to pass slowly.
"But at this rate, slowing down time wouldn’t be of any use...” she thought mournfully. She tried to run toward her dear friend, but as if it was similarly stuck in time, her body wouldn’t move.
Was it going to end like this? Hopelessness began swallowing her alive when a miracle happened.
"How did he…”
Her stepbrother, Maximillian, was swiftly approaching the beast. Time didn’t seem to be affecting him. For a moment, Beatrice was reassured.
Then, a terrible pain began to pierce her heart. The voice returned.
"Ah, your power is depleted. That’s a sign that the magic can no longer be maintained!”
Suddenly, time began to flow normally again.
To the beast, Max had somehow appeared in front of it in an instant, startling it. It shook its tail ferociously, toppling a building down and spraying debris in all directions.
Beatrice stared blankly at a boulder flying toward her. She had to move. She knew it. However, her heart still felt as if it was being torn apart, and she couldn’t even manage a flinch.
She closed her eyes and waited for the pain to strike her. What came instead, however, was the feeling of being hugged tightly. Beatrice opened her eyes to see that a man was on top of her and his head was bleeding. He had been struck by the debris on her behalf.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Meeting the man's ruby eyes, Beatrice blushed.
"Your Highness, are you still not feeling well?" Victor asked. His head was now wrapped in bandages.
Startled, she crawled backward.
"Are you okay?" he asked once again. She could feel the warmth of his hand on her shoulder.
She hurriedly shook him off. "W-What do you think you're doing?!” she cried nervously. "You startled me!"
Victor sighed at her apparent irritation. He had only been worried about her.
"Yes, of course. I’m sorry to have scared such a fainthearted person... Although I’ve already called Your Highness three times before,” he added. "Are you ready to be escorted to the carriage? Could you please answer me, Your Highness?"
Now, she was conscious of how he looked at her. Not wanting to get entangled with him any further, she tried to dismiss him. "I'm fine, so you may leave—"
"Are you all right, Your Highness?"
Jubelian and Maximillian arrived before she could finish her sentence.
"I’m fine,” Beatrice answered. "How are you?"
Jubelian nodded. "I just showed the doctor my ankle. He told me it was a minor injury and that it would heal in a few days."
Noticing her lovely smile, warmth filled Beatrice.
"Victor, escort Beatrice to the palace," Maximillian ordered.
"What? I just said I'm fine!"
She didn’t want to go back with him when she felt so awkward. Keeping her face straight, she tried to refuse, but Victor beat her to the punch.
"Of course! I was already going to,” he said. "As you can see, I’m an extremely responsible escort!"
Beatrice glanced at Victor before quickly turning away. A responsible escort...
A melancholy expression characterized the princess' face for a moment. However, she quickly shook off her thoughts.
What she needed to do first was find out about the magic she used earlier.
Volume 4 End