“The turmoil of the empire…?”

“I’ll tell you. I really don’t like the current emperor. He’s just a strangely chilling person. Ah, of course, it’s absolutely not because I’m upset that he doesn’t treat me, the Tower Master, well.”

It seems that’s the case after all. Sesenia smiled, carefully suppressing the words that were about to come out.

“Chilling?”

“Yes. I can’t quite put it into words… but he’s sinister. On top of that, the current crown prince just goes around causing trouble. But there’s no one to oppose the crown prince, so I don’t like this situation where he’s left as is. I’ve seen many crown princes and successors over the years, but I dislike the current one the most.”

“Ah, I see.”

“So I want to try my hand too. On someone who has the potential to become emperor. So don’t feel burdened.”

Sesenia suddenly realized how kind the Tower Master was.

The way he made all sorts of excuses until the end, worried that she might feel pressured.

And yet, all those gestures saying that this much was nothing…

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“Sesenia. God sometimes gives gifts.”

“God…”

“I don’t believe in God. But I’d like you to believe in God. Believe in this miraculous moment when the heart of an old, rich, and idle Tower Master suddenly changes and takes your side. Now, I’ll be going. I’ve taken up too much of your time.”

With those words, the Tower Master quickly disappeared into another space.

As he vanished, the space that had been torn like fabric quickly mended itself.

It all happened in an instant. Sesenia stared for a long time at the spot where the Tower Master had disappeared, unable to even say goodbye.

“Thank you so much.”

“Hm…?”

“Both the Tower Master and you, my lord. Thank you.”

“No, there’s nothing to thank me for.”

Only then did Sesenia’s gaze turn to Teddy. The blonde Teddy she had seen in the past.

Back then, she hadn’t been interested in Teddy at all, so she hadn’t felt much. But now it was different.

Was it because she had received a confession of love, or because of the way his cheeks flushed with a bright smile every time he looked at her?

Sesenia’s heart skipped a beat irregularly.

“Um… but is it okay? Does the blonde… suit me?”

“Yes. It suits you very well. You were pretty before, but with blonde hair, you’re even prettier.”

Having been trapped in the slave traders’ prison for his entire life, Teddy’s face was paler than the average person’s.

Perhaps because of this, his blonde hair added to his noble appearance.

“I’m glad.”

“Black hair was pretty, and blonde hair is pretty too. Our Teddy is pretty no matter what.”

Sesenia stood on her tiptoes and stroked his hair.

“I’m relieved. I was worried it might not suit me, that you might say it’s not pretty.”

“It’s pretty. You look so noble now, I almost feel like I shouldn’t treat you casually anymore.”

“Please treat me casually, my lord. I like that.”

As she continued to stroke him silently, Teddy smiled awkwardly.

“So, what should I do now?”

“For now… keep practicing swordsmanship and learning various things like you’ve been doing. Learning will fill you up. You’ll have to work harder since you started later than others.”

“Yes!”

“You also need to keep working on harnessing your power. Remember when you expressed your anger towards Gelox earlier? You need to learn how to control your power like that. Because it’s such a strong power, you need an even stronger will.”

Teddy, who had been answering energetically until just now, mumbled a bit uncertainly.

“Do you think that’s possible…?”

“If it’s not, I’ll find a teacher to help you.”

“A teacher…”

“It might be different from magic and such, but in the end, isn’t power all about mental strength?”

“Ah. I suppose that could be true. Then, will the Tower Master come back?”

A smile spread across her face. Somehow, it was a strangely uncomfortable smile.

‘I’m sorry, Teddy. The teacher who will teach you isn’t the Tower Master. I can’t ask that of someone I’m already so indebted to.’

The teacher Sesenia had in mind was Silian.

Betting on her future, knowing she would be covered in filth, Sesenia had made a deal with the High Priest for his sake.

‘That should be enough to ask him.’

Compared to others, Silian seemed less exploitative.

He seemed much more comfortable than those who helped out of goodwill, which was why.

Of course, he had just helped her earlier, but that was that and this was this.

“My lord?”

“Yes?”

“What are you thinking about?”

“Ah, nothing. Oh, and… there’s somewhere we need to go. Now that you’ve made up your mind, we need someone to prove your identity.”

Sesenia quickly changed the subject, waving her hands.

“Isn’t it already proven?”

“No. Of course, your appearance is perfectly that of royalty, Teddy. Blonde hair and golden eyes. Only the royal family possesses both of those traits perfectly.”

“Then why…”

“I want to introduce you more spectacularly than anyone else. For that, we need a dramatic device. The place we’re going to is to create that dramatic device, so don’t be afraid. They’re quite devoted to the royal family.”

“Ah… but will it be okay even though I’m not an official member of the royal family? Oh, I’m not scared, of course. It’s just… I’m worried… But that doesn’t mean I’m intimidated. It’s definitely not that. I’m not lacking confidence either. Just…”

Besides Sesenia and Rohan, Lizbeth and the Tower Master, Teddy hadn’t met anyone else.

Rohan had taught him swordsmanship, and he had studied from books that Rohan and Sesenia brought.

Since the only humans he had met in his life were the people from the slave traders and these few, Sesenia could understand all too well how anxious Teddy must be feeling and what was going through his mind.

“It’s okay. It’s okay to be scared. It’s your first time properly meeting people since you were born. I understand everything. I don’t intend to blame you for that, or think badly of you because of it.”

“Ah…”

“But we have to do it now. We can’t live with our freedom taken away forever. You promised to save me this time, remember?”

Suddenly, Teddy seemed to regain his spirit.

“I’ll do my best. Even if I’m not confident, even if anything happens, I’ll endure it. Because I love you. Because if I do that, you’ll look at me.”

“Thank you.”

It was then.

Knock knock.

“Young lady. Is everything alright? You haven’t come out for quite a while.”

It was Rohan.

“Um… what should I do? My hair color… Should I… should I tell Rohan?”

“Don’t tell him yet.”

“Then I… I… Ah! Should I lie under the blanket on the bed? Maybe he won’t notice then.”

Teddy was so flustered that he started to move towards the bed. Sesenia grabbed his wrist.

“The Tower Master gave you a ring, remember?”

Sesenia carefully opened his clenched fist. He had been gripping it so tightly that the ring was not just warm, but hot.

She took it and gently slipped it onto Teddy’s finger.

As soon as she did, his hair color, which had been blonde until just now, returned to black.

“It worked.”

“…”

“Teddy?”

“I… I wish this was a different ring.”

“Hm?”

“I’ll work hard so that you can put a different ring on. Looking at this ring, this ring that you put on me.”

Realizing what he meant, Sesenia said nothing and walked over to open the door.

“Rohan. Is something wrong?”

“Ah… Young lady, is everything alright? Lizbeth was in a frenzy because you went upstairs a while ago and haven’t come out. I was worried too…”

“Yes. We were just talking. Nothing happened.”

His gaze swept across the room beyond the door. It wasn’t in a perfectly organized state.

The room still had a somewhat bustling feel to it because of the incident with Gelox earlier.

“…Are you sure nothing happened? Teddy’s room, which is usually spotlessly clean, seems strangely messy. And more importantly, why are you two alone in the room?”

Completely agitated, Rohan flung the door open and looked at Teddy.

If anything had happened, there should have been some change, but there didn’t seem to be any particular change, so Rohan just kept huffing.

“We were just talking.”

“…This absolutely cannot happen again.”

“Hm?”

“The two of you being alone in a room. It absolutely cannot happen. Hah… how can I say this to you, young lady…”

Seeming to feel the limits of his position, Rohan sighed deeply and shifted his gaze to Teddy.

“It absolutely must not happen. Being alone in a room with the young lady. Do you understand, Teddy?”

“Yes!”

Teddy, who seemed even more innocent than usual today, nodded without any hesitation.

Perhaps because of that innocence, Rohan took a step back, at a loss for words.

“…”

“Well then, I should go back. Teddy, remember what I said.”

“Yes. I’ll work even harder.”

Not sensing anything unusual in Sesenia and Teddy’s words, Rohan quickly stopped his huffing.

“Rohan.”

“Yes.”

“Send a letter to the Magic Tower.”

“The Magic Tower?”

“Yes. I’ve formed a connection with the Tower Master. He said he would support us. So compile a list of all the projects that require a large sum of money and send it. He said he has a lot of money, so we can go all out as if we’re going to fleece him completely.”

Having regained her composure, Sesenia spoke in a playful tone.

“Really? I was just thinking it would be nice to have a sponsor…”

“He said he’s extremely wealthy. Trust that confidence.”

“Yes! Then I’ll do my best to fleece him thoroughly.”

Rohan, who loses his senses and gets excited whenever business matters come up, seemed delighted this time too. As soon as they reached the first floor, he left Sesenia behind and started preparing documents.

Watching this, Sesenia returned to the marquis’s residence with Lizbeth.

When they arrived at Sesenia’s room, another guest had already made themselves at home before the owner’s arrival.