“Your Majesty, traveling to Donovan via the teleportation stone is impossible.”

“Why not?”

Alicia, the First Princess of the Steinhardt Empire, frowned as she looked at the trembling wizard before her. Although he held the title of a royal wizard, his youthful demeanor made it clear that his identity as a member of the Mage Tower seemed more prominent. The sudden appearance of the princess seemed to weigh heavily on him.

“The Mage Tower’s insignia is not inscribed in Donovan. It’s easy to travel to an inscribed location from wherever we are now, but the reverse is difficult.”

“So ‘difficult’ doesn’t mean entirely impossible.”

“Um, it’s impossible, Your Majesty.”

“Is that so?”

Alicia raised an eyebrow.

“Then before I send you back to the Mage Tower, perhaps you should figure out how to make the impossible possible.”

“Your Majesty…!”

“As soon as possible. I am not a patient person.”

The young wizard’s hand trembled. He gave his staff a slight shake and mumbled hesitantly.

“Um, isn’t the ViceCounsel currently in Donovan?”

“Yes.”

Alicia nodded.

“Then we can use the teleportation stone the ViceCounsel has as a sort of marker.”

“Oh?”

Alicia’s eyes sparkled.

“Then send me to where the ViceCounsel is, immediately.”

The wizard’s face turned pale.

“Your Majesty, that’s…!”

“Why not?”

Alicia approached him. Wizards from the Mage Tower are raised in isolation from an early age, making the presence of a woman of her status naturally intimidating.

“From what I understand, anyone with royal permission can freely use the teleportation stone. And there’s no one to deny my royal status.”

“Your Majesty possesses the most noble bloodline in our empire!”

The wizard hurriedly replied.

“But sending you to Donovan is another issue altogether…”

“No.”

Alicia gave a slight smile. To the casual observer, it was a gentle springlike smile, but those who knew better understood the hidden sharp edge behind it.

“You’re simply sending me to the ViceCounsel. How would you, a mere junior wizard, know where he is?”

“Everyone knows the ViceCounsel went to Donovan with Lord Byungho, so…”

“That’s just rumors.”

Alicia shook her head.

“Surely, you’re not doubting my words over mere gossip?”

“…”

After a brief silence, the wizard mumbled in a wavering voice.

“If something were to happen to you, Your Majesty…”

“Your name won’t escape my lips. I promise.”

Naturally, Alicia won the verbal joust. The young wizard could no longer resist her request and handed over the teleportation stone.

“Focus on the ViceCounsel’s face when activating it. You’ll arrive right next to him.”

Alicia immediately grabbed the stone. Time was of the essence. There were over ten trivial duties she had to attend to daily as the empire’s princess. She needed to leave for Donovan before her maids found her and became a nuisance.

“Your Majesty!”

Charlesford, startled, grabbed Alicia’s arm.

“Are you leaving right now? You’ll freeze to death in Donovan with those clothes!”

“Why would I freeze to death?”

Alicia smiled.

“I’ll just find that person and immediately return.”

A flash of white light blinked. It was the light signaling the activation of the teleportation stone. Alicia closed her eyes tightly, picturing the ViceCounsel’s unfortunate face.

And then…

“Your Majesty?”

After a smoother than expected transition, Charlesford asked in a stunned voice.

“If my eyes are not deceiving me… this place is…”

Alicia blinked. Indeed, Charlesford had a reason to find the situation strange. She too wondered if she was seeing things.

The tiles filled with sun symbols and extravagant tapestries were not from Donovan, but from the empire.

“That little twerp deceived me!”
Alicia stamped her foot in irritation. It was clear now that the young mage had played some tricks.

The idea that the Chancellor’s presence would be a sign was ludicrous. The useless teleportation stone that barely got her inside the palace was definitely his doing.

“…Your Highness, that person is speaking.”

Charlesford cautiously opened his mouth.

“The Chancellor… isn’t it?”

Alicia’s eyes widened. Charlesford was right. Who else could have that tangled white hair?

But the figure was smaller than she remembered, and the clothes were odd…

“Charlesford.”

Alicia asked dryly.

“Why is the Chancellor wearing a skirt?”

“…?”

Charlesford rubbed his eyes and gasped. Hidden behind the Chancellor’s white hair, the attire was undoubtedly women’s clothing.

“Could it be…not the Chancellor?”

Alicia could no longer contain her curiosity. She approached and lightly tapped the shoulder of the figure halfhidden around the corridor corner.

At that moment, she knew.

‘This isn’t the Chancellor.’

‘This thing’ turned and looked up at Alicia with rabbitlike eyes. Now that she saw, the figure was quite short, and it made her wonder how she had confused them.

The girl with hair nearly white and eyes as clear blue as the autumn sky was a face she had never seen in the palace.

“…Who are you?”