Chapter 29: Special Person

“Professor Elda… Why are you standing beside the Grand Duke…?”

A battlefield shrouded in thick steam.

Justia’s eyes trembled violently.

Professor Elda, standing beside the Grand Duke, kept sneaking glances at his profile.

Despite being a professor at the academy, she seemed far more interested in the man beside her than the match itself.

Justia found herself at a loss for words.

‘What exactly happened between those two?’

The commanding presence Elda usually displayed at the academy was nowhere to be found.

Instead, she looked like a demure woman, even going so far as to subtly rub herself against the Grand Duke.

Seeing Elda reduced to nothing more than a fawning female, something deep within Justia began to stir.

“You don’t look very pleased, Your Highness. Are you thinking of giving up?”

“…Sir Robert. Did you reach the fifth seat of the Magic Tower with nothing but your skill in chattering?”

“W-What did you just say?”

Robert was momentarily taken aback by Justia’s unexpected provocation.

Taking advantage of the moment, Justia swiftly activated her magic.

“Ice Wave.”

Shraaaaak!

A tide of ice blades surged forward, swallowing everything in its path.

White spread across the arena as if painted by a brush.

However, Robert quickly regained his composure and countered.

“Prominence Field.”

Swoooosh—

A field of flames instantly melted the advancing ice.

As the battle between two powerful mages continued, Justia’s expression hardened.

‘I need to focus on the match first. I can question the Grand Duke later… If I keep going like this, I’ll lose.’

She had attacked dozens of times, but her opponent countered every single one.

The problem was simple: sheer magical output.

Whenever she cast an offensive spell, he simply responded with a stronger one.

She had more mana than him, but she couldn’t utilize it to its full potential.

As she pondered how to turn the tide, a familiar voice echoed in her mind.

‘Your Highness, can you hear me?’

‘Grand Duke!?’

‘Remain calm. This is a technique called Sound Transmission. You won’t be able to respond, as you haven’t learned it yet.’

‘Something like this exists?’

Justia’s eyes widened in shock.

She had never heard of such a technique.

The closest thing she knew was Telepathy, a spell used by mages.

Every ability the Grand Duke displayed was extraordinary.

As she marveled, his voice continued.

‘I should have been watching from the start. My apologies for arriving late.’

‘No, I should be the one apologizing… You even introduced me to Countess Raphaella for training, and yet I’m showing such a poor performance.’

‘Oh dear, are you blaming yourself? Such weakness doesn’t suit you, Your Highness. I prefer seeing you overcome hardships with that usual bright determination of yours.’

From behind his mask, the Grand Duke’s warm gaze met hers.

Hearing his reassuring words, Justia’s expression softened.

‘…Why are you always so kind to me?’

It was as if he had known her forever, always treating her with such care.

Even in the midst of battle, she couldn’t stop looking at him.

How could she possibly suppress these feelings?

She had already been consumed by them.

‘Grand Duke, meeting you has been the greatest fortune of my life.’

Two older brothers controlled the imperial court, and she was merely a pretty ornament, paraded as the Empire’s treasure.

Her suffocating life in the palace had only worsened after her beloved mother passed away.

Attending the academy had been both an attempt to build her own power and a means of escape.

But perhaps it was divine will.

There, she met someone precious.

Grand Duke Beherit.

He saved her from isolation.

He told her she was special.

Every night, his soothing voice whispered to her.

Justia clenched her fist with renewed determination.

‘I must win this match.’

She acknowledged it—Robert was strong.

But he wasn’t unbeatable.

Her lack of focus was the issue.

Fortunately, Robert was more interested in impressing her brother than finishing the match quickly.

Since she had more mana, she simply needed to unleash an overwhelming spell.

Her sharp gaze scanned the battlefield.

The lingering mist from evaporated water gave her an immense advantage.

Justia began weaving her next spell.

“Ice Wave.”

Crackle—!

A tide of ice surged toward Robert again.

But having blocked it once before, he simply smirked.

With a flick of his cloak, he neutralized her magic.

“That level of ice magic won’t reach me.”

“…Hydro Wave.”

Ignoring his taunts, Justia cast another spell.

A massive wave of water crashed down upon him.

Laughing, he vaporized the water with flames.

“Haha! Ice or water, it makes no difference. A pointless effort. Now, allow me to end this.”

Confident in his victory, Robert sneered.

Justia, however, smiled.

“Oh? I believe I’ve already won.”

“What? Have you lost touch with reality?”

“Look around you.”

Robert smug expression wavered as he scanned the battlefield.

His face twisted in disbelief.

“You… You intend to freeze all this steam?”

“Exactly.”

“But you don’t have enough mana left to pull it off!”

He scoffed, tilting his head in disbelief.

He was right.

A spell of this magnitude wasn’t easy.

But—

‘I have no choice but to try.’

This was her last opportunity.

Justia poured everything into an intricate mana formation.

Saaah—

The soft hum of vast mana filled the air.

Robert, realizing the danger, frantically prepared his counter.

As both mages braced for their final clash, a steady voice reached her.

‘You can do this, Justia.’

No hesitation, no doubt—only pure belief in her victory.

His unwavering faith in her sent a surge of strength through her veins.

One day, he would stand by her side, watching as she triumphed in the imperial succession battle.

But—

‘Grand Duke… I am not the one who should rule this Empire.’

Each night, she had silently reached the same conclusion.

And today, she was more certain than ever.

The Empire needed someone strong.

Someone just.

Someone kind.

Only one man deserved to sit on that throne.

If she ever ascended to the imperial seat—

She would offer the Empire as a gift to him.

With clear, resolute eyes, she summoned an age of frost.

“Ice Age.”

A single whispered incantation.

Brilliant white light engulfed the battlefield.

A frozen era descended.

Crack—!

“Inferno! Aaaah—!”

Panicked, Robert cast a desperate spell.

But it was useless.

Colossal glaciers formed, devouring his flames.

The ice swallowed him whole.

Thud—

With the final click of an icy lock, his movements ceased.

The entire arena had turned into a frozen wasteland.

A protective artifact activated, signaling the match’s end.

Beep—.

“…..”

The audience, witnessing a spell worthy of a battlefield, sat in stunned silence.

The Empire’s ‘treasured princess’ had just displayed unfathomable magical prowess.

Justia exhaled a cold breath.

“Haa… Haa…”

She had done it.

She had won.

Though utterly drained, she had bested one of the Magic Tower’s elites.

‘Did the Grand Duke see that?’

Before leaving the stage, she instinctively searched for him—

Like a loyal pup craving her master’s praise.

At that moment—

‘Well done, Justia.’

His deep voice echoed in her mind.

That rich, velvety tone sent a tremor through her core.

‘Ah… Of course.’

She could no longer deny it.

She loved him.

And she wanted to be his wife.

But if he became Emperor, he would have many wives—

Women like Professor Elda, who now clung to him.

‘I won’t stop him… I have no right to.’

But she longed for one thing.

That, to him, she would always be special.

That he would whisper to her alone.

That one day, in the near future—

With his gentle voice—

He would teach her the joy of being a woman.