After handling the missions handed down from the upper ranks,
Yohan’s daily life was calm.
He shared affection with Francia and exchanged trivial jokes with the female officers in the civil service.
It was truly an uneventful routine.
For the time being, the Crown Prince, who had been interfering with Yohan and Francia’s relationship, was unable to move.
Cassis Renokhonan had avoided the death penalty through a trial, but he was stripped of all his powers and rights, becoming a fallen noble with only the name Renokhonan left.
Duke Renokhonan was also unable to intervene for now, so Cassis had been left to his fate, and thus, there had been no news of him.
Violet Latalen, who had once clung to Yohan, had begun avoiding him at some point.
It was peaceful.
Occasionally, news of Rudella came through the Crown Prince.
She had reportedly remained in a dazed state for several days without recovering.
However, she had not called upon Yohan for a designated mission.
It had been less than a month since the last one, so it was to be expected.
“The Special Mage, Harssen”
As Yohan sat at his desk, handling miscellaneous paperwork, Deputy Commander Ricard came to visit him personally.
“Deputy Commander? What brings you here?”
It was rare for him to visit directly, so Yohan’s expression tightened slightly.
“You need to go to the Commander’s office.”
“To the office?”
“Yes. It’s a royal mission.”
A royal mission.
It was a task that had to be handled immediately under royal command, something that took precedence over special and designated missions.
“Understood. I’ll go right away.”
“Yes.”
Ricard led the way to the office, and Yohan set aside the paperwork, standing up from his seat.
“…It’s not going to be something dangerous, is it?”
Francia, who had been quietly listening nearby, grabbed Yohan’s sleeve with a worried look on her face.
“Since it’s my first royal mission, I can’t say for sure… But it shouldn’t be too dangerous. If it were really dangerous, the royal command wouldn’t have been issued, and the entire civil service would have been involved.”
Yohan gently stroked Francia’s forehead, filled with concern, and gave her a reassuring smile.
“Yeah… I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Seeing his smile and gesture, Francia’s tense expression softened, though she was still anxious.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Yohan left for the office, following Ricard in the hallway.
“Deputy Commander, if the royal family issued a mission, it must be something significant. Do you know what it’s about?”
On the way to the office, Yohan asked.
“Royal commands don’t always mean something big. Sometimes they’re just the result of a whim from the royals.”
Royal missions could vary. They might involve finding special materials or escorting the royal family on their travels. Most of the time, they were trivial tasks.
“…That’s a relief.”
Yohan’s tense expression relaxed upon hearing this, his worry easing.
“Let’s go in.”
The door to the office opened with a click. Yohan entered with a slightly grim expression.
Fedelian greeted him with a wrinkled expression.
“You’re here.”
“I was told it was a royal command.”
“Yes, a very trivial one.”
Fedelian seemed familiar with these kinds of royal missions. Whatever it was, judging by his expression, it was something insignificant.
“It’s a royal mission issued by the Third Princess, Laryana Rogino, to the Special Mage Harssen.”
Fedelian wearily dropped the document on the desk.
“She wants you to come to the Diamond Palace right away and enjoy tea with her.”
Yohan was momentarily speechless. Tea time? Was this really a royal mission?
“…Is this what royal missions are like?”
“Don’t underestimate it. It’s an official royal command.”
Fedelian responded, though he seemed to agree with Yohan’s sentiment.
“My sister is always unpredictable. She seems to be quite interested in the reputation of the Special Mage Harssen. You’ll have to entertain her.”
At that, Yohan frowned slightly. Gaining the attention of the royal family wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
Already receiving attention from various places, he wasn’t sure what would happen if he caught the eye of the Third Princess.
He didn’t want any complications before his engagement with Francia, but there was no way around it. Refusing a royal command was out of the question.
“…Understood. I’ll leave immediately.”
“Good luck.”
Since Fedelian, who usually disapproved of him, had said that, it must have been an irritating task.
“I’ll head to the Diamond Palace now.”
Fedelian simply nodded in response and waved his hand, signaling for him to hurry up.
Yohan left the office, and before heading to the Diamond Palace, he returned to his seat to gather his things.
Francia, who had been anxiously waiting, immediately asked.
“How did it go? What’s the mission?”
“It wasn’t anything serious. The Third Princess invited me to tea.”
“Tea time? And they gave you that as a royal mission?”
“From what I heard from the Deputy Commander, it didn’t seem like anything too strange.”
“Ah…”
Francia blinked in disbelief, her expression matching Yohan’s.
“It’s kind of hard to believe, but… I guess it’s a relief, too.”
It was probably her first experience with such trivial royal missions since she had joined the civil service recently, just a few months before Yohan.
“I have to leave for the Diamond Palace now. Sorry, but you’ll have to go home alone today.”
They usually left work together, but since he had to go to the royal palace, and he wasn’t sure when the mission would end, he had to send her home first.
“…I guess there’s nothing to be done since the mission came in.”
Francia sighed and slumped her shoulders, clearly disappointed.
She had grown used to his company, and now, she would be walking home alone.
“And… If I’m late, you should go to bed first. It’s better that way.”
“Alright…”
“Don’t be lonely. Just tonight, though.”
Yohan smiled and kissed Francia on the forehead, his expression gentle.
“Ah…?”
Francia froze for a moment, staring at him wide-eyed, then quickly turned away. A blush spread across her face, coloring it brightly.
“Alright, I’ll be off now.”
“…Yes. Take care.”
Yohan put his coat on and left for his official duties, heading to the diamond palace to meet the Third Princess, Laryana Rogino.
* * *
The wheels stopped.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Good work.”
Yohan got off the carriage and looked around. The Diamond Palace, true to its name, gleamed with a dazzling light like a jewel.
The palace, made of marble columns, was further adorned with diamond decorations, making it look like a shining fortress.
‘Impressive. This is the pinnacle of power.’
Yohan continued walking.
The heart of the Diamond Palace was its inner garden, called the Garden of Radiance.
Every leaf and petal in the garden sparkled like jewels due to magic, and a crystal bridge spanned the clear, artificial pond.
The entire palace felt as if time had stopped, bathed in radiant light.
“Welcome.”
A soft voice broke the silence.
Yohan turned and saw a servant approaching through an intricately crafted wooden arch.
The servant’s graceful figure, surrounded by the glowing beauty of the garden, captured his attention.
“Your Highness is waiting for you in the Radiance Garden.”
“Thank you.”
Yohan followed the servant, entering the garden.
As expected from a royal residence, everything was perfectly maintained.
White and silver flowers bloomed. The petals swayed gently, sparkling delicately, like a blend of silk and jewels.
The garden was peaceful and quiet, but it also held an overwhelming beauty, offering the royal family a moment of noble solitude.
Given the palace’s age, it far surpassed the Topaz Palace that Yohan had visited when meeting Rudella.
“We’ve arrived.”
Yohan had been distracted by the surroundings and didn’t notice when they had entered further.
“You’ve come.”
Laryana Rogino was sitting at a table, holding a teacup.
Yohan quickly bowed his head.
“Your Highness, it’s an honor to meet you.”
It was his first time meeting the Third Princess, and first impressions were important.
“You don’t have to be so formal. I dislike that. Being tied to rules and order makes people stiff, don’t you think?”
The Third Princess shrugged with a smile. Despite her royal status, she seemed lighthearted and playful.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Special Mage Harssen. I’m Laryana Rogino, the Third Princess of the Empire. You probably already know, but I’m like the sky to this empire.”
Only then did Yohan take a good look at her.
Her golden hair shone like threads of sunlight, and her golden eyes immediately made it clear that she was royalty.
Her very presence seemed to overwhelm everything with a dazzling golden aura.
“Hm, definitely. You could be called the trophy of the social world. Perfect proportions and a sculpted neckline. Clear, flawless skin, sharp eyes, a sharp nose…”
Laryana continued her assessment, carefully inspecting every inch of Yohan’s face.
“Overall, you give off a refreshing and sophisticated vibe. An almost unreal beauty, right? Now I understand why the young ladies of high society are so infatuated with you.”
Yohan lowered his head slightly.
“Thank you for the compliment. I’m at a loss for words.”
“You must hear compliments like that all the time, don’t you?”
“Well, yes.”
“I see, handsome men should be shameless.”
Laryana chuckled and laughed. Just by looking at his face, she seemed already taken with him.
“You’re quite beautiful as well, Your Highness.”
Yohan said. Normally, he wouldn’t comment on a woman’s appearance, but he couldn’t deny his honest thoughts.
The royal family, with their pure bloodline, were naturally blessed with beauty, and Laryana was exceptional even among them.
Laryana shrugged her shoulders.
“I know that already. But thank you.”
Her shameless yet bold attitude left Yohan momentarily speechless.
“Oh, I’ve made you stand for too long. Please, sit.”
“…Yes.”
Yohan carefully took a seat opposite Laryana. She quietly gazed at his face, her golden eyes lingering as if she were savoring his appearance.
“Wow, you’re really handsome…”
She then let out her honest impression.
“Would you mind smiling for me? I’d love to see your smile.”
“A smile…?”
“Yes, a smile. I think it would be really nice to see.”
Though he wasn’t particularly eager, it was just a simple request, so he figured it wouldn’t hurt to comply. After all, it was just a smile.
“Alright. A smile should be fine.”
As requested, Yohan forced a somewhat strained smile. His lips curled upward, but his eyes remained cold… it was a smile of that kind.
“Wow… Even though it’s a fake smile, it’s still art.”
Laryana marveled, her golden eyes sparkling as they pierced through Yohan.
“Seeing you up close, you’re even more charming.”
At her words, Yohan sighed inwardly. Laryana’s interest was unlikely to remain just a passing curiosity.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Yohan responded as politely as he could, concealing his emotions. Laryana, still smiling, spoke in a low voice.
“Alright, Harssen, the special wizard?”
“Yes.”
Their eyes met. Laryana tilted her head slightly, her golden hair flowing softly around her.
“You’re growing on me. A lot.”