The Crown Prince In Hiding

Chapter 22

The Magpie

Newcastle, northern region of the Luminus kingdom.

The second eldest brother, Rodrigo, stood in Shearer Saint Pauli’s study.

“Father… you’ve been deep in thought for a while now.”

“…The informants report… it’s not just us. Empress Ophilis the Fourteenth is also watching that boy very closely.”

“Dan Burn, you mean?”

“…No wonder. They must have gotten wind of something before everyone else… We can’t miss the train. Snowhaven has already moved first. We need to keep our eyes on him as well.”

“Yes, Father.”

Rodrigo bowed.

“And what about that TA? It seems that, setting aside Princess Nora who’s royalty and has incentives tied to interest, Dan spends quite a lot of his time with TA Thomasin Mayfield.”

“What does that commoner have that draws the boy’s attention? What can she give him that we cannot?”

“She appears to be some sort of researcher.”

“…I see… You’ve told Rafinya, haven’t you?”

“Yes, Father.”

Sunday morning.

Dorms, Artheris Academy.

Princess Nora sat at the center of the dormitory cafeteria, surrounded by scattered resident students. She was working on Professor McClaff’s assignment with Rafinya’s traded buddy.

Naturally, this buddy was quite capable—his knowledge of magic was superb. No wonder Rafinya had no issues. He could help Nora—a great deal, in fact. His fundamentals were leagues better than Dan’s… and yet why—

“Nora?”

“?”

“Did I do something to upset you?”

“No.”

“…Oh… I see. You looked so stern, I thought I’d messed up my geometry.”

“Not at all, Johan. You didn’t write a single thing wrong.”

“I’m not sure I can make up for Dan, but I’ll try.”

Nora nodded politely and bent back over her writing.

The work was nearly finished. But if you swapped Johan for Dan, they’d probably only be halfway by now. And yet… Nora preferred the latter.

Rafinya was decent enough with magic… but the problem was Mr.Fury. If Rafinya made a move against Mr.Fury, what then?

The sound of sweeping leaves.

“?”

Nora lifted her head from the table…

And she saw a young man in an Academy janitor’s uniform sweeping the cafeteria.

Mr. ROMA?

If he’d shown himself, it meant he had something to tell her for sure.

“I’m going to the bathroom for a moment.”

“Mm, go ahead.”

Nora left the cafeteria and stepped outside. Before long, Totti came out carrying a bag of cafeteria trash, tossed it into the main bin, dusted off his hands—

Then strode straight up to Nora.

“Lady Nora, I’ve come to see you.”

“What did Mr.Fury ask you to do?”

“No, miss. This isn’t about His Highness. I came to see you, Lady Nora.”

“?”

“I figured I’d tell you, then go find Freya. Thing is…”

And Totti told Nora about how Rafinya had taken Dan to Newcastle, and the bluff Rafinya had thrown at Dan last night.

“It seems that girl really thinks His Highness is living in Anfield now.”

“What are they trying to do…? He already refused.”

“Yes, miss. So I’d like Lady Nora to refrain from visiting us for a while.”

Hearing that… Nora froze.

Nora’s eyes dropped… Yes, what he said made perfect sense…

But Nora wanted to see Mr.Fury.

How many days would she have to refrain? Weeks? Years?

Nora couldn’t do that.

It had only been two days without seeing him, and already she felt herself slipping back into loneliness.

Totti watched and could tell what she was thinking.

“Let’s help each other out, yes? Freya can still come back by water, but Lady Nora might not escape Rafinya’s eyes.”

“Yes, Mr. Roma… I’ll do as you say.”

“Please don’t be sad, Lady Nora. If His Highness sees you making that face, he’ll kill me for sure.”

A fleeting smile flickered across Nora’s face at his joke. Totti gave a nod, then walked off with his broom.

And over on Freya’s side, she was currently face-down in a mountain of pending paperwork.

Roma used a security key to open the door. Freya lifted her head from a drowsy slump—then stiffened.

She glanced behind her, then back again. Okay. It was just her and the young janitor.

“Where the hell did you get a janitor’s outfit?”

“Quiet and listen. I don’t have much time.”

Roma hooked the keys back at his waist.

“That kid Rafinya suspects His Highness has built himself a place to sleep in the forest. So on your way home—if you’re going home—come by water. Shoot straight to the house. Got it?”

“Huh? Uh… ah… fine.”

“If His Highness’s secret gets out because of you again, I don’t think he’ll give you a second chance—even if it’s you.”

“I know. You don’t have to rub it in.”

Roma turned and headed for the door.

“Wait.”

“?”

“What did that kid take His Highness to do in Luminus? Tell me.”

“His Highness didn’t order me to tell you.”

“And showing up here—was that His Highness’s order?”

“No. But I can think on his behalf.”

“Spill it!”

Roma thought back…

Hmm…

Better not. If anyone slips and kills someone over it, things get messy.

“Just talks. Then back. That’s all.”

“Just that, really???”

At that moment—

On the staircase to the upper floor—

TA Thomasin Mayfield saw Roma and Freya arguing…

She tilted her head.

“Is that… Totti and Zeedee? Those two know each other?”

Sheffield Library.

Nora Ophilis spent the rest of the afternoon resting between the library and Eden Garden. The princess was shelving a textbook when she saw a figure stride through the library doors.

?

Even the librarians hadn’t expected her. They stepped aside for the tall girl as she marched in so forcefully that Nora couldn’t help but glance over.

Rafinya.

“Huh?”

Nora had to look again.

She was the last person Nora expected to come stomping into a library…

Rafinya swept the shelves in the ‘Natural Studies’ section with fierce intensity, making noise without a care; even the librarians didn’t dare stop her.

Seeing this, Princess Nora reluctantly marched over.

“What are you doing?”

The rummaging stopped. Rafinya turned.

“Seen any books about animals or stars?”

Rafinya would never be grabbing things like that for herself. Hearing that… Nora immediately understood.

“There aren’t even five books like that in this library.”

“And where are those five?”

“Where do you think?”

Silence.

“Dan took them all?”

“What are you going to do to Dan now?”

“I’m trying to find a reason.”

Rafinya said as she kept rummaging.

“To find what makes sense. I’m trying to understand what’s going on in his head.”

“With that flustered face… I guess your plan’s going well.”

“Don’t start, Princess. I don’t have time to play with you—damn it! Did he really take everything?”

Rafinya smacked the shelf in frustration, then planted her hands on her hips…

And from that heated state, she slowly cooled, little by little.

“He said we can’t give him what he wants… What kind of lunatic is that? Wanting to see the beginning of the universe—are you insane?”

Okay… that answer was clearly Mr.Fury’s, Nora thought.

“You know it too… don’t you, Nora.”

“Something that abstract—Snowhaven can’t give it either. I’ll cheer from afar.”

“What’s the point of finding the origin of everything? He’s clearly messing with us.”

So the Pauli family had no answer to that, huh.

“I’ll tell you something: Dan’s complicated. Trying to understand him is pointless. For someone like you.”

“Then what do you understand? That guy acts like some world-weary hermit, and he might even be my junior!”

Except… not really.

Nora let out a soft “heh.”

“Let him go and stop meddling. End it.”

“No way. I won’t let you keep him to yourself.”

“Excuse me… what?”

“This is Aetheris, not Snowhaven. Your influence can’t touch me. How many times do I have to say it?”

Rafinya pointed.

“I’m not backing down.”

“Go ahead and try. Once we’re in second year, we’ll be separated anyway.”

Nora shrugged and walked away…

Little did she know—

Deep down, Nora’s fists were clenched,

and she was far from pleased that her treasure was drawing someone else’s gaze.