That day started off noisily.
Tok, tok, tok.
Around dawn, a white bird was pecking at the window, silhouetted against
the dazzling sunlight.
It was quite a beautiful sight, but I had a headache.
"Ugh…"
How much did I drink last night? I can't remember.
Well, I must have drunk enough to forget.
Tok, tok, tok. Tok, tok, tok.
The bird kept pecking at the window. It wouldn't stop despite my ignoring
it, as if it had to reach me.
Snap.
Still lying on the sofa, I flicked my fingers to open the window. Telekinesis
was a trivial skill for a magician.
The bird chirped as it landed on my thigh. It tilted its head, looking up at
me as if trying to identify my face.
I narrowed my eyes after a moment of staring back.
"A letter?"
Held in its beak was a neatly folded letter. Even a quick glance showed it
was a luxurious letter, oozing elegance.
Before I could wonder who sent it, the bird spread its wings and flew out
the window, leaving me alone with the letter.
I picked up the letter with my fingertips.
It's been so long since I last received a letter. It's been ages since such a
medium was used in my life.
Swish!
The letter unfolded on its own.
The day when imagination finally becomes reality. Such a day truly exists.
Magic is the act of making imagination a reality.
That was what you said during my first lesson as my magic teacher.
Thinking back, I was too scared to even meet your eyes then. You were
almost twice my height, with a sharp demeanor and a lack of smiles.
I guess people who specialize in ice magic are all like that. Cold as ice,
sharp as icicles. How terrifying it was for my young heart.
The training was harsh enough to make me cry daily; my whole body
ached, but nowadays, I feel it whenever my achievements are recognized.
It's thanks to your rigorous training that I am who I am today.
So, how have you been? I think I'm doing well.
The burden of the royal family was overwhelming, but surprisingly, I got
used to it. Am I now a proper royal and an adult?
Doing what needs to be done is tedious, but not difficult. However, when I
get tired, sometimes, just sometimes, I imagine before sleep.
I imagine you contacting me.
That imagination has now become reality. Just like magic.
…If the content of the letter is exactly what I imagined, will you tease me?
Anyway, thank you for proposing to me.
I opened the letter after staying up for two nights, and it kept me awake for
another day. At first, I didn't believe it. Was someone playing a nasty
prank?
I'm not joking. I only believed it after reading it several times.
Of course, even after believing, my head ached. I know better than anyone
how much the royal family hurt you. And if I am deserving… I pondered
countless times.
I finally made a decision.
Yes. I will be your woman.
But timing is everything. It's not the right time for a wedding. The empire
and the royal family are in a bad state.
I thought eternal peace would come when you closed the Demon Realm's
gate, but now erosion is occurring everywhere again.
Also, now all five princesses are old enough to inherit the throne. It's a
tense atmosphere, like walking on ice.
When I ascend to the throne, let's get married.
Do you know how much effort it took to secretly send this one reply? You'd
be amazed if you heard.
…Though I wrote it calmly, thinking about you makes it difficult. Why
now, of all times? Why didn't you contact me earlier?
I'll stop complaining. Like an adult, like a magician, like a princess.
You said everything is like ice; it glitters but eventually melts. That's not
true. The magic you showed me, the words, the actions—they haven't
melted and are still here.
I pray our meeting comes soon.
Thank you. Truly, thank you.
I put the letter down, crossed my arms, and thought.
No matter how much I pondered, only one conclusion came to mind.
"…Another assassin?"
Ice magic, closing the Demon Realm's gate, being a teacher to the
princesses, secret work for the royal family… They were all true, but
classified. Not something anyone could know.
But the problem was, I didn't remember proposing to anyone.
"This time, it seems a highly skilled one is after me."
I chuckled, put on my coat, and headed out to buy some hangover medicine.
What's an assassin? A hangover was worse.
The town was unusually bustling.
On my way to the general store, as usual, there were many people. Given
the good weather, it was understandable.
The issue was their expressions and whispers. They didn't seem to be out
for a pleasant outing.
Rather, they looked deeply concerned about something.
Developed senses also affect hearing. Without trying, I began to hear bits of
their murmurs.
"Someone reported to the royal family?"
"This is a big deal. How could someone be so reckless?"
"Considering the Emperor's temper, it's going to be a disaster for the whole
village."
Surprised by the conversation, I quickly turned my head. The people who
met my gaze flinched.
"Hey."
"Oh, Jaekiel. What's up?"
"The story you were just talking about, is it true?"
"Y-yeah. Someone reported to the royal family. That's why everyone is
worried. You know why, right?"
Of course, I do. How could I not?
"…Whoever did it must be out of their mind."
The Imperial Royal Family. The highest place under the sky.
A few years ago, the Empire changed its policy to read all communications
sent to the royal family without exception. It was a well-known story.
To listen to everything without missing anything? Not at all.
The new policy meant that anyone sending frivolous content would be
punished mercilessly. Unless it was something very important, don't send it
at all. After changing the policy, the number of communications to the royal
family drastically decreased.
Or rather, almost disappeared.
As I continued walking, I noticed people staring at me unusually often.
Some even approached to talk.
"Hey Jaekiel, did you send something to the royal family by any chance?"
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Sorry if you didn't. But of all the people I know, you're the least
predictable. I can't think of anyone else."
"Well."
After walking a bit more, I arrived at the general store.
A red-haired woman with an apron was busy dusting. She was Apple, the
owner of the store.
"Apple."
She turned to look at me when I called her name.
"Give me the best hangover medicine you have."
"…"
For a moment, it felt like time stopped as Apple stared at me.
"…!"
Her eyes widened threefold.
Her next movements were unbelievably quick. She dashed to the door and
slammed it shut. She even locked it and checked it several times.
Then she looked up at me and asked.
"Jaekiel, what happened?"
"As you can see, I'm suffering from a hangover. My head hurts."
"No? Not that!"
She was almost jumping up and down with a pale face.
It was just frustrating for my throbbing head.
"I'm not in the mood for jokes."
"Jokes? Do I look like I'm joking?"
She was incredibly flustered.
"What's wrong?"
"What do you mean what's wrong? Don't you remember last night?"
"Last night?"
"Seriously, seriously… You don't remember…? Huh?"
Apple grabbed her hair tightly with one hand.
"…I knew this would happen! I should have stopped you somehow! What
were you thinking? This isn't about a hangover!"
Then she pointed the duster at me like a sword.
"You wrote a letter while drunk last night? Saying you were sending it to
the royal princesses! I tried to stop you several times, but you didn't listen!"
"Me?"
It was a chilling joke.
No, was it a joke?
Suddenly, memories came rushing back to my mind.
"…"
Yeah, that seemed about right.
Resentful of my terminal condition, spending all my time for the royal
family, and wanting some kind of compensation, I drunkenly proposed. To a
princess, no less.
I held my forehead, which was pounding.
"Wait, then the letter this morning…"
"A letter? A letter? Did you get a reply? What did it say? Are they going to
kill you?"
Apple jumped up and down.
"Say something! Are they going to erase our village? Ahhh! A prank letter
to the princess! Everyone in this village is dead because of you!"
I couldn't answer hastily.
Because there was something more pressing on my mind.
"Apple, what did you just mutter?"
"Are you going to get mad at me now? Is this the time? You drunkard!"
"Not that. You said, 'to the princess,' but don't you mean, 'to the
princesses'?"
My expression must have been serious.
Apple's face gradually turned pale as she met my gaze.
"Oh…? Come to think of it, you wrote five letters…?"
She then asked me with a pale face.
"Wh-what did the reply say…?"
No, there was something more important than the content of the reply.
"…"
I swallowed hard.
…Which one of the five accepted my proposal? Who received it?
A life that was never smooth was about to face a massive wave.