“……”
“……”
We walked silently through the Imperial Palace for a while.
There was nothing I could do about it.
After such an embarrassing situation just now, I wasn’t shameless enough to just casually start chatting.
Fortunately, it wasn’t just me—Lux seemed at a loss for words too. Maybe this meant I’d successfully landed a hit?
I decided to claim a moral victory in my mind.
“This is the Procyon Treasury.”
Lux stopped walking and pointed to the door.
It seemed like they were trying to pretend what happened earlier never did.
Accepting this unspoken truce, I examined the door Lux was pointing to.
“This…?”
Without thinking, I tilted my head in confusion—it looked like any ordinary place.
If Lux hadn’t mentioned it, I might’ve just walked right past it.
With no guards around, there was no way this could possibly be a treasure vault.
“Ah, is that it? Did you intentionally make it look plain so people wouldn’t think it’s a treasure vault?”
“Hehe, unfortunately, no. The Procyon Treasury isn’t as lax as all that.”
Lux smiled and grabbed the handle of the door.
“The only ones who can access the Procyon Treasury are the Palatine Chamberlain who manages the royal affairs and the direct bloodline of the imperial family. For anyone else, opening the door would just reveal an ordinary storage room…”
As Lux continued explaining and opened the door, an unexpected sight greeted us.
“But if someone with permission opens it, a path to the Procyon Treasury will appear.”
Though the surroundings outside the door still looked like the Imperial Palace, inside was an endless cave.
“Is this some kind of mini Gate?”
“No, that’s impossible. They didn’t build Gates to be big and flashy for no reason. It’s because connecting spaces like this requires something on that scale.”
“So… what exactly is this?”
Lux smiled and explained to my astonished expression.
“It’s ancient magic from the Mythic Era. You could say it’s the precursor to the Gate magic.”
“The precursor to the Gate?”
“Yes. This is what the mage tower used as the basis to create the Gates.”
Understanding dawned on me with this new information.
Ancient magic, huh? No wonder the Empire is the Empire.
“Well, shall we get going?”
Lux, who had been quietly smiling, started moving forward with an unexpectedly excited air.
“Why do *you* seem so happy about it?”
“It’s my first time seeing the Procyon Treasury too, you know.”
“So even being royalty doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want, huh?”
“Of course not. In fact… it comes with more inconveniences than you’d think. Though I suppose that sounds like whining.”
For some reason, Lux’s back looked a little lonely, so I placed my hand on their head.
“Whining? Everyone has their struggles. Just because someone is royalty doesn’t mean they’re automatically happy.”
“You sure seem natural placing your hand on women’s heads, don’t you?”
“Ahh, mi, sorry…”
I tried hurriedly pulling my hand away, but for some reason, it wouldn’t budge—it was stuck because Lux was using mana to hold it there.
“I didn’t say to take it off.”
“Uh… okay…”
“So, how many women have you dated so far?”
This kid really went straight for the sore spot.
While I was rubbing my wounded heart, another attack came.
“Do you have someone now?”
“Nope.”
“Does that mean you don’t currently have one?”
“No, I just don’t.”
“What about before?”
“Nope, never had one… There’s no way someone like me would ever get into anything romantic.”
That’s right—I’ve been single for decades across both my past and current life.
Why are tears streaming down my face all of a sudden…?
“Hnnn~”
For some reason, Lux let out a pleased snort.
Seeing this opportunity for retaliation, I quickly launched a counterattack.
“How about you? Have you had anyone?”
“Would it be better if I had?”
“…”
That response wasn’t part of my plan!
Speechless, I froze as Lux turned to look directly into my eyes.
“Answer me.”
“…No. It’d be better if you hadn’t…”
Looking at Lux’s face up close, especially with their sparkling eyes gazing up at me, made me accidentally blurt out:
“What’s wrong~?”
“…Just.”
“Hmm… Fine, I’ll stop here for now.”
Was this kid always like this?
They’d been hiding this devilish side and putting up a front all along?
Truly, they were a terrifying opponent.
But before I could point that out, fearing another attack, I quickly changed the subject by pointing at the massive door ahead.
“We’re here. That’s the Procyon Treasury, right?”
Lux nodded.
“Stop. Stop. If you move, I will attack.”
“Reveal your identities.”
As we approached the door, two Mithril Golems blocked our path.
Judging by their faintly glowing teal bodies, these were definitely the strongest type of golems.
Whoever crafted them must’ve been an incredible magician—maybe even the Infantry Palace?
“Princess Lux Stella Sirius of the Sirius Empire.”
“Commander Allen of the Special Task Force.”
I quietly followed Lux’s lead, since I didn’t know the command structure of the Mithril Golems.
One wrong move and they might turn hostile instantly.
“Identity confirmed.”
“The princess is not allowed entry. Only Allen has clearance.”
Lux didn’t react much to the Mithril Golem’s statement, nodding as if it were expected.
“Waiting here is fine, right?”
“No problem.”
“As long as you don’t act aggressively.”
With confirmation, Lux looked at me and said,
“Go ahead. Make sure to find something good.”
“Got it. I’ll be back soon.”
“Take your time choosing. We have nothing planned for today anyway.”
“Nah, overthinking this kind of thing usually leads to regret.”
With a shrug, I moved forward as the Mithril Golems issued warnings:
“You have one hour.”
“You can only take one item.”
“Touching an item counts as selecting it.”
“Once chosen, you cannot change your selection. Be careful.”
“I understand.”
Considering the simplicity of the rules, I nodded in agreement.
The Mithril Golems then approached the edges of the door.
“I will open the door.”
“Don’t forget the warnings.”
They shoved their massive arms into pillars near the edge.
“Creeeeak!”
The door groaned open, shaking the surroundings. Impressed by the level of security, I nodded.
With security this tight, no one could break in.
As the door finished opening, the Mithril Golems commanded:
“Enter.”
Ignoring their orders, I waved at Lux.
“I’ll be back.”
“Safe travels.”
What kind of treasures lay hidden in this enormous treasury?
Though I maintained composure in front of Lux, excitement bubbled up within me.
“Time is ticking.”
“You should enter sooner rather than later.”
“Got it, you tin cans.”
Ugh, ruining the moment with a countdown—this is why golems are annoying.
Still, thanks to them, I managed to calm down from my rising excitement.
With a lighter heart, I stepped forward briskly.
***
“Maybe I managed to leave a small impression after all.”
Only once Allen disappeared from sight could Lux finally voice her true thoughts.
After all, the only other presence here was the Mithril Golems, following their set patterns.
“Yes, yes, you called me pretty…”
Though she’d received countless compliments about her beauty, hearing it from Allen felt different somehow.
A strange tickling sensation in her chest made her feel inexplicably happy.
Truthfully, Lux herself wasn’t sure why she had developed such an interest in Allen.
Was it because he might be able to solve the curse?
Because he was the only professor who saw her not as a princess but as a student?
Or was it because of how he risked everything to save his students during the incident at the Island of Wisdom?
Whatever the reason, the feelings she held now were undoubtedly precious.
“I hope he finds something good.”
Lux stared at the tightly shut door.
And then it happened.
“Gasp!”
An excruciating pain gripped her chest.
A burning sensation starting from her toes.
The unmistakable sign of the curse consuming her.
“Haa… Haa… Kyaaah…”
Tears streamed down her face today more intensely than usual.
Unable to bear the pain, Lux dropped to her knees on the cold floor.
Even though her pristine dress got dirty with dust, she had no time to care.
“Aaahh…”
The curse didn’t just bring physical agony—it also attacked her weakened mind with waves of negative emotions.
Anger at why she had to endure such suffering.
Resentment at why no one helped her.
Jealousy at why others could be happy while she remained miserable.
Though Lux knew these thoughts were irrational, the pain with every breath felt like shards of glass piercing her lungs, making it impossible not to blame someone.
And she understood well—the purpose of the curse was precisely this.
“I wanted to wait…”
She wanted to stay here and see what Allen would bring back.
She wanted to see his joyful face.
She wanted to share in his joy and celebrate together.
But now, that dream had become impossible.
“If it becomes unbearable, use this magic…”
They said that when the curse became too much to bear and she lost consciousness, it would be complete.
Even the top mage of the empire couldn’t predict what would happen once the curse was fully realized.
So as a precaution, they gave her a magic spell: [Life Magic: A Vessel Where Time Stands Still].
Its effect was simple—halt the caster’s life.
More accurately, weaken their lifeforce to an extreme degree.
Since curses feed on lifeforce the same way magic feeds on mana, the thought process was straightforward—if there’s no lifeforce, the curse can’t complete itself.
Erias had said that casting this spell would put her in a coma-like state, slowing the curse’s progression and buying more time.
During that time, Erias promised to find a way to remove the curse no matter what it took.
“Will I ever see him again…”
Gradually, Lux’s strength drained away.
As consciousness faded, she heard a distant voice in her hazy mind.
“It’s okay to run away.”
A forgotten memory from the past suddenly surfaced clearly in her mind.
“Allen…”
Why had she felt curious about Allen’s name?
Why had she been drawn to him?
Standing at the crossroads of life, Lux finally understood.
‘The prince on a white horse…’
Did he remember the pinky promise they made as children?
Would he come to rescue her?
Why did this memory resurface right now?
Burying her resentful feelings deep in her heart, Lux quietly drifted off to sleep.
