Chapter 87
“Wow, it’s really cold,” Roina said.
She was now wrapped in layers of clothing, far thicker than when they had first set out. This was the result of Maili insisting that she couldn’t go out as she was and bundling her up, saying that even dressed like this, she would still feel the cold.
Maili, on the other hand, was looking at Roina with satisfaction, proud of how well she had dressed her. Yet, her own outfit was much lighter in comparison. While the material was somewhat thick, it was still closer to ceremonial attire than proper winter wear. When Roina looked at her with concern, Maili simply remarked that she was used to training in harsh winters alongside the knights.
“Achoo!”
And then, there was the shivering boy.
Josef, seemingly extremely sensitive to the cold, was bundled up in layers as thick as Roina’s, yet it was obvious he was struggling to endure the chill.
Meanwhile, Lutan…
“Are you really not cold?”
“No. You need not worry about me, Roina.”
His outfit remained the same as usual—the black robe adorned with gold embroidery, befitting a Great Archmage. Roina observed his robe intently. She could sense a faint energy emanating from it.
‘Ah, it must be enchanted.’
She immediately understood.
‘I should take a closer look when I get the chance and use its structure for reference.’
Lately, Roina had moved beyond simply wielding magic freely—she was now fascinated by the creation of magical artifacts. This required a deep understanding of intricate magical circuits and spell structures, making it far more complex than merely manipulating mana to control the elements. Precisely because of its difficulty, she found it all the more enjoyable.
She mused that she must have the soul of a researcher.
The travel method Maili had arbitrarily named the “Tower Portal” was simpler than expected.
Since the Mage Tower could be seen and entered from anywhere in the empire—and the reverse was also true—it was merely a matter of setting different locations as the entrance and exit points. This allowed for near-instantaneous long-distance travel.
Roina had previously asked whether such movement was possible without passing through the Mage Tower.
Lutan had explained that spatial magic was highly sensitive, making stationary, fixed-point magic the safest option.
In other words, by linking two locations using a door or a specific tool, one could prevent accidents like getting trapped between spaces or becoming lost entirely.
The place they arrived at was the entrance of Amasto Territory’s castle.
As they stepped out, the gatekeepers, standing in formation, flinched in surprise. It was only natural—after all, they had arrived before their official letter.
Maili cleared her throat with a decisive hum.
“Open the gates. The Great Archmage has come in person. You, go ahead and inform them to ensure the guests are properly received.”
Watching her, Josef let out a long sigh and thought to himself.
My older sister, far more accustomed to commanding people than I am, was always eager to assign tasks to me, someone who wished to live solely as a scholar. She seemed to believe that it would be much better for him to inherit the marquisate, but he thought the exact opposite. Rather than himself, it would be far better for Maili to take over the Marquisate.
As a mere scholar who only knew administration, he disliked stepping forward and preferred solitude. It would be much better to make her the lord and for him to remain as an advisor instead.
Despite the sibling’s differing thoughts, they steadily made their way forward and soon found themselves within the lord’s castle. The interior of the stronghold was filled with warmth from the fires lit throughout. The symbol of House Amasto—the lion—was embroidered in gold upon a red banner, exuding a sense of majesty. Unlike the clean and unembellished manor in the capital, this was an old castle, its long history evident in its many decorations and portraits. One could feel the spirit and tradition befitting a Margrave’s stronghold.
Maili, clad in the white uniform of the knightly order, looked truly striking as she moved about the castle. She seemed to visit the estate quite frequently, as the castle servants were already well accustomed to following her commands.
‘With a territory and a castle like this, it makes sense that they would entertain the idea of challenging the crown.’
If push came to shove, they could hold a siege or even secede.
In truth, this was why the empire had always treated the Margraves well—if they ever turned against the crown, it would undoubtedly cause massive upheaval. In return, the family had always answered with unwavering loyalty.
‘The Kailum Empire has truly been unfortunate in its choice of Imperial Crown Prince this time.’
It was currently Imperial Year 998—soon, the empire would reach its thousandth year. It had lasted for quite some time.
‘A thousand years…’
The contract signed by the first emperor also had a term of one thousand years. Just what kind of contract was it? Given the context, it was likely one concerning the empire’s prosperity and rise to power. Since no other nation on the continent had grown as vast as this one, one could consider it a success.
Following the servants’ guidance, Roina took a brief tour of the castle, had a formal dinner, and soon retired for the night.
Since they had arrived somewhat late, they decided to inspect the issue at hand together in the morning.
Outside the windows lining the corridor, a large full moon hung in the sky, accompanied by countless stars. It was a common sight in this world, but perhaps due to the cold and the clear skies, it appeared even more vivid here.
Roina spared the moon a brief glance before preparing to sleep.
This place was so cold that even the inner shutters had to be carefully closed. Naturally, sleeping while gazing at the moon was not an option.
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