Chapter : 04
At that very moment, a letter arrived from Crown Prince Kienne.
[I have heard that your latest experiment has produced highly meaningful results.
I, too, have taken a great interest in this research and promise to provide the funding necessary for its continuation, as well as assist with the legislation required to bring its applications into reality.]
The moment Professor Great Everrun received the letter bearing the royal seal, he was convinced.
“At last… my time to shine has finally come!”
But Adel’s declaration that she was resigning snuffed out his rosy future like a candle blown out by the wind.
“Professor, I’m resigning.”
The slave—
No, the component—
who had always obeyed every order without complaint had finally rebelled.
“My research is only just beginning to receive the recognition it deserves! Why would that brat Adel quit whenever she pleases?!”
His hand trembled as he unconsciously crumpled the letter.
The Crown Prince’s support wasn’t merely financial.
It also meant legal backing that would allow the research to be applied in the real world.
But now…
The entire project had come to a standstill.
The core researcher who had built the theoretical foundation over the past five years was gone.
Grinding his teeth, Great suddenly realized the letter in his hand had become hopelessly wrinkled.
“Ah! Something this important…!”
He hurriedly smoothed the paper back out.
There was only one way to seize this precious opportunity.
He had to replace the researcher who had left.
The problem was that finding someone who understood the theory as deeply as Adel—and who could contribute just as many original ideas—would be nearly impossible.
Great clenched his jaw.
Then what am I supposed to do?
The research materials still remained.
But they weren’t enough to secure the Imperial Palace’s continued support on their own.
No matter how much he thought about it, there was only one conclusion.
“…It can’t be helped. I’ll just have to drag her back.”
How dare a mere graduate researcher—
A slave—
escape from his laboratory?
After everything he’d done for her!
“I fed her three meals every single day and even let her sleep six whole hours!”
Tsk.
His eyes burned with determination.
No matter what, he would capture his runaway slave and bring her back.
* * *
Life as a graduate researcher had been an endless war against experiments, reports, and deadlines.
But now?
A warm bed.
Regular meals.
Days completely free of stress.
This… this is what a normal life feels like. Hehe.
Three days had already passed since I quit the Magic Tower.
As I rested to my heart’s content, I realized just how abnormal my life had been until now.
Was life always supposed to be this enjoyable… this happy?
Even doing absolutely nothing and simply breathing was enough to keep a smile on my face.
Who knew the simple comforts of everyday life could be so precious?
…Still, I can’t slack off forever.
If I stayed cooped up at home eating and sleeping all day, I’d start feeling guilty in front of my parents.
After all, our once-prestigious family had long since fallen into ruin.
The land was gone.
The title was gone.
Even the old mansion had been sold.
The only income we had left was a tiny amount of tenant rent.
I pulled the letter I’d stuffed into my bag, intending to finally put my plan into motion.
But before I even had a chance to read it…
“Hey! Have you lost your mind?! If not for the Magic Tower, where else would anyone ever acknowledge you?”
My older brother Adrian staggered in, completely drunk.
The moment he got home, our parents told him about me.
He stormed straight to my room and started making a scene.
The nerve of him.
He was the one who spent all his time drinking, partying, and staying out overnight.
“You’ve been nothing but a lifelong researcher! Where else do you think anyone’s going to hire you? Stop being stupid and go back immediately. Don’t you know that’s what’s best for this family?”
“…Sigh.”
He’s completely hopeless.
Sitting at my desk, I slumped back with a weary expression.
Coming home had been nice…
The only downside was having to listen to this idiot’s nonsense again.
Fortunately, my irritation faded almost as quickly as it appeared.
Well… there’s no point arguing with someone like him.
Besides, once my investment paid off and my business became a huge success…
I’d never have to see his face again.
Until Adrian finally stopped lecturing me, I repeated one sentence over and over in my head.
Make it big.
Seriously, become wildly successful…
…and never have to see that idiot’s face again.
That very night, after Adrian finally left, I wrote a reply to the letter.
Its contents had been simple.
Whenever I had time, a carriage would be sent for me, and I was invited to visit.
I had always been too busy to accept the invitation before.
But now…
The time had finally come.
Two days later, I climbed into the carriage sent by the letter’s owner and headed toward my friend’s house.
Though calling it a “house” was a bit of an understatement.
Clunk.
The extravagantly decorated carriage finally came to a stop.
I looked outside.
The Imperial Palace.
How long has it been…?
Just as nostalgia began washing over me, the carriage door suddenly opened.
A servant dressed impeccably in formal palace attire bowed politely.
Even in an age where magi-engineering had advanced so far, the palace still insisted on these old-fashioned formalities.
“His Highness is waiting for you.”
I took a deep breath before stepping out of the carriage.
Perhaps because this was my first visit since recovering the memories of my previous life…
I felt slightly nervous.
Following the servant, I walked through the palace’s long corridors.
As we reached the entrance to the western garden, I spotted a familiar head of bright red hair in the distance.
“Adel Katherine. So, just because you’re a famous Magic Tower researcher now, you think it’s okay to ignore a prince’s letters?”
His name was Adolf Winterton.
The Second Prince of the Douglas Empire.
He had been my classmate at the Academy for many years.
After spending so much of my life buried inside the laboratory, nearly all of my relationships had faded away.
He was the only connection I still had.
In the original story, however, Adel gradually began distancing herself even from him.
Probably because she’d realized just how dangerous her research truly was.
Well… I don’t have anything to hide anymore.
Smiling warmly, I greeted him.
“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”
“Haha! Come on, we’re friends. You used to call me Adolf all the time.”
“But this is the Imperial Palace. I should be respectful.”
“That’s more like the Adel I know. Still, just relax.”
Adolf hadn’t changed at all since our Academy days.
Back then, he had gotten along with everyone regardless of social status.
There was never a day when the smile left his face.
If I had to describe him…
He was basically a golden retriever in human form.
“So, how have you been lately? Is your research going well?”
…
And sometimes a golden retriever can accidentally knock someone unconscious with an innocent punch.
I froze for a moment.
“Ah… the research…”
Where was I even supposed to begin?
I hadn’t expected him to jump straight to the topic the moment we met.
While I scrambled for an answer, Adolf apparently interpreted my silence another way.
“What? Did something major happen with your research?”
“If you mean something major…”
“I suppose you could say that.”
I’d completely abandoned my old research and decided to pursue a new research project—
No.
A brand-new business venture.
Of course, there was no way I could just blurt that out immediately.
I awkwardly began,
“Well… it’s a long story. Let’s sit down and talk over tea—”
Before I could finish my sentence, unfamiliar footsteps interrupted me.
A low, smooth voice brushed softly against my ears.
“I had no idea we had a guest.”
The calm, leisurely tone made both Adolf and me turn our heads at the same time.
“Hello, Adolf. And…”
“…our guest whose name I don’t yet know?”
The man’s eyes curved into a gentle smile.
He resembled Adolf.
But his demeanor was far more elegant and refined.
At the same time, there was a sharp, restrained aura about him—
Like a perfectly trained hunting hound.
I immediately bowed respectfully.
“…Greetings, Your Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince. My name is Adel Katherine.”
“Adel?”
A flicker of interest briefly passed through the man’s eyes.
