Chapter 5
Men clad in jet-black cloaks appeared.
And at their center stood a young man.
His hair was the color of the night sky.
A cold, flawless face.
Sharp eyes.
The moment he descended into the garden, he paid no attention to the wary gazes surrounding him.
Instead, he looked straight at Sole.
Then he slowly narrowed his eyes.
“…I see.”
His voice was low and clear.
“You’re carrying an exceptionally unstable amount of magical power.”
Sole blinked.
“…Huh?”
“Who are you?”
Mishnight’s deep voice echoed across the garden.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
The knights moved fully into combat readiness.
But the young man who had suddenly appeared seemed completely unconcerned by their hostility.
His hair looked black one moment and deep indigo the next.
A color that seemed to contain the night itself.
And his eyes—
They were sapphire blue.
Yet depending on the angle of the light, they appeared to deepen into an even darker shade of azure.
He was calm.
And yet, simply by standing there, he dominated the atmosphere.
Sole stared at him blankly.
(Wow, he’s really handsome…)
That was her first impression.
Then came the second.
(But he’s definitely got a terrible personality.)
Pure intuition.
Still gazing at Sole, the young man slightly narrowed his eyes.
“Nice to meet you.”
His tone was gentle.
Yet somehow, she felt she couldn’t let her guard down at all.
“My name is Verunoa Ashley = Emanraat.”
“…”
The air froze.
The expressions of the knights immediately changed.
Aalto muttered through clenched teeth.
“…The First Prince of the neighboring kingdom.”
Sole’s eyes widened.
(A prince!?)
And the First Prince, at that!?
Wait—
Did important people in this world normally arrive from the sky!?
While Sole was busy panicking internally, Verunoa slowly shifted his gaze around the garden.
“That is quite an impressive barrier.”
“Whose permission did you receive to enter?”
Shurles’ voice was icy.
Verunoa smiled.
“Was permission required?”
“Obviously.”
“My apologies.”
His expression made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t sorry in the slightest.
Even Sole could tell.
(Yep. Definitely manipulative.)
Just then—
Verunoa’s gaze returned to Sole.
The instant it did, the small magical beast in her arms stiffened.
“…?”
The creature began trembling.
Then it quietly hid behind Sole’s back.
Sole blinked.
“Huh?”
It had been so affectionate just moments ago!
Verunoa calmly observed the scene.
“So magical beasts are fond of you.”
“Uh… yes?”
“How unusual.”
For some reason, those words made the atmosphere grow even heavier.
Mishnight stepped forward.
“State your business.”
Now he wore the face of the kingdom’s Chancellor.
Verunoa likewise assumed the demeanor of royalty.
The casual air from before vanished completely.
“The reason for my official visit to this country today is twofold.”
“One is diplomatic relations.”
“And the other is—”
Those sapphire eyes locked directly onto Sole.
As though he would not let her escape.
As though he were confirming something.
“The verification of a magical power holder whose vessel is on the verge of collapse.”
Silence.
The air seemed to freeze.
Sole blinked.
“…What?”
A vessel?
Collapse?
What was he talking about?
But the atmosphere within the Neferiate family changed instantly.
Yuris’ face turned pale.
Aalto narrowed his eyes.
Shurles became even more vigilant.
And only Mishnight quietly murmured,
“…So you noticed after all.”
Sole looked back and forth between them.
“…Huh?”
