Chapter 30
The Completion of the Licorice Candy
The licorice-extract candy is finished!
Even with honey and other ingredients mixed in, its healing properties didn’t change at all.
And the test subject was—me.
After all, I’m one of the few children with excessive magic power who’s old enough and strong enough to endure an experiment like this. The biggest reason, though, is that I’m the one who most often has magic overload attacks.
I mean, I’m constantly around my beloved big brother from my previous life’s obsession—how could my chances of having an attack not be high?
That said, this wasn’t a dangerous kind of experiment. I didn’t intentionally trigger an attack. I simply happened to get dizzy from my brother’s overwhelming beauty, had a flare-up, and tried the candy instead of drinking the usual licorice tonic.
And the result—it worked!
Not a dramatic improvement, exactly, but I could feel the buildup of magic within me slow down. That’s a success in my book.
If I can find the Golden Licorice, we might be able to create a true cure.
The only problem left was how to get to Miranda’s hometown—where the Golden Licorice grows.
But thanks to Moko, I managed to convince Father and my brother to let me go!
Father, now fully recovered, knew that Miranda couldn’t pass through the “Evil-Be-Gone Door,” so he was deeply worried about me traveling to her homeland.
But the Golden Licorice grows on the outskirts of Miranda’s territory. If I go quietly, I’m sure I won’t get caught.
Besides, if we find it, it won’t just save me—it’ll save all the children born in the future with excessive magic power.
I pleaded desperately and finally got Father’s permission.
Somehow, I managed to convince him, and now we can go search for the Golden Licorice.
Our travel party includes Professor Robert, my brother, the household guards, and… for some reason, the Crown Prince Elvin.
Apparently, there was an attempted poisoning at the royal palace. Elvin survived, but his food taster died.
Since the mastermind hasn’t been found yet, His Majesty advised the prince to stay away from the capital for a while.
The only safe place, protected by spirits that prevent enemies from entering, was the Rosenberg estate—our home.
When Elvin arrived, we happened to be packing for the journey, and he just said it was “perfect timing” and decided to come along.
Ugh, wait a minute!
Traveling with the Crown Prince? What if something happens to him?
Our entire family would be executed!
“The Rosenberg house is guarded by powerful spirits, isn’t it? Then there’s nothing to worry about,” he said, flashing a carefree smile.
No, no—our protection doesn’t come from Moko! It’s the charm that keeps us safe!
Ugh, please, big brother, say something!
“Elvin.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“We’re going incognito.”
“Sounds fun. I’ll disguise myself as a knight, then.”
As Elvin looked up at the guards’ armor with interest, my brother Serios gave him a dazzling smile.
Ah, that faintly dangerous yet gentle smile—it’s so perfect.
“This isn’t a costume party,” my brother said. “We’ll go as a pair of wealthy merchant siblings. If you insist on coming, you’ll pose as our servant.”
“The Crown Prince as a servant…? Can’t I be the master, and you two the servants instead?”
My brother dismissed his protest without hesitation.
“I can’t possibly make Letty pretend to be a servant. Or do you mean to say you’d like to boss her around?”
A chilly aura radiated from my brother.
He’s literally an ice-attribute mage, so when he releases even a bit of power, the air around him drops in temperature.
That’s one of his best traits, honestly.
The way his anger freezes the air—it’s so dramatic, like something out of a painting.
Ah—but Elvin’s cheek is actually starting to frost over.
We can’t go freezing the Crown Prince solid, can we?
“Prince Elvin, maybe this is a good opportunity for you to experience what it feels like to serve someone. Think of it as training to become a wise and compassionate king,” I said, peeking out from behind my brother.
Elvin looked down at me and muttered, “Are you really five years old…?”
…Sorry. If you include my previous life, my mental age is a bit of a cheat.
“My sister’s a clever one,” my brother said, patting my head. “She’s blessed by the spirits—it’s only natural she’s special.”
Aaaah, I love you, big brother!
A true genius is someone like him—who was just as brilliant as I am now, even without memories of a past life.
Thanks to that, I was easily accepted in this household.
But… wait a minute.
If my brother was this sharp when he was five, wouldn’t that have made life pretty hard for him back then?
Aaaaaah!
If only I had been born earlier—
I could have been his greatest supporter!
“That’s not true, Brother. I take after you.”
When I said that, my brother’s ice-blue eyes widened slightly.
Then he smiled—a beautiful, heart-melting smile that I’ll never forget.
Pure bliss.
Ah—but here comes the magic overload again—
Panicking, I quickly popped a piece of licorice candy into my mouth.
