CH 14

After returning to the royal castle from the mansion, I hurriedly headed to the laboratory.

Until the Exiled Duke’s Daughter,...

I didn’t have any particularly noteworthy information in hand.

However, it would be a waste of time to be disappointed. It was already past 3 pm, and the deadline until evening was approaching. If night fell, His Highness would suffer again. As for the method of breaking the curse, I would think about it later, but I had to complete it before nightfall.

“Hurry, hurry.”

“If you hurry like that, you’ll bump into someone.”

“Huh? Oh no!”

“Oops.”

As I was about to turn the corner, I was suddenly called out from behind. I instinctively turned around and stumbled, almost falling, but someone gently reached out their hand to help me.

“That was dangerous. You almost fell, you know?”

“Y-Your Highness.”

“Well, it’s my fault I called out to you. Here.”

“Thank you very much.”

I was led by His Highness, and my collapsed posture was corrected.

I stood up and faced forward. Because I was pulled closer, the distance between our faces was close. As I looked into His Highness’s eyes and felt his presence nearby, I involuntarily blushed.

“What’s wrong? Your face is red. Do you have a fever?” 

“Ah, no! I just got startled. Ahahaha…”

I can’t say that I was nervous because His Highness’s face was so close.

Now that I think about it again, this is the first time I’ve talked to someone of the opposite sex at such a close distance.

And for that first time to be with a prince…

It feels like I’m in a romance book or something.

“What’s the rush? Do you have something important to do?”

“Yes. I’m thinking of making a magic tool for Your Highness.”

“For me? That’s why you were in a hurry.”

“Yes. I want to finish and hand it over to you by tonight.”

I don’t want to see His Highness such a pained expression.

When His Highness makes a painful face, my heart aches too just from watching him.

If I can make it a little easier for him with my power, there’s nothing more joyful for me.

“…I see. For me.”

“Your Highness?”

“Thank you, Freya. Your kindness is almost too much for me to handle.”

His Highness’s expression, as he said that, was so beautiful that I’ve never seen anything like it before.

It sparkled like delicate glasswork.

I couldn’t help but stare in awe.

“If it’s okay with you, can I observe you making a magic tool?”

“Observing, you say? Of course, that’s not a problem.”

“Thank you. Actually, I wanted to see it once. You making a magic tool, that is.”

“If it’s okay with you, then by all means.”

I head to the laboratory with His Highness.

This time, I walk slowly so as not to trip.

Upon arriving at the laboratory, I arrange the necessary items on the table.

In this room that His Highness had prepared, all the tools necessary for making magic tools are available.

Moreover, they are all the latest models.

If you ask, materials can also be provided.

The work environment is slightly better than at the court.

On the table are pumice stones, iron grains, and of course, magic crystals that are indispensable for making magic tools.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

“Yeah. I’ll watch here.”

His Highness is watching from beside me.

Although I said “by all means”, I’m nervous about being watched like this.

I have never had the experience of someone else watching me work, not just His Highness.

The director only came to nag, and it seemed like she had no interest in my actual work.

I take a deep breath.

The image of what I want to create is clear.

The magic to be bestowed and the structure are also decided.

It’ll take about 30 minutes or so to complete, I guess?

Since I’m in front of His Highness, I also feel like I want to show off my skills.

“Alright.”

I expressed my motivation with a very small voice so that His Highness couldn’t hear me.

I started by making the tool for the magic, the magic tool.

I gather the prepared materials in one place, and move unnecessary ones to the edge of the table.

I’ll make it in the shape of the same bracelet as the first one.

I place my hands over the materials.

“Create.”

I activate the magic and synthesize the materials.

It takes about two seconds for the materials enveloped in light to transform into a bracelet.

“Was that magic?”

“Yes. It’s a transmutation magic. With this magic, I can synthesize materials into any shape I imagine as long as I have the materials. It’s easy for me to prepare the tool with this magic.”

This is not an essential power for a magic tool maker. 

Many magic tool makers have the talent of a magician, and I can use several types of magic as well.

Transmutation magic is one of them.

“That’s amazing.”

“No, this is just convenient. With or without it, you can become a magic tool maker. What’s important is what comes next.”

The tool can be prepared by request.

The essential requirement for us to be magic tool makers is to transform this ordinary bracelet into a special tool.

And the talent necessary to achieve this is…

To directly release magical power outside of the body.

Normally, magical power is energy flowing within the body and cannot be released externally.

Magicians consume magical power and release it as magic.

Manipulate the flow of magical power directly and control it freely outside the body.

If this cannot be done, magic effects cannot be bestowed upon tools.

I gather magical power in my fingertips and create ink of light.

Using this, I inscribe magic onto the magic crystal that I synthesized earlier.

This time, the magic to be bestowed is a healing spell.

His Highness is already wearing the bracelet that spreads the curse target. 

It’s impossible to directly prevent the progression of the curse.

So at least, if I can alleviate the pain and fatigue.

One type alone is not reassuring.

Let’s layer five types.

When layering, I wait until one magic is imparted and settles before imparting the next magic.

This process is repeated the necessary number of times.

“It’s beautiful.”

“…”

I silently continue with my work.

Although I felt like His Highness was laughing beside me, my focused hands didn’t stop.

And so, after imparting the final one and confirming if it moves by flowing magical power.

“It’s done.”

“Is it already finished? It’s only been fifteen minutes.”

“I only had to make one…”

“Well… it still feels fast. Is this normal?”

“I’m not sure…”

Come to think of it, I’ve never seen the work of other magic tool makers.

I’m self-taught, and only learned the basics by reading books, and then repeated and learned on my own.

Honestly, I’m not sure if this method is correct. 

I thought I was just a little fast at making it…

“I wonder…”

How skilled am I as a magic tool maker?

It was the first time I had ever thought about such a thing since I started on this path.