But Endymion, who was opening a drawer and taking something out, mercilessly rejected Lionel's offer.
"Regardless of your status, I will treat it the same way as a previous transfer of personal property. Whether you are a noble or a commoner, a child or an adult."
"Oh, yes. I will do that."
It was the King's order, so he had to follow it. After all, there was no way a high-ranking magician would refuse to go to the magic tower.
If they could become a wizard, commoners would shed tears of joy at the chance to rise to fame overnight, and nobles would gladly follow suit, saying it would be a lasting honor for their families.
Instead of being separated from the world, they gave their family great rewards and gained immense wealth and power themself. Although there were sad people, there was not a single person who refused them.
Really, not a single one.
"Your Majesty, but what if they are adults? It is rare for adults to manifest as wizards, but what if they are of a certain age and have a fiancé or are married? Since wizards' marriages are strictly controlled, I wouId have to force them to break it off, but I am worried that there will be opposition."
"You're too concerned."
"Huh... Did I... did I? I guess I'm going to have a lot of random thoughts since I'm going to be a father of two soon."
Lionel scratched his head and tried to calm the mood. Endymion, who was about to pick up a quill and write, narrowed his eyes.
He was annoyed by his constant ordering, so he was about to make him work overtime, but then he remembered Hyde Mansion and decided to give him a special treat just this once.
Endymion opened his mouth indifferently.
"If they want money, give them jewels. If they want power, give they a title. If they still refuse, then charge them with treason against the monarch and have their status and property confiscated. And..."
A voice devoid of mercy flowed from between the cold lips.
"I don't care. What other people's circumstances are like."
It was sincere.
He was a great King who did not mix private feelings with public affairs. However, he lacked some emotions and resembled some of the mad monarchs in history.
Lionel, who felt the monarch's ruthlessness vividly on his skin, rarely kept his mouth shut. A mixture of complicated emotions and silence owed through the King's spacious office.
"Just go out."
Endymion, with a cold face, slowly dipped his quill in ink and picked it up.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lionel bowed and stepped aside. As he turned his back and walked away, the sound of something being written could be heard behind him.. It seemed that Endymion was not missing the moment to send a proposal to Magic Tower to adjust the contract.
Lionel touched the back of his neck, feeling his blood run cold.
'How can someone be so cruel?'
Lionel stuck out his tongue, although he was convinced by Endymion's order. One day, that cold-hearted brother-in-law will have to shed tears and snot to understand other people's feelings.
'Well, I doubt that would happen.'
Lionel shook his head and left the office. If he could defeat the arrogant and proud King of the mighty nation of Semele, he would probably be a god...
No human could bring down a King whose blood flowed only with ice and blades. Lionel thought.
"My Queen, when do you plan on returning?"
He doesn't even know what the King is writing with his cold expression.
***
"My Queen, when do you plan on returning?"
"Are you still feeling unwell?"
"Why isn't there a reply?"
"Surely it wasn't intentional."
Thin fingers folded the letter, put it in the drawer, and closed it with a bang.
Julia smiled at the maids who had finished dressing up and shook her hands. Then she went downstairs and got into the carriage that was waiting with Iris.
The carriage that departed from the Duke's residence soon reached the bustling Mysterion Street. It was lined with buildings that were a bit more sentimental and splendid than the royal palace.
"Ah!"
"Julia, I think I received another letter from the palace earlier."
Iris asked Julia curiously as she looked out the carriage window. Julia, who was absorbed in the sight of the city that she was seeing for the first time in her life, turned around.
"Oh, it said to rest well and come back whenever you want. You don't have to worry about it. But more importantly, sister, what is that store?"
"That's Madame Beatrice's tea room. It's popular because the interior is exotic and sophisticated."
"Then let's have lunch over there!"
Julia, who was very excited, laughed heartily. Iris, who was filled with pure joy, quickly knocked on the carriage wall and told the coachman.
So the two women immediately rented the entire tea room and had a happy time drinking the best teas and coffees, eating sandwiches with new flavors, and eating the latest trendy desserts.
The countless letters that had flown into Julia's head had long since been completely forgotten.
***
Tinkle!
Today is the first day of business, but the door of the general store, which has no customers, is wide open. A dull-looking man who has been dozing off suddenly stands up from his seat at the sound of the bell...
Two women came in from a large, unmarked carriage. They looked like sisters, and judging by their attire, they seemed to be a noble lady and a young lady.
The man looked at them indifferently, thinking. 'I guess they're nobles who came out to buy jewelry or dresses and stopped by because they were curious.'
"Oh, my."
The owner speaks the common language of the continent, but his accent is a bit different as if he came from a foreign country. No, more than that, Julia wonders if he has any intention of doing business or not.
Julia, who was entering the store, opened her eyes wide at the voice that was so insincere. Iris also furrowed her brows and looked at Julia.
But as soon as their eyes met, they smiled brightly and closed the shop door as if they had made a promise.
She couldn't go back feeling bad about the attitude, because the secrets lurking in this ordinary general store were too amazing.
"I'm sorry, but I have nothing to sell to you. This is an antique shop run by the bored son of the building's owner."
The man tried hard to look like a businessman and put on a pitiful expression. But his eyes showed annoyance that he couldn't hide.
Julia read it all and walked to the counter, looking around curiously. The man wiggled his eyebrows and stared at Julia's face hidden under her hat.
"I came to buy Archon's secret."
The man's eyes widened in an instant at the gentle voice.
"How... Ah, yes yes! Oh, welcome."
Archon was the castle of Parma, the lord of the Magic Tower, and the castle of all the wizards belonging to the Magic Tower.
The man pretended to be a clumsy merchant, flustered by the metaphor that he knew what kind of place this was. It seemed like he didn't know that customers would come on the first day of opening because it was a top secret that this was a magic tool shop.
Iris, who had followed him, looked at him with pride and spoke.
"What should I buy? I want to see healing potions first."
He muttered to himself, "What should I do?" and "Where is that?" as he rummaged through the boxes under the counter.
"Here, here's a healing potion."
It was a healing potion that was noticeably smaller than the ones usually seen in the palace. It was a bit disappointing, but it seemed enough to erase the red marks since the wounds weren't serious anyway. Julia picked up two bottles.
"Excuse me, but how did you know?"
"My husband works in the palace, you know. Julia, choose more. I'll buy them all."
"Aha. What do you do? Oh, it's not a problem, but, amazingly, you get news so quickly..."
"Really? Sister, aren't you buying me too much?"
"I have a lot of money. If there's anything you want, just tell me."
"..."
When Iris spoke proudly, Julia gave a cheer and hugged Iris's waist tightly. Then, like an excited puppy, she started looking around the inside of the store.
"Wow. This is so cute!"
"It's nothing special. I'll take that too."
"Wow, you're so cool, sister!"
The sound of screaming and talk of buying everything filled the air a tone-second intervals.
What, what are these people?
A shabby man who had been suddenly ignored smiled and then belatedly followed behind him, holding a ledger.
"Hey, customers! Look here! Our store has a unique rule that requires you to leave a guestbook. The owner here is a huge collector. He's going to post your signatures on the wall later and advertise it or something! Ahem, uh, what are your names? You can write them yourself."
The man held out a ledger and a quill. Iris took it as if she was annoyed, wrote Iris Hyde, and then turned to Julia.
Julia paused, thought for a moment, then wrote it down herself and gave it back to the man.
- Ametrine's only daughter.
"Hmm. Ametrine? So there was a family like this in Semele?"
The man who had accepted it and glanced at it muttered softly as he passed by, but Julia confidently pretended not to notice.
Although it was her previous status, it wasn't a complete lie. Men with regional accents seemed to have a hard time remembering the name of a small, remote, rural country that had been around for 12 years.
"Julia, how about that?"
Iris took Julia's arm and led her somewhere. The two chatted happily and browsed around the interesting antique shop.
There was nothing grandiose yet, but it was still quite interesting to look at. Only men who were not real merchants were sweating profusely and asking questions like, "What is this?" and "What is that?"
"Okay, let me calculate it for you."
After two hours of shopping.
Julia chose a healing potion, a moving picture frame, a secret safe that can only be opened by its owner, and a hand mirror that corrects itself to show her the prettiest appearance.
Iris picked out for Ed a toy horse that would move on its own when he got on it, a bottle of potion that would wash away extreme fatigue, and a hand mirror just like Julia's...
"Oh, one more thing."
"Ah, yes."
Iris took another potion that would completely remove extreme fatigue and put it in Julia's belongings.
"Sister, this is okay since there is also a healing potion."
"Take it. I think you'll use it later."
"Later, when?"
"Just accept it."
Iris spoke firmly and even calculated the potion. Julia tilted her head but smiled happily anyway.
They weren't gifts from foreign envoys, nor were they special occasions like her birthday, but she received so many gifts! And she was even happier because they weren't extravagant gifts that she would feel burdened to spend money on, but rather small, yet pleasing gifts.
'So this is how everyone makes friends.'
Julia smiled brightly and excitedly. While the man was clumsily finishing packing, she looked around one last time. Iris was there next to her, encouraging her to choose more if she liked anything else.
The man who had raised his head at her made a face that seemed to show that he was tired, but Julia suppressed her laughter and pretended not to be able to resist as she continued to look around the store. Then, something caught her eye.
"Are you selling this too?"
Julia pointed to a silver revolver hanging over the unlit fireplace.
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