Chapter 44
After putting our heads together and discussing it for quite a while, Eunice and I ultimately reached this conclusion:
– Let’s change it to something other than earrings.
‘Come to think of it… I’ve never seen a man wearing earrings in this world.’
In South Korea, even men casually wear piercings or simple earrings, so I must have let that mindset carry over without thinking.
“Sigh… If not earrings, then what should I make it into…?”
Back in my bedroom, I flopped onto the bed and let out a long, weary sigh.
No matter how I thought about it, earrings were perfect.
‘Should I just go crazy and make it a ring instead? We’re engaged, even if we’re not married yet. What’s wrong with giving him a ring in advance?’
Yes. A ring.
I’ll make a ring and—
—Flash!
“What is this… again?”
I shot upright and looked at the desk. Sure enough, the crystal orb was glowing.
“I knew that thing was broken!”
It’s not a TV that turns itself on at dawn! My heart nearly jumps out of my chest every time!
“Uh… Rio? Can you hear me?”
– Yes, I can hear you.
Unlike me, startled by the magic tool activating on its own, Lionel’s face and voice were as calm as ever.
Then again, this was a man who probably wouldn’t be surprised even if a bluebird suddenly spoke in my voice.
The last time I snuck up behind him and hugged him, he hadn’t flinched at all—just stood there, composed as always.
“Rio, could you send that bluebird back to me? The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced it’s malfunctioning.”
– No. It’s working perfectly. You can hear my voice just fine, can’t you?
“That’s not the problem. It keeps activating on its own.”
– Is that a problem?
“A problem… Ugh.”
Fine. Whatever.
If he says it’s not an issue, what more can I say?
– More importantly, what happened to your mana?
“My mana? I ran out ages ago.”
While making the tracking device, I couldn’t help but regret it. If I’d had my own mana, I could’ve saved several mana stones.
– Then why didn’t you come?
“Why didn’t I come? …I couldn’t! I didn’t know where you were!”
– Was there no one to tell you?
“No! Who would tell me?”
The thought of the underworld information broker briefly crossed my mind—but I quickly dismissed it.
Digging into someone’s background through a shady broker wasn’t exactly something to proudly announce.
“Isn’t the temple being a bit much? I mean, how many times a day are they going to run the crown prince ragged?”
While I grumbled nonstop, Lionel simply sat there with that usual indifferent, doll-like expression, as though none of it bothered him.
Seeing that face suddenly drained the energy out of me.
‘Wow. I really want to hear that man say ‘I refuse’ or ‘That’s difficult’ at least once.’
…Well, since the earring plan already failed, maybe I should at least hear him say something like that?
– That would be difficult.
“Huh? S-Suddenly?”
I hadn’t said anything out loud—so why was he saying that?
‘Did I mutter it without realizing?’
With too many guilty thoughts running through my head, I nervously studied Lionel’s expression in the orb.
“What would be difficult?”
– I meant that since even I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow, it would be difficult to inform you of my location.
“Oh. Ohhh… Right! You promised to give me mana, but because of the temple, you can’t keep that promise. So you’re in a very, very difficult situation. Right?”
– Yes.
“If you fail to keep a promise, you lose trust. And keeping promises must be extremely important to you, Rio.”
– Yes.
“Then… wouldn’t it be really, really nice if I could know your location in real time, even if you don’t tell me separately?”
– Yes.
It was oddly refreshing to hear such blunt, simple answers.
Trying not to sound too excited, I cleared my throat.
“Well… I didn’t make it for this reason or anything, but? I happen to have a magic tool that’s perfect for a situation like this.”
– What kind of magic tool?
“It’s something that lets me come find you wherever you are, as long as you’re carrying it. But I didn’t think His Highness the prince would be wearing it when I made it… so it’s in the form of an earring.”
– Would I need to pierce my ear?
“…Would that be a problem?”
– It wouldn’t.
“Hooray!”
Overjoyed, I launched into an explanation.
“The earring itself is small, so it can’t store much mana. You’ll need to recharge it yourself about once a day.”
– Understood.
“You can’t take it off. It’s small, so it might get lost.”
– Understood.
“Then… then I’ll send it to the Crown Prince’s Palace at dawn tomorrow through a servant. You can wear it before you go out, right?”
– Yes.
“Hehe!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. With this, every troublesome problem was solved. Thank goodness Lionel was such a yes-man!
“But are you really sure it’s okay? Men here don’t wear earrings. What if someone says something—”
– Is that a problem?
“Of course not!”
Exactly! Who cares what others say? His Highness the Second Prince wants to wear a gift from his fiancée—what’s the issue?
Ah, I feel so relieved. I love this.
‘Still, I should at least help my fiancé save face.’
“Just in case—if anyone asks what that earring is, you answer like this.”
– What should I say?
“What you say is…”
Maximus arrived early at the Second Prince’s Palace to accompany him in volunteer work as usual—and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Lionel’s ear.
There was a gemstone in it.
“Your Highness… what is that on your ear?”
Men of the Altheide Empire rarely wore jewelry. Aside from wedding rings, perhaps cufflinks or brooches at most.
And among them, especially, no man wore earrings. Not even newly rich men desperate to flaunt their wealth pierced their ears.
Yet there it was—glittering from the ear of the Second Prince, the future emperor himself. What on earth was that?
Unlike the shocked Maximus, Lionel remained perfectly serene.
“A gift from my fiancée.”
“A gift from your fiancée? The duke’s daughter… told you to wear that on your ear?”
“Yes.”
Maximus could not bring himself to ask whether His Highness had truly pierced his ear simply because she told him to.
In the Empire, fashionable earrings were usually elaborate drop styles—gold or silver chains strung with multiple gemstones that swayed among the hair. A small stud with a single gem resting against the earlobe was unheard of.
After all, such a tiny earring would be hidden by hair—what would be the point?
But Lionel was different. His hair was short, leaving his ears fully exposed. Anyone sitting across from him would inevitably see it, whether they wanted to or not.
As Maximus stared at the watery blue gem that resembled Lady Rohaim’s eyes, a certain thought crossed his mind.
– I am watching you closely.
It felt like that was what it was declaring.
Maximus thought he understood exactly why Lady Rohaim had chosen that particular design and color.
‘No doubt about it… it’s a territorial mark.’
This man is mine. Don’t you dare try anything foolish.
‘But come to think of it, hasn’t she only shown up once?’
While countless nobles had flocked in hopes of forging some connection with His Highness, she had not appeared.
It was somewhat unexpected—yet, in a way, understandable.
‘The duke’s daughter must be busy too.’
Perhaps that was precisely why she had gifted him such an earring. Since she couldn’t remain by the Second Prince’s side at all times.
At least, during his volunteer work outside the imperial palace, he wouldn’t run into her.
…That assumption was spectacularly wrong.
“Rio!”
Late afternoon. The orphanage at the Western Temple.
As the Second Prince stepped out after teaching the children imperial history, someone was there to greet him.
His fiancée, Cecilia.