The Crown Prince In Hiding

United States of Mathema

"Haah..."

The young woman set her glasses down on the sofa and collapsed from exhaustion, rubbing her eyes that had gone blurry from staring all day.

Looking out the window of her room in the research center, it was something Thomasin Mayfield could take enormous pride in.

The sight of dozens of foundation piles already driven into the ground. The construction of Warehouse Zero, now taking visible shape.

Down below, workers in orange hard hats were maneuvering a massive silver rectangular object, carefully wrapped, into place beneath the new building. It was the most expensive humidity control system in the industry, and they would be installing it during the night shift.

She had ordered four units in total. All of them for Dan's Warehouse Zero.

Her new role as Dan's secretary was exhausting. Exhausting, but never discouraging, because every time she turned to look at her paycheck, her motivation surged right back.

The completion date had slipped behind schedule because she was still new at this, but the professors had pitched in, along with the contractor that Princess Nora had recommended.

After this, she would make the journey back to Artheris and report everything to her junior, Dan.

He would surely be pleased.

Thomasin nodded to herself.

But then,

Knock knock knock

"Come in...?"

She sprang up from the sofa.

The door opened. The person who stepped in was,

"Totti?"

Of course, Dan had entrusted Totti to remain here as an extra layer of safety and oversight.

"There's a letter for you, Ms. Thomasin."

"A letter for me...?"

She took it and unsealed it.

"This is... from my junior Dan..."

She read for a moment.

"WHAAAAT?!?!?"

A shriek that shook the entire room.

"I HAVE TO GO TO DIABLO?!!"

One weeks' leave.

That was what Rafinya had submitted to the Knight Division, the professors, and the academy.

(The sound of footsteps sprinting at full speed)

Senior Chiesa Saint Germain and the rest of the knight scholarship students came charging toward Rafinya's classroom.

It went without saying that they were shocked by what she had done. Fortunately, it was the break between classes, so the commotion didn't spread further even though they had barged into the classroom.

"Rafinya?! What is the meaning of this! We have a competition at Allianz Arena in two weeks!!!"

The young woman, in the middle of packing her bag, turned to face her seniors with a perfectly calm expression.

"I know."

"You know? ...Okay, you know, so why are you still doing this?! Following Princess Nora to that repulsive demon island???"

"Even without me, you should be able to compete just fine, shouldn't you?"

"Urk..."

That retort from the most talented student in the Knight Division hit them square in the chest. And while the professors likely wouldn't have approved this leave either,

it was another matter entirely when the Ophilis royal family had arranged it.

As they say... when you're that good, you can do whatever you want.

Senior Chiesa placed a hand on Senior Jenny's shoulder, then walked up to ask.

"Rafinya, what's going on with you? You were never that close to Nora, so why have you suddenly started going everywhere together?"

It wasn't as though Rafinya's performance had dropped or anything of the sort. She still came to practice as always. Kept to her routine. But what had changed was the "fire," that hunger in her eyes that everyone used to see. Now that fire had vanished completely.

"...This isn't like you at all. What happened? Have you forgotten the honor of being a knight scholarship student?"

"Honor?"

Rafinya said, already turning away.

She slung her bag over her shoulder and looked back.

With eyes that made the entire group of seniors freeze.

The eyes of someone who no longer held any faith in that word.

She let out a quiet "hmph" in her throat, then walked past them.

Senior Aaron stepped over to Chiesa.

"Chiesa..."

The young man who had known Rafinya since childhood watched her retreating figure with a gaze full of frustration and hardness.

Rafinya was supposed to be the hope of the Knight Division. She was supposed to be the face representing the greatness of Luminus and the leader of the younger knight students, just as he once was.

But now, the Rafinya he had known his entire life had vanished.

He didn't know what she had encountered.

Or who had done something to her.

Or if she had simply come to some realization on her own.

But what he was absolutely certain of was...

"Dan...."

He had to be involved in this.

And he was equally certain that this was not the influence of Princess Nora. This was the influence of Dan and Dan alone.

All five knight students stood in a line, watching Rafinya walk away.

"We need to find out... what the hell is going on."

Women's Dormitory, Artheris Academy

Normally this would be the time Nora went outside, or headed to Anfield to find Dan. But today was different. A Snowhaven diplomatic delegation had arrived at the academy gates to receive Princess Nora.

A grand carriage adorned with the eagle crest stood imposingly at the entrance. Tall, powerfully built Snowhaven soldiers, who were obviously beyond anything anyone around here could match, stood waiting on both sides of the path and bowed in unison as the Princess emerged.

Artheris Academy accommodated the occasion by closing the road all the way to Port Allianz for security, barricading the route to the train waiting for her at the station.

Ever since the assassination attempt, military strength had been doubled. The density of the security detail had been doubled. Everything was doubled. Nothing would be allowed to slip through and harm Nora.

She had to return to Snowhaven now.

It appeared that Fury's strategy had successfully compelled Snowhaven to include Nora in the delegation, whether they liked it or not.

She hadn't been home in a long time. She had heard that back in Snowhaven, the people had grown accustomed to seeing Diablo soldiers stationed there for joint training exercises.

Even so, no one had dared to mingle with them much, from what she had heard. And the Diablo forces hadn't caused any incidents either.

As she climbed into the carriage, Nora turned to look back into the academy grounds.

In the distance, mixed in among the students who had gathered to watch,

she spotted Totti standing there, staring back at her.

Their eyes met across the distance. She gave him a small nod.

Totti nodded back softly.

At that very same time,

Rafinya Saint Pauli was already at the train station.

Before her stood the last first-class train about to depart for Snowhaven, after which every subsequent line would be delayed by one hour due to Princess Nora's arrival.

She stood gazing at the invitation letter bearing the official seal of the Ophilis royal family.

The corner of her lips curved upward slightly before she stepped aboard the final train.

And likewise, at Anfield,

another of Princess Nora's invitation letters had been left on the table, surrounded by residents who were busy packing their belongings, locking every door and window tight. The fire in the hearth had been put out.

Dan and Zeedee stood alone together, locking the front door.

"It's a shame Casca couldn't make it."

"She's been at her post for eleven years now, Your Grace."

He pulled the door latch one last time to make sure it held, then lifted his face to the sky full of stars.

He asked Zeedee.

"Where is Thomasin now?"

"She's already departed Mathema on the fastest express train, heading straight for Portsmouth."

Zeedee seemed to hesitate over a question in her head. Unable to hold back her curiosity, she blurted it out.

"Your Grace... are you sure about letting those humans come poking around our home?"

"Nothing truly belongs to us."

Dan turned to her.

"Who do you think our country belonged to four thousand years ago?"

"......"

"And about what you plan to tell her..."

"Mm. I've already made my decision. It'll benefit us more than it won't."

And there was one more thing: the background investigation on Thomasin Mayfield, which Roma had conducted on Fury's orders.

At that same moment,

two more figures appeared at his cabin, summoned as ordered.

Roma, and the red-haired young woman, Valencia, in her black bounty hunter outfit.

They nodded to the Prince.

"Your Grace... Dominic is waiting to see you."

"Mm."

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