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Chapter 11: The Aesthetic Tragedy of a Crown Prince
He was ready—ostentatiously so, and impeccably polished.
As if he were not going to move an inch, and even if he did, his look would remain flawless.
Every fold of his clothes was perfectly placed, as though ironed by someone with magical OCD. The black suit with golden details looked as if it had stepped straight out of an official painting, and his jacket draped with an elegance completely unnecessary for someone who was, in theory, only going on a quick visit.
Then he remembered something important…
He needed a means of transportation.
That tiny detail—irrelevant to anyone else—suddenly became a problem of imperial proportions.
As he walked, more decorated than a Christmas tree and with hair so stiff it looked like it had been licked into place by an exceptionally dedicated cow, he left his room and looked down the hallway.
Yes…
A long hallway.
Far too long.
One of those hallways clearly designed to look imposing, not to be walked through by someone who had invested hours in looking presentable and exactly zero minutes thinking about how to get where he needed to go.
After crossing the hallway, he reached the main hall, where servants were always present. Using his best "prince who is absolutely not in a bad mood" tone, he asked for Yeana and Nella.
A lycanthrope maid with brown ears and a kind expression answered with a slight bow:
"Ahhh, they are in the training hall, Your Highness."
Leo nodded with dignity…
though internally, he was already beginning to suspect that things were not going to go as planned.
---
Obviously, it was not just any game room.
In fact, it wasn't one at all.
It was more of a training hall—one he had personally ordered to be built.
And you may wonder:
why would someone like him do that?
In Leo's own words:
"It looks cool."
Yes.
That was it.
An absurd amount of money and resources had been invested in it. It was fully shielded, reinforced with layered magical barriers, and so durable that even several powerful individuals fighting all-out inside it would struggle to destroy it.
And if that did happen…
Everything it was built from was magical, so it wouldn't be a problem. The infrastructure would regenerate itself in a matter of hours, as if nothing had happened. Walls, floor, ceiling—everything restored itself with an efficiency that would bring tears of joy to any architect.
In the end, that whim turned out to be useful. Nella used it constantly for training, and now, with Ana's arrival, it was also used for magic practice.
The problem was that it was a separate structure, far from the palace itself, specifically to avoid disasters.
Which is why Leo was feeling…
slightly irritated, to put it mildly.
As he walked, he thought:
So many hours spent getting ready just to look presentable. My outfit is going to be ruined. If only I hadn't already used up my monthly limit of teleportations, I wouldn't be dealing with this.
Each step was a small aesthetic tragedy.
After walking for about half an hour…
He finally arrived.
The building stood imposingly, magical symbols engraved into its walls, and an energy so dense that even someone without magical affinity could feel it vibrating in the air.
Yeana and Nella were there, training.
It looked entertaining.
So, since he was already tired anyway, he sat down to watch from the side. By that point, he had already forgotten what he needed to tell them. Watching for a bit wouldn't hurt; after all, the meeting at the palace was scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
---
At that moment, a true battle was unfolding between the two of them.
Yeana had chosen to keep her hair loose and wore a simple, loose dress with pants underneath, allowing her to move freely. Her presence was elegant, yet dangerous—like the air before a storm.
Nella, on the other hand, wore pants and a loose shirt, partially unbuttoned, not particularly concerned with aesthetics. Her stance was firm and direct, as if combat were her natural state.
They were so immersed in their world that they failed to notice the royal intruder's arrival.
---
They exchanged attacks relentlessly.
Nella launched fire attacks—not too powerful, being careful since this was only practice—and Yeana took advantage of that, extinguishing the flames with precise currents of air.
Yeana's long gray hair shimmered, and her normally colorless white eyes were full of life. Her lycanthrope ears were bristled, catching every sound, every movement.
Nella's eyes burned red with intensity, and the flames surrounding her caused her hair to lift slightly. Her skin glowed brighter than usual, bathed in the heat of her own magic.
Surprisingly, they chatted as they fought.
And as if that weren't enough, they were also fighting with swords.
"Your way of attacking is too brutal," Yeana said, blocking a strike. "A sword doesn't suit you. You should try a saber. Your fighting style doesn't match something as refined as swordsmanship."
"And you move like a thief," Nella replied, dodging easily. "You're fast and hate getting close. Someone as slippery as you would do better with a bow, don't you think?"
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Leo watched with interest.
Though the tone was teasing, there was something more beneath it.
Surprisingly, each of them was right about the other. These weren't mere jabs—they were genuine, constructive critiques born from experience and mutual respect.
Leo even allowed himself a smile…
until he remembered that he had ordered snacks.
As if the universe were conspiring in his favor, a servant discreetly appeared with a tray, and he began to eat.
Just then, while fighting at a distance, Nella noticed something.
A gap.
A tiny flaw in Yeana's wind barrier.
She seized it.
In an instant, she closed the distance, knocked Yeana down, and pointed her sword at her neck.
And at that moment, she spoke words that impressed the audience.
That is to say—Leo.
"I won, Yeana."
"What? How did that happen?" Yeana said, genuinely surprised. "I made sure you couldn't get close."
"That's why I won," Nella replied. "No matter how smart you are, the battlefield is my domain. In a real fight, anything can happen. If you hadn't been fighting me, you'd be dead by now. In a real crisis, you should rely more on instinct."
And the surprising part was…
Nella was right.
She was a brilliant prodigy on the battlefield. So much so that at just seventeen years old, she became a royal guard to the crown prince. Her abilities could not be underestimated.
"Yes," Yeana said as she stood up, "but this won't happen again. Next time, I'll win."
"I hope so."
---
Then they heard a familiar voice.
And yes—it was him.
"Hey, quick question."
"Yes, Your Highness," they replied in unison.
"By any chance, is there a teleportation device in the palace?"
"I don't think so, sir," Nella said. "As far as I know, there isn't."
"Well, maybe," Yeana added, "but they were only used once and then sealed away in a room."
Leo frowned.
"And why is that? This is the crown prince's palace. There's more than enough money. Explain, Yeana. Why aren't there any?"
"There aren't any because you got rid of them."
"What?"
"Yes," Nella added. "You ordered them discarded and said things like:
'I don't need that. I'm the crown prince. Why would someone with spatial magic like mine need such things? Get rid of it. I don't want to see it again.'"
"What?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Yeana confirmed. "That's what you did."
"And why did you listen to me?"
"Because you're the highest authority in this estate," Nella said. "And it was years ago."
"And who would've thought that one day you wouldn't be able to freely use the magic you were so proud of?" Yeana added.
Leo fell silent.
"Then how do you get around?"
"We use our pets—magical creatures," Nella replied. "That's it."
"What pets? Since when?"
"Always, Your Majesty," Yeana said. "You just never paid attention."
"Ohhh… I see."
"But you said there were devices stored away."
"Ahhh, yes," Nella said. "But they aren't used. You made them during a phase when you decided you could do absolutely anything."
"I remember they were kept for a reason," Yeana added. "They had a major flaw… but I don't remember what it was."
---
They hadn't even finished speaking when Leo already had it in his hand.
He had summoned a servant.
The artifact was ostentatious and luxurious: a staff that, when tapped twice on the ground, would take you to the place you had in mind.
Without hesitation, he activated it.
"Your Highness, wait!" they both shouted.
Too late.
He vanished.
"Damn," Nella muttered. "He left without listening."
"Yes," Yeana sighed. "I was about to tell him the flaw was the… landing."
---
Leo arrived.
But something was wrong.
Was he… in the sky?
Yes.
He was falling—straight toward the imperial palace gardens.
With all his strength, he opened a modest portal to shorten the distance. It wasn't elegant, but at least it wasn't fatal.
When he landed, his outfit was beyond saving.
His black hair was a mess.
His golden eyes were tired.
His skin was pale.
He almost died.
But the worst part…
Was what he saw in front of him.
The emperors.
Standing.
Waiting.
And Leo…
was left completely speechless by the scene before him.
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