"How is your health now?"
King Minophon studied Mia with a careful gaze.
"There's nothing in particular that's bothering me."
"Hm."
"I'm sorry for causing such trouble. I thought I would be fine before I left. But once I was in an unfamiliar place…"
I swear, I'm getting better at lying every day. It's amazing I haven't been caught yet, considering how much I've stretched the truth.
"I understand. You've had a difficult time adjusting here, and I regret not doing more to support you. For now, I suggest you rest fully. Suspend all training until you've recovered."
Surprisingly, the king spoke with warmth. The twelve elders of the bloodlines each wore different expressions. Some frowned, displeased, while others nodded in understanding.
"You may go and rest now."
At that moment, the sound of steady footsteps echoed through the chamber.
It was Jakiel, the Grand Vizier. He walked in, his sharp eyes sweeping over the room and settling briefly on Mia. Then, he bowed deeply before the king.
"My apologies for arriving late, Your Majesty."
"No need. How is Shamanaz doing?"
"The physicians say she's passed the critical stage, thankfully."
Jakiel spoke calmly, then turned to glare at Mia with a look that could pierce through stone. Mia blinked in confusion.
What's his problem? Isn't it that clueless girl who's sick? Why is he looking at me like that?
"Your Majesty, now that Lady Mia has returned… may I suggest we proceed with her rite of passage?"
"The rite of passage?"
King Minophon seemed slightly hesitant—he had just suggested she rest. But Jakiel pressed on without pause.
"Yes, Your Majesty. With the coronation being moved forward, we can no longer afford to leave the queen's seat vacant. And I've heard from Instructor Rodolphe that Lady Mia's magical ability has developed quite well."
The king turned to Mia. His crimson eyes made it clear—he wanted an answer.
Mia shrugged once and replied,
"All right."
She wanted to get it over with. If she passed, she'd deal with what came next. If she failed—well, that meant she could just go back to America.
"Very well. The rite shall take place three days from now. Is that acceptable?"
Jakiel bowed deeply.
Mia gave a short nod and withdrew with Leca. But instead of returning to her room, she wandered into the garden, with Leca shadowing her like a silent sentinel.
The moon in Sibareth was breathtaking. It was at least three times larger than the one she used to see back home. She'd always found it fascinating.
Maybe this isn't Earth at all. Maybe this is another planet entirely…
If that's the case, are they… aliens?
She chuckled to herself at the thought.
Then she glanced at Leca.
His flame-colored hair, sharply defined features, tall and graceful frame, and the otherworldly aura that surrounded him… He had a slightly exotic look, but still felt very human.
A very handsome, celebrity-level human…
She stared a little too long before blurting out,
"It's late. Aren't you going to sleep?"
"I'll sleep once you do, Lady Mia."
"Pfft."
"You seemed troubled. I thought perhaps you couldn't sleep."
Leca's poised and elegant face turned toward her.
"Troubled? About what?"
"Roy. And the rite of passage."
"…Ah."
Mia stretched her arm toward the moon. As her hand rose, it looked as though she could scoop the stars from the sky. The moon, like a silver platter, hovered gently above her open palm.
"Remember? Back where I'm from, we never saw moons or stars like this."
"Yes. I remember. I found it very strange."
"Really? So you looked at our sky too, huh?"
"Of course."
A gentle smile played at the corners of his lips. Mia decided he must be reminiscing about the days they'd spent together with Mithys.
"It's a barren place, but it's still home. I miss it sometimes. If I fail the rite, I'll just go back. And if I pass…"
She trailed off.
She couldn't bring herself to say she'd accept life here as queen.
"…If I pass, I'll figure it out then."
Leca noticed the hesitation in her voice and fell into thought.
She doesn't want to be queen. That much is clear. She came here because of a deal with Mithys, and now she's just stuck.
Was it a mistake to bring her here?
And yet…
He tried to imagine another possibility. What if Mia left, and he brought Mithys back? What if Mithys became queen?
And what of his master…?
The moment he pictured that outcome, a sharp pain pierced his chest. It wasn't the first time he'd felt it.
A strange ache, right where his heart was.
Spirits only felt pain in their heart under two conditions—
when telling a lie that endangered their life,
or when disobeying a direct command from their master.
At least, that's what Leca had always believed.
"…You should go in, Lady Mia. The night air is getting cold."
Leca had noticed Mia wrapping her arms around herself against the chill.
He walked her to her chamber and turned to leave. But the moment Mia smiled and said, "Good night," gently closing the door behind her—
Leca didn't move.
He just stood there.
What… was that? Just now…
A strange feeling surged through his chest.
It reminded him of something he'd felt a very long time ago. A faint ache he couldn't name, the kind he'd felt as a child when someone mentioned the mother he'd never known.
Why did it feel the same now?
"From now on, you must be obedient to His Majesty. King Minophon is a merciful man. You'll live a good life here."
Seven-year-old Leca stood before the palace gates of Sibareth, holding tightly to his father's hand. His tear-streaked face was numb from crying.
"Why do I have to live here? I want to stay in Naizman with you! Why am I—!"
Fresh tears welled up. But Behemoth, his father, hushed him with a stern finger to his lips.
"Shh. Boys mustn't cry. Spirits like us—we keep our mouths shut, eyes closed, ears sealed. We live only to serve our master. It's time you start learning how to do that."
"I don't even have a master yet!"
"You will. And until then, you need training."
Leca wiped his tears with a sullen face.
"If anything ever happens to you, I'll know right away. So don't try contacting me unnecessarily."
"…Not even letters? Not even the mind-transfer messages?"
His eyes widened in shock, but Behemoth gave a grave nod.
"Unless it's an absolute emergency, there's no need. And one more thing—"
"…?"
"If anyone asks why you don't have a spirit's forehead mark, just say it's because you're a mutation. Don't forget that."
"…Yes."
"Oh, Lord Behemoth! Is this the boy—Leca?"
Two older maids came hurrying toward them. Leca instinctively ducked behind his father's robe, but Behemoth coldly pulled him out from hiding.
"My, how adorable. So clever-looking, too."
One of the maids ruffled Leca's blazing red hair.
"What are you doing? Introduce yourself properly!"
His father's frosty voice cracked like thunder. Leca mumbled under his breath.
"…I'm Leca."
"There, there. Let's get along well, shall we? Lord Behemoth, thank you for bringing him. His Majesty is waiting—please, come."
Behemoth gave a deep bow and made his way to meet King Minophon. After exchanging a few formal words, he entrusted Leca to the palace and left.
From a distance, he watched his son walking behind the two maids, dragging his feet. Leca kept glancing back again and again. Behemoth ducked out of sight, unwilling to be seen.
He only turned to leave once his son had become a distant speck.
"…This is the best path for everyone. Yulia…"
Yulia—one of the many women in Naizman's royal harem. She was Leca's mother.
There were hundreds of women in the harem. Most were forgotten after only a single visit from the king. Technically, none were allowed to leave, but many found excuses—family events, bribes to overseers—and managed to slip out from time to time.
Yulia was one of them. A forgotten woman of the harem who often wandered outside.
One day, she met Behemoth—a fire spirit and court mage. And the two fell in love.
Not long after, Yulia became pregnant.
She was terrified. If the king or his overseers found out, she and her lover would be executed for treason.
But Behemoth remained calm and reassuring.
"I'll make it look like you've caught a contagious illness. No one will question it."
With his magic, Yulia was removed from the harem. She lived in a hidden residence Behemoth had prepared for her and gave birth to their child in secret.
Their son—half human, half spirit—had no spirit's mark on his forehead. He lacked some powers exclusive to fire spirits, but in return, he was physically stronger than any spirit child Behemoth had ever seen.
Despite everything, Behemoth was determined to raise the boy as his own. If anyone asked about the mother, he simply said it was a woman he had loved dearly—and lost.
But Yulia never believed they had truly parted.