Adel chuckled and handed Vincent the wooden staff she had picked up earlier.
The child's eyes sparkled at receiving a weapon.
He had been getting tired of just physical training for an entire week.
Seeing that, Adel chuckled to herself. She wondered how the fact that these two, who were supposed to meet much later, had encountered each other so early would affect his future.
Just like how Vincent had been prevented from committing his first evil act.
At that moment, a rustling sound came from the bushes. All three heads turned simultaneously in that direction.
Just as they thought it couldn't be a cat, the bushes shook violently and something popped out.
It rolled at a sluggish pace. Everyone's gazes naturally followed the slow movement.
Slowly. Very slowly, it moved and finally came to a stop at Adel's feet.
What had rolled and arrived in front of Adel was none other than a strangely colored glass marble—the kind children played with. Except its size was unlike ordinary marbles.
Even the adult mage could barely lift it with effort. Though to be fair, the mage's physical strength was close to zero to begin with.
"What is this?"
Vincent and the mage both became interested in the identity of the suddenly appearing marble.
The two examined the marble from all angles, looking to see what was inside it.
Even the mage, who claimed to observe the world, didn't seem to have any idea what this marble was.
But Adel couldn't share their curiosity.
A glass marble.
She had a bad feeling about it.
That glass marble was something she recognized.
It was the marble she had seen in the space where she realized this world was a story. Inside that space, there were countless marbles, and Adel had glimpsed scenes related to Vincent through them.
And when the space shattered, she had fallen while clutching that nasty thing. She had completely forgotten about it afterward, busy with the thought of training Vincent.
Why had that marble suddenly appeared in the training ground?
Adel's heart pounded. An ominous premonition enveloped her.
Considering that the space had shattered and she had entered the marble, there was a high possibility that the same thing would happen again.
However...
'There's nothing inside that marble right now.'
If the space shattered like last time, where would she end up?
As Adel stared at the marble with a hardened expression and stood motionless, Vincent looked at her worriedly.
"Adel?"
"You should call me Leader."
Even in the midst of this, her hierarchy discipline was firm.
Only then did Adel look at the marble in the mage's hand. How did this nasty thing know to come here?
When she had searched all over the city looking for it, it hadn't shown so much as a trace.
And now it appeared before her eyes—for what purpose?
Numerous questions floated around in Adel's head.
"This marble is strange."
"You can see that?"
At Adel's question, the mage shrugged.
"I don't feel anything at all."
Both Adel and Vincent's gazes turned skeptical. The mage smiled sweetly at their stares, showing no sign of being offended.
"Everything that makes up this world follows laws. I suspect Miss Adel might understand what I mean."
"Of course! Adel knows everything!"
It was Vincent, not Adel, who puffed up with pride. Privately pleased by her subordinate's steadfast faith, Adel said nothing.
She had a rough idea of what the mage meant by the world's laws. It was closely related to how she herself wielded power.
In fact, she had already vaguely grasped those laws. Drawing up the power within her body and borrowing the power of nature to perform transcendent abilities.
That strange energy called mana by the magic tower was exactly that.
'I suppose mages handle more of that natural power, while people like me have a greater proportion of internal power.'
When Adel nodded in understanding, the mage continued his explanation.
"But this marble has no attributes at all. I'm starting to doubt whether it's even a substance of this world."
A substance of this world.
Adel looked up at the mage. As expected, that wasn't something someone who only lived within the story would know.
A mage who seemed to have extensive knowledge in strange directions. She couldn't just beat him until he spilled everything he knew. He would definitely die.
It was at that moment that the ground beneath Adel's feet gave way.
"Ah, Adel!"
"Miss Adel!"
Both Vincent and the mage reached out toward her.
"I told you to call me Leader."
Neither of their hands could grasp Adel. As if blocked by something.
Right before their eyes, yet untouchable. Adel thought that the space must have shifted.
It was exactly the same as what had happened a few days ago.
Unlike the composed Adel, the mage's pupils trembled at the strange phenomenon unfolding before him.
He closed his eyes and muttered something, and his body began to glow brightly. Meanwhile, Vincent continued to struggle desperately to grab Adel's hand.
The mage, having used some unknown magic, reached out again. But his hand simply passed through Adel.
"How is this possible!"
He muttered curses that children shouldn't hear.
Seeing the two of them trying so hard, Adel put strength into her fist, even knowing it was useless. A stronger force than when she'd been breaking down walls gathered in Adel's fist.
"Move."
The mage realized what Adel was about to do and immediately scooped Vincent into his arms. Vincent struggled, but no matter how frail the mage was, a child who had only trained for a week couldn't overpower an adult.
"Adel!"
"I told you to call me Leader."
Adel muttered that and thrust her fist forward with all her might.
Following its trajectory, a wind strong enough to be mistaken for a typhoon surged upward. Several trees shook and snapped, falling over.
A sound like something shattering echoed—as if whatever had been blocking her path had been pierced through.
"Your Highness, Lady Laila has arrived."
"Ah, has that much time already passed?"
Upon hearing the good news, the King of the Philonia Kingdom smiled warmly and looked toward the door.
Soon, the firmly closed door opened, and a golden-haired child walked in, holding her father's hand.
At the sight of a child with looks more doll-like than an actual doll, even the servants guarding the study softened their expressions.
The child let go of her father's hand, lightly grasped her dress, and bent her knees as she spoke.
"Laila greets the sun of the kingdom. Have you been in good health, Your Highness?"
At her clear pronunciation, as if she had a pencil in her mouth, all the adults watching burst into laughter. Everyone seemed utterly enchanted by Laila's cuteness.
Once Laila's greeting was finished, the prince, who had been sitting beside the King, rose from his seat and walked over to her.
"Count, I trust you've been well."
"Yes. His Highness the Prince becomes more handsome by the day."
"You flatter me."
Rohaid extended his arm to her, as if to escort the young lady.
"I heard that the two of you have important matters to discuss. We will spend our time strolling through the garden together, so please converse at your leisure."
At the thoughtful consideration of the now ten-year-old child, the Count nodded, seemingly moved. The King also smiled with satisfaction at his son's composed demeanor and his kindness in looking after his fiancée.
Rohaid walked slowly, matching Laila's small strides, as they left the room.
"How can one have such an adorable beloved?"
"Look at how considerate His Highness the Prince is. To have such a deep heart."
The two walked down the corridor, receiving everyone's attention.
People watched the beloved children of the kingdom, each adding warm words as they gazed.
Rohaid and Laila also responded with familiar smiles to such stares. It was the ease of those who had been loved from birth.
It was a full thirty minutes after leaving the King's study when the two arrived at the garden.
Upon reaching the garden, the faint smile that had been on Rohaid's face vanished instantly. Without even a trace of a calm smile, his expression hardened, and Laila whispered.
"...Prince. There are still many eyes watching."
"I see."
Despite Laila's concern, Rohaid lowered the arm that had been escorting her.
Naturally, Laila's arm lowered as well.
"The adults might be disappointed if they knew."
"You always say that."
At Rohaid's weary expression, Laila bit her lip tightly. In an instant, tears welled up in the wounded child's eyes.
"How sad that I have to spend my entire life with someone like you."
"Why do you hate me, Prince? Father and His Majesty the King both like me."
Rohaid didn't answer Laila's question.
If left alone, she would eventually stop crying on her own.
