After a not-so-short silence, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) it was Bianca who first collected herself.

“Even if you have power, there’s no reason for you to get involved with me. After all, I’m nothing to you.”

“Miss.”

“Don’t call me ‘Miss.’ I’m not yours.”

“...”

“Please leave.”

With those cold words, a brief moment passed.

Finally, Prinz rose from his seat. Just as Bianca was about to breathe a sigh of relief that this torturous moment was over,

“I will leave now. I will go and request His Majesty to guarantee your safety.”

“Sir Prinz, you have been ignoring my words until now. You’ll only earn the king’s displeasure.”

“I don’t care if I earn that displeasure, as long as I can save you.”

By now, Bianca even felt an urge to plead.

“Please stop. Allowing you to enter here might be the king’s way of testing you.”

“In that case, that’s a good thing. He wouldn’t test someone insignificant. Perhaps His Majesty wants something from me; I’ll wager that as a price.”

“What...!”

How could he speak so recklessly, not knowing what that price might be?

Just as Bianca was about to flare in anger, Prinz spoke faster.

“Of course, I know my place. What I have may be insignificant and unable to move His Majesty’s heart.”

“Such cruel words...”

“Then next time, I might visit the Sacred Scripture.”

“The Sacred Scripture?”

Unfortunately, Bianca had only heard news about the new king and nothing at all about his accomplice.

She didn’t have enough time to dig deeply into her doubts.

“Bianca.”

“...Sir Prinz?”

Suddenly, Prinz knelt before Bianca, adopting a low posture like a knight’s oath, and looked up at her with clear eyes.

“Why do you only say ‘no,’ ‘don’t,’ and ‘stop’?”

“...”

“I wish to stand with you. Even if it means losing or ruining something, I don’t care. I am prepared for that. But—”

“...”

“Even so, can I not be someone you need? Not even a little?”

“...Sir Prinz.”

Bianca tightly shut her eyes. After barely restraining herself, she managed to say what she had to.

“We don’t suit each other.”

“...”

She could feel Prinz’s breath stop.

Because her words were calculated, Bianca knew well how they would sound to Prinz.

A noble and a commoner knight.

There had been countless stories of giving up because of such status differences. There was no more effective way to crush his heart than this.

“...I’m sorry. I was rude.”

“...”

He remained a knight to the end. Apologizing that his confession, lacking in rank, might insult her, he withdrew.

When the heat behind her eyelids finally cooled and she was able to open her eyes again, Bianca was alone in the parlor.

She gazed at the spot opposite where Prinz had sat—for quite a long time.

A lonely whisper escaped.

“Yes. We don’t suit each other.”

But this time, she repeated even the words she had barely managed to say before.

“You are... the grandson of Hispenril.”

It was a relief that he was someone she could never have.

Having been part of the royal court’s social circle, Bianca had learned a lesson long ago: the more precious something is, the farther away it must be.

She hated even the idea of the knight who always looked at her so purely getting hurt in any way. For that reason, it was better to have a reason not to be greedy.

✠

‘Finally!’

I cheered at the system message appearing before my eyes.

[ Quest ‘Final Black Curtain Lead Stage 7 (Difficulty: Unknown)’ completed.]

Fifteen days after the coronation, the ‘Conquest of the Winchester Kingdom’ quest was completed.

This quest was quite different from when I conquered the Ragneif Magic Republic.

Back then, the quest conditions were fulfilled immediately after the Tower Mage Lord’s coronation, but this time, despite a splendid coronation, a grace period of a full fifteen days was granted.

The reason was the nature of the succession struggle. Hadeil was dead, and Rigales had relinquished succession rights, but Celestid remained in an ambiguous deposed state with followers, which counted as a political threat.

Fortunately, the system wasn’t so cruel. If the kingdom was successfully ruled for fifteen days without having to stain the blood of a half-sister, the quest would be completed.

<Is that enough? Then it’s okay to lift Via’s curfew now, right?>

“Yes, Agnes!”

Thinking of Bianca, who had suffered in the townhouse for over fifteen days, my eyes naturally reddened.

“Our Via, it’s all over now. Hmph.”

<Yes, yes. You’ve had a hard time holding back your longing for your friends.>

By now, Reid must have ordered the curfew to be lifted. I calmed my excited heart and finished what I was doing—handling the dazzlingly bright quest window.

[ Would you like to receive the quest reward ‘???’.]

‘Receive!’

[ You have obtained ‘First Aid Potion Box’.]

“Uh?”

A fairly heavy wooden box was placed on the table with a thud. The green cross painted on it definitely gave the impression of a first aid kit.

I was quite surprised.

‘Excuse me, gods? Is this the correct reward? My main role is a 9th-tier Sacred Scripture, you know. My side job is alchemy.’

A first aid kit—I was rather gloomy, thinking it wouldn’t be very useful.

At that moment, the gods comforted me.

[‘The Language that Builds the World’ assures you to open it without worry.]

[‘The Eye Watching the Chaos of All Things’ eagerly hopes you enjoy their masterpiece.]

[‘Cliché Gourmet’ casually slips in that even their true form sponsored it.]

[‘The Scales that Judge Souls’ smirks mischievously.]

Though my disappointment faded, I felt half hopeful and half anxious.

Then I opened it.

“Oh!”

Inside intricately crafted glass bottles of varied designs, liquids of all colors sparkled like jewels.

[ ‘Divine Advent Aftereffect Cure’]

[ ‘Super Strong Sleeping Potion’]

[ ‘Super Strong Amnesia Cure’]

[ ‘Gender Change Potion’]

[ ‘Animal Transformation Potion’]

[ ‘Stamina Potion’]

...

Just by the names, you could tell what they were.

Looking again, this was a first aid kit prepared not for medical emergencies but for genre emergencies.

It seemed the gods sneaked in some things just for their own amusement, but some looked very useful. Especially...

‘Amnesia Cure.’

The icy-blue glowing potion reminded me of someone’s eyes.

That there were exactly two bottles might be divine fate or compulsion—either way, it didn’t matter.

“Thank you. I will use them well.”

When I closed the lid, the potion’s brilliant light was contained. I carefully stored it in the extra-dimensional inventory.

I jumped up from my seat.

“All right! Now let’s go check if Via’s curfew has been lifted properly by King Reid!”

“If it’s Viscount Gillette, he’s probably already ordered her to enter the palace.”

“Ah, Reid!”

Just then, Reid entered the parlor.

He was dressed in splendid royal attire befitting a king. The ceremonial robe was primarily white, accented with deep crimson, giving a neat yet striking impression.

Gold-thread tassels and glittering ornaments hung in abundance, making it look like he wore a layer of jewels over his clothes.

Of course, the most dazzling thing was still his face. Though slightly fatigued from royal duties, his handsome features remained intact.

If anything, it seemed to add a decadent charm.

[‘The Scales that Judge Souls’ hopes the next genre draw will bring out that decadent charm.]

[‘The Eye Watching the Chaos’ eagerly asks to be called by their true name next time.]

[‘Creative Economy Manager’ urges to buy the genre change ticket demo quickly.]

Ignoring all that, I focused on Reid.

“That suits you well, Reid.”

“Ai, so do you.”

Indeed, I had put effort into my appearance as well.

Instead of my usual black ceremonial robes, I wore a brighter one mixed with white and gray, and decorated my hair with plenty of pearls.

Black was effective in the Ragneif Magic Republic, so localizing my look was necessary for advancing into the Winchester Kingdom.

The reason we both dressed up so carefully was simple: we each had important appointments today.

Reid brushed his bangs up as if to wipe away fatigue.

“It’s a long-awaited day.”

“Yeah. Let’s do well.”

We cheered each other on—my fist clenched firmly, his smile gentle—and parted ways.