Chapter 316: A Golden Mystery Interlude



There were many things I had grown accustomed to in both my previous life and my current

one.

Yet, if there was one thing I never really managed to get used to, it was unexpected surprises -especially the kind that left me both baffled and exasperated.

“This place isn’t comfy at all…” a familiar voice complained, her tone light, almost teasing. “Well, it is a cell,” I replied dryly, pinching the bridge of my nose.

In front of me sat an all-too-familiar young woman, one I felt a mix of emotions toward: gratitude for everything she’d done for me and worry over her unpredictable tendencies. Rose.

I had hoped—prayed, even-that she wouldn’t cause any trouble while I was away at the academy.

But of all the whimsical, spur-of-the-moment things she could have done… why did it have to end with this?

I sighed, my breath echoing faintly off the cold, unwelcoming stone walls surrounding us.

Rose sat across from me in a plain wooden chair, completely nonchalant, as if she weren’t in the palace’s detainment chamber.

The space was devoid of comfort: stone walls, minimal lighting, and an oppressive sense of confinement that most people would find unbearable.

Not Rose, though.

She acted like she was lounging in a café.

Her hands were bound with magical restraints, glowing faintly as they shimmered against her pale skin.

But honestly, I doubted they’d do much to someone like her.

Those were meant for normal mages, not for someone whose mana reserves could rival-or surpass archmages.

She could probably break out at any moment if she wanted to, but here she was, sitting casually, almost mockingly, as if daring the world to question her presence.

“So… Uh Rose, why exactly are you here again?”

“Hm?” She tilted her head, her golden eyes shimmering with a playful innocence that I knew all too well. “To see you, of course~.”

Her answer, delivered with such a casual and disarming tone, made me sigh again, this time louder.

I knew Rose. I knew she was whimsical, prone to acting on a whim or following whatever idea popped into her head.

But this?

Breaking into the Imperial Palace, evading countless layers of protective wards, and ending up in a cell just to “see me”?

That was a new level of impulsiveness, even for her.

“Rose,” I said, my voice a mix of exasperation and disbelief. “You do realize how much trouble you’re in right now, don’t you?”

She blinked, as if genuinely confused, before flashing me a soft smile. “Trouble? Oh, Riley, don’t be so dramatic. I’m fine. I just wanted to check on you~.”

Not only did she cause a massive panic across the entire Imperial Palace, but her actions inadvertently revealed just how vulnerable this place was when faced with someone truly powerful.

The sheer scale of the damage she caused was staggering-two hundred and twenty-one layers of protective barriers, obliterated as if they were made of paper.

The palace mages must be questioning their entire existence right now.

To make matters worse, Princess Sophiel somehow got dragged into the chaos, teleporting into my room in the middle of it all.

If it weren’t for the Grand Duke’s quick intervention, I had no doubt the entire palace would’ve descended into complete and utter chaos.

‘I’m glad she at least listened to the Duke’s words and allowed herself to be restrained…’ From what I heard.

The situation could have spiraled into a catastrophe, especially considering the Shadow Knights who were present at the scene.

Most of them were already on edge, their weapons drawn and their killing intent palpable.

If Rose had resisted or retaliated, things would’ve escalated into something far messier- something I doubt even the Duke could have resolved everything without a bit of bloodshed. ‘This really wasn’t the reunion I was expecting…’

I knew Rose had a peculiar and somewhat unnerving obsession with me, but I never imagined she’d go to this extent.

Breaking into the most secure location in the empire, causing widespread panic, and forcing high-ranking officials to scramble for damage control… all just to see me?

Even by her whimsical standards, this was a new level of reckless.

Still, I had to deal with the aftermath. I had already asked Snow to put in a few favorable words for her with the Emperor.

Hopefully, that would help mitigate the fallout and keep this situation from escalating any further.

But I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for all the palace mages and knights who had to bear the brunt of this unexpected disaster.

They were going to have a long few weeks cleaning up the mess Rose had left behind.

Stepping forward, I held the keys the Duke had handed to me earlier.

Rose sat there, still bound by the glowing magical restraints, though her posture was as relaxed as ever.

She didn’t seem even the slightest bit worried about what might happen to her.

Her golden eyes sparkled with that same playful glint, as if this was all just some grand adventure to her.

I unlocked the restraints with a soft click, the glowing bindings disappearing in an instant. Rose blinked in mild surprise at my actions, her golden eyes widening slightly. “You’re… letting me go?” she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

I sighed, slipping the keys back into my pocket. “Just don’t make me regret it, Rose. You’ve already caused enough chaos for one day.”

She didn’t respond immediately, but the surprise in her expression quickly gave way to her usual mischievous smile.

Without missing a beat, she stood up and stretched, acting as if she’d just been released from some minor inconvenience rather than a high-security detainment.

“Thank you, Riley…”

As those words left her lips, Rose suddenly wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a

tight embrace.

Her golden eyes sparkled with an intensity I hadn’t seen before, almost childlike, as if she were a young girl who had just rediscovered something she thought she’d lost forever.

“I missed you!”

Her voice was filled with raw emotion, and despite her usually whimsical and unpredictable demeanor, there was something incredibly genuine about her tone.

For a moment, it felt as though all her chaotic actions-the teleportation, the palace-wide panic, the strained diplomatic ties were simply the result of her overwhelming desire to see

me again.

I was caught off guard, unsure of how to respond at first. I’d always known Rose was strong for a mage, but the sheer force behind her hug was… startling.

Her arms were like steel bands around me, and it took me a moment to realize that this wasn’t

just her physical strength-it was her mana.

‘What the hell is with this absurdly dense mana…?’

I gulped, feeling my body instinctively react to the oppressive energy leaking from her.

This wasn’t even her using her full power-it was just a fraction, seeping out unintentionally.

Yet, even this small amount was enough to make my skin tingle and my breath hitch.

As I reluctantly hugged her back, I couldn’t help but marvel at just how much she had grown.

In the short time we’d been apart, her magical power had skyrocketed to an almost unfathomable level.

I’d always known she was monster-like genius when it came to magic, but this… this was

something else entirely.

A part of me felt proud-after all, seeing someone you care about grow and achieve their potential is always gratifying.

And it also meant that I didn’t need to guide nor intervene to allow her to grow in preparation

for the epilogue chapters in the future…

But even still another part of me… couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

She was growing far too strong and too fast, and her obsessive like actions was eerily

imitating someone I really didn’t want to think about.

‘Should I be worried about this…?’

—–

“Hmmm, so this is the Imperial Palace, hm? It’s quite nice. Its atmosphere feels oddly similar

to back in our state…”

In a grand hallway adorned with intricate carvings, gilded accents, and the soft glow of

enchanted crystal chandeliers, Rose’s voice echoed lightly as she strolled forward. Her golden eyes scanned her surroundings with a mix of curiosity and subtle awe.

Though the dull, colorless haze of her unique perception made everything appear monotonous as always, she couldn’t deny the sheer magnitude and grace of this place. From the opulent furniture to the intricately designed walls and polished floors, every detail radiated a grandeur that could only belong to the heart of the empire.

For a moment, she couldn’t help but marvel at how the Imperial Palace was both overwhelming in its scale and masterful in its elegance-a fitting representation of the

empire’s strength and pride.

“Well, I’m glad you feel that way, Miss Rose~,” a voice chimed behind her, the tone light but

dripping with unmistakable sarcasm.

Rose turned her head slightly, catching sight of Snow walking a few paces behind her.

The princess’s footsteps were deliberate, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors. Although Snow’s ever-graceful, poised demeanor remained intact, her half-lidded blue eyes

and the faint twitch at the corner of her lips betrayed her true feelings.

Her irritation was almost palpable. Rose’s lips curled into a subtle smile, though she made sure it didn’t show too openly.

It was amusing to her, how someone like Snow-refined, poised, and always projecting an air

of nobility-could still have such obvious tells.

Much like that “black rat” Seo, the “white cat” in front of her was someone who, no matter

how hard they tried to mask it, expressed every emotion in their heart in their own unique

way.

Though only a short time had passed since Rose had reunited with Riley, she already felt something she thought she had lost.

The sense of fun-the kind that came with being surrounded by people who challenged her, whether intentionally or not-had returned to her life almost immediately.

“How long until Riley returns?”

“That is up to His Imperial Majesty to decide…”

“Well, that’s a bummer…”

Riley had been summoned by both the Emperor and the Duke, required to provide a detailed

explanation for the incident that had thrown the entire palace into disarray. Meanwhile, Snow had been left with the unenviable task of handling Rose until she, too,

would inevitably be called upon to account for her actions.

Snow stole a glance at Rose and suppressed the urge to sigh. Just hours ago, she’d experienced

what had been one of the most serene and relaxing nights of her life-so peaceful, in fact,

that she hadn’t even wanted to wake up.

Yet here she was, her morning utterly derailed by Rose’s antics and the chaos they had stirred.

Still, Snow composed herself.

Losing her cool in front of someone like Rose would only give the fiery mage more fuel to

provoke her.

With a calm and measured tone, Snow gestured toward a nearby hallway. “Since His Imperial Majesty will likely summon you soon as well, why don’t we wait in the

guest lounge for now? It will be more comfortable than standing here.”

Rose tilted her head, considering the suggestion for a brief moment before giving a small

nod. “Fine by me,”

Seeing Rose’s subtle nod of approval, Snow straightened her posture and turned gracefully to lead the way.

“Well then, follow me- “

But before she could finish, Snow felt a sudden, forceful tug on her right arm. Startled, she stumbled slightly as Rose pulled her back, turning her around to face her directly. “What are you doing, Miss Rose?” Snow asked, her voice tinged with both surprise and

unease.

She struggled to maintain her composure as she found herself locked under Rose’s intense

gaze.

Those bright golden eyes, which usually shimmered with confidence and curiosity, seemed to dim with a brewing storm of emotions.

“What’s that on your neck?” Rose’s voice was low, her question cutting through the air like a

blade.

“Huh?” Snow blinked in confusion, her hand instinctively reaching up to her neck.

Following Rose’s unyielding gaze, she felt her fingertips brush against her skin-against

something small, sensitive, and unmistakable.

It hit her then.

She realized what Rose meant, her eyes widening for a fraction of a second before quickly

narrowing with a sly smirk. It was the mark-that mark.

The hickey Riley had accidentally left on her neck during their… intense moment last night.

Though Snow had intended to conceal it, the chaos caused by Rose’s sudden incident had thrown her morning routine into disarray. In her rush, she had forgotten to properly dress to -cover it up.

Now, standing here with Rose’s fiery gaze boring into her, Snow suddenly found herself at a

strange advantage.

“Oh my, how shameful of me~”

Snow said, her lips curling into an exaggerated, teasing smile. Her tone was light and

mocking, dripping with faux politeness.

“I completely forgot to hide such an embarrassing thing. My apologies for showing you

something so vulgar, Miss Rose~”

Rose’s gaze darkened further, and Snow could feel the air between them grow heavier, but she didn’t stop. If anything, the situation was too entertaining to let slip by.

“Please, don’t mind it too much,” Snow continued, tilting her head to one side, deliberately

exposing the mark further.

Her smile widened as she added with an almost sing-song lilt to her voice, “It’s just a little gift Riley gave me last night~”

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