Yuri headed toward the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, accompanied by Laurent and Jared.
A tall mansion of dark gray stone loomed before them. It resembled a fortress built on the border. Around the building stood ornamental trees that seemed to have been planted merely for formality, now left unattended.
As Yuri appeared, the knight standing at the entrance greeted him.
"His Highness is expecting you."
Having heard of Briol's arrival, Ragna had invited him.
He wished to meet Yuri before the banquet hosted by the Emperor.
"You may carry your weapons."
"Thank you."
It was a sign of trust in Yuri.
With their weapons equipped, Yuri and his party passed through the main gate and entered.
On either side of the path, the garden was overgrown with flourishing plants.
The knight explained.
"His Highness doesn't like to trim things. Says it's artificial."
At a glance, Ragna's garden appeared unkempt. But if one looked closely, it was clear the arrangement had been done with care.
In a way, it suited the mansion's master.
Soon, Yuri came face to face with Ragna.
He had taken off his top, exposing his sweat-soaked upper body, and was sparring with the knights. Several took turns facing him.
When Ragna's sword strike caused his opponent to drop their wooden sword and stumble, another knight stepped in immediately.
The close-quarters combat continued.
Though Ragna's skill was impressive, he couldn't fight an endless stream of knights forever. His movements gradually slowed.
When Ragna exposed his neck to his opponent, the sparring match came to an end.
"Age catches up to you, after all."
Ragna shrugged toward Yuri. Yuri let out a short laugh.
"You really shouldn't bring up age after doing all that."
"I'm serious. Back in the day, I could go all day."
Even the knights waiting their turn looked exhausted from how many rounds he'd gone through.
Yuri took note of Ragna's developed upper body. His muscles were unusually well-maintained for his age, covered in scars here and there.
He truly didn't seem like someone who was the Emperor's brother.
"Let's sit and talk."
Ragna headed toward the tea table beside the training field. Yuri sat opposite him, while Laurent and Jared stood behind as if guarding him.
The knights' gazes toward the two were hard. Their attention especially focused on Laurent.
They seemed to feel competitive toward the famed knight of Briol.
"So, Yuri. Have you been well?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Don't you miss the battlefield?"
"Not at all."
"I do. Those were good times, weren't they?"
"I've been busy in Briol. I think it was just Your Highness who was bored."
"You're right. Hahahaha…"
Ragna laughed heartily as he looked at Yuri.
He wondered how many people he could speak this comfortably with. Perhaps that was why he especially liked Yuri.
"I heard you caused a stir as soon as you arrived in the capital."
"My childhood friend was doing drugs, would you believe it. He was a decent guy back in Briol…"
"You're subtly blaming the Empire now, aren't you?"
"I wouldn't dare, Your Highness."
"That incident's caused quite the uproar in the Empire. Do you know what kind of drug it is?"
"Isn't a drug just a drug?"
"There are two types circulating, and this is the problematic one."
At Ragna's signal, an attendant handed him a small pouch.
Ragna opened the pouch and poured out its contents. As the blue crystals spilled onto the table, Yuri narrowed his eyes.
It was the same drug that Gott had been clinging to.
"It's going around among the nobility, especially the younger heirs."
"It's the same thing my friend was using."
"That figures. Because this…"
Ragna picked up one large crystal between his fingers and rubbed it. A faint light emitted as powder began to fall.
"Temporarily enhances human senses drastically. Not just the five senses, but sensitivity to mana as well."
Yuri immediately understood what that meant.
"They're using this to train?"
"Not just that. They probably take it before tests or duels. Think of it like doping."
"There must be a source producing this. Where is it?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out. I've commissioned the Magic Tower, so we'll see what they uncover."
"The Magic Tower?"
"Doesn't this give you a hunch?"
Yuri quietly stared at the blue crystals. Something had felt off from the beginning.
"Is it a mana stone?"
"It seems to be used as an ingredient."
If Ragna's words were true, then this drug was created through magical means. This meant the source wasn't some low-grade back-alley gang, but something much more significant.
"You said there were two types. Is the other one like this too?"
"The other is of slightly lower quality, but its composition is similar. It looks like they've targeted different consumer groups."
"Whoever's behind this must be quite clever."
"Yuri, I have something I'd like to ask you."
Ragna smiled.
"Can you find the one making this stuff?"
"You're asking me?"
"I don't know how deeply it's infiltrated, so I can't trust just anyone."
The fact that Ragna himself had stepped in, not the Emperor, suggested the palace was lukewarm about dealing with the issue.
Yuri paused to think, then nodded.
"I'll do what I can. If I can borrow Your Highness's authority, that is."
"Of course, I'll grant it."
Yuri had been looking for traces of black magic that might be lurking within the Empire.
If he could secure legitimacy for his investigation through Ragna, he'd be able to take a more active role.
As for the drug, he could always say things didn't go as planned if needed.
"Here."
At Ragna's gesture, an attendant handed over a palm-sized paper. It bore Ragna's personal seal.
The document stated that Ragna himself had commissioned Yuri to investigate a crime threatening the Empire.
"It's magically coated, so it won't tear easily, but keep it safe."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Now, tell me."
Ragna rested his chin on his hand.
"You must want something in return."
Yuri, having tucked the paper into his coat, looked up.
He had accepted the task because it aligned with his own goals, but Ragna, unaware of this, seemed to believe Yuri was hiding some demand.
"Not asking up front means it's something small but essential, isn't it…"
Ragna was misunderstanding Yuri's intentions.
Yuri shook his head.
For now, he had no requests. It was better to carry the debt of goodwill than to demand something forcibly.
"No, Your Highness. Consider it a favor from me."
Ragna looked at Yuri.
"You cheeky fellow."
"You should've just said that to yourself."
"How big are you planning to ask for later…"
"It's nothing like that."
"Hmm…"
Ragna eyed Yuri suspiciously.
"Hmmmm…"
"If you keep that up, I won't do the job."
"No, no. I believe you."
"Then just trust me."
"Alright."
At this point, the other knights' expressions were strange. They seemed surprised by how casually the two conversed.
Ragna wiped down his body with a towel and put his shirt back on.
"Since you're here, stay for a meal. Sir Laurent, Sir Jared—have you both been well?"
Ragna directed his question to Laurent and Jared, who were standing behind.
"Yes, Your Highness. Thank you."
"Thanks to Your Highness, I've been doing well."
"There's nothing to thank me for. Hahaha…"
Soon, more tables were set, and a meal began to be prepared beside the training ground.
Watching the scene unfold, Yuri suddenly sensed something. He immediately turned to Ragna.
"Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Your Highness, by any chance…"
Yuri pointed to the table.
"Are there more guests?"
At the largest table among them, golden tableware had been laid out for Ragna.
But there were three chairs.
Once Ragna and Yuri were seated, one seat would remain. If there had been more chairs, it might have been nothing, but with only three, there was clearly someone else expected. It didn't seem likely they would offer such tableware to just anyone.
"Guests? I'm not sure…"
His awkward response confirmed it. Yuri instinctively sensed danger.
His skin bristled, and tension flowed down his spine.
"Is someone visiting without notice…"
At that moment, an attendant approached and whispered something in Ragna's ear.
Ragna glanced at Yuri, then feigned surprise.
"Oh dear, oh dear."
Yuri sighed. He didn't need to hear what Ragna said next.
"My niece came to see me without warning, said she wanted to meet."
***
Yuri had expected that, eventually, they would meet after arriving in the Empire.
But not like this.
He thought it would be a brief encounter, like last time, just crossing paths in a formal setting.
He should have been more cautious with Ragna. It was a mistake.
"I hear she's very beautiful. I'm curious."
Jared whispered. Yuri elbowed him in the side instead of answering.
"Guh…"
Ragna, who had briefly stepped away, returned. He wore a bright smile.
"She's on her way. Since things turned out this way, why not say hello? What do you think?"
Ragna cheerfully addressed Jared rather than Yuri.
"Yes, Your Highness. It is an honor for our family to meet the Imperial Princess, said to be the most beautiful on the continent."
"Thank you for your enthusiasm. I didn't expect her to show up so suddenly either. What a coincidence to see her with you all."
He kept emphasizing the coincidence.
Yuri, however, sat with a sour expression. He was trying to collect himself. He even activated his mana method to stay calm.
In this life, they had no connection. There would be no developments. He just had to treat her like any other member of the royal family. That should be easy.
And yet, he couldn't shake the unease in his heart.
"Yuri, are you alright?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
It wouldn't be right to blame Ragna. Yuri forced a slight smile.
"I'm just surprised at such a coincidence."
"R-right? Hahaha…"
Ragna, laughing awkwardly, looked over Yuri's shoulder.
"Oh, she's here."
Yuri had his back to the main entrance, so he could only notice the shift in others' gazes.
Laurent's eyes widened, Jared's mouth opened in awe. Ragna's knights wore blank expressions.
It was as if something wondrous had appeared behind Yuri.
Slowly, Yuri turned his body.
Shimmering strands of platinum blonde hair fluttered in the breeze.
He suddenly recalled the moment he first met Ekaterina. Memories are said to be idealized, but in this case, it seemed they weren't. She was walking toward him just as she had then.
It was remarkably similar to the moment in his past life when he had fallen for her.
To make matters worse, she was even wearing the same outfit.
The hem of her favorite crimson dress spread out like a rose. Yet even its bold color was subdued by her snow-white skin and jade eyes.
Half-lidded eyes beneath long lashes slowly turned, then widened upon finding Yuri.
When she smiled, it felt as though the entire world's color saturation brightened.
"Yuri Briol."
She spoke his name. As if the world had chosen him, the wind blew inward.
"To see the third prince of Briol again like this, how delightful."
Her voice echoed exactly as it had replayed in his mind.
Yuri forced his unmoving body to rise.
And he bowed to Ekaterina.
"It is also an honor for me to see the treasure of the Empire, Your Highness."
***
The meal proceeded without much incident. Other than Ekaterina now seated beside Ragna, there were no major changes.
She quietly listened, occasionally asking Yuri about matters concerning the Allied Army.
"Is that true? That must have been really hard."
"It's nothing."
Each time, Yuri was bothered by Ragna's fond gaze as he watched them.
Ekaterina smiled as she asked,
"I believe we're about the same age. To think you achieved so much on the battlefield—how impressive."
Ragna chimed in,
"He always charged at the front lines. Brave guy. I thought he was insane."
Yuri shook his head.
"I simply did what needed to be done."
"I wonder if that's humility or honesty. Someone had to do it, but it didn't have to be a prince, did it?"
"No. It was a duty entrusted to me."
"I've never met anyone who speaks like that."
Yuri knew Ekaterina well. Despite her outward demeanor, she didn't view the world with such light. When she gave compliments like this, there was always an ulterior motive.
"I heard your swordsmanship is exceptional. Then perhaps…"
Ekaterina asked with her signature enchanting smile.
"Will you be participating in the Imperial Tournament?"
"I'm not sure."
Yuri had no particular plans to join. He hadn't come to the Empire to show off his swordsmanship.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Ragna stood from his seat. Now, only Ekaterina and Yuri remained at the table.
Yuri felt uncomfortable being left alone with her, but Ekaterina didn't seem to mind.
She rested her chin on her hand and stared at him. It was that characteristic pose of hers, the one that made men lose their senses.
"Did you know the tournament champion receives a medal?"
"So I've heard."
"Yuri."
Suddenly, she called his name.
When he looked up, Ekaterina was smiling.
Her rose-colored lips parted.
"Will you give it to me?"