Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

Veritas didn’t throw a tantrum about the Tower Master’s ring.

That was surprising, given his history.

“So, you don’t need to consume this ring? You made such a fuss when we got the magic stone last time.”

-Your possessions are also mine. You and I share an existence. Just having it with you is enough.

“What if I lose it?”

-How could you lose it while it’s on your finger? A page is a pure mass of magic. It can’t be lost.

Veritas continued with a more complex explanation, but Binaeril only half-listened.

“So, you don’t need to consume it. That’s a relief.”

The Tower Master had said this ring was a symbol of a contract with a spirit.

“Are the other pages in similar forms? Like rings or necklaces?”

-I don’t know. Like I said, pages are pure masses of magic. They probably take a form suitable to their environment.

“I see.”

Binaeril imagined himself covered in various pieces of jewelry.

Would he have to walk around like that if he gathered all the pages?

For now, he decided to find the spirit contracted to the ring.

“It’s been a while.”

In his rather desolate hideout, the place where it all began, was the spirit of the ring.

Binaeril stepped into the grand library.

The familiar scent of almonds greeted him warmly.

“…Eden.”

Binaeril called out the spirit’s name.

A dark brown-haired girl peeked out from between the bookshelves.

“It’s been too long. I’m sorry.”

Eden greeted him, rubbing her face against his pant leg.

Binaeril gently petted her. To him, Eden felt like a cherished pet.

“Do you recognize this?”

Binaeril held out his hand, showing the jade ring on his right hand.

Eden looked up at him with clear eyes and nodded.

The library spirit smiled warmly.

“I received this as a gift from the Tower Master. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Eden twirled around him, lifting the ground slightly in a display of her joy.

Rising to his eye level, Eden grabbed the edges of her earth-colored dress and bowed.

Binaeril recognized this as her way of expressing that she was in his care from now on.

“Haha.”

Like a swimmer diving, Eden threw herself into the ring.

“Let’s go.”

Binaeril, now with his only friend, the spirit, left the library.

***

After the scholar exam selection list was announced, Elfenbine was abuzz with activity.

Binaeril subtly inquired of the three people gathered in the Dean’s study.

“It’s a bit noisy outside, isn’t it?”

“Ha… Yes, indeed,” Dean Yulio replied, sounding troubled.

Rike hung her head, looking dejected, while Sylvia, in contrast, appeared angry.

“Did you just come from outside? What are the students saying?”

“This year’s scholar selection was supposed to follow the tournament results.”

“That’s correct.”

“But people think it’s unfair when they see the selection list.”

“Why is that?”

“Because an imperial princess who didn’t participate in the tournament is on the list.”

“Hey!”

Sylvia stood up abruptly, anger evident in her voice.

“Do you even know who you’re talking about? If you don’t know, at least stay quiet.”

Binaeril blinked, staring at Sylvia.

“Sylvia, it’s okay. It’s not Binaeril’s fault.”

“But Princess…!”

“Isn’t he just stating the facts?”

“Yeah, he’s not entirely wrong. Rike was chosen because she’s the imperial princess and the Dean’s student, and that’s the truth.”

Rike looked bitter.

Sylvia’s expression grew fiercer.

“You. Just because you’re not from the empire doesn’t mean you can speak carelessly. If you disrespect the Princess, I won’t forgive you, even if it’s you.”

Binaeril met Sylvia’s gaze without fear or guilt.

“At least you should stand by the Princess.”

“Sylvia, stop….”

“I’ll step out for a bit.”

Unable to contain her anger, Sylvia left the room.

Dean Yulio sighed.

“Binaeril, you’re right. But I’m surprised you’re not shocked, even knowing she’s the imperial princess.”

Binaeril exchanged a glance with Dean Yulio, who had asked him to keep her identity a secret.

“Whether you’re the imperial princess or the emperor, it doesn’t matter to me. It doesn’t change our relationship.”

“But you made it sound like I was wrong just now.”

“Did I? I just said a student without skills shouldn’t get special treatment because of their status or background.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

Binaeril shook his head.

“Not you. Do you think you don’t deserve to be selected as a scholar?”

“Complaints about favoritism, corruption, or being a princess don’t matter. You just need to show your skill.”

“My skill?”

“Yes. People are complaining about an unqualified Princess Friederike. That’s a scarecrow. But they’re not talking about the talented mage Rike.”

“The talented mage Rike….”

She mulled over Binaeril’s assessment.

“I believe in you. That’s why the Dean recommended you. Right?”

“Absolutely,” Dean Yulio agreed, nodding vigorously.

“But how do I prove it? The tournament is over, and my magic isn’t as flashy as Binaeril’s. It’s not something I can just show off….”

“Well, we need to put our heads together and think. But first, we need to calm down Sylvia.”

“Should I go?”

“No, I’ll go. If you speak to her, Sylvia will just say, ‘Yes, Princess,’ and return without understanding. It’s better if I go and talk to her.”

Binaeril decided to talk to Sylvia.

She was on the terrace, feeling the breeze. The commotion outside was still clearly audible.

She felt a strong urge to block it all out.

She was frustrated with the indecisive princess, the dean who didn’t actively defend her, and Binaeril, who seemed oblivious. 

Most of all, she was angry at the gray-haired boy with the cold expression and harsh words.

“You don’t know anything, you wretched boy.”

“Hey, keep it down. That wretched boy can hear you.”

The subject of her grumbling responded from behind her.

“I said it for you to hear. You like it when people are blunt and factual, don’t you?”

Binaeril nodded seriously, trying to diffuse the tension.

“That’s true.”

“How could you react that way in front of the princess? What if she gets hurt?”

“Rike didn’t seem affected. You’re the one who seems upset.”

Sylvia growled, stepping closer to him.

“Just because she pretends to be fine doesn’t mean you can say such things in front of her.”

“She’s not pretending. Rike is genuinely okay with it. It’s not her fault.”

“Then whose fault is it?”

Binaeril stared at Sylvia for a moment before answering.

“Yours, maybe?”

“Not many people could guess that ‘Rike’ is Princess Friederike of the Albrecht Empire. That means someone already knew her identity.”

Binaeril was puzzled by the students’ reaction and wondered:

‘How did they know Rike was the imperial princess?’

“The only ones who knew the truth were the dean, Rike herself, and you. No one would have known if her identity hadn’t been revealed. She doesn’t have many close friends.”

Binaeril took a deep breath and continued.

“But there was one person who had a small connection with Rike, Gillian Bemes. Where has he gone? Why hasn’t he been seen since then?”

Sylvia realized where things had gone wrong.

“I think this: perhaps her overprotective guard, in trying to protect Rike too much, accidentally revealed her identity. Am I wrong?”

Binaeril wasn’t entirely sure of this perfect chain of causation. Veritas had hinted at Gillian Bemes holding a grudge.

“It’s my fault. Because of me, the princess is in trouble.”

Sylvia didn’t burst out in anger. She wasn’t reacting like someone caught in the wrong.

She genuinely felt the weight of her mistake.

Binaeril saw the depth of her feelings for Rike in her expression.

“Why do you protect Rike so much? It’s not just because you’re a maid or a guard, is it?”

He could have found out through Veritas, but something told him he shouldn’t.

There seemed to be more between Sylvia and Rike than just a master-servant relationship.

“Princess Friederike risked her life for my sister when she was young.”

“Your sister?”

“Yes. For my sister, who was just a maid.”

Sylvia continued, her voice carrying the weight of the past.

“Princess Charlotte, the first princess, was kind, but Princess Friederike was even more compassionate. She cared deeply about the pages and attendants being beaten and scolded.

They were around the same age. My sister and Princess Rike grew closer than they should have as master and servant.

Then, when the Emperor fell ill, the central nobles didn’t leave the two princesses alone. Later, it was discovered that someone had poisoned Princess Friederike’s food.”

“Poison?”

“It was a poison processed magically, undetectable by the empire’s usual methods. My sister, unaware, was feeding it to the princess every day.”

Binaeril recalled a crucial detail.

Rike had a unique constitution.

She possessed eyes that could sense magic.

“I don’t know how Princess Rike knew, but she did. She knew she was being poisoned every day, and that her maid, who was about her age, was bringing her poisoned meals daily.”

“And she just ate it?”

“Yes. Do you know why?”

Binaeril shook his head, unable to guess.

“She was afraid of the punishment my sister would face if the poisoning was discovered. She was a princess who ate poison daily to protect her servant friend.”

Sylvia’s eyes seemed devoid of feeling.

At that moment, Binaeril sensed that certain memories can erode a person’s emotions.

“The truth eventually came out, and my sister was hanged. But after learning everything, how could I blame the princess for his death?”

Sylvia’s final words were heavy.

She was likely a few years older than Rike or Binaeril, but still not an adult.

It was an unbearably heavy burden for someone so young.

“I owe her a debt. A debt of my sister life.”