Jillian POV
That night I wandered around the palace building where Dion and I lived. I couldn't sleep because I had slept too long during the day, so I decided to wander around the neighborhood where I lived.
However, when I intended to go to the park, at the lake not far from the park I saw someone standing near the lake. He was standing still while looking up at the full moon that was shining at that moment.
His long white hair blowing in the wind looked so beautiful in the moonlight. I've never seen someone like that in the palace. Who is he?
I tried to approach him, looking at him closely so I could see his face. However, he somehow found out about my presence and ran away.
"Hey, wait!" I called out.
I had no intention of scaring him, I was just curious about him, so I chased after him. He ran very fast into the other side of the palace. I know this road, it leads to the royal soldiers' barracks. Is he a new soldier?
I kept running after him until he broke through into a bush. Not wanting to lose the opportunity, I also tried to penetrate the bush. Leaves, twigs and others stuck to me, but that wasn't the time for me to stop.
I saw him running straight through another tall bush, I could see the bush in front of me like invisibility. Without thinking, I continued to chase him through the translucent bush.
"Hey wait! I have no intention of doing anything bad to you!"
Just as I was about to grab his robe, my foot tripped over a rock and I fell.
BRUK!
"Uhhh... It hurts..." I tried to get up and I saw that my robes were dirty now. I was already a mess.
When I woke up, I was already in front of the big black tower that Dion had told me about.
"Wait... That means he's--"
THE ROYAL WIZARD!
I slowly roused myself and lightly brushed the dust off my clothes. I never thought I'd finally meet him in person. I must see him up close now!
Clearing the leaves from my hair, I approached the tower and entered it. The tower door was unlocked and it was quite dark inside. But there were torches on the walls that made it a little brighter. Without hesitation, I stepped inside and climbed the very tall, circular stairs.
It was tiring, but I hoped that what I got would make up for it.
When I finally reached the topmost room in the tower, I heard someone's voice from inside. I slowly opened the door to the room and suddenly a light shone down on me.
BLAST!
"Huh?!"
Luckily I managed to dodge and when the light hit the wall, there were burn marks on the wall.
If it had hit me earlier, I would have been... Burned????
"That was close--" I said in surprise.
When I looked inside, I saw him.
The royal wizard.
His long white hair and beautiful blue eyes were like a clear, cloudless sky. His face too... So innocent and sweet.
His small body and expression that looked panicked because...
Wait... Sweet?? Small?? He's--
"The royal wizard is... A child?!"
Jillian POV End
*****
Jillian sat on a chair near the wizard. It was true, his body looked like that of a 10-year-old child. It was only up close that Jillian realized this.
He looked down in shame with his face reddened, sitting close to Jillian.
The woman must have felt happy because she could see the wizard up close. But she didn't expect that the royal wizard was a child?
'Dion and Theo said that the royal wizard is so terrifying that even his aura is very eerie. But...'
Lilac Jillian's eyes looked the wizard up and down. 'His aura is actually very cute and sweet. He doesn't look dangerous either...'
"So... Crown Princess..."
"Yes? Oh you recognize me?" asked Jillian.
The boy nodded. He said that he came to Jillian and Dion's wedding, he was in the crowd. So maybe Jillian didn't realize it. Plus it had been a year since Jillian had been in the palace, so he must have known about it.
"What? brought you to my tower? Do you need... something?" he asked.
"No... I was just curious about you! I heard that the Keinheart Kingdom has a royal wizard. It turns out they do have one and he's very cute..." Jillian praised as she gently rubbed the boy's head.
The royal wizard's face grew even redder, his hands clasped his slightly oversized black robes and he gave a small smile.
"Thank you, Princess Jillian. You look very beautiful too," said the royal wizard as he grabbed the leaves left in Jillian's hair.
"Oh... Ahahaha... Thank you!"
The two of them chatted for a bit. Jillian saw that the royal wizard was very innocent, his voice was so soft. Really like a shy child. His long hair looked attractive even though it was too long for his age.
"There's actually something I want to ask when we meet!" said Jillian.
"Uh, what is it? You want a potion for Prince Dion?" asked the wizard.
"No, I want you to teach me magic! Make me your apprentice!"
"Ehh? Teach you magic?"
The woman nodded enthusiastically. She was eager to learn to use magic, even if it was just basic and easy magic. She wanted to give it a try. At first the royal wizard refused because he couldn't teach Jillian just like that.
However, when Jillian glanced at the witch's table and there were cookie crumbs. Jillian came up with an idea.
"I'll bring you some cookies or other sweets if you'll teach me!" said Jillian.
"Ehh... Ahh that, still can't do it."
"I'll bring it every time I come here! I'll bring as many as I can! Cupcakes, cakes, muffins and more! How is that?"
The Crown Princess continued to persuade the royal wizard. The boy looked very tempted by what Jillian was offering him. His face turned red as Jillian's face came closer to his face to continue persuading the child.
Because he kept being persuaded, he finally gave in and accepted Jillian as his student. Hearing that, Jillian immediately hugged the royal wizard tightly making the child even more panicked.
"C-Crown Princess--"
"Oh, sorry." Jillian chuckled and released the child. "But before that, can I know your name? You can call me Lian!"
"I'm... Azael," replied the boy named Azael.
They agreed to meet each other at night in the tower three times a week. Azael would make the labyrinth transparent so that Jillian could pass through easily.
This was something only the two of them could know. Jillian nodded in understanding. She couldn't wait to start her studies.
"Then please help me in the future, Master!" said Jillian.
"Master..." Azael smiled a little when called Master by Jillian.
"Yes... I understand."