"Wait, What? I'm Royalty!?"

The areas surrounding the capital were much safer than the provinces, so I, Yuri, and Luka traveled together on foot. Finally, the sprawling royal capital came into view.

"Wow, it's enormous. The city walls are high, but the castle towering over everything is incredible," I said, marveling at the sight.

"Yeah, even for us, seeing it for the first time, it's pretty overwhelming," Yuri agreed.

"And the line of people waiting to get in is so long. This really is the capital," Luka added.

We patiently waited our turn in the orderly line at the main gate. Though it didn't take long to verify personal identification, the merchants with their large wagons and goods were subject to thorough inspections, likely to prevent anything dangerous from entering the capital. After an hour of waiting, we finally passed through the grand gates and entered the city.

Finding the person I was searching for, Craig Alexis, wasn't difficult. Asking around at the Adventurer's Guild quickly confirmed everything: Craig was indeed the head of the Alexis noble family and a professor at the prestigious Magic Academy, just as Lady Urza had mentioned.

The Alexis estate was in the noble district near the royal castle, surrounded by equally grand mansions. Standing in front of the estate's massive gates, the three of us hesitated for a moment before I gathered the courage to approach the gatekeeper.

"Excuse me, is this the residence of Craig Alexis?" I asked politely.

The gatekeeper gave me a suspicious look. "And who are you, boy? What's your business here?"

"I'm here on my late father's instructions," I explained, holding out the letter of introduction he left me. "This is my proof."

The gatekeeper examined the letter carefully, nodded, and said, "It seems legitimate. Follow me. What about the two behind you?"

"They're adventurers who escorted me here. Can they come in too?"

"...Fine. Come along."

With that, the gatekeeper led us into the estate. The grand garden alone was enough to make my hometown feel like a distant memory. After speaking briefly with a steward, we were escorted to a lavish drawing room where we waited.

"Are we even allowed to sit on something this fancy?" I whispered, staring at the plush sofa.

"Please, have a seat," the steward said. "That's what it's there for."

Hesitantly, I sank into the impossibly soft cushions, feeling more like a trespasser than a guest. Yuri and Luka, maintaining their roles as my guards, stood behind me rather than sitting.

Moments later, the door opened, and a man with shoulder-length black hair entered, exuding an aura of quiet authority. He sat across from me without preamble.

"You're Ewald's son?" he asked, his piercing gaze locking onto me.

"Y-Yes. My name is Matthew," I stammered.

Craig nodded, his expression unreadable. "I've read the letter. Why have you come all this way to see me?"

"My father passed away recently. In his will, he told me to seek you out if anything happened to him."

"Ewald is dead…" Craig muttered, his face momentarily grim. "Tell me, Matthew. How old are you now?"

"I just turned ten."

"And what do you know about yourself? Did Ewald tell you anything?"

"About… myself? No, not really. He raised me as a mage, but there was nothing particularly special…"

Craig sighed deeply and leaned back. "First, let me express my condolences for your loss. Now, I'll cut straight to the point. Your father, Ewald, was a member of this kingdom's royal family."

"…What?" I froze, the words refusing to register.

"And you," Craig continued, his voice heavy, "are also part of the royal bloodline. The second gift you possess, the Blessing of the Spirit King, is proof. It is an inheritance of the royal lineage."

"W-What are you talking about?" My voice cracked as a chill ran down my spine.

Craig's gaze bore into me, his expression serious. "It means, Matthew, that you are not just an ordinary mage. You are royalty."

My head spun. My father was a royal? And now I'm part of the royal family too? What kind of insane twist is this!?