After a long journey, the magical carriage came to a stop, they had finally arrived in the city.
Ludelth stood up first, stretching his arms to loosen the stiffness in his muscles.
The trip had drained him more than he expected.
Why, you ask? Well, let's just say he knew exactly what awaited him at the end of the road. So for him, it felt less like a pleasant outing and more like a slow walk toward the gallows.
As for his mother… he couldn't say he was surprised by the questions she had asked during the ride. The changes in his daily habits had been drastic, after all.
And his mother wasn't stupid. She knew someone had been training him. So lying would've been pointless.
Except that he couldn't tell her that he had a multiversal summoning system. If that were the case, why not tell him she had memories from another life?
He certainly couldn't say something like that, but not because he didn't trust her, but because he wanted to keep it a secret until he figured out what this system was.
In truth, the thought never left his mind.
Who gave it to him?
Why?
He wasn't anyone special. Just a prince and not even the most promising one.
Maybe it had something to do with the memories of his past life. The timing was too perfect to ignore. For twelve years, nothing then suddenly, the memories returned… and the system come. It didn't feel like coincidence. It felt orchestrated, like someone had planned it all.
But if that were true… who? And why help someone like him? In that other life, he'd been even more indifferent than now just another nameless face in the crowd. Maybe something had happened after the last memory he could recall?
Of course, these were all just theories. He had no proof. He could only hope that, with time, the rest of his memories would return… or that he would summon someone who could help him unlock them.
That was why he hadn't told his mother. And because if she ever found out that these summons could kill him even with the "safe mode" active she would never let him use them again. Not even once. As long as there was a chance, no matter how small she would never take the risk.
But Ludelth had to understand.
So for now he would keep it hidden. And if someone found out… well, he'd come up with a lie. Maybe say it was some kind of unique magic. But first, he needed to study how mana actually worked to make the story believable.
A gust of wind brushed past, interrupting his thoughts and making him shut his eyes for a moment.
Then he turned toward the carriage… and extended a hand toward his mother.
"Mother," Ludleth called.
The woman turned to him with a warm smile, gracefully placing her gloved hand into his. Ludleth took it gently, just as he had been taught during his etiquette lessons.
"Thank you," she said, a flicker of amusement in her eyes.
"A gentleman's duty," he replied with a slightly awkward smile. He didn't particularly enjoy these gestures, but he did them for her.
"Loderon is always beautiful this time of year, don't you agree, dear?"
"You're right, Mother."
Looking around, Ludleth took in the pristine streets of the city. There weren't many people around, and the few that were present wore elegant, fashionable clothes.
Men draped in cloaks with embroidered edges, women with soft-toned gowns and translucent veils. No one shouted, no one ran everyone walked calmly refined in manner. Of course, it made sense this was a wealthy city. Only Nobles could afford to live here.
The buildings rose tall, but not high enough to become towers. Intricate carvings and arching details lined echoing a refined gothic style that gave the city an old charm.
Behind them, the carriage slowly rolled away, parking at a nearby station.
At that moment, Anna took Ludleth's hand and slipped it under her arm.
"Hey!" he yelped, surprised by the sudden motion as he stumbled slightly to keep balance.
"Come along, Ludleth," she said with a smile that held the unmistakable weight of a command.
She was taller than him, and the way she pulled him through the street made him feel like a child being dragged by his mother.
Ludelth tried to dig in his heels, but she didn't slow down in the slightest.
"Could you at least warn me before doing things like this?" he grumbled, cheeks flushing as a few bystanders turned to look at them.
"If I warned you, you'd either say no or pretend not to hear me," she replied, clearly entertained. "And today, I want you by my side."
He opened his mouth to respond but tripped slightly over a protruding cobblestone. He caught himself with a quick step, only for her to pull him closer, tightening her grip on his arm.
"Watch your step," she said, half-mocking.
"I am watching," he muttered
"Doesn't look like it."
They continued walking, arm in arm, Anna's long strides forcing Ludleth to almost jog to keep up. They moved down the city's main street.
Ludelth took a deep breath. Maybe… a little break after all that training wasn't so bad.
"Ah, so you're enjoying the walk now, are you?" Anna asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I never said that," he replied quickly.
She tightened her grip slightly, forcing his arm to bend at an awkward angle. "Ludelth," she said with feigned sternness, "you're a terrible liar."
"And you're stronger than you look," he muttered, rubbing his arm once she finally let go, stopping in front of a small shop.
The shop's front window was a stained-glass mosaic of green, red, and blue. Inside, he could see neat rows of fabric rolls and silk ribbons draped across shelves.
Anna turned toward him, placing her hands on her hips. "Don't run off."
"I'm not running," Ludleth said, lifting his hands in surrender.
She watched him for a moment, then the two of them walked over to the stand in front of the shop. Displayed neatly were small trinkets brooches, rings, and delicate blown-glass vials containing preserved flower petals.
Ludleth stepped closer, pausing briefly by a feather-shaped brooch with a deep blue stone set at its center. He didn't touch it, but the vivid color reminded him of the sky he had seen mirrored in the lake during his training sessions.
"Do you like it?" Anna asked, watching him carefully.
Ludleth shook his head, but his eyes lingered on the brooch just a second too long.
"It's not necessary,"
"Not everything has to be," she replied gently, reaching out toward the display. "Sometimes things are beautiful simply because they are."
Ludleth didn't respond. To him, objects needed a purpose. Buying something just because it was "pretty" felt pointless.
Anna could only shake her head. Her son was far too practical. In the end, she bought the brooch anyway, then led him toward the perfume shop next door.
After what felt like endless rounds of browsing and shopping, Ludleth found himself burdened with bags.
"Why didn't we bring any servants with us?" he asked, exasperated.
"Because this is a mother-son outing. Not mother-son-and-a-team-of-servants," she replied with a laugh. "Come on, one last stop and we can head home."
Ludleth's face lit up with relief, and he picked up the pace.
Their final stop was a small, unassuming store tucked between two grander buildings.
As Anna pushed open the door, a gentle chime of bells rang out, calling the shopkeeper to the counter.
They stepped inside, and Ludleth was immediately struck by the scent a comforting blend of polished wood, new leather, and a faint trace of lavender.
The walls were painted a soft cream, broken only by rows of light wooden shelves holding boxes of fabrics and mannequins dressed in thin, flowing tunics.
"Lady Anna!" a male voice called out.
A man in his forties, with neatly slicked-back salt-and-pepper hair and a pearl-gray waistcoat, approached with a bright smile. His eyes sparkled like a child who had just found a lost treasure.
"Master Kalben," the lady replied. "Always a pleasure to see you."
"The pleasure is all mine, madam. The city feels brighter when you're in it." Then Kalben turned his gaze to Ludleth and offered a respectful bow. "And young prince it is an honor to have you here."
"We'll need a private room," Anna said calmly.
"But of course, madam, your usual one." Kalben snapped his fingers, and a young apprentice in a white apron hurried over with a shy smile. "Please escort them to Room Four."
The elegant yet very sober private room features a long cream-colored sofa with thin cushions, a tall mirror with a light wood frame carved with ivy patterns, and a small side table on which stood a glass pitcher filled with cool water, two crystal glasses, and a small brass bell.
This shop was among the most renowned in the kingdom known for housing the finest magical tailors in the realm, and for being one of the few places where one could purchase attire imported from other nations.
Trade between kingdoms wasn't simple. Political and territorial tensions made such commerce risky. Few dared to deal across borders, and even the father of Nasha one of the king's wives had to tread carefully in such matters.
Not that any of that concerned Ludleth directly. But due to the rarity of foreign garments, his mother always returned to this very shop. By now, the staff were used to their visits.
Ludleth placed the bags on the floor and dropped onto the sofa with a quiet sigh.
"We won't be staying long… will we?" he asked, a note of hope in his voice.
She didn't reply right away. Instead, she leaned her elbow on the armrest and gestured toward the apprentice, who soon returned carrying two leather-bound catalogues.
"Here are the latest designs from within the kingdom," she said, indicating the first book. "And these are imported from beyond the borders," she added, placing a hand gently on the second.
The apprentice gave a polite nod and left the room.
Ten minutes passed in quiet page-turning, Ludleth occasionally sneaking glances at the door like a prisoner hoping for a pardon.
Eventually, Anna closed the catalogues with a firm motion.
"I've made my decision."
She picked up the small brass bell on the table and gave it a soft shake. Its clear chime echoed gently through the room and moments later the apprentice reappeared at the door with a practiced nod.
"Bring the models I've selected," Anna instructed, pointing to several pages she had marked with thin red silk ribbons.
Ludleth swallowed. "How many outfits did you pick?"
She turned with a sweet smile that promised nothing good. "Enough to remind you what it means to be the son of a king."
"Besides, you've grown a few centimeters. It's time to refresh your wardrobe."
Ludleth sank deeper into the sofa. "This is going to be a long day."
The apprentice returned shortly, followed by several apprentices carrying velvet-covered hangers, each draped with garments protected by sheer veils.
One held a light gray jacket with mother-of-pearl buttons, another a dark cloak embroidered with golden leaf patterns, while a third presented a ceremonial outfit in deep blue that shimmered faintly in the natural light.
"Up you go," Anna said, clapping her hands.
Ludleth stood reluctantly, eyeing the clothes as if they were weapons poised to strike.
"Can't we just… pick one at random?"
"No," she replied in that calm, final tone. "Start with this one." She pointed to the yellow jacket.
"It's too bright."
"Ludleth."
The boy sighed, raised his hands in surrender, and began removing the tunic he was wearing as he walked toward the changing screen.
Meanwhile, his mother and Master Kalben who had rejoined them to discuss the tailoring were chuckling softly.
Few people loved clothing the way Kalben did, so he always found it refreshing to talk with Anna, who appreciated fine garments as much as he did.
Ludleth slipped his arms into the jacket's sleeves, feeling the smoothness of the silk brushing against his skin so different from the coarse linen he usually wore.
When he stepped out from behind the screen, his mother's face lit up.
"You see?" she said, circling him. "It suits you."
Ludleth looked at himself in the mirror. The jacket fit perfectly across his shoulders, the buttons gleamed faintly, and altogether it made him look older.
"Doesn't look bad," he admitted through gritted teeth.
"Wouldn't you feel more confident presenting yourself like this every day?"
"No."
She smiled and returned to the sofa, clapping her hands again. "Next."
As he changed once more behind the screen, he could hear his mother laughing softly with Kalben, exchanging thoughts on fabrics and the latest whispers from the high fashion circles.
Every now and then, she'd call out questions or suggestions from her seat, offering an endless stream of combinations.
"How does that one feel?"
"Is the jacket too tight?"
"Try it without the coat."
"That color doesn't suit you, try another."
After what felt like an eternity of trials, Ludleth stepped out wearing yet another of the many outfits.
But Anna rose, circled him briefly, and noticed the pocket square of the shirt sticking out unevenly. As a responsible mother, she couldn't let that go unchecked, so she stepped forward and adjusted it with her own hands.
Ludleth looked up into her eyes, momentarily speechless. Why fix something so minor, especially on a suit he was only trying on? He had given up, he couldn't understand his mother and doubted he ever would.
She smiled, pleased. "Now, next one."
He let out a muffled groan as the apprentice brought forward the shimmering blue ensemble.
"This is going to be a very long day," he muttered.