Tales stood in the middle of the study, pointing at the invitation on the floor with an utterly hopeless look on his face. "Ready?"
"Wait."
Ashida stopped him.
The Magic User gazed at him pensively and slowly raised one finger.
"This time, try this."
Tales froze.
"Try wh—"
Before he could finish, the wind suddenly rose.
The battered chair with one corner missing flew up from behind the desk and shot toward Tales!
Tales' expression changed dramatically. He instinctively raised his hand.
"Fuck, what are you—"
Bang!
The chair hit the floor with a deafening crash.
The next second, urgent pounding sounded at the door.
"Your Highness, Duke! What happened? Please answer me!"
"We need to get in—move aside."
"No, together. Count to three. One, two, three—"
Boom!
With another thunderous crash, the two men on rotating guard duty—Second Vanguard Officer Leo Morgan and Second Guard Officer Jose Kusta—forced the door open together and rushed into the room. Then they stopped in unison, eyes wide.
"Your Highness?"
Tales had his back to the two guards and was sprawled across the chair in a bizarre position.
"Leo, Jose. Oh, wow, it's you two tonight."
Tales painfully turned his head and forced a smile.
"It's nothing. I was just exercising, hehe. A stinking mouse caused some trouble..."
Morgan and Kusta turned to inspect the room. The entire study was empty. Aside from two extinguished candle stands, everything was normal.
"But, Your Highness, your nose..." Guard Officer Kusta spoke in a thick Thornland accent. He stared at Tales, who was bent over the chair with his rear in the air, and hesitated.
Tales calmly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood beneath his nose.
"It's fine, it's fine. You know, puberty."
He waved his hand.
"Go out."
Morgan nodded. He walked to