Your Wand Is Broken!

At 112 Copper Jasmine Street, there's a handcrafted wand shop.

It's the Vitallite family's ancestral business of two hundred years, and a source of pride they've held onto.

But ever since a trendy wand-carving shop opened across the street on the corner, business has gone downhill.

Loran spends a hot, leisurely summer vacation at the family shop, watching it grow quiet as his parents lean against a wooden cabinet piled with wand-making materials, anxiously discussing what to do.

In the end, they decide to travel farther afield in search of better wand-making materials.

"Can you manage the shop by yourself?"

Loran swears with great confidence, "Go ahead. I'll take good care of our family's ancestral business."

On his very first day tending the shop alone, he steps on a customer's wand and snaps it.

The customer is famous, and familiar too. He's the school's celebrated top student.

Loran: "..."

He's in deep trouble.

That wand looks like it must be worth a fortune. Paying for it would make his family's already dire finances even worse.

The customer sits on a swivel chair, one foot planted on the floor, watching him at his leisure as if curious to hear what he'll say.

With tears in his eyes, Loran stammers, "S-sorry! I really can't afford to pay you back... Is there anything else I can do to make it up to you?"

The top student gives him a smile that is almost a smirk.

Calmly, he lays out his terms: "As it happens, I'm looking for a new lackey."

This young master isn't some kindhearted philanthropist. His family is famous in the magical world, and his influence dominates the top ranks of the school.

They say his regular hangout is a ward shrouded in dark magic, one that devours every spy who tries to investigate.

Now, as the new lackey, Loran must bravely venture alone into the dragon's lair.

A deranged earl.

A stubborn queen.

A womanizing knight.

A reckless, unreasonable king and his hapless lackey become the school's biggest criminal gang.

Loran: QAQ

Mom, Dad, the glory of the Vitallite family is about to be ruined by me!

"How could it be?"

The king, being as unreasonable as ever, casually unwraps a candy and insists on popping the supposedly brand-new candy ball into Loran's cheek.

"Glory isn't some certificate you get by waiting for other people to decide you're worthy. Once you succeed, they'll come rushing to you on their own."

Loran: "What have I even succeeded at?"

His Majesty the King: "Did you manage not to have any subjects to retake this year?"

On the night of the ball, Loran rackes his brain to turn down the king's casual invitation to dance, determined to camp out at the observatory and study for the major exam coming up.

Then a shadow falls over him, and someone pins him into the corner behind the telescope.

In a fluster, Loran feels the other's chest rumble with a low laugh, touches the pure silver mask worn for the ball, and catches a familiar scent. Then he gets kissed thoroughly.

The lights should have come on to reveal an empty room, as if it had all been an elaborate prank.

Instead, his hand finds the hard wand at the other's waist.

Loran says calmly, "Your Majesty, then what exactly was that... firewood stick I stepped on?"

"Ah, I thought the mask would keep you from recognizing me."

The man lowers his head and pecks the corner of Loran's lips. "I underestimated you."

[Reader's Note]

1. A magical school story! I hope I can write the kind I love well.

2. This is the second revised version of the blurb!

Theme: Cast aside prejudice