LP 3.12 The Prince’s Rebellion

Just returning to the West Wing—his ‘domain’—made the Mage’s condition significantly better. However, even after his blue-tinted lips and fingernails regained their natural color, Lucian’s nervousness did not subside.

The place he returned to, with Kosha in tow, was not the office but the inner chamber. He kicked open the door to the bedroom connected to the inner chamber and pushed Kosha under the blankets after roughly stripping off his outer coat.

‘Get your body temperature up first; you’re far too cold right now. If you feel any worse, tell me immediately.’

‘I’m already feeling much better…’

‘I said tell me immediately.’

Kosha’s opinion was completely ignored. However, Lucian’s expression looked so distressed that Kosha couldn’t bring himself to insist further.

And while Lucian ordered the royal attendants to light the brazier and bring warmed wine, the staff who had been waiting in the office had to scramble into the inner chamber, clutching all their books, documents, and maps.

…To be honest, Kosha, who wasn’t in such a critical state, felt somewhat embarrassed.

Still, the wine, which had been simmered for a long time with plenty of fruit, was fragrant and tasted wonderful. Taking the opportunity, Kosha tilted his glass slightly for the hardworking lizard. The lizard perched on his shoulder stretched its head deep into the pewter cup and flicked its tongue.

Where the lizard’s tongue touched, smoke rose, and the wine vanished as if evaporating. After sipping the wine several times, the lizard rolled off Kosha’s shoulder. Lying on its back across his thigh, it looked utterly relaxed and pleased.

Between the warmth of the room and the heated wine, Kosha’s complexion didn’t just return to normal; his face began to flush a deep red.

Low voices drifting back and forth from the inner chamber connected to the bedroom leaked through a crack in the slightly open door. It seemed he had called the staff into the inner chamber to hold a meeting. The desk wasn’t suitable and it was narrower than the office, so it must be uncomfortable… Kosha felt awkward, wondering if it was because of him.

Eventually, the glass was empty, and feeling a bit too hot, Kosha pushed back the blankets and stood up. As he crept toward the door on tiptoe, the voices became clearer.

The King, curse, illness, Mage… familiar words were strung together in fragments. Feeling that they were talking about him, Kosha couldn’t stay still; he roughly threw on his gray robe hanging on the wall and peeked his head through the gap in the door.

And their eyes met. Dark brownish-black pupils—it was Eydrick.

Although Eydrick happened to be standing in a position facing him directly, it was quite surprising that he noticed Kosha’s presence so quickly, even with the gray robe covering him.

Perhaps it was because he was young and a knight, so his instincts were well-developed. Next, Gosrick, who was standing beside him, caught on, and almost simultaneously, Lucian, who had his back to Kosha, turned his head.

Lucian’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Kosha, who felt happy just looking at his face, beamed a wide smile, but Lucian approached him with a stern expression.

“What is it? Do you feel unwell?”

He leaned down to meet Kosha’s eyes and cupped his cheek. His voice was so sweet it was almost embarrassing to hear. Kosha could feel the vassals awkwardly averting their gaze behind him. Apparently, a lord’s ‘private life’ was something uncomfortable for a vassal to witness. Embarrassed, Kosha hurriedly shook his head.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Why aren’t you staying in bed? Your face was completely purple earlier.”

Lucian spoke with a stiff expression. Was a purple face problematic, but a red face okay? Kosha, who felt like he was melting because the room was so hot, declined again.

“I’m really fine, Your Highness. I came out because it sounded like you were talking about magic.”

“……”

“Ah, I’m sorry for eavesdropping. The door was open.”

As he added this while glancing tentatively at them, Mylotte cleared his throat.

“We were talking about that red-haired Mage you told us about.”

He subtly drew Kosha into the conversation. Lucian still looked displeased, but instead of stopping him further, he pulled over a chair and sat Kosha down.

Lucian himself stood leaning against a chest of drawers, but there were several others sitting comfortably. As he had noticed before, meetings with his closest aides seemed to take place in a relatively free atmosphere, regardless of hierarchy.

From Kosha’s perspective, this sight was incredibly fresh and interesting.

Moreover, the fact that it was a meeting of the inner circle meant that just sitting here felt like becoming his closest vassal. Kosha was inwardly thrilled.

Was it easy for just anyone to become an aide to an influential prince? It felt as if his abilities had been recognized—a different kind of fulfillment than getting a lover.

This, too, was something he had never imagined he would experience in his entire life…

“Actually, about that. The curse ritual pendant found in His Majesty’s bed was quite similar to the pendants that Mage was burying around the West Wing.”

“The probability that it’s his doing is increasing. What did the pendant look like?”

“Uh… it was metal, and a bit old. There was something like a fish drawn on it.”

Kosha scratched his head. Because he had focused on destroying them, he didn’t remember the shape in detail.

At the mention of a fish shape, Renata frowned and glanced at Lucian, and Lucian, who had been rubbing his chin as if lost in thought, looked away, pretending not to notice.

“But the specific object isn’t what’s important. While the central medium is usually something the caster is attached to, I understand that other objects are intentionally chosen to be ordinary and inconspicuous.”

It was only based on a brief glance through basic texts he had peeked at as a young child without his parents’ knowledge, but Kosha searched his memory diligently. It was basic of the basics for a Mage, but it seemed to be unfamiliar information for humans. Their expressions varied.

“Then are you saying there are more cursed objects? It wasn’t completely broken?”

“…? Yes, of course.”

Kosha blinked. If destroying a single main axis had been enough, there would have been no need for Kosha to scour the West Wing for objects back then.

“Basically, they are created by placing certain objects in designated positions, and once completed, they can be maintained by the remaining ones even if one is missing. But I don’t know much more than that. Ancient sorcery isn’t strictly magic, after all…”

“Not magic? Does that mean someone who isn’t a Mage can do it?”

“Uh… yes. Humans can do it too.”

Don’t the people of Izelant do it? Kosha almost asked without thinking, but barely managed to hold his tongue.

“I mean, from what I know, you know, when a human is born between a Mage and a human—but they aren’t actually human, they’re a half-blood. They have mage potential. So, a Mage can suddenly be born again in the generation of their children or grandchildren…?”

Those ‘half-bloods’ cannot manipulate mana, but they exhibit certain ‘abilities.’ Such as something coming true if they wish for it fervently, or a great accident happening to someone they hate.

Because the power is so faint that the causal relationship cannot even be properly verified, it is dismissed as mere coincidence, but everyone inwardly suspects. It is the power of another race sleeping deep within the bloodline.

Curses are primarily methods used and developed by such people. Mages can solve things with magic, so they have no reason to use such complex and cumbersome methods.

“Then it could be the doing of another human, not necessarily that red-haired one.”

“But they used the same kind of object. We can’t ignore such a trace.”

Various opinions were exchanged among the vassals. Kosha, who had been anxiously licking his lips, cut in.

“I think it’s the doing of a Mage for now, whoever it is. If a human had done it, they wouldn’t have been able to ‘stack’ it so powerfully. The energy I felt inside was quite strong.”

A heavy silence fell over the inner chamber at his firm voice.

Because the situation was moving rapidly and everyone was frantic, it was easy to forget that someone ‘cursing’ the ‘King’ was by no means a light matter.

That a sinister energy, which the human kingdom of Izelant had consistently rejected since its founding, had been planted in the most important place—the King’s bedroom. While they couldn’t fathom who the culprit or the mastermind was, there was a high probability it was an ‘insider.’

That in itself threatened the very foundation of the royal family. Furthermore, if it leaked, the foundation of the country could be shaken. It was only natural that no one dared to speak carelessly.

“…For now, it is a relief that the Mage is with us.”

The one to slowly break the silence was, surprisingly, Eydrick. Kosha’s lips parted slightly, and Lucian reacted sensitively, turning his gaze toward him.

“Had it been just us, wouldn’t we have been struck before we could take action? I sincerely thank you.”

The taciturn knight, who usually remained silent, slowly bowed his waist. By a knight’s standards, this was an extremely polite and high-level expression of sincerity.

Even Gosrick, standing beside him, was somewhat surprised, but honestly, a fact was a fact. Just as Gosrick became somewhat awkward, wondering if he should also show his sincerity, Kosha’s cheeks flushed.

“Not at all, I am the one who is happy, Sir.”

Kosha, returning a light bow, looked very pleased. It was even a very formal response, to the point where one couldn’t find a fault to scold him for.

It was around the time Lucian’s expression became strangely distorted.

“You said all those cursed objects must be destroyed; can only a Mage do that? Or is that also possible for humans?”

Eydrick followed up with a question. Kosha rolled his eyes in the air as if searching his memory.

“As long as they are completely destroyed, the method probably doesn’t matter.”

“Then the Mage won’t have to suffer more once they are found,” Lucian muttered. For some reason, he seemed to want to exclude Kosha from this task as much as possible… Kosha tilted his head.

“That’s true, but…”

“But?”

“I wonder what will happen if the curse is broken suddenly… This seems a bit strange to me.”

The voice adding the words quietly was somehow meaningful. After pondering for a moment, Kosha looked up at Lucian with sparkling eyes.

“By the way, didn’t you say there is someone called the ‘King’s Mage’?”

“There is, a Mage named ‘Castor’.”

“Where is he and what is he doing right now?”

Without a hint of sarcasm, as if purely curious, wonder filled his large green eyes. Lucian tilted his head.

“He hasn’t shown himself for a while, but that’s something that happens often…”

“No, that can’t be.”

Kosha’s expression was serious as he interrupted, which was rare for him.

“It’s too strange to me. The King’s Mage should have stopped it before the King’s bedroom became like that. It’s something that could have been sufficiently prevented.”

“He is the King’s Mage, but he is closer to a personal friend than a subject. He often leaves to attend to his own affairs.”

“No, you said he’s the King’s Mage!”

Kosha raised his voice in frustration.

“If, if Your Highness’s bedroom were becoming like that, I would have come back and solved that first, no matter what important work I was doing. Nothing, no matter what, is more important than that.”

That is what it means to become a ‘human’ Mage. A person who chose to be called the ‘King’s’ Mage, especially a powerful Mage who had lived for a very long time, could not have abandoned his human like that.

“He should have stopped it from the beginning; it’s just too strange,” Kosha muttered seriously. But…

To foolish and finite humans—no, just to Lucian—those words sounded like something absurd, reckless, and very strange.

That someone would cast aside whatever they were doing and rush to protect him. He had never even imagined he would hear such words in his life.

…What a crazy Mage. Who dares say they will protect whom.

Lucian bit his lip troubledly. Feeling his face flush, he needlessly covered his mouth with his hand and rubbed it.

“…Is there any possibility that the red-haired one is the King’s Mage?”

Whether Lucian was covering his face or not, Kosha was serious on his own. His voice, asking hesitantly, trembled slightly.

One of the aides, exchanging glances, shook his head.

“No. He is, first of all, a white-haired old man.”

“I’ve seen his portrait; he was platinum blonde in his youth,” another person chimed in. A grandfather who had been platinum blonde… Then that ‘silver-haired woman’ isn’t the King’s Mage either. Kosha erased one suspicion he had held in his mind.

“His way of speaking is unique. He speaks like someone from a thousand years ago. You can tell just by listening to him speak.”

The red-haired Mage had used a very rude and frivolous tone. It would be difficult to disguise even that part. Lost in thought, Kosha bit his lip again.

Should he consider it a relief that the man isn’t the ‘King’s Mage’?

…For a moment, he had thought about the possibility that the King’s Mage had betrayed the King. It wasn’t something that happened easily, but if asked if it was absolutely impossible, the answer was not necessarily.

Everything that moved a Mage’s heart. Awe, emotion, or affection… whatever one called it.

If it could move in one direction, it could also move in the opposite.

Of course, it would be difficult under normal circumstances. But if something serious happened, if it became utterly intolerable, and the Mage eventually changed his mind…

In the process, he must have bitten his lip hard. A soft fingertip touched his front tooth.

“You’re bleeding.”

It was a tone used to scold a disobedient child. He clicked his tongue. Even amidst the constant eruption of serious topics, it was as if only Kosha’s torn lip entered those blue-gray pupils.

He turned around, opened a chest of drawers, and began searching. Watching his back blankly, Kosha suddenly wondered.

Even if something tremendous happened and one’s heart changed, would it be possible to harm the human they once chose? Could they ignore them as they died at someone else’s hand?

…Could I end up harming them with my own hands?

Lucian returned shortly with a small metal box in his hand. He scooped out some ointment from inside and applied it to Kosha’s lip. It had a fragrant, pleasant scent, clearly a luxury item. Ointments made cheaply by commoners usually smelled of pungent herbs.

Kosha gazed back at him blankly. His lips trembled.

“I…”

I don’t think I could ever do that… However, the young Mage had no way of knowing the answer. He had never experienced such a thing, nor even seen it. So…

“…First, we should probably deal with the King’s curse, right?”

Starting with what could be done immediately. Kosha asked, trying to steady his heart, which was becoming needlessly anxious. Most nodded in agreement. Suddenly, Renata cut in.

“Is there no reaction or backlash that accompanies breaking a curse? I understand that magic has such things when it’s broken.”

At the sharp question for a human, Kosha shrugged ambiguously.

“I can’t guarantee that. First of all, curses aren’t exactly the field of Mages…”

He would have to raid the archive and study this part again. Feeling overwhelmed, Kosha let out a deep sigh.

“Depending on the case, a curse… can involve unexpected side effects.”

“Side effects, such as?”

“For example… I mean, keeping someone alive who should have already died.”

The end of Kosha’s sentence scattered as small as a whisper.

“If the purpose is to cause prolonged suffering, there are cases where they keep a life alive that should have already ended, while continuing to inflict pain… things like that exist.”

Kosha explained calmly. He had chosen his words carefully in his own way, but that alone was enough to completely dampen the atmosphere in the room.

“So, to summarize,” Lucian spoke slowly.

“If that curse was sustaining the King’s life, the moment the curse is completely broken, he dies?”

“…If we’re unlucky.”

Kosha bowed his head and answered almost only with the shape of his lips.

“Ha…”

Lucian laughed irritably and swept back his hair.

“If we’re that unlucky and the King drops dead, the aftermath will be quite a sight. Since I’m the only one involved, I’ll take the entire fall alone.”

“……”

“Bastian can happily lead his army back and frame me as the regicide. It would provide that pig of a bastard with a magnificent justification.”