LP 3.13 The Prince’s Rebellion

“Then to hell with the trial—” Lucian muttered harshly before suddenly kicking the leg of the side table. A heavy thud echoed through the room, making the people flinch.

While he tended to be relatively free in his words and actions before his subordinates, he usually exercised a certain level of restraint whenever a Mage was present… Several people, including Gosrick and Mylotte, glanced awkwardly back and forth between the Mage and their lord.

The Mage himself simply looked blank, his expression unreadable.

“…Could all of this be part of Bastian’s plan?”

One of the strategists asked suspiciously. Could that man have devised a plan this complex? Everyone was harboring the same doubt.

Rubbing his forehead in irritation, Lucian looked down at Kosha once more.

“If that were the case, why break the curse? He’d be better off just attending to the mad king. He’s been doing that all this time, so it wouldn’t be difficult.”

“Because the curse could kill the king.”

The answer came instantly.

“…Our greatest weakness right now is uncertainty. That is generally the case with ambiguous arts like curses or Blessings. However, Your Highness.”

The Mage, who had briefly cast his eyes down, opened them. Those clear, glass-like green eyes were strangely different from those of a human.

“I am a Mage. It is unthinkable to dare compare a mere parlor trick like a curse to the power of magic.”

His voice was quiet and his expression calm. But in that moment, he looked very… like a Mage. That is to say… not human. Looking down upon humans. Superior to humans.

A ‘Mage’ who felt it was an insult that his opponent was nothing more than a scrap of a curse.

“Rather than knowing such a filthy thing exists and leaving it be, I believe it would be better to deal with it somehow.”

“Then the king’s life…”

“I’ll keep it attached.”

Kosha murmured softly. Lucian’s eyes narrowed slightly. He asked again.

“…For how long?”

“As long as Your Highness desires.”

At that moment, Gosrick witnessed a knight standing opposite him shudder. It was the exact moment a chill ran down his own spine as well.

Who is the person sitting in that spot right now? Looking at that familiar, pretty face, the thought suddenly occurred to him. What on earth is ‘that thing’…

But it was only for a moment.

The being who had been exuding a non-human aura with an expressionless face suddenly blinked, as if snapping back to his senses. The person there was ‘Kosha’ once again. The one who consistently claimed to be a ‘gooseherd.’

“Uh, so, um, I’ll have to study more, but. I don’t know very well. It would be great if I could get more books…”

As if the focused attention on him was sudden, Kosha mumbled while glancing around. His rigid posture slumped slightly, and in an instant, he became ‘human’ again.

But just now, it was definitely strange. Gosrick scratched his head in distress. Of course, there were strange aspects to him when they first brought him in, but lately, it was in a different sense…

To the point where he felt he instinctively understood why Izelant had declared itself a kingdom of ‘humans,’ why they had suppressed Mages so severely, and why it was said that humans and Mages could not coexist…

It was then that Gosrick stealthily checked his lord’s reaction.

“…Fine, then.”

Lucian’s lips opened slowly, and his gaze drifted across his vassals.

“If anyone has a different opinion, speak up.”

It was a process they always went through naturally, but this time, no one dared to open their mouth. Even some of the strategists whose assigned role was to oppose and refute.

And for good reason; the current topic was far beyond the scope of human ability. How could they find a point of refutation for something they didn’t even understand?

“Then let’s do this. I will open the archive of the main tower for you.”

Lucian said, fiddling with Kosha’s hair. The atmosphere in the inner chamber stirred. The King’s magic archive—even a regent could not carelessly…

“Read as much as you want there and study. Then, try to do what you intend to do.”

Yet, Lucian promised this blatantly unreasonable request as naturally as if it were nothing. His voice was completely soft, as sweet as flowing honey.

He seemed entirely detached from the tension weighing down the air of the chamber. As if he hadn’t felt the Mage’s ‘alienness’ at all.

…Or as if he were so drawn to that very part that he couldn’t endure it.

Had he not felt it? Or had he grown accustomed to it? Or perhaps… Just as Gosrick, observing his lord’s change with bated breath, swallowed hard.

“Excuse me…”

The one who finally spoke in a half-stifled voice was Mylotte. He even had one hand raised awkwardly. Unlike his usual self, who spoke caustic words without hesitation, he looked somewhat intimidated. Yes, that is a normal reaction, Gosrick judged, clicking his tongue inwardly.

“Opening the main tower library, yes, it seems unavoidable, and since the matter itself is important, I agree.”

“And?”

“But before that, how about the Mage—sir—visits the quarters of the ‘King’s Mage’ first?”

It was a significantly more honorific expression than he usually used. Lucian immediately frowned.

“Suddenly send him there alone? For what reason?”

“No, whether he goes alone or is accompanied by a guard…”

Mylotte took a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiped the sweat running down his exposed forehead.

“I mean, the doors there are currently locked and there’s no sign of anyone inside. But it might be different for the Mage. He might feel something special, or find an unexpected clue. I mean, I wouldn’t know. I don’t know, but…”

After struggling to choose his words for a while, Mylotte’s gaze turned back to Lucian.

“…Your Highness, opening the main tower library must be done in your name, and in the unlikely event that things go wrong, you may have to take responsibility for it later.”

“Responsibility. To whom? My insane father?”

“To anyone! Whether it’s the King or whoever—even Arabella, who isn’t paying any attention right now, is still very much alive and watching. The main tower library is…”

Mylotte couldn’t continue and shook his head.

“We must always assume the worst-case scenario. Please understand. That’s why, if there’s something else we can try before that…”

“Is there time for that right now?”

“…I think that could work too?”

It was the Mage who broke the confrontation between the lord and his vassal.

“If the door is locked by that person’s mana and will, even I wouldn’t be able to open it…”

The Mage opened his mouth slightly, thinking for a moment, and then nodded enthusiastically.

“But I could detect the inside or look for traces left around… You’re right, I think it’s necessary to go. Why didn’t I think of that? I was just too focused on handling the curse.”

“……”

“You’re truly wise, Mylotte!”

Kosha praised Mylotte with a bright smile. Mylotte let out an awkward laugh with an ambiguous expression—neither smiling nor crying—and rolled his eyes to check his lord’s reaction. Lucian’s expression crumpled strangely.

“…So you’re saying you’ll go there?”

“I’m just going to take a look…”

And if he could track the ‘traces’ of the King’s Mage there. He wanted to ask for help if possible. After all, that person would be a Mage of superior skill and friendly toward ‘humans.’

He had come this far by devouring books, but honestly, self-study is not easy. It would be perfect if he could find a suitable ‘teacher’ in various ways…

Mana fully settled in his body, the arrogance flowing through his lineage, and the confidence that came with it. The only thing the young Mage lacked was ‘experience.’

However, Kosha forced this desire back down. He must not carelessly reveal his desire to find his own kind to humans. An instinctive wariness reared its head without warning.

Kosha had fully accepted Lucian as an ally… but what about his vassals?

The Mage’s green eyes quickly scanned the people in the inner chamber.

“How about I just go and come back quickly? Is it very far?”

“It’s right in the north tower. Not far from the main tower.”

Someone else answered instead of the hesitating Lucian. Kosha brightened.

“Then I could go even tonight. If you just tell me the way…”

“Are you crazy? You’re going there alone? And at night?”

Lucian asked sternly. Uh… since everyone seemed busy, he thought it was right to handle things he could do alone on his own. Kosha scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“You said time was short. And I can protect myself.”

“……”

“Ah, if you’re planning to attach someone as a monitor…”

“No, I’m not suggesting we monitor you right now.”

Lucian hurriedly cut Kosha off, frowning. But he too was momentarily speechless, as if he didn’t know how to express it.

After an awkward silence, Lucian finally spoke again. He sounded like he was coaxing a child, or perhaps trying hard to endure something.

“In the court, you don’t move alone no matter what. Regardless of how great you are.”

“Ah.”

“Of course I can protect myself, but I don’t move alone. It’s like that. Do you understand?”

Whether he actually found the makeshift explanation convincing or not, Kosha nodded obediently. Just as Lucian let out a short sigh and swept back his hair to push through his next point—

“So first—”

“Then I shall accompany him.”

An alien voice intervened. Since no one had expected it, all eyes immediately shifted.

A knight with a neat impression and short-cut black hair stepped forward.

“As a guard. Or in any capacity. I will accompany the Mage to the north tower.”

Blue-grey eyes and dark-brown eyes met head-on in the air.

“…Sir Eydrick.”

Lucian spoke in a low voice.

“Is there a reason you’re volunteering?”

Lucian asked again. His tone was slightly different from the one he usually used with the knight he cherished like a younger brother.

“Was I not originally the right person for such a task?”

The young knight countered without a hint of polite hesitation.

“I happen to be acquainted with the Mage as well.”

“……”

“Above all, I am capable of moving even at night, am I not?”

Gosrick’s mouth dropped open involuntarily. The expressions of the others were similar.

Wasn’t this an outright provocation? You are in a position where your feet are tied at ‘night,’ but I am not. And to do this as a knight, against none other than his own lord!

T-this brat has gone mad…! Gosrick gasped in shock.

The confrontation between the lord with his flamboyant blonde features and the knight with his neat black hair created an extremely sharp contrast, weighing down the air of the inner chamber.

Meanwhile, the Mage was just rolling his eyes back and forth in the middle. He knew the atmosphere was bad, but he seemed bewildered as to why the two of them were suddenly acting like this.

This is driving me crazy. Just as Gosrick was worrying about whether he should step in and was rubbing his forehead—

“I can’t move at night?”

Lucian let out a smirk.

“I believe we had a military meeting all night just last night. If my memory serves me right, you were there as well, Sir.”

“……”

The knight’s face, which had been calm throughout, stiffened slightly. And a moment later, the innocent Kosha’s face turned bright red.

Yesterday afternoon, at sunset. He had been abruptly dragged into the office by the man who claimed to have much work to do all night, pushed against the wall with only his lower half exposed, and they had hurriedly engaged in relations. Of course, it wasn’t just sex, but something closer to a type of ‘treatment.’

Since they did it almost every day, the whole process flowed naturally. Kissing, hands diving under clothes, the drawstring of the pants undone in the blink of an eye, and mostly Lucian unilaterally sucking on various parts of Kosha…

Moreover, lately, Kosha’s lower part remained somewhat soft even without much effort. Whether it was because they did it too often, or because a Mage’s body was softer.

Perhaps that was why Lucian lately seemed even more…

…Ahem. Kosha struggled to drive the lewd imaginations from his head. But Lucian spoke faster.

“So what reason is there for ‘me’ not to move? Even tonight.”

Kosha’s mouth fell open at the unexpectedly brazen words. In any case, to Kosha’s ears, it was simply a declaration that they would have sex again today.

No, wait, what about my consent? A flustered Kosha stammered. Of course, if he coaxed him gently, there was a high possibility Kosha would just fall for it—they had lived like that almost every day so far… But still, even so…!

Meanwhile, that embarrassment was shared by some of the vassals who knew about the ‘temporary detoxification method.’ They desperately averted their eyes, striving not to look at the Mage with ‘inappropriate’ eyes.

Only Eydrick was the exception. His dark-brown eyes gazed at Lucian without wavering.

“Then are you saying you will personally ‘escort’ the Mage to the north tower, tonight?”

Lucian did not avoid that gaze. The corners of his mouth tilted diagonally. As if it were somewhat absurd. How many of these useless, meaningless, trivial power struggles between men had he experienced?

“Why wouldn’t I be able to?”

He answered calmly, and Gosrick finally burst in.

“Your Highness!”

A sharp gaze that seemed to ask ‘What now?’ pierced Gosrick.

“Your Highness, right now… such a matter, for you to personally take care of such a detail…”

Gosrick, who had spoken hastily, struggled to choose his words. The lord escorting a vassal? What kind of backward logic was this? Moreover, it was unclear if that Mage was even a ‘vassal.’

“…I do not believe it is a matter that requires Your Highness to step in personally.”

By all accounts, it would be proper to leave such a task to Eydrick, or another knight if he strongly disliked it. In other words, his lord was currently attempting to ignore all the order and efficiency he had valued until now…

“Do you decide what I shall do, Sir Gosrick?”

But it didn’t work at all. For a moment, the image of a nine-year-old blonde brat who never listened overlapped.

“Um…”

It was a clumsy voice that broke the uncomfortable atmosphere. Everyone’s gaze shifted there. The Mage had his hand raised awkwardly.

“Then… would you like to go tomorrow instead of today…?”

“……”

“If we move early at sunrise, it won’t take up much time, and since it’ll be quiet, wouldn’t that be better?”

The Mage, who had somehow pulled his hat deep over his head and looked a bit intimidated, continued while cautiously reading the room.

“And how about everyone gets some sleep tonight? Unless there’s something incredibly urgent. I heard you had a meeting all night yesterday.”

People originally need to get a good night’s sleep, you know…? the Mage added.

Whether Mage or human, that much was equal for everyone.

“Let’s decide to sleep today before things get busier… and tomorrow, uh, those who have time, let’s go together. Your Highness, Sir Eydrick too—since we don’t know what might happen, safety is best. Um, Sir Gosrick, do you want to come too?”

“M-me?”

Gosrick asked back, forgetting the situation. But the Mage’s face was beaming, without a hint of sarcasm. As if he were entirely sincere.

“…Is that not good?”

The Mage looked up at Lucian. His softly curled eyelashes were long, and his green eyes were moist and large. His nose was round, and his lips were plump.

Lucian, meeting his eyes, paused.

And Gosrick witnessed his lord, who had seemed like a disobedient nine-year-old, return to a proper adult male in an instant. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed once, and Lucian asked slowly.

“Is that what you want?”

It was a tone of voice completely different from how he usually spoke—soft. It was surprisingly accepting. Kosha nodded enthusiastically.

Eventually, Lucian let out a low sigh, carelessly swept back his hair, and looked at his vassals.

“…Anyone here with an opposing opinion?”

Naturally, there was none.

---

The first to storm out of the inner chamber was Eydrick. His stride was visibly insolent and irritable. It was unlike him.

Others, who wanted to leave this uncomfortable place as quickly as possible, also hurried to pack their things. The only ones left until the end were the slow-moving Mage and Gosrick.