LP 3.15 The Prince’s Rebellion

Was he even a Mage of common birth? The vocabulary that man used… Gosrick's mouth hung open as if he were speechless.

“Have you forgotten how many people here still wish for nothing but Your Highness's downfall? Can you truly not judge how dangerous this situation is right now?”

“…….”

Lucian did not answer immediately.

Silence flowed, and his prominent Adam's apple bobbed slowly. His jaw tightened, and then his lips slowly parted.

“…Sir Gosrick, take a deep breath.”

It was a slow, calm, and emotionless voice.

“That there should be no secrets? Yes, I did say that. However, I am also the one who determines the timing and the criteria.”

“…….”

“Wait until I can make a sufficiently appropriate judgment. Is that so difficult to understand?”

Lucian asked, tilting his head slightly. The overbearing tone, the slightly raised chin, the gaze looking down upon the opponent, these were basic techniques used to project intimidation and establish dignity.

Gosrick himself had been the one to teach him those things, but Lucian always managed to exceed what he had been taught. Unconsciously, Gosrick lowered his gaze.

“Don't make a scene. As you said, this is no light matter. That is why I am saying I will handle the tracking and management of this issue separately until then.”

“…Then, what happens when ‘then’ arrives?”

“Then, I shall ‘dispose’ of it according to the needs and judgment of that time.”

An answer heavier than expected fell with surprising lightness. For a moment, he felt Eydrick's fingertips twitch, but he pretended not to notice.

“Does that answer your question?”

“…….”

“Then go out and cool your head. Drink some water, or wash your face with cold water.”

His hand pointed ruthlessly toward the door. Gosrick, who had been holding his breath and keeping his mouth shut as if he had no choice, eventually bowed his head and turned around.

Just before he opened the door and left, a mocking voice caught Gosrick from behind.

“And here I thought you were on my side. I didn't realize you were such a cold-hearted man, Sir.”

The knight's heavy footsteps faltered. Complex and desperate emotions tangled across the face of a man who had lived his entire life with steadfast honesty.

However, he ultimately left the room without looking back.

Thud. The door closed, and Lucian, who had been staring at the door without moving, sat on the chair with an irritated slump.

A shadow cast over him.

“And who are you now?”

Holding his forehead, Lucian muttered carelessly without even looking up. The posture of the knight standing there, sword strapped over his formal attire, was rigid. He spoke in a low voice.

“Did you say, ‘dispose’?”

“…….”

“That Mage has worked for Your Highness until now.”

A man who was already taciturn was speaking quite a lot without being asked. Instead of an answer, Lucian let out a short laugh.

“What kind of ‘disposal’ do you intend to carry out?”

“How should I know that right now?”

“In deciding that disposal, will the weighing of merits and faults be conducted justly?”

Lucian, who had been sitting with his hand on his forehead, looked up irritably.

“Why didn't you say such things while Gosrick was here?”

“That Mage is currently helping Your Highness with all his heart and soul; how can you bring the word ‘disposal’ to your lips?”

“Then what word should I have brought to my lips?”

Lucian snapped up from his seat irritably. The two men were nearly similar in height and build, standing at a distance perfect for grabbing each other by the collar.

“Hmm? What on earth should I have answered?”

‘Answer.’ That word was ambiguous. Lucian was the lord, in a position where he had to provide answers to his vassals. Any answer, whatever answer, that could satisfy them or at least make them understand. Because he was the one who bore the responsibility. It was also the price of a trust that staked one's life.

Once he decided to become the master, he could never evade that duty.

But….

Eydrick's dark brown eyes, which had briefly looked down, stared straight at Lucian once more.

“I am different from Your Highness.”

“…….”

For a moment, a murderous intent flashed through those blue-gray eyes. It was something he had never seen in the eyes of his ‘lord,’ who had always felt like an older brother, but….

A young knight in his prime, who had traversed battlefields until he was sick of them, was already far too familiar with that ‘murderous intent.’

“Is that so? And how exactly are you so different?”

A large hand wearing two thick rings gripped Eydrick's shoulder. Veins stood out on the smooth back of his hand.

“You've been bewitched, Sir Eydrick.”

Bewitched by that guy— Lucian muttered to himself.

“Have you already forgotten how well another race can bewitch humans? How disappointing.”

“No, I have not forgotten.”

The answer was immediate.

“Nor have I been bewitched. I have simply been watching him all along.”

“…….”

“Of course, according to ‘Your Highness's orders.’”

Eydrick added slowly. It was the truth. All along, since Osterwick. Eydrick had taken on the role of ‘monitoring’ the Mage, sometimes secretly, sometimes openly.

“Throughout the time I watched him, he did not show a single instance of disloyalty.”

It was a voice so calm that his inner thoughts were impossible to read. As always.

“If I, who watched him, do not speak on his behalf, then who will? And I have not been bewitched.”

“…….”

“If I were bewitched, it wouldn't have stopped at just this.”

The final words, added with a small smile, were quite aggressive, though he didn't make it overtly obvious.

Lucian's gaze scanned the knight as if searching for something. …Wouldn't have stopped at just this? Then what more could you possibly do in front of me? The corners of his mouth twisted.

“You certainly are something.”

So knightly, righteous, and wonderful, huh? Lucian muttered, patting the shoulder of his cherished knight. It sounded somewhat sarcastic.

“Since you are so wonderful, it can't be helped.”

He lowered his head a bit more, and his voice dropped further.

“Go and investigate the treason cases related to Grafen's Prince Regent within the last 20 years.”

Those words were barely audible even to Eydrick.

“Do it yourself.”

The corners of Lucian's eyes were vividly red. Fatigue, or anger? As if he were suppressing something that was about to explode… Eydrick's brow furrowed slightly.

“I trust that you will satisfy my confidence, Eydrick.”

As he spoke each word with emphasis, he felt Eydrick staring at him intently. Lucian hoped that he would not argue further or ask any additional questions. If he spoke one more word here, he felt he might lose control of his emotions and flip the table next to him.

Fortunately, Eydrick slowly bowed his head.

“I shall keep that in mind.”

The young knight, having wiped all expression from his face, turned and left the room.

And Lucian….

His large frame slowly collapsed.

He slumped into the nearest chair in a reckless posture and leaned his head back.

The ceiling painting of the drawing room was ornate. A painting depicting the chronicles of human heroes came into view. Among them were the past kings of the Kingdom of Asilla and Izelant.

“…….”

The reason he had stayed by the Mage's side until he opened his eyes was not simply because he was worried about the Mage's body. It was more so to ensure that no one else heard the nonsense he might spout.

Having fallen asleep after taking a sedative, he had been quiet. He didn't answer even when his name was called. Sitting alone in that silence, what on earth had he been thinking? He had thought every thought possible. And at the same time, he could think of nothing.

Whispering in the Graphen language back then had been a sort of impulse. [Young Master], he had said. That title used to address the noble boys of Grafen.

And for the first time, the Mage's lips moved.

[…Nanny.]

‘…….’

[I'm scared….]

The voice was faint, as if it might vanish at any moment. He looked so fragile that Lucian realized anew how steadfastly and firmly the Mage usually spoke.

The moment he realized that, he missed that steadfast Mage. Not this ‘thing’ of unknown identity.

[Who are you?]

He tried whispering in the Graphen language into his ear once more, but there was no further answer. Instead, tears began to stream from the closed eyes, and he spent all his energy wiping them away and soothing him.

After putting him through every hardship imaginable, the man had opened his eyes blankly after a full day….

Lucian bit his lip firmly.

‘You are gentle, kind, and the most wonderful person.’

‘More sincerely than anything else.’

“…….”

If he had been slightly less compliant, it wouldn't be like this. If he had been slightly less cooperative. If he had seemed slightly less naive. If any of those words had sounded even a little bit like flattery. If they had seemed even a little bit less sincere.

…If he had looked even a little bit less lovely.

“I'm out of my mind.”

Staring blankly at the ceiling, Lucian finally covered his eyes with his hand and pressed down.

The crime of foreign threat is very convenient. That is why it is used quite often.

Allisa, the King's fourth child and Lucian's second older sister—how had Bastian sent her away, along with Arabella, who had supported her? Had he not framed her for collusion with the Yak forces of southern Seodin and applied the crime of foreign threat?

The crime of foreign threat, along with the crime of treason, is the easiest charge to prosecute. It doesn't even require much evidence.

Arabella, who was practically Allisa's ‘lord,’ had no choice but to give up on her the moment that charge was mentioned.

The best Arabella could do for her was to save her life by marrying Allisa off to the Yak King to get her out of the way. Although Allisa had to marry a man twenty years her senior and could never set foot on her home soil again.

And the one Arabella brought in to fill Allisa's void was Lucian. A mere nineteen-year-old brat who had not yet been recognized as the King's biological child.

Is that ‘crime of foreign threat’ from back then, which made Lucian a ‘prince,’ coming back to him like this?

Covering his eyes, Lucian chuckled like a madman. He had accused Eydrick of being ‘bewitched,’ but who was the one truly deserving of blame?

“Ah….”

Lucian took his hand away from his eyes and sighed slowly.

Gosrick was right. It was a time to be cautious, and anything that could become a danger should be pruned in advance. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't think of a way to ‘prune’ him. He knew numerous ways to ‘dispose’ of a person, but he couldn't imagine applying any of them to that Mage.

Such things… did not suit him.

Am I really ‘Rainbalt’?

No, I am not. Lucian forced strength into his trembling hand. He was not yet an ‘unnecessary’ person. Because the King's curse existed.

How fortunate it was that the useless old man had been struck by a curse in his final years.

Lucian laughed irritably once more.

Therefore, he must be kept by his side for now. This was a rational judgment. Even if it were a case of being ‘bewitched,’ it was fine. Because the tricks of magic could be broken at any time. He could just ‘break’ it later when he was no longer needed. He could solve everything.

Lucian forced himself to stand up. His head throbbed and he felt like his stomach was turning, but there was much to be done immediately. Because he was the ‘lord.’

And first of all, he summoned a royal attendant and ordered that ‘soft food for a patient recovering from an illness be brought to the bedroom.’

After eating his fill of a stew simmered with milk and potatoes, it seemed he had fallen asleep while browsing through the magic tome Lucian had sent along with the food.

When he snapped his eyes open, it was the middle of the night. And before his eyes… a blond man was asleep.

Lying on his side, facing Kosha. Even though the bed was this wide, he was sleeping in a posture as if he were barely squeezing in.

“Your Highness…?”

Kosha called to him quietly. There was no response. His breathing was steady; he seemed to be asleep.

Did he have relations with me while I was sleeping? Kosha fumbled to check his own body. It didn't particularly feel that way.

Looking around, he saw a medicine bowl. The lizard that had emerged from Kosha's bosom crawled over and inspected the inside of the bowl, then frowned.

What he felt through the lizard suggested it was likely a sleeping pill.

Suddenly, he felt a sense of pity. He could have just woken me up. I would have given him sex or sleep magic.

After hesitating for a moment, Kosha raised his hand and lightly touched his cheek. Isn't it instinct to want to touch something that is so beautiful and sparkling? To Kosha's eyes, he often looked like the sun. Even inside this pitch-black bedroom.

Even with a light touch, there was still no response. So, he took the opportunity to gently touch the bridge of his nose and his eyelashes. The color of his eyelashes and eyebrows was darker than his hair, closer to brown. He suddenly wondered what color they would be if he grew a beard like Gosrick. However, he soon reached the conclusion that since his jawline was beautiful, it would be better not to grow a beard.

The lizard shook its head and climbed up Kosha's body. Come to think of it….

“It's been a while since I've seen you.”

Kosha asked with a hint of resentment and suspicion. He had no memory of seeing the creature since the north tower. The lizard tilted its head.

“Were you with me in the north tower?”

Since he couldn't feel the tactile sensation even when they were touching, there was no way to know. Generally, it seemed to be inside his bosom.

“If you were with me, you should have stopped me. There was definitely something there, right?”

His memories from the moment he touched that skeleton were completely jumbled. He was certain he had vomited, but after that… it felt like he had a nightmare, and according to Lucian, he had whimpered and suffered, but his mind was completely black.

However, the lizard only tilted its head the other way. I can't communicate with it… Kosha let out a deep sigh.

“He really is the King's Mage, right? Who made him like that? Sir Eydrick said he probably didn't die there. But….”

Kosha, who had been muttering to himself in a very low voice, almost only moving his lips, suddenly frowned and bit his lip.

“Did magic intervene in his death?”

At that question, the lizard, which had been doing nothing but tilting its head, straightened its head and looked at Kosha.

And those large, shining eyes… seemed like an affirmative answer.

“But who on earth… could turn a person into a skeleton like that in one go? I can't even gauge what kind of magic it is. Was it the work of that red-haired person? Is that person such a great Mage?”

Then, the lizard, which had been staring at Kosha, hopped and jumped off the bed. Where are you going! Kosha shouted with his lips, but the lizard didn't even pretend to hear.

The lizard lightly climbed onto the bedroom door handle. Kosha's mouth fell open.

“N-no.”

He urgently looked at the man sleeping beside him. Seeing that he remained peacefully asleep even while he was making a fuss with the lizard, it seemed he had fallen asleep with a very potent drug. Kosha shook his head again.

“I don't think I should go out recklessly….”

He tried saying it cautiously, but… the lizard, after looking at Kosha for a moment, flicked its tongue and played dumb.

Are you really going to listen to that? To a human's words? Aren't you curious? Aren't you curious about the truth? No one will know if you go and come back quickly. It's an important matter, isn't it? Shouldn't you check? You're a magic being, are you just going to leave such a risk alone? That's practically the same as attacking you.

It was as if the lizard were injecting thoughts into Kosha's head. No, it wasn't. Those were Kosha's thoughts.

They were the ‘Mage's’ thoughts.

…Yes, I can't just leave such an arrogant thing alone.

The troubled expression vanished completely, and his eyes glowed green. The ‘Mage’ slowly looked back at the human sleeping beside him.

“I'll be back soon.”

My beloved human. His lips softly touched the human's forehead. Magic containing peace and stability seeped into the human's head.

The Mage quietly pulled back the blanket and rose from the bed. The lizard jumped excitedly on the handle.

Under the Mage's hand, the door opened smoothly without any resistance, and then closed. And only the human remained in the room.

Kosha barely remembered the way to the north tower, but he had a wonderful guide lizard. Following the lizard, which led the way excitedly, a familiar door appeared.

The north tower during curfew hours was still devoid of people and had few lights, making it ‘dreary,’ but it was distinctly different from that time. The strangely chilling energy was no longer felt.

…Ah, perhaps he had already fallen into a trap since then. The Mage intuited.

The door was the same as before. Once again, it was perfectly blocked by three red silk cords and a wax seal.