Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 353

Episode 353

“Very well. But it seems you only brought one knight with you. Are you the only ones who came here?”

“Ah, no. I brought my mother and nanny as well. They are staying in the nearby Zion Village.”

“I see. This area will soon become dangerous, so bring them all into the camp. I will have a tent prepared for you. Let’s see… next to Sir Serik’s tent would be good.”

“Your Majesty… what?”

Anikka, who had not yet emerged from her emotional daze, widened her eyes at Isana’s last words. The location choice was so loaded with meaning that the intention was unmistakable. As the Imperial Guards burst into laughter, Kay and Anikka’s faces turned bright red. Isana, staring at the two with a mischievous glint in his eyes, winked.

“I hope to hear good news soon.”

* * *

“Baron Schutel has agreed to defect.”

The progress report that arrived that night pleased everyone. Baron Schutel agreed to defect without hesitation upon hearing that the Imperial Army was protecting Anikka. The Red Hawk’s report included a personal comment that he seemed to have been waiting for this moment. Isana’s lips quirked upward.

“Good.”

“Yes. His defection is a great gain. Baron Schutel is a key figure who attends headquarters meetings. This will give us access to classified information that the current Red Hawk could not have obtained.”

Kay’s face was bright as he reported. Even a perfect plan could go awry, but this time, even with a bit of a gamble, things seemed to be working out well.

“We should thank her. The reward will be Kay, as is.”

“…Your Majesty, please don’t tease me.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m just so amazed that the first spring day has come to my steadfast knight. I thought you would live and die a bachelor.”

“I highly doubt that you are truly sorry, but I will let it pass. Anyway, please continue listening to the report. Baron Schutel has already passed on some information. It seems that the situation at their headquarters is turning a bit strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“It seems that a strange rumor is spreading in the capital. It is said that the Grand Duke tried to massacre the nobles at a banquet. There is also a story that he went into hiding after the failure.”

Kay’s expression turned serious as he read the report. Isana also dropped his relaxed expression and his face hardened.

“That’s hard to believe.”

“They think so too. Duke Wecan immediately contained it, so the story didn’t spread widely. However…”

“However?”

“It seems that contact with the Grand Duke has not been smooth recently. Count Setnio sent someone to the capital to assess the situation. Baron Schutel said he would find out more details about this.”

“What about our informant planted in the capital?”

“There was no news as of this morning. If it’s true, we should be hearing from them now, so we’ll have to wait another day.”

The fastest means of communication currently available is a communication device made of magic stones. However, it is not very common because the purchase cost is high and magic power must be injected each time it is used. Especially in times of war like now, they prefer carrier pigeons as a safer method, because of attempts to plant devices that interfere with or eavesdrop on each other’s camps. In fact, the Imperial Army’s special forces, the ‘Pigeon’ unit, had recently laid magic stones that interfered with the flow of magic power in the Grand Duke’s camp. That may be the reason why they have not been able to contact the Grand Duke smoothly. Isana sank deep into his chair and pondered.

“If it’s a banquet, are you talking about the banquet El attended?”

“Could it be that El is involved in that rumor?”

“Maybe.”

“I don’t know how the situation is going. It’s a shame that we didn’t set up a means of communication with El. I didn’t think the schedule would be this long. It would be nice if we could contact you first in times like this. We can’t send a spirit to the capital. But you said we can’t summon El here either.”

Isana nodded grimly. Summoning always requires the same amount of mana [magical energy]. It doesn’t matter if the Spirit King reveals himself, but if the spirit master wants to call him, he has to use the same amount of mana as when he first summoned him. Thanks to his constant efforts, Isana’s spirit magic has now reached a level that is second to none. He could boast that he was the strongest of all water spirit masters, as well as all existing human spirit masters. However, he was still not at a level where he could summon the Spirit King. The process by which he contracted with El was accompanied by many strokes of luck, and it was truly nothing short of a miracle. If he tried again now, the mana consumption would be so severe that he might have a heart attack. El had already repeatedly emphasized that point before leaving. He couldn’t ignore that warning.

“Even Your Majesty, who can handle so many Sicquels [a unit of magical power], has to be careful. The Spirit King must be a truly great being. Sometimes I can’t believe that such a person is on our side.”

“I think so too. I think it’s best to watch the situation a little more. If something happens that we can’t handle, El will contact us.”

“Yes, I understand. In the meantime, we will find out as much as we can.”

“Is that the end of the report?”

“No. There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“We have received a message from the Carter Empire. From the sage, Daniel.”

“Ah.”

Isana recalled the man in the black robe who had once visited him. The chief court wizard of the Carter Empire, a professor at the Yan Academy, and the Crown Prince’s teacher. He knew that the Crown Prince had run away from home, but he did not inform the Imperial Family of this fact and secretly searched for his whereabouts. He remembered him earnestly asking him to contact him if he found the Crown Prince.

“Come to think of it, he was there. I had completely forgotten.”

“Yes, but I think you should be a little careful.”

“…?”

“He expressed his intention to help with the Crown Prince’s repatriation. He said he would actively cooperate so that the issue of the destined partner would not lead to a dispute between the empires.”

Isana’s eyes, which had been looking at him questioningly, narrowed coldly. He had never informed Daniel of any information since he met the Crown Prince. The fact that he mentioned the Crown Prince’s repatriation as if it were natural had many implications. Isana tapped the desk lightly with his fingertips for a while, then got up from his seat.

“What is the Crown Prince doing now?”

* * *

The Yan Academy, known as the best prestigious school in the Carter Empire, is famous for not hiring just anyone, even assistant instructors. It was a ruthless school that would never give undergraduate students a diploma unless they proved their abilities, and it was also a heartless workplace that would cut off professors and faculty members at once if they did not show periodic research results. Scholar Serium was an incurable instructor who had endured for more than 10 years in such a desperate environment. The days he had endured, clinging to meager research funds and salaries in the face of the evil principal’s whims, were always a very difficult time to look back on. It was so dirty and mean that when he first quit, he even swore that he would never pee in the direction of the academy. But for the past few days, he had been desperately longing for those days. It was because of Crown Prince Raonhizen, who had been confined to his tent since he was kidnapped and returned. He was spending his days eating nothing and sleeping all day long. The reason given was that he was not feeling well, but those who knew the truth, including Serium, knew the real reason he was suffering.

‘I can’t believe Haas was a spy.’

Serium clicked his tongue. He never imagined that he, the quietest and most timid of the group, would be a spy. Dai, who was always with him, was also very shocked. He couldn’t even imagine how heartbroken the Crown Prince must be.

Serium, Asel, Haas, and Dai. The escorts for this journey, consisting of four people, were carefully selected by Raonhizen himself, who chose them as his own trusted people. Knowing how wary he was of those around him, he could understand the sense of loss and betrayal he was feeling now. However, he couldn’t just leave him alone, suffering like that for days.

“Your Highness, you must eat.”

“…….”

“If you don’t eat anything, you will harm your body.”

“……Get out.”

“Your Highness, please don’t do that, please.”

“I told you to get out.”

The same stalemate continued for days. Serium and Dai took turns coaxing and appeasing him, but the Crown Prince’s attitude did not change. Asel, who had a subtly cold personality, tried to comfort him a few times, but when he didn’t budge, he simply left. He told him to ignore him because he would get better, but Serium couldn’t do that. The Crown Prince already had too many wounds to bear. This incident may have driven an irreversible wedge into his heart. He was worried that he would remain trapped forever behind a wall like this.

“Is the Crown Prince not feeling well?”

At that moment, Serium jumped up at the voice he heard from behind. He hurriedly turned around and widened his eyes when he saw the blonde young man standing there.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

“It seems I startled you.”

“Ah, no. What brings Your Majesty here…….”

Serium, flustered, glanced inside. Fortunately, Raonhizen, who had been so unmoving, was seen getting up. Even he couldn’t ignore the Emperor’s visit. Serium was relieved, but also nervous. Everyone knew that the relationship between these two was not very good. He was on edge, not knowing how rude the Crown Prince, who was already in a sensitive state, would be.

“It’s been a while, Crown Prince. Am I disturbing your rest?”

“No. I greet Your Majesty. I apologize for greeting you in such a shabby state.”

“Don’t worry, I visited you without permission. I heard you haven’t been eating properly these days. If you’re not feeling well, should I call a military doctor? Wouldn’t it be better to get a proper examination?”

“It’s not enough to worry about. I’m fine.”

However, the conversation was more ordinary than expected. Serium widened his eyes again. As far as he knew, this was the first time Raonhizen had shown such a mild reaction in front of the Emperor. The Emperor was also surprised, and made a surprised expression before smiling. Raonhizen pretended not to notice, but he couldn’t hide the fact that his expression was becoming awkward.

What on earth is going on? Serium exchanged curious glances with Dai next to him. Raonhizen, noticing their expressions, hardened his face and sent them a look. It meant to get out immediately. When they stood there pretending not to notice, his gaze became increasingly fierce. Still, the two endured.

“I have something to say to the Crown Prince alone. Would you excuse us for a moment?”

It was the Emperor’s voice that settled the situation. No matter how bold the two were, there was no way they could disobey the Emperor’s words. In the end, they had no choice but to leave the tent as if they were being chased out. They were sorry that they couldn’t hear the conversation, but they felt relieved when they came out. Squatting in front of the tent, the two were still stroking their surprised hearts.

“Serium, did you see that? For some reason, His Highness the Crown Prince didn’t stand up to the Emperor.”

“I know. Did he lose his thorns because he hadn’t eaten for days?”

“He’s doing a good job of setting up those thorns for us, though.”

“Oh, really……?”

What on earth is going on?

The two repeated the thoughts they had had a little while ago. It seemed like there would be two suns tomorrow.

Inside the tent, where only the two of them were left after the escorts left, there was an awkward silence for a while. Raonhizen, who was waiting for the other person to speak first, was startled by the touch that suddenly reached his forehead. He raised his head in a daze and met Isana’s eyes, who had touched his forehead without a word.

“?!”

“Ah, there’s no fever. You don’t look bad, but I was just wondering.”

“……As you can see. I’m not sick.”

“If you skip meals, people tend to think you’re sick. Isn’t that the easiest sign to recognize? Skipping meals is not common unless you need to fight or when you’re sick.”

“……I won’t skip meals anymore.”

“Good thinking.”

Even after his hand fell, the warmth remained on his forehead. Raonhizen fidgeted with his hands, feeling awkward at the unfamiliar sensation. He had never experienced anyone touching his forehead to check his temperature, even when he was young. He had never been sick enough to have a fever, but in the first place, there were few people who could readily touch the body of a member of the Imperial Family. It wasn’t easy to meet those who could even once a day. Of course, even if they were in a relationship where they saw each other often, they wouldn’t have checked his temperature directly. The Imperial Family was not supposed to show weakness even to blood relatives. Of course, they shouldn’t show that they were sick, and they considered it immature to reveal it. Even before he came to his senses, Raonhizen always checked his own condition.

If he felt like he was going to be in unbearable pain, he would call the palace doctor for an examination. The pulse was taken using magical tools, so there was almost no contact even then.

Just as you can make dishes you’ve eaten, the same goes for how you treat people. In the past, he would have felt jealousy even at such a trivial act. But today, he wasn’t as edgy as before.

“Your Majesty, you check the temperature like this.”

He just muttered quietly. Then Isana widened his eyes and smiled with a look of understanding.