A Sister's Resolve
After receiving the course list from Aipman, I returned to the dormitory.
On the carriage ride back, Lua beamed as she studied the list, but for some reason I could not bring myself to share her joy.
“You’re that happy about getting in?”
“Yes! We don’t have to sit through boring etiquette classes here.”
“Those weren’t proper etiquette lessons to begin with. Anyway, Lua.”
Lua blinked her clear, lovely eyes at me.
“What did you mean when you said you wanted to support me?”
“Exactly what I said. You never wanted the throne until recently, right?”
“You’re right. I used to ignore my duties as a prince and lose myself in swordsmanship.”
Lua shook her head at my words.
“That wasn’t your fault. Solea is a knight kingdom, after all. Father was a knight before he became king. And you achieved the incredible feat of reaching the fifth circle at fifteen.”
Nothing but praise.
I knew Mother had worked tirelessly to make Lua king, but I had never been able to tell whether Lua actually wanted the throne.
The last time I looked into her memories, the vision had ended before I could find out.
“Lua. You……”
Would you have wanted to be king if I had never secured the right of succession?
“I will become king if I must. But if I don’t have to, then I won’t.”
Lua gave an answer that went one step ahead, as if she had read my mind.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I have no real desire for the throne. But watching what you’ve been doing lately, I’ve come to feel something.”
I waited quietly for her to continue.
“A king must bear duties and responsibilities to his country. He can’t do whatever he wants, and he can’t travel freely just because he feels like it. But if I feel that doesn’t suit you, Brother, am I mistaken?”
Lua had hit the mark exactly.
The moment I returned, I had secured the right of succession from Father, but my greater goal had been to gain his support in rooting out the imperial spies hidden in Solea.
A great calamity was coming.
A massive demon invasion that would engulf the entire world.
There was still time, but there was far too much to prepare before then.
In my previous life, Father had died early at the empire’s hands.
This time I intended to do everything I could to prevent that, so the day I inherited the throne might be much farther in the future.
But if it became certain that I would succeed him, would I still be able to carry out all my preparations for the demon invasion while also preparing to become king?
“The fact that you visited the empire before we left is another example. Could you have done that if you were already king?”
“No. If something happened to the head of state, it would be disastrous.”
“Even so……”
Lua folded the course list she had been holding and leaned against my arm, wrapping her hands around it.
“I believe you would make a good king. I’m sure of it.”
Even though I was the older brother, my little sister was the one offering deeper consideration.
“Lua.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Become king.”
Lua straightened up from where she had been leaning against me.
She met my gaze with steady eyes.
“Do you really mean that?”
“I do. There are many things I must do from now on. To do them, I cannot afford to be tied down.”
“I already told you. If I must become king, then I will. But are you truly all right with handing the right of succession to me? You won’t regret it?”
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“All right. Then I’ll become king. I’ll become king and help you with everything you need to do.”
“Thank you. Thank you for understanding. In a way, I’m passing my burden on to you.”
“It’s fine! Really! I was already planning to take the throne so you could keep focusing on swordsmanship. This way Father and Mother won’t expect so much from you, and you’ll be free to do whatever you want.”
So that was why Lua had received succession training in the previous life.
“Hmm, but if that’s the case, I’ll have to rethink my entire course list from the beginning. I dreamed of supporting you from the side, but now I should focus on lectures that will help me become a better king……”
Even after discussing such a heavy topic, Lua naturally pulled out the course list again and began reading it as if nothing had happened.
She had pulled me out of my deep thoughts.
Once I settled the matter of succession with my sister—a question that had weighed on me for a long time—my path forward became much clearer.
To free my feet, I needed as few constraints as possible.
Especially if that constraint was the duty of a king—far too heavy a burden.
I had planned to move again tonight, and now my heart felt considerably lighter.
I carefully reached out and patted Lua’s shoulder.
“You’re really beautiful.”
“You’re talking about me, right?”
“Of course. Beautiful and admirable. I wonder how Lungran gave me such a wonderful little sister.”
“That beautiful and admirable little sister is your sister, you know.”
The sight of Lua smiling brightly was especially lovely in the light of the setting sun.
* * *
“You came.”
Late at night, wearing my mask, I returned to Aipman’s house.
Partly because age made deep sleep difficult, but also because he understood the meaning of what he had done and likely felt guilty.
Aipman was sitting beneath a tree near his house.
“You were quite dramatic.”
“I surprised myself. I never expected to make such a show of it. It’s a good thing I never became an actor. Still, even without my performance, you would have entered a higher year, Erewon.”
“Ideally, I would have continued assisting with your research, but it seems we’ll need to keep some distance for a while.”
“I understand. I’ll stay away until the rumors of favoritism die down. But may I ask one thing?”
I waited in silence, granting permission.
“Your eyes were not those of a fifteen-year-old.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s complicated. I’ve taught countless students, but I’ve never met one like you. I have a feeling there’s something more, but at my age, I no longer wish to peer into it.”
“Yet I’ve heard you’ve never refused a student who asked for help.”
Aipman nodded.
“That’s exactly why I’m afraid. When I look into those eyes, I fear what this young student might do next. If you ask for my help, I won’t be able to refuse.”
“You are a good educator. And this……”
I held out a small glass vial to Aipman.
The liquid inside glowed with a mysterious light even in the deep night.
“Have your wife drink this.”
“Is this holy water?”
“It’s a special kind. Different from the pope’s holy water.”
“Tell me how it’s different. I can’t just give my wife something from someone I don’t even know.”
“Then promise me something first.”
Aipman looked up at me.
Waiting for me to speak.
“That you will spare no support for Erewon and Lua from now on.”
“Supporting students is an educator’s duty, and I already sensed those two will become excellent students. What greater joy is there than helping outstanding students? You’re stating the obvious.”
“I’m not talking about that level of support.”
Aipman hesitated, then nodded.
“Understood.”
“Good. This will prevent her from becoming more addicted.”
“Prevent addiction? Explain further.”
“It won’t completely cure her. Mild withdrawal symptoms will remain, but at the very least, she won’t need to drink the pope’s holy water anymore.”
“That’s impossible!”
Aipman shot to his feet.
“Is there more of this medicine? I’d like to study it.”
“It’s not something you can study. It was made with magic.”
It was the medicine I had received after promising my master that I would take him to Lyongse for sweets whenever he wanted.
“Consider it a token of sincerity for the promise you made.”
“I’m truly curious. Just who are you……”
“Someone who does good in this world. You can think of me that way.”