Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: The Missing Prince
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Sergio stared blankly at the ceiling. Since it was his official first day on the job, his eyes had popped open earlier than usual without him even realizing it.
The timing was too awkward to try falling back asleep, so Sergio simply dragged himself out of bed. Outside, a steady drizzle was falling.
His body felt a little heavy because of it, but since it was his first day, it seemed wise to take his time getting ready.
'...Did I get here too early?'
But when he reached the prince's bedroom, he hesitated. barging in and accidentally waking the soundly sleeping prince would be a disaster.
'Poofu is the doll His Highness treasures, so they told me to lay it out nicely when making the bed. But is it Poofu? Or was it Popo?'
To buy even a little time, Sergio paced back and forth in front of the door, mentally running through his tasks.
"...But the young master giving toys to a baby..."
"The young master really loves babies..."
"...!"
Just then, the maids' voices drifted up. They were probably heading upstairs to clean.
Sergio instinctively pushed open the door and slipped into the bedroom. He couldn't let them catch him lurking suspiciously in the hallway.
'...Ha.'
A wry chuckle escaped him. Even if it was his first day, could he really be this sloppy? Anyone who saw him would surely mock the sight.
'Especially the young master—he'd never let me live it down.'
Sergio counted his lucky stars that the young master hadn't spotted him and approached the bed.
"...?"
But the closer he got, the stranger it felt. The heap of blankets was far too flat for anyone to be lying beneath them.
"Your Highness...?"
The bed was empty. The blankets were even crisp, as if they'd never been touched.
Sergio stood there in a daze for a moment. Something was wrong...
"Ah, this must be the young master's room."
No wonder it felt so empty.
Sergio let out a hollow laugh at his blunder and hurried to the adjacent room. Thank goodness the young master wasn't there. Getting caught like this would mean endless teasing for life.
"Your Highness, do you need any cough drops...? ...?"
Whoosh. Pulling back the canopy, Sergio froze once more. The only things on the bed were the stuffed dolls he'd been told were Poofu and Popo.
"...Your Highness?"
Sergio pressed down firmly on the flat blankets, then lifted them when nothing snagged his hands.
...Nothing.
"Your Highness?"
Was this some kind of hazing? Putting the newbie through an awkward ordeal on day one to make memorable stories...?
"Your Highness! Your Highness?"
Maybe he'd gone out for sword training?
Sergio peered out the window. A drizzle was still falling. And there was definitely swordsmanship class this morning—he wouldn't head out for predawn practice today...
Bang, crash!
Overcome with anxiety, Sergio threw open every door and tore through the room.
"Your Highness, where are you!"
Your Highness-, Your Highness-. The one he called for didn't appear, only his own voice echoing back off the walls.
Sergio's face drained of color bit by bit.
"Your Highness..."
On his very first day of duty, the prince had vanished.
The 2nd Prince's Palace erupted into chaos.
Sir Evan, the prince's sole guard knight, had apparently been training in the rain—he was soaked to the bone and stood there in stunned disbelief.
Before long, knights swarmed the palace, and the investigation got underway.
"No signs of an intruder yet."
"Where's that kid always glued to the prince's side?"
"He went out yesterday morning. Said he'd be back in two days..., but..."
"But?"
"No entry-exit logs. No guards saw him either."
"......"
Walter narrowed his eyes. That kid could pull it off easily, but to outsiders who knew nothing, it screamed suspicion.
Not content with sneaking out alone without escorts, he'd slipped past the entire palace unseen. It looked shady no matter how you sliced it.
Walter edged toward Evan, bound in ropes. The knight looked ragged from the downpour, tugging at Walter's heartstrings, but a guard who failed his lord was a criminal—he couldn't just cut him loose.
"Sir Evan."
"......"
Walter called softly to Evan. At this rate, the kid would end up the prime suspect, so he wanted the destination at least.
"Sir Evan, do you know where that kid went?"
"......"
"...Evan?"
No answer came. Sensing something off with Evan's state, Walter's face hardened as he gave him a gentle shake.
"Evan, you alright?"
"...Captain."
His cracked, rasping voice said it all. Walter realized this wasn't the moment to defend the kid and hurriedly soothed his protégé.
"Don't fret too much about His Highness. Search parties are out—he'll turn up soon. He might've just dozed off wandering the palace somewhere..."
"...I... don't deserve to be a guard knight."
Evan's face contorted in agony. The raindrops trickling from his hair resembled tears, twisting Walter's gut as he watched.
"No, Evan. Knights are human—you can't shadow His Highness twenty-four-seven. Guarding solo is tough; I get it. I'll put in a good word with His Majesty, so try not to worry..."
"...I'm sorry... I'm sorry."
Evan bowed his head after that and fell silent. Walter gazed at him steadily before speaking up heavily. Leaving him here would only make things worse.
"...Escort Sir Evan out. I'll conduct his interrogation myself. No one lays a hand on him till then."
"Yes, sir!"
The hefty knight was hauled away, staggering. Once he settled a bit..., he'd ease him through it slowly.
The crisis was dire, yet everything moved with grim solemnity. Not one knight manhandled palace items or barked orders.
That might've been thanks to the silent, imposing old knight holding court in the palace's heart.
Walter shot a glance at the long-retired veteran and laced his voice with aura.
"Touch nothing recklessly. Preserve the scene."
Weeeeng!
"...!"
Then, an eerie alarm blared across the entire palace.
"W-what's that noise?"
"What's going on?"
"Sh-shouldn't we evacuate?"
Walter swept his eyes around. The palace staff flailed in confusion, clueless about the source.
"Find the alarm's origin, now...!"
Thud!
"...!"
He was midway through the order when a heavy thump yanked everyone's gaze to one spot—the towering old knight.
"Quiet. Make no uproar in my master's palace."
His low timbre cut sharper through the clamor than the siren itself. Age hadn't dulled those piercing eyes as they fixed on Walter.
"Sir Ernest."
"...Yes, Sir Paul."
"The alarm's coming from His Highness's bedroom. Magic devices are rigged everywhere to bar outsiders—search carefully."
"Understood."
'...Not a whit less imposing than the active-duty knights.'
Walter withdrew his gaze and grabbed a subordinate.
"Brief the Prime Minister on the situation and request aid!"
He was on leave, but... the only trustworthy mage was him.
'Look, Your Highness. I'm at the 3rd Circle now.'
It was when he was ten.
The world buzzed with talk of the magic prodigy, the next Magic Tower Lord.
But his aloof 2nd Prince liege showed zero interest in outsiders, so unless he boasted outright, there'd be no fanfare—or even envy.
'3rd Circle? That's impressive, right?'
See? Empathy on par with a flea—that parched prince.
Abel eyed the brazen eight-year-old brat nuzzling into Natura's lap on her knee and snorted.
'If I become Magic Tower Lord, I won't lift a finger for you.'
'Tower Lord? When I'm king, you'll be my right hand.'
'As if. Think Your Highness stands a chance at the throne?'
'Mother says I will.'
'And the 1st Prince?'
'Dunno.'
Older Brother would sort himself out. The impudent kid hung on Natura's every word like gospel.
Natura squeezed him tighter as if he were adorable, and the prince beamed in contentment.
'...Seriously..., just grow up already.'
'I want to.'
'......'
'Call me Seddy-, sis.'
'Sis.'
'Kyahaha~ So cute!'
'......'
Abel couldn't stomach the sight anymore and turned away.
Right hand? Endure that forever? Well, he could stick around and pitch in until he claimed the tower.
'Abel will be a tremendous mage. I know it.'
'No need to prophesy the obvious, Natura.'
Everyone said it—I'd be an archmage regardless. He shot back confidently, and Natura soothed him softly.
'Abel, even if it takes time, it's fine.'
'...?'
'You'll get there in the end.'
'Naturally. I'll give you a tour of the tower someday.'
'Mm, can't wait.'
Even her loaded words didn't dent his swagger. He'd seize the tower, make it empire-proof, he vowed.
And twenty years flew by.
"......"
Abel stared vacantly at the ceiling—or what might've been one; he couldn't tell.
His body burned hot, then chilled cold. His ears rang, or maybe utter silence reigned.
How long since ingesting the Sirentea? Was he even doing this right, or had he dozed off into a dream?
'Just one more..., one more weave.'
But the mana rebelled. It screamed for release.
Two circles already linked, yet Abel craved more. These were circles he'd been owed all along.
'No new circles since age ten?'
'Pure luck, I guess.'
'Prodigy this, prodigy that..., tch, 3rd Circle at ten—true?'
'Next Tower Lord my foot.'
'All that bragging—serves you right.'
Twenty stagnant years, clawing through doubt...
'Abel, put off the Tower Lord gig and help out.'
'Abel, preserve this gift from Natura with magic.'
'Abel, handle these documents.'
'Abel, explain this to him.'
'Abel, I'm king now—be Prime Minister.'
Abel, Abel...
"......"
Looking back, he hadn't endured. He'd been too swamped serving his kingly friend to dwell on it.
Even in his Natura obsession, His Majesty never forgot to drag Abel in. Abuse more than anything, but...
'No clue why he likes "sis" from her.'
'Younger siblings have their charm.'
'Suppose so.'
If it pleased her, he'd oblige...
'Seeing him as a brother makes me wanna spoil him more..., y'know.'
'Then, brother.'
'...?'
'Handle this.'
'......'
That wretched stray dumped his chores and scampered off to play with Natura.
'...Still absurd.'
Abel huffed a laugh amid the mana flow, his rigid frame loosening slightly.
'Ah, focus.'
Redirecting the fraying mana, click—something locked into place.
"Ah..."
Abel let out a soft gasp.
It was the sixth circle.