Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: D-7
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“Dillaina hugged Arsen in shock. The unconscious child’s body swayed limply. She wiped the blood from his ruined face with the back of her hand, sobbing endlessly. His entire body was cold and rigid, like someone on the verge of death.
“How could this happen? How could you do this, Arsen? Huh?”
The doctor wiped away cold sweat at the mother’s wail. He didn’t know the details, but Arsen had gone to see Gail and gotten hurt because of it. The guards reported that Gail had grabbed and thrown him.
“Gail did this?”
“Lady Dillaina, please step aside for a moment.”
“N-No! Gail, you bastard!”
“What are you waiting for? Escort Lady Dillaina away!”
“This way, this way, Lady Dillaina.”
The attendants finally managed to support Dillaina and pull her away from Arsen. Ever since entering the palace, she had lived constantly watching the grown princes’ moods. Days spent clinging to life at the emperor’s side to protect her son flashed through her mind.
Yet in the end, both Marib and Gail were harming her sons. Gail to Arsen, Marib to Jin...
It was then.
Boom!
“Prince Arsen!”
“Is His Highness alright?”
“Lady Dillaina, I heard the news. Is it true?”
“Oh dear, what could that tiny body have done to deserve this? Tsk tsk. Prince Gail is truly cruel.”
The officials burst in, causing a commotion. They took in Arsen lying on the bed and Dillaina collapsed on the floor, grasping the situation.
“Lady Dillaina. Is it... true?”
“...Yes. It is.”
Dillaina had affirmed that Gail had harmed Arsen, but the officials interpreted it differently. They took it as confirmation that Arsen was indeed a Mana User, putting an end to the question.
“This is great news. Wonderful! Now we’re saved!”
“...What?”
“We can’t miss this chance. Let’s execute Prince Gail on the spot. He attacked a Mana User and a promising heir apparent under the guise of a rebel—that’s as good as two rebellions, isn’t it?”
“Exactly! He’s rebelled against Bariel twice!”
“I agree. Kill him now.”
“I hear Lord Ian has stationed those barbarians. It’ll be hard to break through with force, so we need a justification. Even Lord Ian won’t be able to refuse that.”
“No, wait a minute. What are you all...”
Dillaina faltered in confusion. Arsen, a Mana User? She had always been by his side, but she’d never noticed any signs. She wished someone would explain properly, but the officials were getting worked up among themselves, only discussing plans to behead Gail.
“By the way, didn’t the Magic Department even send a healing mage? For Prince Arsen to faint like this—it’s outrageous.”
“They seemed too busy protecting their own bastard. That one, what’s his name? Berik the Sword-Mage came in half-dead, and they sent all the healing mages to him.”
“I heard he got into it with Highman outside.”
“Yes. They even issued a wanted order.”
Creak.
“The Magic Department’s Minister Ian Hielo has arrived!”
“Eek!”
The officials, who had been chattering about Ian, clamped their mouths shut in surprise. What if he’d heard? The attendant had announced him, but Ian was a mage. He could project his voice across all of Bariel from his seat—who knew?
“L-Lord Ian.”
“Why is everyone gathered here?”
“Oh, well, we heard Prince Arsen had collapsed, so we were worried. Ahem.”
Familiar faces were scattered among them. Just days ago, these same mouths had sworn loyalty to Jin, and now they fretted over Arsen’s well-being. Ian smirked and stepped inside. The doctor recognized him and stood to bow.
“Ah, Lord Ian.”
“How is His Highness?”
“In my opinion, there’s no major issue. He did vomit blood, but... well. It’d be best to keep monitoring him over time. He seems a bit fatigued.”
Vomiting blood, yet no physical problem? Then it was definitely an abnormal reaction.
Ian nodded, and the healing mages parted to examine Arsen. They pulsed mana from their fingertips, murmuring.
“If the body can’t handle the mana, it can cause vomiting blood. It happened to you before, Lord Ian.”
After clashing with Marib, Ian had vomited blood too. What Arsen showed was merely an ‘opening,’ but given the child’s frail body, it was entirely possible.
“We’ll infuse mana into the body for a closer look. Lady Dillaina. May we have your permission?”
“H-Healing mages?”
Ian frowned at the question from the officials watching from behind. A silent warning not to add nonsense. No matter their rivalry with Arsen, as Magic Department Minister, he had duties to perform.
“Gr-Granted.”
As Dillaina nodded, the healing mages exchanged glances with Ian. It meant they would carry out his orders.
‘Infuse mana and see how he reacts.’
Those with mana always reacted in some way. Even Sword-Mages, not just mages. Just as Ian had tested Berik’s identity by sending out mana, now the healing mages would do the same.
Zing. Zzzt.
It was the moment the two were about to infuse mana into Arsen.
Thwack!
Arsen grabbed the mage’s wrist with eyes still closed. It was like sleep-talking in his movements. The only difference was the astonishing speed of his physical reaction.
“...Mother.”
“Arsen, Arsen! Are you coming to?”
The child squeezed out a voice calling for his mother. Dillaina shoved the mage aside and hugged Arsen. His gaze was lifeless, as if all vitality had drained away. Arsen stared blankly at the ceiling and muttered.
“When brother Gail tried to harm me, Lord Ian sided with him. Please keep him away. I’m scared, Mother.”
“...Lord Ian!”
At those words, Dillaina whipped around, eyes blazing at Ian. She looked ready to lunge, but Ian responded indifferently.
“Prince Gail came at me with full intent, so it was tough. That’s why I issued the approach ban, isn’t it? I don’t know why you entered, so if you explain, I might have something to say.”
Hadn’t Arsen entered to kill Gail? From Gail’s position, he’d only tried to kill someone trying to kill him—no issue there. And Arsen had violated the safety protocol, so Ian bore no responsibility for this mess.
“No, even so, Prince Gail went too far! This is unforgivable—execute him immediately!”
“Y-Yes. His savage nature is a disgrace to the imperial family!”
“Lord Ian, withdraw those stationed barbarians—no, the Cheonryeo Tribe—and execute Gail at once.”
The officials seized the moment to pressure Ian. Charging with bloodshot eyes, they were a sight. Shortsighted fools who thought majority rule would prevail without considering consequences. Waking them took just a tiny refusal.
“Denied.”
“What? Why?”
“Are you... protecting Prince Gail?”
Ian checked his pocket watch. The gates had only been open for three or four hours. While Berik was getting torn apart and Arsen slipped in during the chaos, countless people had passed through.
“The closed gates have just reopened. Imperial citizens, anxious about what might happen to the palace and Bariel, are finally entering relieved. And now, in this moment, execute Prince Gail? Does that make sense to you?”
“But even so...”
“Even so doesn’t make wrong right. Given the situation, all procedures must be respected. And above all, isn’t Prince Marib’s trial in four days? His execution will follow then—killing Prince Gail first? There’s no such hasty nonsense.”
If they still insisted, go ahead. But he would oppose, and it would one day blemish their administrative record. That’s what Ian was saying.
“And in a week, we’ll hold a simple Mana Confirmation Ritual. Lady Dillaina. Please take good care of Prince Arsen until then.”
“A week later?”
“Since he claims to be a Mana User, it’s the Magic Department’s duty. I’ve requested the Light of the Oracle. We’ll proceed simply once it arrives.”
At the mention of the Light of the Oracle, Arsen furrowed his brow. He burrowed into his mother’s arms, whining tearfully.
“Mother. I don’t want to.”
“Arsen?”
“Using mana hurts my body. That’s why I never told anyone. That mage just said it too. If your physical ability can’t handle it, you vomit blood. I’ll definitely do it again and be humiliated.”
Look at that. Ian subtly raised an eyebrow, gazing down at Arsen. Proving he was a Mana User now would solidify his position—why resist like this?
“Unlike the New Year’s gathering, only a few will attend. Even a tiny bit of power will trigger the Light of the Oracle—no need to worry.”
Hook, line, and sinker. The more Arsen dodged, the harder Ian would push. With the Light of the Oracle and a priest arriving, he could even firm up the anomalies in Jin’s fate.
Ian nailed it down so Arsen couldn’t escape.
“Or, Your Highness, are you perhaps playing tricks with lies?”
“Insolent! Impertinent! Lord Ian!”
“Watch your words! His Highness is a Mana User!”
“Impersonating a Mana User is a grave sin of blasphemy, fraud, and given Your Highness’s status, deception against Bariel. It’s not too late, so speak if you have anything to say. I’ll hear it personally.”
Feigned kindness as mockery. Arsen clamped his mouth shut, glaring at Ian. Dillaina also grimaced as if insulted.
“Your Highness?”
No doubt it wasn’t mana. Even if it was, Arsen was someone destined to vanish from history—no fear there. Either way, nothing for Ian to worry about.
Arsen hid in his mother’s arms instead of answering, and Dillaina stepped forward to snap at Ian.
“Leave for now. Arsen’s condition isn’t good—he needs rest first. Take your mages with you.”
Ian’s intentions were unclear, so even the healing mages couldn’t be trusted. A firm order to leave. The mages bowed and exited. Ian followed, giving the officials a final warning glance.
“One week. Your Highness.”
Take care of your health. With that farewell, Ian left. The officials moved to the adjacent parlor to plot countermeasures.
The bedroom fell silent in an instant. Arsen, still in Dillaina’s arms, asked.
“Mother. You were surprised, weren’t you?”
“A little.”
“I only found out myself not long ago. I wasn’t hiding it. I was just worried it might burden you.”
Being a Mana User could upend the power balance instantly—why think that way? As Dillaina puzzled and stroked the back of his head, Arsen added.
“See? Now that I’m known as a Mana User, Lord Ian’s attitude is much sharper. Brother Gail tried to kill me too. Mother. I’m scared.”
“It’s okay. Arsen. I’ll protect you.”
“What if brother Gail comes to kill me?”
What if? What if he comes here? Arsen’s voice echoed strongly in Dillaina’s mind. Pity welled up, and she couldn’t hold back tears.
“It’s okay. Mother... Mother will handle it. Mother will make sure Gail can’t harm you.”
Dillaina whispered that while hugging Arsen. Unlike her tender motherly expression, Arsen’s eyes held no light. He was gauging the week Ian had warned about.
‘One week...’
The nearest temple shouldn’t take that long—why a week? Arsen tapped his nails, frowning. Things might get a bit tricky if this continued.