Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 218
Chapter Title: D-4
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Gail sat lumpily at the edge of the bed, listening only to the ticking of the clock's second hand. The mana cigarette burned away between his fingers, but he paid it no mind. There were already plenty of barely-touched butts piled at his feet. Hunched forward, he simply stared at the smoke rising endlessly.
‘Marib is dead.’
And he had died hanging in the open sky while Gail slept.
At first, he couldn't believe it. That Marib, of all people. The object of contempt who had seemed destined to imprison him forever. It felt strange to realize that even Marib was just human in the end, capable of dying. Marib, who had always been one step ahead. For him to die.
“Haha, ha.”
It felt refreshing, irritatingly frustrating, and at the same time, utterly futile. And then came the utter sense of defeat. Just as Ian had said, the two of them would leave no mark in history—a complete defeat.
Knock knock.
“Prince Gail, it's the doctor.”
“Excuse me.”
Without permission, the door opened. The doctor had rushed over upon hearing that Gail had awakened. Apparently roused from sleep, one side of his head was badly flattened. He frowned at the smoke filling the room.
“Your Highness. Your throat is injured. How can you keep smoking mana cigarettes...”
“What? Are they telling you to crack down because I might not be able to testify in the trial? I'm going to die anyway, so I'll die choking on smoke.”
A life that would naturally be trampled once it became useless. Neither Jin nor Arsen had any reason to let him live. Gail deliberately took a deep drag from the mana cigarette he held, twitching his eyebrows. The doctor couldn't bring himself to snatch it away and instead unpacked his bag to take Gail's pulse.
“So, what is Ian doing now? Toasting now that Marib is dead?”
“The Imperial Palace is somber overall.”
“Hmm. Is that so? Well, now it's time for the twins to truly clash. You should pick your side carefully. It might be even more intense than with me and Marib.”
The doctor rolled up Gail's sleeve and prepared a syringe. Tap tap. As he tapped the needle tip, he muttered.
“Well, the outcome seems already decided.”
“Marib is dead too. No one knows.”
“Prince Arsen is a mana user, isn't he? Absorbing the Magic Department is just a matter of time, and his position rising above Prince Jin's is a foregone conclusion. Oh, and a new oracle has come down from Carbo Temple.”
“An oracle?”
“‘Cursed one, you cannot defy fate, so die for Bariel. Then glory will descend upon the world.’ Something like that, roughly. It's the final nail. Telling Prince Jin to step down...”
The doctor trailed off mid-sentence as he administered the injection. The entire palace had been so fixated on the twins. But the truly cursed one was right here! And it was a taboo, eternal curse cast by a mage who had burned their very soul.
Gail let out a laugh.
“Sounds like what the gods said to me.”
“I-I wouldn't know.”
The doctor hastily packed his medical bag and fled. Left alone again, Gail flopped back onto the bed, mulling over the oracle. If he killed himself, glory would descend upon the world?
‘...Glory that will remain in history?’
Even Marib, the First Prince, had vanished without a trace. It was obvious he would end up the same. If he was going to die anyway, wouldn't it be better if it was a death shrouded in glory?
It felt like the gods had given him one last chance. A body that had once let everything go. He had survived by luck, but hadn't he already crossed the line? The second time would be easy.
“...Is anyone there?”
Gail murmured very quietly. The mages must have set some kind of ward in the bedroom. That was why they left him alone without guards. As if to prove it, not the corridor door but the one in the left wall burst open.
“Prince Gail, is something wrong?”
It was Philia, Ian's mother. Nersarn followed behind her. Ever since the Arsen incident, the two hadn't been apart for a moment. As Philia started to make a fuss and call for attendants, Gail gestured for her to stop.
“It's fine. No problem.”
“Ah, I-I see.”
Philia awkwardly released the door handle. And she didn't move for a while, so Gail had no choice but to look at her. A silent permission to speak if she had something to say.
“Your Highness, thank you for that time. I was too out of sorts to thank you properly, and it's been weighing on me.”
Philia bowed deeply in gratitude. She had nearly scarred Arsen's face under some inexplicable force. The more she came to her senses, the more she realized what a massive weakness that would have been for Ian. If Gail hadn't luckily intervened, she would have despaired utterly. He was practically her lifesaver.
Swish.
Nersarn, standing behind her, also bowed neatly. But with his warrior's pride oozing from every pore, even bowed he didn't seem bowed. Gail waved his hand dismissively, issuing an order to leave.
“Enough fuss. Get out.”
He hadn't helped Philia with any particular intent. Freshly awakened, his mind had been foggy, and he'd simply grabbed her because Arsen's energy felt off.
“If you need anything, please call on us anytime.”
As Philia and Nersarn left the bedroom, Gail rummaged through the desk again. Another mana cigarette appeared in his hand. White smoke drifted through the room like an invading fog, and Gail mulled over the oracle as he drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Thud!
“Huff, huff, kuek...”
Romandro shot up, gripping the desk with both arms. But then came a sudden wave of nausea. He had said he'd send the indictment at dawn, yet Ian's revisions and Acorella's reports had come in anew. Rubbing his bloodshot eyes, Romandro whimpered.
“It's done. Oh god, it's over.”
“Uh, uh... You finished?”
“Acorella Captain, you don't have to crash here. Go down. I need to nap before filing the indictment.”
Acorella barely opened her eyes from where she was curled up on the office corner sofa. She had been standing by in case questions arose while Romandro compiled and reviewed the reports. Outside, the morning sun was already brilliantly up.
“Then I'll head down. Call if there's any issue.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Good work.”
Even as Acorella waved and left, Romandro busied himself sorting papers. He did it, he really did it! It seemed impossible, but it worked. Humans really can do anything if they try. Even this palace was built by people, so of course an indictment was nothing!
Creak.
“Oh my. You're up?”
“Vivi. Up early. How's your body?”
“I'm always fine. And you, Lord Romandro?”
Just then, Vivianna entered with breakfast on a tray. Romandro, who never tired even in disasters, visibly withered the more chaos gripped the palace. Still, compared to commoners, he had some heft.
“Just soup. Anything else and I'll puke. Hey, any spare mages outside?!”
At Romandro's call, two mages poked their heads in. They were on duty too, their faces etched with exhaustion. Romandro clicked his tongue sympathetically and gave orders.
“Prepare yourselves. I'm submitting the indictment, so I need escorts. Half-day off after we return.”
The two mages nodded, glancing at the thick stack of papers on the desk.
“No extra hands needed?”
“It's fine. Heavy, but we'll take the carriage.”
“Understood. Departing in two hours, we'll prepare.”
“Yeah, sure sure.”
With the major task done, Romandro sipped soup, beaming happily. Just getting it filed was the start, but savoring this tiny respite—what luxury! He might even spend time with Vivianna until the Grand Council's schedule came out.
“The indictment goes to the Judiciary, right? It's the farthest from the Magic Department, of all places.”
“I'll file it and watch the formal review, so probably back around three in the afternoon.”
“Then I'll have food ready for then.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Romandro planted a kiss on Vivianna's cheek and happily changed into outing clothes. Soon the mages signaled the carriage was ready, and he hastily scraped up the rest of his soup before dashing out.
Neigh!
“Please board.”
“Thanks. Ungh.”
Romandro boarded the carriage, clutching the indictment to his chest. The seated mage tapped the window to signal departure, but nothing happened. The coachman awkwardly reported from his seat.
“Sorry. The reins are a bit off.”
“Take it slow!”
In such good spirits, what did it matter! Romandro waved and smiled at Vivianna watching from the steps. Then the mage casually asked.
“If you're going to nap, I can hold it.”
“Oh, no thanks! If I sleep, I'll be groggy for the review.”
“...I see?”
“Yeah yeah. Ah, what nice weather today!”
Romandro grinned, peering out the window. Behind him, the two mages exchanged some kind of glance. Finally, the coachman fixed the issue and prepared to depart.
Tap tap.
Siaoshi, who had approached unnoticed, tapped the window.
“Lord Romandro. Off to file the indictment?”
“Siaoshi, what's up?”
“Ian said to accompany you.”
“He's awake? But I have two mages already.”
“...Ian said to accompany you.”
“W-Well, if the master says so. Hop on!”
Romandro opened the door and made space. The two mages crumpled inward as Siaoshi boarded.
“Chat with me on the way. Keep me from dozing off. No, better I talk. Yesterday I wondered if we'd even make it, but haha! I did it!”
“......”
Of the four, only Romandro chattered. Siaoshi watched the two mages, nodding occasionally. The odd atmosphere went right over the hazy Romandro's head.
Clop clop!
Neigh!
The carriage sped smoothly onward. Humming away, Romandro spotted the Judiciary building far ahead. Handling all central trials, its grandeur was immense.
“We've arrived.”
“Good work. Wait here.”
Creak!
Early morning, so it was quiet. Few climbed the massive stairs—perhaps that's why the click of heels on marble echoed so sharply. Romandro navigated familiarly inside.
“Huh?”
But why were there so many people at the indictment desk? And...
‘They all stopped talking the moment I walked in, right?’
As Romandro looked puzzled, the clerk approached.
“What business?”
“Fr-From the Magic Department. Here to file an indictment.”
“Ah, yes? One moment. As you see, lots waiting. Please wait a bit.”
“Mm. Sure.”
He plopped on a corner sofa, clutching the indictment tight. Siaoshi stood guard beside him. Whispers rippled around. Romandro side-eyed Siaoshi with his whites and whispered.
“Something's... off, right?”
“......”
“Tch.”
The two mages sat next to Siaoshi and Romandro. Tick tock. Romandro checked his pocket watch repeatedly. Strangely, the waiting crowd stayed put, unmoving. No one processed anything, staff included.
Swish.
Unable to bear it, Romandro stood to complain when a new clerk approached smiling from inside.
“From the Magic Department?”
“Yes.”
“Hand over the indictment.”
The clerk held out both hands expectantly. Romandro started to hand it over, then paused and pulled back.
“Show me your ID first. And isn't Erikse the head here? I'll give it to him directly.”
“Lord Erikse hasn't come in yet.”
“Why not?”
As the clerk smiled kindly and urged again, Romandro took a full step back.