Chapter 230
Chapter 230
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 230
Chapter Title: D-1
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“Your Highness.”
“……!”
“Prince Jin. Are you alright?”
Jin’s eyes snapped open. It felt as though he had been submerged in the deep sea and then pulled to the surface. The pain that had gripped his chest eased, and the tears pooled at the corners of his eyes streamed down.
Siaoshi knelt by his bedside, matching his eye level. He must have been calling Jin’s name repeatedly. Unable to touch his body carelessly, he had been about to fetch Ian if he didn’t wake.
“Haa, haa…….”
“Are you unwell? Shall I call someone?”
“…No.”
His entire body was soaked in sweat. As the child cautiously sat up, Siaoshi propped a pillow behind him and poured lukewarm water. The sunlight streaming through the window was bright. It must be well past morning.
“Nothing happened last night?”
The question came out of nowhere. Siaoshi closely examined Jin’s complexion. Fear and anxiety were plainly evident.
Of course. With brothers called demons, who had spent ten years withering him away, who could remain sane?
Whatever the case, Siaoshi’s answer was predetermined.
“Nothing happened.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. I stayed by Your Highness’s side all night.”
“I see. Good.”
If so, then it was definitely a dream. Jin fiddled with the nape of his neck, shaking off the awkwardness.
Still, it was a relief. The mere fact that he had confronted Arsen, even if overwhelmed. It felt like his eroded self was slowly reviving.
Jin buried his face in the pillow and let out a sigh of relief.
“I’ll have them bring washing water.”
“Yes. The bedding should be changed too.”
Just a simple nightmare. Tension building ahead of the great event, manifesting as a natural illusion. Jin dismissed his worries, chalking it up to such.
Knock knock.
Soon, attendants brought washing water and clothes, helping with Jin’s morning preparations. The child sat in a chair, quietly accepting their hands, but something felt off.
“Is something happening outside?”
The attendants’ glances were like that, and the bustle was more than usual. The Magic Department was always noisy, but this was exceptionally so.
The attendants exchanged glances, unable to answer, and fell silent.
“I asked a question.”
“Forgive us. There’s a rumor circulating in the palace right now.”
“A rumor? What kind?”
“That Prince Arsen is a, a monster.”
Jin’s eyes widened. Wasn’t it a top secret known to only a few? If even lowly attendants knew, it meant the entire palace was aware. It hadn’t been like this when he fell asleep last night; in just a few hours, the world had turned upside down.
As Siaoshi helped Jin into his shoes, he explained.
“Last night, the master spoke at the Grand Council. He didn’t seem intent on silencing it, so as soon as dawn broke, people from other departments swarmed in, making it a bit chaotic.”
Some had stepped forward to verify the truth, while others strongly protested to stop the slander immediately.
The confusion wasn’t limited to outsiders. The mages were also fiercely debating whether Ian’s statement was true.
Ta-at!
“Oh my, Your Highness!”
Jin brushed off the attendants’ hands and ran to Ian’s office. But he couldn’t get close due to the crowd filling the hallway and had to stop.
Thud! Thud thud!
“Ian, sir. Are you inside?”
“You haven’t been seen for days, and when did you go to the Grand Council?”
“It was at night. He prepared the carriage quietly.”
“We’re from the Administration. Let’s talk!”
“Is the Grand Council statement true? Lord Ian!”
Murmurs filled the corridor, conversations laced with individual motives. Siaoshi, following behind, draped a coat over Jin’s shoulders.
“They’re scheming to steal the minister position.”
“Of course. They rode the same boat, yet one’s a monster and the other human? Absurd. The mana confirmation ritual is soon, so they’re stirring controversy to dodge it.”
“Still, this statement carries weight. Death by beheading if false, yet he revealed it outright, so there must be something credible.”
“Remember what the officials said last time? Prince Arsen never showed mana in public. Physical condition excuse, but suspicious, right?”
“What’s Prince Arsen’s side saying?”
At Arsen’s name, Jin shrank deeper into the corner. What would Arsen do? Arsen……
Tap tap.
“Huh?”
It was then. A tap on Jin’s shoulder—Ian. He pressed a finger to his lips with a smile, nodding to suggest they leave. Trailing him was Romandro, looking haggard.
Tadak tadak!
“Did you cough? I heard your sleep was poor. Nothing hurts, I hope?”
“N-No, it’s not that. Don’t worry.”
As they hurried down a quiet corridor, Jin looked up at Ian. His expression was as serene as ever. Like the sea embracing everything.
Jin thought the sea that had swallowed him this morning was different yet similar to Ian’s. The clear difference: Ian’s wouldn’t be frightening even if it engulfed him.
“I heard you spoke at the Grand Council, Lord Ian.”
“That Prince Arsen is a monster? Yes.”
“Why? One day left.”
“Because only one day remains, it’s the perfect timing. The same phenomenon leads to different conclusions based on prior knowledge. Participating in the confirmation ritual aware that Arsen is a monster versus unaware makes a huge difference.”
“…I don’t quite understand.”
As Jin mumbled in confusion, Ian pondered. A simple analogy would be best.
“Hm, Your Highness. Suppose Berik appears badly injured. Those who don’t know him can only ‘guess’ why—did he roll somewhere? If a slave, beaten by his master? Or—”
But those who know Berik well can reach ‘certainty’ immediately. Romandro, listening behind, answered instead.
“That punk got into another brawl!”
“I want everyone seeing injured Berik to think that. So I spread info that Berik’s belligerent and bloodthirsty.”
The mana confirmation ritual wouldn’t proceed routinely like the New Year’s gathering. Numerous reactions would arise knowing Arsen is a monster; viewing it blank-slate risks overinterpreting the magic.
But seeing it with the knowledge ‘Arsen is a monster’?
“They’ll sensitively notice even the slightest oddity. So better to reveal before the ritual.”
“…I’m worried.”
“About Arsen and Haiman causing trouble?”
Suddenly, a rainbow appeared far off. The gardener had sprayed water generously. Spotting Ian and Jin, he doffed his hat in greeting.
“Arsen didn’t refuse the ritual and seemed confident. Meaning he has leeway to activate the oracle’s light, whatever happens. And with that, he secured support from Haiman and his aides. Even if Arsen himself is unaware, his circle’s toasting.”
High stakes. Didn’t he say he’s a monster, or else die?
A single decisive gamble. From their position dominating the situation, no reason to refuse. A chance to officially and justifiably crush Ian.
“So no chance they’d sabotage with only one day left.”
“Um, Lord Ian.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Actually… I had another dream of Lord Roberside.”
The night two days ago, when the brothers’ true nature was first revealed. The night Ian read him a fairy tale.
Jin was curious. If Arsen is a monster, does he realize it? Did he fully grasp the curse’s mission and commit evils knowingly?
“Lord Roberside didn’t answer.”
“Because it’s a question he can’t answer.”
“Why?”
“The wicked don’t know they’re wicked. The good don’t think themselves good. If someone dresses you in flowery words calling you kind, remember: they’re the proudest, most selfish.”
Their standard is justice. No need or way to know the other’s self-awareness. Ian gripped Jin’s hand tightly, imploring.
“And even if Arsen is unaware he’s a monster and denies his existence, don’t waver. That’s pure evil. What dies that day isn’t Your Highness’s brother, but the curse tormenting Bariel.”
Jin met Ian’s eyes straight on and nodded. A vow not to waver. Ian smiled satisfied, releasing the child’s hand.
“Anyway, the revelation stirred the Magic Department. Bear with it until tomorrow, Your Highness.”
“Alright. I’ll personally overlook it.”
“Thank you.”
As the two bantered playfully, mages came running from afar. The gardener must have tipped them off.
Tadak tadak!
“Ian, sir! Oh, finally! Ian, sir!”
“Why are you here? It’s chaos inside.”
“That’s why I escaped.”
“Come on, seriously! Don’t do this. You’re the Magic Department Minister!”
As the mages teared up and swarmed, Ian laughed and cut them off. They snapped to attention and reported.
“They’ve arrived!”
“Just passing the palace main gate.”
“The Carbo priests and the oracle’s light!”
* * *
“Did you hear?”
“Yes. Lord Ian made a huge blunder. Calling Prince Arsen a monster? Absurd. What about Prince Jin, born alongside? Ha ha. Ridiculous.”
“I thought my ears deceived me.”
“He’s gone too far. A ploy to belittle Prince Arsen’s mana. We mustn’t let it slide.”
Clink! Chaeng!
The ministers gathered in Dillaina’s reception room laughed, cursing Ian. Claiming all sorts of tricks ahead of the mana confirmation ritual.
But as Dillaina slammed her teacup down, they fell silent, coughing awkwardly. Arsen, seated beside her, stared blankly out the window.
“Amusing? Ian’s words mean I birthed a monster. Insulting House Carbo, me, and His Majesty. I’d gladly wring his neck, yet you laugh? All of you?”
“Lady Dillaina, that’s not…….”
“Ahem. Forgive us.”
Dillaina’s eyes blazed. Any slip, and they’d be torn apart instead of Ian. The ministers bit their tongues, holding back.
“Lady Dillaina, quell your anger. After the mana confirmation ritual, twist his neck or quarter him as you wish. You’ll reclaim Prince Jin’s custody too, bringing only fortune to Bariel henceforth.”
At the comfort, Dillaina gripped her son’s hand tightly. Such a lovely, precious son a monster? The more she chewed on it, the more fury blazed within.
“Arsen.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“If only His Majesty were here at a time like this.”
The mother hugged her son tightly, but the child stared blankly at the ceiling, unmoved. Foolish. If the emperor were fine, would opportunity arise? As Arsen tried to pry off his mother’s arm.
Knock knock!
“What is it?”
“A report just came in. The oracle’s light has entered the palace.”
“Oh, finally!”
“Well timed! Yes! Ha ha ha!”
The ministers clapped and rose, to greet the oracle’s light. All beaming, but Arsen alone didn’t smile.
Ian had staked his life. By his instinct, Ian never took a losing bet.
‘…What is it.’
As Arsen pondered deeply, Dillaina gripped his shoulder worriedly, calling.
“Arsen?”
He quickly schooled his expression into a bright smile.
“Let’s go see, Mother.”
He’d never used abilities on a mage. But with questions raised about his existence now, no harm in trying. Whether it works on Minister Ian is another matter. He couldn’t let the day pass suspiciously.