Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: Pats and Bickering
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That day, the wind in the imperial palace felt unusually biting. The trees were blooming with flowers, and the breeze scattering the clouds was warm, yet it felt cold.
So no one found it strange that Jin had pulled the thick blanket all the way over his head.
"Lady Dillaina has passed away?"
"Last night, in the middle of the night."
"Tsk tsk. Poor Prince Jin."
"His Majesty shows no signs of improvement either, so the young one must be suffering greatly. We've been ordered to be especially careful, so hold your tongues."
"What about the funeral?"
"It'll probably be simple. We can't let the cause of death get out."
Death by exposure to the monster Arsen's poison.
That was Dillaina's direct cause of death, but the entire palace was working together to erase the events of that day. Her passing would most likely be recorded as an illness or the worsening of injuries sustained during the rebellion.
The mage scratched his forehead with a file folder and sighed.
"By the way, how many Silence Spell casters are left?"
"Just fifteen so far. It's slow going since Ian can't use his power. We're already short-handed, and some have been dragged off to interrogation rooms. Have you seen Petric?"
"That madman. Who told him to have stupid ideas?"
"Never seen the palace this chaotic since I arrived."
They could overlook the manpower loss from Arsen, but rooting out traitors had cost them double or triple that. And the ones being investigated were mages, just like the ones doing the investigating.
As they passed down the corridor, complaining of fatigue, someone was eavesdropping from a corner.
"Huh? Prince Jin's mom?"
It was Berik. His cheeks were stuffed full, and both hands clutched meat. For recovery, chewy, springy meat was essential, but this damn palace quack only served watery porridge without knowing a thing.
He had no choice but to sneak around the restaurant every hour, dodging the servants' watchful eyes in search of meat. He could still vividly recall carrying the fainted woman on his back and running during the height of the rebellion!
Ahem. Berik pressed flat against the corridor wall and kept chewing his meat.
'...His mom died.'
Berik turned away from heading back to his room. He wasn't walking so much as staggering and rolling, but it didn't feel too suffocating. Every time the juices slid down his throat, he felt blood surging through him.
"Lord Berik?"
"Heek!"
But he didn't know. He wasn't moving secretly past the mages; they were gritting their teeth and pretending not to notice.
This time, perhaps tipped off about him rolling down the halls with his hands full of meat, Vivianna and Romandro appeared in person.
"Tsk tsk. What is that? Human or what?"
"Lord Romandro doesn't look much better."
"I just woke up from sleep!"
Romandro had fallen asleep like the dead and barely woken. His face was so puffy his features were half gone. Berik staggered, leaning on the wall to stand.
"Then keep sleeping. Why'd you come out?"
"Lady Dillaina passed away. I'm worried about Prince Jin, and thinking of Ian handling everything alone... I thought I'd at least see his face."
He was recovering without the mages' help, so exchanging a few words and leaving would likely be his limit. Romandro yawned hugely and beckoned Berik to follow.
"Prince Jin must be heartbroken. Mind your behavior. To be left alone at such a young age. Dear me."
"He has three brothers. How's he alone?"
As Berik scratched his nose and asked, Romandro and Vivianna exchanged glances. Come to think of it, Berik had been bedridden since the rebellion wrapped up. When Arsen used mana in Second Prince Gail's quarters, he'd been hovering between life and death. Of course he knew nothing.
Romandro cleared his throat carefully.
"Marib—er, the First Prince—has been stripped of his title and executed."
"...What?"
"Second Prince Gail has passed away too."
"Whaaat?!"
"And Arsen, well..."
Romandro glanced around before whispering in Berik's ear. Arsen's true nature and the fallout. How the aftermath was being handled, and not to breathe a word of it.
Berik was so shocked his jaw dropped wide. You could see the half-chewed meat inside. Vivianna gently closed it for him.
"Eeeeeh?!"
"Quiet, you fool."
"Damn, what the hell happened while I was out? Why leave me in the dark?"
"Who left you out? You call that leaving out?"
"Argh, if I'd been there!"
"If you'd been there?"
Berik ground his teeth, unable to hide his agitation. See, not human, thought Romandro as he tugged Vivianna's arm. She smiled softly and supported Berik.
"That's nothing! Huh? Like this and that, just chomp! Smash 'em clean! No wonder that guy always rubbed me wrong. He looked just like Prince Jin, but something was off. Mm-hmm. My instincts are sharp as ever. Wow. Insane."
What a clown. Romandro felt relieved Berik had been laid up during the crisis. Things were hectic enough without this guy causing trouble and giving him a real headache.
They exchanged nods with passing mages and arrived near Jin's quarters. Rounding the corner, familiar figures appeared.
"Oh my. Madam."
"Hello. Lord Romandro. You're up. Can you move around? Are you all right?"
It was Philia and Ner Sarne. They'd come to the Magic Department at Ian's summons and run into them right at the entrance. Seeing Berik, they approached.
"Lord Berik. We heard you were rolling around."
"You seem better than expected."
"Why would I be rolling?"
"Is that so? Glad to hear it."
Berik looked puzzled, as if he had no idea why. His gait was a bit off, sure, but he'd been walking fine on two feet. No clue where that came from.
In the meantime, Romandro signaled a servant to announce them, and soon the inner door opened.
Creak.
"Ian?"
"Your Highness, we heard."
As the couple entered cautiously, Ian sat by the bed, hand over his mouth in greeting. A silent plea to keep quiet.
Something indeterminate was rolled up tight in the thick blanket. Jin. The child had pulled the blanket over his head, one hand sticking out clutching Ian's left.
"You're here."
"Is Prince Jin sleeping?"
Ian shrugged as if to say he didn't know. The breathing was steady, but the grip hadn't loosened. He'd read [Legend of Roberside] twice, but Jin wouldn't budge.
Ian had papers on his lap, flipping pages with one hand.
"Lord Romandro, how's your condition?"
"No issues. Put a pillow to my head and I'd fall right back asleep. Ian, and you? Sorry. I couldn't get up sooner."
"No need. Captain Hail did his best. But he's clearly not cut out for desk work."
Ian smiled faintly, and Romandro breathed a sigh of relief. Berik shoved his head in the gap. Ian asked in surprise.
"Berik. They said you were rolling around?"
"Damn it. What the hell?"
"No matter. Seeing you, I can tell you're fine."
"Master. Can I order that meat I couldn't eat last time? I can have meat now. For real! Look!"
Chomp chomp. Berik devoured the meat voraciously to prove he was healthy. Ian watched curiously. A soft "ooh" escaped him, but that was it. He focused on the papers, scribbling with his pen.
"Lord Ner Sarne."
"Yes. Ian."
Ner Sarne's bronze shoulders twitched. Ahh. How to handle this awkward father-son vibe. Even honorifics were iffy. Romandro rolled his eyes discreetly, while Vivianna and Philia distracted the meat-devouring Berik.
"I've found a lead on Silask."
"Is that true?"
"The flowerpot I had came from the Rutherford Merchant Group. It's also the source of that orange gem 'Idgal' Marib used in the rebellion."
Rutherford. Ner Sarne shook his head as if he'd never heard. Weren't they a minority tribe dealing only with House Bratz in the Great Desert? Nothing special to report to Ian.
"How's Chief Winchen?"
"He's not recovering as before, but he's holding on well."
The gypsy's chronic condition had flared, but back then, it was worsened by the Cheonryeo traitor Bumart, who colluded with Count Derka. As food supply chief, he'd sabotaged Winchen's health to seize the tribe.
"We expect Rutherford to enter Bariel around autumn. Whether through Hawan or another route, we're not sure."
"Autumn..."
"Once they enter Bariel, we'll surely make contact, so no need to worry about that."
Would he be okay? Could Winchen, withered like bare branches, last that long? Worry flickered, but no solution came. Ner Sarne nodded.
"Send a messenger bird to Kakan. He's taking his time traveling down, so it'll take a while, right?"
"Yes. Understood."
"Mother."
"Hm?"
Philia, who had been clapping softly and watching Berik eat, whipped her head around at Ian's call.
"You said I was praised by the caravan back then. Do you remember the details?"
"Details?"
"Or if I seemed off afterward, different from usual—anything. Even small things. Whatever comes to mind."
"Well..."
Philia racked her faint memories. But no matter how she thought, the odd one wasn't that day's Ian—it was today's.
After nearly dying a few times, how could he be so composed and sharp? Philia smiled awkwardly, fiddling with her hair.
"Not much help, huh."
"It's fine."
"He had feverflower for a few days."
"Feverflower? Why?"
When Ian asked the cause, Philia panicked. He was a slum kid. How many knew why feverflower struck? Poor conditions, no doctors to care.
"Sorry. I don't really know."
"Ian. Foreign caravans bring unknown illnesses. Feverflower's common in kids. Yeah."
"Right. It flares up quick and fades fast."
Romandro chimed in, checking Philia's face, and Vivianna added.
Afraid she'd think he blamed her? Ian gave his mother a faint smile. Philia's face lit up instantly.
"...Lord Ian."
Then Jin peeked out from under the blanket, showing his eyes. The pale, delicate lids were puffy. Ian shielded the lamplight with his hand and asked gently.
"Your Highness. Awake? Should Berik go?"
"No, what did I do? I didn't say a word, just ate meat! Prince Jin, all the chatter was Ian! I'm innocent!"
"Ahem, you fool. Quiet. Your speech is weird too."
"What? Lord Romandro's louder."
Romandro and Berik bickered loudly. Under Vivianna's rolled-up sleeves and stern smile, peace was forcibly restored. Jin looked around at the group.
"If you're busy, go ahead."
"You were noisy."
"Not at all."
"Then I'm fine. We came because we're worried about you, though work brought us too. Right? Berik?"
"Yeah? Me? Of course! Here's meat!"
At Ian's cue, Berik shot up his hand. Ah, no meat. He'd brought some to share with Jin, but he'd eaten it all.
Jin unwittingly smiled faintly.
"Berik. Good to see you up. That meat you missed—we'll eat it later. Very tasty beef."
"Heek. When? I'm strict about meal promises. Breakfast together?"
"You punk, dining with His Highness?!"
"Ack! Sia ate with Prince Jin too!"
Smack!
Romandro and Berik started tussling again; Vivianna raised her voice, and Philia flailed between them, unable to stop it.
"Noisy, right?"
"No. Nice."
At Ian's question, Jin mumbled. Better than hearing him sob alone. Jin stared blankly at them from under the blanket, then suddenly asked.
"By the way, Lord Ian."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Do you, perhaps, have a younger sibling?"
"Pardon?"
Younger sibling? To him?
Ian raised a brow, and Jin looked equally baffled.
"Lord Roberside mentioned it. Said your sibling is very pretty."