Chapter 23: The Aftermath
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 23: The Aftermath
"I see... so it was just a dream?"
Muen leaned against the headboard, staring up at the golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling. A wave of immense relief washed over him.
He hadn't expected to still be alive.
To be stabbed in a vital spot by a dagger wreathed in the flames of an Evil God and survive... was a miracle.
Had the heavens finally decided to show him some mercy?
"According to the Master, the formal suit the Young Master was wearing was actually a high-quality defensive magic device. It absorbed most of the damage at the critical moment, which is why you were able to escape disaster."
"Is that so?"
I’m sorry, my dear formal suit. I spoke too harshly before. That twenty-kilogram weight isn't a flaw at all—it’s a sense of reassuring sturdiness! If I ever get the chance, I’ll definitely have you repaired and wear you again. Not for any other reason, but simply to repay you for saving my life!
"And my current injuries..."
Muen looked at his hands. To be honest, despite having suffered such a grievous wound, he didn't feel a hint of pain right now. He only felt a faint, lingering sense of exhaustion deep within his body.
"It was Her Highness, Princess Celicia," An said. "She summoned the Chief Healer of the Royal Mage Corps to personally cast healing magic on the Young Master. Your wounds were healed right from the start; you only slept this long because your body was too weak."
"Long?"
"The Young Master has been asleep for three whole days."
"Three... days."
Muen let out a soft breath. "That really is quite a long time."
"Right."
At the mention of Celicia, Muen suddenly grew tense. He couldn't help but ask cautiously, "Celicia... did she say anything about me?"
"Say what about the Young Master...?"
An tilted her head, looking puzzled. "What do you mean, Young Master?"
"Um... you know, did she say anything bad about me?"
"I wouldn't know about that, but I don't think she did." An thought about it carefully. "When Her Highness left, she spoke with the Master for a while. They seemed to have a very pleasant conversation."
"I see."
Muen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
It seemed that, in the end, Celicia hadn't exposed the beastly act he had committed.
Was it for the sake of her own reputation, or was it because... he had saved her?
"Young Master Muen."
"Yes?"
"Though this question is a bit overstepping, I still wish to ask."
An suddenly crouched down, the faint scent of flowers drifting toward Muen’s nose. For some reason, he felt that An’s voice had turned somewhat cold.
"You seem so nervous about this. Is it because you did something to the Princess while you were alone with her in that room?"
"...No, of course not."
Muen shook his head vigorously, his face stiffening. "That’s the Princess! If I did anything to her, I’d lose my head!"
"Is that so? I suppose you're right."
An seemed to accept Muen’s explanation and didn't press further. Instead, she picked up the bowl of medicine again.
"Come, take your medicine. It’s already cooled down."
"Do I have to?"
Looking at the bowl of pitch-black liquid, Muen’s composed expression immediately crumbled. "I’m afraid of bitter things."
"That won't do, Young Master. The first thing you need to do now is nurse your body back to health."
"But aren't my injuries already healed?"
"Strictly speaking, this isn't medicine; it's a tonic. It just looks like medicine. Besides, knowing the Young Master dislikes bitterness, I’ve already added sugar."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Alright then..."
Muen tremulously reached out his hand. "Give it to me."
An: "..."
Muen: "?"
"Young Master Muen, feeding you is my duty as your personal maid."
"But my limbs are perfectly fine..."
"Young Master Muen, are you trying to take away this poor maid's livelihood? Of course, if you hate me, I can go to the Master and resign right now."
An wiped away a non-existent tear from the corner of her eye. "I am but a frail maid who knows nothing but how to care for the Young Master. If I lose my place here and end up wandering the streets alone, if I were to run into bad people, I would have no choice but to..."
"Fine, fine, fine! Feed me, just feed me! Please, stop talking."
Muen helplessly gave up his struggle.
Well, this is the treatment befitting the son of a Duke, isn't it? Being hand-fed by a beautiful girl is the ultimate dream of countless shut-ins!
"Come, Young Master, open wide. Ah—"
"Why does this feel like feeding a toddler? Ah—"
Guh, so bitter! Didn't you say there was sugar in this?
"Oh dear, perhaps I remembered incorrectly. Come, Young Master, keep going. Ah—"
"How can you misremember something like that? You're definitely treating me like a child, aren't you? Ah—"
"Keep it up, Young Master. Only two more sips. Ah—"
"I told you, I'm not a child! Ah—"
*
"Speaking of which, were there any negative repercussions after the incident?" Muen asked suddenly.
After all, the attempted assassination of the Imperial Princess was a major event. It was impossible for there to be no aftermath during the three days he was unconscious.
As his personal maid, An would certainly have looked into these matters.
"There have indeed been some developments," An replied while tidying up the medicine bowl.
"First is the identity of the assassins. After the Master’s personal interrogation, it seems those disguised as maids weren't professional death-seekers or assassins. They are a bounty hunter organization that has operated in the Belland underground for years, worshipping an Evil God known as the Withered King. It’s said they’ll do anything as long as the price is right."
"The Withered King... bounty hunters..."
Muen murmured under his breath. In his memory, an Evil God by the name of the Withered King never appeared in the original novel, let alone a bounty hunter organization that worshipped him.
As expected, the novel’s scope was too limited, Muen sighed inwardly.
Novels are written from the protagonist's perspective; they can't possibly describe an entire world in its entirety, nor can they clearly present every event happening across the globe.
In other words, once the plot deviates from the original book or strays from the protagonist's path, it becomes completely unpredictable.
"Young Master Muen needn't worry. That organization was personally wiped out by the Master last night," An added.
"...I see."
Muen blinked, then couldn't help but smile with relief.
Even though the plot wasn't following the original book, he was still the high-ranking son of a Duke. He didn't need to worry about how this would play out, because there were naturally people who would handle it for him.
"What about the mastermind who hired the hunters?"
"That hasn't been uncovered yet."
An shook her head. "Every member of the hunter organization was under a curse. The moment they are questioned about that topic, they spontaneously combust and die."
"I figured... it would be like that."
Anyone bold enough to openly assassinate the Princess would naturally leave no traces behind.
However, even a beggar on the street knew that there were only a few factions with the motive to target Celicia.
"It’s said His Majesty the Emperor was absolutely furious over this and personally ordered a purge of the 'rats' in the Belland underground."
"That really is..."
Muen shook his head with a wry smile, thinking to himself: It looks like I won't be able to visit the underground black market for a while.