Episode 127

“Arsen.”

After moving the emperor to the bedroom, Dilaina let out a sigh and looked down at her son. Her usually stern gaze was sharper than usual. But Arsen just rolled his eyes playfully and smiled brightly.

“Yes, Mother.”

“What was that reckless behavior earlier?”

“Are you upset?”

When Marib and Gale were around, he was told not to even breathe loudly. Yet now, not only did he step forward, he even asked Viscount Ian Hielo to show his magic. If the other royal children hadn’t been present, that could have been a serious problem.

“Arsen, sometimes I really don’t understand you at all.”

“I’m sorry. But Mother, you saw it yourself, didn’t you? How beautiful Lord Ian’s magic was. How could I resist wanting to see it up close?”

Arsen smiled sweetly and rubbed his face against his mother’s arm. Dilaina had resolved to scold him harshly, but whenever he acted like this, her resolve always melted away.

Sigh.

Since the moment of the prophecy, he had been a painful thorn in her side. Born under a curse of misfortune, she had kept him close since infancy. Perhaps because of that, Arsen never feared his mother, and the frail, weakened emperor was the same.

Click.

“Lady Dilaina, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence.”

At the servant’s message, Dilaina sighed and turned around. Jin entered the room with his usual dignified posture—so different from Arsen, who was sprawled carelessly on the sofa.

If only it weren’t for the prophecy…

Biting her lower lip, Dilaina managed to offer some words of encouragement.

“Jin, you’ve worked hard today.”

“Not at all, Mother. You were the one who worked hard preparing for the New Year’s gathering.”

Jin removed his gloves and placed them neatly on the corner of the table, signaling the official events were over. Arsen, chewing on candy with amusement, glanced back and forth between his mother and Jin.

“And Jin, remind your brother again what Marib and Gale mean to us. Earlier, I was so scared I thought I might die. I really can’t live with this disgrace.”

Dilaina lightly hugged Jin, lamenting. How could siblings born of the same womb be so different? If only Arsen had even half of Jin’s temperament, she wouldn’t have a single worry.

Knock knock.

“Lady Dilaina, His Majesty the Emperor requests you.”

“The Emperor? Very well, I’ll be there shortly.”

Adjusting her dress, Dilaina left the sitting room at the servant’s summons.

Once the door closed, only the quiet ticking of the clock filled the night. Arsen propped his chin on his hand and narrowed his eyes at Jin.

“Little brother, why don’t you give me a scolding like Mother said?”

Jin just stared at Arsen silently. Unable to bear the brief silence, Arsen tapped his toes and muttered irritably.

“No answer? Don’t you want to talk to me?”

“It’s not that. This time, you know well that you were in the wrong.”

Was the third prince’s fall really an accident? Jin knew the truth: the third prince met his death because he looked Marib and Gale straight in the eye.

“It won’t be long before the older brothers stop looking out for us.”

Jin spoke cautiously, and Arsen’s expression turned openly annoyed. The boy rested his chin on his hand and gave Jin a pouty look.

“Mother keeps saying it’s not because we’re young, but because Marib and Gale don’t care about us that we get to live so comfortably.”

Arsen suddenly stood and leaned close to Jin, burying his head in his younger brother’s neck just as he had with their mother, whispering softly.

“Jin, you have to say it right. It’s not because we’re young—it’s because of the prophecy.”

Besides the publicly known prophecy that “the later-born will harm the earlier-born,” there was another secret.

“And if the brother closest to the throne dies, the royal line will be completely severed.”

Arsen spoke proudly, as if it were a magical spell protecting him. Jin just stared at his brother. Though no one said it outright, everyone guessed that Arsen was the one closest to the throne.

“The younger brother will harm the older, and if that happens, the royal line will end.”

Jin replied through clenched teeth.

“Arsen, prophecies aren’t always right.”

“But they’re not always wrong either.”

The sweet scent of candy came from his brother as Arsen rubbed his head against Jin’s. Jin patted him gently, as always.

“Jin, I really like you.”

“…Me too.”

Only a few knew the prophecy about the royal line: Dilaina, the emperor, and a handful of princes.

“How could I ever harm you?”

Jin had no such intention, but whenever those around him treated him like a criminal, it felt suffocating. He hadn’t done anything, yet he already felt guilty.

“Jin, so please, don’t kill me.”

“Stop joking about that.”

“Ahaha, alright, alright.”

Arsen laughed and popped another candy into his mouth. Jin naturally helped him remove his gloves. Today felt especially long.

---

Back in the second-floor banquet hall, Ian met Gale, who had been waiting for him. Gale’s face was flushed, likely from drinking wine. Most of the royal family had already moved downstairs to mingle with the nobles, leaving only the two of them here.

“Ian, did your father leave safely?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Ian sat opposite Gale, studying him. Seeing his father coughing so badly and being carried out, he wondered how Gale could remain so calm. Noticing Ian’s gaze, Gale smiled and shrugged.

“He’s been like that for a while. Often gasping for breath even in his sleep, but then he wakes up fine the next day. I’ve been startled more times than I can count. Honestly, I find Marib’s fussing more puzzling. She acts like Father is going to die any moment.”

“No matter how used to it you get, worry doesn’t just disappear.”

Ian had heard that the emperor favored Gale more than Marib. As the empress’s son, it seemed respected, but behind the scenes, Gale was cherished more.

If that’s the case, isn’t that power for me? Gale would be missed if the emperor died, so how can he be so carefree?

Ian clicked his tongue and lowered his head. He had a rough idea why Gale wanted him to stay.

“About the magic demonstration earlier.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It left quite an impression. Have you ever seen a mage from the borderlands?”

Gale knew Wesley had tampered with the magic circle. Despite that, Ian had perfectly displayed the light of the prophecy. So, there were only two possibilities.

Either Wesley made a mistake, or Ian fixed the magic circle.

Though Wesley had a fiery temper, she was unmatched in her mastery of magic. Even without Ian, the New Year’s event would have gone smoothly.

“No. Many at the borderlands have never even heard of magic. I’ve seen people like gypsies, but never a mage.”

“I see. Then, was the blood on the floor yours, Ian?”

Gale must have found the bloodstain from Beric. Since the part of the magic circle with the crystal was erased, he guessed Ian did it. Otherwise…

If not, then someone inside the magic department must be helping Ian.

“No, I haven’t bled.”

Ian looked at his palm with a sly smile. If they tested the blood, they could check if it matched his.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It seems there was a problem with the magic circle, but I’m glad the ceremony finished safely.”

Gale examined Ian’s hands thoroughly but saw no wounds. Ian smiled brightly, thinking to himself.

I should hurry and take Beric home. It’d be troublesome if they start checking him too.

“What do you think about the proposal I made earlier?”

“You mean becoming a true part of the magic department?”

Ian’s words were met with a silent nod from Gale. The faint sounds of merriment from below drifted up, creating a strange atmosphere. Perhaps from the wine, Gale’s tone was more direct than usual.

“I’d be honored. Of course, I’ll do it.”

“Good. How will you prove it?”

Gale twisted his mouth in amusement.

“Should I even twist the master’s neck to show my loyalty?”

“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but there are many ears in the banquet hall.”

“But words spoken here won’t leak outside.”

The magical power Ian felt when climbing the stairs wasn’t just a shield—it seemed to prevent secrets from escaping. Since all this was under Wesley’s direction, it would be safe to keep secrets as Gale wished.

“…If you want, I’ll prove it. But—”

Ian met Gale’s gaze cautiously.

Should I test him? Since he’s drunk, maybe it’s okay to probe a little.

“I hope Your Highness will also prove to me that this is the right path to follow.”

Gale’s eyes narrowed, then he burst out into a hearty laugh. It was clear he was pleasantly drunk. Despite the strange circumstances, Ian’s magic confirmation ritual had succeeded, and if Ian truly intended to become a real magician, that was actually a green light for Gale.

“All right. Fine. But we need to be clear about the order. You must prove yourself first.”

Just as Ian bowed his head, footsteps approached from behind.

“Ah, excuse me.”

It was Romandro. He had watched the emperor leave but, worried when Ian didn’t return, had come up to check on him. Though blocked by the knight’s scabbard and unable to enter, they could see each other.

“Pardon me. I have a message for Viscount Ian Halo.”

“Romandro! Oh, Romandro!”

“Oh, it’s been a while, Your Highness Gale.”

“Yes, you’ve done well on the frontier. I was impressed. Won’t you come this way?”

Romandro’s expression clearly said he wished he hadn’t been caught in this situation. After all, he was one of Marib’s men who had been actively sabotaging Gale’s efforts on the frontier.

“Thank you, but I have urgent news for Viscount Ian Hielo.”

“Didn’t you just try to take Ian away from the first floor?”

So he’d heard everything. Ian glanced at Gale, a little surprised.

“The knight you brought, no—the knight…”

Beric? Ian suddenly felt a sharp sting at the back of his head. He politely nodded to Gale and stood.

“Excuse me, Your Highness. The knight isn’t used to these kinds of gatherings after coming from the frontier. I worry I might cause a scene and spoil the New Year’s party. Please allow me to take my leave.”

Gale clicked his tongue and picked up his wine glass again—a clear sign of permission. Ian bowed slightly and hurried down the corridor after Romandro.

“Romandro, what’s going on with Beric? What happened?”

“Nothing to be alarmed about. I came to get you, that’s all.”

“Shh. Everything we say here will reach Your Highness Gale.”

“Ah, damn it. Well, half of that’s true!”

Romandro clapped a hand over his mouth, clearly panicked. Earlier, in the garden outside the banquet hall, Beric had been crouched in a corner of the bushes, digging furiously at the ground.

Thump! Thump!

“Heh heh. Heh heh.”

“Beric’s pretty drunk. Let’s stop him before he digs any more tunnels. Time to go home.”

“Oi! Ian! Iaaaan!”

Ian felt the tension drain from his body and rubbed his forehead. He took Beric’s fingertips and looked around. The wound was mostly hidden by the dirt.

“All right. Let’s go home now.”

“Yeah! Let’s go! There’s only booze here, no meat!”

“Shut up, you fool! You ate everything already!”

That was enough. Ian left the noisy New Year’s party behind and pulled Beric along. He couldn’t risk being caught again by Gale.

If that happens, things will get irreversibly complicated.

Romandro hurriedly covered the hole Beric had dug with his foot and ran after Ian.