Episode 146
The awful stench of ash filled the air. Gale grimaced as he struggled to open his eyes. Faint smoke curled beside him—candles meant to soothe the mind and body, but to Gale, they only added to the nausea.

Clatter!

“Oh my, Gale-sama!”

At the commotion from the bedroom, a servant hurried in. As soon as Gale gathered his senses, he wondered aloud, “How many days have passed?”

“Not long, my lord. It’s been just over a full day. I’ll notify the infirmary immediately. Please don’t overexert yourself…”

Despite the servant’s protests, Gale swung his legs off the bed. His hand instinctively reached for the sword that should have been resting on the table—but found nothing. Only then did he realize he was lying in an unfamiliar room.

Squeak.

“Already causing a fuss the moment you wake up, Gale.”

“Marib…”

“Have you given the title ‘older brother’ to your lover, then?”

Marib smiled brightly—a radiant expression Gale had never seen before. As always, when one of them smiled, it spelled trouble for the other. Gale ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

“Lover? That’s an exaggeration.”

“Sure, sure. Even if you kissed in front of everyone, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re lovers. I can’t understand your reckless ways, but I thought you’d understand deeply.”

Gale clenched his teeth in irritation. He had given Marib the perfect excuse to needle him. Marib, ever sharp and watchful, was always ready to pounce on any weakness. Gale decided to feign ignorance for now.

“What of Minister Wesley?”

“The personnel meeting concluded successfully. Though everyone was distracted by your little romantic quarrel outside, it wrapped up well.”

“Please refrain from using that blasted word ‘romantic quarrel.’”

“Anyway, Wesley is no longer minister. The position is vacant, and the departments are busy with personnel reshuffles and investigating the incident. Gale, you have no idea how long we’ve waited for you to wake.”

Marib approached slowly, smoothing the collar of Gale’s clothes with a gentle tap, eyebrows raised as if urging him to speak.

“Did Wesley curse you?”

“…”

He looks thrilled. Absolutely thrilled.

Gale swatted Marib’s hand away, but Marib ignored it and gripped the collar again. He had never been this forward before. Gale suspected Marib was fully confident of his victory.

“The entire palace is in uproar over this. Why you tried to bring down Wesley, why he resorted to forbidden magic, and what curse he poured onto you as he was dying.”

If even one secret buried beneath the surface came to light, Marib would strike without hesitation. He lightly caressed his brother’s cheek and smiled brightly once more.

“You’d better hurry and tell the truth. If it’s a curse that threatens the royal family’s survival, you must break it with your own life.”

“…”

Gale met Marib’s gaze calmly. Though their eyes were the same shade, one was cold, the other burning with heat. Marib stepped back and straightened the fallen candle.

“When the Emperor summons you, come at once. Take care of yourself until then.”

Squeak.

Marib swept his neatly tied hair as he left the room, his confident stride as if the throne itself had fallen into his hands.

Gale’s aide bowed deeply at the door, escorting him out before returning to the room. Gale sighed and flicked his fingers.

“A cigarette.”

The aide immediately lit one and handed it over. Taking a deep drag, Gale exhaled smoke along with his command.

“Hit me.”

Thud! Thud!

At once, the aide prostrated himself, banging his forehead against the floor repeatedly. He showed no hesitation in punishing himself. For a subordinate, failing to handle matters properly was shameful, and without genuine remorse, his head would be forfeit.

“I beg your forgiveness, my lord!”

Thud!

He wailed, continuing to pound his head. The servants lowered their gazes, unable to watch, but Gale took in every detail. Soon, blood trickled down his nose and chin from the wounds.

“…Wesley’s escape was likely aided by the negligence of her aide.”

Gale only remembered that aide always stayed close to Wesley, but couldn’t recall his face. His presence was so faint, he wasn’t worth paying attention to. Yet this time, he had caused a major disaster.

“The aide’s body was found in your chamber, my lord. It seems he used forbidden magic alongside Wesley. The Ministry of Magic is currently investigating and controlling the situation, which is why he was brought here.”

Gale tossed a dry cloth to his prostrating subordinate, signaling him to wipe the blood and cease the self-punishment.

“…What’s the mood like at the Ministry?”

Dressing quickly, Gale asked again. He needed to stay sharp. One wrong move and he’d be pushed off the cliff’s edge. Any more cracks now would mean total ruin.

“It’s… complicated.”

“Complicated?” Gale tilted his head, urging the aide to continue without pause. The aide pressed the cloth to his forehead and reported clearly—the same report Gale had mulled over countless times while bedridden.

“The Ministry is both the subject and the investigator. Attempting to harm you is clearly treason and a grave crime. But since forbidden magic was involved, other departments can’t proceed with the investigation.”

With each puff of smoke, Gale felt his mind clear. The situation was as obvious as water.

“The factions must be completely split.”

“Exactly. The Magic Support Department, which directly served Wesley, is on one side, and all other departments on the other. With the minister’s seat vacant, a power struggle among the mages is expected.”

Gale tapped his chin thoughtfully. Now that Marib knew he was awake, a summons for a hearing was imminent.

“Are there many who understand forbidden magic?”

“No. We’re still digging through old records to learn more. But, my lord… um…”

The aide hesitated, as if ashamed to say it aloud.

“Is the curse real?”

“…No one knows what it is?”

“I was right beside you at the time but heard nothing. I think the black aura around Wesley clouded my mind.”

No one knew what Wesley’s curse was? Gale couldn’t help but smile. He quickly rose to his feet.

“What about Ian?”

“Sir? Ian?”

“Yes. I need him badly right now.”

“Ian has been attending an emergency meeting for half a day and hasn’t come out.”

Gale frowned as a servant helped him dress. Had Marib noticed Ian’s knowledge of Wesley’s necromancy? Had he caught on to their deception?

If Ian were to be cast aside by Marib, it would be a disaster. Among all the weapons at Gale’s disposal, Ian was the most reliable and useful.

The aide seemed to understand and added quickly.

“Ian was the only one who confronted Wesley. That’s why he’s representing the Ministry at the meeting. You needn’t worry.”

Ian was the one who had stood against the former minister. Even if the top commanders were absent, among the field mages, Ian’s magical power was the strongest.

“Even more reason I need Ian.”

The balance was slowly tipping toward Ian’s side. Just days ago, Ian had been the one seeking Gale’s support, but now Gale was the one pressed for time.

“Is your father at the meeting?”

“It’s an ongoing emergency session. He’s coming and going depending on his stamina, as are the other officials.”

Marib had probably slipped out briefly. Gale quickly donned his uniform and strapped his sword to his waist.

“Let’s go. Everyone’s been waiting for me.”

---

“This is ridiculous! How can you say that?”

“Where are you raising your voice? Isn’t everything I said true? The sudden dismissal of former Minister Wesley was suspicious from the start. The conflict between Gale-sama and Wesley was the root of it all!”

“That’s a private matter! It’s not up for debate. Our investigation should focus on why Wesley used forbidden magic!”

“But that’s connected to Gale-sama! Honestly, this is frustrating. Stop trying to shift the blame—make sense for once!”

“Frustrating? Have you said all you wanted to say?”

“You? You!?”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The chaotic emergency meeting was like a battlefield. Papers flew everywhere, and Marib’s faction and Gale’s were at war. Hours had passed, no one knew how many. The presiding official struggled to bang the gavel, demanding silence.

“Everyone, please, enough.”

Exhaustion hung heavy in the air. After the long personnel meeting, now this emergency session. The Emperor sat silently at the head of the room, watching quietly from the sidelines.

“Lord Ian!”

At that moment, a minister called out to Ian. Sitting upright, Ian nodded and rose from his seat.

“Testify once again.”

How many times had this been now?

He was repeating like a parrot the eyewitness testimony from the scene, confirming that what Wesley had written was indeed forbidden magic. On top of that, the Ministry of Magic was firmly stating they had nothing to do with this incident.

Ian thought to himself that if he were emperor, he would have dismissed all these ministers spouting nonsense long ago. Still, he parted his lips to give his testimony.

But then—

Clatter.

“Your Highness Gale has arrived.”

“Gale, Your Highness?”

“You said he was up and about, but is he really able to move around now?”

“Hurry, bring him inside at once!”

With Gale’s arrival, the atmosphere in the hall shifted once more. Ian, who had awkwardly stood, sat back down with a heavy sigh.

‘Wesley really dealt a heavy blow. To lose so much ground in just a day…’

There was no longer any need to weigh between the first and second princes. At this rate, Marib’s influence would surely outweigh Gale’s in the appointment of the next Minister of Magic.

‘From Gale’s perspective, there is one option…’

But there was no need to reveal it. At the start of the conflict, Gale might have been useful as a counterbalance to Marib, but now, cursed by forbidden magic, there was no reason to push him forward recklessly.

“Your Highness Gale! How is your condition?”

“Your Highness, I was truly worried.”

“Since you’ve come all this way, please speak plainly. Is it true you were cursed by Wesley?”

“Ah, you! You just arrived!”

“Whether he just arrived or came earlier, what does it matter? Honestly, I’m worried about him sitting alongside His Majesty the Emperor. Who knows what kind of curse this is!”

Marib’s faction pressed aggressively. Though their words were harsh, they were not without merit. Gale’s supporters looked to the princes in silence.

Swish.

“A curse, yes. It can be called a curse.”

Gale stepped forward slowly and looked directly at Marib. Marib smirked, as if daring him to say more. But Ian sensed an unshakable confidence in Gale’s tone…

‘Could it be…’

“A curse! Did you hear that? His Highness Gale has admitted it! It’s a curse! You must order him to leave the palace immediately!”

The hall’s tension boiled over. Gale surveyed the room calmly, then placed a hand over his chest and knelt on one knee before his father, the Emperor.

“Father, I have been cursed.”

“…Gale. Speak freely.”

“I have always sought only the glory of Bariel, and believed that true progress was the sole purpose of my life. Nothing else matters to me.”

In an uncharacteristically earnest voice, Gale continued.

“Wesley told me this: ‘Your death will cast a shadow of death over countless citizens of Bariel. This will lead to decline, and ultimately, the ruin of Bariel itself.’”

Marib, who had been quietly listening, removed his hand from his chin and widened his eyes. Ian stifled a bitter laugh inside.

‘A lie. But for now, it’s the best move he has.’

“Furthermore, he said this.”

Gale looked up at his older brother Marib, as if to make sure he was listening. This time, Gale was the one smiling.