Chapter 202
“Disaster! We have a serious problem!”

Crash!

The aide who had rushed into the Prime Minister’s office suddenly slipped and fell to the side. This was the same man who usually didn’t even breathe loudly—what on earth was going on for him to be so frantic?

Everyone in the room froze and turned their heads, including the Prime Minister and the gathered high-ranking officials. Quintana was among them as well.

“Compose yourself,” the Prime Minister scolded, removing his glasses. The paperwork was already a mess, and this chaos wasn’t helping. Unless the palace itself had fallen, decorum had to be maintained. After all, these were the top leaders of the empire.

“Th-the thing is… Prince Gale has attacked Prince Arsen. Fortunately, his life is not in danger, but he’s currently unconscious and has been taken away for treatment.”

“What? Prince Gale attacked Prince Arsen?”

“How did this happen? Isn’t Prince Gale still under treatment in his quarters? Did he leave?”

It was more like a forced confinement disguised as treatment. Even they couldn’t approach without Ian’s orders. How Gale and Arsen had met was a mystery.

Quintana shook his head at the question.

“No, it seems Prince Arsen entered Prince Gale’s residence. The medical team was called from there.”

“Ahem. Well, well. I wonder what could have driven him to do that.”

“Exactly. I think we should pause the meeting here and address this first.”

Several officials exchanged glances and cleared their throats. They were supporters of Arsen. Since Arsen had allied with Hyman, it was clear they had intended to eliminate Gale for his sake. The cause and effect were obvious.

As they began sorting through the documents, the aide stammered out the most critical piece of information.

“Prince Arsen is a magic user.”

Everyone stopped in their tracks.

Time seemed to freeze. Some bent at the waist, others half-draped in their cloaks. A teacup clattered to the floor as someone lost focus.

“Did you say… what?”

“Prince Arsen used magic!”

“Prince Arsen is… a magic user?”

The empire’s top leaders all wore the same stunned expression. It was a rare sight indeed. They muttered in disbelief before falling into silence.

But only for a moment.

Bang! Crash! Clatter!

“Ow, that hurts!”

“Excuse me, pardon me, coming through!”

“I’ll go ahead. Take your time.”

“Prime Minister, perhaps we should discuss this matter later.”

“Outside! Get the carriage ready! Hurry!”

Those who had grasped the situation sprang into action.

If Prince Arsen was a magic user, there was no contest with Jin. The Minister of Magic’s authority had already grown too large, and this was like the trumpet signaling victory on the battlefield.

“If Prince Arsen is a mage, then this is—”

“Divine will. It couldn’t be more perfect. This will check the Magic Department’s power at the same time. We’re saved.”

“I’m going straight to Lady Dilaina. Not Prince Jin, but Prince Arsen is the rightful heir. Damn it, damn it!”

Those who had supported Jin rushed to Dilaina, while the faction centered around Hyman huddled to discuss their next moves.

“Since Gale tried to harm Arsen, let’s execute him immediately. No need for a trial like with Marib. This is our chance.”

“Yes, yes. That’s best.”

“Let’s move! Quickly!”

They seemed even more frantic than during the rebellion. Quintana sighed and continued organizing the papers.

“Aren’t you going?”

“I’m the one who calculates taxes. Even if Prince Arsen is hurt, what can I do?”

“You may not act, but you can think. What do you make of Prince Arsen being a magic user?”

Quintana let out a small sigh at the Prime Minister’s question. He thought of Jin, who had attended the grand assembly. It was heartbreaking to imagine a child abandoned by his mother now being forsaken by the officials as well.

“…If Prince Arsen is a magic user, it’s a blessing for the empire and a cause for celebration.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“You don’t know?”

The Prime Minister answered with silence and then left the office. He was likely heading to Ian to get a clearer picture of the situation.

Quintana remained alone, pressing his hand to his forehead.

“…Damn it.”

For some reason, Jin’s expression as he gripped his own hand so tightly was vivid in his mind. If Arsen ascended as heir, Jin would naturally become a target for elimination. In power struggles, defeat meant death.

Jin would be killed by his mother, by his subordinates, and ultimately by the throne itself.

Quintana had no choice but to stay put for quite some time.

---

“Xiaoshi, this is your name.”

“Xia… o… shi.”

“Yes. Try writing it. Your calm nature will make your handwriting steady. When Beric wakes, I’ll teach him too. You must carry your own name in your heart as you live.”

Jin was teaching Xiaoshi how to write his name. Xiaoshi had lived as a slave all his life but was bright and quick to learn.

As they studied together, a commotion erupted outside. Mages were running about in a frenzy, as if something urgent had happened.

Tap, tap, tap!

“Did I just hear that right?”

“Ian has just left Prince Gale’s residence. He said to finish things there and then gather the heads of each department. Get moving. Orders will come as soon as he arrives.”

“I’ve never heard news like this before, wow!”

“So what happens now?”

At the mention of Ian’s name, Jin and Xiaoshi both perked up. The sounds of rushing mages in the hallway died down, but the last conversation was clear.

“If Prince Arsen is a magic user, he’ll join our ranks. We can’t afford to split the few mages we have.”

“This is bad, really bad. Especially for Ian.”

Thud. Jin felt his heart drop to the floor.

Had he misheard? Prince Arsen a magic user?

The boy looked at Xiaoshi with wide, trembling eyes, silently begging for denial. But Xiaoshi’s own face showed clear shock.

“…”

“Arsen… a magic user…”

He set down his pen and muttered, unable to believe it. Born at the same time, from the same womb—how could Arsen have everything?

He took their mother’s love, and the glory of the gods. And not only that—he would take the loyalty of those who supported Jin, even Ian’s allegiance.

His brother, who stole everything, was now someone to fear. Jin didn’t understand why Arsen’s existence shook his fate so deeply.

“Sigh.”

Jin covered his face with his hands. His heart tightened painfully. When you realize your opponent is an insurmountable force, a crushing helplessness consumes you. And at its edge, sorrow seeps in.

Tears streamed down his face as he whispered,

“…Ian said not to cry.”

What could he do? With Arsen’s presence already casting doubt on his own abilities, showing tears would only make things worse.

Jin wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, but the tears were like an endless ocean.

“I’ll block out what I see and hear.”

Xiaoshi’s comforting words meant Jin could cry as much as he wanted without judgment. The boy quietly let his tears fall, staring into the void.

‘Now, I want to win. I don’t want to lose anything else.’

That resolve echoed in Jin’s mind like a distant call.

Suddenly, he sprang to his feet and dashed out the door. Xiaoshi followed right behind.

Tap, tap, tap!

“Oh my, Prince Jin?”

“Your Highness, be careful not to fall!”

“Watch out!”

Jin weaved through the crowd of mages, running frantically toward the main entrance of the Magic Department. Far ahead, Ian was stepping down from a carriage and climbing the stairs. He was discussing something with Romandro, just as usual.

The difference was the circle of mages surrounding them, asking about Prince Arsen.

“Ian!”

“Your Highness?”

Startled by Jin’s sudden call, Ian looked up.

The boy’s lips were pressed tight with determination. He practically tumbled down the stairs and grabbed Ian’s sleeve. The mages nearby reached out anxiously, fearing Jin might fall.

“Careful, Your Highness! You’re in danger!”

“What if you get hurt?”

“Lord Ian, please listen.”

But Jin ignored them all and looked Ian straight in the eyes. The stairs made their gazes roughly level.

“I heard that Prince Arsen is a magic user.”

“Your news travels fast, Your Highness,” Ian said with a faint smile and a nod. He understood exactly what Jin was trying to do.

“Arsen and I share everything as twins. If he’s a magic user, I could awaken at any time as well. So don’t be too quick to judge.”

It was a mix of persuasion, appeasement, and a strategy to maintain his power. Clumsy and awkward, but Jin’s intent was clear. Ian held the boy’s hand, silently encouraging him to continue.

“More importantly, if Arsen joins the Magic Department, your position will become difficult. So, so…”

“So?”

“It would be better to hold onto me instead.”

“Is that so? If Prince Arsen is a magic user, it’s a blessing for the empire. Isn’t it the will of the gods manifesting in the royal family?”

Jin bit her lip tightly in response to Ian’s words. At that moment, Romandro and his men also took a step back, watching Jin carefully.

The young emperor was fighting for his position for the very first time.

“That doesn’t guarantee the best possible future. None of the previous emperors who led Bariel’s Great Revival were magicians. And if Arsen is truly a magician, then you must be just as desperate as I am.”

“So you have a plan,” Jin said.

Ian glanced around subtly, noticing how everyone deliberately averted their eyes and stepped back. They wouldn’t listen, so they were giving Jin the space to speak freely.

Leaning in close enough for only Ian to hear, Jin whispered, “I’ll falsely declare myself a magic user. Since we’re twins, everyone will believe it easily. That way, I can stand against Arsen, and you gain a weakness of mine to exploit—no one loses.”

Bold. That was the word. Ian could tell just how cornered Jin was. He patted the boy’s shoulder and smiled brightly.

“Excellent.”

Rough and inexperienced, with a long way to go, but for a first attempt, it was a brilliant move. Jin blinked at Ian’s praise.

“However, lies breed more lies. If you can’t handle it, they’ll end up strangling you. It’s better to deal with falsehoods indirectly rather than head-on.”

“…Sir Ian?”

“It’s better to see it with your own eyes than just hear about it. I’m sure His Highness Arsen will show us himself what happens to those who escape by lying. Shall we go in? It’s chilly out here.”

Ian took Jin’s hand and nodded toward the stairs. Arsen would demonstrate the fate of those who hide behind lies?

That meant…

‘Arsen is lying?’

Jin looked up at Ian, bewildered, but quickly dropped his gaze again.

When they reached the main building, they entered the conference room immediately. Akorella, Captain Hale, and the heads of each department were all waiting. Given the gravity of the situation, the atmosphere was heavy.

creak

“Minister, you’ve arrived?”

“Everyone, please be seated.”

“I heard His Highness Arsen used magic—is that true?”

“Well, ah, this is quite something. How did this even happen…?”

Unable to hold back, questions poured out, and Ian calmly removed his robe, nodding in confirmation.

“His Highness Arsen did indeed use magic.”

“Damn it!”

“We will hold a magic verification ceremony soon. Prepare quickly. What about the Light of Prophecy? Is it currently in the palace?”

“No, after using it at the New Year’s ceremony, it was returned to the Neanil Temple. I will request it again.”

“No. This time, have it brought from the Karbo Temple.”

“Pardon? Karbo?”

Karbo was the temple on Jin and Arsen’s maternal side. It was strange to request it from there when a closer temple was available.

“And when the twins were born, the priests who received the prophecy were ordered to bring it personally. This is an official order from the Magic Department.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And the doctor who delivered the birth.”

He was probably based in central Bariel. The investigation orders kept coming, unrelated to Arsen’s use of magic.

“Bring that doctor to me as well.”

“…Yes, Minister.”

Ian smiled knowingly at Jin’s puzzled expression. If Arsen’s magic was real, he was destined to vanish completely from the royal family’s history.

“Hold on just a little longer, His Highness Jin. You will reclaim everything Arsen has taken.”

If the magic wasn’t real, then they’d have to explain what exactly had been shown. Magic power without a source would quickly fade into nothingness.