Episode 287

“Huh?”

The wizard who had come to deliver some documents paused, a puzzled look on his face.

The minister’s office was firmly shut, and a servant stood guard outside. That meant Ian’s office—where the lights never went out, even at dawn—was empty.

Where could he have gone in the middle of the night? Visiting another department? The wizard stopped in the middle of the hallway, and the servant came forward to guide him.

“He’s stepped out briefly.”

“Stepped out? Outside the palace?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Damn it! Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?”

The minister wasn’t in the palace! If I’d known, I would’ve tossed aside the overtime and gone home long ago.

No, scratch that. Now it’s more like running away than going home. Why would I waste my life making reports when the boss isn’t even here?

Without hesitation, the wizard spun around and dashed down the corridor. His colleagues lounging in the lobby clicked their tongues at the sight.

“Look at him run. Got stamina, huh? Did you play all day?”

“Ian the minister isn’t in the palace! He’s gone home!”

“Is he crazy? Putting so much effort into nonsense… What!?”

“The office is empty. Go check it yourself.”

“The minister has no official out-of-office schedule today.”

“Exactly. So he’s gone home. I’m outta here. Later.”

Just earlier today, they hadn’t said a word about this. The wizards exchanged glances, then sprang to their feet.

Time to clock out. Time to go home and get some real sleep. Even if there’s work left, who cares? No one to approve it in the office anyway!

Pitter-patter!

Screeeech!

Just as the wizards were rushing down the main stairs, a line of carriages pulled up and stopped right in front of them. And there was a familiar face.

“What’s everyone up to?”

“Huh? Something going on?”

Beric and Romandro stepped down, followed by Ian himself. A few other wizard colleagues appeared from another carriage.

Ah, so they hadn’t actually left.

“…Is there a problem?”

“Oh, you’re here? I wanted to hurry and deliver the report. Haha, I ended up coming out to meet you. Looks like you’ve been out somewhere.”

Ian smiled faintly as he saw the wizards’ hands empty of papers. But he just ignored it and gave his orders.

“If there’s anything to bring, bring it. I’ll wait. I expect to be up late tonight, so anytime is fine. Those who were out on duty, you’re dismissed.”

“Yes, Minister. We’ll see you tomorrow—or rather, in the morning.”

“Good work.”

The wizards who had tried to flee were pulled back into the Ministry of Magic behind Ian, and the group arrived at the office.

Creak.

No sooner had the door closed than Romandro, who had been standing fine, collapsed face-first onto the sofa with a groan.

“Ian, what do we do? He was already hard to find, but now he’ll be even more cautious and hide himself better.”

“I found out he was involved in the pursuit all the way to the palace. He’ll probably leave Bariel soon. We should warn the border guards to keep an even closer watch.”

Ian shrugged off his coat, showing his disappointment.

The magical barrier they’d set up was useless. Wizards watched the skies, soldiers searched every alley, but they still lost him. How could someone vanish so completely, as if darkness itself was part of their body?

“Beric, you said he was crawling when you saw him this morning?”

“Yeah? Uh-huh. No legs, you know.”

Beric, who had been playfully lying on top of Romandro, answered while pressing down hard on him. Romandro struggled to get free, but Beric paid no mind.

“Seems like his mobility changes at night.”

“Which is why I told Beric to meet him at night. Just in case something happened and he needed to run. Hey, move over! You pest!”

He was someone who carried the dangerous temptation of secrets within him. Now it made sense how he’d survived this long.

If only they’d had more time, they could’ve gathered information and prepared. Romandro scolded Beric, stretching his cheeks sideways.

“You should’ve told me sooner, right?”

“Ugh, I’m not forgetting everything, you know!”

Yeah, it’s surprising he remembered at all. Ian furrowed his brow, looking tired, and Beric studied him carefully. Maybe it was because he’d been out for the first time in a while? He looked more exhausted than usual.

“Ian, are you okay?”

“…About what?”

“You look pale. Did Grandma do something to you?”

“Now that you mention it, the conversation was long. Ian, what did you talk about?”

Romandro joined in, stepping closer to Ian. Ian waved his hand, telling them they were too close.

“…I uncovered a secret about the former king of Burgos. It’s not public knowledge, but their relationship seemed very unstable.”

“You mean the predecessor of the current King Damon?”

“Yes. Besides King Damon, it seems there are hidden bloodlines scattered around. I think that’s why the king was trying to find the gypsies.”

When truth and silence meet just right, lies are born. Ian cut out the part about the king’s reincarnation and only shared fragments.

The more people who knew, the more leaks there’d be. It was better if only Ian knew.

‘The one with knowledge of the future will see it clearer and more certainly.’

After all, he was living the same era twice. Even if Ian was from a hundred years later, there were still disadvantages.

But now that he knew who the opponent was, the balance was restored.

“When is King Damon expected to arrive?”

“Three days before the official appointment ceremony. Just a moment.”

Romandro counted the days on the calendar.

Less than two weeks left. The leaders of the three nations would be staying during that time, so personal access would be difficult.

Ian fell silent, resting his chin on his hand, deep in thought.

“The alliance of the three nations.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Who do you think proposed it first?”

While Bariel was in chaos, the others took the chance to band together. Ian was asking who made the first move.

“Probably Luswena. They’d get news faster than other countries through Haiman. There was even a delegation visiting the palace.”

That was the most likely scenario. But knowing the king of Burgos was a reincarnator, Ian couldn’t exclude him.

After living through two repeated lives, he probably judged this was the right time to form an alliance. If so, it was proof that Bariel was in crisis.

“…We should prepare thoroughly for the guests.”

“Of course. Everyone in the palace is doing just that.”

Knock knock.

At that moment, a sound came from outside. Romandro opened the door. The wizard who had tried to escape had returned, carrying a pile of reports.

As Romandro spoke with him at the door, Beric peeked his head in.

“Ian.”

“Yes?”

“You gave Grandma a secret, didn’t you?”

He looked curious about what Ian had shared. But Ian, now unable to say anything even if he wanted to, tidied the papers and replied playfully.

“You said you ate a lot of tasty things while I was asleep.”

“Lies. The princess said if you eat secrets, you can’t talk about them.”

“Are you asking even though you know? You’re more amazing than I thought.”

“I want to give secrets too, and hear something fun. But Grandma says I have no secrets. So I’m asking—do you know I stole meat from the dining hall?”

“More than once, huh? When was this?”

Beric flopped down, satisfied.

The night’s outing to capture the gypsies was coming to an end. Beric fell asleep right there, and Romandro, who had been helping Ian, collapsed into the next room.

Only Ian remained, using the silence as music while finishing the remaining paperwork. As dawn broke, faint footsteps approached.

Swoosh.

Ian stopped what he was doing and looked toward the door. Someone seemed to be standing there, hesitating because of the hour. A wizard wouldn’t hesitate like that. Ian realized it was time for Jin to wake up and called out first.

“…Your Highness?”

“Ian.”

“Come in. You’re up early.”

Jin appeared immediately, dressed comfortably. He peeked his head in and smiled sadly.

“You didn’t sleep, did you?”

“I have a light schedule this afternoon. What is it?”

Ian turned in his chair and gestured for the boy to come closer. If he’d woken up suddenly, Ian was ready to read him a book. Just as he was about to say so kindly—

“You said you went out at night to catch the gypsies, right? I was curious how it went. Since the king of Burgos is someone to watch, I’m worried too.”

Ah. A child with the makings of an emperor. He must have lost sleep worrying.

Ian ruffled Jin’s messy hair and gave a wry smile. There was no other way to express his embarrassment.

“I’m sorry. The gypsies were truly extraordinary, and we lost them. They’ll probably leave Bariel soon, so the border guards are our last hope.”

“A mysterious one, huh? No other findings?”

Ian relayed exactly what he’d told Romandro and Beric. The boy’s pale eyes fixed firmly on Ian.

For some time now, Jin had wanted to look deeply into Ian. What was inside his head? What did he see? What did he want to see? The questions lingered, making him think harder—and more puzzled.

“Why do you ask, Your Highness?”

“…Ian.”

The boy called him carefully, his voice low and soft like the dawn.

“Do you have another reason for wanting to build the Ministry of Magic’s annex?”

Ian hesitated at the unexpected question. He met the child’s gaze directly, then asked in return, sensing there must be a reason for bringing this up so suddenly.

“May I ask why you’re concerned about this, Your Highness?”

“The number of mages has dwindled, and the Ministry of Magic has expanded even more. The need for an annex seems unclear, so your actions strike me as odd. Though you say it’s being funded with your own resources, that only makes it more puzzling. I can’t imagine you wasting time and effort on something unnecessary.”

Jin was cautious but couldn’t fully hide the underlying opposition in his tone. Ian raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, then nodded, silently inviting him to continue.

“I also heard the trees in the garden are said to be blessed by the fairies. I worry that cutting them down might bring some misfortune.”

Are you truly worried? If so, I won’t proceed.

Jin hoped Ian would say that. Then he could respond in kind.

No, it’s just that it would be better to convince everyone first.

“Your Highness, that is merely a rumor not recorded in any official texts.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

But Ian’s reply wasn’t what Jin had hoped for. It was kind, yet somehow distant. The unspoken question—what if I oppose this?—hovered on Ian’s tongue, but the boy held himself back well.

Not yet. Whatever Ian’s answer, it was rare for him to be without reservations. The young lion’s claws twitched beneath the surface.

“Very well. Now, please rest. I worry you might collapse again.”

Jin grasped Ian’s hand firmly. Their warmth mingled, and the chill of dawn seemed to fade away. Ian returned the gesture, pulling the boy into an embrace.

“Rest easy, Your Highness. Your peace is the peace of us all.”

The child smiled softly and left the study, while Ian stared quietly at his still-warm palm.

Doubt and resistance began to stir within Jin—a complex mix of pride and unease. He gently brushed his warm hand across the table.

‘The tension that’s been simmering since the Hyman incident… it didn’t just vanish, nor did it flare up without cause. There must be a trigger.’

The child had mentioned the garden trees. That was a key argument among those opposing the annex’s construction. Someone on the other side must have fed him that information.

Was it Barsabe?

Or perhaps…

‘But one of the documents was burned by Your Highness. I thought I might salvage at least half of it, but it was reduced to ashes.’

As Ian looked over the remnants of the burned paper, a memory of Filia’s words came to him.

When Gale handed over the traitor, she said he’d destroyed a page to use as a threat.