Chapter 428

The attendants’ hands brushed carefully over Jin’s hair and the collar of his robe. Should it be blue, or green? Each piece of fabric was being meticulously layered as they prepared his outfit for the grand assembly.

Jin stared at his reflection in the mirror, but he couldn’t deny that all his attention was focused on the Ministry of Magic. Lord Ian had returned—bringing back the mages who had run away!

From now on, things would return to how they used to be. Jin would ask Ian about things he didn’t know, Ian would kindly explain, and day by day, as the sun rose and set, Jin would draw closer to the throne.

A faint smile touched Jin’s lips when Xiaoshi sensed movement outside and sent word.

“Your Highness, the secretary who was assigned to the Ministry of Magic has returned.”

“Bring him in.”

Jin tilted his head in curiosity, watching the door reflected in the mirror.

The door opened, and the secretary hurried toward Jin, looking urgent. Without hesitation, she knelt smoothly, exchanging glances behind the child.

“What’s the matter? Has King Damon’s interrogation already ended?”

“No, Your Highness. The interrogation was temporarily halted at Minister Ian’s request.”

With a soft rustle, the secretary handed Jin a piece of paper and whispered. The attendants, sensing something serious, slowly stepped back and closed their ears.

“There was a problematic statement during King Damon’s testimony.”

“What kind of statement?”

“That Minister Ian is said to be connected to the royal family.”

“What?”

Frowning, Jin quickly scanned the paper. The handwriting was a bit messy from hurried note-taking, but the content was clear.

“King Damon and Lord Ian apparently shared a secret some time ago. Even with the truth serum before him, Damon showed no hesitation, so from his perspective, this is the subjective truth.”

Subjective truth. At the very least, it meant that Ian had indeed mentioned something related to this to Damon.

Jin felt a sudden sense of déjà vu. Hadn’t Duke Haiman made a similar claim when he was cornered? About why Ian, who had been so inconspicuous, was helping him.

Haiman’s answer was that Ian held a secret about the royal family, which naturally gave him a presence behind the scenes.

“Absurd.”

“But Your Highness, at the assembly, King Damon will surely try to make this public. The momentum is serious. You should prepare questions about Lord Ian.”

“…”

Though Jin dismissed it as absurd, the claim had already been made twice. Not some baseless street rumor, but a secret weapon wielded by powerful figures like Haiman and Damon when cornered.

Could it really be absurd?

Was it truly nonsense?

“Your Highness.”

Seeing Jin’s complexion pale, Xiaoshi called out worriedly. The secretary bowed deeply, rose on her knees, and whispered again.

“Minister Ian and Captain Akorella’s reactions were unusual. The very fact that the interrogation was stopped is proof. As you know, the Ministry of Magic oversees all production of the truth serum. It’s hard to believe it would work effectively on the great young mage, Lord Ian.”

Jin knew. Even if he believed it, no other official would. They’d rather shout that it was impossible for the Ministry’s potion to hide the minister’s truth.

“…What about the interrogation?”

“It will resume soon.”

“Do your duty and hold your position. Report to me again before the assembly, and make sure the other officials keep their mouths shut.”

“I will obey strictly, but it may already be too late.”

“Why?”

“It’s not the secretaries’ fault. There’s a lot of talk within the Ministry itself.”

Those closest inevitably talk. The mages were noisily speculating about who exactly Ian was. Having seen the reaction to the Idgal pendant firsthand, the tension was even higher.

Jin pressed his temple, frowning slightly. The secretary bowed quickly and left the room.

“Xiaoshi.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What do you think?”

“About Lord Ian’s origins?”

“Yes. Honestly, I think it’s nonsense, but since it’s come up twice, there must be something. Not about his origins, but about his very existence.”

Proving his origins wasn’t difficult. His birth mother, Filia, was right in the capital.

“Those who doubt won’t dig into Ian, but will latch onto Filia instead. It’s strange that she suddenly disappeared now. She’ll have to appear on the stage, and that worries me.”

“Lady Filia is strong.”

“Only when it comes to Ian. But now she’s protecting Ian’s younger sibling too. If she pushes too hard, everyone will be uncomfortable.”

Ian wouldn’t like it, and neither would Jin. No one would be happy; only damage would remain.

Jin gave a light nod to the attendants dressing him, urging them on.

“Hurry. No matter how I think about it, it’ll be faster if I see and hear things myself rather than relying on the secretary.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Prepare a carriage to the Ministry of Magic.”

“Understood.”

It would be better to meet Ian directly, discuss this matter together, and then attend the assembly.

That way, no faction would arise to antagonize the Ministry as before. The Crown Prince Jin, accompanied by Ian—the very person involved—would completely refute baseless rumors.

Yes. That’s the way. Now that the Imperial Defense Department was under Jin’s command, there was no reason for Ian to drift away. For Bariel’s sake, and for his own, Jin needed to keep Ian close.

Squeeeak!

Tap tap tap!

Once ready, Jin swiftly headed toward the Ministry of Magic. Dozens of attendants hurried after him, but Jin paid no mind, treading the familiar path.

Not long ago, the Ministry had been a refuge from Delaina. Back then, the stairs had seemed dauntingly high, but now they didn’t look so bad.

“Your Highness, what brings you here?”

“Where is Lord Ian?”

“He should be in his office.”

“Show me.”

“Y-yes! This way, please!”

Guided by the Ministry guards, Jin proceeded to Ian’s office. The building was quieter than expected; most mages had gone downstairs to watch the interrogation.

“Stand aside. I’ll enter myself.”

Reaching Ian’s office, Jin raised a hand to stop the attendants from announcing his arrival. Then, he opened the door and stepped inside.

Creak.

The room was dim and thick with dust. Ian sat with his back to the sunlight, deeply focused on something.

There was a coldness in his calm gaze. Like fragile white snow that could be blown away with a breath. Determined yet cold, pitiful yet resolute.

“Lord Ian.”

Without realizing it, Jin called out. Ian turned his eyes and met Jin’s gaze.

---

“Your Highness.”

Ian brushed back his hair and smiled awkwardly for a moment. He was surprised Jin had come in without announcing himself.

Jin stepped closer and asked,

“What were you looking at?”

“…Records of the palace regarding the rift. An incident that happened a thousand years ago near northern Bariel. It’s quite helpful.”

Jin glanced at the folder Ian held. It was different from the usual palace archives.

“Looks like court records.”

“…Yes. I found something interesting.”

“Show me.”

“Though, it’s nothing much.”

“Hand it over.”

Jin strode forward and stood close to Ian. It was as if he was shouting with his whole body that he was no longer the boy who accepted everything as told. That boy was dead. Now, only the Crown Prince who verified everything with his own eyes and ears remained.

Ian smiled faintly and reluctantly handed over the documents.

Rustle.

“Bandor?”

“Court records about a mage named Bandor who called himself a mage after the rift was sealed.”

Really nothing special? Jin frowned as he read, then paused at a certain passage.

“There’s an abyss beneath the rift? The abyss is where mages who used forbidden magic fall, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“…‘Beneath where we stand, there lies their own world.’……”

“Bandor was convicted and sentenced to prison. He died under suspicious circumstances while incarcerated, so no further records remain.”

“Then why show me this?”

It was clear what they urgently needed to find out: how to stop the rift, and whether it could be sealed again like before.

Finding information to overcome the current crisis was the priority. Court records of some unknown person should have been secondary—if this was the Ian Jin knew.

But since Ian brought it up, there must be something in it that caught his attention.

“Bandor was the mage who led others into the rift when it first appeared. I looked into it in case there was a connection. Don’t worry about it.”

“Led others into the rift? Is that true?”

“If the records are accurate. Ten years after the mages entered the rift, the earth sealed it again. We need to check if there’s a meaningful cause-and-effect relationship.”

“Wait!”

Jin suddenly interrupted Ian, startled. That meant they were planning to send mages into the rift again? Sacrificing Bariel’s mages for Klipford?

“That’s nonsense. How can you even suggest sending a mage? It’s no different from sending someone into a blazing inferno.”

“Beneath the rift, there’s definitely another world besides Gaia. That’s why monsters exist there. We need to send personnel to investigate. For a thousand years, Bariel has had no information about the rift whatsoever. And when it comes to expertise, it’s only natural that mages must be involved.”

A thousand years ago, Bandor led mages into the rift, and the situation now isn’t much different. Back then, Bandor must have charged forward with the same sense of duty to explore the unknown.

“That was in the northeast of Bariel, but this is happening in Clifford. If anyone should go, it should be someone from Clifford.”

“Clifford will send people, of course. But since they don’t have mages, they’ll naturally request support from nearby regions. Not just Bariel, but also those wandering from Luswena or the northern territories will hear the call—”

“Sir Ian!”

Jin called out urgently. A cold sweat trickled down his spine without him realizing it. The tone in Ian’s voice was exactly like—

“Sir Ian. You’re not seriously thinking of going, are you?”

It felt like he was about to throw himself into the rift.

Grabbing Ian’s sleeve, Jin pressed him again.

“No, that won’t happen. I won’t allow it. Not just you, but not a single mage in Bariel may set foot in that unknown world. Before mages, you are my people.”

“…Your resolve is admirable. The mages will be grateful to hear it.”

“Ian!”

Ian gently patted Jin’s shoulder, as if to calm him.

“Your Majesty, please don’t worry. You know me—I’m not reckless.”

“That sounds like you’re saying you’ll go once the information is more reliable.”

“Oh dear. Is that so?”

“Sir Ian, you always do this. You never answer directly, just smile, and it’s always up to me to read between the lines.”

Jin frowned, and Ian smiled even more brightly, as if puzzled by the crease between Jin’s brows.

“Your Majesty, you heard from the secretary-general, right?”

“The secretary-general? Ah, yes. I was so shocked I came here myself—”

“King Damon will make the same statement at the assembly. That I’m connected to the royal family.”

“Better to silence him altogether.”

“That’s impossible. Though he’s a prisoner, he’s still the official king of Burgos. Anyway, when King Damon speaks, some officials will surely try to summon my mother.”

“Hmm. I thought the same.”

“But I have no intention of giving my mother the truth serum. What’s the difference between what I drink and what she would? It’s meaningless. More importantly, Akorella hasn’t verified the effects on pregnant women.”

Jin’s eyes widened little by little. Then what do you plan to do?

“Your Majesty, I have no way to clarify this controversy.”

The child who had been quietly watching Ian’s face finally spoke, still clutching Ian’s sleeve tightly.

“…That’s a lie. You just don’t want to say it.”