Chapter 956
“Hmm.”
Haena let out a deep, dissatisfied sigh as she looked at the tray piled high with food. It had been sent up to Ian for breakfast, yet it came back untouched, completely intact. Picking up a piece of bread with a hint of regret, she muttered to herself.
“He’s really acting strange today.”
The busy kitchen staff, bustling about as usual, also paused in confusion when they saw the untouched plates.
“Haena, isn’t that Ian’s meal?”
“That’s right. I was checking to prepare lunch, but can you believe it? He didn’t even open it.”
“Oh dear. Is he feeling unwell?”
“Judging by his voice, he seems fine, but who knows.”
The servants stopped their tasks and gathered in small groups, voicing their concerns about Ian. Skipping breakfast? That could happen. With his hectic schedule, he rarely ate at the mansion these days.
But—
“He didn’t even go to work.”
What on earth was he doing, holed up in his room, even skipping work at the Ministry of Magic?
Since last night, Haena had realized Ian had missed meals and anxiously tugged at her hair.
“What should we do? Should we tell the Count?”
“Ah, come on. He’s not sick, right? It’s only been two meals. Maybe he’s just focused on something important.”
“You don’t know how important meals are during growth! Look at Beric—if he misses even one, he acts like he’s dying.”
“That’s because it’s Beric.”
“Yeah. Don’t worry too much. Maybe he just wants a day off from Ministry work to rest.”
“No, Ian wouldn’t do that. Really…”
“I’ll make his favorite sandwich as a snack.”
“Would you? That’d be great.”
“Yeah. I’ll even add honey to the milk.”
“Ugh… It’s so unsettling seeing him like this. He’s never acted like this before.”
And it was understandable. Ian wasn’t sick, yet he skipped work and meals without any clear reason, locking himself away in his room. It was as if he was wasting time—a concept that seemed impossible in his life.
“He even told us not to come in, just to leave the food, but he didn’t eat it…”
“Oh, Ian’s the one starving, so why are you the one collapsing? Wait here. I’ll make the sandwich right away.”
As Haena slumped over the table muttering, the kitchen staff chuckled and patted her shoulder before scattering to take on the task of feeding Ian.
Haena, still slumped, stared intently at the opposite mansion visible through the window. That was Ian’s room on the second floor…
‘He even drew the curtains.’
As if to completely shut himself off from the outside world.
Rubbing her forehead, Haena wondered how to break through this impasse. Just then, she spotted the coachman running hurriedly from afar.
“Huh?”
He was sprinting like it was an emergency—unusual for someone with leg troubles who rarely ran. A bad feeling crept over Haena as she left the kitchen and dashed down the hallway toward the mansion’s main entrance.
Sure enough, faint commotion grew louder as she neared the main building.
“What? Wait, we should contact the Count immediately.”
“Huff, huff. Yes, understood. And please inform Ian as well! We’ll send someone to the Ministry.”
“Wait, Ian didn’t come to work today?”
“Really? Is he sick?”
“Doesn’t seem like it, but anyway, let’s get moving.”
“Yes, yes, understood.”
The butler of the Count’s mansion, having heard the news from the coachman, looked a bit pale. He sent the coachman and servants outside and quickly headed upstairs. Haena ran up after him.
“Butler!”
“Ah, Haena.”
“What’s going on? Why was the coachman looking for Ian? He hasn’t been feeling well today and didn’t eat.”
Haena pointed deliberately at the tray of untouched lunch sitting in front of Ian’s study.
Knock, knock.
“Ian, are you busy?”
“…What is it?”
There was a brief silence, but Ian’s voice sounded as usual. The butler scratched his temple, looking troubled, then said Ian would have to come out for a moment.
“There’s an urgent message from the palace.”
The Ministry of Magic? Haena shook her head beside the butler. No, if it were urgent, they would have sent a magical signal or stormed in through the window.
“They say former Minister Crony has appeared.”
“Whaaaat?!”
Haena, overhearing this, gasped in surprise. The reaction slipped out before she could stop it. She covered her mouth, eyes wide as if frozen in shock. The rumors weren’t just baseless gossip after all.
“He’s entered the palace and is waiting to see His Majesty the Emperor. The palace is in an uproar. Ian, if you have no other plans today, why not go to the palace? Count Jacques is out but plans to stop by and verify the news.”
Not just Count Jacques—nobles from the capital would all flock to the palace, eager to see Crony, who had suddenly returned from the dead. His survival was more than good news; it was an opportunity for some and a threat to others.
“……”
“Ian?”
The butler knocked again, urging him.
Still, no response from inside. Had he collapsed from shock? Haena panicked, grabbed the doorknob, shook it, then called for a servant.
“Hey! Go get a hammer, quick!”
“Ian? Ian?”
The butler was just as flustered. The two shook the door as if to break it down, but no answer came.
“Ian, excuse us for a moment!”
Just as the servant arrived with a hammer and swung his arm to signal—
Click.
The firmly closed door opened with surprising ease.
Ian looked pale and exhausted, as if he hadn’t slept a wink. The three who had caused the commotion froze when their eyes met his.
“What’s with all this fuss?”
“You didn’t say anything, and you didn’t eat. We thought you might have collapsed from shock…”
Hmph. Ian opened the door casually and turned away.
The room was spotless. The bed was perfectly made, so Haena realized Ian hadn’t just skipped meals—he hadn’t even lain down. Then what had he been doing in there? The desk was clean too.
“Ian, did you hear? Crony is alive and back!”
“I already opened the door for you.”
Haena snapped back to reality and approached Ian. He was unbuttoning his shirt as if preparing to go out.
“That guy’s such a pain. What should we do?”
Haena fretted nonstop while helping Ian get ready. The butler busied himself preparing the carriage, but Ian said nothing.
Haena, adjusting Ian’s collar, looked up in confusion.
“…Ian?”
It was an expression she’d never seen before. He seemed distant, his mind elsewhere. Ian stood dazed for a long moment, then pushed Haena’s hand away and buttoned his collar himself.
“Ian, is something wrong?”
Her heart sank. If he were sick, she could worry and move on, but this unfamiliar reaction stirred a deep fear.
Ian hesitated, then shook his head.
“No.”
As if nothing was wrong, he pressed his eyes tiredly, then slowly walked toward the window.
“Ian, the carriage is ready—”
The butler’s call faded into the air.
Screeeech.
The wide-open window. Ian stepped onto the sill and flew off, the gust of wind billowing the curtains.
Haena and the butler stared after the empty window in stunned silence before snapping back to their senses.
“Damn it, what the hell is going on all of a sudden?”
“Hey! Hurry up and get here!”
“I’m coming!”
Meanwhile, at the palace.
The news that Crony was alive and back spread like wildfire, throwing the Ministry of Magic into chaos.
Other departments were noisy too, but since it didn’t directly concern their work, they weren’t as frantic as the Ministry. Wizards in uniform rushed down the halls.
Clack!
They arrived at the reception room where Crony was waiting. Before the Emperor’s audience, they were sent to check for any foul magic—after all, it could be a monster disguised as a person trying to deceive Bariel.
“Let’s go.”
The wizards exchanged glances outside the door. At the signal, they knocked.
Knock, knock.
“May we come in?”
“Excuse us.”
Inside, they saw—
“Oh, wizards, huh?”
There sat Crony, relaxed on the sofa, sipping tea. He leaned back, savoring the fragrant aroma.
“Sir Crony?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you really Sir Crony?”
“What kind of ridiculous question is that between old acquaintances?”
The wizards cautiously approached, recalling the Crony they remembered.
“But, looks like quite a few of you have changed, huh?”
Chronie muttered as he scanned the aging wizards up and down. Well, of course—they’d been apart for ten years. The wizards studied Chronie’s face carefully, puzzled by how casually he spoke such an obvious truth.
“Sir Chronie, why is it that…”
“You look exactly the same?”
Their appearances hadn’t changed a bit—not a single wrinkle or sign of hardship. They looked so intact, it was hard to believe they had survived the torment of the Abyss. It was as if time had simply passed them by.
“Me, the same?”
Chronie smiled and asked in return. Then Hale pushed through the wizards and stepped forward.
“Sir Chronie Alphart. Before you meet His Majesty, there are a few things we need to quickly verify. We’d appreciate your cooperation.”
“Oh, of course, of course. But tell me—are you the minister now? Where’s Arena? I always thought my uncle would be the one to take the next seat.”
Chronie mentioned Ian so naturally it caught Hale off guard. He was suddenly glad Ian was absent today. Waving his hand as if to say ‘not a problem,’ Hale caught Chronie’s gaze.
“The king is waiting, so let’s get this done quickly.”
“Do as you please. But I’m tired, so I won’t repeat myself. You’ll hear the details when I report to His Majesty.”
Hale gathered his magic in his hands and approached Chronie. A soft golden aura slowly rippled from head to toe, scanning his body.
Chronie spread his arms without a hint of nervousness, allowing the check to proceed. Soon, the results came back.
“…Nothing unusual.”
“All clear?”
Chronie gave a faint smile and paced once around the room. His eyes sparkled with delight as he looked down the hallway toward the audience chamber.
“Well then, can I go now? I’m sure you’re just as curious as His Majesty about what happened in the Abyss. What kind of place it really is.”
He tapped the wizards on the shoulder, urging them to follow him.
“It was incredible. Everything was there— even the very truths of magic you’ve been searching for all this time.”
Ugh, something about that rubbed Ako the wrong way. She squinted, fighting back a gag reflex. But Chronie, full of energy, declared that this was just the beginning as he strode toward the audience chamber.
“Things are really going to get interesting from here on out. Oh yes, absolutely.”