Report
“Your Highness.”
“…!”
“Your Highness Jin, are you alright?”
Jin’s eyes flew open, as though he had been submerged deep underwater and was suddenly pulled back to the surface. The suffocating pressure that had been crushing his chest eased, and the tears pooled at the corners of his eyes rolled down his cheeks.
Xiaoshi knelt by his bedside, lowering himself to meet Jin’s gaze. He must have been calling Jin’s name repeatedly. Not daring to touch him without permission, Xiaoshi was ready to fetch Ian if Jin hadn’t woken up this time.
“Haa… Haa…”
“Are you feeling unwell? Should I call someone?”
“…No.”
Jin’s body was drenched in sweat. As he slowly sat up, Xiaoshi supported him with a pillow and handed him a cup of lukewarm water. The sunlight streaming through the window was bright, suggesting it was well past morning.
“Was there… nothing unusual last night?”
The sudden, cryptic question took Xiaoshi by surprise. He studied Jin’s face closely, noticing the lingering fear and anxiety etched into his expression.
Well, considering his own brother was rumored to be a demon, and that he had been carefully drained over a span of ten years, who could possibly remain calm in such a situation?
Regardless of the truth, Xiaoshi already knew how he must respond.
“There was nothing unusual, Your Highness.”
“…Are you certain?”
“Yes, I stayed by your side all night.”
“I see… That’s good.”
Reassured that it must have been just a dream, Jin awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, trying to shake off the lingering unease.
Still, it was a relief. Despite being overwhelmed, the fact that he had stood up to Arsene brought a flicker of strength back into his eroded consciousness. He felt like parts of himself were slowly coming back to life.
Jin buried his face in the pillow and let out a deep sigh of relief.
“I’ll have them bring the water for washing.”
“Alright. Also, it’d be good to change the bedding.”
He dismissed it as nothing more than a nightmare. The tension coursing through his body before the decisive event had naturally conjured such a vivid hallucination. Jin tried to brush off his concerns and move on.
Knock, knock.
Soon, the attendants arrived with water for washing and fresh clothes, helping Jin with his morning preparations. He quietly let them assist him, but something felt off.
“Is something going on outside?”
The attendants looked uneasy, and the atmosphere was more chaotic than usual. While the Department of Magic was always somewhat noisy, today it felt distinctly different.
The attendants exchanged hesitant glances, as if struggling to find the right words.
“I asked you a question.”
“We apologize, Your Highness. It’s just that… there’s a rumor spreading in the Imperial Palace.”
“A rumor? What kind of rumor?”
“They’re saying that Prince Arsene is a… a monster.”
Jin’s eyes widened. This was supposed to be top secret, known only to a few. If even a low-ranking attendant knew, it meant the entire palace was buzzing with the news. Last night, when he had fallen asleep, everything had been normal. But in just a few hours, the entire situation had flipped on its head.
Xiaoshi knelt down to help Jin put on his shoes, speaking quietly.
“Apparently, your master made a statement during the Council meeting last night. It seems he didn’t try to keep it under wraps, so as soon as the sun rose, people from other departments gathered, causing quite a commotion.”
Some had come forward to verify the truth, while others vehemently protested, demanding an immediate end to the accusations.
The chaos wasn’t limited to outsiders. Even the mages were fiercely debating whether Ian’s statement was true.
Whoosh!
“Your Highness!”
Jin brushed off the attendant’s hand and sprinted towards Ian’s office. But the hallway was packed with a crowd, blocking his path and forcing him to come to a halt.
Bang! Bang, bang!
“Ian, are you inside?”
“He’s been out of sight for days, but then he suddenly showed up at the Council meeting?”
“They say it was held late at night. He even had the carriage prepared quietly.”
“We’re here from the Administration. We need to speak with you!”
“Is it true what you said at the Council meeting? Sir Ian!”
The hallway was filled with murmurs, each conversation brimming with its own agenda. Xiaoshi, who had followed Jin, draped a coat over his shoulders.
“Looks like someone’s making a move to secure the Minister’s seat.”
“Obviously. Born from the same womb, but one’s a human and the other’s a monster? Does that even make sense? With the Mana Verification Ceremony tomorrow, they’re clearly stirring up controversy to avoid it.”
“Still, this claim carries weight. If it weren’t true, the penalty would be execution. The fact that it was revealed outright suggests there’s some truth to it.”
“Remember when the officials mentioned that Prince Arsene never displayed his magic in public? He made excuses about physical strength, but doesn’t that seem suspicious?”
“What’s the reaction from Prince Arsene’s side?”
Hearing Arsene’s name, Jin instinctively pulled back, hiding deeper in the corner. What would Arsene do? What was he thinking?
Tap, tap.
“Huh?”
Jin felt a tap on his shoulder—it was Ian. He gestured for silence with a finger to his lips and signaled for them to leave. Behind him was Romandro, looking worn out.
Step, step, step!
“You’ve been coughing? I heard you had trouble sleeping. You’re not ill, are you?”
“N-No, it’s nothing. Don’t worry.”
As they walked through a quieter hallway, Jin glanced up at Ian’s serene expression. It was as calm and deep as the sea, holding everything within it.
Jin realized that the ocean he had been swallowed by this morning and Ian’s ocean felt similar yet different. The only clear thing was that Ian’s was not something to fear, even if it engulfed him.
“I heard you made a statement at the Council meeting, Ian.”
“Yes, I mentioned that Arsene is a monster.”
“Why now, with only one day left?”
“Precisely because there’s only one day left. People’s conclusions differ depending on what they already know. Going into the Mana Verification Ceremony aware that Arsene might be a monster makes a big difference.”
“I… still don’t quite get it.”
Jin’s confusion prompted Ian to pause and consider. A simple analogy might work best.
“Your Highness, imagine Berik showed up badly injured. For those unfamiliar with him, they might only ‘speculate’ about why he’s hurt—they can’t be ‘certain.’ Was it an accident? Was he beaten by his master if he were a slave? Or perhaps—”
But for those who knew Berik well, they would reach a conclusion without any doubt. Romandro, listening behind, interjected.
“That fool must’ve gotten into another fight again!”
“That’s why I spread the information about Berik’s aggressive nature. I want everyone to immediately think that when they see him injured.”
The Mana Verification Ceremony won’t proceed like a typical New Year’s event. The moment people suspect Arsene is a monster, reactions will erupt. If they view it without any prior knowledge, they might misinterpret the magical effects.
But if they go in knowing, “Arsene is a monster,” then…
“They’ll pick up on even the slightest oddity. That’s why it’s better to reveal it beforehand.”
“…I’m worried.”
“You’re concerned Arsene and Haiman might cause trouble, aren’t you?”
At that moment, a rainbow appeared in the distance, caused by a gardener watering the plants. Recognizing Ian and Jin, the gardener tipped his hat in greeting.
“Arsene hasn’t refused the ceremony and seems confident. It shows he’s prepared to face the Oracle’s Light, which has secured support from Haiman and his close aides. Even if Arsene is unaware, his allies are likely celebrating.”
The stakes are high—Arsene essentially declared, “If I’m not a monster, I will live; if I am, I’m willing to die.”
It’s a high-stakes gamble, and given their current hold on the political scene, they have no reason to refuse. It’s a chance to officially and justifiably defeat Ian.
“That’s why it’s unlikely they’d disrupt the ceremony with only one day left.”
“Ian.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“The truth is… I dreamt of Lord Roberside again.”
He was referring to the night two days ago when the truth about the brothers had first been revealed—when Ian had read him a story.
Jin was curious. If Arsene truly were a monster, did he know? Did he understand the curse and commit his crimes knowingly?
“Lord Roberside didn’t answer me.”
“Because it’s a question without an answer.”
“Why?”
“Evil people don’t know they are evil. Good people also don’t consider themselves good. Remember, if someone tries too hard to portray themselves as virtuous, be cautious—they’re often the most arrogant and selfish of all.”
“Did you hear the news?”
“Yes, it seems Ian made a grave mistake. Calling Prince Arsene a monster? How absurd. And what about Prince Jin, who was born alongside him? Ridiculous, isn’t it?”
“I thought my ears were deceiving me.”
“It’s gone too far now. This is clearly an attempt to undermine Prince Arsene’s magical abilities. We must not get involved.”
Clatter! Clink!
The officials gathered in Delaina’s reception room, laughing and cursing Ian’s actions, claiming it was just another stunt ahead of the Mana Verification Ceremony.
However, the moment Delaina set down her teacup with a sharp clink, the room fell silent, filled only with awkward coughs. Arsene, seated beside her, was staring indifferently out the window.
“Do you find this amusing? Ian’s statement implies that I gave birth to a monster. It’s an insult to the Carbo family, a direct affront to both me and His Majesty the Emperor. If I were to strangle him right now, it wouldn’t be enough, yet you’re all laughing?”
“Lady Delaina, it’s not that—”
“Ahem. Our apologies.”
Delaina’s gaze was sharp and cold, like a blade. She looked ready to tear them apart herself if they displeased her even slightly. The officials nervously bit their tongues and fell silent.
“Lady Delaina, please calm your anger. Once the Mana Verification Ceremony is over, you can do as you please—break his neck, dismember him, whatever you wish. You’ll also regain custody of Prince Jin, and from then on, Bariel will be filled with prosperity.”
At these words of comfort, Delaina grasped her son’s hand tightly. How could such a beloved, precious child be a monster? The more she thought about it, the more her anger flared up inside her.
“Arsene.”
“Yes, Mother?”
“If only His Majesty the Emperor were here during times like this.”
Delaina hugged her son tightly, but Arsene looked up at the ceiling with a blank expression. Foolish. If the Emperor were healthy, would this opportunity have even arisen? Just as Arsene was about to pull away from his mother’s embrace—
Knock, knock!
“What is it?”
“A message just arrived. The Oracle’s Light has entered the palace.”
“Oh, finally!”
“Wonderful news! Excellent! Hahaha!”
The officials stood up, clapping their hands. They were eager to go and greet the Oracle’s Light. Their faces were filled with excitement, but Arsene remained oddly unsmiling.
Ian had risked his life. From what Arsene could sense, Ian was not someone who acted without a plan.
‘…What is he planning?’
As Arsene fell deep into thought, Delaina grabbed his shoulder, calling his name with a worried look, as if asking what was troubling him.
“Arsene?”
In response, Arsene quickly changed his expression and flashed a bright smile.
“Let’s go, Mother. We should head out as well.”
He had never demonstrated his abilities before a mage. But now, with his existence being questioned, what did he have to lose by trying? He wasn’t sure if it would work against someone like Ian, the Minister, but he couldn’t afford to let this uncertainty drag on any longer.
