~Chapter 74~
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
In the dark palace, a voice echoed behind Albert, who was sitting, looking at something.
Albert, who had been crouching and examining something, raised his head.
A tall man stood, his back to the sunlight.
“…Enoch.”
Seeing his loyal knight, Albert stood up.
“So, have you found out the reactions of the three?”
“As you expected, all three seemed quite angry. As soon as they received the order, they gathered at the First Prince’s palace, fuming.”
“…”
“They had a meeting and issued some orders… I think it’s likely an order to find the wild boar.”
At those words, Albert smiled a little.
“…I see.”
He turned his head and looked ahead.
A small shed outside the Crown Prince’s palace.
Inside, a wild boar was trapped in a cage.
It looked exactly like the wild boar that had tried to attack Albert on the day of the hunting tournament.
The boar was peacefully chewing on various vegetables scattered in front of it.
“I’m glad I had it captured in advance. Right?”
“…”
“Well, at least they have enough sense to not disappoint me.”
“…Is there anything more to do?”
Enoch asked. Albert paused, thinking for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“No, just leave them be. Let them make some more foolish moves.”
Thinking back to how they had humiliated him during the hunting tournament still made his blood boil.
But, in the end, he was somewhat satisfied with how things had turned out.
In a way, they had given him the perfect excuse to get rid of them.
More than anything, he needed time.
Albert had more pressing matters to attend to than dealing with those three.
After throwing a few more vegetable scraps into the cage, Albert dusted his hands off and turned around.
“Keep a close eye on anything suspicious for now.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
Albert smiled and gave Enoch a light pat on the back before turning and walking away.
For now, there was nothing more to worry about.
It was time to focus on what he had been doing before.
Late at night, Albert sat quietly in his room.
He was sitting with his arms crossed, staring out the dark window, when he suddenly sensed a small presence.
Turning around, he saw a man slowly emerging from the darkness.
“…You called for me?”
“…”
Fabian Alfonso.
Albert looked at the man who had appeared before him.
The man with violet hair, which many found quite captivating… The Master of the Magic Tower.
In person, he was said to be so beautiful that it could steal your soul.
There were rumors that he was an alcoholic, and that he kidnapped ordinary people for biological experiments—an eccentric in every sense.
To some, he was a figure of reverence, while to others, he was pure terror.
No, in fact, some even said he was just a cursed man.
It was the first time Albert had seen him up close.
He thought to himself. He didn’t know about the other rumors, but one thing was for sure…
At least, he did possess an appearance beautiful enough to steal someone’s soul.
Fabian spoke.
“So, what is it?”
“…Even as the Master of the Magic Tower, you speak to the Crown Prince informally from the very first meeting. I can tell you’re not an ordinary person.”
Albert raised an eyebrow, and Fabian gave a small smile.
“I’ve never been formal with any emperor, even back to your ancestors. Albert von Heshelt.”
“…”
“And since you called me first, you should be the one to bow.”
Fabian’s eyes narrowed.
“It seems like… you have something to ask me.”
“…”
Albert was caught. Fabian had accurately read his intentions.
He raised an eyebrow, staring at Fabian, and let out a sigh.
“Right. Actually, I called you because I wanted to ask you something.”
“…”
“Irene Hartmann. You know who I’m talking about, right?”
Albert said Irene’s name and observed Fabian carefully.
But there was no sign of agitation from Fabian. It was as if he already knew why Albert had called him.
“I want to save her. But I haven’t found a way yet.”
“…”
“I’ve inquired at several temples, but they only told me that their methods of handling mana wouldn’t save Irene. Instead, I was advised to seek help from the Magic Tower.”
“…”
“So… I wanted to ask you. If there’s a way to save her.”
In truth, Albert didn’t particularly like Fabian.
He had been with Irene the entire time since the train journey.
He had heard that Irene, after finishing her travels, was still close to him like a friend.
Honestly, it made Albert feel jealous.
Irene, who pushed everyone away, seemed to have allowed this man to be by her side.
But, it was because of this that he had to ask for help.
Fabian was probably the person who knew Irene better than anyone else right now.
“Among those who come to the Magic Tower… those who, like Lady Hartmann, have particularly large mana.”
Fabian paused for a moment before continuing.
“As soon as they arrive, they become a special focus. And we teach them how to handle mana early on, making them use as much of it as possible. This helps prevent the unstable mana from gathering inside their body.”
“…”
“People like Lady Hartmann, born with naturally large mana, must use as much as they can. That’s how the Magic Tower approaches mana.”
“Then, couldn’t we just make her use as much mana as possible now?”
Albert tilted his head and asked, but Fabian shook his head.
“Once the mana has already gathered, it doesn’t unravel as easily as you think. The chances are almost zero, and that’s why I told you from the beginning that the chances of saving her were slim.”
“If there’s even the slightest chance, shouldn’t we try? At least that…”
“I don’t know if this is even worth it.”
“…What?”
Albert twitched his eyebrow at Fabian’s cold voice.
Fabian’s violet eyes glinted coldly as they locked onto Albert.
“Have you asked her permission for this?”
“…”
“She doesn’t seem to want to live much longer, does she?”
Albert bit his lip.
The words Irene had said to him recently flashed in his mind.
[She says she doesn’t want it. She told me to leave her alone, so why are you so insistent?]
[Just let it go. I just want to live peacefully and then go. Okay? The more we try, the more uncomfortable it gets for both of us, Albert.]
“…She didn’t mean it.”
Remembering those words that had made his heart ache, he continued.
“Everyone has a survival instinct. Don’t you think Irene wants to live more too?”
“Well… she seemed sincere.”
“…”
“She really doesn’t seem to want to live.”
Despite his desperate feelings, Fabian only said things that felt like cold water.
Albert was irritated by Fabian’s voice, confident that he knew Irene’s feelings better than Albert did.
And then…
“Yeah, you.”
“…”
“How is it that you can always stay by her side?”
Albert finally asked the question he had wanted to since he first saw Fabian.
To be honest, his pride was hurt.
He had known Irene far longer than Fabian.
So why did Irene reject him like this and allow Fabian to stay close to her?
She even liked him once. Now, it was as if she was a completely different person…
“I’ve never tried to stay. Even now, I can go back to how things were before anytime.”
“…”
“And anyway, you’ve never been interested in Lady Hartmann, have you?”
“What?”
Albert frowned.
That was nonsense. Who else could care about her as much as he did?
Something inside his chest boiled up.
“How rude. Who else is as desperate for her as I am?”
“Really?”
Fabian tilted his head before continuing.
“Then, have you ever asked her why she doesn’t want to live longer?”
(ToT)
Nice. Glad someone is pointing it out to him