Chapter 51
On the surface, he seemed to be full of ambiguities, but no matter how she looked at him, Agnes had a firm feeling that although this man was enigmatic, he was not a bad person.
Even the first time she entered the jewelry store, she hadn’t felt any sense of danger from him. That’s why she had followed him inside.
Inside, she had simply picked out some jewelry, given gifts to people around, and received a necklace of her own—it was a day she remembered as being quite fulfilling.
After that, they had met again once on the street. Even amidst the rush, they had shared a fairly lengthy conversation.
If there had been anything unpleasant about that memory, she wouldn’t have been so glad to see him again at the banquet. Even if she had been startled to learn he was a wizard, she wouldn’t have promised to see him again.
Agnes let go of her doubts and looked directly at him. Perhaps sensing that she was about to continue the story, Kyrkan watched her with a calming smile.
“My father was a magic swordsman. You must know very well what that is, Kyrkan, right?”
She started from the beginning again, step by step. As expected, he nodded knowingly.
“Because of that, his body was always filled with mana, and he had excellent swordsmanship skills. He served in the Imperial Knights, distinguished himself in important battles, and received the Emperor’s praise. Even now, he still holds the rank of marquis, which some nobles find surprising, given his age.”
Agnes began her explanation in a soft but clear voice. So far, she hadn’t yet revealed what her exact intention was.
“Of course, those are past glories. Now, he had been hoping to spend a pleasant retirement with his daughter… but one day, bad news came. He had to return to the Imperial Knights. He had to go there every day again, like he did during his active years. It was nearly the same schedule as the knights who are stationed at the palace.”
Agnes began to carefully watch Kyrkan’s reactions. She didn’t want to miss any response he might give to her words.
So far, Kyrkan was still smiling as he listened. She had never seen someone who could maintain the same expression for so long—especially a smiling one.
Truly, this world had all kinds of people and all kinds of stories. Agnes pulled herself together to stay composed. This was where the real conversation would begin.
“I didn’t hear the full details… but I heard it was because of the mana remaining in his body. If he didn’t move every day at the palace, the mana would cause problems.”
Only when mana was mentioned did Kyrkan’s expression change. But it was a normal reaction—after all, mana was the basic unit of power for a magician.
“Mana, I see. Mana is a very difficult thing. As you know, the power of mana has significantly declined in the Croffen Empire. Once balance is lost, everything that was held together begins to collapse.”
“Balance…”
The phrase “losing balance and collapsing” resonated deeply with her. Just because mana remained didn’t mean it was the same mana that had once made someone strong.
In a world where balance had been broken and the order turned upside down, mana lost its original function, no longer stayed where it belonged, and wandered aimlessly.
“If the balance is broken… and that lasts too long, will the mana eventually explode?”
Agnes asked him directly. She had something even more important on her mind, but this was just as crucial.
Perhaps realizing this was no ordinary conversation, Kyrkan straightened his posture and looked her straight in the eye.
“How much have you heard? Did… did you hear it directly from Lord Regern?”
Kyrkan now looked like someone who was about to guide others hesitant to open a tightly wrapped package.
Explaining everything from start to finish wasn’t his way. He would listen, pick out the key points, respond, and guide the conversation. And in the end, he remained in control of the entire thread.
This was one of the rare times he threw out a question that nearly broke the flow of conversation.
“I heard it directly from my father.”
Was she holding something back, or was it just taking time to gradually reveal how much she knew?
Agnes did have things she was keeping to herself, but in this conversation, she wanted the focus to be on Regern.
“He said he was still managing it well. It’s like a cancer. But hearing that it might explode someday… I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”
“Mana inherently has two sides. It can make you stronger, but if mishandled, it becomes a force that eats you away.”
Kyrkan added that many people had died due to mana, each with their own tragic story.
Agnes listened to those stories with a heavy heart. Fortunately, the number of such cases wasn’t large, as the period of instability hadn’t been long.
“And… in quite a few of those cases, the story ends with their mana exploding. Roughly… about half.”
Agnes shut her eyes tightly. Half. If someone had told her that there was a 50% chance of something happening, she might have thought that was low.
But if it was Cesar’s life at stake, then a 50% chance was far too high.
“Whether you say half, or ‘only’ half, there will be many reactions. But I consider this a very dangerous phenomenon. Until that moment comes, no one can predict what the result will be. It’s tragic that some must gamble on that chance.”
Agnes tried not to despair in front of him. This was information she already knew. What she wanted now was a more expert explanation—or confirmation that there was a way to lower that risk.
She hadn’t confirmed that yet. Even if he said there wasn’t, she had to find one.
She must not fall into despair. She had to hear that there was a way.
“Alright, so it’s 50/50. I understand. Then what should we do? Is there any way to calm that angry, unstable mana down… and make it quietly disappear?”
Without realizing it, her voice had become almost pleading. The current methods could only buy time.
That unstable energy could explode earlier than expected—or worse, vanish entirely, leaving no trace of a solution.
“I understand the desire for certainty, Your Highness. But as of now, it’s difficult. If one could deliver powerful shocks every day, and wildly swing that mana like in the old days, perhaps it could be confused.”
Kyrkan fell deep into thought. The method Cesar was using to suppress his mana seemed theoretically sound.
It was about giving the mana the same balance it once had when magic flourished. That was what Cesar was trying to replicate.
“I see…”
Agnes gripped her weakening hand tightly and nodded. She had to gather her strength again. Since he couldn’t be there, she would go instead.
She would need to bring her father to the Imperial Palace. It was time. If this was a ticking time bomb, she wanted to be close—close enough to help.
She couldn’t just leave him alone at the marquisate and risk him vanishing one day with a crowd of unaware people. Instead, she would help him calm the mana through controlled training and reduce unnecessary travel.
“Stay strong, Your Highness. In that regard, Marquis Cesar is a very clever man. That he’s been putting into practice something I hadn’t even thought of… Oh, pardon me, but… may I ask you for a favor?”
Just as Kyrkan seemed ready to wrap up the conversation with his smooth words, he suddenly looked at her and smiled politely, asking for a favor.
He was said to be a magician with both sincerity and mischief. Ladies who didn’t know much about wizards thought he was charming for his bright smile and polite demeanor—but in truth, he was someone whose true thoughts were rarely revealed.
Agnes hadn’t figured him out completely yet, but for some reason, she found herself hesitating. She kept wondering—what lies behind that smile?
“I suppose I don’t seem very trustworthy to you. But tell me—when His Highness the Crown Prince agreed for you to meet me… did he suggest calling a different magician instead?”
Ah… Even though he had been jealous of Kyrkan, he had never once offered to find another wizard. He had, in fact, quietly warned her—his guard still up against that handsome face.
“Are you trying to say… that means he finds you very trustworthy?”
“You’ve read me perfectly.”
Even after receiving praise, Agnes still felt unsure why she couldn’t make a firm decision. But in the end, she gave her answer.
“If my father wants it, then of course. I’ll contact you separately.”
If Cesar wanted it, there was no reason to stop it. Watching her respond like that, Kyrkan bowed his head.
