Episode 88
That same night, the Imperial Guard had to drag the weeping, exhausted Empress from the Crown Prince’s palace. Ren, who happened to be walking down the corridor at that moment, saw the Empress being pushed along, her feet dragging.
“Tower Master! Tower Master…!”
Spotting him, the Empress wailed in a grief-stricken voice. While he understood the feeling of not wanting to lose a child, Ren had no reason to forcibly sustain the life of the dying First Prince, draining his own magic power in the process.
‘Unless it was an Imperial Decree.’
Ren deliberately turned his head away, passed the Empress, and entered the First Prince’s chamber.
“De…ath…”
The First Prince in his sickbed muttered the word like a sleep-talker. Perhaps because of his ashen face, the voice sounded almost sincere for a moment. Ren let out a single sigh and withdrew all the magic surrounding the First Prince at once.
“Gasp… Hah…”
The First Prince’s breathing became rougher, but it didn’t seem like it would stop immediately. Feeling secretly relieved, Ren commanded the guards.
“Summon the court physician.”
Without waiting for the physician’s arrival, he headed directly to the Emperor’s office.
“I have carried out the Imperial Decree as commanded.”
Upon receiving the report, the Emperor turned pale and began breathing heavily. Although he had given the order, it seemed he was mentally unprepared, as his voice trembled.
“…How is he?”
“He should be fine for now, but it would be wise to prepare yourself.”
The Emperor finally managed to nod. He seemed to be sinking into belated grief, but Ren had no leisure to wait and consider the Emperor’s feelings. Because of Hart’s affair, Ren had been bound to the Imperial Palace for far too long.
“My duty is fulfilled. I request permission to take my Master and withdraw to the Magic Tower.”
The Emperor asked in a faint voice.
“What of Moghold? I heard he is in a state where his life is barely sustained, much like Hart.”
Ren’s mood also turned somber as he answered.
“I plan to go to the Magic Tower and discuss measures for my Master with the other mages. I cannot decide unilaterally, as everyone in the Tower revered him as their teacher.”
The Emperor nodded slowly.
“Narcese must be like family to you, yet you couldn’t be by his side because you were caring for my son. You may return to the Magic Tower now.”
Ren bowed respectfully before the Emperor, left the office, and hurried to his Master.
Rurik heard the news about Hart the next morning.
“…So, the Tower Master has already left for the Magic Tower?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Helena replied with a slightly apologetic face. This was, in fact, after she had taken it upon herself to decline the Tower Master’s final farewell on Rurik’s behalf.
‘For safety’s sake, Lord Ren must possess only the minimum information.’
Helena steeled herself with that thought.
However, as Rurik rose from his seat with a heavy expression, she stopped her pondering and stood up as well.
“I should go see my brother.”
Rurik found no joy in the fact that the magic sword that had tormented him for half his life had now consumed his half-brother. Even if he resented his brother, there was no need for him to live on as the sword’s next host. That was not the revenge Rurik desired.
Unexpectedly, Helena asked,
“May I come with you?”
It had already been over two months since she began acting as a maid in the Imperial Palace. Having actually worked as a maid in a convent until last year, playing the part was the easiest thing in the world for Helena. Yet, Rurik’s face was full of concern.
“I’d like that, but… there are many watching eyes in the main palace, which worries me.”
He hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“If it becomes known who you are and what you can do, Her Majesty the Empress will surely misunderstand, and also…”
Helena giggled and took a step closer to him.
“I’m the only woman you can trust and rely on, Brother.”
After hearing Princess Louise’s advice, Helena had mustered her courage. She didn’t get scared and run away from his hesitantly outstretched hand; sometimes, she even reached out first to hold it. And then, change came slowly but surely. As a result, she could now hold hands with the man she once had to look up to endlessly and gaze at the same place together.
‘I still can’t believe it.’
Helena stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Rurik’s firm waist.
“Helena…?”
Her lover’s sweet voice sounded by her ear.
“I’m worried. What if the traces of the magic sword attached to him transfer back to you, Your Highness? I don’t want you to go alone.”
As Helena pleaded, moist lips touched her forehead.
“You’re still the only one in this palace who worries about me.”
“Is it only because Her Highness Louise is absent that you hear such words from me?”
Helena laughed brightly and slipped out of Rurik’s embrace.
“Let’s go quickly. To be honest, I wanted to see his condition for myself too.”
Rurik’s gaze as he looked at his lover was heavy. His lover could heal Hart if she so wished. Whether she knew his feelings or not, Helena winked lightly and asked,
“Ah, perhaps bringing a maid all the way to the main palace would be too conspicuous?”
The Crown Prince’s palace was filled with the sound of crying.
“Hic, sob… Daddy…”
The First Prince’s wife and his two daughters were kneeling by the bedside, weeping. Hart’s condition was that dire. He could no longer even mutter in his sleep, only repeating a cycle of gasping for breath and then falling asleep as if dead. An uncontrollable high fever raged within him; half his hair had turned white in a single day, and his skin was drenched in sweat.
The Empress sat among them with a ghostly pale face, but upon seeing Rurik, she sprang to her feet.
“What business brings you here?”
Even though her son was already dying, her attitude was defensive, as if she thought Rurik had come to harm him anew. Rurik bowed his head slightly in greeting to the Empress and introduced Helena, who had changed into a nun’s habit.
“Having heard the news from the Caesarea Convent, they have sent a sister. May she… see my brother?”
Helena clasped her hands and bowed deeply.
“I am Helena Garnier.”
The Empress swallowed her tears and asked,
“Did Friar Didio send you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Helena felt a slight pang of guilt for using Friar Didio’s name, but it was true that she had ended up at the Imperial Palace for various reasons while on the pilgrimage he had permitted.
The Empress nodded weakly and said,
“His days… are not long. Please, pray for my son…”
But before she could even finish her sentence, she staggered. Rurik moved to support her, but the Empress harshly brushed away his touch.
“Don’t you dare pity me now.”
At her cold voice, Rurik sighed and stepped back. Helena approached the sickbed with the Empress, leaving Rurik by the door. Looking down at Hart, she gasped in surprise.
‘My God…’
His condition was far worse than when she had last seen him. The magic of the sword swarmed over the First Prince’s shriveled body.
‘No, that can’t even be called magic anymore… It’s evil itself.’
Its color and form were different from the controllable magic of the Tower Master or Moghold. It was devouring his life force entirely, leaving the First Prince moaning in a state neither dead nor alive.
‘It was good I didn’t let His Highness Rurik come alone.’
The magic sword’s power had an obsessive, almost living quality to it, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it tried to latch onto someone else.
Seeing her horrified expression, the Empress asked in a trembling voice,
“What’s wrong? Do you… see something on my son?”
Helena swallowed.
‘Neither Her Highness the Princess nor Lord Moghold seemed to wish for the First Prince’s healing…’
But having encountered him like this, she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
‘This is something I must do.’
She looked back at Rurik with an apologetic smile. Then she spoke.
“Let me… reintroduce myself, Your Majesty the Empress.”
At Helena’s words, the Empress’s expression twisted. She seemed like she didn’t want to be surprised by anything ever again, but Helena continued steadfastly.
“I am a sister from Caesarea… and I possess one ability that sets me apart from others. Namely, I can purify the magic power that has taken hold of His Highness the Prince.”
