Episode 26: The Astrologer
As soon as the attendant rang the bell to signal the start of the duel, the Duke instantly closed the distance between them and struck the Crown Prince in the solar plexus with the hilt of his sword.
Even though the Duke had hit him lightly—as one would swat a mosquito—the Crown Prince’s vision turned black for a moment, and he couldn’t breathe for a while.
“Ugh— *cough, cough*—!”
“Please rise, Your Highness. We haven’t even begun yet.”
The Crown Prince, terrified that the Duke told him to get up so casually even while he was struggling, dropped his sword.
“I–I will stop. I can’t do this any longer.”
Overwhelmed by pain and fear he had never felt before, the Crown Prince shook his head, saying he couldn’t continue.
“That won’t do. I promised Her Majesty the Empress that I would teach you with utmost sincerity. Until Her Majesty says otherwise, I will do my very best.”
The Crown Prince, collapsed on the ground and panting, looked up with wide eyes.
“T-then… if Mother tells you to stop… you’ll stop?”
“Yes.”
A smile spread over the Duke’s face when he heard exactly what he wanted.
“T-Then for today, let’s stop here. You may leave now. I must go see Mother.”
Fearing the Duke might insist they continue sparring, the Crown Prince threw his sword aside and ran away.
He had no confidence he could continue training in swordsmanship under such a terrifying Duke. He’d rather sit through boring history lessons all day—they at least didn’t involve getting hit.
The Crown Prince immediately went to the Empress, teary-eyed, clinging to his mother.
“Mother, please stop the sword lessons with the Duke!”
The Empress frowned at the sight of the Crown Prince barging in and acting like a child.
“What nonsense is this? I’ve told you many times—learn from the Duke and build rapport. It will benefit you greatly when you ascend the throne!”
Pressing her fingers against her aching temples, the Empress tried to reason with him.
She had always been nervous that the Duke, who once supported the Princess’s faction, might side with her. When the Duke volunteered to instruct the Crown Prince himself, she believed it was a rare chance to win him over. She arranged lessons quickly…
And yet, before even an hour had passed, he wanted to cancel them? Absolutely unacceptable.
“Mother—do you wish for me to die?!”
Startled by her firm tone, the Crown Prince jumped to his feet and shouted.
“Die? Why mention death? It’s only sword training with the Duke!”
The Empress paled, horrified at the thought of her only son dying.
“You know what manner of man the Duke is! A Sword Master—known on the battlefield for such brutality that both foes and allies trembled at his name! Rumors say he stacked enemy heads like trophies! And you expect me to learn the sword from such a madman?!”
“I explained this before. Do you truly think he would kill the Emperor’s only son? Do not worry.”
“Mother, what if the Sword Master loses control for even a second and cuts me down like that tree in the training yard?”
The Crown Prince shook, remembering the massive tree the Duke had sliced apart moments ago—like cutting through a radish, effortlessly.
“A tree?”
“He was practicing—just one swing, and a huge tree fell clean through! Without the slightest strain!”
Although surprised, the Empress forced a stiff smile.
“Well, that can happen. I’ll warn him to be careful. Come now—be good. The lessons cannot be cancelled, so learn diligently.”
Seeing that even his usually indulgent mother refused to back down, the Crown Prince stormed out to the terrace and leaned dangerously over the edge.
The spot where the Duke had struck him still throbbed fiercely. If he continued training, he truly felt he would die.
The Empress panicked at the sight and shouted to the maids.
“H-he’s going to fall! What are you doing? Stop him at once!”
“Don’t come closer! Mother, I’m scared of the Duke! I hate that harsh training! If you force me to continue, I’ll throw myself down right here! I’d rather break a leg than spar with him again!”
Driven by fear, the Crown Prince acted irrationally.
“Oh dear—what a foolish child!”
The Empress staggered and dropped into a chair. Because he was so dearly cherished as her long-awaited son, he had grown spoiled—acting as he pleased, disregarding royal duties even as an adult.
No amount of coaxing or scolding swayed him. Eventually, the Empress gave up.
“Very well. I will suspend the lessons for now under the pretext that you are unwell.”
Only then did the Crown Prince smile and approach her.
“Hehe—thank you, Mother.”
Not wanting to appear weak for canceling lessons after a single day, the Empress instead sent a letter to the Duke saying the Prince was ill and would temporarily stop training.
—
The Duke, back at his estate, received the Empress’s letter the next day and smiled in satisfaction.
“Good. It seems Her Majesty has granted the Prince’s request.”
Ella watched the Duke reading the letter with a satisfied expression. She had thought the Empress, who had staked everything on placing the Prince on the throne, wouldn’t so easily give up such a chance to win the Duke’s loyalty. Yet she surrendered within a day.
“Yes.”
“Duke, if there are no special orders, may I go out today?”
Anna had been begging her for days to go out together, so Ella gathered her courage and asked.
“Go out? That’s a first.”
Unable to refuse Ella’s first request for personal leave since coming to the estate, the Duke nodded.
“Return before sunset.”
“Yes, I will.”
Ella gathered the approved reports on his desk, greeted him, and left the office. Outside, Anna was waiting.
“Ella! What happened? He allowed it?”
“Yes, but we must return before dark.”
“Ahhh—great! I’ve been dying to get my fortune read!”
Anna cheered, thrilled that they could go out together.
“Huh? I thought we were going to buy New Year’s gifts—not for fortune-telling?”
“Both! Gifts *and* love fortunes. You heard, right? Gypsies came to the capital—and among them is one who’s amazing at reading love fortunes!”
Ella remembered the charm the butler had bought to ward off illness.
“The butler had a talisman from the gypsies. Are we going to see them?”
“Yes! He told me about them too—come on!”
Anna eagerly dragged her along.
—
Downtown was crowded with people preparing for the New Year. After weaving through the packed alleys, the two reached an open area where several gypsy wagons were parked.
“Excuse me, is there an astrologer here who reads love fortunes?”
When Anna asked a passing gypsy, she kindly directed them to the wagon at the center. A line of people was already waiting their turn.
“Wow… there are so many people.”
Anna peeked forward, counted the heads, and complained with a sigh.
After a long wait, they finally entered the astrologer’s wagon. The interior was surprisingly neat, and Anna gazed around curiously.
“Now then, young ladies—what would you like to know?”
The astrologer, face veiled in purple, caressed a clear glass orb.
“W-When will I find love?”
“Hmm…”
She took Anna’s hand and stared into the orb.
“I see a man circling around you—a brown-haired man with charming freckles.”
Anna shrieked.
“Kyaa! Brown hair and freckles—Bill?!”
“Hehe, looks like someone already comes to mind. He will confess soon. Your love fortune this month is excellent.”
Anna blushed red like a tomato and fanned herself frantically. The astrologer smiled and turned to Ella.
“And you, child? Curious about love as well?”
“N-no, I only came with Anna.”
“Ella, don’t be like that—just try. We’re already here.”
“Yes, take my hand.”
Ella gave in and clasped the astrologer’s hand. Moments later, the astrologer stared into the orb—and then jolted as if struck by lightning, jumping to her feet.
She moved so violently that the table overturned and the crystal ball rolled across the floor.
“T-this cannot be!”
