Chapter 46
At the same time, in the Imperial Palace—
Emperor Heliod sat in his office, meeting a subordinate alone.
“They have just reported that they left the Grand Duchy.”
“So they insist on going.”
Heliod’s fingers tapped the desk.
Tap, tap, tap. The steady sound echoed in the quiet room.
“Who is accompanying them?”
“Archduke Carter, the princess, and…”
The reporting voice paused briefly.
“A young boy about the princess’s age.”
Heliod’s fingers stopped. His eyes narrowed.
“A boy?”
“Yes. It has been confirmed that he is not the Archduke’s son. His exact features are difficult to determine…”
Silence flowed.
Not a guard knight, but a boy?
Was that sly Archduke Carter plotting something again?
After a moment of thought, the Emperor’s eyes turned cold.
“Proceed as planned.”
“Should we not investigate further?”
“Even so, once the Archduke leaves his territory, he’s just a scarecrow. What could he possibly do in the East, filled with demonic energy?”
The subordinate nodded.
“Failure will not be tolerated.”
“I will carry out your command.”
The subordinate bowed and withdrew.
Heliod looked out the window.
The sky was clear.
“Lorea.”
A low, gloomy voice slipped out.
“No matter where you run, you are still in my hands.”
Without refined stones, the Empire could not stand.
The nobles’ loyalty, the stability of his own magic—everything depended on them.
And the only one who could create refined stones was Lorea.
He had to bring her back, no matter what.
Alive, half-dead—any way was fine.
The Emperor clenched his fist tightly.
Evening came, the sun already sinking past the horizon.
Carlos’s condition seems to be getting worse.
Every time the carriage shook, the slight tightening of his brow was clear even from where I sat.
Carlos tried not to show it.
His expression was still indifferent, his posture unchanged.
But the occasional trembling of the hand resting on his knee could not be hidden.
His complexion was clearly worse than in the morning—pale beyond color.
I glanced at Sion.
He was staring blankly out the window.
Even with the protection spell still active, if it was this bad…
In the end, I spoke first.
“…Grand Duke, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
A lie.
He wasn’t fine.
But if I suggest resting here…
Carlos wouldn’t accept it easily.
He had always been good at enduring things, but especially in front of me, he seemed determined not to show any symptoms related to demonic energy.
Of course… he must think that showing weakness to me could become a vulnerability someday.
Before my regression, that had been true.
What should I do?
In the end, I was the restless one.
Like a puppy that needed to go somewhere, my eyes darted around, my lips opening and closing repeatedly.
After some time—
Suddenly Sion stretched, then rubbed his head against my shoulder and whined.
“Mm, my back hurts.”
“Pardon?”
“Riding the carriage so long makes my back stiff.”
It was completely random.
All of a sudden?
A magician who had lived over 800 years complaining about his back?
“Let’s rest somewhere. There’s a village not far, right?”
Still burying his head in my shoulder, Sion spoke to Carlos.
Carlos, who had been looking outside the whole time, briefly turned his gaze to Sion.
“There is no time.”
“Come on, just a moment. My back really hurts. I can’t keep sitting.”
Sion grumbled, even swinging his legs irritably like a child whose feet didn’t touch the floor.
He’s more childish than me!
Was this acting?
Or had his mental age become younger with his appearance?
“Let’s rest. I said I’m hurting.”
Whether Carlos answered or not, Sion’s whining showed no sign of stopping.
I cautiously watched Carlos’s reaction.
His face was even paler than before. Sweat had formed on his forehead.
…Ah.
Only then did I realize something.
Right then, Sion lifted his head and looked at me.
His eyes were slightly smiling.
It’s not that he really wants to rest—it’s because of Carlos.
Sion silently mouthed:
“Say it with me.”
“I’d like to rest a bit too.”
At my words, Carlos fixed the gaze that had been toward the window onto me.
“My back… hurts a little too…”
Now forced to deal with two whining children, fatigue appeared on Carlos’s face.
But he didn’t argue anymore.
In truth, he looked like he didn’t even have the strength to argue.
“There should be a village nearby. Let’s go there. That would be good, right, Lorea?”
“Yes, I think a village would be good.”
Silence passed for a moment.
“And…”
Sion looked out the window again as he spoke.
His voice was lower than before.
“Someone has been following us since we left the Grand Duchy. Crossing the forest like this isn’t good.”
What is he talking about now?
I blinked.
“Following… us?”
“Yeah. Quite a few. They’re keeping their distance so it’s not obvious, but they’re definitely chasing us. So it’s better to head somewhere with many people around this point.”
Sion spoke calmly, as if talking about the weather.
“Why didn’t you tell us earlier?”
“What’s the point? It would just make you nervous.”
He shrugged.
“To shake them off, I’d have to use magic. But if I use too much magic here, it’ll only make things harder for the Grand Duke. I’m right, aren’t I?”
A playful smile hung on his face.
“Are you still going to be stubborn, Grand Duke?”
“……”
Carlos gave no answer.
He didn’t seem surprised either.
As always, he simply looked out the window.
…He already knew.
I was the only one who didn’t.
These perceptive magicians.
“If we keep crossing the forest like this, they’ll probably attack soon.”
“Going to a village doesn’t make us safe either.”
“At least they won’t start a violent clash in front of the citizens, right?”
“You speak easily. They’ll try something in the village.”
Sion added:
“We can’t avoid a confrontation anyway. You know that too, don’t you? If we’re bound to face them once…”
He lifted the head that had been leaning on me and spoke leisurely.
“A village with many witnesses is better than an empty forest. Easier to create evidence—and rumors too.”
With a faint smile, he looked at Carlos.
I agree that avoiding a violent clash is better…
But what is Sion planning?
Ignoring my confusion, Sion kept watching Carlos and asked again:
“Don’t you think so too, Grand Duke?”
“…Yes.”
Carlos answered shortly, as if it were obvious.
Again, I’m the only one who doesn’t know.
Because of my tension, I stopped sitting stiffly and leaned deeply into the soft backrest.
There didn’t seem to be any help I could offer by speaking now.
So I simply prayed in my heart—
That nothing would happen.
