MFWSP 78

Chapter 78

At the same time, Carsiel and Luten sat across from each other at a desk in Carsiel’s study.

“Did you get it?”

“It’s only a small amount, but this is the real thing. The maid we planted stole it from one of the Empress’s attendants.”

In response to Carsiel’s question, Luten handed over a small dish. On it was a fingertip-sized amount of black powder.

“You got this from the banquet? Bold move.”

“We had plenty of our people at the banquet. Most of them were knights.”

“And it’s also thanks to your skills as my adjutant.”

Carsiel smiled slightly at Luten as he took the dish.

“This is certainly not ordinary tea leaf. It’s made with various herbs, all with very strong aromas. I don’t recognize any known poisons…”

“We also had a physician examine it. Aside from herbs added for fragrance, there are a few unidentified substances. No plant-based toxins were detected.”

“A monster’s poison, then.”

Carsiel propped his chin on one hand.

The Emperor’s health had been declining, and his mind had deteriorated notably in recent years.

He’d always suffered from a chronic cough, but after the Empress began giving him tea said to cure it, the Emperor’s judgment had subtly worsened.

Decisions he once would have made on his own were now left entirely to the Empress. Convincing the Emperor to go against the Empress’s will had become nearly impossible.

The only recent success he could recall was persuading the Emperor to approve the succession of the Apellemyon duchy.

“We have suspicions but no hard proof… Can’t identify the substance?”

Carsiel brushed the powder from his fingers and muttered.

“No point in launching an investigation. The imperial physician belongs to the Empress, so there’ll be no witnesses. Quite brilliant, really.”

“I’ll try showing the compound to others as well.”

“Good. Even if we can’t investigate, if we identify the components, we might be able to create an antidote.”

He nodded with a disappointed look.

“And this—one of the attendants was holding it, so I brought it.”

Luten handed Carsiel an envelope.

“It’s from House Apellemyon. Looks like an invitation.”

“What?”

Carsiel shot up from his chair.

“You should’ve given me that first!”

“If I had, we wouldn’t have gotten to talk about the tea leaves at all, would we?”

Luten replied quite rationally.

“She’s calling for me. I’m going.”

“Are you a puppy?”

“How insolent.”

Luten sighed as he watched his lord hurriedly reach for his outer coat.

Since the victory banquet, Carsiel had changed his expression every time Iris’s name was mentioned.

“How is it that someone who’s always so sharp and composed—on the battlefield or in palace politics—completely falls apart like this?”

“Be quiet. Check if my outfit is wrinkled anywhere.”

“With how light your feet are, can you even behave normally in front of her?”

Luten scanned Carsiel up and down.

“I say this out of sincere concern. I get that late first loves hit hard, but can’t you control your emotions a bit? Maybe try convincing yourself you don’t like her…”

“I’m someone who tries to see things as they truly are, Luten.”

Having finished adjusting his sleeves, Carsiel smiled.

“I don’t run from what I need to face. Growing up under a coward of a father who pretended his selfish actions were righteousness, that’s how I turned out.”

“…”

“Self-deception is dangerous. What I feel for the Duke is definitely affection.”

“Then why not just propose to her?”

Luten shook his head in disbelief.

“Why not just get married?”

“I can’t burden her. The Duke wouldn’t consider marriage until her position is completely secure. I could ruin what we have now.”

“Then do you have another plan?”

“What plan could there be? I just have to follow your advice—make a good impression, and stay calm in front of her.”

Before stepping out, Carsiel took a deep breath.

The brightness in his eyes quickly gave way to composed sharpness.

His slightly stoic, cold expression radiated enough royal dignity to silence anyone.

“How do I look?”

“Your acting is, as always, flawless.”

“The only fool in the palace who can’t hide his feelings is Balthazar.”

Carsiel smiled elegantly.

“Let’s go.”

With a cold, composed mask on, Carsiel left the room, Luten following behind with an exasperated look.

“A mining auction? Manager No. 2… you mean Seto. I’ve seen his face before.”

“Do you think it’s possible?”

“The auction is happening anyway. Grouping the Sen Mine with earlier lots isn’t hard. I’ll take care of it.”

Carsiel, standing beside Iris in her study as they looked at a map, replied.

Luten, standing nearby, rolled his eyes for some reason, but Carsiel only had a faint smile on his normally sharp features. Seeing him back to his usual self, I felt relieved.

And his answer was reassuring too.

“A mana stone mine… If Lady Servais and the Empress become its owners, they’ll definitely receive praise for Servais’s prophet.”

“I heard she’s gained popularity in the capital after treating the sick.”

I answered Carsiel.

“You’re well-informed. Recently, she even cured the former Empress’s chronic illness. Lady Servais is treated with special regard at the palace. She can request an audience with the Emperor at any time.”

“What about her relationship with the Second Prince?”

“What do you think?”

Carsiel chuckled and took a sip from the teacup I had left on the desk.

“Balthazar apparently got a rare scolding from the Empress for mistreating her.”

“Well deserved. He was foolish.”

I nodded.

The Servais family had always maintained decent relations with the Empress. They occasionally funded her ventures and had even recently gifted a golden statue resembling Balthazar as an obvious bribe.

That likely helped them push the prophet rumors and debut in society.

“So the plan is to restore Lady Servais’s reputation…”

I smiled.

Was that why they rushed to buy the mine?

Drunk on newfound influence, perhaps?

“Still, is your plan really feasible?”

Carsiel asked.

I nodded with certainty.

“I ran some small tests. If we can acquire the Sen Mine in time, it should be possible.”

“As I said before, your plans are always… wildly imaginative.”

Carsiel said.

His gaze was directly on me, and his faint smile deepened.

“Thank you.”

Judging from that expression, I decided to take his words as a compliment.

“Your Highness, we must soon return—”

Bang—!

Just as Luten tried to speak, the study door burst open and three familiar people rushed in.

“Iris noona! Today, Rishian beat Morbe!”

Kyle shouted excitedly. He was holding a black birdlike monster with three eyes.

“It’s true! He used the spear I made! I put a hidden mechanism in it that splits into two, and Morbe didn’t see it coming!”

Lin chimed in, following close behind.

“I told you not to barge into the study—”

Rishian, the last one in, mumbled as he grabbed both of them by the scruff of their necks.

Ahem!

Only after hearing Luten’s cough did the three lift their heads—and froze when they saw Carsiel.

“No way… the Prince?”

Lin and Kyle’s eyes went wide as they looked up at Carsiel.

Rishian also stared, but unlike the others, his gaze was wary.

Carsiel’s eyes briefly flicked toward me.

“They’re my friends. They mean no harm, just… lack manners. Please forgive their rudeness.”

“Your friends… I see.”

Carsiel smiled gently and looked at Kyle and Lin. He seemed unexpectedly kind.

“I am First Prince Carsiel Paranas.”

“Whoa! It really is the prince!”

“Wow! He’s so handsome!”

Kyle and Lin exclaimed at once, hearts practically in their eyes.

They ran right up to Carsiel.

Luten reached out to stop them, but Carsiel calmly gestured for him to let them be.

“Is this Calas Mountain steel? I heard only royals have it!”

Lin shouted as she spotted the sword at Carsiel’s waist.

“I’ve always wanted to make a net with this stuff!”

“…You just wanted to touch my sword?”

Carsiel asked, confused, but Lin was too absorbed in the weapon to notice.

“Daggers are usable if you just sharpen them enough. But Calas steel can be refined into any shape, so what if I made it into a net? No one could escape it…”

“Are you one of the royal guards then?”

As Lin was engrossed in daggers, the braver Kyle turned to Luten.

“When we came in, I saw you move really fast next to the prince!”

Kyle reached out and patted Luten’s waist. Luten stared down at him, baffled.

“What is this…?”

“You’re amazing! The way you moved… I think you’re stronger than Rishian! You were faster than most monsters! But… when did you hurt your left hand?”

Everyone, myself included, realized something in that moment:

The heart-shaped sparkles in Kyle and Lin’s eyes had nothing to do with Prince Carsiel.

They were entirely focused on their own obsessions.