Chapter 74

After muddling through like that, Reinel stretched. Because she had been up since dawn, drowsiness clung to her so heavily that it was truly difficult to shake off. Emily clicked her tongue as she watched Reinel nodding off, but drowsy or not, Reinel fully intended to attend breakfast.

After Emily brushed her hair, Reinel headed toward the dining room in a half-asleep state. The aftermath of having stayed awake through the dawn with open eyes was tremendous. When she entered the dining room, she could not properly find her seat, so Emily had to guide her.

Seeing such a Reinel, her family was startled as well.

“Reinel. If you are tired, sleep a little more. You do not look to be in any state to eat right now.”

When Keiden spoke in a surprised tone, Seiden, seated beside him, also nodded.

“Yes. You do look tired. Go and sleep, and let us talk at lunch.”

“But…….”

Reinel mumbled and looked toward Keiden. Even with sleepy eyes, she looked directly at him, and Kaiden gazed back at her as if puzzled.

“I had a dream that Lord Bain was in danger…….”

At that, Keiden’s eyes changed. Only then did it feel as though her mind woke a little, seeing the expression of someone who seemed greatly startled.

But she was not completely awake yet. Thus, digging her nails into her palm, Reinel spoke to Keiden.

“Brother. Please tell me honestly. Did Lord Bain ask you to protect me because he is suffering under the threat of assassins? It is not true that the First Prince has gone on a long business trip, is it?”

“Reinel…….”

“It is true, right? Right now, Lord Bain is alone in the estate that is to become the Grand Duke’s residence, facing assassins by himself, is he not?”

Haah, a deep sigh leaked from Keiden. Seiden, who had been listening to Reinel’s words with vivid interest, also looked toward . Somewhat confused over where to begin, Keiden swallowed the words that tried to rise up and chose them carefully.

“Yes. That is the truth. But how did you know? Lord Bain strictly forbade me from ever telling you…….”

“I saw it in a dream. There are always Criashers flowers placed in my room. So the image of Lord Bain, whom I am always thinking of, must have appeared in my dream.”

“In a dream…….”

For someone who had just uncovered a hidden truth and who would not have seemed strange even if she demanded at once to be taken to the estate, Reinel was calm. Keiden watched her, thinking that the effects of the Criashers flower were indeed remarkable.

Suppressing her fatigue by force, Reinel spoke steadily.

“He lied to me in advance because if he told me, I might become anxious and go looking for him.”

“Yes. That is exactly right, Reinel. The First Prince requested of both Luin and me that we protect you. Until the Grand Duke investiture ceremony, he asked that we protect you so that you would not be placed in danger. Of course, both Luin and I accepted those words.”

It was fortunate that Elan was not present here. Since Gisle and Elan were in the laboratory until dawn, they usually did not participate in breakfast, so Reinel thought it was fortunate that this conversation was happening now.

“It is because of Empress Amarel, is it not? That he is being plagued by assassins.”

“Yes. In his mind, he is certain that Empress Amarel and Duke Gregorius are the ones sending them, but since he has not yet secured proper evidence, he is deliberately facing the assassins alone in order to draw out witnesses as well.”

Only then would the fish bite the bait. 

As he said that, Keiden thought of Senem Gregorius. He had not been able to take part in the Monster Wave, but having awakened as a Sword Expert while eliminating monsters attacking his territory, he was certain to try attacking Bain in cooperation with those inadequate assassins.

“Even if Lord Bain is a Swordmaster, will he really be all right fighting alone? I have no strength and cannot help him, but if it were Luin or you, Brother Keiden, you could help him, could you not? Does he truly have to face it all alone?”

“Reinel…….”

Keiden could not continue for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

“The First Prince firmly cut us off, saying there was no need for us to help. Thus, since he has decided so, the only thing Luin and I can do is keep you safe, Reinel. Fortunately, a Spiritist of Light is also staying at the estate, so the assassins are not targeting you, but if Luin and I were to leave, they might immediately take you hostage and demand something of Lord Bain. So we have no choice but to faithfully carry out the order Lord Bain gave and protect you.”

“……That may be true, but…….”

It was not that she failed to understand the First Prince’s intentions. But Bain, having to spend the nights alone while facing assassins by himself, seemed so pitiful to her. Reinel hesitated for a moment, her fists clenched tightly.

In the end, realizing anew that the only thing she could do was remain safely protected, she let out a deep sigh. Keiden, who was looking at her, also felt pity that there was nothing Reinel could do, but there was likewise nothing more he could do either.

“The way to help His Highness is to remain safe here. You know that well too, Reinel. That sometimes, for a situation to move forward, one must know how to endure.”

Reinel stayed silent for a moment. Both Keiden and Seiden knew well how much thought his younger sister was giving to this.

Even until the dishes were placed on the table, Reinel said nothing. As Keiden and Seiden began eating, the empty seats, the seats of Lyle, Gisle, and Elan, stood out all the more. But now was not the time to think about them, so Reinel kept her mouth shut and sank into her own thoughts.

“……All right. I will not go looking for His Highness. I will wait here.”

At those words, Keiden’s complexion brightened. He had thought that even if she understood with her head, her heart would not accept it, but fortunately Reinel had made the proper judgment.

But Reinel had not retreated completely.

“However, after His Highness holds the Grand Duke investiture ceremony, I will stay with him. If he thinks only of my safety like this, then I too have something to say to Lord Bain. No matter how much I may be Lord Bain’s weakness, I do not like being the only one kept safe like this.”

“Reinel…….”

“I will find some way for us to stay together somehow. And Lord Bain will have to find a way so that he can stay with me as well.”

Thinking of Bain being harried by assassins, Reinel felt her throat grow tight. No matter how strong Bain was, the thought that he had to keep chasing assassins for five more days without even seeing her face made it feel as though her insides were rotting away.

“Yes. If you let this one pass just this once, Reinel, there will be nothing like this from next time onward. Lord Bain also only had no choice but to reveal that he was alone to the assassins.”

“I hope Duke Gregorius and Amarel fall from power quickly. If Senem Gregorius is caught by Lord Bain, that itself will become evidence, so this time, no matter that she is the Empress beloved by His Majesty the Emperor, it will not simply be overlooked.”

“Yes. That is what Lord Bain is aiming for.”

After Keiden said that, Seiden, who until then had been watching the back-and-forth between the two, opened his mouth.

“Five days will pass quickly, Reinel. Do not worry too much, and stay at ease. If you live uncomfortably, the First Prince will worry as well. If you do not wish to make him, who is already being hounded by assassins, concern himself any further, then Reinel, you must simply live comfortably while doing what you have to do.”

“……Brother Seiden…….”

“If Lord Bain made such a decision, then he likely chose it because it was the only most rational method. If that is so, then the best choice would be for you to follow it, Reinel.”

Reinel kept silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

“All right, Brother Seiden.”

Keiden let out a sigh of relief and looked at Seiden.

It was fortunate that Reinel had accepted it. Reinel did not usually insist on her stubbornness, but in important matters she often carried her own opinion through, so this time it was reassuring that she had followed Bain’s opinion.

“After eating, it might be good to go and see Elan and Gisle once. It would also be a good idea to check whether Elan is properly learning from Gisle. If they are to treat patients in the Yurud Kingdom, they will have to find those who are hiding Clay Disease, which is called divine punishment, so Gisle likely knows to some degree how to find that.”

“Since patients are treated like criminals, they must have had no choice but to hide the illness. But Clay Disease is said to be an illness that occurs because of abundant magic, so how are they to distinguish between a Grand Mage and a patient?”

Seiden gave a short laugh.

“Yes. Gisle will know the way to distinguish that. I also spoke with Gisle briefly the day before yesterday, and he gave the impression that he knew. Since you, Reinel, are the very one exporting the Criashers flower yourself, he will likely tell you at once, so go and come back and tell me as well the way to distinguish a Clay Disease patient from a Grand Mage.”

“Yes. All right.”

After finishing her meal, Reinel wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. Dessert was being brought in, but she had no appetite for it, so she rose from her seat.

“You are going to see Gisle?”

“I am going a little later. I think I should sleep a bit more. Even though I am fully awake now, if I lie down in bed, I will probably fall asleep. And Gisle and Elan are usually awake until dawn, so I think they may be sleeping about now as well.”