9. Jin’s Vacation

“Then I’ll be going.”

“I hope you get plenty of rest.”

Jin left for a week-long vacation as soon as he finished work yesterday.

And now it was the third day.

Without Jin, who was as close to her as Ekision, Rodi felt a little emptiness even in the bustling guild.

So Rodi greeted each of the executives who went outside every morning, one by one.

After everyone had left, Rodi habitually opened a drawer as tall as herself placed in one corner of the general affairs office and took out some paper.

“Time to practice my handwriting.”

Rodi’s day was also getting off to a productive start.

***

Jin had been in front of a certain gravestone since morning.

He brought only a single white flower and placed it in front of the small tombstone.

The surroundings were a field with a rarely traveled path.

The tombstone was so small that it would be difficult to even notice there was a grave there unless one deliberately came looking for it.

This was where Jin’s mother, Ecla, was buried.

“……”

Jin quietly knelt down in front of it.

Even though he resolved each year not to come here again, after a year passed, he would find himself here once more.

Because he thought his mother, who had only him, might be lonely.

Since there would be no one else to visit this place if not for him.

Every time he tried to sever the ties in his heart, but it seemed he still hadn’t completely cut them off.

Even though coming here inevitably wrapped him in the past.

Jin was the Emperor’s twelfth illegitimate child.

The Emperor, who had enjoyed the company of women from before, had many illegitimate children as well as official consorts.

He was said to have the second most among all the emperors in history.

Even now, Jin didn’t know exactly how many siblings he had.

From what he had heard from maids when he was young, some said there were thirty, others said there were more than fifty.

He wasn’t curious, and it was clear that he would probably never know in his lifetime.

Then at some point, among his many siblings, only Jin was allowed to set foot in the Imperial Palace.

Originally, Jin had lived alone with his mother.

His mother, who had been the Emperor’s one-night companion before giving birth to Jin, became pregnant that night and gave birth to the child alone.

It was four years later when the Emperor was informed of Jin’s existence.

“His Majesty has called us back. This is our home now.”

So Jin only remembered living alone with his mother from what his mother had told him, and he had many memories of staying in the Imperial Palace.

Even after they came to live in the Imperial Palace, his mother always took care of Jin with affection.

But as his mother’s position gradually expanded due to receiving the Emperor’s favor, she began to change drastically.

The mother who had said they just needed to live happily together disappeared.

Every day, she drove Jin harshly, telling him he needed to become a perfect prince and take the position of Ryan, the legitimate heir.

Jin accomplished everything for his mother’s sake.

Not knowing that he had become a thorn in the Empress’s side.

One day, while receiving his usual education, Jin encountered the Empress for the first time.

“You’re just like your mother, not knowing your place. I’ll show you what happens if you catch my eye again.”

Jin felt fear for the first time from the Empress who treated him like a rat.

But even so, his mother didn’t stop.

“More, more! More!! Try harder. You have to do well so that the Emperor will notice you. For your mother’s sake.”

Even when he had nightmares and was humiliated by the maids, Jin only did as his mother told him.

For his mother’s sake.

Because that was the path to his mother’s happiness.

He accomplished any difficult lesson or training.

Although Ryan, the First Prince, greatly disliked Jin, Princess Lilsteria was fond of him, and they got along quite well.

Then, in the year he turned ten.

The day he was to have dinner with the Emperor for the first time.

The day he received orders to attend classes with First Prince Ryan from then on.

Before his first class, Jin saw his mother dying before his eyes.

And the maids holding his mother to prevent her from collapsing, and the Empress in front of them.

“Now, watch carefully. See how your mother ends. Don’t you dare close your eyes.”

Jin’s arms were instantly seized by other maids.

Even as he wailed to go to his mother, Jin couldn’t take a single step forward from that spot.

Black blood poured from his mother’s mouth, and blood flowed from her eyes as well.

Blood came from her nose too, and her body turned a pale purple.

Until she finally breathed her last.

Jin had to take in every detail of his mother dying from poison without being able to close his eyes.

After that, Jin’s memories became somewhat jumbled.

He clearly became alone at the age of ten, but one day when he came to his senses, he found himself living outside the palace with a maid who was taking care of him.

And a full two years had passed by then.

Jin, who had almost no memory of that time, continued to live with the maid, and in the year he turned fourteen, he left the maid on his own.

It was because he wanted to cut off all shackles connected to the Imperial Palace.

It was around that time that he began to bleach his unusually bright blonde hair, which was virtually a symbol of the Imperial family.

After that, he met Eclise and began living at Cheiles.

Even now, he sends living expenses to the maid through someone, but he has never revealed his existence or sought her out.

“……”

Jin, who hadn’t spoken a word the whole time in front of the tombstone, simply nodded once after getting up and then turned around.

And that night.

Jin began to suffer from a fever as always.

***

“Rookie, get ready.”

A shadow like a huge mountain loomed over her.

“Huh? For what?”

“To go out.”

Rodi, who had been practicing her writing again today, looked up.

The difficulty had increased significantly, and these days she had started writing very long sentences.

“Do I have a mission?”

Gemvil rubbed his chin and thought for a moment.

“Well, something similar.”

“Then I’ll do it!”

“We’re just delivering something, so prepare simply and come.”

“Something?”

Rodi hesitated.

Is it another dangerous task?

Not long ago, she had gotten caught up in an incident while on a mission.

She wanted to build up achievements, but she hoped for something less dangerous since she wasn’t even an executive yet.

Gemvil noticed this and grinned.

“It’s not like that today. Think of it as a light outing, so don’t worry.”

At those words, Rodi’s face brightened.

“Then I’ll be right back!”

Rodi jumped up and dashed to her room like an arrow.

Padrid smiled as he watched Rodi leave excitedly.

“Are you taking her with you?”

Gemvil, who was standing with his arms crossed after sending Rodi off, nodded and stroked his chin.

“If I take that kid along, he might eat something. They got along pretty well.”

“That’s a wise approach. Please take this too. I prepared it this morning.”

Padrid held out a small medicine pouch.

Gemvil nodded and accepted it.

“Thanks.”

As he was putting away the medicine pouch, the door opened.

He thought it was Rodi coming back like lightning, but it was Hailo.

“Not too late yet. Gemvil, are you going now?”

“Yeah.”

“Then take this with you too.”

Hailo diligently rummaged through the inside pocket of his uniform.

And what he triumphantly held out was… an empty hand.

“What.”

“My love?”

As Gemvil’s face soured, Hailo chuckled.

Padrid, who was forced to listen because he was in the same space, gave Gemvil a pleading look, begging him to get this person out.

“Just kidding. It’s rapid recovery medicine. Expensive stuff. Take good care of him.”

What he took out of his inner pocket this time was two small bottles.

They contained a cloudy white liquid that looked as if it had flour mixed in.

He even added detailed instructions that it should be taken before meals.

“Then I’ll be off.”

Gemvil, now carrying the medicine Hailo had given him, waved goodbye as he left.

***

Rodi flung open the door to her room.

She thought no one would be there, but Bender remained, cleaning.

“Lady Rodi, did you forget something?”

“Bender, I’m going out!”

“Going out?”

“Yes! I’m going with Gemvil.”

As she stamped her feet excitedly looking for her outdoor clothes, Bender handed her the clothes she had ironed.

They weren’t much different from what she was wearing now, but Rodi even tied a ribbon around her neck and neatly packed a small bag.

“I’ll be back!”

“Take care.”

Bender waved with a gentle smile.

Running out so quickly that her footsteps made a pitter-patter sound, Rodi found Gemvil already waiting in the hallway.

“I’m here!”

“Follow me.”

“But where are we going?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Rodi took quick steps to keep up with Gemvil, who wouldn’t answer no matter how much she asked.