Chapter 13: Above the Running Lady, Flies the Crown Prince (1)
While Seirin burned with resolve, Crown Prince Kasel was having a secret conversation with his father, the Emperor.
“You want me to pair the Heir of Cherbel with someone?”
“Yes, Father. That way, you can have Seirin as your daughter-in-law.”
“Hm, you have a point… But even as Emperor, that’s not right.”
“So, do you want Seirin to be snatched away as the Cherbel family’s daughter-in-law?”
“Hmmph!”
Instead of saying no, the Emperor coughed loudly. Kasel smiled slightly and continued.
“How about the daughter of Marquis Majet, who is the same age as the Heir of Cherbel among the current Grand Mages?”
“Oh, right. I heard his daughter has great magical power.”
“Then they’re a good match.”
“I’ll let go of my worries, but will the Heir of Cherbel really go along with what we want…?”
“Of course it won’t be easy. That Heir already…”
Kasel frowned, thinking of Noah, his greatest rival.
“Kasel? Why the sudden face?”
“It’s nothing. Anyway, if you want Seirin as your daughter-in-law, please cooperate.”
“Hahaha, alright. But I’m worried. Our future daughter-in-law isn’t feeling well.”
“I’m worried too… But you don’t need to worry too much.”
“Do you have a good solution?”
Kasel smiled at his expectant father, placed his right hand over his chest, and bowed.
“Leave Seirin to me, and please handle the Heir of Cherbel.”
“Alright, I’ll do what I can.”
“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”
Kasel stood and bowed, then turned toward his father, Emperor Louis.
“Father.”
“What is it? Do you have more to say?”
“Please send Mariana back to her homeland soon.”
“Kasel…”
“You know why Seirin keeps pushing me away.”
“That… But Mariana…”
“Father.”
Kasel wanted to reveal the truth about Mariana, whom his father still remembered as the pure young princess.
“She’s changed a lot. The pure Princess Mariana now only exists in our memories.”
“Sigh.”
“I don’t know why Mariana turned out this way… But I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Seirin. Otherwise, I’ll die at the hands of her beloved brother.”
“Hahaha! I might die at the hands of my best friend and Chancellor!”
The father and son laughed briefly, then their expressions hardened again.
“Alright. I’ll keep a close eye on Mariana while she’s here. I’ve already placed a surveillance magic circle in her quarters.”
Kasel bowed again and left the room, quickly approaching Sein, who was staring blankly at the ceiling in his office.
“Ah…!”
“Are you sick? Why so dazed? Ah, it’s because of Seirin.”
“…Sigh, Kasel. I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“My beloved little sister Rin is struggling a lot.”
“……”
“No matter how fiery she is, she always held back in front of our parents… But today, in front of Mother…”
Kasel heard about what happened at the Damarania Duchy’s breakfast table.
“Rin’s stress exploded. And Mother must have pushed her hard. Anyway, Kasel, you and Princess Pesopotemia, do something. If Rin runs away, I’ll really—!”
Seeing Sein cry, Kasel thought how unusual this was and felt a sense of foreboding.
‘If Seirin suddenly disappears with that guy…’
Noah de Cherbel, the youngest Grand Mage, was highly respected. Kasel could clearly imagine him taking Seirin and vanishing, so Kasel frowned deeply.
“I can’t let that happen. I’ll put up a barrier so not even a mouse can escape the Empire.”
“H-Hey? Kasel, what are you doing?”
Muttering, Kasel smiled so coldly it sent chills down Sein’s spine, making him step back for safety.
“Sein.”
“W-What?”
“Don’t you want to live with your beloved sister for a long time?”
“Of course!”
“Then help me.”
“H-How?”
“It’s easy.”
Kasel beckoned Sein closer and whispered. Sein’s eyes widened.
“Will that really work?”
“Yes, but Seirin must never find out. Got it?”
“Okay.”
“Hehe, good. Sein, let’s watch over Seirin together.”
Kasel tapped Sein’s shoulder, his lips curling up.
‘Out of the hands of that sly fox…’
***
Noah asked Seirin, who was trembling, what was wrong.
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Seirin shook her head, smiled softly, but felt inexplicably uneasy and uncomfortable.
“Th-Thief!!!”
“D*mn! Move!!”
A man with a nearly worn-out hat covering his face clutched a noblewoman’s purse to his chest, holding a sharp weapon. As he brandished it, trying to escape the market, Noah reached out and spoke.
“Snake.”
Noah’s words had barely left his lips when a fierce stream of water twisted through the air like a snake, swiftly wrapping around the pickpocket and laying him down in front of them. As soon as he was down, Noah froze the thief’s right hand together with the weapon.
“Guh!”
“Madame, here you are.”
“Oh my! Thank you so much! Aren’t you Noah de Cherbel, the youngest Grand Mage? How could I ever repay this kindness?”
“There’s no need to call it a favor. I’ll take care of this man myself.”
“Hohoho. Then I’ll trust you, Grand Mage. Oh! Such a bad man!”
The noblewoman smacked the back of the thief’s head and left. Noah reached out to the pickpocket, who squeezed his eyes shut and muttered, and removed his battered hat, revealing a man clearly worn down by poverty.
“It’s all over! D*mn! Guh! My daughter’s surgery money! Ah! I’m so sorry, my dear girl. Guh! Sob!”
Noah quietly watched the man pounding his chest with his left hand, then placed a hand atop his head and searched his memories.
“Daddy, I’ll survive, right?”
“Of course! I’ll save you, my daughter! Just a bit—just a bit more! Hang in there, sweetheart.”
“Okay! Daddy! I’ll hold on for you! I can do it!”
“Guh!”
Anyone could see the man’s daughter was ill. Another memory poured into Noah’s mind.
“Doctor! P-please, just a little more time!”
“Do you know how many times you’ve said that? Even if we operate, that child has no hope. Just let her go peacefully.”
“You b*stard! Just because she’s not your child!”
Noah read the memory of the man’s anguish, exhaled briefly, and released the frozen right hand, helping him to his feet.
“I just want to see my daughter one last time. Please, Grand Mage.”
Noah led the man, who bowed his head, and soon entered the hospital, where a child was coughing harshly in pain.
“Can you save her?”
“If you help, Seirin, it’s possible. But it will drain your stamina…”
“She can recover her strength! Quick! How can we save her?”
Noah led Seirin, whose desire to save the child was overwhelming, into the hospital room, dismissed the medical staff, and placed Seirin’s hands on the girl’s chest, hugging her from behind.
“Noah?”
“Rin, just focus on healing now. I’ll help you release your healing power to the maximum.”
“Okay, I’ll try.”
Seirin closed her eyes, placed both hands on the suffering girl’s chest, and poured all her desperate desire to heal her illness into the magic.
A tremendous light burst forth, soon enveloping the child’s entire body. The powerful light radiated in all directions before finally settling down.
“Haa… haa… Noah, is it done?”
“Yes, you did great, Rin.”
“That’s… a relief…”
Noah scooped up the collapsing Seirin like a princess, and met the gaze of the girl, whose eyes fluttered open.
“Did you save me, Sir?”
“I just helped. This sister here saved you.”
“Oh. I want to thank you.”
“When you leave the hospital, come to Damarania ducal residence. Look for this sister there. What’s your name?”
“Sophie.”
“Alright, Sophie. Tell your name when you visit the ducal residence.”
“Yes. Thank you, Sir. What’s your name?”
“Noah.”
Noah smiled at the child and left the hospital room. Outside, the girl’s father knelt, expressing endless gratitude, and Noah helped him up.
“You must pay for your crime.”
“If I go to prison… Guh! My daughter…”
“Come to the Mage Tower tomorrow. Ask for Noah de Cherbel.”
“Yes! Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Noah left the hospital and, before getting into the carriage, instructed the driver to return to Marquis Cherbel’s residence.
“Brother…”
Noah, who had been watching Seirin sleep peacefully in his arms, looked languidly at his younger sister, who cautiously called him.
“Why did you call that man to the Mage Tower?”
“Instead of prison, I’ll have him do chores. What he needs now is money to live with his daughter.”
“Oh! So you’re helping him!”
“I’m just giving him work.”
“Still, you’re amazing.”
Noah glanced at his smiling sister, then at Seirin, who had fallen asleep again. Ariel, with a sullen expression, stared down at the pink shoes Seirin had bought her.
‘Neither brother nor father wants me. It would have been better if I had died instead of mother.’
As tears streamed down her face, Ariel covered her mouth with both hands and bowed her head, not wanting her brother—who already disliked her—to hate her more for crying. Noah’s gaze at his little sister was cold.
***
Kasel was in a standoff with the twin princes and Princess Pesopotemia, who refused to return to their country until they saw Seirin’s face.
‘They really won’t listen to words.’
He wanted to show them some fire, but as they were the princess of an allied kingdom and the only twin sons of his aunt, he couldn’t touch them, which annoyed him most.
“Then, sign a pledge that you’ll return home after seeing Lady Damarania’s face.”
“A pledge?!”
“Or should I let you write your will right here?”
At Kasel’s limit of patience, the timid Euclis Empire twin Princes cried and signed the pledge. Satisfied, Kasel turned to the most troublesome pervert—Princess Pesopotemia.
“You, hurry and sign too.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Sigh. You really aren’t listening. Do I have to say out loud who’s making Lady Damarania suffer?”
“Heh, Kasel. I don’t think you’re the one to say that.”
“What?”
The two predators seemed ready to fight, prompting the twin Princes to hurriedly leave the room. The atmosphere grew tense, and Princess Pesopotemia’s knight and the Crown Prince’s aide sweated nervously, ready to intervene.
“Who’s been tormenting Seirin for twelve years?”
“I never tormented her.”
“Ha, really. Are you shameless or just stupid?”
“There’s a limit to my patience, Eizel Pesopotemia.”
“Who asked for your patience?”
The knight and aide, suffocating in the icy tension, could only desperately pray, ‘Please, just stop!’
Translator
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