January 14, 2021
Alicia blinked several times, opening and closing her eyes. No matter how many times she did, the scene before her remained unchanged. She saw Mikael, fast asleep, and beyond him, Cabelenus, also in deep slumber.
I remember dozing off while waiting for Mikael last night...
Since she was lying in bed, she could deduce that Cabelenus had moved her after she fell asleep. However, she had no idea why all three of them were sleeping in the same bed.
...Still, it’s not a bad way to wake up.
Alicia stopped overthinking and simply gazed at the father and son before her. Without the sharpness in Cabelenus’s usual eyes, the two sleeping figures looked even more alike.
If only every day could be like this...
Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
I know it’s a foolish hope...
Her condition wasn’t something a doctor could fix. The state of her body was the consequence of her own choices, and she had to accept that. Even so, she couldn’t bring herself to let go of her lingering desires. Seeing them sleeping the same way—even without meaning to—shook her resolve. She had tried to steel herself, to push away her emotions, but in the end, she couldn’t abandon her longing. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t give up on the desire to live.
Then, a knock came at the door.
Knock, knock.
Alicia instinctively looked at Cabelenus. He was usually a light sleeper, waking at the slightest disturbance, but this time, he remained in a deep sleep—unusual for him. Hesitating, she carefully sat up.
"Sir Cloud?"
"My Lady?"
The moment the door opened, both she and Gajev widened their eyes in surprise. Alicia pressed a finger to her lips, lowering her voice.
"His Highness is still asleep."
"...His Highness is?"
It was strange to Gajev as well. Cabelenus barely slept, and even when he did, it was never deep. The fact that he was still asleep was astonishing.
"If it’s urgent, I’ll wake him—"
"No, it’s not that pressing. I just came because His Highness was later than usual to the office."
Gajev also lowered his voice, glancing past Alicia at the sight inside. There, he saw Cabelenus and Mikael sleeping on the bed.
"Looks like I interrupted something I shouldn’t have."
"No, it’s fine. I wanted to speak with you anyway."
"With me?"
"If you don’t mind, could you spare me a moment?"
Alicia smiled, then turned to look at the two sleeping figures once more.
It was time to start letting go.
***
"Would you like some tea?"
"I’ll pass. Honestly, I feel like I’d get indigestion no matter what I eat or drink right now."
"...Did something happen?"
Gajev cautiously took a seat across from her.
"You once told me about His Highness’s shackles, didn’t you?"
"Yes, I did."
Gajev smiled awkwardly. Alicia took a short breath and met his gaze. Since that conversation, Gajev hadn’t brought it up again, out of consideration for her.
"There isn’t much time, so I’ll be blunt. Your guess was right—I have the power to grant wishes."
"Are you saying...?"
"I might be able to break His Highness’s shackles."
"Truly?"
Joy flickered across Gajev’s face, but in contrast, Alicia clenched her fists tightly.
"But my power isn’t perfect."
"There are conditions?"
"Yes."
"Well, if such an ability could be used freely, it would throw the world off balance. Some limitations were expected, so please speak comfortably."
Gajev straightened his posture. As Cabelenus’s right-hand man, he ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ had led countless victories on the battlefield—his confidence unwavering.
"A wish requires a price—life itself."
"Life?"
"The lifespan of the caster."
"You don’t mean—"
Gajev’s focus wavered. Alicia still wore a gentle smile.
"I’ve used this power to protect Mikael all this time. And I don’t regret that choice. Even if I could turn back time, I would use it for him again and again."
"...."
"Just as my mother did for me."
Alicia lowered her gaze. Though her face carried a smile, the veins on the back of her hands stood out.
"As long as it’s not an impossible wish, like bringing the dead back to life, I can grant it as long as the price can be paid."
"Then... if someone were to wish for something beyond what they can afford...?"
"They die."
"In that case, I have nothing more to hear. Just forget what I said before—"
"I don’t have much time left."
"...."
Gajev’s expression stiffened.
"I thought I was holding on well, but my body has been deteriorating rapidly these days."
"Schwarhan’s medical advancements are far beyond what they used to be."
"Even the greatest doctors can’t change a predetermined lifespan."
"My Lady."
Gajev’s voice grew urgent.
"I know my own body best. I’m dying, Gajev."
But Alicia simply shook her head firmly.
"Then... is there no way to use that power to restore your lifespan?"
"That’s impossible."
"Have you even tried?"
"There’s no need. This power was never meant for me."
"Not meant for you?"
Gajev frowned.
"There are two conditions for using this power: someone else's wish, and the caster's willingness to grant it."
"And yet, it still takes the caster’s lifespan?"
"Thanks to that, my father was able to fatten himself up without losing a thing."
Alicia let out a bitter chuckle. She couldn’t help but recall the image of her father, pressing a blade to her mother’s throat, demanding she use her power.
"The moment I realized my body was failing, my first thoughts were of His Highness and Mikael. They’ve only just started getting closer, and Mikael still needs time."
"It was only possible because of you, My Lady."
"I was just a catalyst. In the end, it was His Highness who chose to open his heart to Mikael."
"...."
"Their relationship isn’t perfect yet, but His Highness is trying, and Mikael is beginning to follow him. With time, things will only improve between them."
"...."
"They’ll be fine, both of them."
Alicia smiled even more warmly. Gajev, unsure of what expression to make, rubbed his forehead.
"His Highness can only hold on because you’re here."
"Even so, I won’t always be by his side."
"...That won’t do. I have to tell His Highness about this."
"Don’t."
Alicia’s smile vanished.
"My Lady."
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
"You said you wanted to remove His Highness's shackles."
"If we find another way, then that's it."
"I'm not saying I'll recklessly throw my life away. I just want you to consider me as the last resort when the worst comes."
Alicia’s eyes gleamed with unwavering determination.
"Even so, His Highness would never use your life as a bargaining chip."
"That’s why I need your help."
"......."
"I know I'm making a cruel request. But you’re the only one I can trust with this."
"......Do you really think I would agree to such a request?"
"Even if not now, when the worst moment comes, you will. In the end, you belong to the Grand Duke of Schwarhan."
Gajev averted his gaze, turning his head away from Alicia. The knowing look in her eyes made him uncomfortable, yet he couldn’t deny her words.
***
"Hey, are you really sure you can handle a real monster?"
"You're giving me a headache. Stop talking."
"You’re not getting a headache—you just have nothing to say."
"Anyone would get a headache with someone screeching since morning."
"Who’s screeching? I was just making a rightful complaint!"
Cabelenus let out a low growl, but Mikael stood on his toes defiantly, raising his voice even more.
"A rightful complaint?"
"You said you’d protect us if a monster came. But if you didn’t even notice when Mom disappeared, how can I trust you’ll notice if a monster does?"
"That was just today. It doesn’t happen normally."
Cabelenus ran a rough hand through his hair and stood up. Realizing that Alicia had disappeared without him noticing was a shock even to him.
'Have I grown dull just by sitting around?'
He picked up Alicia’s note from the table and tucked it into his pocket before throwing on his coat. His attire was far from formal, but seeing Alicia came first. Besides, there was no one in the castle who would dare comment on the Grand Duke of Schwarhan’s clothing.
"Yeah, right. Today turns into tomorrow, tomorrow turns into the next day, and before you know it, it becomes a habit."
"Where did you even learn that nonsense?"
"Mom told me."
"......."
Cabelenus clamped his mouth shut as he looked at the boy beaming with pride. Experience had taught him that reasoning with a child like that would only lead to trouble.
"Your room is just down the hall to the left. Go there, or sleep here—do whatever you want."
"No."
"No?"
"You’re going to see Mom, aren’t you? I want to go too. I want to see her."
Mikael quickly latched onto the hem of Cabelenus’s coat. Cabelenus frowned at the tug.
"You’ll see her later anyway. Why insist on going now?"
"That applies to you too, doesn’t it?"
"......."
"If you really want to stop me, then don’t go either. If you don’t go, I won’t go."
Mikael grinned mischievously. Cabelenus scowled, furrowing his brows, but he had no retort.
"So, are we going or not?"
"......Get your coat."
"My coat’s in my room."
"Then go get it."
"I can’t do that."
Mikael shook his head firmly.
"And why not?"
Cabelenus let out a long sigh, rubbing his forehead.
"You might leave without me while I’m getting it."
"You think I’d do that?"
"Yes."
"......."
What did this little brat even think of him? Cabelenus’s frown deepened. Meanwhile, Mikael simply tugged at his coat with a bright, innocent face.
"You can’t leave without me, so you have to come with me to get my coat."
"Haa......."
"And stop sighing."
"Now I can’t even sigh?"
Being dragged along by his coat like a leashed dog was already absurd, but now he wasn’t even allowed to sigh? Cabelenus begrudgingly matched his steps to Mikael’s pace, contemplating whether to stop walking multiple times. Of course, any hesitation ended the moment he spotted a familiar, refined face at the opposite end of the corridor.
Cabelenus’s expression hardened as he locked eyes with James.
"Uncle!"
Mikael, noticing James belatedly, let go of Cabelenus’s coat and sprinted toward him. But unlike usual, James didn’t smile warmly or open his arms. He wasn’t even looking at Mikael.
"......Uncle?"
Sensing something was off, Mikael hesitantly reached out to touch James.
And then—
A hand swung violently, smacking Mikael’s away.
"U-Uncle......."
Mikael’s lips trembled in shock. But James still didn’t look at him.
Cabelenus’s expression darkened as he strode forward, stepping between them.
"I told you to keep yourself in check, didn’t I?"
"And why should I?"
"There’s a limit to my patience."
"Then don’t hold back! Who asked you to?"
James’s voice cracked with rage.
"You’re wagging your tail like a dog just to get Alicia’s approval—"
He never got to finish his sentence. The suffocating aura emanating from Cabelenus cut him off mid-breath.
Looking at him, James thought—no, he was certain.
The Grand Duke of Schwarhan wasn’t human. He was a beast.
A beast that would rip out his throat if he so much as let his guard down.
"If you knew how much I’m holding back, you wouldn’t dare spout such nonsense in front of me."
"......."
"Are you clueless? Or just stupid?"
Cabelenus scoffed, slowly clenching and unclenching his fist. A weak artist’s neck could be snapped with one hand. But there were eyes watching. That didn’t mean he’d let this slide, though.
"Mikael. Go to your mother first."
Like a predator closing in on its prey, Cabelenus stepped between James and Mikael, drawing an invisible line between them.
He had tolerated a lot because Alicia’s guest was not his to handle.
But last night’s incident—
Alicia’s tears—
Those wouldn’t go unanswered.
