A comfortably cool temperature, sweet scent, soft fabric, and music drifting from somewhere. The mages who had been guided separately relieved their fatigue while resting comfortably against the sofa’s backrest.
Coming to their senses to find they’d crossed the border and entered Clifford’s palace – it was a completely unexpected situation. A mage glared at Felix, still lying bound, and muttered.
“When you think about it, aren’t we going through all this trouble because of that bastard? Otrik, tell us now. What exactly did Felix do?”
“I told you, I don’t know the details.”
“Don’t talk to Otrik. He’s going to cry again.”
“I’m not crying! Earlier was just because I was surprised!”
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While the mages bickered, Beric was preoccupied with eating the fruit provided by the palace. Living up to its reputation as the grape country, each grape was sweet as honey with just the right tartness – truly first-rate.
“If you have time for that, fill your stomach first. Don’t you want to go home?”
“Eating a few grapes won’t restore magical power.”
“Really? Then I’ll eat them all. Ah, this place does it right.”
Woah, just as Beric was about to put a whole bunch of grapes in his mouth, hurried footsteps were heard outside.
Then, the doors swung open silently. An attendant, drenched in sweat and blood, gasped for breath with an ashen face.
Slam!
“Um, b-big trouble!”
“…What’s the matter?”
“M-Minister Ian Hielo…”
The moment Ian’s name was mentioned, Beric threw aside what he was eating and grabbed his sword. Then he rushed at the attendant as if to pounce.
Clang!
Barsabe blocked his path with her sword. The terrified attendant stumbled and collapsed.
“Beric. Calm down.”
“What about Ian!?”
“W-Well…”
“Fuck, stop stuttering!”
The startled mages recognized the seriousness of the situation and gathered their robes. No matter that they were mages, this wasn’t Bariel but Clifford. Moreover, Prince Noah had tried to check them with Idgal.
“L-Lord Ian has collapsed!!”
As the atmosphere turned hostile, the attendant covered his face with his arms and shouted. As if making a final desperate cry.
At this, Beric lowered his sword and softened his expression. Though he had collapsed a few times before, he had seemed fine until just earlier?
“What? Why?”
“W-We don’t know either, His Majesty urgently ordered us to bring the mages…”
“You should have said that from the start!”
“Waah! Wait, I can walk!”
“Shut up! Everyone hurry! Which way?”
“Right! Turn right! Aaagh!”
Beric started running with the attendant slung over his shoulder. The mages followed behind. Outside, they saw palace doctors and their assistants walking in line. From their unsettled and urgent appearance, something had clearly gone very wrong.
Clatter clatter!
The reception room was wide open.
Arriving at the door, Beric froze in shock. The floor was a sea of blood, and Ian’s complexion as he lay fallen to the side was deathly pale.
Beric approached Ian, dropping the attendant with a thud. He was so shocked he could barely speak. Was this really the Ian he knew? This couldn’t be Ian.
“I-Ian. Why, why are you like this?”
“Ah…”
“Ian. Try to come to your senses.”
Ian’s eyes were wet with what might have been cold sweat or tears. As if not fully conscious, he just moaned and waved his hands. Though Beric held him firmly, even that seemed lost in the pain.
“Gasp, Lord Ian! Good heavens!”
“What in the world happened?”
“The blood, the blood…”
“Try to stop the bleeding! The blood!”
While the mages rushed to Ian, Barsabe focused on Prince Noah. He too showed clear signs of bewilderment. Barsabe gripped her sword handle firmly and spoke.
“Your Highness. Though I know it’s rude, given the situation, you must tell us what happened.”
This was separate from the Imperial Guard checking the Ministry of Magic. Ian was a Bariel mage and minister, and she had joined this investigation team to monitor and protect him.
Noah raised both hands to declare his innocence.
“I truly don’t know. We were about to make a magic contract, when he suddenly collapsed like this.”
“Magic contract?”
“Yes. A contract to form a friendly alliance between Bariel and Clifford. I swear, we bear no responsibility.”
As Barsabe glared, the palace soldiers also placed hands on their swords. The tension mounted in opposition. The Clifford king watched Ian’s condition helplessly over her shoulder.
If Ian died here, things would become truly difficult. Though one-sided, there had already been an armed clash over the carriages, and now the Ministry of Magic Minister died in Clifford’s palace?
Without doubt. Without doubt, they would be suspected. That Clifford had eliminated a mage to check Bariel. Combined with the Idgal, those suspicions would gain even more credibility.
“W-What do we do? We don’t have anyone who can use healing magic.”
“Let’s try infusing magical power at least. Your Highness, are there no mages at all in the palace?”
“…Unfortunately not.”
Ian coughed up blood with every breath. So much that it dyed red the robes of the mages kneeling beside him. They muttered curses under their breath while holding his arms and hands.
WhiiineWhiiine
“Everyone squeeze out everything you’ve got.”
“Lord Ian. Please come to your senses.”
“That’s right. You can’t collapse like this.”
“Damn it, everyone concentrate!”
The flow of magical power rippled.
The king, prince, and attendants watched dazedly while hesitating. The mages’ eyes turning golden, hair floating in the sealed space, something warm wrapping around like it was alive.
“Keep going! Keep going!”
“Ugh…”
Blood trickled from one mage’s nose. Weren’t they already at their limit? They couldn’t even open a portal because they had no magical power left, but trying to give it their all was already taking its toll.
The mage just wiped the blood away with the back of their hand as if it was nothing, not stopping the flow of magical power.
“What are you all doing? Move!”
“Ah, yes yes! Bring fresh warm water and cloths!”
At Barsabe’s shout, the doctors also moved busily.
The Clifford king watched this scene as if truly marveling. He knew magic’s power was great, but seeing it performed by many made him feel like he was witnessing a miracle.
Noah grabbed his father’s arm and whispered.
“Father. Perhaps you should leave first?”
What if Ian died now? The king’s mere presence was enough to cause problems. Moreover, if those mages and magic swordsmen became excited and violence broke out, they couldn’t guarantee the king’s safety.
But the Clifford king patted the back of his son’s hand and shook his head.
“Noah. I understand your concern, but I cannot.”
“But, Father.”
“What happens in Clifford’s palace is my responsibility and duty. Don’t worry, go be with your siblings. They must be anxious from the commotion.”
Noah reluctantly took his leave at the king’s command.
The reception room door slowly closed. The last thing visible was the mages coughing blood, Ian lying as if eternally asleep in their midst, and Beric on his knees with a tearful face.
Creeak
Thud!
When the door closed, Noah briefly rubbed his forehead in thought. Should he inform Bariel about this? Hadn’t Ian already sent a messenger bird from the border?
However, he couldn’t guess its contents. He couldn’t predict how Bariel would react if informed of Ian’s condition.
“This is maddening.”
Noah muttered while striking the wall. How could their attempt to get Idgal to check mages become so twisted? He turned with angry steps and asked the attendants.
“That mage who came bound, Felix. Where is he?”
“He should be in the reception room where the guests were.”
“Follow me. We’re going there.”
Passing by palace servants being summoned by the king’s order, Noah headed toward the neglected Felix.
***
Jin was looking out the window with his chin resting on his hand. All morning and afternoon schedules had been cancelled due to an emergency meeting called since dawn.
Though Philea’s engagement ceremony was just yesterday evening, somehow it felt like ancient history.
What would they be doing now? He’d heard the Cheonrye tribe’s celebration customs didn’t end in just a day or two. They were probably still enjoying wine and meat this evening too. Had the neighborhood children gone as well?
Knock knock
“Your Majesty.”
Jin, who had been lost in idle thoughts, started and turned his head. The book page hadn’t even turned one leaf. He quickly shuffled through papers while responding.
“What is it?”
“A messenger bird has arrived from the border. It seems to be from Lord Ian, perhaps you should check it. The Prime Minister just arrived after hearing about this as well.”
Dusk had settled outside. He’d thought it was getting late, but a message by messenger bird? Something must have happened. Jin closed his book and granted permission to enter.
Creeak
“Your Majesty. Forgive my sudden visit.”
“Nonsense. You say Lord Ian sent a messenger bird?”
“Yes. Here it is.”
At the Prime Minister’s nod, an attendant presented a note on a golden tray. Its crumpled state suggested the circumstances of writing it hadn’t been easy.
-Made contact with Clifford’s carriages. Though there was no bandit attack, there were indeed problems with the carriages. During this process, the jewel was lost, and to resolve this I intend to cross the border to seek audience with Clifford’s king. Please receive and review the documents I left with Romandro. They concern alliance terms, please prepare them revised more favorably for Bariel.
The jewel must mean the golden diamond presented from Burgos.
“So it was Burgos after all?”
“No, Your Majesty. If so, Lord Ian would have clearly indicated that part. There’s more on the back, please look.”
-Investigation of the merchant group manufacturing Idgal is absolutely necessary. Though I don’t yet understand their intentions, they tried to supply Idgal to Clifford for practically no cost. We must also be careful of Burgos and Ruswena.
Jin had witnessed the effectiveness of Idgal firsthand during the civil war. The mages neutralized by Marive’s arrows. If Idgal was supplied to neighboring countries, it would be tantamount to losing one of Bariel’s great powers.
“Idgal… I heard the Ministry of Magic was researching it, but it seems that merchant group is moving on a broader scale than expected.”
“We should call Romandro. Is anyone outside? Xiao!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
While Jin was commanding Xiaoshi, the Prime Minister stared down at the note with a grave expression. The wrinkles around his eyes, deeply etched by time, moved slightly following his gaze.
“Your Majesty.”
Jin turned his head, realizing the other’s gaze was unusual. The Prime Minister suggested very carefully.
“Rather than leaving the Idgal investigation to the Ministry of Magic, how about forming an independent investigation team under Your Majesty’s direct command?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Ministry of Magic will try to eradicate the Idgal manufacturers. That’s natural logic. Having the same effect as magic sealing stones, the more their numbers increase, the more burdensome it becomes for mages.”
Those who hold Idgal hold the mages’ lifeline.
This was a fact known to all who dwelled in the imperial palace.
“Supply to other countries must absolutely not happen. But if the imperial palace directly manages it, wouldn’t that be different?”
“…Prime Minister.”
“Your Majesty must control this. It will be an excellent means of keeping the Ministry of Magic in check.”
Story Arcs