Chapter 217 : Chapter 217

Chapter 217 - Sweet Victory

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Third Son of Wisdom from the West. Ryan Blue Wisdom.

His ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍steps, which had been carrying him out of the Audience Chamber, stiffened just like his expression. His blue eyes, looking at the bloodline of the East, opened wide.

“…You. ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍How can you use telepathy…?”

“I ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wonder. How did I learn it?”

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Youngest Son’s faint yet distinct smile gave him a certainty he did not even want to think about.

“…Was ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it Akiell? That bastard has truly gone mad.”

“Third Son. Do not forget that you stand before His Majesty.”

The fanatical knight Leo warned him. Since the emperor had made his choice at the crossroads, any respect toward the Wisdom bloodline had disappeared.

Ryan ground his teeth as he glared at the Youngest Son.

―Do not think this is the end.

―Oh. So you can use it too.

The Youngest Son was even brazen, as if he did not realize that he was the one who should have found telepathy more awkward to use.

Ryan’s anger rose even further, but the words from moments ago remained caught in him like a fishbone.

―The Elixir is in my possession right now. Such deception will not work.

Those words were not wrong. Not yet, at least.

―Yes. Guard it carefully until you arrive. I know it must be exciting to leave your sheltered home for the first time, but if you get that carried away, you are bound to lose something.

―How absurd.

The Third Son controlled his expression as well as the Princess, but he could not control his heart. The Queen’s son caught that anomaly and smiled.

“I hope you have a safe return journey to the West. After all, once you leave home, one can be stabbed in the back, and with a little bad luck, one can even die far from home.”

“…….”

Ryan’s features did not move at all, but his eyes made it easy to read him. He was looking at me as though I were filth that happened to breathe.

RUMMMBLE—

The door of the Audience Chamber opened for the Wisdom Delegation to leave. Just before he stepped outside that door, Ryan’s body turned to look at the emperor one last time.

“The Elixir was the only path. The strange mana insensitivity His Highness the Crown Prince is suffering from cannot be cured by anything other than the Elixir.”

The emperor spoke comfortably with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Withdraw all of Wisdom’s supply routes that are on standby or have been installed within the Empire’s territory and airspace. I will give you twenty-four hours from this moment.”

“…Very well.”

“Leave. As the Fifth Son here said, dying far from home is not such a distant matter once you leave your house.”

“…….”

Ryan bit his lip so hard it seemed as though it would bleed, then went outside.

RUMBLE—

The door of the Audience Chamber closed, and the emperor asked the Youngest Son, who was still kneeling.

“Are the two outside your people?”

“Yes.”

“It goes without saying, but it seems you have no intention of letting them leave peacefully.”

The two the emperor spoke of, a current Grade 1 Agent and a former Grade 1 Agent, were hiding in the ceiling of the corridor outside the Audience Chamber.

And they would follow the Wisdom Delegation that had just left, in order to carry out the order I had given before coming here.

“I do intend to let them leave peacefully. The same cannot be said for the Elixir.”

“Hahahaha.”

The emperor laughed aloud. At the louder laugh than before, Leo flinched, startled in a small way.

Had there been any occasion lately when the emperor had laughed like this?

The Princess and the guards could say with certainty that it was the first time since the Crown Prince had fallen ill and been bedridden.

“Rise now.”

At the emperor’s command, I straightened the knee I had bent and stood. Then the emperor lightly spread both arms.

“The treatment method of the East, and the trust I place in it. I have shown you the greatest trust I can show.”

“Yes. You certainly have.”

“Then now it is your turn to repay my trust.”

The emperor took one step closer.

“What is it? The treatment method of the East.”

“I heard that the Forest Witch asked something of one of the Three Generals.”

The emperor’s head turned toward the three generals. It was one of the guards who had something to say.

“…Before His Highness the Crown Prince collapsed, she asked us to provide in writing every incident that could have become a trauma for him.”

“Did you provide it?”

“I thought it required the utmost caution, so I have not yet delivered it.”

“It seems the amount is quite considerable.”

At the Youngest Son’s words, Leo watched the emperor’s face for a moment. Only when the emperor nodded did the guard open his mouth.

“His Highness the Crown Prince possesses a kind heart, but at the same time, he was born with a young and fragile mind. If he inherits the throne as he is, the powerful ministers will…”

Unable to bear speaking such words, as they were irreverent, he could not finish.

However, everything he intended to say had been conveyed.

“I will take that to mean he is someone suited to the word fainthearted. I also understand that politics would be far too harsh for someone so fainthearted.”

“Can you not get to the point?”

“No. All of this is necessary.”

The discomfort the emperor unconsciously exuded was not because the Crown Prince was being described as fainthearted. There was a more fundamental reason somewhere.

“If the Forest Witch said that His Highness the Crown Prince’s problem came from the mental side, then that is truly the case.”

“Does the treatment method of the East follow the Forest Witch’s opinion?”

“The foundation of treatment begins with the patient’s condition and the illness. Your Majesty surely knows well how important the foundation is.”

“…Continue.”

The Youngest Son smiled and went on.

“There is something strange. No matter how fainthearted His Highness the Crown Prince may be, how many people could possibly inflict trauma on the Crown Prince of the Empire?”

The emperor had answered that he had allowed the Youngest Son within roughly three steps so that he could observe even the smallest movement of his eyes.

However, the emperor was not the only one who could see a face. The Youngest Son saw the emperor’s eyebrows tremble very faintly.

Taking that as evidence on the spot, and the emperor’s narrative inside his own head as a second basis, he spoke.

“No matter who a person is, if he is driven to the edge of a cliff, his knees will tremble. His Highness the Crown Prince has gone one step further from there.”

One step from the edge of a cliff. That meant a fall, and the end of a fall was death, or something equivalent to it.

The emperor lowered his head and set his gaze on the floor.

The Princess stared blankly at him. Today, she had seen several sides of her father that she had never seen before.

No matter how many years passed, the emperor, who had always been like steel, like a fortress wall protecting the Empire, had lowered his head. It was regret born from conviction.

“…I do not think I was wrong. Even if time were turned back any number of times, I would push the Crown Prince to the very end.”

“Yes. You must. Otherwise, he will be unable to avoid becoming a puppet of the powerful ministers.”

Though his opponent was the emperor, he did not soften his words in the slightest.

Leo almost drew his sword several times, but since the emperor did not stop the Youngest Son, he stayed still.

The other Three Generals were also startled several times behind their helmets.

Had that bloodline called the Fifth Son left his heart somewhere outside? They would have believed it if someone said that his liver had not merely come out of his stomach, but was simply absent altogether.

The emperor spoke just as bluntly to the Youngest Son, who kept making direct remarks.

“Stop walking the tightrope now, and give me the answer. The goodwill I can extend to you is by no means infinite.”

“Of course.”

With a smile, the Youngest Son continued.

“I will examine His Highness the Crown Prince’s condition today, then visit at this same time tomorrow and cure His Highness’s illness.”

The Youngest Son’s words were unprecedented. I had thought the treatment process would be slow and tedious, but it was far quicker than expected.

However, the most important matter had not yet been mentioned.

“The price.”

“As for the consultation fee you requested from the Witch of the Forest, I believe you can discuss that separately with her. I will speak only about the treatment.”

The emperor lifted his gaze from the floor and met the bloodshot eyes.

The golden eyes, which had weakened slightly when discussing the Crown Prince, once again became sharp, as if forged from steel.

The emperor now was a single blade. Just because this was a place to name a price did not mean I held the superior position.

Right now, I was in the position of a repairman, so I had to name a price that a repairman could demand. If I acted arrogantly like Wisdom had before, I would be stabbed in an instant.

The Youngest Son spoke.

“We do not need a road all the way to Wisdom. Please simply ensure that we can move forward without looking behind us.”

“That is only natural. Yet you are giving up the road?”

“I want something else instead.”

“What is it?”

A cake known for its flavor had to be bought at a high price. But a cake whose deliciousness was not known was the opposite.

“I wish to meet the Yellow Dragon.”

“…The Yellow Dragon.”

“Yes. To be precise, it is not I who wish to meet him. I wish for one of my subordinates to meet him.”

The Yellow Dragon. He was an ancient dragon that had been with the Imperial Family from its very beginning.

The ancient dragon, who had been no different from a friend to the first emperor, had been engraved as one of the symbols of the Imperial Family.

Now he lived quietly, but in the past, he had been no different from a calamity. I wanted to introduce an aspiring calamity to that calamity of the past.

Furthermore, the emperor also knew of the aspiring calamity’s existence through the Three Generals.

“Are you speaking of the Red Dragon you secretly brought here?”

“I would rather not use the word secretly, but I will not deny it.”

The emperor changed the subject with an indifferent face.

“Your reason for having them meet?”

“For his training.”

“…I thought it would not be an ordinary reason, but a dragon’s training, you say.”

The emperor let out a hollow laugh and nodded.

“I will ask the Advisor.”

“Thank you.”

“However, if the Advisor refuses, there is nothing I can do either.”

“I understand. Then may I go see His Highness the Crown Prince now?”

The emperor nodded and turned his eyes.

“Exia will guide you.”

“…Yes.”

Princess Exia did not look pleased at all, but she could not refuse her father’s words.

“Follow me.”

I left the Audience Chamber, following behind the Princess.

Then someone let out a relieved sigh.

[I thought I was going to die.]

―We are not dying over something like this. Do not exaggerate.

[I heard your heart beating. Considering how nervous you were, it is impressive that you did not even stammer.]

―I was born for the stage.

“When should I make the rose for you?”

While answering Enad’s words, the Youngest Son spoke to the Princess with his mouth. Once he became used to telepathy, even this sort of trick was not difficult.

“As long as you make it before you leave, that will suffice.”

It would be even better if you could hurry as much as possible.

The sound seemed as though it would vanish if the wind blew, but his pale ears caught it without difficulty.

“I will do so. As soon as possible.”

“Good.”

Though the Princess was walking ahead, it was not hard to imagine that she was wearing a faint smile.

We entered the corridor the Forest Witch had likely walked through before. This place, where the same structure continued dizzily, was like a well-decorated dungeon.

At its end was not a boss room, but a sickbed, and the Crown Prince of the Empire.

As they gradually drew closer to the Blue Rose door, the Princess spoke.

“What kind of treatment method is it that you can cure, in a single day, the illness of His Highness that even all the physicians of the Empire have given up on?”

“The Forest Witch has already examined him once. And through my conversation with His Majesty, I have also understood the cause to some degree, so there will be significant progress.”

“You will not tell me what the treatment method is.”

“I will tell you slowly. There is an order to everything, is there not?”

“An order.”

CLATTER—

The Princess opened the Blue Rose door.

“By that order, from the Imperial Mothership, you—”

“Exia.”

A man with sunken cheeks called the Princess’s name in a powerless voice.

“How long did I sleep this time?”

The Crown Prince of the Empire had awakened from the drowsiness brought on by his illness.

Exia’s expression showed visible shock, and for an instant, even her hands trembled.

The silence between the awakened Crown Prince and the Princess was brief, yet it felt eternal.

In the midst of it, only the Youngest Son’s mind accelerated in succession.

If this happens…

The treatment would no longer need to wait until tomorrow.