My breath was caught in my throat. Rosie looked at my surprised face and hurriedly added.
“Your Majesty, the Empress, you came to the ‘Dignified Night’ clinic the day before your state wedding, right?”
“!”
“Actually, I... worked in that clinic’s manufacturing plant.”
“What? How could you, the young lady of the Count’s family, do that?”
“Of course, I went without telling my father. The wizard Big was friendly with my mother, so he accepted me.”
Oh, I heard her mother was a healing wizard too, so she must have known Wizard Big.
“But I only took off my veil in the examination room, so how did you see my burn scars?”
“There is a separate space in the manufacturing room where only medicine is manufactured, and there is a door there that leads to the treatment room. There is a small window in the door. Through that window...”
“Wait a minute, are you the one who made the magic potion I received?”
“Yes, it’s me. I received the materials and manufacturing method from Big.”
If that's true, then maybe Rosie can make me a magic potion? I calmed my excitement and prayed as I spoke to Rosie.
“There’s only one magic potion left anyway, so if you have the ingredients, you could...”
“Yes, Your Majesty! I can make it as long as I have the herbs that go into the potion.”
Before I could finish speaking, Rosie answered confidently. My heart raced. I grabbed Rosie's hand without realizing it. Rosie smiled shyly, then suddenly spoke with an expression that reminded her of something.
“But, after I finished making the magic potion... Big asked the client for one more thing, and there was a drug he put in the potion? He didn’t tell me what it was, so I don’t know what he put in the end.”
'The red ointment that Princess Resilia poured on the right side of your face. That's what called me.'
“What does that mean? Explain it so I can understand.”
I raised my hand and touched the burn scar on the right side of my face.
'Originally, I had a body that I lived in, other than yours. It was the body of a great wizard. But for some reason, one day, I escaped from that body and wandered around for a while.'
“How much? Where?”
'For about 250 years?'
“What? How many years?!”
'And then I just drifted around without any substance. Then suddenly your body called me. I think the red reagent was a magic potion that called me.'
The incarnation's guess would be correct. The red reagent was in Logan's laboratory, the court magician. So, was Logan researching a magic potion that could summon the incarnation?
“Could it be that the red potion was something Logan created to give to the wizard you were staying with?”
'Maybe so.'
“No, it’s been 250 years since you came out of that person’s body.”
As I spoke, shaking my head, the incarnation burst into laughter.
'No. The wizard's time must have stopped since I came out of that body. Was he 20? 21?'
“So, that wizard has been alive for 250 years, still in his early 20s?”
'Yes.'
If the incarnation leaves your body, wouldn't you have to continue living in this state without dying? I asked the incarnation what it thought, but it said it didn't know either. Then, who should I ask?
'I originally belonged to a great wizard, so maybe that's just him. In any case, I don't thrive on weak human bodies.'
“Then go back to the wizard’s original body.”
'I need your help to do that.'
“What can I do to help?”
'It's not difficult, and the time will come when your abilities will be put to use.'
Do I have any abilities? I asked myself, smiling bitterly. As if the incarnation had read my thoughts, I continued speaking.
'That's your fate. You are the incarnation of Nana, the button that moves the wyvern.'
“Are you saying that you move on my orders?”
'That's right. Ridiculously enough.'
Even while talking to the incarnation, the heat in my body kept rising and falling. Should I really take the last remaining magic potion?
'Anyway, your power will be realized soon.'
“That... when?”
'It's getting closer. No, it might already be there... maybe?'
The incarnation suddenly burst into laughter. He looked back with a strange feeling as if he was laughing at something, but there was no one in the bedroom.
“Yes. That aside, why do you exist? It’s not like you just can manipulate fire, right?”
'That's right, if you hold me, you can become the master of the sword.'
“A sword? What kind of sword?”
'Sword of Incarnation.'
“...What is that?”
'It's true. If you, who have the power of fire, get your hands on the Incarnation Sword, you will gain incredible power.'
“Your Majesty, the Empress, you came to the ‘Dignified Night’ clinic the day before your state wedding, right?”
“!”
“Actually, I... worked in that clinic’s manufacturing plant.”
“What? How could you, the young lady of the Count’s family, do that?”
“Of course, I went without telling my father. The wizard Big was friendly with my mother, so he accepted me.”
Oh, I heard her mother was a healing wizard too, so she must have known Wizard Big.
“But I only took off my veil in the examination room, so how did you see my burn scars?”
“There is a separate space in the manufacturing room where only medicine is manufactured, and there is a door there that leads to the treatment room. There is a small window in the door. Through that window...”
“Wait a minute, are you the one who made the magic potion I received?”
“Yes, it’s me. I received the materials and manufacturing method from Big.”
If that's true, then maybe Rosie can make me a magic potion? I calmed my excitement and prayed as I spoke to Rosie.
“There’s only one magic potion left anyway, so if you have the ingredients, you could...”
“Yes, Your Majesty! I can make it as long as I have the herbs that go into the potion.”
Before I could finish speaking, Rosie answered confidently. My heart raced. I grabbed Rosie's hand without realizing it. Rosie smiled shyly, then suddenly spoke with an expression that reminded her of something.
“But, after I finished making the magic potion... Big asked the client for one more thing, and there was a drug he put in the potion? He didn’t tell me what it was, so I don’t know what he put in the end.”
“Did you happen to have any contraceptive drugs in the potion you were making?”
“No, there was nothing like that. Why? Was the last thing Big put in you a birth control pill?!”
“Well, I’m not sure, but I think so.”
If Wizard Big had put something in at the end at Prince Tesla's request, it was most likely a birth control pill. I quickly asked Rosie again, who was puzzled by the mention of birth control pills.
“Do you remember which herbs were in the magic potion I took?”
“Yes. However, I heard that the most important herbs among the ingredients are in the Southern Continent.”
“Southern Continent? Where in the Southern Continent?”
“It’s the cocoa forest near the Tebello Palace.”
"Ah..."
If it's the Tebello Empire, it's Emperor Adrian's country. Why, of all places? Why is the key herb for magic potions in the land of the silver hair? And it's right next to the Tebello Imperial Palace.
“Oh, and I heard from Big that there’s an herb that can completely heal burn scars!”
“...Really? Did he really say that?”
I raised my voice, then glanced at the bedroom door, and lowered it again, mindful of the servants outside.
“Yes, I heard you correctly.”
Rose nodded repeatedly in response, unable to contain her excitement at the fact that there was an herb that could completely remove burn scars.
“Is that herb also available in the Tebello Empire?”
Bonis, who had seen my burn scars since I was little, asked Rosie with an equally excited expression. Sharon, who had no idea about my burn scars, looked quite shocked and bewildered, but was also delighted to hear that there was a remedy.
“The medicinal herbs used for the cure... they said they come from other regions, but they didn’t say where. It’s also possible that they didn’t know and couldn’t say.”
“Oh, I see...”
I was so excited, but when I heard those words, I felt like my spirit had been drained.
“You’ll have to keep taking magic potions until you find out where the cure is, but the key herb just so happens to be in the land of the Silver Hairtail...”
As Bonis spoke with a deep sigh, Sharon also muttered quietly with a worried look in her eyes.
“No, there was nothing like that. Why? Was the last thing Big put in you a birth control pill?!”
“Well, I’m not sure, but I think so.”
If Wizard Big had put something in at the end at Prince Tesla's request, it was most likely a birth control pill. I quickly asked Rosie again, who was puzzled by the mention of birth control pills.
“Do you remember which herbs were in the magic potion I took?”
“Yes. However, I heard that the most important herbs among the ingredients are in the Southern Continent.”
“Southern Continent? Where in the Southern Continent?”
“It’s the cocoa forest near the Tebello Palace.”
"Ah..."
If it's the Tebello Empire, it's Emperor Adrian's country. Why, of all places? Why is the key herb for magic potions in the land of the silver hair? And it's right next to the Tebello Imperial Palace.
“Oh, and I heard from Big that there’s an herb that can completely heal burn scars!”
“...Really? Did he really say that?”
I raised my voice, then glanced at the bedroom door, and lowered it again, mindful of the servants outside.
“Yes, I heard you correctly.”
Rose nodded repeatedly in response, unable to contain her excitement at the fact that there was an herb that could completely remove burn scars.
“Is that herb also available in the Tebello Empire?”
Bonis, who had seen my burn scars since I was little, asked Rosie with an equally excited expression. Sharon, who had no idea about my burn scars, looked quite shocked and bewildered, but was also delighted to hear that there was a remedy.
“The medicinal herbs used for the cure... they said they come from other regions, but they didn’t say where. It’s also possible that they didn’t know and couldn’t say.”
“Oh, I see...”
I was so excited, but when I heard those words, I felt like my spirit had been drained.
“You’ll have to keep taking magic potions until you find out where the cure is, but the key herb just so happens to be in the land of the Silver Hairtail...”
As Bonis spoke with a deep sigh, Sharon also muttered quietly with a worried look in her eyes.
“That’s right. It’s a medicinal herb that can only be found in the land of silver hair among many other countries.”
“Is it silver hairtail?”
Rosie tilted her head as she listened to Bonis and Sharon. I gave Rosie a rough idea of why we called Emperor Adrian the Silverfish.
“Is this a very oily and strange anchovy?”
Rosie asked seriously.
“I think so. Yes, everyone, gather here.”
I called the three of them together. I eventually told Rose, Bonis, and Sharon that Emperor Adrian knew about the existence of the Wyvern. And that I could hear the inner thoughts of the Silverfish.
“The silver-haired said that I could hear his inner thoughts because I understood the wyvern’s language.”
For a while, everyone seemed to not believe me, but after looking at Moiya once, their expressions changed to one of agreement.
“There are wyverns that hatch after 300 years, and there are also humans who can communicate their true feelings in wyvern language.”
Rosie was the first to accept what I had to say.
“If Your Majesty the Empress, is the Lord of the Wyverns, then you will naturally understand the language of the Wyverns.”
“Is it silver hairtail?”
Rosie tilted her head as she listened to Bonis and Sharon. I gave Rosie a rough idea of why we called Emperor Adrian the Silverfish.
“Is this a very oily and strange anchovy?”
Rosie asked seriously.
“I think so. Yes, everyone, gather here.”
I called the three of them together. I eventually told Rose, Bonis, and Sharon that Emperor Adrian knew about the existence of the Wyvern. And that I could hear the inner thoughts of the Silverfish.
“The silver-haired said that I could hear his inner thoughts because I understood the wyvern’s language.”
For a while, everyone seemed to not believe me, but after looking at Moiya once, their expressions changed to one of agreement.
“There are wyverns that hatch after 300 years, and there are also humans who can communicate their true feelings in wyvern language.”
Rosie was the first to accept what I had to say.
“If Your Majesty the Empress, is the Lord of the Wyverns, then you will naturally understand the language of the Wyverns.”
“But why does Emperor Adrian know the language of the wyverns?”
All three of them looked troubled at my question.
“And no matter how much I think about it, I can’t believe that I understand the wyvern’s language.”
But then, I heard Moiya's inner thoughts as she went under the bed.
'Now let's get ready to move by grabbing some sausages and a blanket to sleep under.'
...Haa, Emperor Adrian is right.
“I’ll talk to Prince Norton to see if there’s more information about herbs in the wyvern-related books.”
“Huh? With Prince Norton?”
“Oh, the book is written in the ancient language of the Pasha Empire. It turns out that the Prince knows the ancient language. I will squeeze his brain and squeeze out the juice to find out more about the contents!”
All three of them looked troubled at my question.
“And no matter how much I think about it, I can’t believe that I understand the wyvern’s language.”
But then, I heard Moiya's inner thoughts as she went under the bed.
'Now let's get ready to move by grabbing some sausages and a blanket to sleep under.'
...Haa, Emperor Adrian is right.
“I’ll talk to Prince Norton to see if there’s more information about herbs in the wyvern-related books.”
“Huh? With Prince Norton?”
“Oh, the book is written in the ancient language of the Pasha Empire. It turns out that the Prince knows the ancient language. I will squeeze his brain and squeeze out the juice to find out more about the contents!”
Rosie said with a big smile.
“Would you please do that?”
“Yes, it’s a fair deal. He agreed to interpret the contents of the book in exchange for taking care of Rams.”
“Thank you, Rosie.”
I said, hugging her. Rosie shook her head hastily.
“No, Your Majesty. I apologize for not telling you sooner. And I will do my best to help in any way I can!”
Rose picked up the book that was lying next to her and spoke as if making a pledge. Then even Sharon, who had been quietly standing there, raised her hand.
“I’ll do anything, too.”
Bonis also spoke leisurely as if it were a given.
“I can’t miss out.”
“Thank you all so much. Just hearing you say that makes me feel reassured.”
I held the hands of the three people together and expressed my gratitude. I was moved to tears, but instead of shedding tears, I smiled brighter. After a while, Moiya came out from under the bed, carrying a stick with a small bundle hanging from her shoulder.
“Moiya, what are you doing now?”
Rosie frowned and asked Moiya in a ventriloquistic manner.
“Now that I’ve been caught, from today onwards, I’m going to stay by your side...”
Moiya said with a hearty laugh. But when I tilted my head and looked at her curiously, Moiya slyly mumbled the end of her sentence.
“No. You stay here with Rosie.”
I said it bluntly. Then Moiya's red eyes sparkled, and she asked in a tearful voice.
“Why... oh?”
“I also need time to gather my thoughts and accept this situation. Above all, I can’t be alone. So you should stay with Rosie.”
'It's all because of that cold human body!'
I could hear Moiya's angry feelings.
Oh my? The cold body must be talking about Linel, right?
'I finally got caught and I can't even be with my master... I'm going to burn that human body to the ground! Heh, it's so annoying~.'
How dare you think of pushing Linel away from me? I glared at Moiya, whose hands were trembling, and snorted.
“Would you please do that?”
“Yes, it’s a fair deal. He agreed to interpret the contents of the book in exchange for taking care of Rams.”
“Thank you, Rosie.”
I said, hugging her. Rosie shook her head hastily.
“No, Your Majesty. I apologize for not telling you sooner. And I will do my best to help in any way I can!”
Rose picked up the book that was lying next to her and spoke as if making a pledge. Then even Sharon, who had been quietly standing there, raised her hand.
“I’ll do anything, too.”
Bonis also spoke leisurely as if it were a given.
“I can’t miss out.”
“Thank you all so much. Just hearing you say that makes me feel reassured.”
I held the hands of the three people together and expressed my gratitude. I was moved to tears, but instead of shedding tears, I smiled brighter. After a while, Moiya came out from under the bed, carrying a stick with a small bundle hanging from her shoulder.
“Moiya, what are you doing now?”
Rosie frowned and asked Moiya in a ventriloquistic manner.
“Now that I’ve been caught, from today onwards, I’m going to stay by your side...”
Moiya said with a hearty laugh. But when I tilted my head and looked at her curiously, Moiya slyly mumbled the end of her sentence.
“No. You stay here with Rosie.”
I said it bluntly. Then Moiya's red eyes sparkled, and she asked in a tearful voice.
“Why... oh?”
“I also need time to gather my thoughts and accept this situation. Above all, I can’t be alone. So you should stay with Rosie.”
'It's all because of that cold human body!'
I could hear Moiya's angry feelings.
Oh my? The cold body must be talking about Linel, right?
'I finally got caught and I can't even be with my master... I'm going to burn that human body to the ground! Heh, it's so annoying~.'
How dare you think of pushing Linel away from me? I glared at Moiya, whose hands were trembling, and snorted.
***
I left Rosie’s palace and headed to the Empress’s palace for the first time in a long time. After seeing Moiya, my body felt hot, and the burn scar on my right cheek kept burning. I thought I should watch the situation a little longer and take the last magic potion if my body temperature continued. When I arrived at the Empress’s palace, I went into the bedroom alone and stood in front of the mirror.
“I am the Lord who moves the wyvern...”
I still can't believe it. What power do I have? I'm only a little more resistant to fire than the average person.
'That's it.'
The incarnation within me suddenly spoke.
'It's because of the ability you gained after suffering from a fever for a while after having red poison poured on your face. It's still a weak power, though.'
I knew that too. That I would gain some kind of power if I overcame the fever. Logan, the court wizard and Bonis' father, had told me the same thing. But Logan never mentioned anything about wyverns?
“Then what are you? What is your existence?”
I looked into the mirror and asked the incarnation.
'I am truly a god. An incarnation of fire.'
“So you handle wyverns?”
'That's not it.'
"...Then how did you come inside me? You never told me. Can you tell me now?”
“I am the Lord who moves the wyvern...”
I still can't believe it. What power do I have? I'm only a little more resistant to fire than the average person.
'That's it.'
The incarnation within me suddenly spoke.
'It's because of the ability you gained after suffering from a fever for a while after having red poison poured on your face. It's still a weak power, though.'
I knew that too. That I would gain some kind of power if I overcame the fever. Logan, the court wizard and Bonis' father, had told me the same thing. But Logan never mentioned anything about wyverns?
“Then what are you? What is your existence?”
I looked into the mirror and asked the incarnation.
'I am truly a god. An incarnation of fire.'
“So you handle wyverns?”
'That's not it.'
"...Then how did you come inside me? You never told me. Can you tell me now?”
'The red ointment that Princess Resilia poured on the right side of your face. That's what called me.'
“What does that mean? Explain it so I can understand.”
I raised my hand and touched the burn scar on the right side of my face.
'Originally, I had a body that I lived in, other than yours. It was the body of a great wizard. But for some reason, one day, I escaped from that body and wandered around for a while.'
“How much? Where?”
'For about 250 years?'
“What? How many years?!”
'And then I just drifted around without any substance. Then suddenly your body called me. I think the red reagent was a magic potion that called me.'
The incarnation's guess would be correct. The red reagent was in Logan's laboratory, the court magician. So, was Logan researching a magic potion that could summon the incarnation?
“Could it be that the red potion was something Logan created to give to the wizard you were staying with?”
'Maybe so.'
“No, it’s been 250 years since you came out of that person’s body.”
As I spoke, shaking my head, the incarnation burst into laughter.
'No. The wizard's time must have stopped since I came out of that body. Was he 20? 21?'
“So, that wizard has been alive for 250 years, still in his early 20s?”
'Yes.'
If the incarnation leaves your body, wouldn't you have to continue living in this state without dying? I asked the incarnation what it thought, but it said it didn't know either. Then, who should I ask?
'I originally belonged to a great wizard, so maybe that's just him. In any case, I don't thrive on weak human bodies.'
“Then go back to the wizard’s original body.”
'I need your help to do that.'
“What can I do to help?”
'It's not difficult, and the time will come when your abilities will be put to use.'
Do I have any abilities? I asked myself, smiling bitterly. As if the incarnation had read my thoughts, I continued speaking.
'That's your fate. You are the incarnation of Nana, the button that moves the wyvern.'
“Are you saying that you move on my orders?”
'That's right. Ridiculously enough.'
Even while talking to the incarnation, the heat in my body kept rising and falling. Should I really take the last remaining magic potion?
'Anyway, your power will be realized soon.'
“That... when?”
'It's getting closer. No, it might already be there... maybe?'
The incarnation suddenly burst into laughter. He looked back with a strange feeling as if he was laughing at something, but there was no one in the bedroom.
“Yes. That aside, why do you exist? It’s not like you just can manipulate fire, right?”
'That's right, if you hold me, you can become the master of the sword.'
“A sword? What kind of sword?”
'Sword of Incarnation.'
“...What is that?”
'It's true. If you, who have the power of fire, get your hands on the Incarnation Sword, you will gain incredible power.'
As the incarnation spoke, a red light appeared on my palms and then disappeared. This was also a rare phenomenon.
“Can’t anyone else handle the Incarnation Sword?”
'It can be handled, but it will probably only be used as a normal sword.'
The incarnation chuckled playfully.
“Then, where is the Incarnation Sword now? No, who has it?”
“Can’t anyone else handle the Incarnation Sword?”
'It can be handled, but it will probably only be used as a normal sword.'
The incarnation chuckled playfully.
“Then, where is the Incarnation Sword now? No, who has it?”
'To the original owner of my body.'
The incarnation said it as if it were so obvious.
“Where is that owner? Haa, I’m so confused...”
'Don't worry. We'll meet soon.'
The incarnation's words were of no comfort at all, for I had no desire to meet that wizard.
“Hmm, that’s strange.”
As time passed, the fever in my body showed no signs of abating. I felt anxious. What if other people saw the redness appearing and disappearing on the burn? I finally opened the bottom drawer of my dresser and took out the magic potion pouch that I had stored deep inside. As I uncorked the potion bottle, I suddenly remembered what Linel had said last night.
'Zelda, I think I would be happy if I had a daughter who resembled you.'
I held the potion bottle and looked down at it. Aside from the fact that it contained birth control pills, something in my gut made me feel unwilling to drink this last magic potion. An inexplicable refusal enveloped my body. I put the cork back on the magic potion bottle and put it back deep in the drawer.
“He must have been to the clinic by now...”
First, I thought it wouldn't be too late to take it after meeting and talking to Grand Duke Martins.
The incarnation said it as if it were so obvious.
“Where is that owner? Haa, I’m so confused...”
'Don't worry. We'll meet soon.'
The incarnation's words were of no comfort at all, for I had no desire to meet that wizard.
“Hmm, that’s strange.”
As time passed, the fever in my body showed no signs of abating. I felt anxious. What if other people saw the redness appearing and disappearing on the burn? I finally opened the bottom drawer of my dresser and took out the magic potion pouch that I had stored deep inside. As I uncorked the potion bottle, I suddenly remembered what Linel had said last night.
'Zelda, I think I would be happy if I had a daughter who resembled you.'
I held the potion bottle and looked down at it. Aside from the fact that it contained birth control pills, something in my gut made me feel unwilling to drink this last magic potion. An inexplicable refusal enveloped my body. I put the cork back on the magic potion bottle and put it back deep in the drawer.
“He must have been to the clinic by now...”
First, I thought it wouldn't be too late to take it after meeting and talking to Grand Duke Martins.
Knock knock.
I closed the drawer and got up from the dressing table, but there was a knock and the door opened.
“You didn’t come here because you were bored with me, did you?”
It was Linel.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Find out where the Empress is now! Just say this one word, and a report will be sent to you within ten minutes at the latest.”
He placed both hands on my waist and whispered that it would be the same whether I was anywhere in the empire or not, not just in the Lapion Palace.
“It means that even though you are in my arms or somewhere else, you cannot be far from me.”
Linel smiled as he spoke threateningly, then turned his head and captured my lips in an instant. He asked through our lips that had been pressed together earnestly.
“How is it? It’s terrible?"
“You didn’t come here because you were bored with me, did you?”
It was Linel.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Find out where the Empress is now! Just say this one word, and a report will be sent to you within ten minutes at the latest.”
He placed both hands on my waist and whispered that it would be the same whether I was anywhere in the empire or not, not just in the Lapion Palace.
“It means that even though you are in my arms or somewhere else, you cannot be far from me.”
Linel smiled as he spoke threateningly, then turned his head and captured my lips in an instant. He asked through our lips that had been pressed together earnestly.
“How is it? It’s terrible?"
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