Erna's eyes widened as she watched the two of them. It was definitely Abel. However, there was something different about him compared to the Abel she had been seeing all this time. Putting aside the fact that his hair and eye colors had changed, the impression of his face was different above all else. His face now, for some reason, felt even more...
“...Callion?”
Erna found herself muttering Callion's name without realizing it. Abel's face reminded her of Callion even more.
Erna glared at Abel. The reason his appearance had changed was obvious.
"You were casting a spell."
That is what was released as Erna cast a new spell on the Grand Duke's castle.
"That is correct."
“What is your true identity?”
At Erna's question, the knights of Hessengard standing nearby aimed their swords at Abel.
“And... I also want to know why you were with Vanessa.”
Vanessa's expression darkened at the cold voice. Vanessa took a step forward.
"I will explain."
“Give it a try.”
It was a sharp voice, unlike Erna, who had always looked up to Vanessa like a mother.
"Mr. Abel Felding next to me..."
"Sir?"
Erna's eyes narrowed at the sound of the word "Sir" coming from Vanessa's mouth.
There are not many people Vanessa can address with the honorific title. Currently, the only people in Hessengard whom she is worthy of addressing are Erna, Callion, and Adelaide, the representative of the delegation.
Besides that, the people she must address with respect are...
Erna's gaze turned toward Abel.
"So you were royalty of the Ether."
"You recognized me right away."
Abel stood there calmly, unfazed by the sharp gaze, as if he had fully anticipated Erna's reaction.
“Let me introduce myself again. I am Ruben Ether, the Second Prince of Ether.”
"Are you also a wizard?"
"That is correct."
Ruben had a confident attitude, as if to say, 'What more could I possibly have to hide?'
“Do you know what suspicions you are facing in this situation?”
“Of course. A foreign royal who sneaked into Hessengard without notice. And a wizard at that. I'm undoubtedly the most suspicious person in this poisoning attempt that took place when the Grand Duke of Hessengard’s castle’s protective magic wore off. After all, it is highly likely that the poison Grand Duke Callion consumed was created using magic.”
"It was obvious."
When Erna heard about the circumstances of Callion having ingested poison, she immediately suspected magic.
And the biggest recent change regarding magic was the arrival of a new wizard, which was it.
So when she gave the order to capture him, she thought Abel would have already escaped. But far from running away, he was with Vanessa, having revealed himself to be Ruben, a member of the Ether royal family.
"Did you happen to run into each other on the way?"
Erna spoke first, the excuse that the two were expected to spout. But Ruben shook his head.
“No. First, I guess I need to prove my innocence.”
"How?"
“I have been with Council President Vanessa since this morning. And I have not used magic even once to get here.”
At Ruben's words, Erna looked at Vanessa.
“...Is it true?”
"It is true".
Erna asked about Vanessa's answer.
“I wonder what you were talking about with foreign royalty so early in the morning.”
Even though she tried her best to hide it, Erna's voice was full of thorns.
If, as Ruben said, he hadn't used magic since morning, he was not guilty.
Someone might ask if it wouldn't be possible if the magic had been prepared in advance, but...
There were no issues with the protective magic until this morning.
Erna checked on him once in the morning, thinking he had become too weak lately. However, even then, despite being weak, he was still moving properly. Therefore, even if he had prepared magic in advance, he would have vanished. But if he hasn't used any magic since this morning, then at least… Ruben is not the culprit.
But there are other possibilities.
Either Vanessa testified falsely, or there is another wizard besides her.
Erna braced her constantly sagging body and put strength into her legs. Adelaide, Ruben, and even the knights of Hessengard were all here. On top of that, Callion had collapsed, and she couldn't believe Vanessa.
She couldn't just sit down right now.
Erna spoke, holding on desperately.
“That alone will not be enough to clear you of all charges. Knights, summon Cedric.”
The Knights soon brought him in, who had been holding off Havand's envoys outside as Callion's proxy.
"Did you call, Grand Duke Erna?"
After Callion fell, Cedric was also on edge. He, who had been in complete control of the Knights, claiming that he could not trust anyone, meekly bowed his head to Erna.
“This is Ruben Ether. He is the Second Prince of Ether. Although he claims to have no connection to this incident, I order that he be detained in the Knights’ underground until verification is complete.”
"...All right."
Upon learning that he was the Prince of Ether, Cedric glared at Ruben as if he were about to tear him to pieces.
"Then..."
Erna looked at Vanessa and gave an order.
“Vanessa Schultz. You, too, are forbidden from entering the Grand Duke’s castle outside the Council area until further order.”
Erna looked alternately at the tearful Adelaide, Ruben with a troubled expression, and Vanessa, who was stiff.
No one could be trusted.
It seems like he has swallowed fire.
In his fading consciousness, Callion thought so. It was a sensation he knew all too well. It was the sensation that had instantly slammed him to the ground, a man who had once been loved by the King and his mother's pride and joy as a child.
The sensation of the inside of the mouth becoming sore, the tongue sticking together, and the esophagus burning.
He had survived, but an even greater problem awaited him. The pain from that time remained so vivid that he could not swallow anything. When he spat out even water, unable to drink it, the servants forcibly opened his mouth and shoved water and food in.
Their actions were rough and desperate, driven by the fear that if Callion did not survive, they themselves would not be safe either.
Because of that, Callion had to feel even greater terror. Everything felt like poison because someone had forced it upon him. Spitting it out, spitting it out, and spitting it out again.
He opened his eyes as the memory of that time, which he had forgotten for a while, came to mind.
“...”
Even with his blurry vision, he knew where he was. This was clearly the couple's bedroom he shared with Erna.
As soon as he realized it, Callion let out a sigh of relief. At some point, this place had become a safe haven for him. Because here, he could always hold a warm body in his arms.
Callion looked around. It was silent all around. The only sound was the crackling of firewood in the fireplace. And...
“...”
He looked at Erna, who was lying face down, holding his hand. Her figure was not clear in his still blurry vision. Disappointed by this, Callion blinked his eyes over and over again.
Meanwhile, as his fingers moved, Erna, who was lying face down, felt the movement and lifted her head.
“...Callion?”
She cried.
He knew it the moment he heard the voice. A voice choked with tears. Callion actually quite liked this kind of voice from Erna.
Because whenever he tormented and cornered her at night, she used to call out his name in a voice like this. But today was different. Grief seeped from Erna's voice as she called his name.
Erna stroked his face and asked.
"Are you okay?"
“...”
He should have said he was okay, but no voice came out. Thanks to that, Callion was able to realize once again what kind of situation he was in.
“Why... not the Knights...”
Even in his dazed state, he recalled the knights who had frantically carried him on their backs and run, and Cedric's voice calling his name. He was certain he had headed toward the Knights' Order, so when had he ended up here?
"The Knights finished the basic treatment and brought you here."
“Time is...”
“If you’re asking how much time has passed since you collapsed... It’s been two days.”
At those words, Callion also understood why he was feeling dizzy. His body must not have been in normal condition after lying down for so long.
As Callion tried to get up, Erna quickly supported him. Then she brought over the cup she had placed beside her.
"You have to drink this."
“...”
“It’s a neutralizing agent. I’ve healed almost all the damage to your body with magic, but I was told that the remaining stuff needs to be diluted with medicine.”
Erna was about to put a cup in his hand, but seeing his trembling hand, she brought the cup to his lips instead.
Bam!
However, Callion recoiled in horror and knocked the glass cup that had come close to his mouth away. The glass slipped from Erna's hand and fell onto the blanket.
Erna looked at him with a surprised face and turned away.
“Sorry, I’ll get it back. I have more medicine, so...”
"I don't need it."
Erna looked at Callion at his answer. Callion let out a hollow laugh and looked at his trembling hands.
"I couldn't drink."
The moment the cup touched his lips a moment ago, an intense fear seized him, rendering him unable to think of anything for a brief moment. So, he ended up knocking it away with all his might.
'Oh, my god.'
How could this happen when he had barely escaped that fear?
Callion remembered when and how he had escaped it. Even after leaving the Ether and coming to Hessengard, he still could not eat properly. This was because he felt that someone among the people of the Ether might poison his food.
It was the same even after Ether's envoys had left to escape the plague. Hessengard was just as unreliable to him as Ether.
However, as the desire to live remained, Callion crawled out of his room in the middle of the night and headed to the kitchen in the basement of the Grand Duke's castle.
And there... Je put leftover food scraps that others had discarded into his mouth. Because he thought that wouldn't be poisonous.
Callion continued to live like that every night until Vanessa, who had come out looking for him belatedly, found him.
But to think he ended up eating poison inside Hessengard now.
Callion could guess. That he would no longer be able to eat anything properly inside this Grand Duke's castle.
But now, what he feared was not the terrible thirst and hunger.
He turned his head. Erna, with tears welling up in her eyes, was looking at him. The sight tormented Callion.
The reason he could stand tall in front of Erna was that he was the commander of the Knights of Hessengard and also the strongest knight.
He did not show the slightest sign of weakness in front of Erna.
Even before they went to bed together, and even afterward. The reasons were different, but regardless, he didn't want to reveal his weaknesses to Erna. But now... to have to show her how miserably he succumbs to fear. He hated that.
Even if it’s just bravado... He thought it would be better to die than to show such a pathetic state.
Then, Erna blurted out the words that Callion could not bring himself to say.
"Are you worried I'll think it's unsightly if I see you acting like this?"
“...!”
Erna climbed onto the bed and hugged Callion.
“You... you don’t know what was said while you were lying there, do you?”
“...”
“You held my hand and said you were scared. Time and time, over and over. Begging me to save you...”
“...”
Callion couldn't say a word. If he opened his mouth, he felt like he would curse at himself for spouting such pathetic nonsense.
Erna reached out and picked up the cup that had fallen on the blanket. Fortunately, there was still medicine left in the cup.
“I mean... I’ve already seen all the disgraceful things about you.”
Erna sobbed and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
"Your mouth and esophagus are fully healed. So, it’s not that you can’t drink because of the pain, right? Are you just afraid because of past memories?"
"...Yes."
Callion lowered his head. He felt pathetic for trembling so much over something from his childhood, yet the fear still did not subside. Callion fumbled with his neck and muttered.
“I can’t trust anyone. Who knows who did what and how....”
Just then, Erna brought the cup to her mouth and swallowed the remaining medicine. Then, she brought her face close to Callion and traced his lips with her finger. At the soft touch, which was extremely careful yet filled with worry, Callion involuntarily opened his mouth.
Then Erna pressed her lips against his.
The lukewarm medicine, retaining his body heat, went into his mouth. But...
Gulp.
Callion swallowed it whole.
Because it was given by the only person who believed he would never be harmed.
“...Callion?”
Erna found herself muttering Callion's name without realizing it. Abel's face reminded her of Callion even more.
Erna glared at Abel. The reason his appearance had changed was obvious.
"You were casting a spell."
That is what was released as Erna cast a new spell on the Grand Duke's castle.
"That is correct."
“What is your true identity?”
At Erna's question, the knights of Hessengard standing nearby aimed their swords at Abel.
“And... I also want to know why you were with Vanessa.”
Vanessa's expression darkened at the cold voice. Vanessa took a step forward.
"I will explain."
“Give it a try.”
It was a sharp voice, unlike Erna, who had always looked up to Vanessa like a mother.
"Mr. Abel Felding next to me..."
"Sir?"
Erna's eyes narrowed at the sound of the word "Sir" coming from Vanessa's mouth.
There are not many people Vanessa can address with the honorific title. Currently, the only people in Hessengard whom she is worthy of addressing are Erna, Callion, and Adelaide, the representative of the delegation.
Besides that, the people she must address with respect are...
Erna's gaze turned toward Abel.
"So you were royalty of the Ether."
"You recognized me right away."
Abel stood there calmly, unfazed by the sharp gaze, as if he had fully anticipated Erna's reaction.
“Let me introduce myself again. I am Ruben Ether, the Second Prince of Ether.”
"Are you also a wizard?"
"That is correct."
Ruben had a confident attitude, as if to say, 'What more could I possibly have to hide?'
“Do you know what suspicions you are facing in this situation?”
“Of course. A foreign royal who sneaked into Hessengard without notice. And a wizard at that. I'm undoubtedly the most suspicious person in this poisoning attempt that took place when the Grand Duke of Hessengard’s castle’s protective magic wore off. After all, it is highly likely that the poison Grand Duke Callion consumed was created using magic.”
"It was obvious."
When Erna heard about the circumstances of Callion having ingested poison, she immediately suspected magic.
And the biggest recent change regarding magic was the arrival of a new wizard, which was it.
So when she gave the order to capture him, she thought Abel would have already escaped. But far from running away, he was with Vanessa, having revealed himself to be Ruben, a member of the Ether royal family.
"Did you happen to run into each other on the way?"
Erna spoke first, the excuse that the two were expected to spout. But Ruben shook his head.
“No. First, I guess I need to prove my innocence.”
"How?"
“I have been with Council President Vanessa since this morning. And I have not used magic even once to get here.”
At Ruben's words, Erna looked at Vanessa.
“...Is it true?”
"It is true".
Erna asked about Vanessa's answer.
“I wonder what you were talking about with foreign royalty so early in the morning.”
Even though she tried her best to hide it, Erna's voice was full of thorns.
If, as Ruben said, he hadn't used magic since morning, he was not guilty.
Someone might ask if it wouldn't be possible if the magic had been prepared in advance, but...
There were no issues with the protective magic until this morning.
Erna checked on him once in the morning, thinking he had become too weak lately. However, even then, despite being weak, he was still moving properly. Therefore, even if he had prepared magic in advance, he would have vanished. But if he hasn't used any magic since this morning, then at least… Ruben is not the culprit.
But there are other possibilities.
Either Vanessa testified falsely, or there is another wizard besides her.
Erna braced her constantly sagging body and put strength into her legs. Adelaide, Ruben, and even the knights of Hessengard were all here. On top of that, Callion had collapsed, and she couldn't believe Vanessa.
She couldn't just sit down right now.
Erna spoke, holding on desperately.
“That alone will not be enough to clear you of all charges. Knights, summon Cedric.”
The Knights soon brought him in, who had been holding off Havand's envoys outside as Callion's proxy.
"Did you call, Grand Duke Erna?"
After Callion fell, Cedric was also on edge. He, who had been in complete control of the Knights, claiming that he could not trust anyone, meekly bowed his head to Erna.
“This is Ruben Ether. He is the Second Prince of Ether. Although he claims to have no connection to this incident, I order that he be detained in the Knights’ underground until verification is complete.”
"...All right."
Upon learning that he was the Prince of Ether, Cedric glared at Ruben as if he were about to tear him to pieces.
"Then..."
Erna looked at Vanessa and gave an order.
“Vanessa Schultz. You, too, are forbidden from entering the Grand Duke’s castle outside the Council area until further order.”
Erna looked alternately at the tearful Adelaide, Ruben with a troubled expression, and Vanessa, who was stiff.
No one could be trusted.
***
It seems like he has swallowed fire.
In his fading consciousness, Callion thought so. It was a sensation he knew all too well. It was the sensation that had instantly slammed him to the ground, a man who had once been loved by the King and his mother's pride and joy as a child.
The sensation of the inside of the mouth becoming sore, the tongue sticking together, and the esophagus burning.
He had survived, but an even greater problem awaited him. The pain from that time remained so vivid that he could not swallow anything. When he spat out even water, unable to drink it, the servants forcibly opened his mouth and shoved water and food in.
Their actions were rough and desperate, driven by the fear that if Callion did not survive, they themselves would not be safe either.
Because of that, Callion had to feel even greater terror. Everything felt like poison because someone had forced it upon him. Spitting it out, spitting it out, and spitting it out again.
He opened his eyes as the memory of that time, which he had forgotten for a while, came to mind.
“...”
Even with his blurry vision, he knew where he was. This was clearly the couple's bedroom he shared with Erna.
As soon as he realized it, Callion let out a sigh of relief. At some point, this place had become a safe haven for him. Because here, he could always hold a warm body in his arms.
Callion looked around. It was silent all around. The only sound was the crackling of firewood in the fireplace. And...
“...”
He looked at Erna, who was lying face down, holding his hand. Her figure was not clear in his still blurry vision. Disappointed by this, Callion blinked his eyes over and over again.
Meanwhile, as his fingers moved, Erna, who was lying face down, felt the movement and lifted her head.
“...Callion?”
She cried.
He knew it the moment he heard the voice. A voice choked with tears. Callion actually quite liked this kind of voice from Erna.
Because whenever he tormented and cornered her at night, she used to call out his name in a voice like this. But today was different. Grief seeped from Erna's voice as she called his name.
Erna stroked his face and asked.
"Are you okay?"
“...”
He should have said he was okay, but no voice came out. Thanks to that, Callion was able to realize once again what kind of situation he was in.
“Why... not the Knights...”
Even in his dazed state, he recalled the knights who had frantically carried him on their backs and run, and Cedric's voice calling his name. He was certain he had headed toward the Knights' Order, so when had he ended up here?
"The Knights finished the basic treatment and brought you here."
“Time is...”
“If you’re asking how much time has passed since you collapsed... It’s been two days.”
At those words, Callion also understood why he was feeling dizzy. His body must not have been in normal condition after lying down for so long.
As Callion tried to get up, Erna quickly supported him. Then she brought over the cup she had placed beside her.
"You have to drink this."
“...”
“It’s a neutralizing agent. I’ve healed almost all the damage to your body with magic, but I was told that the remaining stuff needs to be diluted with medicine.”
Erna was about to put a cup in his hand, but seeing his trembling hand, she brought the cup to his lips instead.
Bam!
However, Callion recoiled in horror and knocked the glass cup that had come close to his mouth away. The glass slipped from Erna's hand and fell onto the blanket.
Erna looked at him with a surprised face and turned away.
“Sorry, I’ll get it back. I have more medicine, so...”
"I don't need it."
Erna looked at Callion at his answer. Callion let out a hollow laugh and looked at his trembling hands.
"I couldn't drink."
The moment the cup touched his lips a moment ago, an intense fear seized him, rendering him unable to think of anything for a brief moment. So, he ended up knocking it away with all his might.
'Oh, my god.'
How could this happen when he had barely escaped that fear?
Callion remembered when and how he had escaped it. Even after leaving the Ether and coming to Hessengard, he still could not eat properly. This was because he felt that someone among the people of the Ether might poison his food.
It was the same even after Ether's envoys had left to escape the plague. Hessengard was just as unreliable to him as Ether.
However, as the desire to live remained, Callion crawled out of his room in the middle of the night and headed to the kitchen in the basement of the Grand Duke's castle.
And there... Je put leftover food scraps that others had discarded into his mouth. Because he thought that wouldn't be poisonous.
Callion continued to live like that every night until Vanessa, who had come out looking for him belatedly, found him.
But to think he ended up eating poison inside Hessengard now.
Callion could guess. That he would no longer be able to eat anything properly inside this Grand Duke's castle.
But now, what he feared was not the terrible thirst and hunger.
He turned his head. Erna, with tears welling up in her eyes, was looking at him. The sight tormented Callion.
The reason he could stand tall in front of Erna was that he was the commander of the Knights of Hessengard and also the strongest knight.
He did not show the slightest sign of weakness in front of Erna.
Even before they went to bed together, and even afterward. The reasons were different, but regardless, he didn't want to reveal his weaknesses to Erna. But now... to have to show her how miserably he succumbs to fear. He hated that.
Even if it’s just bravado... He thought it would be better to die than to show such a pathetic state.
Then, Erna blurted out the words that Callion could not bring himself to say.
"Are you worried I'll think it's unsightly if I see you acting like this?"
“...!”
Erna climbed onto the bed and hugged Callion.
“You... you don’t know what was said while you were lying there, do you?”
“...”
“You held my hand and said you were scared. Time and time, over and over. Begging me to save you...”
“...”
Callion couldn't say a word. If he opened his mouth, he felt like he would curse at himself for spouting such pathetic nonsense.
Erna reached out and picked up the cup that had fallen on the blanket. Fortunately, there was still medicine left in the cup.
“I mean... I’ve already seen all the disgraceful things about you.”
Erna sobbed and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
"Your mouth and esophagus are fully healed. So, it’s not that you can’t drink because of the pain, right? Are you just afraid because of past memories?"
"...Yes."
Callion lowered his head. He felt pathetic for trembling so much over something from his childhood, yet the fear still did not subside. Callion fumbled with his neck and muttered.
“I can’t trust anyone. Who knows who did what and how....”
Just then, Erna brought the cup to her mouth and swallowed the remaining medicine. Then, she brought her face close to Callion and traced his lips with her finger. At the soft touch, which was extremely careful yet filled with worry, Callion involuntarily opened his mouth.
Then Erna pressed her lips against his.
The lukewarm medicine, retaining his body heat, went into his mouth. But...
Gulp.
Callion swallowed it whole.
Because it was given by the only person who believed he would never be harmed.
Comments
Post a Comment