CH 10

One hour, two hours.

2 Minute Life Hack Restring Your ...

Without anything in particular to do, time passed by aimlessly.

I dislike having this kind of free time and want to be doing something productive.

That’s what I thought, but now my head is completely preoccupied with something else.

“…So, does that mean His Highness wants to spend the night with me?”

I can’t stop thinking about the one thing His Highness said to me after lunch.

Sitting in a chair, staring at the clock, repeating the same unresolved questions and answers.

“I guess that’s it… No, but then again…”

Going back and forth between affirmation and denial.

In the end, only His Highness knows the true intention.

All I can do is decide what to do when I find out His Highness’s true intention.

If… His Highness really did call me with that intention…

“What do I want?”

I ask myself.

I’m not sure.

But, I don’t dislike it.

Regardless of how it happens, for someone like me who has never been desired, it brings a certain level of happiness.

As I continue to ponder, time passes by.

The sun sets in the western sky, and the room is painted with an orange light. 

And slowly the shine faded, and it became night.

Tonight, the moon was particularly beautiful.

◇◇◇

As dinner time approached, I hurried to the dining room.

Although the time was not clearly set, it would be impolite to keep his Highness waiting.

Besides, I wanted to know his intentions as soon as possible.

When I opened the door, his Highness was already waiting.

“Oh, you’re early.”

“Your Highness! I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.”

“No, I just got here myself, so don’t worry about it.”

“…”

I stared at his Highness’s face.

“What’s wrong? Would you like to sit down?”

“Y-Yes.”

I quickly took my seat.

After sitting down, I remembered whose seat it was.

My mind was cluttered with various thoughts, making it hard to focus.

That’s when dinner was brought in.

It was more luxurious and splendid than lunch.

The sight of a royal family dinner made me gulp involuntarily.

“Well then, let’s eat.”

“Yes!”

I began to eat.

Just like during lunch, the food was truly delicious and made me happy.

However, it wasn’t that I couldn’t stop eating; I was too nervous to focus on the food.

“What’s wrong?” 

“I, no, Your Highness——.”

Suddenly realizing something.

The complexion of His Highness is not good, compared to during the day.

He seemed to lack energy.

“Is there something wrong with me?”

“Ah, um, I was wondering what kind of work Your Highness had in the afternoon.”

“Hmm? Just the usual paperwork. There were various things piling up, so I finished them all at once during the daytime.”

“I see. Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness.”

His Highness replied, “Thank you.

Is he tired because of that?

If so, maybe I don’t have to worry about it?

The meal ends.

“Thank you for the meal. Freya, I think we talked during the day.”

“Y-Yes.”

“Will you come with me to my room after this?”

“Uh, yes.”

Finally, the time has come.

I was led by His Highness and guided to his room.

It was not his office, but the bedroom that I was led to.

There was a luxurious bed.

I swallowed hard.

“Y-Your Highness…”

“No one can see us here.”

Did he call me here for that reason after all?!

I had prepared myself, but when I actually thought so, I became nervous and my heart rate increased.

However, suddenly his Highness sat down on the bed, holding his chest in pain.

“Gu… it’s still tough at the beginning.”

“Your Highness!”

I hurriedly ran over to him.

Sweat pouring from all over his body indicated a fever.

He must be having chest pain.

I noticed that the bracelet on his right hand that I had given him was turning black.

“Could it be a curse?”

“Yeah… it gets stronger at night.”

His Highness answered in a pained voice.

The magic tool I had given him to suppress the curse was working well.

The fact that it was turning black was proof of that.

Yet, his Highness seemed to be in terrible pain…

“It’s gotten stronger again since yesterday. During the first hour or so after the curse is activated, a pain that makes me almost pass out runs through my body.”

“I-I see…”

“Thanks to this bracelet, it’s much better. I really appreciate it.”

“Your Highness…”

The curse was apparently stronger than I had thought.

It gets stronger with time.

Today’s pain is worse than yesterday’s, and tomorrow’s pain will be even more intense.

And in the end… death awaits. 

“I wanted to consult with you about this. You are the only one who knows about the curse, so I chose a place where we could be alone.”

“So it was…”

I felt ashamed of myself.

While His Highness was suffering, what was I, a useless person, thinking?

I should have understood with a little thought.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Why are you apologizing? It’s all thanks to you that things didn’t get worse. You’re my lifesaver.”

“But…”

The curse hasn’t been lifted.

If it’s not lifted, it will progress.

The worst future will come.

“What I want to ask you is if there’s a way to temporarily stop the curse from progressing. Can you make something similar to this bracelet?”

“Of course! I’ll make anything for Your Highness!”

“Thank you. I can count on you.”

After a while, I could tell that his breathing had calmed down.

The intense pain that comes at the beginning of the curse must have subsided.

His Highness wiped his sweat.

“This is really troublesome.”

“Is there anything I can do?” 

“You’ve said it before, but curses must be dealt with by finding the person who cast them. I’m currently investigating on my own.”

“What are the clues?”

His Highness shakes his head.

“That’s the position I’m in. There are many people who want to kill me. To be honest, I don’t know who the culprit is.”

“That’s…”

“But I don’t intend to die like this. I will definitely find out and show them.”

“Um, please let me help too!”

It was a word that came out of my mouth so naturally, even surprising myself.

It must be what I truly thought in my heart.

“I’m His Highness’ magic tool maker. Please let me use my power too!”

“…It’s dangerous.”

“I know. But still, I don’t want you to disappear, Your Highness.”

There’s no one as kind and gentlemanly as him.

He recognized me.

He saved me from that hell.

So, knowing he’s suffering and I can’t do anything about it is unacceptable.

“Please!”

“Freya… Alright.”

His Highness smiles kindly.

“I’ll entrust half of my life and future to you.”

“Yes!”