Chapter 230

Chapter 230 – D-1

“Your Highness.”

“...!”

“Your Highness Jin. Are you alright?”

Jin’s eyes snapped open. It felt as if he had been submerged in deep water and suddenly pulled to the surface. As the tight grip of pain in his chest loosened, tears that had pooled in his eyes rolled down.

Xiaoshi was kneeling at the bedside, meeting Jin’s eye level. He must have been calling Jin’s name repeatedly. Unable to touch the prince’s body carelessly, he was about to call for Ian if Jin didn’t wake up this time.

“Haa, haa...”

“Are you feeling unwell? Should I call someone?”

“...No.”

His entire body was drenched in sweat. As the child slightly raised his upper body, Xiaoshi propped up the pillow and poured lukewarm water. The sunlight coming through the window was bright. It must be well past dawn.

“Did anything happen last night?”

What a sudden and vague question. Xiaoshi carefully examined Jin’s complexion. Fear and anxiety were clearly visible.

Well, it’s understandable. Being told that your brother is a demon, and that he had been methodically withering you away for ten years – who could maintain their sanity in such a situation?

Whatever the case, Xiaoshi’s answer was predetermined.

“Nothing happened.”

“...Really?”

“Yes. I was by Your Highness’s side all night.”

“I see. So that’s how it was.”

Then it must have been a dream, Jin thought as he awkwardly rubbed his nape, shaking off the embarrassment.

Still, it was fortunate. The fact that he had stood up to Arsen, even if he had been overwhelmed. It felt like his eroded sense of self was slowly coming back to life.

Jin buried his face in the pillow and let out a sigh of relief.

“I’ll have the washbasin brought in.”

“Okay. It would be good to change the bedding too.”

Just a simple nightmare. A vision that naturally appeared due to the tension in his body before the big event. Jin dismissed it as such, shaking off his worries.

Knock knock.

Soon, servants brought in the washbasin and clothes to assist with Jin’s morning grooming. The child sat in the chair, quietly receiving their attention, but somehow something felt strange.

“Is something happening outside?”

The servants’ demeanor was off, and the commotion seemed more than usual. The Ministry of Magic was always noisy, but this was notably different.

The servants remained silent, exchanging glances as if unable to answer.

“I asked a question.”

“We apologize. Well, there’s a rumor spreading in the imperial palace...”

“A rumor? What kind?”

“That His Highness Arsen is a d-demon...”

Jin’s eyes widened. Wasn’t this supposed to be top secret known only to a few? If even a low-ranking servant knew about it, it meant everyone in the palace already knew. Everything had been fine when he went to sleep last night, but in just a few hours, the world had been turned upside down.

Xiaoshi informed Jin as he helped him put on his shoes.

“I hear the master spoke about it at the general assembly last night. It seems he didn’t particularly try to keep it secret, so since dawn, people from other departments have been flooding in, making things a bit chaotic.”

Some came out to directly ascertain the truth, while others strongly protested, demanding an immediate stop to the slander.

It wasn’t just outsiders who were confused. The mages too were debating whether Ian’s statement was true or not.

Tap!

“Oh my, Your Highness!”

Jin rejected the servant’s assistance and ran towards Ian’s office. But he had to stop in his tracks, unable to get close due to the countless people crowding in front of it.

Thump! Thump thump!

“Lord Ian. Are you in there?”

“We haven’t seen you for days, and when did you go to the general assembly?”

“I heard it was held at night. They say he prepared the carriage quietly.”

“I’m from the Administration Department. Let’s talk!”

“And even if Arsen is unaware that he’s a demon and denies his own existence, don’t waver. That in itself is pure evil. What dies that day is not Your Highness’s brother, but the curse tormenting Bariel.”

Jin nodded, looking straight into Ian’s eyes. It was a promise that he wouldn’t waver. Ian smiled with satisfaction and released the child’s hand.

“Anyway, thanks to stirring things up, the Ministry of Magic is a bit chaotic. Please bear with it until tomorrow, Your Highness.”

“Alright. I’ll personally overlook it.”

“Thank you.”

As the two engaged in playful conversation, mages came running from afar. It seemed the gardener had told them where to find Ian.

Tap tap tap!

“Lord Ian! Oh, really! Lord Ian!”

“Why are you here? Everything’s in chaos inside.”

“That’s precisely why I escaped.”

“Why are you doing this, really! Please don’t. You’re the Minister of Magic!”

As the mages pounced on him, nearly in tears, Ian cut them off with a laugh. They quickly gathered their wits and reported.

“They’ve arrived!”

“They’re just passing through the main gate of the imperial palace now.”

“The Carbó high priests and the light of the oracle!”

***

“Have you heard?”

“Yes. Lord Ian made a huge mistake. Calling His Highness Arsen a demon? How preposterous! What about His Highness Jin who was born with him? Hah. Ridiculous.”

“I thought my ears were deceiving me.”

“He’s gone too far. It’s a ploy to disparage His Highness Arsen’s mana. We absolutely must not allow it.”

Clatter! Clink!

The ministers gathered in Dilaina’s reception room laughed as they criticized Ian. They said he was resorting to all sorts of antics before the mana confirmation ceremony.

But when Dilaina abruptly set down her teacup as if throwing it, they fell silent and only coughed awkwardly. Arsen, sitting next to her, was indifferently staring out the window.

“Is it amusing? Ian’s statement implies that I gave birth to a demon. It’s an insult to the Carbó family and a disgrace to me and His Majesty the Emperor. I’m so furious I could wring his neck right now, yet you find it laughable? All of you?”

“Lady Dilaina. That’s not what we meant...”

“Ahem. We apologize.”

Dilaina’s eyes narrowed sharply. She looked ready to tear apart anyone who dared to displease her even slightly, in place of Ian. The ministers repeatedly bit their innocent tongues, refraining from speaking.

“Lady Dilaina. Please calm your anger. Once the mana confirmation ceremony is over, you can wring his neck or quarter him as you wish. Then you can also reclaim guardianship of His Highness Jin, and from then on, only blessings will dwell in Bariel.”

At someone’s consolation, Dilaina tightly grasped the hand of her son sitting beside her. How could this lovely, precious son be a demon? The more she dwelled on it, the more indignant she became, flames of anger rising within her.

“Arsen.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“If only His Majesty the Emperor were here at a time like this.”

The mother embraced her son tightly, but the child merely stared at the ceiling without emotion. How foolish. Did she think there would have been an opportunity if the Emperor was well? Just as Arsen was about to pry off his mother’s arms-

Knock knock!

“What is it?”

“Word just came in. The light of the oracle has just entered the palace.”

“Oh, finally!”

“What perfect timing! Yes! Hahaha!”

The ministers clapped their hands and rose from their seats. It was to welcome the light of the oracle. Everyone wore bright expressions, but oddly enough, only Arsen didn’t smile.

Ian had bet his life. From what Arsen sensed, Ian was not someone who would take a losing bet.

‘...What could it be?’

As Arsen sank deep into thought, Dilaina grasped the child’s shoulders and called out worriedly, as if asking what was troubling him.

“Arsen?”

Arsen quickly changed his expression and smiled brightly.

“Let’s go out too, Mother.”

He had never used his ability on a mage before. But now that questions about his existence had been raised, there was nothing to lose by trying, right? Whether it would work on Ian, who was the minister, was uncertain. He couldn’t let this day pass with such doubts lingering.