Chapter 16

Thank you for reading.

This is the first chapter. The second chapter is scheduled for 9 PM.

"Everything is fine now," Prince Robert informed her, so Noel started her outing with Sirius.

She was given a ride on a horse, and they went for a ride.

When mounting and dismounting, Sirius would lift her up and down with ease.

At such times, she felt grateful for her small stature. She didn’t think it was much of a burden for him.

When she was gently set down, she would be hugged tightly.

—... Was that tight hug really necessary...?

She wasn’t quite sure.

It felt like she was being loved, which made her happy.

When Noel smiled, Sirius would smile back.

It was the first time she had looked down at the city from a high place.

"There are places where magic power overflows," Noel observed.

She noticed that the places where the magic power shone the most were fields and water edges.

"Noel.

You can see the blessings of the national deity," Sirius said, with a somewhat wistful look on his face.

"Magic power is the blessing?"

"Yes.

Actually, this land isn’t very good. The land of this country, due to the ley lines, terrain, and the position of the continent.

Still, the land deity wanted people to live here.

So, to make it a country with many magicians, it granted magic power."

Sirius was looking into the distance. His eyes seemed to be looking even further than the scenery before him.

The three-week summer vacation ended abruptly.

After the summer vacation, the first year of the advanced department entered the second half.

Noel and Sirius officially went through the procedures to become fiancés.

In the Kingdom of Anzela, marriage is allowed from the age of 16.

They planned to challenge the advanced graduation exam at the end of the year.

—Actually, they had planned to do it in the second year...

Mr. Roché suggested they escape before any interference.

With Sirius’s help in studying and practicing past graduation exam questions, Noel felt she might pass.

At this stage, she had just barely crossed the passing line.

"Once we graduate and leave the country, we’ll submit our marriage application at our permanent residence," Sirius said happily while checking the answers to the past questions.

"Ugh, pressure..."

"We still have three months, and you’ve already crossed the passing line. You have a good memory, Noel."

"I’m good at putting things in and out of the memory storage."

"Is your brain also enhanced...?"

Sirius was making preparations to leave the country.

Noel had applied to take the graduation exam at the end of the year.

Since his true identity was revealed, Sirius no longer avoided Robert in front of Noel.

He had been avoiding him because he thought they looked a bit similar when standing together.

Unfortunately, it was already known even without standing together.

In Professor Michelle’s laboratory, a tea party was being held with the sweets Robert had brought.

Noel was fed sweets by Sirius with an "Ah," and in return, she diligently fed Sirius baked goods.

"...Sister, you’ve suddenly become so affectionate."

"It feels strange to be called 'sister' by a prince who is five years older and much taller," Noel said, stopping her hand as she picked up a sweet.

"I’ve never been called 'big' before.

I like you, sister."

"I’ll correct that: you are tall."

"Big is fine, big is fine."

"Noel. You don’t need to pay attention to Robert.

He’s just a younger brother."

Sirius interjected, sounding displeased.

"That way of speaking.

It’s cold, brother."

"…Doesn’t Prince Robert have something to talk about?" Theo muttered.

"That’s right.

Brother, don’t leave the country."

"I didn’t expect my younger brother to try to stop our honeymoon."

Sirius responded, sounding displeased.

"I wouldn’t stop a honeymoon.

Why are you processing the permanent residence application for the Alres Empire!?"

"No, I just checked. I haven’t processed anything.

I’m also checking the Dolsen Kingdom.

The Republic of Condora seems to be a strong candidate.

I think we’ll decide after traveling with Noel."

"The Republic of Condora is the country that always presents unusual magic theories at the conference. I’m looking forward to it."

Noel said happily, but Robert shook his head.

"It’s full of weird people, forget it!"

"The empire, on the other hand, is full of rigid people and is quite stifling."

Theo tried to persuade them, but it didn’t seem to have much effect on the two, who were already in a newlywed mood.

—This is bad.

They might really leave.

Those with high magic power and rare abilities can easily get permanent residence permits.

Noel and Sirius, both of whom would be welcomed with open arms by any country.

When Robert returned from the academy, he went to see his other brother, Jules.

"I see.

A honeymoon...?"

"Sirius might not come back after that.

And the valuable endowed magician, Noel, too."

Robert confided in Jules, crying.

Next to them, the prime minister, who happened to be in Prince Jules’s office, had a troubled look on his face.

Next to the prime minister was a young assistant.

"The king, it seems, has finally come to his senses and is asking Sirius to become the crown prince."

"He’s too late, that senile old man!" Robert couldn’t help but raise his voice.

"He’s been suffering for over 20 years to finally come to his senses."

The prime minister had taken over from the previous prime minister four years ago.

His father, the previous prime minister, had a life full of hardship.

The current prime minister, still in his early middle age, looked like a man who had suffered a lot.

The assistant, who had been in his current position for about half a year, was still somewhat inexperienced.

Among them, only the assistant was momentarily surprised by Robert’s disrespectful remarks.

"Almost 30 years.

The king was desperately pretending not to notice, but his mother and uncles could sense that his magic power was plummeting."

Jules responded calmly.

"Is the only one who doesn’t know the foolish queen?"

Robert spat out.

"The queen, after being forced to become a queen, was constantly told that she was unsuitable and that she couldn’t bear a child."

The prime minister muttered.

"Of course. She clung to the position of queen with determination.

Even after Sariel was born, it was said that a prince with such low magic power was unprecedented."

"I have no intention of giving up on Sirius."

Robert grumbled.

"Will you reform the lords’ council?"

The prime minister turned to Jules and continued, "We just need to educate the ignorant lords a bit."

"The lords’ council is scheduled for six months from now, but it would be better to move it up."

"Given the king’s deteriorating health, it should be done.

If the king passes away, the first prince will become king, but—

Is Prince Jules planning to let Prince Sirius take the throne?"

"That form won’t work. The fact that the country made a foolish choice will remain.

The national deity’s blessing will be gone, and my brother will be out of reach.

My brother’s actions are supported by the deity’s luck.

Once he decides to leave the country, no one can stop him."

"…Is that how it will be?"

The prime minister was deep in thought, while the assistant looked shaken.

Robert glanced at the young assistant.

"If you have any questions, it’s better to ask now."

"No, I do have a question.

Does Prince Sirius have no intention of saving the country?"

The young assistant couldn’t understand.

"Assistant.

Your predecessor understood, as he saw it up close.

I can see the national deity’s blessing because I was born as a twin with my brother.

My brother is burdened with a blessing that is too heavy.

His actions are influenced by this. Thinking of him as a normal person is a mistake.

When he was a newborn, the national deity’s choice was denied.

He was destined to be the crown prince, but that was twisted.

The foolishness wasn’t just the king’s.

The royal family management office, which recognized that queen, and the previous king and prime minister, who couldn’t stop the king’s reckless actions, were all part of the country.

The royal family has been corrupt for a long time. Therefore, not only the king but also the royal family’s education was wrong.

At the founding of the country, it was agreed that if it came to this, the national deity would abandon the country.

The agreement was that the blessing would be removed.

It should have been removed long ago.

The country should have collapsed and been destroyed.

The national deity was just observing.

It gave a rare magician as a candidate for the crown prince.

But if that choice is denied, it’s over.

Prince Sirius, if the national deity decides it’s over, will fulfill the role of leading the country to its end.

He is not just a person. He is an existence to see the country’s fate and fulfill his mission.

It’s a mistake to ask anything of him.

No more mistakes are allowed.

Make up your mind and act, Assistant.

You must not ask anything of him.

You must prepare the throne that Prince Sirius should sit on and offer it to him.

The country is on the brink of a cliff."

"I understand. I apologize.

I lacked the resolve.

Prince Jules."

"No, I just don’t want to be on a sinking ship."