Chapter 9

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Leaving the castle, we were led to a cylindrical tower within the grounds. The tower was surrounded by multiple layers of ropes, and a soldier stood at the entrance, likely on guard.

As we approached the tower's entrance with Uncle, the soldier snapped to attention and saluted. Uncle raised his hand lightly in response and had the entrance unlocked. Once inside, Mother directed a reproachful gaze at Uncle.

"Brother, you wouldn't have locked Rinaldo in here, would you?"

Huh?!

I had been wondering why we were heading here, but Mother's words made Father and I stiffen.

The first prince, locked in this tower?

What? Isn't he sick?

Is it safe to lock him up like this?

Or is it a serious illness that's contagious and requires him to be locked up?

As Uncle climbed the spiral staircase along the wall, he glanced back at Mother.

"It can no longer be hidden within the castle. ...It was a painful decision for both the queen and me."

The strained expression on his face conveyed the difficulty of the decision to confine Prince Rinaldo in this tower.

...It must be a very dangerous illness.

I felt sorry for him, but then I tilted my head in confusion.

We're going to see a patient who needs to be locked up in a tower, yet Uncle, Aunt, Prince Diethelm, and we aren't even wearing masks. Is that okay?

Hmm? I thought he was sick, but maybe he isn't?

If not, why is Prince Rinaldo locked up in this tower?

My head was filled with many question marks, but Mother and Father seemed to understand the reasons.

Since Mother and Father aren't making a fuss, it must mean that Uncle had a valid reason for locking his son in the tower.

I had just met Uncle today, but I can't imagine a kind and playful man like him abusing his own son.

His pained expression conveyed that this was a serious matter.

I glanced up at Brother.

Brother, understanding the gravity of the situation, had a serious look on his face.

As we climbed the stairs, a heavy silence fell over us.

...By the way.

I know it's a bit impolite to think about this in such a serious situation, but...

Are we really going to climb all the way to the top of this tower?

I glanced up and broke out in a cold sweat.

The queen and Mother are climbing calmly, but this tower is quite tall.

My thighs are starting to tremble, and there's still a long way to go.

Is Prince Rinaldo in one of the rooms around here?

Or is it a given that he's at the top?

I can't say I'm tired or can't walk anymore; the atmosphere doesn't allow it.

I steeled myself to keep going, but then Father suddenly stopped.

"Hey, why don't we use magic?"

At Father's words, everyone stopped in their tracks.

Yeah, no one said it out loud, but climbing the stairs was tough.

Father's suggestion was met with silent agreement from everyone.

Uncle cleared his throat dramatically and said, "Ah, Arozel, can you do it?"

Father smiled slightly, did a quick warm-up, and then drew a magic array in the air with his index finger.

He usually uses a staff, but since he retired as a magician, he hasn't used large-scale magic in a while. The staff is somewhere in the luggage from the Felzenstein territory and hasn't been unpacked yet.

"Then, let's go straight to the top. — Wind!"

The moment Father used magic, our bodies floated gently into the air.

I have magic and can use it, but I can't make my body float like this.

Levitation magic is quite advanced, and casting it on others is even more difficult.

...Father, you're amazing! You're not just a laid-back duke who enjoys tea!

I've seen Father use simple magic since he retired as a magician, but I've never seen him use advanced magic.

Wow. I'm moved.

Especially because it reminds me of my father from my previous life.

He used to spend Sundays lounging around and complain about not wanting to go to work every week, but now he's a handsome prince using incredible magic.

Our bodies floated gently up through the tower's atrium and quickly reached the top floor.

Uncle knocked on the door of the top-floor room.

"Rinaldo, can we come in?"

He called out, but there was no response from inside.

After waiting a moment, Uncle knocked again and slowly pushed the door open.

The room was reasonably spacious.

Iron bars were installed to prevent falls, but the windows let in the bright summer sunlight.

The room was neither too hot nor too cold, thanks to the air conditioning magic device.

There was a clean bed and a bookshelf filled with many books.

The floor and furniture were spotless, indicating regular cleaning.

...I'm relieved. Even though he's locked up, he's not being treated poorly.

I had my doubts, but seeing the clean room, I felt a sense of relief.

I was worried that my cousin, whom I had never met, might be living a miserable life.

Looking around the room, I noticed a pile of apples on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

...Why apples? And so many of them.

"Rinaldo?"

Uncle called out Prince Rinaldo's name as he searched the room.

But there was no sign of Prince Rinaldo, the owner of the room.

...But, Uncle, a grown man wouldn't hide under the bed, behind the bookshelf, or under the desk, right? He wouldn't fit.

The king was crawling around, looking under the desk as if searching for a lost pet.

I was wondering what he was doing when the queen started doing the same.

And even Prince Diethelm?!

Are these three joking?

Blinking in confusion, I watched them. After a while, Uncle looked up.

"...He's not here."

Then, in a voice filled with despair, he said one word.

Of course he's not here; we can see that.

If he's not in this room, isn't he in another room?

I tilted my head in confusion, and in front of me, Uncle, Aunt, and Prince Diethelm turned pale and started panicking.

"Rinaldo is—"

"Brother—"

"Missing—!"

...What is this farce?

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