Chapter 66

"Doctor Michelle, the wet nurse Cassandra, and the maid Margarete. These three were the only ones present besides us. I have strictly ordered them not to leave that room.

"I do not doubt the effectiveness of Your Highness's magic, but we cannot leave a convalescing infant alone. Therefore, they are currently looking after him.

"Furthermore, since Carlos fell ill, I have ordered that no one else approach that room, so these three will not come into contact with anyone else. This should ensure that there are no immediate issues with keeping this matter confidential."

"Thank you, Your Majesty Aura. I appreciate your consideration."

After that, Aura, Zenjiro, and Prince Francesco moved to a place where they could sit and talk comfortably.

This was a room in the harem where Zenjiro usually received lectures from his tutor, Lady Octavia.

Zenjiro had not placed any items from Earth here, but the furniture for receiving guests was well-prepared, making it the perfect place to move to.

Aura and Prince Francesco sat facing each other across the table, and Zenjiro sat next to Aura, as was their usual arrangement.

By changing the location and taking some time, Aura had regained a certain level of composure.

"Then, let's get to the point. I have many things I want to ask, but I'll be direct.

"Prince Francesco, who are you?"

Taken aback by Aura's direct question, Prince Francesco scratched his head and smiled wryly.

"Who else could I be? I am Francesco, the first male child of the first prince of the Shalowa-Gilbert Dual Kingdom, Giuseppe. I am no one else."

"Hmm, perhaps my question was too broad. Then, let's go step by step.

"Are you not of the Shalowa royal family? No, that can't be right. I see you use 'Bestowal Magic' and create 'Future Compensation' magical tools every day.

"But if that's the case, why can you use 'Healing Magic'? Is it some kind of trick?"

This was a rather harsh line of questioning, directed at a prince of a country and the one who had just healed his child.

However, given the extraordinary nature of the situation, it would be unreasonable to expect him not to be questioned harshly.

Perhaps aware of this, Prince Francesco did not show any signs of being offended and answered honestly.

"It's no trick. That is genuine 'Healing Magic.' In fact, I can use both 'Bestowal Magic' and 'Healing Magic.'"

"Wow," he said with a carefree tone. To put it mildly, this was not a matter that could be summed up with just the word 'amazing.'

At this point, Zenjiro, who had been listening silently, asked a question that had been on his mind.

"Prince Francesco, when we first met at the ball, you said you felt a sense of familiarity with me. And today, you said the same thing about my son, Zenkichi.

"Frankly, could the 'sense of familiarity' you mentioned be a sense of camaraderie towards someone who has the blood of two royal families?"

Prince Francesco blinked in surprise at Zenjiro's question and then smiled and answered.

"Amazing. You remembered that well. Yes, that's exactly it.

"Just as Emperor Zenjiro and Prince Carlos have the blood of the Carpa royal family and the Shalowa royal family, I have the blood of the Shalowa royal family and the Gilbert papal family."

"......"

"......"

Zenjiro and Aura were momentarily speechless at the important secret that Prince Francesco had casually revealed.

However, at least one mystery had been solved.

According to the established theory of sages who study magic, those who have the blood of two royal families and possess twice the magical power of an ordinary royal can potentially use two bloodline magics.

Prince Francesco's magical power is almost double that of Zenjiro. If he has the blood of both the Shalowa royal family and the Gilbert papal family, it makes sense that he can use two bloodline magics.

"Then, Your Highness's parents are......"

Zenjiro asked hesitantly, as the matter involved the dishonor of his parents, but Prince Francesco's response was unexpected.

"No, that's not it. My parents are undoubtedly the first prince Giuseppe and his legitimate wife, Tosca."

"Huh? But if that's the case......"

Confused, Zenjiro listened as Prince Francesco explained with a wry smile.

"Emperor Zenjiro, the dual kingdom has maintained two royal families for several hundred years. Do you think it's possible that the bloodlines of the two royal families have never mixed during that long history?"

It was Aura, who had been listening on the side, who answered Prince Francesco's question, not Zenjiro.

"I see. In a sense, Prince Francesco is the same as Prince Bona."

"Yes, that's right."

Bona, born into a common noble family, had awakened to the bloodline of the Shalowa royal family through atavism. On the other hand, Prince Francesco, born into the direct line of the Shalowa royal family, had also awakened to the bloodline of the Gilbert papal family through atavism. Indeed, they were the same in that sense.

"Then, the reason why, despite being the legitimate first male child of the first prince, you do not have a legitimate claim to the throne, is also because of that?"

With a narrowed gaze, Aura asked, and Prince Francesco, while maintaining his smile, nodded with a slight tension in his expression.

"Yes. It's a secret agreement between the Shalowa and Gilbert royal families.

"If a member of one family awakens to the bloodline magic of the other, that person is to remain unmarried for life and prevent the continuation of that bloodline."

This was likely a secret agreement made to protect the interests of both royal families. It is understandable that maintaining a country with two kings for a long time would be difficult without such an agreement.

However, no matter how it is rationalized, it seems extremely unfair from Prince Francesco's perspective.

Perhaps his innocent smile is a mask to hide his frustration. While thinking this, Aura continued to ask questions.

"Then, is your usual foolish behavior just an act? An act to convince others of the real reason you cannot inherit the throne?"

By pretending to be incompetent and lazy, he might be sacrificing himself to ensure the stability of the state. Perhaps this is why Prince Francesco felt a sense of familiarity with Zenjiro.

Aura thought this, but surprisingly, Prince Francesco shook his head.

"No, I'm more or less being myself. I'm not very smart, and I tend to speak before I think.

"I don't hold back and say what I want and do what I want. It's when I hold back and act as I've been taught that I'm not being myself."

"I see."

Aura couldn't help but smile wryly at Prince Francesco's explanation.

Even if he said that being able to "hold back and act as he's been taught" means he's not stupid, it probably wouldn't get through to him.

However, this at least explained why his usual 'foolish act' seemed so natural.

In that case, only the biggest and most fundamental question remained.

Honestly, Aura had already anticipated Prince Francesco's answer at this point. But he had to ask.

Straightening his back in his chair and taking a deep breath, Aura slowly and deliberately said,

"Then, the final question. Prince Francesco.

"Why did you reveal your secret to us? Why did you break into the harem and heal my child, risking danger, to prove that you can use 'Healing Magic'? This is likely a secret known to only a few people in the dual kingdom, a secret of secrets."

Prince Francesco also straightened his posture, as if influenced by Aura.

Then, with a smile that was different from his usual innocent one, a smile with a certain transparency, he said,

"Yes. The only people who definitely know are the king, the pope, my parents, and my healing magic teacher. Of course, Bona knows nothing, so please keep it a secret from him.

"But the reason I revealed it is because I wanted both Emperor Aura and Emperor Zenjiro to know. I wanted you to know that a person with the same level of magical power as me, who has the blood of two royal families, can use the bloodline magics of both royal families."

"......"

As expected, Aura closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment.

"So, in other words......!"

Zenjiro, sitting next to him, seemed to reach the same conclusion a little later. His eyes darted back and forth, unable to suppress his shock.

To his husband, Queen Aura nodded as if making a decision and said quietly,

"Yes, that's right. Our son, Carlos, can use 'Temporal Magic' and 'Bestowal Magic,' the two bloodline magics. That's what you're saying, Prince Francesco?"

Carlos's magical power is on par with, or even surpasses, that of Prince Francesco. If what Prince Francesco said is true, this conclusion is inevitable.

"Yes."

Prince Francesco's short affirmative response echoed strongly in Zenjiro's ears.