Chapter 62

The next generation to bear the responsibility of our Naris Kingdom is Prince Canaan, the Crown Prince. He is the only son of His Majesty, and at the tender age of eight, he is wise, excellent, unpretentious, thoughtful, and treats even us, mere guards, with kindness, never forgetting to show his compassion. He is a rare individual, one whose future we look forward to with great anticipation.

However, Prince Canaan had one weakness, a sad and unfortunate one. When he was three years old, during a riding practice, the horse suddenly went wild. The Prince was dragged by the horse, resulting in the loss of his left heel. At that time, I was the guard watching from a short distance. I, the incompetent guard, was unable to stop the horse that was dragging the Prince, having knocked down the riding instructor.

After the Prince was rescued, when it was discovered that his heel was missing, I strongly wished for His Majesty to grant me death. My life was insignificant, but only by giving it could I atone for this failure. However, His Majesty did not grant this humble wish, instead commanding me to become a support for the Prince in the future. He ordered me, a fool, to live and even bestowed upon me the honor of continuing as the Prince's guard. I vowed to myself that I would never leave the Prince's side for even a moment and would serve him with all my loyalty.

Despite losing his foot at such a young age, the Prince never once blamed or felt pessimistic about it. I believe this was partly due to the strict instructions from the Queen, who warned him not to complain about his condition. However, even at such a young age, he understood how his words and actions would affect those around him.

Recovery magic cannot restore lost limbs. Nevertheless, His Majesty and the Queen did not give up and conducted research and investigations into methods of restoration, hoping that somewhere in this vast world, a solution might exist.

We have met countless magicians and dubious folk healers who claimed they could restore lost limbs. Their number is so great that it is hard to believe how many fraudsters there are in this world. They try to deceive us with their hypnotic speech and tricks. Adam, the court magician dedicated to Prince Canaan, would punch the wall in frustration and cry silently every time the Prince was deceived by these fraudsters. How could these fraudsters, who see the young Prince's face light up with hope and then watch him sink into despair, feel nothing? It is hard to believe that they have the same human hearts as we do.

As Prince Canaan grew older, many began to question whether he was fit to be king due to his disability. We have no doubt about the Prince's qualifications as a king, but there are many who nitpick. Some even suggested that His Majesty take a concubine because the Queen could not bear more children, causing unnecessary worry for the Queen. Others tried to arrange a forced marriage for the King's younger brother, Prince Rolf, to produce a new heir, leaving us powerless and frustrated.

During these difficult times, five years after the Prince's injury, information about restoration magic was brought to us from Marita Kingdom, our largest ally. Prince Said of Marita Kingdom, who happened to be visiting our country, proposed a visit to Marita Kingdom for Prince Canaan. Although His Majesty was hesitant due to the sudden nature of the proposal and the unpredictable movements of monsters, he became interested after hearing about the restoration of Prince Lute's arm. Prince Lute was said to have lost his dominant arm during a monster hunt, but since then, he had rarely appeared in public, leaving the truth uncertain. In our kingdom, opinions were divided: some believed we should not easily trust the words of our ally, while others argued that the restoration of Prince Lute's arm was real and that we should visit Marita Kingdom to verify it.

In the end, with His Majesty's strong support, Prince Canaan decided to visit Marita Kingdom. We adjusted our guards and attendants to accompany the Prince, coinciding with the return of Prince Said and his entourage.

During the journey, Prince Canaan seemed troubled, especially when we were alone in the moving carriage. He must have been exhausted by the numerous fraudsters.

"Maybe I can't become a great king like Father if my leg doesn't heal."

Prince Canaan whispered this in a small voice, and Adam and the guards desperately tried to reassure him. Whether his leg healed or not, what was lacking in Prince Canaan?

"But I can't ride a horse on my own. If I can't stand on the battlefield, it would be the most unbecoming thing for a king."

We couldn't easily deny the Prince's determined words. Even a wise Prince like Canaan understood that a king doesn't always have to go to the battlefield. However, he must have believed that his disability could threaten his existence as a king and the stability of the Naris Kingdom. If he showed any weakness, many would try to take his place. A clear weakness like a missing leg could be a threat to the kingdom. Prince Canaan is only eight years old. Despite being the next king, he should still be allowed to enjoy his childhood. The disability had made him more thoughtful and perceptive, a bitter irony.

Eventually, our party met up with the welcoming party led by Prince Zinklett, the fourth prince of Marita Kingdom. Known as the "monster enthusiast" with red hair and blue eyes, Prince Zinklett was said to hate the monsters that injured his brother, Prince Lute, and was only interested in hunting them. I was honestly worried about bringing Prince Canaan close to such a prince.

"What incredible strength! Ah, another one, I've just slaughtered it!"

"Are you crazy? A gray boar with one strike? Are you dreaming?"

The members of our Naris Kingdom were astonished by Prince Zinklett's ability to slay a Class A monster with a single strike. A monster that usually required two or three people to defeat was felled by a single blow from Prince Zinklett. His attendant, Barry, though not as skilled as Prince Zinklett, moved with a precision and speed that far exceeded the other members of the party. The precision of Marita Kingdom's soldiers was impressive, but upon closer inspection, an unusual magic power could be felt from Prince Zinklett's sword and the bracelets on his arms. The wind magic being emitted from his sword was visible. What was that?

"That is said to be a weapon created with the involvement of the Holy Maiden of Marita Kingdom."

The information provided by Prince Said in strict confidence made us both surprised and hopeful. If a Holy Maiden could create such an incredible weapon, perhaps restoration magic was not a dream.

However, Adam remained skeptical. Prince Zinklett was known for his exceptional bravery and strength. Adam believed that the prince was already strong and that the weapon only provided a little magical assistance.

Adam's skeptical attitude continued even at the welcoming banquet in Marita Kingdom. As a guard, I was not seated but stood nearby, feeling anxious about Adam's words and actions.

However, I could not stop Adam. I had seen him stand by Prince Canaan, closer than anyone else, encouraging and sometimes scolding him, after he was hurt by the fraudsters. Everything he did was for Prince Canaan.

The next day, when the Holy Maiden arrived with a magic potion to treat Prince Canaan, we from Naris Kingdom were tense. What kind of treatment would be applied? Would it be another fraudulent deception? We focused all our attention on the Holy Maiden's actions, determined not to miss anything.

But then, the Holy Maiden said something unexpected.

"Of course, I will help, but Adam will have to work hard, too."

What followed was a series of events that felt like divine intervention, or perhaps a payback from the previous night. Adam was chosen to channel the magic, and the Holy Maiden's relentless training reminded me of the tyrannical captain I had when I was a new soldier. The training pushed one to the brink of their limits. The Holy Maiden must have hidden her severity well the previous night. By the end of the treatment, Adam was on the verge of collapse, his magic power drained. The Holy Maiden, showing no sympathy, gave him a harsh critique: "Your magic deployment is inefficient, 65 points." She was a tyrant.

But more importantly, Prince Canaan, who could barely stand without a cane, was now standing on both feet, even jumping up and down. His left heel, which had been pale and rigid, now matched the color of his right foot, and his ankle and toes moved freely!

The weight on my arm, which I was using to assist him, felt lighter than usual. I could feel the Prince's weight evenly distributed on both feet. The scene I had only dreamed of was now before my eyes. Prince Canaan was standing and walking on his own feet!

It was a miraculous moment, yet my vision blurred with tears, and I could hardly see. I missed the Prince's joyful cries, drowned out by the sound of my sniffles. What a failure. To show such an unbecoming face.

When the Prince was mocked as a "crippled prince" by heartless nobles and forced a strained smile.

When he looked enviously at his classmates running and riding horses.

When he was deceived by the sweet words of fraudsters and felt a hollow emptiness.

As a guard, I could only be by his side, powerless and incompetent. I had always wished for my life to be given in exchange for the healing of Prince Canaan's leg.

My greatest wish in life was granted.

It was the happiest moment of my life.

When asked to take Prince Canaan to Adam, I hastily wiped away my tears. It was difficult to stop them, but as a guard, I had to keep my vision clear. When the Prince called out, Adam, who had been lying on the ground, slowly got up, recognized his moving left ankle, and opened his eyes wide.

"Prince Canaan, Prince Canaan, well done, well done! From now on, you can run freely! And ride horses! Enjoy your favorite riding!"

"Yes! I can ride on my own, not just with Father! I'll race with Father to the top of the hill!"

Adam knelt before Prince Canaan and broke down in tears, repeatedly touching the Prince's left foot and shouting with joy. All the attendants from Naris Kingdom were also in tears.

Seeing Prince Canaan's radiant smile, free from worry, I felt, for the first time, that it was good that His Majesty did not grant me death that day. I will continue to exist to protect this smile.