Chapter 75

"Prince Rolf, His Majesty is calling for you."

In the southern territory, there had been reports of monster sightings, and I was preparing for their extermination when I was surprised. His Majesty must know that I am busy with preparations before departure. However, I thought it must be something important for him to call me, so I handed the documents I was holding to a subordinate and hurried to His Majesty.

My brother, the king of the Kingdom of Naris, is much older than me. He is a troublesome person who seems to take pleasure in teasing me, but he never interferes with my work.

"Rolf, I'm sorry to call you when you're busy."

In the designated small reception room, my brother and his wife, as well as the Crown Prince and Princess of the neighboring Kingdom of Marita, were present. The air was filled with the aroma of the finest tea leaves, making it seem like a tea party, but the unusual serious faces of my brother and the unprecedented state of my sister-in-law left me speechless.

"Sister-in-law? What's wrong?!"

"Lord Rolf, Kanon, Kanon—!"

My sister-in-law pressed a crumpled handkerchief to her red eyes. I was anxious. It was the first time I had seen my sister-in-law, who usually supports my unconventional brother as the perfect queen, in such a state. I had never seen her cry before. Had something happened to Kanon?

Was some danger approaching? I quickly formulated a plan in my head for how to mobilize the royal guards and knights. First, I needed to confirm Kanon's whereabouts and ensure her safety. Just as I was about to give orders to my trusted subordinates,

"Prince Rolf, Kanon is fine. Please suppress that ominous killing intent. Your Highness, if you continue to be so flustered, Prince Rolf will misunderstand... Your Majesty, stop observing Prince Rolf with such interest!"

Said rubbed his forehead and advised us. My brother exaggeratedly widened his eyes in a playful manner. Seeing my brother's behavior and Said's words, I slightly relaxed my tension. Said, too, is often toyed with by the King of Marita, a close friend of my brother, so he can relate to my situation of being teased.

"I'm sorry, Prince Said, Lord Rolf. I lost my composure."

My sister-in-law shyly wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Princess Luna promptly handed her a new handkerchief. Despite being called 'Big Sister' by the civil servants and soldiers for her negotiation skills and bold actions, Princess Luna is actually a very considerate and kind woman. Thinking about this, I suddenly remembered a time when a drunk Said confessed his infatuation with her.

My sister-in-law thanked Princess Luna with a glance and wiped away her tears.

"Lord Rolf, Kanon's legs—might be able to be cured!"

The excitement in my sister-in-law's voice and the content of her words left me unable to maintain my composure. I must have looked quite frightening.

Kanon's legs can be cured? Is this another con artist's lie?

"Prince Rolf, I understand your feelings, but please listen. We wish to formally invite Prince Kanon to our country. ...It seems that Prince Lute's right arm has been cured."

Said's words quickened my heartbeat. The tragic story of the third prince of the Kingdom of Marita, Lute, is well-known. Despite his exceptional sword skills, Lute lost his arm to a monster while protecting his subordinates and has since rarely appeared in public.

"Really? Lute's arm?"

It's hard to believe. It's common knowledge that physical disabilities cannot be cured. Even high-level healing mages have not succeeded in such cases.

"His Majesty received a confidential report via magical messenger. Although some training is still needed, it is said that he can already wield a sword."

I swallowed hard. A confidential report from the King of Marita to Said. This has more credibility than any previous rumors.

"How was it cured?"

"...It is also classified information in our country. You must promise not to disclose it."

"I understand!"

I snapped, but Said, undeterred, placed an unfamiliar black lump in front of me. A faint, herbal fragrance wafted from it.

"This is a recently practicalized 'monster repellent incense' in our country."

"Monster repellent incense?"

What is this suspicious thing?

"If you burn this, B-class and lower monsters cannot approach the area."

"Huh?!"

I let out a deflated voice at the absurd claim. Such a dream-like thing can't possibly exist.

"According to His Majesty's report, the monster repellent incense has been highly effective in the city of Kyrat, which was recently attacked by multiple monsters. Currently, thanks to the monster repellent incense distributed in each city, monster attacks have significantly decreased in our country. Additionally, for A-class and higher monsters, the incense's components cause confusion and slow their movements, making it very effective during extermination."

It's hard to believe that a small black incense, smaller than my fist, could have such effects. Ignoring my confusion, Said continued to place the incense on the table.

"This is for regular use, containing ingredients that enhance concentration. This one is for sleep, with ingredients that promote good sleep. This one is for meals, with a milder scent."

"Do you really need that many? No, do you really need that many?"

The incense not only repels monsters but also has such comprehensive effects?

"I can feel the creator's extraordinary enthusiasm."

My brother, half-believing, half-doubting, checked the scent. Perhaps it's a luxury item for nobles, so there are many types of scents?

"...It seems to have been created with the wish to achieve good results in monster extermination, good sleep, and enjoyable meals. The creator is the former High Priestess of the Kingdom of Daido."

Said's matter-of-fact words made me unable to suppress my disgust. The former High Priestess of the Kingdom of Daido. She used her position as the fiancée of the third prince of the Kingdom of Daido to oppress soldiers, indulge in luxury, and plot to kill a noble lady. Her crimes were exposed by the third prince, and she was exiled along with her accomplice, a maid, by the Glass Forest extermination team.

"You mean the incense was made by a woman called a false high priestess? The effects suddenly seem dubious."

I sneered at Said's words. My brother also had a troubled look. Despite my carefree single life and various romantic rumors, I dislike women who attach themselves to royalty or nobility just to live a life of luxury. I prefer women who have pride and stand on their own, regardless of their status.

Seeing our reactions, Said continued matter-of-factly.

"She was emaciated."

"Huh?"

"When Zinklett met the former high priestess near the Glass Forest, she appeared to be only ten years old, despite being fifteen. She and her maid were severely underweight, and her clothes were even more shabby than those of street orphans."

"..."

"According to the diagnosis of Dr. Sand, the royal physician of the Kingdom of Marita, the former high priestess had stopped growing due to malnutrition and harsh labor. She was kept alive with frequent use of holy magic for healing, without proper nutrition or rest, which prevented her body from growing."

"Wait, fifteen years old? Her body stopped growing? How long has she been in the Glass Forest extermination team?"

My brother exclaimed in surprise. If she is currently fifteen, she is just an adult. I remember that a few years ago, the Kingdom of Daido officially notified other countries that the third prince's fiancée was a high priestess, chosen from the commoners for her exceptional holy magic. It's a rare event for a commoner to be chosen as a royal consort, and it would have been a topic of discussion in other countries. However, I don't recall it being a big issue. It must have been announced quickly and simply. What about her age... Was it publicized?

"Ten years old."

Ten years old? I couldn't believe my ears. My nephew Kanon is eight, but to send a child almost the same age to a monster extermination team? It's a dangerous job, even for a grown man.

"Isn't it illegal for minors to hold high positions according to the kingdom's common law?!"

"That's why she became the third prince's fiancée. To apply the special provisions for royalty. Otherwise, it would be strange to make a commoner child a fiancée. Moreover, as an orphan without parents, no one could complain about how she was treated. They just wanted to use her and, when the third prince was to marry a noble lady, they made her take the blame and punished her."

The Kingdom of Daido. A conservative country with strong authority among the nobility and strict control over the people. The sense of oppression and tension I felt when I visited the country for work. It's easy to imagine how a child without any backing or status would be treated in such a place.

"The former high priestess cured Lute's arm. She developed regeneration magic while healing many soldiers in harsh extermination missions. The first time she used regeneration magic was on her maid, who lost a leg in front of her during an extermination mission."

Seeing a close friend attacked and injured by a monster, and even die, can cause even trained soldiers to suffer mental trauma. The creation of regeneration magic to save more soldiers in such a situation...

It's a well-crafted story. If it's true, the rumors about the former high priestess are far from the truth.

"I also found it hard to believe at first, but it is a fact that the former high priestess created the monster repellent incense and cured Lute. The King of Marita has stated this."

Said smiled at the Naris side's disbelief. The King of Marita is emotional but not one to make hasty decisions. I don't doubt his word, but with so many incredible stories, it's hard to make a quick judgment.

"So, what does the Kingdom of Marita want from Naris? In exchange for curing Kanon's legs? Food aid during negotiations?"

My brother looked at Said cautiously. Monster attacks have increased, and the Kingdom of Marita is facing a food shortage. Said's visit was officially to participate in our country's founding anniversary, but the true purpose was to seek food aid from us. While we want to support our ally, the Kingdom of Marita, our country is also experiencing an increase in monster attacks, though not as severe. We couldn't easily decide on continuous food aid, and intense negotiations were ongoing between our minister and Princess Luna.

"No, we have a solution for the food issue. We don't need aid. We withdraw our request."

"What?!"

"We found a cooking method for Zaros. The food shortage is being resolved. Currently, dishes made with Zaros are popular in our country."

"Zaros? The white bird's feed?"

My brother was surprised. It's understandable. Zaros is a weed that grows abundantly on the roadside. When its white seeds fall, they quickly take root and grow. If seeds fall in a field, Zaros will take the nutrients from the soil, so farmers call it the 'evil seed.' When cooked, it becomes hard and dissolves into a slimy mess, making it unpalatable. Even commoners only eat it during severe food shortages.

And now, Zaros is popular in the Kingdom of Marita?

"It seems the former high priestess developed a cooking method and dishes that go well with Zaros. Therefore, we don't need food aid. I apologize for taking the minister's time."

...Again, the former high priestess.

Her pitiful background, the monster repellent incense, regeneration magic, and the edible use of Zaros. It sounds like a fairy tale.

I tried to hide my inner disbelief. The Kingdom of Marita is our largest ally, but I've heard that it has been ravaged by monster attacks and is in financial distress. I've also received information that the noble families supporting the royal family are frequently expressing dissatisfaction and anxiety over the prolonged crisis, and the situation is worsening day by day.

Such a desperate country has suddenly taken in a suspicious person like the former high priestess and is making fairy tale-like claims. Are they clinging to a straw, believing in the former high priestess?

Can we continue to trust such a precarious country just because it has been our long-time ally? The answer is no.

I felt a heavy heart. The image of the princes of the Kingdom of Marita, with whom we have had a long-standing relationship, came to mind.

If something happens, I must be prepared to cut ties with them. Although they are a few years younger, we have been frequent visitors to each other's countries and have a close relationship. It's hard to say if I can cut ties, but I must avoid our country falling with the Kingdom of Marita due to emotional ties.

With a bitter resolve, I heard Said, one of my younger brothers, appeal.

"What we hope from the Kingdom of Naris is to become a backer of the former high priestess along with our country. Since regeneration magic and the monster repellent incense were developed while she was in the Kingdom of Daido, there is a high risk of her being targeted if her whereabouts are revealed. If we claim that these developments were made by both our country and the Kingdom of Naris, it might confuse her country's attention. This is our country's idea."

It seems we would benefit, but the benefits are too great. My brother remained silent, unable to make an immediate decision.

Said said that a response could be given after Kanon's treatment, and our country decided to hold off on a response for now. Given the sudden nature of the request, we needed time to think.

"Prince Rolf, you're going on an extermination mission, right?"

As the meeting ended and Said and his party were about to leave, he quietly offered me the monster repellent incense.

"Please try it during the extermination. We have prepared it so that it can be purchased in the Kingdom of Naris through the Zain Trading Company."

Said's eyes showed concern. But I stubbornly avoided his gaze.

"I don't need it."

"...I see."

Said quietly lowered his hand. His gesture seemed to convey confusion.

A country cannot stand on emotion alone. I closed my eyes tightly.