Chapter 40

#040 Restless (3)

Marquis François Dume placed a large trunk beside him and, holding a piece of cloth in one hand, began to tell a story.

As the marquis's one-man show began, Taiyi quietly packed the luggage.

This was a common scene I often saw on the subway.

"The back of the cloth is coated with a very special adhesive. Since you seem curious, let me give you a hint: think of 'mana' and 'donkey-hide gelatin' together. Hehehe. Just stick this part behind your ear, and the mana in the cloth and the gelatin will combine to cause a special reaction. I was personally involved in the research of this item..."

He really was talkative and seemed to be a real attention-seeker, just as I had heard.

All his gestures were so big and fast that even if he only used his body to speak, it would still be noisy.

Cardinal Buteau listened to the explanation with obvious disinterest and snatched the motion sickness remedy from the marquis's hand, which was actually a portal sickness remedy.

"Ah! So you are interested, Your Highness Aureli."

"François, can you be a bit quieter? The prince is a patient."

Her voice was tinged with annoyance.

It was the first time I had seen the cardinal treat someone like that, which was quite surprising.

However, the Marquis Dume was not at all intimidated.

"Indeed, I have been impertinent. But it is a symptom that will soon pass, so don't worry too much. Prince Yeseo, here is more."

He smiled brightly and began to rummage through another bag.

Despite his high rank as a marquis, he seemed so light and unassuming, but I was grateful that he had come to listen to me.

Being intelligent and concerned about the welfare of his subjects meant he was a decent ruler.

His actions were infinitely light, but he was both handsome and wealthy, so even if you did a cost-benefit analysis, it still seemed like a good deal.

"Here, take it."

The marquis limped over and handed me the motion sickness remedy.

Only then did I realize that I had been so engrossed in Taiyi's words that I had not checked his condition.

"What happened to your leg?"

I asked.

The marquis, as if waiting for the question, made a very dramatic gesture and stroked his left leg, which was in a splint.

His pale pink eyes trembled slightly. It really felt like watching a play...

"His Majesty the Emperor, in place of the gods, bestowed upon me the fiery pain of the earth."

He had been called out.

"I heard that the 'Flame Sword of Mars' in your territory is to be the grand prize for the 'Great Mana Beast Purge.'"

I brought up the topic. The only reason the emperor would personally kick him out was for the Flame Sword.

The cardinal had taken me out of my class to clean up the marquis's mess, and the emperor had traded an interview with Sir Sara Belliard and me.

It was quite surprising that the emperor had used violence on a marquis, but considering what I had heard about Emperor Frederick's temperament, it wasn't that surprising.

"That's right. Despite it being a decision made out of loyalty to me and my family, a cold wind blew in His Majesty's presence..."

"Be grateful that your leg is still attached."

The cardinal sharply cut him off. The marquis made a sobbing sound out loud.

It was like watching a comedy sketch, and I couldn't help but laugh.

The Dume family was said to be the emperor's closest confidants, and in a way, they really did seem like a family.

"First, thank you for the motion sickness remedy."

I suppressed my laughter and took the medicine the marquis offered.

He made a dramatically graceful bow.

I wondered if all that movement kept him so slim.

"Then you must have traveled by carriage the whole way from the Holy Kingdom. It must have been quite a journey."

The cardinal said with a regretful voice, looking at me.

I stiffened at the unexpected comment. Now that I thought about it, that was true.

I had heard that portals were widely used in the Penetian Holy Kingdom, but with this body, Prince Yeseo wouldn't have been able to use a portal.

If he had, he would have crossed the border in a half-unconscious state.

"Well, it's all in the past."

I brushed it off. A look of pity appeared in the cardinal's beige eyes.

I hadn't intended to elicit sympathy, but it seemed I had.

"If the medicine works, you might be able to try the portal again."

She said quietly. I nodded hesitantly.

I couldn't refuse the medicine just because I didn't like it.

No matter how I left, it was bound to be a tough journey.

Since this would be my first and last outing, I decided to make the best of it.

* * *

By now, Demi, who had woken up from his nap, was crying softly on my chest.

I stroked his warm head and counted the days.

The Great Mana Beast Purge was on May 8th, and today was April 27th.

It was said that it would take about four days to ride from the capital to the Dume family's territory.

If the medicine didn't work and I had to travel by carriage, it would take more than four days.

Hmm, there's not much time...

"Whenever you come, our Dume family will welcome Prince Yeseo with all our hearts."

The marquis straightened his body like a peacock and said. I gave an awkward smile.

*

After that, three very peaceful days passed.

It means I didn't meet Princess Cristel or Prince Sedric for three days. It was a great relief.

"Where should I put the clothes for the party?"

"Put them in the bag in the corner. The new shoes are supposed to arrive in the afternoon, so we'll sort them out later."

"Yes, Monsieur Bénguillaume!"

"Monsieur Bénguillaume, there are three bishops..."

"Monsieur Ganaël, we need to prepare the prince's snacks separately in the morning..."

From morning to night, countless people came and went in my room, the hallway, indoors, and outdoors.

It wasn't just Bénguillaume and Ganaël.

All the servants and attendants of the Juliette Palace were mobilized, and it was a madhouse.

It was because I was set to leave for the Dume family's territory the next day.

I was sitting in a soft armchair, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible, following Bénguillaume's pressure that "just being still is helping."

A moment ago, I had tried to fold and put away my pajamas and received some fierce glares from a few attendants.

I couldn't tell who was in charge...

"Demi, come here."

* * *

The red panda, who was happily rolling around on the carpet, came to sit on my lap, and I scribbled on the high-quality paper I had obtained from the attendant with a quill pen.

* * *

"Shh, you need to be quiet while everyone is working."

Demi, fascinated by the pen that leaked ink with every movement, was enthusiastically waving his black front paws to follow my hand.

He couldn't see the paper, so he couldn't draw circles.

I was trying to study during a break, but my familiar was being uncooperative.

* * *

Knock, knock, knock.

"Good day, Prince Yeseo."

At that moment, someone knocked on the open door. It was a familiar voice.

I looked up and greeted her.

"Good day, Sir Elizabeth."

Today, Sir Elizabeth, with her usual cheerful face, entered my room with Ganaël's arm linked.

Ganaël's face was slightly red, and he was pouting.

I had always thought they were really close.

"Ganaël, take a break for a moment."

"But..."

The boy's face darkened at my words. He seemed embarrassed to play alone while everyone was busy.

"I even brought two glasses of juice to share with you."

Sir Elizabeth said playfully, and Ganaël's face turned bright red.

"T-That's..."

"Ganaël, you look like a tomato."

"Coincidentally, the juice is tomato juice."

The Grand Captain of the Palace Guard and I added a word each. The boy's face was almost in tears.

I was afraid he might get upset if I teased him too much, so I laughed and sat Ganaël down, then changed the subject.

"Tomorrow is a busy day for you."

"I'm happy to go on a trip. Field work is the best."

Sir Elizabeth smiled and raised her glass of tomato juice in a toast.

I could see her enthusiasm for participating in the Great Mana Beast Purge this year.

While Ganaël poured me a hot elderberry tea, the Grand Captain of the Palace Guard cleared his throat and got to the point.

"Then, I'll brief you on the schedule. Tomorrow at 11 AM, you will travel to the southern part of the capital through the closest portal to the palace. The portal is located in the Legos district, the center of the capital."

I nodded and gave Demi a banana to hold.

I had peeled it and was holding it, and Demi would grab my wrist and take a bite, a division of labor.

"You will only use the portal once, so this will be the first and last time on the way there."

"I understand."

I replied.

Over the past four days, I had undergone multiple motion sickness tests with Taiyi, Cardinal Buteau, and Marquis Dume.