Chapter 49

#049 The Prince Couldn't Sleep (2)

"Do you like the castle? Of course, it's hard not to like it!"

Why is he asking when he's already made up his mind?

"It's magnificent. It's like a painting."

"Hahaha! I often hear that. You have a great eye, Prince."

I was crossing in front of the castle with Marquis François Dume, who was boasting high tension from the middle of the day, to find the Sword of Mars. The plants similar to pampas grass filled my field of vision, rustling continuously.

The Marquis also filled the audio with his chatter.

The reason for this situation was nothing special.

After the welcome banquet last night, I slept in until 10:30 in the morning, leisurely enjoyed my meal, and was taking a rest...

*Gurrr*

'Right, Demi. I need to go see your friends.'

Only after seeing Demi, who was begging to be carried at the dining table, did I remember.

One of the reasons I came here was to meet Demi's lesser panda family, the two divine beasts.

I also wanted to arrange a meeting for Demi and the others to greet each other after a long time and to check if they were doing well.

Benzaimon and Kanae were supposed to accompany me, but I happened to meet Marquis Dume in the corridor...

After that, it was a predictable development.

'Please, bestow me with glory.'

The Marquis offered to escort me himself, saying he was the one who most frequently interacted with the divine beasts, and I let the two somewhat tired valets rest in the room.

Thus, this awkward combination was born.

Of course, only I felt awkward, while the Marquis seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.

*Neigh*

"Demi, don't play around on the horse. The horse is working."

*Clop, clop...*

I quickly grabbed Demi, who was trying to climb onto the horse's head, and held her in my arms.

It was my first time riding a horse, but miraculously, Prince Yeseul's body remembered the equestrian skills.

I almost ended up being treated like a 28-year-old prince who couldn't even ride a horse.

If I can do this, why can't I throw a dagger?...

"We should turn this way. They're setting up tents."

"Ah, yes."

The Marquis dramatically pointed to one side.

When we left the castle, it didn't seem like there were many people on the plain, but as we got closer, it was packed with people preparing for tomorrow's 'Great Beast Purge.'

I followed the Marquis's guidance and moved beyond the tents.

A scene that made my jaw drop unfolded before me.

"Are these all the stands?"

"Yes! Surprised, aren't you? You must be! This will be the largest-scale event ever."

The Marquis's light pink eyes curved into a crescent moon.

I couldn't close my mouth as I alternated my gaze between the two 10-tier stands that cut across the plain.

The two stands faced each other with a 100-meter gap in the middle, each about 300 meters long.

It looked like a massive outdoor stadium.

The white tents blocking the May sun covered not only the top of the stands but also the back and sides.

People were everywhere, stretching the fabric taut, hammering stakes, shouting, and making circles with their arms.

Some of them bowed when they noticed me and the Marquis.

I greeted them back and scanned the mountains and the stadium.

"They're going to lure the beasts from the mountains into the center of the stands."

"More precisely, the beasts will draw the participants in. The 'Sword of Mars' is planted there."

The Marquis gestured to the center of the stadium.

In the distance, something black gleamed in the warm sunlight.

I felt a bit dazed as I urged my horse toward it.

*Neigh*

"Alright, we're here."

Unable to hold it in any longer, Demi climbed up my chest and settled on my shoulder.

I supported her with one arm and dismounted the horse, following the Marquis.

As I walked with my gaze fixed on the grass, the divine beasts soon appeared.

My breath seemed to stop for a moment.

The sword embedded in the ground was pitch black, as if it could pierce any light.

It was half-buried, but the visible part was spotlessly clean.

The hilt and the blade were a matte black, and a blood-red gem was embedded at the end of the hilt.

It looked both fresh, as if it had been stabbed yesterday, and ancient, as if it had been the first to arrive here.

The divine sword, the Sword of Mars, which countless people had tried to pull out over more than a thousand years, but no one had claimed as their own.

"Wow, incredible ether."

I finally expressed my thoughts after a long while.

Demi's unusual chattiness since the morning and my current feeling of facing a massive bonfire must have been due to this sword.

It wasn't hot or scorching, but the overwhelming presence of fire-attribute ether was palpable.

I realized anew what a divine object was.

Things that humans create and use for their convenience are fundamentally different from these.

They are manifestations of the will and power of the gods.

"The priests all say the same thing."

The Marquis spoke as if humming.

"Isn't it beautiful? The beasts must pass through here to attack the divine objects, and the participants chase them down. The Sword of Mars is the highlight of the event."

He gestured to a patch of bushes. Demi's reaction was faster than mine.

*Neigh*

*Chirp*

*Purr*

In an instant, two lesser pandas appeared.

It seemed the Marquis's claim that divine beasts always stayed near divine objects was true.

Fortunately, both looked healthy.

I gently placed Demi, who was dangling from my right arm, on the ground.

Meeting the little ones again in the distant Marquisate made me smile.

*Purr...*

*Neigh?*

*Purr!*

Like the day we parted, the three of them rolled around on the ground in a clump.

I watched carefully, worried they might get cut by the Sword of Mars, when the Marquis spoke again.

"By the way, I heard you're entering as a team. Prince, Sir Elizabeth, and Lady Cristel, right?"

I turned to look at him. This was news to me...

Helping the Prince was a given, and Sir Elizabeth was the same. Cristel was a jack-of-all-trades and could fit in anywhere, so it seemed that's how it would be.

It was a temporary alliance that would dissolve once we returned to the palace.

"You're not wrong."

I answered evasively, and he smiled and changed his question.

"Can I trust you, Prince?"

"Excuse me, what did you say?"

I asked.

I realized he had been smiling only with his mouth since some point.

His light pink eyes carried a faint hint of suspicion. He could make such an expression.

"I apologize. I know the two Highnesses chose you, but... I have sworn my loyalty to Emperor Frederick. As long as he doesn't fully trust you, I can't relax."

The Marquis bowed with a bright smile, an apology.

I looked at him for a long time, organizing my thoughts.

So, unlike Cardinal Boutier or Prince Sedric, the Emperor still didn't trust me.

Honestly, it was hard enough to accept that the Prince trusted me, and mentioning the Emperor made me a bit uneasy.

What have I done to make the Emperor trust me?

It's best not to be seen at all.

"Since you're the Emperor's closest confidant, you must know the Prince's secret."

But I didn't want to leave any doubts with the Marquis.

I couldn't afford to make enemies here.

"Secrets...?"

"You can't ignore a sick child, can you?"

"Good heavens."

The relaxed adult's face hardened instantly.

The Marquis covered his mouth with one hand and looked at me with trembling eyes.

So, this man knows too.

"I'm not doing this for the Emperor or the Prince. I'm just uncomfortable and want to help. Don't overthink it."

"I didn't know you knew, Prince. Goodness!"

"It just happened. I haven't told anyone, so don't worry."

Then the Marquis quickly knelt before me.

I took a step back in shock.

"Why are you doing this? People are watching."

"Indeed, there was a reason the Prince chose to rely on you."

"Who's relying on whom? Are we talking about the same Prince?"

"Helping the Prince with pure intentions... Forgive my ignorance!"

No, the atmosphere was tense just three minutes ago.

I knew he knew, but why is he so extreme?

"Just a moment ago, you said you doubted me,"

"I'll go to confession today. If asked what my sin is, I'll say it's meeting the Prince..."

"While you're repenting, I'll touch the Sword of Mars a bit."

Forget it.

Leaving the man who doesn't know moderation, I hurriedly grabbed the Sword of Mars.

I wanted to check it more carefully, but I couldn't because of this man's antics. Damn.

*

"But the sword wouldn't come out, so I kicked it. I was wrong."

[That's right. That was wrong of you, Sophie.]

I answered as gently as possible.

Then I heard the child on the other side of the wooden screen stomping her feet.

I barely suppressed a laugh and chose my next words carefully.

I've heard many confessions, but this was the first