"Well then Your Highness, I'll excuse myself. Please take care of yourself."
The woman with green hair bowed respectfully and left the room.
He passed through the door his attendant had opened for him, and looked back in the hallway to watch it slowly close. Even though he knew that if he closed the door loudly, the other side wouldn't hear, he let out a sigh, consciously trying to be silent.
"Please make sure His Highness is not inconvenienced."
After telling the chamberlain standing by the door, the woman turned away, trying to shake off her feelings of helplessness. She crossed the red carpeted corridor, went down the stairs, and headed towards the hall.
"--Lady Crusch."
The person calling out to the woman, panting slightly, was her companion, who had been waiting in the hall.
The girl with demi-human features, cat-like ears and a swaying voice - a young man with perfectly-proportioned looks who could only be mistaken for a girl - greeted them with round yellow eyes.
His name is Felix Argyle, nicknamed Ferris, and he is a long-time friend of the lady, a trusted squire and knight.
"Thank you for your hard work. How was Prince Fourier doing?"
"He doesn't look very well. He used to be such a lively person, but now he's completely gone. Today he was suddenly complaining that he wanted to go outside and walk in the sunshine. I feel so sorry for him."
The woman shook her head - Crusch Karsten's answer made Ferris' shoulders slump.
Crusch's lips loosened slightly as she saw the flaxen hair and ears of the same color wilting.
"There's no need for you to be disheartened. We've raised the healers of the whole country and still seen no results. There's no need for you to be the only one to worry."
"But, but, it is because of Feli's weakness that I am unable to meet your expectations due to my lack of power. I feel regretful about that... I am sorry, Crusch-sama."
Rather than being unable to save sick people, he is concerned about Crusch's concern for them.
Ferris's presence seemed to be one of sympathy for Crusch, and Crusch could only respond by ignoring his attitude.
"Your Highness... the progress of the illnesses of the royal family seems to remain unchanged."
"And the diagnosis results. To be honest, as a healer, I absolutely don't want to say such a conclusion."
Ferris lowered his voice and lowered his eyes.
However, even so, he didn't hesitate to continue speaking clearly.
"---The evil tongue of the Black Snake. There is no other explanation for this unknown illness."
"If that's the case, then where did he contract the disease? ...No, that's not it. There's no point in discussing it now. What will happen in the future?"
"In the worst case scenario... the royal family will be destroyed."
"――――"
It's a conclusion I've reached many times already, but no matter how many times I hear it, I'll never get used to it.
Crusch let out a breath through her nose and tried her best to calm her mind.
This was an unprecedented situation. If they lost their cool and got carried away with their emotions, there would be no turning back. With the feudal lords already in great confusion, the kingdom was barely able to function thanks to the leadership of the Council of Sages and the upper nobles, including Crusch, who were steering the kingdom forward.
--The royal bloodline of the Kingdom of Lugnica is at this very moment in danger of being cut off.
The first person to be confirmed to have fallen ill was the First Prince, Sabinel Lugnica. At first, it was diagnosed as being due to overwork caused by his daily official duties, but within a few days, Sabinel's condition suddenly worsened, and other members of the royal family began to fall ill as well, which is when the problem became apparent.
One after the other, important people related to the royal bloodline fell ill, and the royal castle was on the verge of total chaos with screams and cries of ecstasy. It was only thanks to the actions of several members of the Council of Sages who were staying at the castle, and Crusch and Ferris, who had come to the castle, that the situation was put under control.
Ferris in particular was an unrivaled user of water magic in the Kingdom of Lugnica - a person who had earned the title of ``Blue'' as the pinnacle of healers.
The collapsed royal family member was immediately carried to a corner of the royal castle, where he was urgently diagnosed and given treatment.
However, what was discovered was the devastating truth that even Ferris had no way of fighting the disease.
In just a few days, the long-established royal house of Lugnica is on the brink of extinction.
Currently, the most powerful healers in the country have been gathered together to prolong his life by casting healing magic on him as long as time allows, but this is nothing more than a temporary solution.
A gag order had been imposed regarding the illness of the royal family and the chaos in the royal palace, but it was unclear how much of this could be concealed.
"――――"
While thinking about the dire situation, Crusch thought about the person she had just visited - Fourier Lugnica, the fourth prince of the Kingdom of Lugnica.
Fourier and Crusch were the same age, and as the daughter of a duke, Crusch had been in frequent contact with Fourier during her childhood. As a member of royalty, Fourier could not hope for friends of a similar age, so Crusch could be said to be one of the few friends he had.
Crusch also felt no resentment towards Fourier as a human being.
Fourier frequently visited the Karsten household, bringing unreasonable requests and incoherent problems to Crusch, causing her a lot of trouble. Fourier's true motive for doing this was to attract the attention of a girl he liked, but Crusch was unaware of this.
However, to Crusch, Fourier was a kind, good-natured person, and someone she couldn't hate.
As a descendant of the Lugnica royal family, he was by no means blessed with talent as a leader, but he was certainly a man of great enthusiasm and virtue.
The succession to the throne was still a long way off, and the duties he would be given after coming of age would likely not be very heavy. Nevertheless, he was enthusiastic about doing his best in the role he was given.
The fact that he is lying in bed, on the brink of death, is a great torment to Crusch's heart.
"Crusch-sama..."
Crusch's expression didn't change, but her eyes held a sorrowful look, and Ferris' heart ached as well.
In terms of the length of time that Fourier has known Crusch, it is longer than Ferris. Of course, Ferris's relationship with Crusch is much stronger as he follows her around as a servant, but he has seen the two of them well enough to sense the feelings Fourier had for Crusch that he kept secret in his heart.
Therefore, for Ferris, Fourier was someone about whom he had extremely complicated feelings.
Of course, he hadn't used those complicated feelings to go easy on Ferris in his treatment or diagnosis. To do so would be a matter of Ferris' pride as a healer, and more than anything, it would be a betrayal of Crusch, who had trusted Ferris and entrusted him with her care.
However, the fact that he had not been able to live up to that trust, and that he might not be able to save Fourier, remained a heavy burden in Ferris's heart.
Both master and servant walked through the royal castle with heavy steps.
Crusch was thinking about the future, while Ferris was thinking about his own lack of ability and his master.
At the very least, there was nothing the two of them could do in the royal castle today. Without any prior arrangement, the two of them left the castle together and headed outside to return to their villa in the royal capital.
"---Mr. Bordeaux! That's not what we agreed on!"
Crusch and the others were on their way to the castle gate when they heard the voice.
On the short path from the entrance to the royal castle to the main gate, in a garden lined with trimmed grass and trees on either side, a commotion broke out, cutting through the peaceful scenery.
Crusch stopped in her tracks and turned around, and in a corner of the garden - going around the outer wall of the castle - she saw two figures arguing with each other.
Both were tall people, and one of them was facing Crusch with his back to her. The person whose face was visible was a familiar acquaintance of Crusch's.
He is a bald, large, well-built old man. His name is Bordeaux Zelgev, and he is also a member of the Council of Sages, a key position in the Kingdom of Lugnica.
The Council of Sages is a faction of the upper nobles that handles most of the national politics of the Kingdom of Lugnica.
The position is selected based on knowledge, family background, contributions to the kingdom, and an evaluation of a person's actions from birth to the present, as well as overall ability, and it can be said that they play the role of backbone supporting the kingdom, which is currently in a difficult situation, starting with the representative, Mycrotov.
Bordeaux was once a renowned warrior and veteran, and is one of the central figures in the Council of Wise Men, leading the discussions with his fierce opinions and strong arm.
Bordeaux was known for his extreme statements and attitudes, to the point that Ferris mocked him, saying that he was "always angry." When Crusch had first inherited the family business, she had been subjected to his harsh words countless times.
Is it because he is such a bullish person?
What first surprised Crusch was that as he was talking to someone in the garden, there was an uncharacteristic shadow on his face.
"Oh. You have a rare expression on your face, Bordeaux-sama."
Ferris muttered, appearing to have realized the same thing as Crusch. Crusch nodded in agreement, tucking her chin in, but was unsure of what to do.
If it was just a simple argument, there would be no need for Crusch to step in and make it a bigger deal. However, even if it was just a small argument, this was not the right time and place.
The guards at the gate had heard the angry shouts and entered the garden, but stopped in their tracks when they saw something identical to what Crusch had seen. They then turned their gaze towards Crusch, as if leaving the decision to her.
Crusch made the guards stay in place with just a glance, then she also glanced at Bordeaux, who noticed that people were beginning to gather.
Bordeaux nodded with a sour look on his face, intent on quickly settling the situation. The old man turned to face the person in front of him, moistening his lips lightly as he carefully considered his words.
Watching this, Crusch finally turned her attention to the person standing in front of Bordeaux. Although she was first shocked by Bordeaux's unexpected attitude, she was amazed at how slow her reaction was.
Still intending to reflect on herself, she turned her attention to the figure in front of her. Crusch then realized why she had been forced to put off paying attention to the figure.
"――――"
The man was dressed in rags.
The tattered clothes were actually a wrinkled, dirty dark blue coat. It was draped over his tall shoulders, completely covering his lower body. His white-dyed hair, combined with the initial raised voice, suggested he was old. However, his hair was still abundant for his age, and his straight back and broad, muscular shoulders did not suggest the frailty of old age.
Despite being such a conspicuous figure, the ragged man's presence did not naturally enter Crusch's consciousness until the last moment.
For some reason - the way she stood was so refined and perfect.
A natural posture, free from all unnecessary elements.
The moment Crusch realized this, she was so entranced that she forgot herself for just a moment.
As a warrior who wields a sword, Crusch also has an ideal state to aim for.
The state of a ragged man was extremely close to what Crusch was aiming for. People call it the pinnacle of martial arts, and it was proof that the old man had finally achieved his ideal through tireless effort and training.
"Lady Crusch?"
"--!"
Before she knew it, Crusch's eyes had been captivated by his back.
Realizing that she had been engrossed by Ferris's call, Crusch was slightly shaken while trying to keep things calm on the surface.
Who on earth is that old man?
"I feel sorry for you, but now is a bad time. I'm sorry to break my promise, but I hope you'll understand."
Ignoring Crusch's puzzled thoughts, Bordeaux and the man resumed their conversation.
That said, Bordeaux's words were intended to calm the situation.
"People will gather. I'm sure you will be just as bothered by this becoming public."
"Wait a moment. Can you really be convinced by those words? Why did you suddenly change your mind? I told you so many things, that it was all so certain..."
"It's not your fault. It's just a matter of timing. I'd like to ask you to hold off for now. That's all I can say right now. I'm sorry."
"That's stupid...!"
As the man clings to him, Bordeaux's words are hollow and inarticulate.
Bordeaux's reticence is probably due to the gag order regarding the royal family being bedridden. Some promise between the man and Bordeaux is about to be broken and not fulfilled due to Bordeaux's busy schedule.
However, he is unable to convince her by telling her the truth. He can understand Bordeaux's difficult feelings, but he is clumsy in that he cannot make up a suitable reason for it.
Or is there something in that promise that makes Bordeaux hesitate to lie?
Which is more honest and which is more dishonest: hiding the truth and bowing your head, or telling lies to convince someone?
At the very least, Bordeaux doesn't seem to have any intention of falsifying the facts to deceive the man.
Bordeaux's attitude of accepting his fault is admirable, but a shabby person like him would never be convinced.
"I have heard about the deterioration of relations with the Empire. If that is the reason they are hesitant to leave the country, at least send an envoy…"
"No, that's not true. Please listen to me. We will calm down and arrange another time to talk. I don't know the exact time yet though."
"That won't be enough! I told you. The results will be out next month. That will provide us with certainty! …At the very least, please take a look at this and consider it."
Despite Bordeaux's determined attitude, the ragged man remained determined. As Bordeaux tried to pass by him, he took something out of his pocket and pointed it at him.
To Crusch, it looked like a large stack of papers.
The edges were wrinkled, the fabric had completely changed color from the sun, and it was lightly stained with blood and fingerprints.
How precious that piece of paper was to this ragged person, like a thread to cling to.
You could tell at a glance by the way his trembling fingers were tightly gripping the stack of papers.
but,
"--How annoying!"
Bordeaux roughly swung his arm and shoved it away as it was held out in front of his chest.
Was that reaction something the ragged person hadn't anticipated, or perhaps Bordeaux himself had added a level of power that he hadn't intended.
It's probably a combination of the two, but that can only lead to one thing.
"--!"
The stack of papers left the old man's fingers and scattered across the garden.
The wind wasn't very strong, but each piece of paper was as light as a leaf. It was blown away easily, scattering across the garden like white petals.
Crusch instinctively reached out her finger, and regret crossed Bordeaux's eyes.
However, a drastic change occurred shortly afterwards that contained these reactions.
"--Bordeaux!"
The ragged figure yelled, grabbed Bordeaux by the collar, and pushed him against the wall.
Bordeaux held his breath after being hit in the back, and cried out in pain as the giant body was lifted up. Even though he was pressed against the wall, it took no ordinary physical strength to lift Bordeaux's body.
"――――"
Witnessing the scene with her own eyes, Crusch should have immediately called for a halt.
However, the overwhelming demonic aura emanated from the ragged figure - the air exploded, and Crusch's movements were delayed just a moment as she was hit by the aftershocks that caused her skin to break out in goosebumps.
And just like that, the ragged man's gaze pierced Bordeaux with a sharpness that was like...
"Guards! Stop spacing out! Hurry, over here!"
A high-pitched voice rose, and time returned to my body, which had been forced to stiffen.
Looking behind him, Ferris, sensing that the situation was bad, raised his hand and called out to the guards at the gate who were watching in confusion.
Even they could not stand by and watch when they witnessed one of their members being assaulted.
Three gate guards rushed to the scene with swords in hand and surrounded the ragged figure and Bordeaux.
A tense and dangerous atmosphere spread, and the scene was on the brink of explosion. However,
"--Sorry."
With an apology, the ragged man suddenly released Bordeaux. Bordeaux collapsed with his back against the wall, coughing painfully with his hands at his throat.
Looking down at the scene, the ragged figure slowly shook his head and turned around. The guards at the gates were obviously on guard, but the old man spread his arms wide in a show of non-resistance.
"I don't have anything. Let's obediently follow."
The guards surrounding the old man looked confused, but then they quickly remembered their duties and surrounded him on either side. According to custom, the old man would have been taken to the guards' room and questioned.
"...Wait. There's no need to make a big deal out of it. Let him go."
"Lord Bordeaux, I know I have no right to say this, but that would be a bad example. Are you telling the guards protecting the royal castle to turn a blind eye to suspicious people?"
"In that case, detain him in the guardhouse overnight. After that, you can release him."
Bordeaux instructed with a hint of regret at what the old man had said. The guards at the gates obediently followed his orders.
As the old man was being led away, surrounded by strong guards on either side, he glanced over at Crusch for just a moment.
"Thank you."
Those words would not have reached anyone other than Crusch.
The moment he spoke those words, the old man's clear blue eyes - and what worried me was the shadow that had appeared there.
However, Crusch didn't want to be so rude as to stop him and drag out the conversation.
As the old man left the garden, Crusch turned to Ferris,
"Thank you for your quick response. I'm sorry I didn't act immediately."
"No no, it's nothing. I'm glad that it didn't become anything more serious. By the way… Lord Bordeaux?"
Ferris, humbly placing his finger over his lips, turned his attention to Bordeaux.
In front of him, Bordeaux had recovered from the shock he'd received and was crouching down, picking up the scattered papers.
Crusch also picked up some of the pieces of paper that had fallen at her feet and handed them to Bordeaux.
"...Thank you, Lord Karsten. I have shown you a shameless side."
"What is it? It's rare to see such an honorable Lord Bordeaux. I feel as though I have been given a fair price for my visit. By the way, do you mind if I ask something?"
"――――"
Bordeaux remained silent as he rearranged the papers he had collected. Judging this to be an affirmation rather than a rejection, Crusch nodded her chin in the direction the old man had been taken,
"The person from earlier seemed no ordinary person… are you an acquaintance of Lord Bordeaux?"
"--A friend I've known for a long time. No, I should say comrades in arms. Or perhaps it would make more sense for him to say they were comrades in arms."
"It appears that the talks have broken down. I don't mean to pry, but if you regret your relationship, it would be better to repair it as soon as possible. However, next time you should be more careful about the location."
The place where the commotion occurred was the right place, and the time was right.
The ragged old man was the one who had poor timing, but Bordeaux was the one who had been poor at handling things. Crusch could feel the winds of regret blowing against her, and that was why she couldn't bring herself to hate the man before her.
"...I can't face him. I chose loyalty over gratitude, and I don't even think it was a mistake."
"I see."
Therefore, Crusch knew that Bordeaux would not listen to her advice. So she was not discouraged. Rather, her clumsy behavior seemed admirable to her.
I'd rather not say it out loud and get yelled at in the usual manner.
"Are you on your way back from visiting His Highness?"
"I'm on my way back from meeting Prince Fourier. Our Ferris' diagnosis isn't good either."
"And so it seems... Between you and me, Leip Bariel is moving about secretly. That little rascal. He must be up to something. You should be careful too."
"Lord Barielle, huh? I'll keep that in mind."
He tucks his chin in and listens to Bordeaux's advice.
It's a blatant attempt to divert the conversation, but even if we press him, we won't be able to get him to say any more.
The conversation didn't continue after that, Bordeaux put the stack of papers he had collected back into his pocket, and hurriedly left the garden.
Crusch and Ferris, who were left behind, let out a sigh in unison.
"Ah, I'm feeling a bit tense. Even so, it's rare to see Bordeaux-sama acting so shy. If she was always like that, she'd be a bit cuter."
"That would be an inconvenience in itself. Sir Mycroft, the Silent One, and Sir Bordeaux, the Active One, are quite adept at manipulating the balances of the Council of Sages. However…"
What was all the fuss about after all?
No, the details of the commotion were of course what caught Crusch's attention, but what really caught her attention was the old man who had been kidnapped.
I would like to confirm his identity if possible, but――
"By the way! Crusch-sama, Crusch-sama. Feli-chan, I know this may sound like me saying it, but I think you are the greatest servant and understand Crusch-sama better than anyone else."
"--? How sudden. Of course, without anybody saying anything, you are the most important servant to me, so what's the sudden change?"
"Hmm. I'm starting to think that my evaluation might take another step forward today."
Ferris stuck out his red tongue in a joking manner, but the true meaning of what he was saying was unclear. The wind blowing from Ferris' direction also obscured his emotions, making them unclear.
Crusch Karsten's "Weathervane Protection" allows her to see the currents of the wind blowing through her. This wind can even capture things like the "waves of other people's emotions", and there is no impediment to her ability to glean the surface emotions of those she is facing.
However, there are rare individuals like Ferris who are good at hiding their feelings.
In Ferris' case, it was because he had clearly seen through Crusch's range of readings due to their long acquaintance. It was surprising how easily someone like Mycrotov from the Council of Sages was able to hide his own feelings using his years of experience and eloquence.
Crusch had come to the conclusion that this was just a type of negotiation technique that would not work on an expert.
Ferris was, as always, not letting Crusch read his emotions. So whenever he acted pretentious like this, Crusch would simply fold her arms and wait for a response.
But I am confident that I can trust what he brings to me.
And the trust that this bond creates proved just as effective this time around.
"I thought that you must be worried about the grandfather we just met, Crusch-sama."
"Hmm."
"I've prepared something like this for you."
Ferris said with a chuckle, and Crusch's eyes widened when she saw what he was picking up with his fingertips. Then, she suddenly loosened her lips and looked at her attendant,
"--You are truly a servant who has been able to best understand my wishes."
In the smiling Ferris's hand, the piece of paper that hadn't been handed over to Bordeaux was swaying in the wind, waiting to be received.