Rein returned to his warm, comfortable room. But the peace and quiet didn't last long. A sudden, searing pain surged through his entire body.
It felt like countless needles were stabbing him from the inside. He coughed violently, then spat out black blood.
As if he had expected it, Elie was already by his side, calmly wiping the dark blood with a handkerchief and gently dabbing at Rein's lips.
"Your Highness, the doctor will arrive shortly," he said as he continued to wipe away the blood pouring from Rein's mouth.
「It hurts... It hurts so much!」
Rein felt like he was about to faint, but the pain was so intense it kept dragging him back into consciousness.
Just as he thought he was going mad from the torment, the door burst open and someone rushed in.
They were carrying a medical case and swiftly pulled out a thin syringe. Rein stiffly watched the figure approach and inject a strange blue liquid into his arm.
Almost instantly, the pain receded like a wave pulling back into the sea. The black blood stopped flowing as well.
Rein was left in shock. The pain had come out of nowhere—and vanished just as suddenly.
After a few seconds, he finally registered the person who had saved him. It was a silver-haired girl, seemingly younger than him.
She wore oversized round glasses and a white coat. Her panicked expression showed she had rushed here as fast as she could.
"I'm so sorry, Your Highness. I arrived too late and caused you unnecessary pain." She bowed deeply, pleading for forgiveness.
「This girl is the imperial doctor? You've got to be kidding.」
Rather than being upset at her tardiness, Rein was more baffled that the imperial doctor wasn't an old man with a beard, like he'd imagined.
"It's fine. Raise your head," he replied without a hint of anger. In fact, this incident made him realize just how dire his body's condition truly was.
Until now, he had simply assumed the body was weak and on the verge of death. But apparently, it had been numbed daily with medication, dulling the pain he should've felt.
He noticed the girl looked genuinely surprised at his lack of anger.
「Was Reinhart that horrible of a person...?」
This was problematic. Rein had no idea what Reinhart's actual personality had been like. In front of people who knew the original prince, he was bound to act differently.
「Would it make sense if I pretended to have amnesia...?」
He considered the idea, then glanced at Elie, who was standing silently beside the girl.
"I don't remember who you are. What's your name?" Rein executed the plan without hesitation.
After all, there was no way he could act exactly like Reinhart. And he still didn't know if dying here would return him to his original world.
So, for now, he would live as Reinhart—pretending to have lost his memories. That way, his change in behavior would at least be somewhat justifiable.
In short, it was a cliché transmigration strategy. But clichés existed for a reason—they worked.
The girl's gray eyes widened at his words, then she mumbled in confusion, "Your condition shouldn't cause memory loss, but perhaps the pain was too much…"
She seemed to be coming up with her own explanation, while Elie gave a smile—one different from before. It was as if he knew the truth.
Rein didn't care whether Elie knew or not. He would do whatever it took to make himself comfortable.
"Your Highness, I've enhanced the effect of the medication. The serum you received will suppress your pain for three days—longer than before. However, this isn't a long-term solution. I will continue to search for a cure." The girl bowed again, her sincerity obvious.
She was working hard to care for a prince the empire had seemingly abandoned.
Rein felt a bit of sympathy for her and simply replied, "Alright. Thank you."
This time, the girl didn't look surprised. Instead, she seemed pleased. "You've become a much kinder person after losing your memory," she said softly.
That confirmed Rein's suspicions about the original Reinhart.
"You still haven't told me your name," he reminded her. He couldn't keep calling her "imperial doctor" forever.
"Oh! My name is Azure Olswald. Though I'm young, I was personally appointed by His Majesty the Emperor to treat your illness. His Majesty cares deeply for you, Your Highness." She spoke at length, seemingly the type who enjoyed talking.
「Don't fool me. In the original novel, the emperor didn't even bother catching his son's murderer. He cooperated with him.」
Rein grumbled internally but kept a calm expression. He had no interest in slandering the emperor right now. Besides, the novel never mentioned this imperial doctor. It seemed anything related to Reinhart was always vague and glossed over.
"Also, Your Highness, His Majesty has scheduled weekly audiences with you, but you've refused to attend in the past. Would you consider joining the audience this time?"
「An audience? That wasn't in the novel... Was it only for Reinhart? Why?」
Rein couldn't help but suspect something was off. Was there a conspiracy behind this? But the thought felt too exhausting.
He was used to overthinking things, when all he really needed to do... was go with the flow.
Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to meet the emperor. He might find something different from the novel's version.
"Alright. I'll go. When is it?"
Azure beamed with joy. "The audience is tomorrow morning, Your Highness. I'll inform His Majesty of your acceptance."
She turned to Elie, the prince's personal attendant. "Please continue taking good care of His Highness, Mr. Wonhart."
"Of course. I will always remain by His Highness's side," Elie replied, eyes fixed on Rein.
Azure seemed displeased with the response but didn't argue. She quickly excused herself and left just as suddenly as she had come.
Now they were alone again. Rein felt increasingly uneasy under Elie's gaze. It was as if Elie were watching a play—and Rein was the star actor on stage. It gave him chills.
"What are you staring at?" Rein snapped.
"Will you still go through with your plan tonight, Your Highness?" Elie's question was laced with meaning—and knowledge.
Rein turned to him in shock. "W-what do you know?!"
"I can sense the aura of someone desperate to die. It's heavy... like drowning in despair," Elie answered casually, as if talking about the weather.
Rein's heart pounded violently, and cold sweat ran down his cheek.
Elie, noticing, swiftly pulled a handkerchief from his black coat and gently wiped the sweat from Rein's face.
"Why so surprised? I don't know who you really are... but I do know that our fates are intertwined. It used to annoy me, being forced to come here and serve as your attendant. But now... it's become quite interesting."
It was the first time Elie had hinted at why he was here.
「Who could've forced you? What do you mean, 'our fates are intertwined'?!」
"There's one thing I must tell you," Elie said, his voice lowering. "You can't die before the appointed time. If you try... your soul will be destroyed."
He threw a terrifying reality at Rein like a bomb.
"W-what do you mean?" Rein's voice trembled. His world was collapsing.
Elie's smile vanished. "When the time comes, I'll be the one to kill you."
Rein swallowed the bitterness rising in his throat. "Then… what will happen to me? Will I get to reincarnate?"
Elie's smile returned. "I don't know. Nothing is certain. But at the very least... your soul won't be destroyed. So until that time comes, I'll protect you."
For the first time, Rein dared to meet Elie's eyes behind those glasses. They were a deep crimson—like blood. Cold and indifferent.
So there was no guarantee he could return to his world. But his soul would survive. Maybe not reincarnate, but at least it wouldn't be annihilated.
He didn't know what grave mistake he had made to deserve this twisted fate. But one thing was certain—he wanted to live.
He had once considered ending his life as Reinhart just to return to his old world.
But now… the situation had changed. He wanted to live—no matter where.
From this moment on, he would fully accept this new life as Reinhart.
***