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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: An Unexpectedly Normal Question
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Unexpectedly, a normal question came first. Akid scratched the back of his head and answered.
"Yes. It's fine. Sorry for worrying you."
"Yeah. You should be. In the world, there are plenty of other things to hide, but how could you hide being sick?"
"Hide?"
Akid looked puzzled as he asked back, and Elena spoke up.
"The doctor said this has probably happened before."
"Ah."
Akid let out a shallow exclamation as if something had come to mind. Elena's eyes narrowed sharply, catching the change right away.
"So it wasn't just once."
"When I lived on the streets, once."
"How did you endure it then? Did you see a doctor?"
"No. I just... kept sleeping until the pain went away."
"...You endured that foolishly?"
"Better to buy bread than see a doctor."
Elena was at a loss for words at Akid's matter-of-fact reply. He was right. A street kid wouldn't have money to see a doctor.
I realized Akid had learned to endure pain especially well because of those memories, and it made me sad.
A moment later, Elena broke the silence with a deep sigh.
"Sigh. I don't know if this is fortunate or not. At least you've never shown your condition to a doctor."
"Is it a fatal illness?"
Akid's eyes shook noticeably. Elena's unusual demeanor had rattled him. She shook her head firmly.
"Don't say such unlucky nonsense. Who's dying?"
"..."
"You're just a bit special. Some people show symptoms like the Awakening Period before they reach adulthood."
"Awakening...?"
"It's not a full awakening. It's like awakening when you shouldn't, so your body can't handle it and gets sick."
"Ah."
"It might happen again in the future, but that's for me and the Grand Duke to prepare for. No need for you to worry."
Despite her curt tone, it was meant to reassure him. Seeing the two soften toward each other filled me with pride.
My efforts weren't completely in vain.
It was a huge improvement from when they barely acknowledged each other. And to think Akid had the potential to become a Munchkin like Zeronis.
The future looked bright—I couldn't wait for seven years to pass. Not because of the merger, of course. Really. Ahem.
"Your Grace, this is Pablo."
"Time to go, I suppose."
Elena rose and gave me a look. It meant heading for the checkup we couldn't finish yesterday.
"I'll be right back."
I squeezed Akid's hand once before following Elena.
Having finished our business in Proodium, we returned to Hadellus Castle. We'd only stayed one day, but so much had happened there.
I'd run into Edward Essel and the male lead Zeronis by chance, and Akid had an unexpected seizure.
We'll have to visit Proodium regularly from now on. Travel or charity events would make good excuses.
Elena said regular trips to Proodium were necessary for Akid's smooth awakening.
It was Zapharsia's lair, so the mana flow there stabilized his body.
That was why Zeronis had wandered various Zapharsia ruins.
Unlike the imperial family, House Hadellus was in the north like Proodium, and we already sponsored it regularly, making visits easy to justify.
Before leaving Proodium, Elena formally introduced Zeronis to me and Akid, since we'd need his help often.
'This is His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.'
'Gasp! R-Really?'
Elena's casual bombshell made me feign surprise while breaking a sweat.
Pretending to know nothing was hard work.
'Take care of him from now on. We'll meet often.'
'Yes, Your Highness. I look forward to working with you.'
The image of Zeronis shaking Akid's hand warmly still tugged at my heartstrings.
Two who should've been enemies laughing and shaking hands amiably.
My favorite and second-favorite combo was enough to make my heart race.
Anyway, Akid's seizure incident helped us get acquainted with Zeronis.
Edward Essel being there made it feel like fate.
I hadn't expected to tangle with the male lead so soon, leaving me a bit dazed. I wondered how Mabel was doing.
She should be at a temple orphanage by now. Her Louiss lineage would be revealed much later.
The orphanage was called Easterus, right?
It was in the east, so some inquiries could confirm it.
Just in case, I quietly asked Asil to check if there was a girl named Mabel at Easterus in the east.
In the afternoon, sunlight streamed warmly through the glass ceiling as I enjoyed tea time with Akid and Elena at a table in the greenhouse.
"It's so quiet and nice in the castle without that person around."
Elena murmured elegantly as she tilted her teacup.
Knowing "that person" was the Grand Duke, I quietly sipped my cocoa.
A letter from the Grand Duke had arrived recently.
Business on Stig Island wasn't finished, so he'd stay longer. Things must have gotten complicated. Akid reacted to Elena's words.
"The matter's dragging on more than expected. He hasn't left the territory this long before."
"Rifts from the corruption don't stop spawning beasts. The imperial family probably asked him to stay longer. Our northern elite troops have plenty of beast-slaying experience."
"Has the corruption's cause been identified?"
"Who knows. They can't figure out what's causing the corruption on Stig Island. If they knew the source, that'd help, but it's not that simple."
I chimed in at the mention of the corruption's cause.
"Um, if it's okay, should I ask the spirits? They've lived a long time and seem to know a lot about corruption."
They'd known about the unknown corruption source last time, so they could definitely help.
Elena’s eyes lit up, as if she hadn't thought of that.
"That's a great idea."
"I'll ask them."
"Not sure if they'll listen. I hear spirits are tight-lipped."
"That's wrong."
I refuted seriously, and Elena blinked.
"They're incredibly chatty. They spill everything, even unasked."
—Chatty? That's too much!
—Try being unable to speak for ages; your mouth itches to talk!
—Roena doesn't appreciate our greatness. It's upsetting!
The spirits beside me trembled in indignation.
Elena stared in astonishment as white butterflies grabbed and tugged my hair.
Since it was tea time with just us three, I'd let the spirits manifest. Elena pointed at them hesitantly.
"Why are they doing that?"
"They're protesting. Don't mind them."
I casually swatted the butterflies away, and Elena touched her mouth. She looked stunned at the casual treatment of great spirits.
A moment later, Elena said,
"If the spirits help, pinpointing the cause would be easier. Will you ask how we can investigate it?"
She reached out to the spirits with a gentle tone, clearly trying to coax them with a kind demeanor.
The sulky spirits perked up at her response.
—We can tell from the soil there.
"Soil?"
At my sudden question about soil, the spirits chattered.
—Soil shows nature's state best. Bring soil from corrupted and dead land for accuracy.
—Right! If we eat it, we can sense nature's condition and what started the corruption!
—For simple causes, we can purify enough for nature to recover, even without you going there.
Listening quietly, I teased playfully—I was getting a kick out of messing with them.
"Wow, you guys eat soil too?"
They noticed my teasing and quivered.
—What's wrong with soil? It's savory and delicious. Dead land soil is gross even for us—no taste, just bad vibes!
—Yeah! We have tastes too. Stuck eating Delus flowers every day?
—Hing, red hair, blue eyes, and rude? Disappointing!
I didn't get how my looks tied to rudeness, but their reaction was enthusiastic.
They buzzed so much I wanted to tease more, but they didn't realize.
As they started nibbling my hair again, Elena awkwardly withdrew her hand. I relayed the spirits' words to her.
"Can you ask Father to get some soil from Stig Island?"
