Chapter . 33
“My nanny had a daughter, my milk sibling, and she was very cute. That child also died.”
I haven’t seen her, but since she resembled my nanny, she must have been cute, so it’s not a lie.
“Ah, yes… That’s unfortunate…….”
“Yes, that dead child resembled you.”
“Pardon? Earlier you said I resembled the nanny…….”
“…They were mother and daughter, so of course they resembled each other.”
“Th-that’s true.”
“So, I will think of you as that child and raise you well.”
“Ah, am I a replacement for that child, no, for her?”
“No, you are you. Just because you resemble someone a little, how can you become a different person? No one can do such a thing. So don’t do it.”
“Ah, yes…….”
“Anyway, since I have such a clear reason, I will absolutely not kick you out. Do not worry.”
The child stared piercingly at me. I wanted to avert my eyes, but I had no choice but to face her.
Then, eventually, a smile slowly appeared in the child’s eyes. I was as surprised as when she cried.
“Thank you, Prince.”
“You’re a good girl.”
When I spoke quickly out of relief, the child nodded her head really obediently.
I felt relieved, but it was hard. Still, after saving a child who had nowhere to go like me, I felt at ease.
‘…Michelon, you grow up on your own.’
Of course, I definitely don’t mean it.
“Go to sleep now.”
The child had been nodding off like a white-eye since dinner. Since there was only one bedroom and one bed, I called a servant and had a fluffy bedding set up in front of the fireplace.
Since I am skilled at sleeping outdoors, I wanted to give the bed to the child, but if the child inadvertently let that fact slip, rumors would spread that she was my mistress, and who knows what envious people might do to her.
Once I move soon, I should be able to give her a small room.
I cast a marking spell on the deeply sleeping child. After strengthening the defensive magic further and tucking her in again, I went to meet Michelon this time for sure.
***
Michelon was sulking the whole time he waited. He was already a horned dragon, so it looked like he was about to have three horns.
“Michelon, sorry I’m late. Due to unavoidable circumstances—”
“I don’t know who it is, but get lost.”
“You’re sulking; that’s cute.”
“What did you say?”
“Sorry. I was saying it to soothe myself, but it just slipped out.”
“Cute? Don’t talk nonsense!”
As expected, praise without sincerity didn’t work. However, to avoid getting angry when Michelon got angry, it was better to force myself to think he was cute. Everything depends on how you make up your mind…….
“Get lost. I don’t need a guy who comes and goes only when it’s convenient for him.”
“I have to come only when it’s convenient. Otherwise, you’ll be in danger too.”
“…Did someone attack you or something?”
“Of course. Otherwise, there’s no way I wouldn’t have come to you.”
“What on earth happened? Can’t you tell me right now?”
“Yeah, I can’t tell you. There’s no time to talk. If I get attacked again, I won’t be able to come to you for a while again.”
“…Got it. Let’s talk once I get out.”
Michelon’s tone sounded somewhat threatening, but he also seemed a little cuter than before.
“Now, if you’re ready, concentrate.”
The stage of reaching the end of the maze. It was a difficult attempt. As I analyzed the shape of the maze with Tess and guided the way, Michelon had to advance up to that point. While the form of the magic circle turned into a maze, applying physical pressure that wasn’t there before.
“Isn’t it hard?”
“…Don’t ask useless things. It disturbs my concentration.”
While saying only the right things, Michelon succeeded.
“You succeeded, Michelon!”
“What do you mean success! I’m blocked here.”
“Originally, reaching up to there is correct. I told you earlier. We cannot attempt beyond that yet.”
“I can’t stop here. Just a little… just a little more. I can feel it. There’s an exit behind this last wall!”
That last wall was the Imperial Order.
I could classify the dragon egg and Michelon separately, and interfere with each command.
However, just as Michelon could not be anything but a dragon egg, I could not bypass the command to imprison him with a command to release him.
“You just have to wait a little. I told you earlier. I’m preparing the next stage too.”
It was something I was prepared to take several years for. Although I reduced that period significantly, even that would be hard for Michelon, who was suffering while imprisoned, to endure.
“Move me with your magic circle.”
“Even if I do, you’ll only be trapped in my magic circle, and there’s a chance we might get caught. We have to be cautious until the final stage of your rescue operation.”
“You said you’re a mage. Break this magic circle.”
“If I apply force forcibly, it will close down. Then the Throne Magic Circle will intervene, and all the effort so far will be in vain.”
Then Michelon exploded.
“Just do it, just do it!”
“Michelon, just a little—”
“Yeah, just a little more. I’m right in front of the exit. I just need to break through from here. The outside world is right over there. I can feel it!”
How desperate that voice sounded.
“One step, just one more step, but this damn thing is blocking my way!”
“You’ve done well, Michelon, you’ve done well so far. Just a little more…….”
“You don’t know! You don’t know anything!”
Michelon wailed.
“You breathe freely and walk around freely out there! We are so close, yet you are free and I am trapped! It’s the same space, but for me it’s a prison and for you it’s an Imperial Palace!”
“It’s a prison for me too!”
I shouted.
“I don’t know? I grew up trapped under the watchful eyes of those who hated me since birth. Enemies are everywhere, what kind of freedom is that! Freedom, I’ve never known such a thing in my life!”
“…….”
“…….”
An awkward silence ensued. As I listened to Michelon’s breathing, huffing and puffing unable to contain his anger, my own breathing calmed down before I knew it. Only my body is a boy, but inside I am an adult, yet I acted like a child. Shouting at the kid who saved me.
“Here or there, it’s the same. There is no freedom in the world.”
I barely opened my mouth.
“But you are my freedom.”
I didn't want to apologize this time. Because I told the truth.
“…Don’t lie.”
“It’s true. Even just now, thanks to you, I am enjoying the freedom to fight in my own way.”
Although I don’t have the freedom not to raise you.
“So you also make me your freedom.”
“What kind of freedom? Freedom to fight you to the death?”
“Yeah, you’re already enjoying it.”
“I don’t have the freedom not to listen to you.”
“I don’t have that either. Instead, you have the freedom to speak your mind to me.”
“…What do you mean, have?”
“Then I’ll be the only one enjoying it.”
Good. Honestly, it was burdensome when Michelon spoke his mind openly.
It was my first time having a friend, but friendship wasn't easy. I only had a true human relationship with my teacher, and now it was increasing one by one like Michelon, Sir Rolf, the girl, so I was worried if I could do well. Still, it was true that it felt better than having none at all.
Though I'm really worried about the human relationship involving taking care of a young girl.
“Absolutely not!”
“I say I’ll enjoy it, so how are you going to stop me? Are you going to plug your ears? The guy who doesn’t enjoy it is the one losing out.”
Pfft, laughter came out.
“Are you laughing?”
“Yeah, I’m enjoying the freedom to laugh too. If you’re frustrated, you laugh too.”
“I’ll hold back my laughter, and enjoy the freedom to kill you once I get out.”
“You won’t be able to, will you? If I die, what happens to your freedom?”
“…Are you threatening me that it will disappear?”
“What do you mean disappear. It just means it will decrease a bit, but it will never disappear. Even without me, you will get your freedom somehow. Trust me and don’t give up.”
“…What’s the use of trusting a dead guy?”
“Then trust yourself. Trust yourself who trusts me even after I die.”
“Stop talking about dying. It’s bad luck.”
He's the one who said he'd kill me.
“So, if I get out, I have the freedom not to listen to you and ignore you, right?”
Michelon asked immediately.
“Yes, Michelon.”
You’re already enjoying that freedom enough now, so why bring it up anew? The freedom to answer but not teach him was fun.
“Also the freedom not to use the name you gave me.”
“That won’t do.”
“What? You said freedom!”
“If you name yourself, I’ll call you that. But inside, I’ll enjoy the freedom to think of you as Michelon.”
“…Crazy bastard.”
“See. You also call me crazy bastard instead of my name. Compared to that, how cool is the name Michelon. A man’s name.”
“You are the reason I can’t wait any longer! Once I get out, I won’t leave you alone!”
“Yeah, you must come out, Michelon.”
“Go!”
“Okay, I’ll go. Be well, Michelon. I don’t know when I’ll come, but I’ll definitely come again. Even if I can’t come, if you remember today’s conversation, you’ll do well. Because you are truly strong. You might not know yet, but I know.”
“…Just go quickly!”
If it’s hard to think he’s cute, let’s just trust him.
On the way back, I also <Inspected> Maxim. <Patrol> also reacted very well. I should make him do it every time I come.
Now, I had to proceed to the next stage. Just in time, Desmond was holding a banquet for me, so that place would be a good opportunity.
***
“Aaaack!”
The next morning, I woke up to the child’s scream.
When I went out of the bedroom, the child who had been sleeping on the carpet in front of the fireplace in the small drawing room and Sir Rolf were each surprised.
Sir Rolf raised both hands to show he had no intention of attacking, but the child seemed to have taken it as a sign that he was going to hit her.
“It is fine. He is my knight, Sir Rolf.”
When I told the child, she nodded, but still had a terrified face.
“Your Highness the Prince, I came for morning duty and saw a child I didn’t know, so I just went to check.”
His morning duty was very early. Other princes have knights taking turns by their side, but I only have him alone. Sir Rolf came early and left late.
‘Even though I said he doesn’t have to, he comes earlier and leaves later, feeling moved.’
The sturdy knight looking down at the child with a perplexed face did not harbor dissatisfaction even though I introduced him to a commoner of low status first.
To such a man, how should I explain the fact that I brought a child instead of the mage I said I was going to fetch?
“Sir Rolf, this child is my nanny’s daughter.”
“…….”
Sir Rolf’s eyes went wide.
“…….”
“…….”
The two looked at me simultaneously, but I pushed through steadfastly. A politician shouldn’t fail at a lie of this magnitude.
“We were separated after my nanny died, but fortunately, we met again yesterday.”
“…At Duke Grimiati’s mansion?”
“…There was no coincidence like that coincidence.”
It would be better than saying we met on the street.
“…Yes, I understand.”
“Yes, know it as such. My nanny entrusted this child to me as she died. I clearly remember that dying wish. It is fortunate to find her even now.”
“She is Your Highness’s milk sibling. Then what is her name?”
I didn’t hear it yesterday. I couldn't ask the same question again to a crying child after asking for her name.
I looked at the child. The child had a blank face, but when our eyes met, she muttered quietly.
“It’s Nanette.”
“That’s a pretty name.”
“My sister told me not to tell anyone. I used a different name since the orphanage too.”
“…By sister, do you mean the mage who was at the Duke’s mansion?”
“No. They are teachers. I shouldn’t call them sister.”
Sir Rolf coughed in vain.
“Ahem, Your Highness has one more milk sibling.”
“…I guess so.”
Please let it be someone I don’t have to raise. However…….
“How did you get separated from your sister?”
“…My sister was a mage. But it’s not my sister’s fault…….”
The child’s reluctance to speak was so evident that I didn’t ask further about that issue.
“Why did your sister tell you not to say your name?”
“Because my name is a pair with my sister’s name.”
“What is your sister’s name?”
“…I forgot.”
The child said dejectedly.
It was strange. A child who remembers her sister’s words and keeps them so well forgets the name itself? Moreover, a pair of names?
If I were this child’s sister and a mage, when separated from my young sibling, I would devise a way to find her again.
But Nanette is an anti-magic user; marking magic doesn’t work.
-Discuss whether magic protecting a separated anti-magic user is possible.
A strange problem my teacher posed to me, who delved into even theory like crazy.
I argued then that since common protection magic doesn’t work, magic that finds them quickly is better.
-How would you cast a marking spell, when even artifacts don’t work?
-Then, you just need a target to be under the spell instead. You bind that target with the anti-magic user in a non-magical way.
-Would it be as easy as it sounds?
-For example, you tell the anti-magic user never to speak of a certain object, or in this case, a certain word. And you cast a spell on yourself using that word as an incantation. Using magic that utilizes that taboo, you detect not the existence of the anti-magic user, but the absence of the word the anti-magic user doesn’t say. Then, although you can’t do it like marking magic, you can roughly know the location of the anti-magic user.
-What about that taboo?