The Arrow of Destiny Cuts Through the Night

#67

Cough!

When the 5th Prince, Ernis Claude, coughed, his attendants became restless and caused a commotion.

“Your Highness, you shouldn’t stand for so long. Please, sit down.”

“…Alright.”

Ernis Claude’s complexion wasn’t good, as rumors suggested he was recuperating away from the imperial palace. With a handkerchief to his mouth, he briefly looked at Jersian and Kain before suggesting, as if he had a good idea:

“Since it’s come to this, may I join your table? I was feeling lonely without company, so this works out well.”

Although phrased as a suggestion, the speaker’s status made the answer a foregone conclusion. Understanding this, Jersian gestured to the empty seat at the table and said:

“Of course. But as you know, we’re not particularly skilled conversationalists, so I’m not sure if Your Highness will find us entertaining.”

“Leave that to me. Conversation is my specialty. I’ll sit here then.”

With his gaze fixed on Jersian, Ernis Claude snapped his fingers, and the attendants lined up behind him began to move in unison.

First, they carefully brought a chair from another table to Jersian and Kain’s table. Then someone wiped the chair with a cloth. Although it was already clean, after a few wipes it looked like it might shine.

Someone swiftly placed a purple table mat in front of Ernis Claude. Another set of cutlery was placed on top, and items like the teapot and vase were replaced with those used by the imperial family. If they had to do this every time he sat somewhere, it must be quite troublesome. Kain stood right next to Jersian, watching the quick movements of the 5th Prince’s attendants.

Soon, the seat for the prince was perfectly prepared. After the servants pulled out the chair and slowly stepped back, Ernis Claude sat down and said:

“Now, sit.”

“Yes.”

…Although he hadn’t particularly wanted a direct encounter, now that it had come to this, it would be good to discern the 5th Prince Ernis Claude’s intentions. Jersian thought this as he took his seat again.

Once all three were seated, an attendant waiting behind them tilted a teapot filled with hot tea and poured it into each cup in turn.

“…”

“…”

Until the hot steam rose from the teacups, those seated at the table said nothing. Perhaps it was because neither Jersian nor Kain were the type to initiate conversation.

Ahem, in the quiet atmosphere, Ernis Claude cleared his throat once before speaking.

“…You both really are of few words, aren’t you?”

The 5th Prince, with an awkward expression, criticized them. He hadn’t expected much from Jersian Gerold, the youngest of the Gerold family known for being cold, but he hadn’t anticipated such complete silence. Jersian, who had been drinking his tea, raised one eyebrow and replied:

“That’s why I told you beforehand. I said we weren’t particularly skilled with words.”

“…I appreciate your honesty, if nothing else.”

It was a roundabout way of saying he disliked everything else. Despite understanding the implication hidden in the words, Jersian maintained an indifferent expression and continued to savor his tea.

The 5th Prince, Ernis Claude, was seven years younger than the 1st Prince, Kemirun Del Claude, and was born five years before Jersian. It was known that Ernis Claude had grown up under the imperial family’s intense protection and care due to his weak lungs and heart from birth.

Although quite close to the line of succession, he wasn’t much of a threat to Kemirun Del Claude due to his weak constitution. There were even rumors that the 1st Prince, known for his ruthlessness, personally accompanied his seven-year-younger brother.

‘But in the end, all that kindness must have been based on the certainty that his own crown wouldn’t be taken away.’

Jersian looked at Ernis Claude’s pale face sitting across from him and spoke:

“By the way.”

Kain and Ernis Claude’s eyes immediately focused on him.

“What brings you to the Marquis’s territory? Isn’t this the opposite direction from the imperial palace?”

“Ah, didn’t you know? I’ve been staying at Bellier Castle since last winter. It’s quite close to the Gerold Marquis’s territory, and I thought about visiting, but as you know, my health hasn’t been great. I focused on recuperation.”

“…Bellier Castle is indeed very close.”

As he slowly tilted his teacup, Jersian’s sharp red eyes were hidden behind it. It saved him a lot of trouble to hear confirmation directly from him rather than through an informant.

“The hot springs at Bellier Castle are good, you know. Time flew by while I was there. The hunting competition is already happening! Time really passes quickly- Cough!”

Cough, hack! It was a harsh coughing sound that seemed to scratch his throat.

“Your Highness Ernis!”

As Ernis Claude stretched his hand back while coughing painfully, an attendant quickly ran up and handed him a handkerchief. Hack, ugh. After breathing heavily into the handkerchief for a moment, Ernis Claude’s shoulders gradually lowered. It was a more severe symptom than the cough from earlier. He threw the used handkerchief on the table with a tired look and said, as if sighing:

“…I wanted to rest properly, but I feel bad about this.”

“Please don’t say that. We’re fine.”

Jersian softened his expression as he spoke. No matter how cold he was said to be, he wasn’t the type to be harsh to a sick person.

The 5th Prince’s condition seemed quite serious. He had thought he could at least manage daily life, but had it worsened in recent years? He wondered if staying at Bellier Castle might really be solely for his health.

Maybe he had been too quick to suspect him without even confirming the exact content of the letters exchanged by carrier pigeon. While Jersian was reconsidering his thoughts, Kain Starchis spoke up for the first time.

“It would be better to drink a different tea.”

Hmm? At his sudden words, Jersian’s red eyes, which had been lowered in thought, moved quickly. The tea they were currently drinking was brewed from Wintril, commonly used in such establishments.

“Why? Don’t you like this tea?”

To Jersian’s question, Kain shook his head side to side and then looked at Ernis Claude as he spoke:

“The Wintril plant itself has a cold nature. Drinking tea brewed from it only irritates the bronchi that have become sensitive due to prolonged coughing. If your illness is related to coughing, it would be better to avoid it.”

At Kain’s clear voice, Ernis Claude opened his eyes wide and asked:

“…Cold nature, you say?”

He pointed to the steaming hot tea in front of him and said:

“You’re saying this hot tea… really has a cold nature?”

Honestly, Kain was more surprised by Ernis Claude’s reaction right now. The fact that Wintril wasn’t good for coughing was as obvious to elves as using it to lower fever. He really doesn’t know this? Kain tilted his head slightly and answered:

“…Wintril is a plant that grows using the cold energy from the ground as nourishment through its roots.”

“No way! I’ve been drinking it often…”

Ernis Claude said as if he couldn’t believe it. But as he reached the end of his sentence, his voice lost strength, realizing that the person who told him this was an elf knowledgeable about herbs and animals.

He was silent for a moment before calling his attendants waiting behind him.

“You there!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Have this tea replaced with another.”

“I’ll do so immediately. But… what kind of tea should I ask for?”

Ernis Claude’s gaze quickly turned back to Kain. His expression asked what tea he should drink.

“…Swilleaf would be good.”

Kain recommended Swilleaf, feeling burdened by the gazes of Ernis Claude and his attendants. Swilleaf, which grows in a spiral shape, was excellent for soothing coughs when made into a warm tea. Fortunately, Swilleaf seemed to be a common herb in the human realm as well. Ernis Claude immediately nodded and said:

“Bring that.”

“Yes. I’ll immediately place an order to replace it with Swilleaf tea.”

Ernis Claude’s attendant answered with a determined expression. Then he cleared away the teapot on the table and all the teacups containing the remaining tea.

I liked the Wintril tea… Kain watched the teacups being taken away for a moment before slowly leaning back in his chair, thinking about the next opportunity.

He was a person with great loyalty towards his master.