Chapter 110 - The Crown Prince's Perspective
After hearing Rachel's story, I returned to the guest room prepared for me to organize my thoughts. Gazing out from the balcony alone, the setting sun dyed the entire sky in a vivid orange, bringing a sense of peace to my heart.
"Louis, are you alright?"
"...Ah, Theodore."
Theodore entered with a knock, prompting me to step back inside. I took a seat on the sofa opposite him. While his voice carried a hint of concern, his expression remained as cool and composed as ever.
I realize it especially at times like this. Unlike me, who showed agitation at Rachel's story, Theodore always seems to be a step ahead, handling things with an effortless maturity.
"...I was surprised, but I believe I understand the gist of it."
Theodore nodded at my reply.
"Well, isn't it for the best? Lady Rachel's mana has returned, and with the blessing of a Spirit King, no one can block your marriage now. At the very least, those problems are gone."
"Yeah."
Indeed, it was a good thing. This was the answer I had hoped for, and for Rachel's sake, it was undoubtedly a positive development.
"So, why the long face despite that?"
"Do I have a long face?"
I felt my brow furrow at his words. My joy for Rachel was genuine. Because of that, I couldn't help but feel his observation was uncalled for.
"Yeah, that's how it looks to me."
A wry smile escaped me. If my friend saw it that way, perhaps I looked more troubled than I realized. Theodore seemed to see through me even when I tried to deceive others—or even myself. If I told him that, he would likely dismiss it with a flat "Not really."
"It seems one cannot truly see oneself."
"Yeah, that's how it goes. You were the abnormal one until now, always acting like a child who could see everything objectively and grasp the whole situation."
"For me, that was simply normal."
"Well, everyone has their own way of living. Environments, families, the people we meet—if even one thing is different, the same person can end up with different thoughts and become someone else entirely."
"True. Even so, the core of who I am doesn't change."
The fact that I struggled with my emotions more often and developed a sense of consideration for others was largely due to my involvement with Rachel. To Theodore, who knew me as a child, I must seem like a different person.
Still, I remained myself. My personality was fixed, but my inner self could change as much as it needed to. I knew this from my own experience. And perhaps...
The image of my beloved girl crossed my mind. Just as I began to sink deep into thoughts of her, Theodore's voice pulled me back to reality.
"You've realized it to some extent, haven't you?"
"Realized what?"
"About Lady Rachel."
Theodore fixed me with a gaze that was unusually serious for him.
"The connection between receiving the Spirit King's blessing and her mana depletion."
As I thought.
Knowing Theodore, he would have reached the same conclusion as I had. He, too, was likely worried about Rachel. The fact that he dropped his usual teasing tone and cut straight to the heart of the matter suggested this was the very reason he had come to my room.
"I suspect as much. Naturally."
"Are you going to question Lady Rachel directly?"
Question her?
If her mana was in the Spirit Land where the Dark Spirit King resides, then what happened two years ago when the depletion occurred? Why was Rachel able to contract with a Spirit of Darkness in the first place? How did she realize this forest held the key to her mana? If the power of darkness is the ability to turn back time, then what is the extent of the Spirit King's power?
Questions flooded my mind, along with hypothetical answers.
"...But what would come of questioning Rachel?"
"Wouldn't it clear up your doubts and make you feel better?"
In the past, I certainly would have done so. I would have prioritized the benefits to the kingdom and my own curiosity without a thought for Rachel's feelings.
But now, things were different.
"There would be no meaning in that."
"Why?"
"To me, the Rachel standing before me is everything. The path she chose to walk without giving up is the path that led to her present self."
Something significant must have happened to her two years ago. I was certain of it. Even so, I felt no desire to pry it out of her.
"Regardless of the cause of her mana depletion, the journey she has walked will not vanish."
"Yeah, I suppose so."
"Rachel will likely continue to look only forward as she moves ahead. That is why my duty is to protect her from those who would try to exploit her."
I wanted to understand what made her happy and what made her heart dance, but I had no desire to strip away all her secrets. I wanted to be a man who respected her and was the first to reach out a hand when she faced hardship.
At my words, Theodore looked down at his feet and laughed with a sigh of relief. When he looked up again, his expression was clear and refreshed.
"...Good. It seems my prediction was correct."
"Prediction?"
His words often lacked enough explanation to be understood. Seeing that I was still confused, he didn't seem inclined to elaborate further and simply deepened his smile.
"It's nothing. You two are a perfect match. Even more than I imagined."
"That... is a pleasant thing to hear, if that's how we appear."
"...I believe you'll protect her."
"What?"
I asked him to repeat his uncharacteristically vague comment, but he brushed it off with a "Never mind." I didn't feel like pressing him further and simply replied with a "I see."
"So, was your prediction correct? Regarding the nature of the Spirit of Darkness's power."
Theodore had hinted at having an idea about the dark power relatively early on. However, he had said it was difficult to report until he was certain, so we hadn't had such a deep conversation until now. It seemed the time was right. When I broached the subject, Theodore smirked and nodded.
"Mostly. Light is the power to move things forward. The power a Saint uses is the power to advance the time of life. It makes plants grow faster than normal and heals human injuries quickly. Because it is such a miraculous power, no one—aside from the royal family and myself, who found out on my own—is allowed to know about it, right?"
Yes, the power of the Saint is passed down only within the royal family. Such a miraculous power can enrich a nation, but it also carries the great risk of destabilizing it.
"Yeah. Misuse or having the Saint taken by another country is something this nation cannot allow."
However, this only applied to the Saint of Light who received the blessing of light. Rachel was the first in the kingdom's records to contract with a Spirit of Darkness and receive a blessing from the Dark Spirit King. Therefore, we had to decide carefully on matters like public disclosure, including whether there was any potential danger to her.
And there was one more thing.
"Dark power. I don't know the extent of Lady Rachel's abilities, but if it's the opposite of light..."
"It stands to reason that she could return things to the state they were in before an injury, or before a plant became diseased."
"Even with a blessing that borrows the Spirit King's power, there must be limits to the techniques a human can use."
Thinking of Rachel, a breath mixed with a smile escaped me unintentionally.
"What is it?"
"No, I just thought that Rachel truly exceeds my imagination at every turn."
Theodore couldn't help but burst out laughing at that, his shoulders shaking as he agreed.
"So, what's the plan from here?"
"Well, first, I'll settle things with the enemy closest to us."
"I suppose so."
"Yeah. But before that, there's something I want to do. That comes first."
As I told Theodore this, I pictured Rachel's face—she was likely still confused by her own power even now.
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