Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: The Crown Prince's Perspective
Upon traveling from the academy to the Marquess's estate, the Marquis himself greeted me. It seemed the Marchioness had taken to her bed, as Rachel's condition was more serious than anticipated.
"So, you are saying Rachel currently possesses almost no mana?"
"Yes, that is the case. It was the diagnosis of Doctor Donald, whom the Royal Palace dispatched, so there is no mistake."
"I see. Mana depletion... is it?"
"I am deeply sorry that such a situation has arisen."
"No, it is fine. You must be worried for your daughter, Marquis. I will assign an assistant to your duties until things settle down."
"No, that will not be necessary."
The story I heard from the Marquis was far more grave than I had imagined. Ernest, who was soft on his younger cousin despite everything, looked hollow with worry. Even Cyril, usually expressionless, was visibly shaken.
A woman as proud as her likely hasn't accepted this reality.
It wouldn't be immediate, but I would eventually need to reconsider the engagement based on the situation.
How cold of me. Even in this situation, I find myself calculating the loss to the kingdom rather than worrying for Rachel. For someone like me who puts the country first, the position of Crown Princess depends on what the nation requires. For her, having lost her mana and given her physical state, the role would be impossible.
The thought of the new candidates that would emerge made me feel weary.
Well, regardless. She is still my fiancée for now, so I should go see her. Will she scream hysterically, or sink into performative despair?
♢
—Who is this?
Rachel, barely able to stay upright by leaning against a large cushion on the bed, offered her respects with only her gaze. Her eyes were slightly moist, yet they hadn't lost their light, and the upward tilt of her lids gave her the charm of a kitten. Her lips curved into a weak yet elegant smile, and her flowing, glossy black hair exuded a certain allure. This must be what it feels like to have one's protective instincts stirred.
In fact, Ernest and Cyril began to fidget, their cheeks flushing slightly. Right, I'm sending them out immediately. This is bad for their eyes.
It wasn't just her appearance or atmosphere that had changed. The sight of her saying "it is for the best" with such clarity was a significant shock to me, someone whose emotions rarely waver.
In this country, where losing one's mana is an unthinkable situation, who could possibly say such words from the bottom of their heart?
—How intriguing.
I stared intently at Rachel, a woman I previously had zero interest in, viewing her as nothing more than the archetype of a noble lady. What could have changed her so much? I wondered how this transformation would unfold.
This might be the first time I have felt such a strong interest in a woman.
I want to know the stranger standing before me. While others see me as someone who handles everything flawlessly, my true nature is to investigate anything that catches my interest until I am satisfied.
It seems Rachel wants to dissolve the engagement. What could be the state of her mind, wanting to distance herself so easily from the man she was once so obsessed with? An annulment could be done at any time on the grounds of her being unfit due to her loss of mana. There is no need to do it now.
What a pity for her. I have no intention of letting go of something this interesting of my own volition.
♢
Inside the carriage on the way back to the palace with Cyril, I found myself laughing as I recalled Rachel's behavior.
"That is rare."
"What is?"
"To see Your Highness with such a gleeful, boyish expression."
"Heh, do I look gleeful?"
"Yes. Not since you discovered Viscount Belmont's hidden herb garden when you were thirteen."
Cyril's eyes widened at my sudden laughter before he scowled. He was likely demanding to know what I was plotting with his gaze alone.
"Ah, that herb garden was fascinating. It had all sorts of forbidden poisonous herbs, and even a Dragon Stone Tree, which was thought to be a myth, was being cultivated there."
"The Belmont family suffered a miserable fate after that."
"It couldn't be helped. It would have been disastrous if those had entered the public market. Besides, I didn't take the Viscount's life."
"Isn't that only because you wanted his knowledge of drugs and cultivation skills for yourself, keeping him like a pet in a research facility?"
"He is working very hard for the sake of the country now."
"Because you made him do so."
Honestly, he talks as if I'm a villain. Well, I'm in such a high-spirited mood for the first time in a long while that Cyril's nagging doesn't bother me.
Now, I wonder what kind of expression she will show me the next time I go to see her. I look forward to it.
Still, is it even possible for mana to simply wither away? ...That is also quite intriguing. I think I'll look into it once I return to the palace.