As Riario and Karen had said, Northernmost didn’t seem to have suffered any particular damage. Aside from the streets being messy with household items blown by the wind, at least there were no buildings collapsing or the bare trees in the square being uprooted.
Though it was a small village far more insignificant compared to the empire’s capital, Maneregia, the fact that they had returned here was moving enough to be deeply touching.
“Your Grace the Duke!”
When they returned to the beloved ‘Rabbit & Goat’ inn, the innkeeper welcomed them enthusiastically. Although the snowstorm had passed, the entire village had been unsettled for several days due to the monster incident, so the inn was very quiet except for a few drunkards. The drunkards were heavily intoxicated and didn’t even glance at their party. If it was fortunate, it was fortunate. Anya still needed a little, just a tiny bit of preparation time before facing the people here. Not that he wanted to run away, but his body was terribly exhausted, so he wanted to stand before them in his right mind.
“Innkeeper. Could you prepare hot water along with dinner?”
Karen whispered quietly to the innkeeper. The gaunt innkeeper was horrified upon discovering Evernight’s blackened right arm.
“Is that… a monster’s doing?”
He whispered carefully. Rumors of the monster invasion had already spread rampantly throughout the village of Northernmost.
“…You could say that.”
“My… how did such a thing… By the way, the master’s complexion also…”
Anya avoided the innkeeper’s troubled face as he stared directly at him. It seemed that the good little boy of Northernmost, Joel, hadn’t breathed a word to people about the fact that he was a Claicer Imperial Prince.
“The two of them defeated the monster. But in the process, His Grace the Duke suffered a fatal wound. We must treat him quickly, so we’d also appreciate some clean cloth.”
“Yes, I understand. Everyone’s been trembling in anxiety and couldn’t sleep a wink for several days and nights. The village chief just kept saying everything would be resolved so don’t come out of your houses… Oh my, this isn’t the time for this. Please hurry upstairs. I’ve finished tidying the bedroom. I’ll bring what you’ve ordered right away.”
The innkeeper walked into the storage room with a somehow determined expression. The drunkards opened their eyes into thin slits and looked this way at the commotion near the inn entrance.
“Oh, oh my!”
They soon realized that the shabby-looking party wasn’t simply wandering travelers but the Duke’s party, and hastily prostrated themselves flat on the floor.
“We’ll go up soon.”
Evernight raised his hand to stop them.
The Duke took care to evacuate us safely and defeated the monster.
Indeed, that rumor was true. The rumor that he can easily defeat monsters even by himself.
But he injured his hand like that…. He won’t be unable to hold a sword forever, will he?
Smack! Shut that mouth of yours. Don’t you know words become seeds?
How could there be another person like him in our Tildyen?
But how did that monster get all the way here?
It’s a very dark age….
I heard about that little kid the monster devoured….
Shh, the mage is looking this way. Let’s watch our words in front of these high-ranking people for now.
The party went up to the second floor, leaving behind the drunkards’ whispers.
* * *
The innkeeper didn’t spare firewood for the returned party. The room was filled with such warm energy that they didn’t need to wear their robes. Anya was drowsy with sleep washing over him and felt like he’d collapse the moment he rested his head anywhere, but he didn’t leave Evernight’s side.
Riario sat him in a chair and then quickly removed his shoulder armor. A huge black line had already taken over his entire forearm. Evernight nonchalantly removed the rest of his upper garments as well.
“How… did you endure it?”
The ominous black energy had crossed his shoulder and finally spread shallowly all the way to his heart. Riario’s brow furrowed. They had almost truly missed the timing to do something about it. He immediately moistened a white cloth with warm water and wiped the wound. Karen assisted Riario from the side with swift movements.
Evernight didn’t even let out a groan. He simply calmly gave Anya an order.
“You go to Riario’s room, eat, and get some sleep.”
“N-no! I’m f-fine. I’ll k-keep watch.”
Inside the bedroom filled with orange light, it was especially quiet, so his shout echoed even louder through the air. Tension filled the boy’s face even more. They never blamed him, but there was such a thing as propriety. Anya had already made up his mind to reveal the whole truth to the people of Northernmost as soon as he returned.
“B-because of me, you ended up l-like this. Just t-tell me what I can do.”
It was a voice full of strength, showing firm determination.
“In any case, there’s nothing Your Highness could properly do.”
Riario said firmly. Though his heart ached, Anya had to acknowledge it.
The series of Northernmost incidents taught Anya that sometimes he needed to know how to back down, not just be stubborn.
“However, thanks to Your Highness handling things well in the cave, we were at least able to slow the curse’s speed.”
He continued speaking while glancing sideways at Anya. Handling…? All Anya had done in the cave was sleep with Evernight. For Anya, it was an action he had steeled his heart to do, but it wasn’t anything great compared to what others had handled. Anya immediately felt awkward and carefully looked back at Evernight with his eyes lowered. He was just sitting quietly even during this conversation. Occasionally he clenched his fist, but he didn’t roughly press Anya like in the cave.
Riario spoke in a much softer tone.
“And right now, Your Highness’s appearance… no, your state is no different from a monster.”
“Pardon…?”
Anya asked back with a dazed expression. His mind was blank from pouring all his attention into Evernight’s condition.
“It’s a metaphor that you’re as pale as the dead.”
Karen added with a troubled expression. Only then did Anya let out a short sigh.
“…You.”
Hah, Evernight dismissed the current situation with an irritated tone while massaging his brow.
“Hurry up and get out to your room.”
He soon sent a look filled with irritation while tilting his head back. The man’s Adam’s apple moved greatly up and down.
“……”
“Your Highness’s magical power is of no help right now.”
Riario opened a small bottle cap with his mouth, spat it on the floor, then drew a complex magical formula on Evernight’s wound with a sticky blue liquid. And when he placed his palm on top of it, purple light soon flowed out. The black lines wriggled as if writhing on the surface of Evernight’s skin. He didn’t even let out a small groan.
“This damn curse is still raging through my body—what good would it do if you stay here?”
His blue eyes gave a final warning. He really seemed to be barely holding on.
“…Yes. I u-understand.”
Anya had no choice but to leave the bedroom.
If, if something h-happens….
He couldn’t even finish his last words. As he said, the only thing Anya could do right now was to remove himself from the scene, that was all. Through the gap as the door closed, Anya kept taking in their figures with his eyes. Lingering attachment overflowed in drips. But that was only for a moment. Soon the door closed with a sound and Anya was completely cut off from them.
He wanted to die because his moronic self was so pathetic.
‘Halfwit… I need to become strong. More than anyone else.’
Anya swore to himself in the darkness. Anya prayed to the gods more earnestly than ever before.
“I’ll grow up quickly and become as strong as them. I can do it.”
The innkeeper prepared a dinner table with only warm foods that could warm the body. Since all they had eaten in the cave was roasted rabbit meat over fire, he was terribly hungry. Just smelling the food made his stomach rumble noisily.
But Anya didn’t touch the food at all. Though his body clearly craved food, Anya’s mind stubbornly refused to eat. Instead, Anya paced around the room and frequently opened the door to check on Evernight across the way.
It was already past midnight, but the door remained firmly closed. How much longer did he wait anxiously?
“R-Riario, my lord…!”
Just then, the weary-looking Riario and Karen walked out of the bedroom.
“You haven’t slept yet?”
Riario asked in a greatly lowered voice.
“No, I was w-worried….”
“Your Highness’s condition doesn’t look very good either right now. Please go in and get at least some sleep.”
Even Karen, who rarely gave harsh words to Anya, joined in. Anya understood their concern well enough, but he felt he could only sleep after checking on Evernight’s condition.
“…And the l-lord?”
