Inside the Holy Temple of the Imperial Palace, Infirmary.
“So…?”
Ezekiel rubbed his chin.
“…you three have something to propose to me?”
The three messengers nodded their heads in unison.
BING!
‘Things have turned out better than I expected.’
Just by looking at their faces, it was clear they weren’t bringing bad news but rather good proposals, and it seemed things were going very well.
Well, when you think about it, it made sense.
Recently, he had helped Hedera interpret Ancient Dragon Language, won against Ether in a duel albeit unfairly, and even completed the portrait the Emperor desired.
…Looking back, he was curious about how he managed all that.
Just then, the messenger of the 1st Princess spoke up.
“From now on, I will relay the words of the 1st Princess. There’s a no-contact order for three days since she has awakened, so please understand the situation.”
“No-contact order?”
He turned to Agnes with a questioning look, but she just shook her head silently.
The 1st Princess’s messenger nodded.
“Yes. The presence of the princesses cannot be ignored, so it was a temporary measure to prevent any effects on the patient, Ezekiel.”
Agnes tilted her head.
“So, it means blocking the princesses from approaching?”
“Correct.”
“…?”
Agnes looked utterly confused. A no-contact order for the princesses meant, in other words, they were trying to meet Ezekiel, right?
…Why on earth?
What happened during their vacation?
“From now on, I will convey the 1st Princess’s message. Please step outside for a moment, outsiders.”
Soon, everyone left, leaving just the two of them in the infirmary.
The 1st Princess’s messenger unfurled a scroll.
“From now on, whatever I say is the exact words of the 1st Princess.”
“Okay.”
“First, I apologize.”
With that, the messenger began relaying the words.
“I deeply acknowledge that the accident during the recent duel was largely my fault. I never anticipated that my opponent would have a teacher.”
“Um.”
“Of course, these are just words and are conveyed through another’s mouth. I know well that I cannot be absolved just with an apology. Besides apologizing, I promise to do my best in various capacities.”
The messenger mimicked Ether’s tone quite well.
“First of all, I completely lost the duel. As the party involved, I acknowledge that my teacher is the clear victor.”
Ezekiel quietly nodded.
“In terms of the elixirs that were agreed upon beforehand, they have already been used for treatment, and I won’t pretend that they were delivered. I will acquire the same amount of elixirs again and provide them once more.”
“Uh?”
This was an enormous benefit.
Ezekiel was terminally ill. Each elixir was invaluable. So, in the end, he would be receiving double the amount he was originally promised—talk about a win-win!
“And if you want, I’ll even offer my body.”
“…?”
Ezekiel narrowed his eyes.
“If merely offering my flesh would grant forgiveness, I’d give it readily. If you wanted my head, I’d behead myself.”
The 1st Princess’s messenger fell silent for a moment, thinking.
‘This is too outrageous.’
Such an unprecedented offer.
To be precise, it was her life she was talking about—the precious life called the hope and pillar of the Empire. Offering that was…
Essentially handing over the future of this continent, don’t you think? Of course, they would accept it.
However.
‘Huh?’
The messenger observed Ezekiel’s expression and found it puzzling.
His face was entirely different from what she expected.
“…”
Ezekiel quietly chewed on Sunweed.
“Did the 1st Princess’s messenger finish what they had to say?”
“…Yes?”
“I just wondered if you had said all you needed to.”
“Uh… I mean, I did convey it.”
“Good.”
Whoosh!
Ezekiel exhaled smoke and nodded.
“Next.”
The messenger’s face turned pale.
After receiving orders from Hedera, Tether had vowed.
“I will definitely succeed!”
Even though the mission was challenging, the difficulty didn’t matter.
Tether had caused a stir over the Imperial Treasury incident, yet Hedera generously embraced him. Plus, she even extended benefits by increasing his aides.
That’s why Tether had to pull it off.
So Ezekiel would want the Magic Tower and work there for life!
But….
Um, wait….
‘Am I really doing this right?’
Tether tilted his head.
“Tether, I wasn’t expecting this kind of treatment.”
“…Ah, no! I’m doing this because I want to!”
Tether worked even harder, actively patting Ezekiel’s shoulder.
“This is the first time I’ve received such treatment in my life.”
“…?”
Am I coming across as fine?
Even if I am, is this the right way to do it?
“Here, try some of this too.”
Meanwhile, Tom, the priest appointed by the 3rd Princess, had been slicing fruits nonstop and placing them on the bedside.
Not just slicing, mind you.
They were so artistically done that it felt almost a crime to eat them, resembling intricate sculptures presented to Ezekiel.
“Is it tasty?”
“Well, it’s not bad.”
“You might have sensed it, but I fashioned it after the Sun God’s statue. Please remember the temple…”
CRUNCH!
Before Tom finished, Ezekiel bit off the head of the Sun God statue.
Why that part…?
Or maybe it was his fault for carving it that way in the first place….
“Huh? Did I say something just now?”
“…No. You didn’t say anything.”
After that, Ezekiel continued to comfortably chew on the fruit.
“It’s a rare indulgence. This isn’t so bad.”
Meanwhile, in a corner of the infirmary stood Agnes, quietly observing the scene.
Agnes had been feeling anxious for a while.
When Ezekiel made eye contact with his secretary, he said,
“Agnes, will you have some?”
“…”
Agnes remained expressionless but felt baffled.
She quietly noted something in her notebook.
[ Unfathomable. ]
Is it fine for Ezekiel to act like this?
Of course, there wouldn’t be a big issue.
After all, this was not a situation forced upon him, and the messengers were offering their goodwill on their own.
But still….
Agnes inadvertently blinked.
‘He looks too comfortable and too well-suited for this.’
She recalled when she first met Ezekiel in that rural village, barely recovering from a hangover, the lazy bum.
Sure, it made sense that it looked suitable then.
…But what about being comfortable?
The messengers chattered excitedly.
“The 1st Princess will spare no support from the Northern Region. So please consider it positively just once—”
“The Holy Temple is always open. It will serve as your haven anytime.”
“Uh, Inspector! Did you hear about the wage increase at the Magic Tower? And that’s not all—”
Yeah, the real confusion was this scene.
‘…All the people gathered here are amazing.’
These are royal messengers and direct aides to princesses, someone ordinary would bow down to the ground just to be in their presence. And yet, they talk so casually like this?
Are the conditions being proposed trivial?
No, that’s absolutely not the case either.
“There are beautiful sights in the North. Would you care for a tour? We’ll take full responsibility for the expenses….”
“I’ll arrange for the inquisitors to accompany you.”
“…Our Tower Master is beautiful, you know?”
Every proposal was more astounding than the last.
Thus, Agnes was left with nothing but questions. Her curious hand began noting vigorously.
[ Is he capable? ]
Is Ezekiel truly a remarkable person?
Yes, he was excellent. But was there anything he did that would make three princesses show interest in him? What could possibly be the reason?
[ Looks? ]
[ Character? ]
“…”
SCRATCH!
[ ■■? ]
[ ■■? ]
Completely covering the text.
Well, it seemed there was something she didn’t know.
Even now, while Agnes busily continued her worries, Ezekiel was just supremely comfortable.
Finally, Agnes sent a telepathic message.
—Inspector.
Huff…
The inspector merely exhaled Sunweed smoke.
—Hey, Inspector.
—What?
His response was so calm.
Agnes broke into a cold sweat and sent another telepathic message.
—I should explain, just in case. Everyone who has visited the infirmary is a distinguished guest. Allow me to briefly outline each one….
—I already know. There’s no way I wouldn’t know.
—Huh?
Agnes’s mind grew even more tangled.
Then why is he just sitting here knowing all of that?
—Every suggestion directed at me is just not appealing. I should focus on the Magic Tower for now.
—Uh…?
Is he really that pure? So unwaveringly principled?
After clearing her throat a few times, Agnes sent another telepathic message.
—At least let’s show some basic courtesy. Even if you’re going to decline, you never know when you might run into them again, right?
—After all, there’s an exchange meeting tomorrow.
—Yes.
—Today, I’ll just rest and recharge.
—…
Could anyone pressure someone who just recovered from an illness? Agnes was human too and simply couldn’t do such a thing. Yet, it was problematic that the person is a VIP!
In the end, Agnes spoke to the messengers.
“Excuse me, Tether, the trustee of the 2nd Princess.”
“Yes, yes. What is it?”
“Will the princesses personally visit the infirmary?”
“Hmm, if they do, it’ll likely be three days later.”
“…Is that so?”
The Magic Tower exchange meeting had been very daunting, but now it seemed rather welcome to Agnes.
Quickly, Agnes noted.
[ Leave early at dawn. ]
Ezekiel’s condition seemed better than expected, so the best option was to leave as soon as possible.
If the princesses see this….
“…?”
At least from Agnes’s perspective, it would be the worst case.
Which princess would be pleased to see their handpicked messengers toiling like this?
But then.
Just then.
Bang!
The infirmary door flew open, and a priest walked in.
Upon seeing the scene, he took a moment to freeze.
“…?”
Of course, it was something that could only be seen in such a circumstance. This hospital room had to be a rarity.
“Ezekiel, are you feeling alright?”
“Well, I think I’ll need to rest fully until today.”
“The princesses have visited.”
A brief silence.
Time seemed to freeze, and everyone was in shock.
“…?”
Ezekiel looked puzzled. Why did the princesses come?
“They confirmed that there’s an exchange meeting with the Black Tower tomorrow, and they’ve reduced the three-day no-contact order to one day to meet you once in advance. You should prepare.”
“…?”
“Ah, have you made a decision?”
“Decision? What decision?”
“I’m just a lowly priest. Naturally, I don’t know all the details. However, the princesses have come to hear that decision…. Well, let’s meet them.”
“…?”
A tense atmosphere enveloped the infirmary.
Agnes discreetly rolled her eyes.
In any case, Ezekiel must have some strategy, right?
He’s acted that way because he has a plan, doesn’t he?
“…?”
But.
“…!”
Agnes’s eyes widened in shock.
Ezekiel was frozen like a statue.
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