Chapter 4: I want a day off!
Julius S. Euclis.
There’s no mistaking him for the second prince of this country.
However, he looks slightly different from the one I’ve seen before.
There are black markings on half of his body that I’ve never seen before.
“Y-You are…”
“I’m Freya, a court magic tool maker!”
“magic tool maker… were you at the court until this late…? That’s unexpected.”
“What happened? What are these markings…”
His highness is clutching his chest in pain.
Is it a heartache or difficulty breathing?
Or maybe both.
It’s clear at a glance that the situation is serious.
“I’ll go call someone now!”
“Stop!”
His highness grabs my arm tightly.
An extraordinary high fever is transmitted from his hand.
“Don’t do anything unnecessary. Don’t tell anyone about this.”
“W-Why? You have a high fever. Clearly, you are suffering from some kind of illness.”
“It’s not an illness. It’s… a curse.”
“A curse?”
“Yes… guh…”
“Your highness!”
The pain must have become worse.
His Highness releases my hand that he was holding onto.
In a split second, I grabbed the falling His Highness’ hand.
The high fever I felt from his fingertips is approaching the limit of what a human body can endure.
At this rate, it could be life-threatening.
“Forget about me… just leave and go home.”
“I can’t do that.”
“What are you…”
“I can’t just leave someone who looks like they’re in so much pain!”
I pull His Highness’ hand and wrap my arm around his shoulder.
For someone as weak as me, supporting an adult male is just barely possible.
But I force myself to do it.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“What are you trying to do?”
“I’m taking you to my laboratory.”
If this symptom is really a curse, that magic tool should be useful.
Once we arrive at the laboratory, he’ll surely feel better.
So——
“Just hold on a little longer, okay?”
“…Ah.”
I feel like the burden has lightened a bit.
His Highness’ feet move along with my movements.
We increase our walking speed and head towards the laboratory.
We enter the darkened laboratory and lay His Highness on a makeshift bed.
The bed is uncomfortable, but endure it for now.
I turn on the lights in the room and search for the magic tool on the shelf.
“Let’s see, found it!”
I found a silver bracelet.
I attach it to His Highness’s right arm, on the side where the pattern is spreading.
“This should do it…”
The magical instrument takes effect.
The black pattern that had spread throughout half of his body gradually fades away and disappears.
In its place, the bracelet changes color to black.
It’s as if the bracelet is absorbing His Highness’s curse.
“… Huh…”
“Your Highness.”
“The pain… is starting to fade.”
“That’s good.”
As expected, it seems to be working properly.
Relieved, I sit on a nearby chair.
On the other hand, His Highness gets up from the bed, clenches and unclenches his right hand to confirm that the pattern has disappeared.
“Is it thanks to this bracelet?”
“Yes. It’s a magic tool with the effect of easing curses.”
“A magic tool? Is there such a thing?”
“Yes. Curses are special, but the underlying magic is the same.”
There are different types of curses.
The curse that His Highness was afflicted with was likely the type that spreads throughout the body.
This kind of curse won’t stop until the one who cast the curse is dealt with.
However, it is possible to slow down the progress of the curse.
“That bracelet will expand the curse’s target. Currently, the curse recognizes his highness’s body at a ratio of nine for the bracelet and one for the body. As the target expands, the effect of the curse weakens.”
“I don’t really understand, but the curse isn’t completely lifted, is it?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. Only the one who cast the curse can lift it.”
“No, it’s enough. Thanks to you, my body feels light. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a painless night. This curse seems to progress at night.”
A curse with a specified time frame for progression.
Judging from his highness’s story, the curse progresses every night, and when that pattern covers his entire body… it will activate completely and he will die.
That’s what I think this curse is.
“Thank you. Your name was Freya, right? You saved my life.”
“N-no, it was just a coincidence… I’m sorry for being rude.”
“It’s not rude at all. Your action of trying to help someone is something to be proud of as a prince of this country. You also took care of it immediately, so you are an excellent talent.”
“Excellent…”
I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve been called that.
“I’m the one who should apologize. I used strong words… but please, promise not to tell anyone about this.”
“W-Why?”
“Heh, if it’s known that a prince of a country has been cursed… it could be a big problem, don’t you think? My father and the others would worry. I… don’t want to worry anyone.”
“That’s why you were in the courtyard…”
So that no one else would see him in pain.
This person…
“Why a curse?”
“I don’t know. Well, there are plenty of people who hate me. As a prince, I can’t help but draw attention and be seen as an enemy by bad people. As soon as possible, I want to find the person who cursed me… By the way, why were you there?”
“Uh, that’s… uh, work.”
“Work? It’s already past the time it should have been finished, isn’t it?”
That may be true, but I also have my own circumstances.
Especially today, no, yesterday, there were various things that happened.
“Sigh… oh, I’m sorry!”
Sighing in front of His Highness like this.
Realizing that I’m weakened to the point where I can’t control myself.
Seeing me like that, His Highness smiles kindly.
“Freya, is there anything I can do?”
“Huh?”
“You saved my life. If there’s anything you want me to do, please tell me. I want to do what I can to help.”
“Well, I mean, I…”
“Don’t hold back. Just tell me what you’re thinking.”
Just be honest…
What is it that I want?
Do I want to go back to being engaged to Cain-sama?
No, that’s not it.
I wouldn’t want to become engaged again with someone who cheated on me even once.
Do I want my workload to be reduced?
That would be nice, but I’m afraid of what comes after.
The backlash against me would likely become even harsher.
Many thoughts come to mind and then disappear.
After all, what I wanted was——
“I want a day off!”
“… A day off?”
“Yes.”
I just wanted time to rest my mind and body.
That’s all I wanted.
