The Rune Magician Who Lost Everything to Her Older Sister, Becomes Doted On by the Genius Prince – Chapter 40
Chapter 40: I am here
“It seems it will take a month until a full recovery.”
After the power struggle, everyone gathered in my laboratory.
I relayed the condition of His Highness that I heard from the court physician to Zion-kun and Kaijin.
The burn on his right arm is severe, and it seems it’s difficult for him to move it now.
“Damn it, it doesn’t feel right even though we won.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“If I had acted first, His Highness might not have been injured.”
“Huh? If you had done that, you would have been the one with severe burns. The situation wouldn’t have changed.”
As Kaijin said, anyone could have been a sacrifice.
However, it was just that His Highness acted without hesitation.
Fortunately, His Highness Rejhon was not injured.
His Highness Alectos has contained all the flames, and he himself has taken the brunt of the impact.
By the way, it seems like the battle between Kaijin and the Knight Commander continued.
Using magical tools, the Knight Commander was able to restrain Kaijin, who was like a monster, alone.
Neither of them is a normal human.
Kaijin was left feeling restless as the issue remained unresolved.
“So, what about the prince who was saved? Did he properly accept his defeat?”
“That’s what I heard.”
“Well, if he doesn’t accept it now… I don’t think he can really call himself a decent person.”
He wasn’t someone heartless enough to not think anything of his younger brother who had risked his life to save him.
At that time, the expression on His Highness Rejhon’s face, who had been saved, was filled with regret.
“But geez, that guy really does go overboard. If things had gone wrong, he could have died.”
“…Perhaps he just isn’t afraid of death.”
“Huh?”
“I-I only say that based on how it appeared. At that moment, his highness didn’t hesitate. It’s as if he has no interest in being hurt… it seems like he doesn’t really care.”
Zion-kun speaks in a small voice.
It doesn’t matter what happens…I also had the feeling that it looked that way.
The sight of him worrying about the unharmed His Highness Rejhon, despite having suffered a serious injury himself, felt somewhat abnormal.
“Just being reckless. What about the exploration?”
“It’s going to start in one month, I heard.”
“Ugh, we have too much free time until then. What should we do to kill time? Hey kid, let’s play for a bit.”
“N-No thank you.”
“What did you say?”
“Hii! I’m sorry!”
Zion-kun ran away teary-eyed.
Kaijin chased after him.
“Wait! Fight me to kill time!”
“That’s why I said no!”
“Hahaha…”
Watching those two, I felt a little bit better.
“Your Highness…”
I heard he was getting treated in the infirmary.
I somehow wanted to see how he was doing, so I headed for the infirmary.
When I opened the door to the laboratory, I encountered an unexpected person.
“Meiana.”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
I suddenly met the king in the hallway.
I was surprised and made a strange noise before quickly bowing my head.
“Good. I just came here to chat a bit.”
“Y-Yes… um…”
“Were you planning on going to Alectos’ place?”
“――Yes.”
When I responded, His Majesty gave me a gentle look.
“I heard the situation from Rejhon. That child seems to have reflected a little as well.”
“I see.”
Rejhon-sama…
“Meiana, how did Alectos look to you?”
“Huh? In what way…”
“Didn’t you think he was a bit dangerous?”
“Well…I did.”
I remembered Zion-kun’s words.
“It seems like he doesn’t care what happens to himself…”
“Exactly. Alectos is careless about his own well-being.”
His Majesty asserts.
As I widen my eyes in surprise, His Majesty continues to speak.
“Alectos’s mother…my wife was assassinated on the way back from an inspection.”
“What…”
I am speechless.
It is widely believed that the wife of the current king died of illness.
I also thought that was the truth.
“Is, is it true?”
“Yes. Alectos was also there, small as he was. On a day of heavy rain…his mother was attacked and killed, and Alectos hid and watched.”
I gulp down a lump in my throat.
The young prince was hiding under the direction of his Okaa-sama.
Due to fear, he could only watch helplessly as the others were brutally killed.
Just imagining it sends shivers down my spine and scares me.
His Highness has such a past.
“Since that day, he has become stronger. He had talent to begin with, but now he is the best magician in the kingdom. However, what drives him is the regret from rainy days. Anger at his own weakness and incompetence for not being able to protect others…”
The king continues speaking.
And looks at me with a sad yet warm gaze.
“That child doesn’t want anyone to die. He doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. He thinks that if he has to sacrifice himself for that, then so be it.”
“That’s…”
“I also tried to stop him. I tried to persuade him several times. But he didn’t change. He is still haunted by the regret of not being able to help his mother.”
Zion-kun had talked to me about the prince’s heart before.
The prince’s heart is like a rainy day, with something hidden deep within.
I don’t know what that something is yet.
But I’m sure it’s the young prince himself, who couldn’t do anything but hide and watch when he wasn’t able to help.
“…Why are you telling me this?”
“You remind me a bit of my wife. Your demeanor, I mean.”
“M-Me?”
His Majesty nodded his head.
“He chose you partly because of your abilities, but unconsciously, he may have been drawn to you. So, I’m sorry to ask this, but I entrust him to you.”
“…Is, is there anything I can do?”
“I don’t know. I only want you to keep talking to him. About anything.”
“Talking…”
What should I talk about?
There’s no way someone like me can do anything about his dark and sad past.
His Majesty told me the story and left.
He probably stopped by just to tell me.
I deeply bow my head.
And then, I walk away.
Of course, I head to the infirmary.
I arrive at His Highness’ room and take a deep breath.
I still don’t know what to say.
I just want to see His Highness’s face, so I knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Meiana.”
“Oh, come in.”
After getting permission, I open the door.
A cold, damp breeze blows through.
Coincidentally, it was raining today.
I make eye contact with His Highness sitting on the bed in the infirmary.
“You came to visit me. Is it for a condolence visit?”
“Yes.”
“I see. I’m sorry. I made you wait for a month in this state.”
“No, Your Highness. Your health is more important.”
“…It’s not that important. I’m just glad everyone else is okay more than me.”
I don’t care about myself.
He shows a profile that seems to want to say that.
He hates rain.
I now understand the meaning he previously mentioned.
It’s raining hard today.
He must have lost his mother on a day like this.
He has grown strong because he doesn’t want anyone else to die anymore.
Even if it means sacrificing himself, he wants to protect others.
What can I say to him?
“Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
“――I’m here.”
I lightly touch his injured hand next to him.
My thoughts are not organized.
But mysteriously, these words emerged from my heart.
I’m here.
“Meiana…?”
“Please don’t do anything reckless. If you’re going to be reckless, I’ll help too. I’ll protect Your Highness as well.”
It didn’t make any difference what His Majesty said.
If It would be meaningless for me to stop him.
Then, I’ll go with him.
To dangerous places, to scary places, it doesn’t matter.
If His Highness is going, I won’t hesitate.
That’s all I can do right now.
I, who was saved by His Highness, will now protect him.
“――Mom.”
“Huh?”
“Ah, no, that line just now sounded like something my deceased mother used to say. ‘I’m here, always watching.’ It was her catchphrase.”
“I see…”
“Ah…”
His Highness looks up at the ceiling, looking lonely.
I must have reminded him of his Okaa-sama.
Did I say something unnecessary?
“Meiana.”
No, it’s okay…
“Thank you.”
I’m not wrong.
Seeing the smile that His Highness directed towards me, I thought so.
I strongly feel that I want to be able to protect this person’s smile.
I want to continue to be a magician that can live up to His Highness’ trust.
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