Chapter 288

On a bright, sunny morning.

The mages were moving through the main building, rolling their stiff necks. At this point, the distinction between day and night had truly lost all meaning.

As they walked down the corridor yawning repeatedly, one mage tapped his colleague’s shoulder.

“Look there. It’s His Highness Jin.”

Beyond the large bay window, Jin appeared to be receiving lessons from his private tutor. The massive blackboard, usually used by mages for formula analysis, was covered in foreign languages.

The mage squinted and frowned. Perhaps due to the sunlight, His Highness’s silver hair was gleaming like gold.

“He looks exactly like Lord Ian.”

“I know. Made me jump for a moment.”

The way he rested his chin while gazing ahead impassively, his neat handwriting that seemed almost careless, and even the occasional tapping on the desk.

“…I’d believe they were blood-related at this point.”

“Like there were two Lord Ians.”

“Wanna die? Learn what’s appropriate to say out loud.”

“Ah, too far? Sorry.”

The mages hurried along, exchanging trivial jokes.

From the outside, it might look like an ordinary lesson. But if one were to open the door and step closer, they’d realize the reality was quite different.

“Haah.”

Creeak.

The teacher’s writing wavered at Jin’s sigh. Though her chalk even broke, she could only hold back tears internally.

Just an hour into the lesson, this was exactly the tenth sigh. When asked if he wasn’t feeling well, he only answered no, leaving her at a loss for what to do.

Watching from behind, Xiaoshi checked the time and raised his hand.

“Teacher. An hour has passed. Perhaps we should take a short break to help with concentration?”

“Yes! That’s an excellent idea!”

“Has it been an hour already? I’m fine though.”

Though Jin tried to refuse, Xiaoshi approached and shook his head. At this rate, it seemed the tense teacher would be the first to collapse.

The child reluctantly rose from his seat and headed to the adjoining garden.

Click.

No matter how large the bay window, the difference between inside and outside became clear once the door opened.

Jin placed his hand on the glass and briefly furrowed his brow. How nice it would be if Lord Ian’s inner thoughts were this transparent.

“Your Highness.”

Xiaoshi draped a coat over the child. Though not exactly affectionate, his gaze was quite steadfast. Jin stared at Xiaoshi before suddenly muttering:

“Lord Ian is strange.”

“……”

It was an impulsive statement. After suffering alone with his thoughts, they had become too heated and burst out on their own. Jin lightly bit his lower lip and looked around the garden. In the distance, the problematic trees were visible.

“Lord Ian-“

“…?”

“May have changed, but it could also be that the viewer’s perspective has changed to make him appear so.”

Just as the person who once called Ian master was now completely different from their current self.

Jin silently agreed. After all, there was no comparing himself now to when he had first harbored his wounds.

He couldn’t tell if Ian had changed. But he himself had definitely changed. So wasn’t a change in perspective also worth considering?

Looking slightly surprised, Jin smiled and added:

“Xiao, no one would believe now that you couldn’t read until recently.”

“…You flatter me.”

Jin watched tree branches swaying in the breeze. While Ian remained standing like that, wasn’t he himself watching swaying branches?

Was that why he couldn’t get his bearings, his gaze swaying along with them?

What if that’s not it?

What if instead of swaying, they were reaching out?

Jin approached the trees as the question suddenly occurred to him. What if the branches grew over the wall and eventually collapsed under their own weight?

The child whispered so softly only he could hear. The cool wind blew, instantly erasing his voice.

“Before that, I’ll have something to do. Right?”

Jin felt the branch with his fingertips. His demeanor was so reverent and solemn that Xiaoshi held his breath as he watched.

Just then, they saw the teacher peering through the bay window, as if having something to relay. At that summons, Xiaoshi turned alone.

Click.

“What is it?”

“Um……”

The teacher wore an expression that was neither smiling nor crying. Teaching the prince was already burden enough, but now an even more intimidating guardian had visited.

“Lord Ian.”

“I hear it’s break time. Has the schedule changed?”

“Well, um, it just worked out that way as we proceeded with the lesson.”

Ian smiled faintly as he flipped through Jin’s notes. Then, noticing the teacher’s trembling voice, he tilted his head curiously.

“I’m not criticizing, just asking sincerely. Since this is normally class time. You’re the new foreign language teacher?”

“Yes!”

“I look forward to working with you. Though I have no concerns, as His Highness is already quite proficient in foreign languages.”

“Yes. He certainly has talent. His linguistic sense is excellent. Though his pronunciation needs some correction- Ah! I’m not speaking ill of him!”

Ian turned to Romandro in confusion. Given the teacher’s attitude, one would think she was facing a ruthless tyrant.

But even Romandro, usually well-versed in rumors, just shrugged indicating he knew nothing. Ian murmured as he closed the notebook:

“…His Highness’s pronunciation is good though.”

“Yes, of course!”

“Teacher, why don’t you step aside for some tea? You seem so tense, I feel apologetic.”

It was both consideration and a request to give them space. The teacher, seizing the opportunity, immediately bowed and left the room.

“Xiao.”

“Yes, please speak.”

Ian started to say something but stopped. His gaze extended beyond the bay window. Romandro and Xiaoshi followed his line of sight.

Jin was standing in the garden, speaking with some mages.

“Someone told His Highness about the trees in the garden. Do you have any idea who? About the blessing.”

“…I’m not sure.”

“Then what about mages His Highness has been particularly close with lately? Even those he frequently meets by chance.”

Jin had been staying in the Ministry of Magic since the day of the civil unrest. By now he knew the place as well as the mages did, to the point where there were no unfamiliar faces.

Though puzzled by the question, Xiaoshi thought carefully before answering:

“The mages we encounter frequently would be those from the Magic Support Division, since they’re close to where His Highness studies. Beyond that, I can’t recall any particularly memorable mages.”

“Then, from now on…”

From now on would be fine. He meant to say to keep memories sharp and be wary of suspicious individuals hovering around Jin.

But Ian’s gaze caught something new. While the group of conversing mages had gone their separate ways, one remained behind watching over Jin.

“Lord Ian?”

Their manner of conversation seemed quite familiar. Ian frowned before quickly concluding the discussion.

“From now on, keep close watch around His Highness and report any suspicious individuals to me. There are still traitors remaining.”

“Understood. Should I tell His Highness-“

May I tell him?

Xiaoshi started to ask but immediately corrected himself.

Was it even worth asking? Jin was now his master, and there could be no secrets regarding him.

“I will relay your message.”

“Good. Well done.”

“Xiao, good work. We’re heading to the main building for inauguration preparations. Contact us there if anything comes up.”

“Yes, Lord Romandro.”

Romandro patted his shoulder in acknowledgment and nodded farewell to Barsabe who was guarding the door.

Click.

“Xiao. I thought I heard someone earlier.”

Shortly after, Jin returned from the garden holding several flowers. In that brief time, his cheeks had turned red from the sunlight.

Xiaoshi pulled out a chair for him while nodding.

“Lord Ian and Lord Romandro stopped by.”

“Why didn’t they call for me?”

“They were busy with inauguration preparations and couldn’t stay long.”

“Really? What was their business?”

A flower petal was inserted between the pages of a book, along with the hope that someday, when time had passed, finding it would bring back memories of today.

“…They said there are still traitors in the Ministry of Magic, so to guard Your Highness with extra care.”

“Traitors?”

Jin’s fine brows instantly furrowed.

Traitors – beings whose very name was disturbing.

But what bothered the child more was the timing of this information. If they were traitors in the Ministry of Magic, wouldn’t they likely be mages?

It was as good as Ian telling him indirectly:

Stay away from the mages.

“Ah, really.”

In the past, he would have accepted it without a shred of doubt. But once his eyes had been opened, that was no longer possible.

Questions kept churning in his mind. Was it true? Or was Lord Ian perhaps lying to check him?

Because if he grew close to the mages’ faction, there would be no need for a Minister as the central figure.

“…Your Highness?”

“Never mind. Let’s hurry and resume the lesson. We’ve wasted too much break time. Bring in the teacher.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Jin blinked his eyes wide as if to clear his mind and grabbed his pen. His small, cute fist was quite firm.

The teacher, who had been drinking tea at the attendant’s summons, came running breathlessly, and Jin showed unprecedented concentration compared to before. As if deliberately trying to erase stray thoughts.

Neeeigh!

Meanwhile, Ian, seated in a carriage with Romandro, looked out the window and spoke:

“Lord Romandro. About the one who was with His Highness in the garden earlier…”

Ian’s words were drowned out by the rattling of the carriage. When Romandro smiled as if asking him to repeat himself, Ian enunciated clearly:

“The one who was with His Highness in the garden earlier.”

“Ah. Yes. Why?”

“We should recheck their background information. And keep an eye on them.”

He was ordering surveillance.

Romandro scratched his mustache and answered that he understood.

***

Dawn broke.

Soldiers who had been watching the sky from atop the castle walls checked the time and waved their flags. Signaling the start of a special morning.

Five strong men who received the signal pulled out an enormous wooden beam. They rang the bell with all their might, letting its sound echo throughout the central district.

Dong-

Children sitting by windows, merchants setting out tables, young men tossing newspapers about, and elderly folk in simple clothes sitting on their front steps – everyone who heard the bell placed their hands on their hearts in joy.

Though early, the streets were already bustling with energy.

“The inauguration ceremony begins!”

“Mama, I can hear bells from the Imperial Palace!”

“Waaah! It’s a festival! A festival!”

“Come on, hurry! It’ll be even more crowded by lunchtime!”

“Which country did they say would arrive first?”

“The rumors say…”

The day when guests from each nation would arrive in central Bariel before the main ceremony. The start of festivities, and for several days the pre-ceremony celebrations would keep night from falling on Bariel.

Whoosh! Swish.

Flower petals showering endlessly from the sky.

The whole world was dyed in sparkling things. Throughout the inauguration period, the central district would show only the most beautiful and fantastic sights, incomparable to anywhere else.

“They say Ruswena will arrive first!”

To bless the arrival of Jin, a new chapter in Bariel’s history.