Chapter 303

“Oh, do they make a lot of wine?”

“They say the quality is good.”

“Then it really is the grape country! Just as I thought!”

“Ha, if Clifford is grapes, is Bariel bananas?”

“Ugh- how childish. What are you even saying?”

“You started it first!”

Ian, about to enter Noah’s private palace bedroom, stopped in his tracks. Romandro, standing behind him, did the same.

The conversation drifting from the prince’s bedroom was hardly befitting royal discourse. The prince had clearly been influenced by Beric in the meantime.

Knock knock.

Creeeeak.

“Pardon the intrusion, Your Highness. Minister Ian Hielo here.”

“Oh! Welcome! Perfect timing! Please, take this fellow away!”

“Hey, what’s wrong? We were having fun. Ian, I kept the prince company.”

“Company? Nonsense! You’ve been spouting nothing but foolishness at every turn – my mind is in chaos!”

Two beasts immediately pouncing toward Ian at first sight. Noah no longer seemed intent on hiding his beast-folk nature, openly displaying his ears and tail.

The two began circling around Ian. It only stopped when Romandro grabbed Beric by the scruff of his neck.

“Haah.”

It was Delegate May’s sigh. She sat at the table with her hand pressed to her forehead, as if in despair. As if the curse fragmenting her lord’s reason wasn’t enough, the person in question now has been infected by Beric’s influence. May kept muttering quietly that their prince wasn’t usually like this.

“Your Highness, please calm down and take a seat first.”

“I wouldn’t be excited if it weren’t for that Beric fellow!”

“Eh? You shouldn’t say that, Your Highness. I rolled you around in the garden, didn’t I? You said it was fun!”

Goodness knows what had transpired over these few hours. Ian placed a transparent crystal bottle on the table and took a seat. Then, with bright smiles, he gestured for the two to sit down.

Beric, who had been loudly chattering with Noah, noticed Ian’s gaze and quietly slipped into a chair.

“Your Highness. What are you doing? Standing there alone.”

“You…!”

He didn’t forget to tease Noah until the very end.

Ian checked the time. It was tighter than expected – better to hurry things along.

“Prince Noah. The banquet time has been set. It will be held at seven in the evening in the main palace’s banquet hall, and the entry order of each country will follow their arrival order at the palace. The Burgos delegation is still unloading their carriages.”

“Has the King of Burgos arrived?”

“Yes. Without incident.”

Without incident. That included the audience with Prince Jin. Among the three nations, only Clifford had failed to follow proper protocol. Realizing this, May let out another troubled groan.

Rustle.

“His Highness Jin has been informed of your condition.”

“Wh-what did he say?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“…Really?”

“He merely said he understood.”

Obviously a lie.

When told that Noah was a beast-folk, the child’s eyes had grown so round! Though he tried to maintain composure, he couldn’t hide his excited surprise.

‘Wh-what should we do? Prince Noah being a beast-folk!’

‘This works out perfectly. From what I can tell, it seems to be a hereditary trait of the royal family itself. It’s a top-secret known only to the closest confidants within the royal palace, so we should be able to secure considerable cooperation from Bariel. Beric has done something praiseworthy for once.’

Ian glanced at Beric. Having stuffed his mouth with snacks from the table, he was now trying to act innocent while watching for reactions. Though his cheeks bulged conspicuously, his expression claimed he hadn’t eaten anything.

“Then, is this the potion that will help me?”

At that moment, Noah asked while fidgeting with the crystal bottle. It was filled more than halfway with a light navy-colored liquid. Beric’s assessment was that it looked unpalatable at first glance.

“Indeed. Unfortunately, as the mage specializing in this area is absent from the palace due to illness, this was produced by their subordinate mages. While the effects are certain, they say the side effects cannot be ignored.”

“Side effects?”

Noah and May’s brows furrowed simultaneously. Suspicion bloomed in an instant. It’s easy enough to casually mention side effects. But who could have known it might strangle Noah’s breath?

At the mere word ‘side effects,’ both of them turned their gazes cold with extreme wariness.

“There’s no need to look at it that way.”

“You didn’t mention this before. His Highness is Clifford’s heir. We decline anything that could potentially cause problems. Even now, we could ready the carriage-“

“I understand you’re sensitive given the situation in a foreign country, but you’re being hasty, Delegate May. Someone might think you’re the one under the curse.”

Wasn’t it said that curses dull one’s reason? You’re exhibiting that now. Ian restrained May with a calm but firm voice.

“Even beneficial medicines have side effects. All the more so for something that temporarily erases what even Clifford authorities call a ‘curse’ – claiming there would be no side effects would be the lie.”

Rustle.

Romandro pulled out a neatly folded paper from his inner pocket. Though simply written, it was a kind of contract, bearing Ian’s clear signature at the bottom.

“According to the mages who produced it, while it can temporarily conceal unwanted physical characteristics, after the effects wear off, they return two to three times stronger before reverting to their original state.”

“D-does that mean I’ll grow two or three ears and tails?”

Noah grabbed his ears in horror. He already felt monstrous enough – more ears growing? Too horrifying to even imagine.

“No. Rather, there’s a high likelihood of issues with fur density or maintaining rationality, which Your Highness is currently struggling with.”

“…How long does it last?”

“That can be controlled. Drinking the entire potion gives seven hours. However, the side effects increase proportionally by two or three times.”

“If we’re looking at maximum twenty-one hours…”

May calculated while counting schedules with her fingertips. Ah. Thank goodness. He should be able to attend the main appointment ceremony without issue.

“Besides that, you may experience chills, fever, and nausea, though it’s not certain. As mentioned, the specialist mage is absent.”

“Couldn’t we order that person to briefly return to the palace?”

“My apologies, but they left due to the dragon anomaly reaction from Ruswena. Due to risk of infection, that’s impossible.”

Noah’s ears perked up sharply. Ruswena. Come to think of it, everything started because of them.

Just how did they manage their dragon stables for a supposedly eradicated infectious disease to emerge anew? If not for that, there would have been no need for inspections or any worry about discovery in the first place.

“Then, what is this contract?”

“It’s a contract agreeing that we both acknowledge the side effects I just mentioned. Beyond these, if any other physical issues arise, it means they’re Your Highness’s personal problems, not caused by the potion.”

What if Noah raised excessive adverse reactions and tried to make an issue of it?

Since the potion was produced by Bariel’s Ministry of Magic, any problems could escalate into diplomatic issues. The contract was presented to prevent this in advance.

Of course, Clifford wasn’t pleased about it.

‘The first gathering of the three-nation alliance, offending Bariel twice in succession. If there are no problems, taking the potion and attending would be far more beneficial, but…’

Pop.

While May deliberated, Noah pulled out the cork without hesitation and sniffed the liquid.

It had a sweeter smell than expected. Noah’s eyes narrowed, and his tail moved slowly left and right in wariness.

“Minister Ian Hielo. Swear on a mage’s oath that there are no tricks beyond what you’ve said.”

Oh ho. So he knows about mages’ oaths.

That was unexpected. Unlike Ruswena with its handful of mages, he’d heard Clifford’s last one had died ten years ago.

Ian raised his hand to show his intent to swear.

“Your Highness. On a mage’s oath, the potion was made without issue. You too must swear on Clifford. That you won’t abuse Bariel’s goodwill, and that you’ll sincerely congratulate His Highness Jin at his appointment ceremony.”

Noah’s tail thumped against the floor forcefully. Though he seemed to unconsciously reveal his mood, he appeared unaware of it himself.

“Very well. I too shall make this promise.”

Noah downed the potion in one gulp without hesitation. May tried to stop him in surprise, but it was too late.

He’d been ready to die anyway when Ian first discovered his identity. He’d thought about digging his own grave and crawling in, so this was worth the risk at worst, and an unparalleled opportunity at best.

“Pen!”

“Here it is.”

Just as Noah was about to sign the contract, the potion’s effects began to manifest gradually. His luxuriant tail started shrinking, and his perked ears flattened as if lying down.

Watching from the side, Beric kept exclaiming in amazement.

“Wow, they’re disappearing. The ears and tail are vanishing! Amazing!”

“What? Already? What do we do now?”

Having finished signing, Noah felt around his head and bottom with his fingertips. It’s real. They’ve vanished without a trace. Yet somehow the sensation remained, making it truly bizarre.

“This lasts seven hours, right?”

“…Your Highness. I never said to drink it now.”

Thump. Noah froze, apparently shocked. How scatterbrained was the prince with his reason not yet returned? When Ian turned to May, she had her eyes completely shut.

Noah carefully fumbled around May’s waist, searching for her pocket watch.

“H-how many hours until the banquet?”

“Two hours.”

“Ack.”

Five hours? That’s cutting it a bit close…

Ian, looking as if his business was concluded, stood up while putting the contract in his inner pocket.

“I’ll see you at the banquet. Just in case, I’ll have more potion prepared. What should we do with Beric? Leave him here?”

“No! Take him with you!”

“What! Your Highness, I’m disappointed! After I rolled you around so enthusiastically! Even brushed your tail, hm? And gave you treats!”

“You bit me while brushing my tail! And why are you taking credit for the treats when the imperial palace prepared them?”

“You were so plump, I just had to bite! And about the food-“

“Quiet! Lord Ian. Take him away.”

“…My apologies.”

At Ian’s signal, Romandro dragged Beric away by his neck.

Noah’s bedroom suddenly quiet, he flopped onto the bed and let out a sigh of relief.

“Haah.”

“How do you feel, Your Highness? Are you alright?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Don’t feel anything at all.”

At May’s question, Noah kept awkwardly stroking his head.

Isn’t magic truly remarkable? The royal curse passed down since their origins. He couldn’t imagine how much effort his ancestors had put into concealing it.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Yet a potion whipped up in mere hours could have such an effect…

“May. This must be the true taste of magic. I’d like to take some mages back with us.”

May nodded while roughly tidying the table.

“Isn’t that why the King of Burgos made such a proposal? That mages would pour out once the imperial palace opens. He said nothing would be as sweet as the fruit they would bring. What will you do at the banquet? Things have gotten a bit complicated…”

“More than that, my condition is the problem.”

“It was rather surprising. It’s because you’re just passing through the transition period, so don’t worry too much. Who knows? Though it’s the power of magic, now that your beast-folk traits have disappeared, your judgment might return as well.”

“That would be troublesome. It means I’ll become twice as foolish when the effects wear off. Probably worse than Beric. I’ll pass on that.”

Noah muttered while rubbing his face against the pillow. May was about to add that he’d done well to drink it anyway, but stopped herself.

“Please get up now. The banquet is in two hours, so you should start preparing.”

“Yeah. Right.”

Noah stretched like a fox as he got up. It seemed only his appearance had changed, while his reason hadn’t returned.

The sun began to set beyond the curtains. As dusk fell and complete night descended, the imperial palace would shine more brilliantly and radiantly than during the day.

After all, it was the moment of the first banquet between the three nations and Bariel, when the kings would meet.

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