Chapter 107
When the incident from ten years ago was mentioned, Winston flinched and widened his eyes at the following words.
Not only was he not a powerful prince, but with the Empress also having lost her power, Winston had heard nothing about the two powers in the past ten years.
He thought they were still maintaining a good relationship, albeit without showing it, so Johannes’s words were naturally surprising.
“Is that really true?”
“Yes. It seems that their interactions have almost ceased. I did some digging.”
Johannes continued, feeling a sense of superiority in knowing something his counterpart did not.
“Since ten years ago, the Crown Prince has completely cut off external activities. Everyone is wondering if that’s what caused the rift.”
As he spoke, Johannes narrowed his eyes.
“He’s really cold, isn’t he? How can he turn so coldly away when a friend and subordinate has died?”
In fact, the Crown Prince had a very good reputation in society.
Since he hardly engaged in social activities, the nobles didn’t feel the need to be cautious around him, making him a well-regarded royal. Additionally, he had been handling the Emperor’s duties from a young age, showcasing exceptional abilities and implementing many good policies, earning praise from commoners as well.
However, the reason Johannes criticized the Crown Prince was different. He was the one who significantly diminished the influence of the Temple.
For a long time, the royal family had at least superficially supported the Temple. They invited the Temple to national events and provided appropriate treatment.
From the Temple’s standpoint, such events were extremely important.
It was a chance to receive donations from the nobles. With 200 years having passed since a saint had appeared, the Temple’s influence was already weak, and they needed to secure donations to satisfy their own interests.
Moreover, the Crown Prince openly mocked the Temple during an event hosted by the Emperor over twenty years ago, while they were busy trying to secure donations.
With the next Crown Prince showing a negative attitude, it was natural for those who had planned to donate, as well as those who had been donating, to suddenly stop. No matter how much the nobles tried not to be cautious around him, it was difficult to prevent that kind of shift.
Johannes gritted his teeth as he recalled that time.
“Honestly, someone so cold-blooded is not suitable to be the Emperor. A ruler who can embrace warmly, like the Third Prince, is the true candidate for the next Emperor.”
At those words, Winston smiled awkwardly, as if he were in a difficult position.
“Your Excellency, please don’t say such things.”
“It’s not flattery. It’s the truth!”
Though he hadn’t intended to flatter, Johannes continued speaking since Winston didn’t stop him.
Winston wore a sheepish smile but didn’t scold Johannes harshly.
“By the way, how is your injury?”
He understood that the injury Johannes was asking about was not the one wrapped in bandages, but another “injury.”
“I’ll take a look.”
At that, Winston removed the gloves he had been wearing. His thumb was stained darkly from the tip to about one joint.
Last night, Winston had secretly left the castle in the early hours and gone near the snowy fields. Using the blood of a sorcerer, he had performed a ritual.
However, an unexpected problem occurred when Winston accidentally moved a bit late, causing his finger to lightly brush against the light that burst forth from the ritual.
The sorcerer had warned him not to touch the light that came from the ritual, so Winston had been very worried.
But aside from the dark discoloration of his skin, there were no other noticeable changes. He felt fine, and his muscles were okay, so he was relieved.
“Perhaps the sorcerer told you not to touch it because your skin turned dark. You seem fine!”
“Yes, I think I am. How about Nadia?”
In fact, the person Johannes should be more concerned about was Nadia rather than Winston. This was because Nadia’s role was becoming increasingly important.
Nadia needed to raise her magical power to the limit to save people, and to do that, she had to deal with monsters diligently over the next few days.
As a result, Nadia had hurried back to her room after taking down five monsters today.
“The Saintess is fine. By the way, the royal family will be sending support soon, so wouldn’t it be better for the Saintess to make her move before then?”
“Nadia can handle quite a few monsters, so that sounds like a good plan. That way, we won’t have to hide when the royal support arrives.”
It was certain that the Crown Prince wouldn’t come, but there was no guarantee that his people wouldn’t be among the reinforcements.
Winston still hadn’t fully gathered his strength, so he had to remain completely submissive in front of the Crown Prince.
However, if he had already provided significant help to the North before the reinforcements arrived, it would be acceptable for him to show himself a bit in front of the royal support.
“Sounds good! As expected of the Third Prince. Your decisiveness is truly impressive. I’ll make sure to convey this to the Saintess!”
“Thank you for your hard work, Your Excellency.”
With Johannes leaving, Winston let out a small sigh and leaned back comfortably on the sofa.
Strangely, his hand felt tingly, so he looked down but found that aside from the dark discoloration, it seemed fine.
As the tension eased, fatigue washed over him, and Winston closed his eyes. Because of this, he didn’t notice.
The black substance staining his finger was wriggling and growing larger.
* * *
“Lady Philome.”
Philome, busy moving her hands, reflexively turned her body while holding the bandages upon hearing her name.
“Where are you injured…?”
She assumed that those approaching her were injured and naturally thought the person speaking to her was hurt as well.
However, standing before Philome was Winston.
“I came to talk.”
Philome stared intently at Winston.
He quickly added as he noticed the guard behind Philome quietly gripping his sword.
“It’s information that will help Kaien.”
At those words, Philome hesitated to send him away.
As Winston noticed the cold gaze directed at him change, his heart ached. He had hoped otherwise, but when he brought up Kaien, Philome reacted.
Feeling a pang in his chest, he suppressed that emotion and stepped a bit closer to Philome.
At the same time, as the guard approached, Philome stopped Jake.
“It’s fine. We’re just talking.”
Jake immediately stepped back at Philome’s words. However, he only moved two steps back and didn’t completely withdraw, so Winston glanced at him.
“Lady Philome, can’t we talk alone?”
“No, we can’t. Who would know you’d touch me without permission like last time?”
Philome’s sharp words made Winston feel as if his heart were being torn apart.
It hurt even more now that he knew she was Mel.
‘This is all Kaien’s fault.’
The old Philome had never looked at him so harshly. She always gazed at him with a playful smile.
It was a clear memory, even though it was from long ago.
But he knew well that resolving her misunderstanding in this brief moment would be difficult. So, Winston quietly composed himself.
“Alright. Then it’s fine to talk like this.”
“Go ahead. I’m quite busy and don’t have much time.”
Seeing Philome’s face, which had become haggard in just two days, made Winston suddenly angry.
“What is Kaien doing? How can he keep making Lady Philome work when she’s struggling like this?”
Philome couldn’t hide her astonishment at Winston’s words.
“The Duke hasn’t made me do anything. I’m doing this because I want to. Even if that’s the case, what does it have to do with you, Third Prince?”
Winston suppressed his upset feelings, recalling that Philome didn’t acknowledge their past together.
“…I just don’t want to see Lady Philome suffering.”
“Is that what you wanted to say? I’ll be going now.”
As Philome tried to turn away, Winston hurriedly shouted in urgency.
“I’ll talk. I will. Just wait a moment.”
When Philome stopped, Winston quickly continued, fearing she might turn away again.
“Tomorrow, don’t come out of the castle.”
“Excuse me?”
“Or just stay in the greenhouse. Absolutely don’t come out.”
“What does that mean…?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, Mel.”
Philome, taken aback and questioning, froze at his words. Winston averted his gaze from her and turned his body.
If Mel was as smart as Winston remembered, she would surely understand what he meant.
‘Finally, finally I said it.’
Although he already knew that Philome was Mel, saying it out loud in front of her felt new.
Winston was so immersed in joy that he didn’t even notice the pain in his fingers.
