132

Nora the cleric clicked his tongue as if pitying me, then left the barracks.

“You’re dead.”

The orders I gave were the most basic measures for any disease outbreak.

Cleanliness and isolation might seem trivial, but they’re easy, effective steps that can prevent or at least delay infection. They won’t save someone already badly sick, but they’re far better than leaving people in places crawling with bacteria.

Once things settle, I’ll give that brat a harsh punishment for his rudeness. Given the circumstances I let it slide, and now he acts like he can do whatever he wants.

“I’ll watch whether he’s Nora or Noh and see what mischief he gets up to.”

I grumbled as I wrote the clinic’s duty roster. I’m the one who wants to get out of here the most.

I was pretty sure my original goal had been simple: find a steady job, save money, and retire early.

“This is all because of that Crown Prince bastard.”

I exposed corruption, and he retaliated with poison and a public scene. I couldn’t just stand by. I stopped writing and stood up. Thinking of him reminded me of something important.

“Prince Raven. I am Chancellor Cornelia.”

“Come in.”

I went to Prince Raven’s barracks. Nicola greeted me warmly. Judging by the mud and dust on them both, they’d been helping with the work.

There was no trace of displeasure on the prince’s face.

“You’re doing better than I expected. It’s surprising.”

Raven said, wiping his face and hands with the towel Nicola had handed him.

“What’s hard about wiping things down and moving stuff around? It’s the empire’s sick citizens who are suffering.”

Oh.

It was an unexpected side of him. For a plan I had only sketched, Prince Raven might actually be the right person.

Changing the empire’s succession required someone with the right character.

“You’ve worked hard too. If there’s anything I can help with, say so freely. To be honest, I’d rather be here than at the palace.”

Tears suddenly blurred my vision.

“Ah… that’s understandable. I’m glad you’re doing well. Still, be careful not to get infected.”

“Don’t worry. I’m strictly following the precautions the Chancellor told me.”

I moved on to the real purpose of my visit.

“It will take time to develop a treatment. No one knows if it will be today or a month from now. So we need food and medicine to hold out until then. His Highness the Crown Prince drastically cut the amount I initially requested. I’m asking that the Crown Prince himself intervene.”

Raven pointed to himself in bewilderment.

“…Me? Are you really asking me?”

I smiled brightly.

“How could I…? You can’t do it either. Why not try asking the surrounding nobles for support?”

“No. Not the nobles—please petition your father, the Emperor, directly.”

“What?!”

I explained why it had to come from the Emperor.

“If a royal comes here and then reaches out to other nobles, His Highness the Crown Prince will claim the royal family’s honor was diminished. Explain the situation properly and request support from His Majesty legally and with dignity. It’s not difficult.”

Raven suddenly grew anxious.

“He probably won’t listen. My brother told Father before and he refused firmly…”

Wow. The Crown Prince must be everywhere.

“Some time has passed. Convey it yourself, not through someone else. If you emphasize the royal family’s honor, he’ll listen. This is something only you, the prince, can do.”

It’s okay if you fail. Lives matter more than royal pride; we can take from other nobles if we must.

But I wanted Raven to take at least the minimal step of not being a puppet royal.

“Just try it. You know? You promised you’d stop running away.”

He looked utterly unsure, but this was a battle he had to fight. I asked Nicola to oversee things, then returned to my barracks.

You must be able to believe in yourself, Your Highness the Prince.

After that, there was no time to spare as I managed the plague wards again. Ten bodies weren’t the only problem. Sleep became a luxury. It was hard for everyone.

It shouldn’t drag on.

A plate with thin soup and a hard piece of bread slid across the desk.

“I thought wrong.”

I looked up through mussed hair to find Aidan standing there, very displeased.

“…Yes?”

“I said I thought wrong.”

“Did something happen outside?”

As I tried to stand, a wave of dizziness hit and I staggered. Aidan grabbed me and sat me back down.

“Do you know how many days this has been now?”

“So… about a week or so?”

I had only answered, but he sighed deeply.

“At first I thought Coco knew what she was doing when she planned and gave orders.”

“Th…thank you?”

I was tired, but praise is praise. Aidan shook his head.

“I didn’t expect you’d stay up nights like this without taking care of yourself!”

I registered his tone a beat late. He looked as if he’d been cheated.

“Ah, it can’t be helped. I’m in charge. The higher the position, the busier you are. Keep that in mind, Magic Tower Master.”

“That’s not what I know.”

“The situation is the situation. People are dying, so we have to act quickly.”

Aidan hesitated, then sat opposite me. He dunked the hard bread in the soup to soften it and offered it to me.

“Scratch the compliment. Eat quickly.”

I had no appetite, but his resolute green eyes made it clear that refusing would only cause more trouble.

We survived because Aidan helped. With so many sick people, moving heavy loads and keeping things clean wasn’t easy.

His magic separated and isolated the clinic by patient condition and maintained cleanliness. Watching chores others had to grunt through happen instantly made me think it was almost unbelievable.

“I’ll talk to my father about the food.”

I shook my head firmly.

“That’s exactly what the Crown Prince wants. If you later request support from the royal household they’ll say, ‘Of course we’d have approved it—why resort to shortcuts?’ and pick at it. Prince Raven must obtain it directly from the Emperor himself, even if it means flattering him.”

“This is why I hate the royal household.”

Aidan scowled.

“The first time is important. Even if you have to crawl before the Emperor, you need official support to make Prince Raven’s coming here worthwhile. He may be blocking the request, but we’ll handle it.”

“How do you know all that?”

I dipped the rest of the bread in the soup and forced a faint smile.

“You learn when you’ve been burned enough.”

Who gets it right on the first try? You get hit at the back of the head enough times and it sinks in.

He only stood after confirming I’d cleaned my tray.

“Go to sleep. If you’re not here, I won’t come back either. Then I won’t work.”

I agreed; it would be a problem if the Mage Tower Master went on strike.

He hesitated just before leaving.

“I finally understand why he pleaded so insistently.”

Then he left.

What was he talking about?

My thoughts slowed; I gave up and resolved to go to bed early.

Reality was unkind.

The tasks and decisions didn’t decrease; they piled up.

Fortunately, Prince Raven helped the medical staff and clerics among the sick and never failed to encourage them. He did more than expected, and his healthy constitution kept him from collapsing.

He seemed troubled by the task I set, but in truth it only required the courage to report to the Emperor.

It’s just that it’s not easy to make up one’s mind.

The aftereffects of gaslighting lingered, making him hesitate. Luckily, we still had spare food.

Ugh.

Sitting in the same position, doing paperwork for hours made my body stiff. I stretched until my muscles loosened.

Outside, only faint embers glowed and it was quiet. It felt like a long time since dinner.

I should get some fresh air.

I decided to go just to the nearby stream where there was light, not anywhere dangerous.

Low-ranking soldiers stood guard here and there; I nodded slightly as I passed. The sound of water made the place feel lived-in.

Hah.

A stifled breath escaped. I dipped my hand in the stream and splashed water on my face.

This is crazy.

A cold that seemed to freeze my brain settled over me.

A funeral hush clung to the camp because of the plague, but the night was clear and the full moon bright—indifferent, incongruous. I found myself staring.

“I never thought I’d be jealous of the moon in my life.”

“…?”

A voice that should never be here answered.

“It’s late—what are you doing here? It’s dangerous.”

No way….

I turned slowly. Lean and tall, limbs long and slender, violet-gray hair like a silver wolf, and red eyes that were impossible to look away from—there was a man leaning against a tree.

“Ren…”

My eyes widened until they couldn’t widen more. He snorted and smiled at my expression.

“How on earth did you get all the way out here?”

He walked up and stood in front of me, then took off his jacket and carefully draped it over my shoulders.

“Because I wanted to see you.”

Is this a dream?