Chapter 32
“Lady Melania, then, if we just recover the Soul Fragment, will Cecil be able to regain both the Magic Vessel and the memories from when she was young?”
“Yes. I think it will be possible.”
But Melania wondered whether this could really be called a purely good thing.
‘Because I don’t know why Cecilia’s Spirit Familiar disappeared…’
An incomplete Spirit Familiar has no consciousness. The caster must directly transfer their consciousness to move it.
That means… if Cecilia’s incomplete Spirit Familiar vanished, it meant that Cecilia experienced death in that form.
Where in this world is there such a thing as a peaceful death? If Cecilia were to regain her memories from that time, she would undoubtedly be shocked.
“…For that reason, even if we recover the Soul Fragment, I’m reluctant to give it back to Cecilia.”
“Is it impossible to return just the Magic Vessel?”
“No. The Magic Fragment is part of the Soul Fragment.”
Sophia let out a sigh of regret but soon agreed with Melania’s opinion.
After all, Cecilia is living fine even without the Magic Vessel now.
So depending on the circumstances… it would probably be better for Cecilia if we treat the Magic Vessel as something she lost forever at age seven, and protect the Soul Fragment separately so it doesn’t get further damaged.
“By the way, do you have any idea what kind of animal Cecilia’s Spirit Familiar might have been?”
“I’m not sure…”
“At first, she couldn’t have gone far, so it might have been seen near the house.”
If they had asked this question nine years ago, something might have come to mind. But now, it was too long ago to recall…
“Ah.”
“Did something come to mind?”
“I’m not certain. But when she was little, Cecilia…”
Sophia tried to recall her hazy memory.
“Lately, you’ve only been reading this storybook?”
“Yes! I like this character here. I’ll definitely raise one like this when I grow up!”
“Really? Then should I gift it to you?”
“No. Lilia will bring it herself!”
What kind of animal was it then? Sophia furrowed her brow to remember the vague memory.
It had already been a month since Nicole began treating Kaien. As she promised, Kaien’s body had improved far more than before.
“Hahaha! Truly amazing. If my body is fully healed, I will grant you anything you wish!”
“You flatter me too much. I was only doing what needed to be done.”
“Flatter? No, you need to understand what it means to make my body whole again. The fate of this Empire will be changed because of this!”
“……”
Nicole was well aware of the succession struggle between the first and second princes—or rather, the current lack of a real struggle.
How could she not know? Most people considered the second prince the future emperor because of the divine prophecy.
‘But the prophecy never said the first prince wouldn’t become emperor…’
Whoever becomes emperor, she would only do her work.
Nicole silently removed the toxins from Kaien’s body with only that thought in mind, and Kaien busied himself testing just how capable his newly restored body had become.
It had only been a month since treatment began. Yet, he could now take a light walk for about an hour, and sit at his desk for up to two hours.
At first, Kaien hadn’t believed Nicole’s claim that she could fully heal him in three years, but now he could no longer doubt it.
‘When my body is fully normal…’
He could reclaim what he had had to yield to Lionel because of his weak body: the exalted position of emperor, and even a perfect fiancée!
Filled with dreams, Kaien immediately went to see the empress and said he wanted to begin lessons from today.
Naturally, the empress was delighted and began searching for a teacher to instruct Kaien.
“Yes, yes. Now that your body has recovered, you should naturally start lessons. I’ll find someone immediately…”
“Mother, please keep this matter secret for now.”
“Secret? Why? We should announce it at once! Your body is healed!”
“It’s not fully healed yet. I don’t want attention focused on it for now.”
“True… many will be curious about who healed the body that no one else could. The bishop might even be snatched away.”
To keep Kaien’s treatment hidden, the empress strictly controlled outside access to the first prince’s palace, and the teacher chosen to instruct Kaien was a trusted person from her own family.
Thus, Kaien began taking very basic lessons in between treatments.
The first to be called was Marquis Fernand, a teacher in history and administration. He worried that Kaien would quickly tire and collapse, but was amazed to see him actually sit at the desk for two hours.
Still, that was one thing, and reality was another.
“Frankly speaking, Your Highness, considering that you could not dedicate yourself to studies before, your learning ability is very good.”
“‘Learning ability’? That sounds like something else is the problem.”
“In other words… even with effort, it will be difficult to close the gap with students who have studied diligently for long periods.”
Kaien could easily guess who Marquis Fernand meant by “students who have studied diligently for long periods.”
“Get to the point.”
After a moment of silence, Marquis Fernand answered honestly.
“Your Highness, if you aim for the throne, people will judge you not by your own objective achievements, but against the standard of the second prince.”
Lionel was already regarded by many as the prospective crown prince, not the second prince. Even the emperor had given him tasks and a seat at state council meetings.
“If Your Highness is appointed crown prince, many will wonder, ‘Why him? Why the second prince?’”
“……”
“You must be able to prove your reason at that time.”
Kaien twisted one corner of his mouth at Fernand’s serious words.
“Prove, huh…”
“……”
“Marquis, in your opinion, how many years will it take for my achievements to surpass my brother’s?”
“…Are you asking honestly?”
“If you try to flatter me, I will cut your neck.”
Fernand turned pale, nervously touching his neck, and cautiously replied.
“Unless the second prince neglects his studies… it seems impossible.”
The gap had already grown too large. How could the turtle catch the rabbit, unless the rabbit takes a nap?
What Fernand said struck Kaien deeply.
“As long as he doesn’t neglect his studies…”
In other words, if the one ahead stumbles, the one behind can catch up.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t been paying attention to Lionel while treating my body.’
Kaien regretted not carefully watching over his pitiable younger brother, unloved by their parents. Feeling remorseful for his own negligence as an older brother, Kaien summoned a servant.
“How has my younger brother been lately?”
It was a sudden question, but the servant, accustomed to Kaien’s frequent inquiries, recited exactly what he knew.
“Not much different from the last time you asked. The daughter of Duke Roham always stops by after finishing her bride lessons and brings freshly baked cookies…”
“Freshly baked cookies? The duke’s daughter bakes cookies herself?”
“Yes. I heard she baked them specially for the second prince.”
Kaien chuckled, recalling Cecilia’s demeanor in the dining hall.
“She looks like she’s spoiled, yet she has the temperament of a good wife. And?”
“And… it seems the second prince is keeping a bird.”
“A bird?”
A curious expression appeared on Kaien’s face.
“That kid has started keeping a bird again?”