The First Test (4)
Assassins affiliated with Angel's Breath learn from an early age how to tell a liar from someone speaking the truth.
So I could tell at a glance that the Sage was being honest.
"When you reach my age, you know. You can see it in their eyes—whether they're someone who'll amount to anything or not."
The old sage's cloudy eyes turned toward me.
"That boy had the makings of someone who could become anything. That's why it's such a shame."
Someone who could become anything. As if that changed a thing.
My life was twisted from the moment I was born anyway.
I rose from my seat without a word.
Hypocrisy left a foul taste, but sincere pity like this was even harder to endure. It felt like standing barefoot on gravel heated by fire.
"Let's stop dawdling and get moving. We need to leave before sunset."
"What's the big hurry? I still have to pack and hand out the medicine!"
"Medicine? But Leo said he can't make any more..."
At the word medicine, Edwin's eyes lit up as he spun around.
"It's not a complete cure. But if you administer it little by little over a long period, it can halt the disease's progress. Scars will remain, though."
The reason for spacing out the doses instead of giving the full treatment at once was simple: if every villager suddenly showed improvement, it would look suspicious.
"I'll handle distributing the medicine myself. You just hurry up and go, old man."
Right on cue, Leo appeared from inside the cabin, a bandage wrapped around his arm. Thanks to the Sage applying the remedy before it was too late, the poison that had spread through the boy's body had been neutralized long ago.
"And you—talk with me for a second."
Leo grabbed Edwin by the wrist and pulled him along, his expression hard.
"What, you're not going to stop us?"
The Sage stared at me where I stood motionless, eyes strange.
"It's not far. There's no need."
"You really are odd. I doubt there's another attendant in the empire who lets an imperial prince wander around like this."
The Sage grinned at my reply, as if he'd guessed my true identity. Of course, that was impossible.
"Stop talking and pack your bags. Before I knock you out and drag you."
"Oh my, how terrifying. You look one way but act so vicious. I wonder if I'll even live out my natural lifespan if I follow you."
"Shall I deliver you with just your head attached?"
"Fine, fine! I'll pack quickly, alright!"
I shot the grumbling Sage one last glare before turning away.
Through the gap in the half-open door, I saw the two boys standing face to face.
"Have you lost your mind!"
Leo shouted without preamble.
"Who told you to pull that crazy stunt? If you die trying to save me, what am I supposed to do? Live with guilt for the rest of my life?"
"I just... I didn't—"
"What if the monster had killed us both!"
"But it didn't kill us!"
If we were still alive, wasn't that enough? Why was he so angry?
Edwin raised his voice against the older boy who kept criticizing him.
"If I hadn't done it, we both would've died!"
"Even with what you did, we could've both died if luck wasn't on our side! If I hadn't begged that woman who came with you for help! If she'd arrived even a little later! If Master had found me even a little later—we'd all be dead!"
Edwin started to argue back, then stopped. His eyebrows drooped.
Tears glistened at the corners of Leo's eyes—eyes that belonged to a boy far bigger than him.
"Who asked you to save me? If you died, how could I ever live with my legs stretched out comfortably again?"
"Hey... are you crying?"
"Who's crying! Damn it, this is so annoying!"
Leo yelled, then whipped his head away.
He stared into the distance for a long time before speaking again.
"...Hey."
Edwin waited with wide eyes.
"...Thanks."
It was a clumsy, blunt thank-you.
Edwin's mouth fell open in shock. He could hardly believe the same boy who had been scolding him moments ago had just said that.
"Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'huh'? You saved my life, so I'm saying thank you! It's only right to show gratitude!"
The tips of Leo's ears had turned bright red where he kept his face turned away. Embarrassment or anger—it was hard to tell.
"Anyway, I would've died if not for you! So thank you!"
"...You really mean it?"
"Of course I mean it! Why would I lie?"
Leo spun around to face him.
His whole face was as red as his ears as he raised his voice again.
"And quit making that stupid expression! It makes me look like I'm bullying you!"
"I'm not stupid!"
"I didn't say you are stupid, I said stop looking stupid!"
"That's the same thing! Then you should stop glaring all the time! You look scary!"
The two boys kept bickering until they ran out of breath, chests heaving.
Leo spoke first once they'd calmed down.
"Whatever. Here, take this."
Edwin tilted his head at the pouch Leo held out.
"What's this?"
"The magic stones you mined today. They're yours."
"What?"
The pouch was so full it felt heavy even when held with both hands. It looked like more than half of everything they'd gathered that day.
Edwin stared at Leo, bewildered.
"You're really giving all of them to me? Is that okay?"
"You mined them, so of course you take them. Who else would?"
Leo waved a hand and added, "They're worthless in this village anyway. If you take them outside and put them to good use, it's good for the stones too."
Edwin accepted the pouch reluctantly.
"...Th-thanks."
The prince mumbled his gratitude, then suddenly pressed his lips together tightly.
"Hey, Leo."
Leo gazed quietly at the prince, who had called his name for the first time.
"What?"
"Well... you know."
Edwin hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"Do you want to come with me?"
The sudden offer made Leo freeze for a second.
After a moment's thought, he asked, "To the imperial palace together?"
"What—you already knew?"
Edwin's mouth fell open in surprise.
"That I'm the imperial prince?"
"I only just found out. The old Sage told me while treating my wound."
Leo thrust out his bandaged right arm.
Edwin's face fell as he looked at the injury.
"...I see. Then you probably don't want to come with me."
"What? Why would you think that?"
"Because... you don't seem to like people of high status very much..."
When Edwin's voice shrank, Leo answered as if the idea was ridiculous.
"What does that have to do with anything? Whether you're royalty or whatever, the fact that you saved my life doesn't change. Why would I hate you?"
Leo frowned, pretending to glare.
"Then, since my status is lower than yours, are you going to pretend I never protected you from that monster?"
"What? That's ridiculous! If it wasn't for you, I would've died ages ago!"
"Exactly. It's the same thing."
Edwin let out a short sigh and fell silent.
Leo gave a wry chuckle at the sight.
"Man, if only every noble and royal was like you. But they're not, right? Even I can tell you're one of a kind."
"One of a kind?"
"It means you're different from everyone else. Special. In a good way."
One of a kind. Different. Special.
Edwin had never heard the words before in his life. But they didn't feel bad. In fact, he found himself rather liking this first nickname he'd ever been given.
"Then you'll come with me, right?"
"No. I'm not going."
The firm refusal left Edwin looking crestfallen.
"Why not?"
"You already gave me the reason yourself."
"...I did?"
"Yeah. You said I have to live because this village needs me."
Leo shrugged.
"I think you're right. If both the old Sage and I left, this place would fall apart."
For the first time, a playful smile broke through his usual blunt expression.
"So go with the old Sage and do your best."
Leo rested a hand on Edwin's much smaller shoulder.
"So that one day I can come find you on my own."
Leaving Luxen Village proved surprisingly easy.
Just as the Sage had said, the gatekeepers had terrible eyesight. On top of that, people held the firm belief that a priest would never lie.
"Your Highness, it would be safer if you stayed inside the carriage. It's dangerous in the dark."
"Master snores too loudly. I can't sleep."
Edwin complained that the carriage was too noisy and came to sit beside me on the driver's seat. The Sage's snoring, he claimed, transcended human limits.
"Shall I tie him to the back and drag him along?"
"...You're joking, right?"
"I'm always sincere."
Edwin pulled a disgusted face at my answer and shook his head.
"Hey, I have something I want to ask you."
The boy fidgeted with his fingers in his lap, then put on a deliberately serious expression.
"What do I need to do so Leo can come meet me?"
Leo. He was already calling the boy so familiarly by name. Well, there was no bond quite like the one forged by overcoming hardship together.
"That boy didn't refuse Your Highness's invitation to come to the imperial palace together, did he?"
I asked back in a neutral tone.
"So why are you asking?"
"Just... curious."
A simple, straightforward reason.
I thought for a moment and gave an equally simple answer.
"If you want to make it possible for him to come see you directly, there's only one way."
"What is it?"
"Eliminate the plague village."
Edwin let out a sharp cry at my response.
"It can't disappear! That's Leo's hometown!"
"Your Highness, that is not his hometown. In fact, it's no one's hometown."
"Why not?"
Edwin frowned.
"Isn't the place where you were born and raised your hometown?"
"Your Highness, a prison cannot be a hometown."
Yes. That place was a prison. No one lived there by choice.
"Hmm."
Edwin mulled over my words, then asked again.
"Then what do I have to do to eliminate the plague village?"
"...Why are you asking that?"
"No reason. Just curious."
Why did he keep saying that? He had so many questions.
I glanced at the boy who kept dodging a real answer.
"There are two ways to eliminate the plague village."
The first was to distribute a cure for the disease.
The second was for the emperor of the empire to release the patients and grant them freedom.
"But both methods are realistically impossible."
"What? Why?"
I answered the prince's innocent question with firm certainty.
"Because doing so would spark war or a rebellion."