Chapter 16: Alone with the Prince

“What’s in the box? Toys for the kids? They’d be perfect for Peggy and Jocelyn to play with.”

Hampton took Reef’s item out of the box and turned it over, examining it.

“If you bring that kind of trash to my nieces, I’ll kill you.”

“Trash? It looks exactly like a toy at a glance.”

“It’s a collection scraped together by a s*ave from the Magic Tower at the waste disposal site. You still want to give it to your kids?”

“No!“

At the mention of the waste disposal site, Hampton hastily threw Reef’s item down.

“Damn it, I told you not to give it to the kids, not to throw it down. I need that for interrogating the Magic Tower s*ave.”

Russell pushed Hampton aside and checked the contents of the box. Fortunately, Reef’s item wasn’t broken. It looked crude, but its durability didn’t seem bad.

‘The Magic Tower may have been past its prime for a long time, but it’s still where the Empire’s talents in magic gather. If mages from a place like that made it and then discarded it, maybe it’s no surprise it’s sturdy.’

Russell was thinking to himself when Hampton asked.

“The Magic Tower s*ave, you mean that pretty blond s*ave from back then?”

“Yes.”

Russell nodded. Hampton whistled in surprise.

“That one still hasn’t confessed and is holding out? For someone who doesn’t look the part, that one is tough. Is that one really a s*ave? Not actually a spy?”

“A s*ave, definitely. Though not a normal s*ave, I think. What is that one’s identity? Even with His Highness interrogating personally, the look in those eyes as they insisted to the end that they knew nothing was not ordinary.”

“It’s probably because that one’s face is extraordinary. When someone is handsome, even the smallest action looks impressive. Look at His Highness. At the departure ceremony, even without saying much, the soldiers stare with respect like they can barely breathe.”

“That’s not what I meant. You weren’t there, so you don’t get it. The atmosphere was really strange.”

Russell paused and thought.

‘No. It wasn’t just the s*ave whose atmosphere was strange. Should I say His Highness’s mood was also a little odd?’

Russell recalled the moment when, though in the same room as Isca and Reef, he felt as if he wasn’t there at all. Their eyes hadn’t met, but it felt like they were intensely aware of only each other. Or was that wrong? Wasn’t it natural for an interrogator and the one being interrogated? Russell couldn’t pin down exactly what he had felt during yesterday’s interrogation.

“I feel sorry for that s*ave too. If that one had been born somewhere other than a closed place like the Magic Tower, a noble lady would have noticed and that one’s fate would have changed quickly. Wait, His Highness is interrogating personally?”

“Didn’t I tell you? He went to the Magic Tower yesterday. He plans to go again today.”

“You only said he stopped by the Magic Tower, I think? Then again, even stopping by the Magic Tower is surprising.”

Hampton propped his chin on his hand and rubbed it slowly.

“His Highness has gone soft. I’ll let the first day slide since he couldn’t get a confession, but he’s personally interrogated twice and the s*ave is still breathing? I’d say His Highness has fallen hard for the s*ave’s looks.”

Hampton laughed loudly, showing his Adam’s apple as if he’d made a very funny joke.

“There you go, talking shit again. The reason that one is still alive isn’t because His Highness is going easy. It’s because I’ve been pouring recovery magic on them from the side. I’m drinking potions and using recovery magic, so what’s your point?”

“I’m not trying to ignore your effort, but even with recovery magic, you can’t stop someone’s mind from breaking, can you?”

“So?”

Russell shot back, sulking.

“Nothing much. I’m just saying a normal person wouldn’t last long under torture with recovery magic before their mind collapses. Ah, maybe a high-ranking mage would have strong enough mental fortitude not to go mad. High-ranking mages are so rare that I can’t be sure.”

Hampton’s words meant he had never tortured a high-ranking mage enough to accumulate meaningful knowledge. Russell sighed like someone confiding a secret.

“As it happens, I think that one is nearing their limit.”

To Russell, Reef felt like iron being tempered. Each blow of the blacksmith’s hammer made the red-hot metal harder, but there was a limit. Past a certain point, the metal didn’t harden. It shattered like glass.

“That one won’t last past tomorrow.”

Regret spread across Russell’s face. A s*ave dying was no big deal to him. It was no different from stepping on an ant. But because of it, he might never learn who had drawn the magic circle. That was what he regretted and worried about.

“Russell!“

The office door burst open. Russell turned with a look that demanded who dared enter his office without knocking, then shot to his feet.

“Your Highness!“

“Ugh!“

Hampton, who had been brazenly slacking off, threw himself behind the sofa with a crash. He must have been trying to hide before Isca spotted him, but the problem was that he was not small enough to hide behind a sofa.

“Hampton, get out here right now.”

Isca gave the order, but Hampton held his breath and didn’t move.

“Do you want to spar with me?”

“N-no, Your Highness!“

Hampton jumped up and stood at attention. Whether he hated sparring with Isca that much or not, his armpits were visibly getting damp fast. To save Hampton, who was shivering at the thought of being sentenced to a sparring punishment, Russell bowed politely to Isca.

“I’ll prepare some tea.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. It seems the Balman and Triaman bast* have learned our purpose in visiting the Magic Tower.”

“You mean the purpose was Baskerville’s research journal?”

Russell’s eyes went wide as if he had heard something completely unexpected.

‘How on earth did that leak? I was more than careful to keep it secret!’

Russell was deeply shaken, but he knew he must not show panic to his lord, so he quickly composed his expression.

“I will determine how this happened and report by tonight.”

Isca nodded with a satisfied look, as if that was exactly the answer he wanted.

“Good. Once the investigation begins, schedule adjustments will be unavoidable.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll contact the Magic Tower and cancel the s*ave interrogation.”

“No. There’s no need to contact them. I’ll go to the Magic Tower alone. You focus on the duties assigned to you.”

Isca’s answer flustered Russell and Hampton alike.

“You’re going alone?”

“Is there a reason I can’t?”

Russell was very curious why Isca wanted to go to the Magic Tower alone.

“No, but…”

“If you really want, you may come along to the s*ave interrogation. But be sure to keep your word about submitting the report by tonight.”

“No, Your Highness! I am only grateful and ashamed that Your Highness has lightened the heavy duties assigned to me. I’ll be on my way to work. Let’s go, Sir Hampton.”

Russell cursed his mouth for nearly bringing trouble through pointless curiosity and hurried out of the office. His lord never said empty words, so to avoid the tragedy of going to the Magic Tower and still having to submit the report, the only option was to disappear from his lord’s sight quickly.

****

Creak. The firmly shut prison door opened, and light from outside fell over Reef’s body, curled up on the floor. Reef sensed the light but didn’t open their eyes and stayed lying there. Moving now wouldn’t create a chance to escape.

‘I’m so damn tired.’

Reef swallowed a sigh like someone worn down by a repeating routine. Reef wanted to go home. But unless Reef confessed to drawing the magic circle, the only way out of prison was to be carried out as a corpse. There was actually one way to be released, but Reef would rather die than ever do such a thing as a human being.

Step. Step. The footsteps drew closer. But unlike yesterday, there was only one set of footsteps, not two. Reef wondered what had happened, then concluded that the prince must not have come today.

‘Good. Better to deal with the mage Russell than the prince.’

Reef remembered the prince’s ruthlessness and shuddered for a moment.

“You must be cold.”

At the voice from above, Reef’s eyes flew open.

‘No way…’

Expensive shoes came into view. What did Russell’s shoes look like again? Reef felt anxiety rise in their chest like smoke and lifted their head. Reef prayed it wasn’t Isca, but heaven was indifferent. The person looking down at Reef was indeed Isca.

‘He can’t have come alone. The mage probably just stopped somewhere else for a moment. There’s no way the prince came by himself.’

Reef didn’t want to be alone with Isca and looked around desperately for Russell.

“Who are you looking for? My aide?”

How did he know Reef was looking for the mage? He really was quick to notice things, ghost-like even. Reef nodded.

“It’s someone I saw every day, so…”

“My aide isn’t idle enough to come see you every day.”

Isca said, full of displeasure.

‘So the mage really isn’t coming.’

Isca’s last words confirmed that Russell wasn’t coming today. Despairing at the fact that they would have to be alone with Isca in this room, Reef failed to notice Isca’s reaction. Isca glared with eyes full of rage, as if tearing Reef apart with his bare hands wouldn’t be enough, then began the interrogation.

“Have you decided to tell me who is behind you today?”

“I’ve, already told, you everything I can… say.”

Reef couldn’t stand the exhaustion of exchanging the same questions and answers with Isca every time, like performing in a play.

“I’m curious why you’re being this stubborn. Is the one behind you worth protecting to this extent?”

Isca looked at Reef, sprawled on the magic circle, as if observing some strange creature. Reef felt Isca’s gaze sweeping over them so openly it stung, and let out a sigh. Reef wanted to say they weren’t being stubborn, but knew it would only drain their strength, so they chose to keep their mouth shut.

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