Episode 18
Luca cut Chaeion off mid-excuse, even citing the exact time he had reported the situation.
“……”
“……”
As Aseraiyan’s gaze grew sharper, Chaeion desperately tried to look away.
The crown prince of Aseraiyan stroked the hilt of the sword at his waist and asked in a deceptively gentle tone,
“Weren’t you working on a device that alerts us to the emergence of the Black Forest?”
Lately, the Black Forest had begun appearing with alarming frequency.
What was worse, it no longer confined itself to remote corners of the empire. Instead, it had begun materializing in densely populated regions. Not long ago, one had even arisen on the outskirts of the capital itself, driving public anxiety to its peak.
“I’m making it, but…”
“So, does the item only function if you crawl on the ground while crafting it? Does it somehow grow stronger the more you thrash about?”
At Aseraiyan’s sigh, Chaeion whimpered again.
“If only you’d find my Blue Stone for me, I might be motivated to work faster…”
“Luca’s looking into it. He’ll find it soon.”
“And when exactly is this ‘soon’? Even now my Blue Stone must be wandering the world, crying out for me!”
“……”
Sensing the conversation circling back into endless repetition, Aseraiyan shook his head lightly.
“Just don’t miss the meeting in a fortnight.”
“A fortnight? What meeting?”
“…You didn’t hear?”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it—”
“I told you. Two days ago, at precisely twelve-fifty. You are required to attend the Imperial Assembly in two weeks.”
At Luca’s interjection, Aseraiyan’s eyes narrowed even further. Chaeion, shrinking under the weight of that stare, sidled away toward a corner once more.
“Do not even think of skipping this one.”
“Why are you always on my case? That frozen relic up north skips every meeting!”
“Then why don’t you lock yourself away in the Mage Tower for three hundred years as well? Perhaps then you, too, could get away with it.”
“……”
Chaeion pouted so hard his lips nearly stuck out of his face, prompting Aseraiyan to click his tongue softly.
“I truly hope he attends this time.”
“As if. You’re expecting the impossible.”
“Father seems determined to drag him out by any means necessary.”
“And you think that’ll work?”
At Chaeio0n’s derisive remark, another long sigh slipped from Aseraiyan’s lips.
