After several futile attempts, Licht concluded that although his mind was fully awake, his body—except for his hearing—was completely unusable.
The only thing he could hear was the sound of the curtains fluttering gently in the breeze from the window, like a quiet whisper.
Ha…
A silent sigh escaped him.
Ever since he deemed himself capable of protecting his own body, he had never stayed in one place for long.
He personally dealt with minor disturbances across the Ludensa Empire and led the Glacies Knights himself when reinforcements were needed at the borders.
The Emperor once joked that the chefs at the prince’s palace were sad because there was no one to feed anymore.
And now, that same man was lying helplessly, completely immobilized.
This must be the most cursed, unlucky fate imaginable.
What annoyed him more was the fact that he couldn’t even fall asleep easily—perhaps because his body refused to move.
A perfect setup for losing your mind.
Empress Elysia must be overjoyed. She had long wished for his death more than anyone else.
She must think she finally succeeded this time.
Though he could have felt hatred for the empress who had repeatedly tried to kill him, he wasn’t particularly angry.
He just felt tired—worn out from the road he had walked all these years.
He had no particular dissatisfaction or joy in growing up as the First Prince of the Ludensa Empire. He had been raised with the expectation that he would be named Crown Prince and eventually become Emperor. It had simply been his role—one he never truly desired himself.
It was the Emperor’s will, a predetermined path.
Even if his life ended like this, he had no regrets. He believed that someone else would take care of those who trusted and followed him.
Lucas…
His aide and the captain of the Glacies Knights, Lucas, was an excellent swordsman, though not particularly cold-hearted.
He was a strong knight with a strangely soft heart. Licht could only hope Lucas would manage well in his absence.
A self-deprecating laugh slipped out—followed by another laugh at the realization that he couldn’t even laugh properly.
And still, not a single muscle on his face moved.
Clunk. Creak—
…Ah.
The heavy iron door groaned open, followed by the sound of footsteps.
Step, step. Light footfalls entered the room.
Perhaps because it had been so long since he heard another human’s movement, Licht perked up and listened intently to every little sound.
“Alright, let’s begin today’s checkup, shall we?”
A clear voice echoed through the room.
Is this person checking my condition?
Judging by the youthful tone, it seemed to be a young girl.
She walked confidently toward him, her steps familiar, and he could sense her moving around the space where he lay, as if fiddling with something nearby.
As she mumbled and checked the magical restraints and wards around him, Licht realized she was a mage tasked with caring for him.
“Hm?”
After a while, the mage stopped and said,
“Your expression looks more tense than yesterday. Did you have a bad dream or something?”
…!
She was clearly looking at his face. Did that mean some sensation had returned? Licht hurriedly tried to move his face again. A wave of hope surged—maybe this mage would notice his change.
“Huh…? That’s weird. Your eyebrows look like they’re slightly furrowed…”
Please, please…!
Was there ever a moment in his life when he had wanted something so desperately? Licht strained to move his facial muscles.
“Hmm… maybe not.”
But the mage, seeing no real response, soon stepped back. Step, step. Her light footsteps moved away.
…
Was it foolish to hope? Licht let out another soundless sigh and relaxed his body.
It seemed his physical senses still hadn’t returned.
Even though he couldn’t move, he could still sense the faint presence of the mage through his hearing—thanks to his years of knightly training.
“Phew…!”
He heard her take in a deep, refreshing breath—and then exhale just as loudly.
Jealous…
Jealous? That was something Licht had never felt before. A dry chuckle came out unconsciously.
He found it strange. And yet, he genuinely felt envy.
How long had it been since he stood by a window and inhaled the outside air like that? Even before this curse confined him to bed, he had never done such a thing.
Now, in his immobilized state, even such a small gesture stirred envy within him.
Lucas would’ve had a field day if he knew I was thinking this.
His aide often lamented how indifferent Licht was to the joys of the world.
“Your Highness, you’re too emotionless! Look at the sky! The sparkling river! The fresh air! This beautiful Ludensa Empire!”
“You’ve still got the energy to spout nonsense? Draw your sword.”
“Ack! Wait! Just a minute!!!”
Licht’s personality had crossed the line from stoic to emotionally barren—not without reason. Perhaps it was because that was the only way he could endure his life.
Before Licht ever felt his mother’s love, the former Empress had died young from illness. The Emperor, who had loved her deeply, desperately sought traces of her in Licht.
As if Licht were a substitute for her.
It would’ve been fine if the Emperor had had the strength to protect what he loved. But unfortunately, he had no political backing. Naming her Empress—despite her being the Queen of a fallen kingdom—had been a fatal move.
That decision made life even harder for the young prince. A queen from a ruined kingdom, a woman who died before taking root in the empire—no noble wanted to support her child.
Eventually, under noble pressure, the Emperor remarried Empress Elysia. After she gave birth to the Second Prince, Cayden, Licht’s life became a daily battle.
He remembered his childhood, where he had no time to enjoy the clear sky, too busy simply trying to stay alive.
If he hadn’t grown rapidly into a sword-wielding magic knight… if he hadn’t quickly built up his power, he might’ve been banished to the outer provinces long ago.
…Then I wouldn’t have fought the Apostles, either.
As he lay still, useless memories flickered through his mind. They didn’t suit him, and it made him chuckle again.
At this rate, I can’t even laugh at Lucas anymore.
The absurdity of his situation brought a quiet laugh to his lips.
“It looks like summer is just around the corner, Your Highness.”
Suddenly, Licht doubted his ears. The mage had clearly just said “Your Highness.”
Did she just…?
Before he could fully process the situation, the mage continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
“In the Angresia Forest, which you can see from the Magic Tower, there are these flowers that bloom in summer with a strong scent.”
“I think they’re called Procia flowers? They’ll probably bloom again this year too, so you might be able to catch their scent, Your Highness.”
“The fragrance reaches all the way up here to the top of the tower!”
It was clear now—all her words were directed toward Licht. Though one-sided, she spoke as if she knew he could hear her.
She couldn’t possibly know that I’m awake… could she?
Confused, Licht listened. There was nothing else he could do. The mage’s calm, gentle voice replaced the tangled mess in his mind.
“But the forest near the tower has lots of magically corrupted plants, so it’s dangerous! I only found out because I said I wanted to go for a walk…”
“Oh, and because villagers occasionally wander in unknowingly, Meliz had to put up a barrier. Seriously.”
“There are always people who just have to do what they’re told not to.”
Her chatter went on longer than he expected. Thanks to it, Licht learned that he was in the highest floor of the Magic Tower, and that the forest he used to pass through on visits was called Angresia Forest.
And from her mention of summer approaching, he realized he had been unconscious for at least a year. The last time he remembered, it had been summer—when he had confronted Deus.
After a long stream of chatter, the mage finally murmured in a soft voice—sounding almost sad.
“Apparently, even people who seem unconscious often still have their hearing.”
…
“There was a case, you know? A patient who woke up after 27 years—he could hear everything the whole time. It’s an old story, but still.”
“So, just in case… I talk to you.”
Why was it that she clearly believed he was unconscious, and yet—
“Your Highness… so please, hang in there a little longer.”
She still spoke to him gently, as if comforting him.
Licht, taken in by her kindness, could do nothing but listen intently.
