TLHZ 04

Chapter 04

“See you later~!”
Andrea called out cheerfully, and all the siblings smiled in response.

“Mm. Take care.”
“Goodbye, Lev!”

—Insolent human! Do not lay a hand on me!

“Lev says goodbye too!”

Without changing expression, I deliberately twisted Lev’s words. Thank goodness I was the only one who could hear this arrogant cat’s voice!

Andrea burst out laughing, then took the butler’s hand and climbed into the carriage. It was her first day attending the Academy, and her excitement was written all over her face.

Once she was gone, the breakfast table fell into a quiet lull. After Edmond dismissed the servants, the zombies—who had surely spent a long, restless night—spoke first.

“All right, I’ll start.”
Isaac tapped a spoon against his glass with a clink clink, drawing attention.
“By now you’ve probably realized you can’t sleep and that your bodies break down quickly. And at breakfast, you must’ve noticed you can’t feel hot or cold.”

Edmond and Julia nodded. They added that even with steam curling from their soup, all they felt on their tongues was a soggy, dull texture.

Julia chimed in, “I can’t taste sweet, salty, or sour at all, but I can pick up a little spiciness.”
Edmond shared his own discovery. “My sense of smell seems completely numb as well.”

Already, in just twenty-four hours of living as zombies, they’d realized so many inconvenient changes. To chew food with only a faint burn of spice must have been an unpleasant sensation.

“Isaac, did you submit your leave request?”
“I sent it off early this morning. By now it should be sitting nicely on the captain’s desk.”
“And you, Julia?”
“I sent mine too. If I tried brewing potions with these hands, it would be an accident waiting to happen.”

Alchemy was such a delicate craft that even a difference of one milliliter could ruin everything. For Julia, whose senses were now worse than any ordinary human’s, it was impossible.

“There’s no chance they’ll reject it?”
“Apparently the Imperial Court never denies leave requests. That’s the custom~.” Isaac smiled brightly. “Surely they won’t suddenly break tradition today of all days, right?”

That sounded suspiciously like a flag, I thought, just as Edmond’s gaze turned to me.

At eighteen, he had inherited the dukedom, and for eleven years now he had managed the household’s affairs with steady confidence.

“Emily. What are your plans?”
“…I was going to bring it up at work today. I think it’s best to explain in person.”
“Your body shows no symptoms, so you can go. But if anything happens to one of us, we’ll need your help. I’d prefer you stay at home, if possible.”

I agreed with him. Nodding obediently, I let the matter drop for now.

“We’re not going to shut ourselves away for seven whole years. Nor could we, even if we wanted to.”

At the rank of a ducal house, even if you refused to move, the world would move you. Declaring abstention didn’t mean you could step out of the mire.

“This is only stalling for time. Until we get used to these bodies, we must stay out of sight.”
“I agree~. If I tried swinging a sword like this, my wrist might fly off with it.”
“And I can’t very well blow up the Bureau of Alchemy.”

Isaac and Julia both nodded.

“Considering everything, Emily training in black magic is our best option. In the meantime, we’ll keep our heads down.”
“…Is that really okay? What if someone finds out?”
“If the higher the level of black magic, the more fully the body is restored—then it’s a necessary step.”

Edmond’s tone was firm.
“There will be risk, yes. But books on black magic aren’t only in the Imperial Library. I’ll find you something suitable. Practice with that.”

“Okay. I will!”

I clenched my fist with determination. The weight of my siblings’ lives resting in my hands made my shoulders feel heavy.

Edmond went on, laying down rules: minimize appearances in society, avoid personal meetings, and so on.

His orders were concise and practical, so everyone accepted them without complaint.

“Good. Then we’ve at least set a rough plan.”
“Even if it was decided overnight.”

Julia grumbled but did not object. Edmond had already proven himself capable of leading the Walker Duchy for over a decade.

If we just followed his lead, perhaps we could endure these seven years.

Knock knock.

The butler knocked at the door.
“Pardon me, Your Grace. There is something urgent I must report.”
“Enter.”

At Edmond’s permission, the butler bowed to the others, then quickly stepped to Edmond’s side.

“What is it?”
“Well….”

He glanced at Isaac, then quickly looked away.

“Second Young Master’s leave request has been rejected.”
“…?!”

The news froze the breakfast table like ice water poured over it. The butler didn’t realize it, but he had just announced that Edmond’s carefully laid plan had already collapsed.

“For what reason? Normally the Knights’ Order approves unless there’s a serious issue.”
“That is….”

When he hesitated, Edmond pressed again.
“Speak. We can hear it.”
“Yes. The request was going to be approved, but… His Highness the Crown Prince overruled it.”

The worst possible outcome.

“Oh, Emily. You’re a bit later than usual today.”

Jamie, a fellow secretary, greeted me brightly.
“Good morning, Jamie. I was delayed by some family matters.”
“What happened?”

Well, my brothers all died in a carriage accident yesterday and I resurrected them as zombies. Then my second brother’s leave got rejected, so all our plans are ruined!

…Not something I could say aloud. I just gave an awkward smile.
“Little Andrea threw a tantrum about not wanting to go to the Academy. Ah—by the way, is His Highness the Crown Prince in?”
“Meeting. Should be done soon.”

No sooner had Jamie spoken than the door burst open.
“His Highness the Crown Prince!”
“His Highness the Crown Prince!”

We quickly bowed. Crown Prince Tristan waved a hand, dismissing the formality, and strode past us to his desk.

As heir to the Empire, his schedule was always overflowing. The mountain of documents piled high before him proved as much.

Which also meant endless work for us secretaries.
Those files had already been filtered several times before reaching him.

I pretended to focus on my work while studying his expression. Sunlight streaming through the window behind him lit his figure in a brilliant glow.

Black hair dark as a midsummer night, and red eyes glinting like jewels—the very image of the Crown Prince. His rolled-up sleeves revealed forearms laced with lean, precise muscle, a reminder he was a skilled knight as well.

His face was expressionless as always, cold enough to seem bloodless. But that was nothing new. For all his chilling looks, he was a fair and reasonable superior.

Thank goodness his morning meeting meant my tardiness went unnoticed.

Gathering a few documents needing his signature, I cautiously approached his desk.

“Leave them.”

He spoke without looking up, buried in paperwork.

“Your Highness. I have a request.”

At my words, his brow twitched, and at last he raised his head.
“What is it?”
“I’d like to take a leave of absence.”

It was difficult to say, even knowing he was lenient. Tristan fell silent, weighing my words.

“…Is your workload too heavy?”
“What? Ah—no, not at all.”
“For someone who rarely even takes vacation to suddenly ask for leave… I wondered if something was wrong.”

Serving as the Crown Prince’s secretary was indeed grueling—endless overtime, mountains of files to memorize. But that wasn’t the problem.

“Come to think of it, Sir Isaac also submitted a leave request.”

He set down his pen and clasped his hands, studying my face closely. His eyes, shining like rubies, betrayed no emotion.

“Is something going on with your family?”
“No, of course not.” I answered quickly.
“We’ve grown a little distant lately, so I thought we might spend time together at the villa. That’s all.”

That was the official excuse. The sudden inactivity of the entire Walker family would be far too suspicious otherwise.

“I see.”
“Yes. If extended leave is too much, I could simply use my accumulated vacation days.”

I tried to sound casual, careful not to arouse his sharp intuition.

“…Hm.”

He leaned back in his chair, arms folded, tapping his bicep thoughtfully before speaking.

“Sorry, but that won’t be possible.”
“…Pardon?”
“Sir Isaac Walker. I’ve ordered him to remain on standby—there may be need for the Knights’ Order soon.”

So that was why Isaac’s request had been denied. Yet it still didn’t add up. No neighboring kingdoms were stirring up military conflict.

As if reading my doubt, Tristan continued,
“I can’t reveal the reason yet, but it’s precautionary. Since Sir Isaac’s leave is canceled, a family trip will be difficult.”
“…I understand.”

What now?

I forced a smile while considering my options. Should I insist on going without Isaac, or withdraw gracefully?

If Isaac has to be at the palace, maybe it’s better for me to be here too. Julia and Edmond will stay at home, so they can handle things there. But Isaac, surrounded by eyes at court—he’s the most at risk.

“Yes, Your Highness. Then we’ll postpone our holiday.”

Suddenly—bang!

“Your Highness!”

The office door slammed open, and someone rushed in.

“You must come at once! At the Knights’ Order—Sir Isaac…!”

My heart plummeted to my stomach.