CHALTER 26
Two weeks ago.
The first dinner between Banze Motenson and Meyna.
“Did the food suit your taste?”
“It was delightful, sir.”
“Then, shall we get to the main topic?”
Banze dismissed the three maids who were serving the meal.
“I mentioned it last month, didn’t I? That I sensed the flow of mana but couldn’t tell whose it was.”
“Yes. I remember.”
“I found out.”
Banze paused for a moment and glanced around.
The Motenson Grand Duke’s residence was a place no one could enter or leave without the owner’s permission.
And the two of them were in a secret chamber with three layers of doors.
It meant there was no chance anyone could be eavesdropping.
Even so, Banze seemed quite tense before she began to speak.
Seeing her act unlike her usual self made Meyna straighten her back as well.
It was the kind of atmosphere that made one nervous for no reason.
Banze slowly opened her lips.
“It’s said the Emperor has four children.”
“…Yes. That’s correct, but…”
“There was another hidden son.”
Meyna was startled.
It was a completely unexpected story.
The Emperor of the Farman Empire, Dan Parker, and the Empress, Adrien Parker.
The couple was known to have two princes and two princesses.
Sera Parker was the second among the four siblings and the only one in the royal family born with a special ability.
That was what was known publicly…
“Biterion Parker. Since the day he was born, he has lived confined inside a secret mansion within the royal palace.”
Banze’s story was astonishing, but Meyna knew Banze was not someone who spoke falsely.
Moreover, if she even knew the name of the hidden prince, it meant she had already gathered almost every piece of information about him.
“Why was he forced to live in confinement?”
“I heard he suffered from a terrible illness.”
“An illness…?”
“They said that because his pale face would constantly spit blood without warning, they first thought it was a lung disease.”
The moment Meyna heard the word “lung disease,” sorrow flickered in her eyes, then quickly disappeared.
Banze, who didn’t notice, continued speaking.
“Then, a horrifying new symptom appeared. Whoever his body touched—would either burn or freeze instantly.”
“Ah…”
Meyna let out a quiet sigh.
It sounded like an unrealistic yet cruel ghost story.
“So that’s why he was confined. Not to hide the illness, but because he couldn’t make contact with others.”
Banze nodded.
“The analysis result showed a flow of mana that only an X-Class Holy Knight could possess.”
“My goodness…!”
Even though she had heard many shocking things, Meyna had never raised her voice so easily.
But the phrase “X-Class Holy Knight” shook her deeply.
The official classification system recognized by the Empire divided gifted individuals from Class S down to Class F.
And beyond that system existed an exceptional rank—called an “X-Class Awakened.”
Khalif Lennox. He was the only X-Class Holy Knight in the Empire.
Until now.
‘That can’t be. There was another X-Class Holy Knight besides Khalif?’
Meyna’s eyes trembled.
Banze waited silently for her to process her confusion.
“I apologize.”
Feeling sorry for the pause, Meyna spoke to Banze.
“It’s possible, I suppose. Maybe he awakened long ago, and we only discovered him now.”
“…I see.”
Meyna organized what she had heard in her head.
1. Recently, a massive flow of mana was detected.
2. It belonged to the hidden prince.
3. He is an X-Class Holy Knight. (Unbelievable.)
4. Banze plans to recruit him. (As expected of Madam Motenson!)
5. She wants me to help. (?)
6. How am I supposed to do that, sir?
What?!
“Sir Motenson.”
Meyna spoke with a darkened face.
“I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t know what kind of help I can offer.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not sure the prince, who has remained hidden all this time, would even want to engage in guild activity.”
Banze raised her brows, telling her to go on.
“As a mere assistant, I don’t think I can help in recruiting him.”
Banze went silent for a moment.
“You’re right.”
Then unexpectedly, she agreed.
Just as Meyna was about to thank her for understanding—
“You’re right. But still, we’ll try.”
“Pardon?”
“For now, just keep that in mind.”
“?”
Just know that? That’s it? What?!
Meyna screamed inwardly without a sound.
At that moment, the chefs came out, bringing desserts so beautiful they looked too good to eat.
‘My throat’s so tight I can’t even swallow properly.’
Confusion, pressure, and the stress from Khalif’s disastrous personality.
With the face of a weary office worker, Meyna was silently watched by Banze.
***
More than ten days passed.
Yesterday at noon.
Banze and Meyna had their second meal together.
It was an unusually bright day. The two rode Banze’s carriage toward the Idium coastline.
There, they dined on exotic food and shared champagne.
“The date for our visit to the Imperial Palace has been set.”
“A v-visit date?”
Meyna asked in surprise, but Banze nodded calmly.
“…When is that?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Pffft!”
Meyna spat her drink onto the floor, her face flushing red as she coughed.
“Oh my.”
Banze squinted and laughed, then got up and patted Meyna’s back as she struggled to breathe.
Finally, after she managed to calm down, Meyna wiped her messy lips.
“Sir, tomorrow is too sudden.”
She looked completely pale.
‘But wait.’
A question suddenly came to mind.
“Sir, may I ask something?”
“Yes.”
“Did you report the hidden prince’s existence to the Imperial Family?”
“Of course not.”
The clear answer only deepened her confusion.
“Then how are we visiting the Imperial Palace…?”
“I sent a secret letter to the prince himself last night. Asking for a meeting.”
“And the prince agreed to meet you?”
A nod.
“…Why?”
“I’m wondering that myself.”
“The letter I sent said this: ‘This is Banze Motenson, co-director of the Ocean Agency. I would like to meet you.’ That was all.”
“Yes. And?”
“He replied immediately.”
“What did he say?”
Banze took out a letter from the pocket of her green velvet dress.
It was a letter sent through a portal.
“Open it.”
Meyna’s hands trembled as she unfolded the paper.
The handwriting of the hidden prince was precise, almost as if measured by a ruler.
The content was very concise.
May 23rd, 23:23.
Behind the central clock tower, at the monastery.
A portal will open in the middle of the lake.
Send only Lady Meyna of House Winslet.
From Biterion Parker.
“T-this…”
Meyna rubbed her eyes.
‘Lady Meyna of House Winslet.’
It was clearly her name.
Placing the letter beside her empty plate, she looked at Banze with a dazed expression.
“Sir, did you ever mention my name to His Highness…?”
Before she even finished the question, Banze firmly shook her head.
“No. The only people who know I made this request are two. Me, and you.”
Banze emphasized each word clearly.
“The moment I learned that the hidden prince was an X-Class Holy Knight, I wanted to recruit him. But I couldn’t think of a good way to persuade him. So I wanted help from my most capable and trustworthy employee—you.”
“…”
“But His Highness already knew about you.”
“…”
Meyna was confused.
She couldn’t explain it, but something told her this was not something she should be involved in.
“Sir. Do I have the choice to refuse this task?”
Banze folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope.
Then, without warning, she grabbed Meyna’s arm.
“…Sir?”
Her large hand suddenly reached into Meyna’s dress pocket.
What she pulled out made Meyna’s eyes shake.
“A resignation letter.”
Banze read the words on the envelope.
“How long have you been thinking of resigning?”
Meyna bit her lip.
“I’m not sure.”
That was her answer after a long silence.
It might sound hollow given how long she had been thinking, but it was honest.
“I think it’s been a long time. But also, maybe not that long.”
“…”
“Sometimes it feels like I think about it every day. But maybe I never really want to quit at all.”
Meyna lowered her head.
Splash…
The sound of waves came from nearby.
The emerald sea sparkled like jewels, and Meyna’s hair—of the same color—swayed softly in the breeze.
“I wrote the resignation letter recently.”
“Did something happen?”
“The Duke came in after smoking hallucinogens.”
“And?”
“It hurt.”
“…”
“Sir.”
Meyna gripped her skirt desperately.
