PRKE 93

CHAPTER 93……………………………………………

“You know that when people from the desert come to the kingdom, they suffer from local diseases.”

A few people nodded unconsciously.

“Conversely, it could also be said that desert people make the kingdom sick.”

The atmosphere in the hall turned cold.

Dufeng, back to being a stodgy scholar sweating profusely, cleared his throat.

“That concludes today’s presentation.”

Dufeng’s shocking hypothesis spread by word of mouth among those who attended the public hearing.

“So the problem was the imperial people themselves?”

“Wasn’t the witch supposed to be the cause?”

“Well, at least it confirms that the Empire isn’t helping our kingdom! Shouldn’t we lodge a complaint?”

“Anyway, it’s a relief they left now. Everything should return to normal.”

For ordinary people, that was about the extent of their reaction.

But those who knew the truth reacted differently.

The king pressed his forehead, feeling a headache. He rarely suffered from them, but lately, days without pain were rare.

He glared at the phrase he had scribbled down.

A warning that immediately came to mind the moment he heard Dufeng’s presentation.

It felt like a blow to the back of his head.

He had thought it would be fine as long as the imperial bloodline didn’t mix with the royal family—but was the very presence of the prince the problem?

“The priests’ power is weakening…”

He shook his head.

“But he’s already left the kingdom, so it shouldn’t matter. He must be at the border by now.”

The priests had departed for the west, where the drought was most severe.

Princess Laratu was among them, so if the rain ritual succeeded, the problem there would be resolved.

With news that the priests were nearing their destination, there wasn’t much to worry about. Yet, why did he feel uneasy?

He paced the room, unable to sit, waiting anxiously for Princess Laratu to return.

Soon the chief steward returned.

Normally, he would fuss over welcoming the princess, but today his expression was grim.

“The princess has returned.”

“That’s earlier than expected. But why does your face look like that?”

“It seems the rain ritual didn’t succeed.”

“What do you mean?”

“The princess insisted on explaining personally. She’s on her way here…”

Before he could finish, there was a knock at the door.

“Let her in!”

The door opened, and Princess Laratu entered, her face pale.

It takes a full day of nonstop riding from the west to the capital. By that speed, the journey should have taken at least a week.

Considering the urgency, they had all traveled on horseback. For a princess unaccustomed to hardship, it had been an exhausting ordeal.

The king, proud yet sympathetic, immediately hugged her.

Instead of a fresh floral scent, dust filled the air.

The king, who had hoped she would grow like an unharmed flower, felt a pang in his chest.

“Did you return safely?”

“Yes, Father. Forgive me for arriving in such a state, without proper ceremony, but I had urgent news to report.”

“That doesn’t matter at all. What is so urgent that you returned so quickly?”

“We couldn’t perform the rain ritual.”

She was the daughter to whom a cheerful expression suited best—but now her face looked on the verge of tears.

Only then did the king realize that her pale face wasn’t just from the journey, and he asked worriedly:

“I heard from the steward. What happened?”

“The priests failed to summon rain.”

“What? Were they all unwell?”

The king could think of no other explanation.

Princess Laratu bit her lip, holding back tears as she murmured:

“All the priests who participated in the ritual…”

“……”

“Couldn’t use their powers.”

The king blinked.

“What does that mean?”

The princess remained silent. But the steward, understanding her words, widened his eyes in shock.

“Your Majesty, the princess is saying that…”

The king shook his head.

“You must be mistaken.”

“We tried repeatedly, but no rain fell. I’m certain.”

Unease spread across the king’s face.

“Princess… you…”

“I couldn’t summon rain either.”

The king’s strength drained, and he slumped to the floor.

“Your Majesty!”

“Father!”

With the steward and Princess Laratu supporting him, he finally sat in a chair.

He fixed his eyes, ignoring his own exhaustion.

“Summon the ministers. Immediately!”

It took an hour for all the ministers to gather.

The steward explained the situation, and disbelief spread.

“Are you saying the priests have lost their powers?”

One minister stammered.

“The priests’ power comes from Marta’s blessing—how could that disappear?”

A devout follower of Marta shook his head.

“If the gods’ blessing has disappeared, isn’t that a sign of disaster?”

A sharp-looking minister frowned at the muttering.

“It seems the marquis hasn’t heard Dufeng’s presentation. He claimed the Empire and the priests’ powers are incompatible. The prophecy Your Majesty mentioned is connected to Dufeng’s theory.”

He snapped at the king, continuing:

“I’m not saying I fully believe it, but given what’s happened, could it be the imperial prince’s doing?”

Bang!

The king slammed his hand on the armrest.

“How can the priests lose their powers just because of a single imperial prince? Are our kingdom’s priests really that weak?”

His frustrated shout silenced everyone.

No one could understand why things had turned out this way.

“God…”

A devout minister clasped his hands and murmured.

Though no one spoke, they all wanted to pray.

“Actually…”

Her soft voice rang out clearly in the silence.

The ministers turned to look at Princess Laratu, dressed simply unlike her usual attire.

She had been seated beside the king all along, but quiet and pale, she had gone unnoticed.

Some ministers only now realized she was present.

Why is the princess here?

Inquiring eyes, she began to reveal the matter that had weighed on her mind.

“…I concluded it wasn’t true, but I couldn’t stop worrying.”

Princess Laratu confessed the concern she had harbored regarding Egrain.

Once she finished, a devout minister spoke immediately:

“Wait. Princess, are you saying that Egrain—that witch—could steal the priests’ powers?”

A question summarizing the princess’s statement.

“I don’t think they completely lost their powers.”

“What do you mean? You couldn’t use your powers just now, right?”

“I don’t know. It seems the powers haven’t vanished, but I can’t perform any miracles as usual. It’s as if my arms exist but cannot move…”

“I don’t understand! In any case, that’s no different from losing power, and it’s because of Egrain, that witch, right?”

The princess remained silent.

Her reaction, essentially an affirmation, left the minister dumbfounded.

“But how did she do it?”

A reasonable doubt was raised.

A count, raising his head sharply, surveyed the room.

“She’s an ordinary girl. How could someone who showed no special ability suddenly steal the priests’ powers?”

No one could answer—they simply didn’t know.

The king muttered.

“It’s an inscription discovered long ago in the temple.”

The ministers remained silent, unsure what to say.

Someone muttered:

“Perhaps the prince’s arrival created a gap in the priests’ powers, and the witch took advantage of it?”

For now, it seemed the most plausible. But there was no way to confirm it immediately.

The king looked at Princess Laratu with a suddenly aged face.

“Why are you only telling me now?”

“It was such a shocking theory that I thought it best to consult the head priest. The wise Urenas, who was present, said it was impossible, and naturally I agreed.”

“Summon Priest Urenas immediately.”

“I tried, but they left on a pilgrimage a few days ago.”

“Ugh!”

Nothing but frustrating news.

The king, habitually pressing his throbbing head, gave orders:

“Contact the Fifth Prince. He hasn’t completely left the kingdom yet. Both of them are needed to confirm this!”

Understanding the gravity, the ministers bowed their heads.

“My family will send soldiers.”

“Our family will support as well.”

“I will also…”

An hour later, a group of soldiers departed from the palace.

Exhausted, Princess Laratu entered her room and was greeted by a maid.

“Miss Karsatuna is waiting for you.”

The princess’s gaze fell on her, sitting on a guest sofa.

Karsatuna looked as beautiful as ever, though gloomier than usual.

“I’m glad you returned safely.”

“Yes. Did you come as soon as you heard?”

The princess, having quickly changed clothes, gave a weak smile.

Karsatuna nodded sympathetically.

“I heard from your father… your powers…”

“……”

Seeing the princess remain silent, Karsatuna stayed quiet.

After an awkward pause, the princess forced a smile.

“This feeling is new. From the moment I could remember, I could freely manipulate water, but now, no matter how many incantations I recite, not a single drop flows.”

She clenched her fists.

“It doesn’t respond here.”

“……”

“What did I do wrong?”

She opened her hands, looking at them—hands so fragile she couldn’t even twist a chicken’s neck.

Having never thought of herself as weak, she now felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

“Is it really because of Egrain?”

She murmured, her voice sinking, and Karsatuna flinched at her unease.