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Chapter : 08
Etern paused for a moment to choose his words. He couldn’t just make something up like he had with Dora.
Hmm, being honest might actually be better.
After all, whatever method there was to wake Mother had to be discussed with Father. No matter how much knowledge he possessed, as a young princess, there were many things he simply couldn’t handle on his own.
If this is something she needs to know eventually, it’s better she knows now. There’s no time to dawdle.
Having made up his mind, Etern straightened up and faced Wintier.
“Actually, Father… I… I can read the letters written in this book.”
However, Wintier laughed before the words even had a chance to settle. He understood the desire of a child trying to capture a parent’s attention, but this method was far beyond common sense.
“What did you say?”
“I read a book in the library about how to interpret the ancient language of the Empire. That’s how I learned to read it.”
There’s that saying about mixing a little truth into a lie, isn’t there? When reading a magic book, not a single letter could be mistaken. Etern had already skimmed through an old ancient language manual to verify his knowledge.
Yet Wintier still did not believe him. With a faint, bitter smile, arms crossed, he said:
“We’ll have to replace all the servants in the princess’s quarters.”
Etern was visibly taken aback. What on earth did that mean?
“Why… why?”
“Why, you ask? Well, since they taught you how to lie, it’s only natural to cut them off.”
“I’m not deceiving anyone!”
Etern’s eyes widened as he shouted, and Wintier’s expression darkened further.
“If what you say is true—”
Speaking with a tone that mixed admonishment, Wintier pulled out a hefty magic book and laid it open on the table. Then he randomly placed his finger on a line.
“Read this sentence.”
Etern, barely reaching the desk, stood on tiptoe and carefully scanned the text.
“Behold, seeker of truth. You are akin to a hungry wolf. Yet a fat deer will never lie quietly beneath your feet.”
After finishing the reading, Etern looked up at Wintier.
“See? I wasn’t lying to you, Father. You understand now, right?”
But Wintier, caught off guard, couldn’t even respond. He was so stunned that he briefly wondered if he had seen a hallucination.
The ancient language of the Empire was not only complicated in script but also in sentence structure, completely different from the modern tongue. Even a knowledgeable adult would need years to master it, yet an eight-year-old girl read it flawlessly.
“You really learned this all on your own? Why?”
Etern’s eyes sparkled. From now on, he had to choose his words carefully. Very carefully.
“Well… I was thinking about why Mother keeps sleeping, and that led me to this book.”
“Magic book?”
Etern nodded up and down with his small head.
“Father, when someone is sick and just stays in bed, their body gradually weakens, right?”
“That’s true.”
“But Mother isn’t getting weaker. She’s just… sleeping.”
Wintier could not help but be stunned again. Etern had hit the nail on the head.
The fact that Empress Maikelun lay in bed without any symptoms was exactly what gnawed at Wintier’s mind every day.
If it were a disease, he would have searched the world over for a cure. But all the doctors who examined the Empress simply said, “It’s not an illness.”
Then the cause must be magic or a curse—Wintier’s reasoning aligned with Etern’s.
“Continue.”
Wintier’s voice carried a sense of urgency. Yet both Etern and Wintier were so absorbed in thought that they did not notice.
“There is no illness where someone sleeps for years without being hurt or sick. How could that be possible?”
Etern paused for a moment, furrowing his brows with a cautious expression.
“I think Mother’s condition isn’t physical. The cause lies elsewhere.”
“You thought of that? On your own?”
Etern nodded.
“Yes. Maybe the magic Mother possessed… caused this problem. But the sentences were too difficult to fully understand.”
Having rested her cheek on Wintier’s knee in a pout, Etern suddenly bit her lip in surprise.
Oh no… I got too carried away! That doesn’t sound like something an eight-year-old would say.
Even if the ancient language could be overlooked, this might have been too much. Etern cautiously raised her head. Wintier seemed lost in thought. She wanted to see what he was thinking, but didn’t want to act suspicious any longer and held back.
It was then.
“Your Majesty.”
Wintier’s secretary, Glich, entered cautiously, observing his expression.
“What is it?”
Wintier’s voice carried irritation, disturbed by the interruption.
Glich, already sweating nervously, bowed and continued.
“A… Your Majesty. A messenger has just arrived from the border.”
“What?”
Both Wintier and Etern’s expressions turned serious simultaneously.
Why had a border messenger come all the way to the palace?
A war? No, that can’t be…
Glich continued:
“The messenger said a young boy came alone on horseback and requested to cross the Empire’s border.”
A young boy?
Etern’s eyebrows shot up, and Wintier made a similar expression.
“A young boy, you say?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. And the boy said something for you… it’s this.”
Glich bowed low and produced something from within his clothes. Wintier took it, and Etern instinctively craned her neck toward her father.
What is that? Looks like a letter…
The paper crinkled sharply. Wintier’s thin-lipped, sharp laugh burst out as he widened his eyes.
“You dare play such a trick on me and report it?”
“B-But, Your Majesty… we investigated thoroughly. It’s not crudely forged. The seal is indeed that of Duke Landschuter’s great crest.”
At that moment, Etern nearly screamed.
“What did you just say? Landschuter Duchy?!”
“Y-Yes, Princess.”
Wintier frowned and refolded the crumpled paper.
“The great seal of a duke and a young boy? Ridiculous. Does he think I’m some petty marquis?”
“The messenger said exactly that, Your Majesty.”
At Glich’s reply, Wintier’s expression turned even more menacing. At that moment, Etern leapt onto his knee and clutched his shoulder.
“Etern, what are you doing?!”
“Father, tell him to send the boy back!”
Wintier froze as he saw his daughter’s suddenly pale face. Glich nearly fainted.
“Hurry, Father! Tell the messenger to send him back! Absolutely don’t let him come here!”
“Why are you panicking? This is almost certainly impossible.”
“What if it’s true?!”
“Even if Duke Landschuter’s young heir is coming, what’s the problem? Last I heard, the eldest son of the duke is only eight, just like you.”
So that’s why it’s a problem!
Etern barely restrained herself from rolling and crying across the table. No… should she just give in and roll now?
No, no! Why is that boy showing up? Coming to the Empire alone? What does that even mean?!
