How the Prince Makes Friends Chapter 44

Meanwhile, in Sedes’s office…

“Did the boy really say that?”

The Shadow Knight who had secretly followed Rianus to the Second Prince’s palace and been discovered by Nihil had just finished reporting everything he had heard during tea time to Sedes.

The Prime Minister was also present in the office, alongside the king and the knight.

Sedes, who had no desire to listen to a lecture, had placed the Sirenthea he’d received as a bribe at the Second Prince’s palace into the arms of his friend Abel.

Still kneeling on one knee, the Shadow Knight replied.

“Yes, my lord. He said that he had killed the monster and dismantled the magic circle inscribed in the Rabbit’s Den.”

“If he can see mana, would those things be easy for him to accomplish? What do you think, Abel?”

“I think we should bring that boy here and train him to become a mage.”

Abel, who was carefully cradling the Sirenthea in his arms, gave a completely unrelated answer.

“…No, didn’t you compare the method of dismantling that magic circle to breaking an aura-clad sword with an iron rod? I’m asking whether being able to see mana would make something like that possible.”

“I don’t know. I can’t see natural mana, after all. Anyway, let’s train that boy to become a mage.”

“……”

“I’ll raise him well. Both the boy and this Sirenthea.”

“……”

“Sedi, can’t you give me this Sirenthea?”

“Haah…”

Sedes pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. He was beginning to regret showing the Sirenthea to his friend in an attempt to avoid an avalanche of nagging.

Abel was only a Third-Circle mage, but the moment he saw the flower, his eyes had gleamed. He seemed to have lost a little of his sanity, too.

“Abel, calm down. We don’t even know for certain whether that flower really is Sirenthea.”

“But just as the boy said, the flower is gradually turning translucent white.”

Sedes looked at the flower nestled in his friend’s arms. Abel was right. The blood-red Sirenthea had begun losing its color from the base of the flower, and now only the tips of its petals remained red.

“I want to meet that boy…”

“Restrain yourself for a while. Ever since word spread that a new apothecary was being brought into the Second Prince’s palace, the number of people watching it has increased. Once the princes’ imperial studies classes are divided into separate groups, you’ll have a natural opportunity to meet him. Besides, it’s too soon to trust that boy.”

“Should I divide the classes right now?”

“Prime Minister, you say that as though you can simply abandon your work, right in front of me.”

Seeing Abel staring blankly at the Sirenthea, unable to suppress his curiosity, Sedes adopted a stern tone and even addressed him by his official title.

But Abel wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. He immediately retorted.

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten that you couldn’t contain your curiosity and secretly visited the Second Prince’s palace while I was teaching the princes? Thanks to you spending the entire morning playing around there, I have to work overtime today.”

“……”

Since Abel was telling the truth, Sedes had no answer and fell silent. He simply couldn’t win an argument against his friend.

Before the conversation could turn against him any further, Sedes hurriedly turned his attention back to the Shadow Knight and gestured with his chin, asking whether there was anything else to report.

After watching the exchange between the two, the knight cautiously spoke up.

“There is something else, although it isn’t related to the pirate ship or the Rabbit’s Den.”

“Go on.”

“When the Second Prince returned to his palace, he asked whether his friend had eaten and then went to the dining room with him. Judging from the conversation he had with Sir Evan in the carriage, I believe he didn’t want his friend to eat alone.”

“…The Second Prince likes that boy more than I expected.”

Sedes had sensed it when Rianus kept chattering about his friend, but the Second Prince truly seemed to like the boy. Rianus had always been considerate, but it was unusual for him to open his heart to someone so quickly.

“However, his friend immediately stopped the meal, claiming he had already eaten a snack and was full.”

“Huh? Sedi, is that what you meant when you said the boy was ill-mannered?”

Abel had been gently stroking the Sirenthea, but he raised his head and looked at Sedes upon hearing the Shadow Knight’s report.

Sedes also looked somewhat surprised as he considered the knight’s words. According to Sir Evan, that little brat seemed capable of doing whatever he pleased wherever he went, yet he behaved himself around the prince.

Before the misunderstanding could deepen, the knight hurriedly continued.

“That is a misunderstanding, Prime Minister. The boy seems to avoid the palace servants, so his claim to have eaten a snack was probably a lie. He appeared to notice the prince’s complexion and realize that His Highness had eaten at the main palace. He had a maid prepare warm plum tea, then continued massaging the prince’s hand while pretending nothing was wrong. During the meal, the First Prince kept looking at the Second Prince, and His Highness seemed uncomfortable about it. I believe he ended up with indigestion.”

“We should avoid holding meals with the two princes together.”

Sedes stroked his chin, deciding that future discussions of state affairs involving the princes should take place over a light tea rather than during meals.

Watching Sedes sink into thought, Abel gently shook his head.

“Sedi, I don’t think you need to worry so much. The atmosphere between the princes changed a little during class today. Perhaps that boy who calls himself the prince’s friend is responsible. He seems more perceptive and considerate than we expected. In that case, he probably hasn’t eaten lunch himself, either.”

“……”

Sedes recalled the little boy who had appeared covered in dirt, drawing everyone’s attention. Apparently, the child had not only dashed all over the Second Prince’s palace but had also climbed the mountain to gather medicinal herbs. Surely a single cup of plum tea wouldn’t have been enough to satisfy his hunger.

“Don’t worry. Sir Evan noticed the boy’s lie and put his own meal into the boy’s mouth…”

The Shadow Knight couldn’t bring himself to mention the story about “dog food” or how Evan had literally shoved a sandwich into Nihil’s mouth. Still, Nihil had accepted the food without complaint, so the outcome had been good, hadn’t it?

“I think I understand why Sir Evan defended that boy. He seems to be considerate not only toward the prince but also toward Sir Evan, even while pretending otherwise. He isn’t nearly as gentle with Sir Evan as he is with the prince, of course… But after hearing about his circumstances, I found myself wanting to look out for him a little.”

“Do you believe that is his true nature?”

“I can’t say for certain. He knew from the beginning that I was following him in secret, so perhaps his consideration was merely an act. But even if it was, doesn’t that mean he’s fighting hard to survive? Of course, judging by how he scraped his own forearm with his fingernails until it was in tatters, he certainly isn’t an ordinary child.”

“…He certainly wasn’t ordinary.”

Sedes grimaced as he recalled the wound. He hadn’t shown it on his face at the time, but how shocked had he been when he saw it? Such mental fortitude was hardly something a child should possess.

And then the boy had casually handed over the precious treasure he had obtained through that ordeal as a bribe…

Sedes fell into thought as he gazed at the Sirenthea, which had once been red but was now turning translucent.

If someone else had obtained a Sirenthea, they would probably have decided to consume it themselves without a second thought.

But Sedes was different.

He had too many responsibilities to act on his own desires.

Perhaps I should turn Ainz into a Sword Master and use him to keep the duke in check…

As that thought crossed his mind, he noticed his friend still clutching the flowerpot.

“Your Majesty, you’d better treat me well. I’m going to take over the Mage Tower.”

“…But the Mage Tower belongs to the Empire, doesn’t it? You can’t become a naturalized citizen, Abel.”

“Why would I go there? I might consider it if I could naturalize Imperial mages into Harpense instead.”

“You should start practicing how to bow. I’ll become a great mage and free you from the Empire’s interference.”

“…Abel.”

“What is it, Sedi?”

“That… Would you like to have it?”

“……Huh?”

“You might finally be able to break out of the Third Circle.”

“……”

Abel couldn’t answer immediately. He stared blankly at the translucent white flower in his arms, lost in his memories.

He had reached the Third Circle at the age of ten. It was an extraordinary achievement, considering he had begun learning magic only two years earlier.

His astonishing rate of growth had led the public to hail him as the future successor to the Mage Tower, and Abel had never doubted that his future would unfold just as they expected.

Although his growth slowed afterward, Abel devoted himself to magic so intensely that he even memorized magic circles for spells above the Seventh Circle. His dream had always been to become the Tower Master.

“Genius, genius. They praised him so much…”

“Heh-heh. Serves him right.”

“I knew it. Future Tower Master, my foot…”

“Do you think something’s wrong with him?”

“……”

…But for the twenty years since then, he hadn’t managed to advance even a single Circle.

He hadn’t become the Tower Master. All he had managed to do was serve as Prime Minister, thanks to a connection he’d made in childhood.

Abel gently touched the Sirenthea before slowly raising his head.

“…But, Sedi. What if I use this treasure…and still fail to accomplish anything?”

…What would become of me then?

“Then I suppose it wasn’t Sirenthea after all.”

“……”

“And let me make this clear in advance. Even if you reach the Fifth or Sixth Circle, as that boy suggested, you still won’t be allowed to quit being Prime Minister.”

Sedes answered as casually as though it were nothing, but Abel’s eyes trembled slightly.

Nobles sometimes whispered that Sedes had ascended to the throne—and managed to retain it—entirely thanks to Abel’s support.

But Abel was certain of something. The only reason he had endured until now, despite being stuck at the Third Circle after once being hailed as a genius and the future successor to the Mage Tower, was Sedes.

“…Are you really sure I can have it?”

“Weren’t you the one who asked for it first?”

“You won’t regret this? You can’t take it back once you’ve given it to me!”

“Fine.”

Abel smiled like a child and hugged the flowerpot in his arms even more tightly.

Sedes nodded as he watched him. Abel probably wouldn’t complain or nag for a while, even if Sedes made him work overtime or ordered him around for personal errands. Excellent.

“So, Your Majesty, now that the Rabbit’s Den matter has been resolved, when will you contact the Grand Duke?”

“……”

Abel had returned to his Prime Minister mode and brought the conversation back to work.

Sedes sighed, summoned an administrative official, and ordered him to send a letter to the Grand Duke. Then he picked up his pen.

It was time to get back to work.

 

***

 

By the time Rianus came to his senses, he was already inside a carriage. They had chosen the plainest carriage they could find, removed what little decoration it had, and fitted the windows with exceptionally thick curtains.

It had been a long time since Rianus had worn his outdoor clothes, not since they had played with dolls. His friend’s beautiful white hair swayed with the movement of the carriage.

Sitting on the driver’s bench was Rianus’s knight, whose light grayish-brown hair had been disguised as that of a coachman once again.

“Rian, today we’re only going to scout the area. Don’t even think about getting out of the carriage. Just get a general idea of the location and boundaries of the district. That’s why your knight is staying put, too.”

“…Today?”

“You don’t have classes for two days starting the day after tomorrow, right?”

“Right.”

“The day after tomorrow, we’ll go in disguise. You can’t understand abandoned districts or slums just by looking at them from the outside. We’ll have to get inside and examine them properly.”

“In disguise?”

Rianus’s eyes widened, then gradually began to sparkle at Nihil’s words. This was his first outing of this kind, where he would conceal his identity. But a disguise? It felt as though an adventure was about to begin.

“What are you talking about?! We never agreed to that!”

“…Rian, if we sent a message to the history teacher, how long would it take to reach him?”

Ignoring the angry shout coming from the driver’s bench, Nihil asked Rianus where Carus was.

“To Carus? Hmm, Carus usually stays at the academy in the capital, so we could reach him in a couple of hours. But we don’t need to contact him separately. We’ll see him tomorrow anyway, since we have Imperial language class.”

“The teacher also teaches Imperial?”

“Yeah. Technically, it’s an Imperial language class, but he teaches other languages more often. My brother and I are already familiar with Imperial.”

Nihil nodded. He had heard that the marquess specialized in languages, so apparently he taught the princes a variety of foreign languages in addition to history.

Nihil wondered whether the marquess’s household was being properly managed when its head spent so much time away from home, pursuing research and teaching. But with three younger siblings, they could probably manage things themselves.

And although he felt a little sorry for Rianus, they would probably have to skip tomorrow’s lesson. There was a lot to prepare, and Carus would undoubtedly become a nuisance again.

Having found one of Carus’s weaknesses, Nihil decided to use it as leverage to borrow a knight from him. He busily planned out the field trip in his head.