Chapter 24
I sat on the sofa in the drawing room, waiting for Leto. Yuton had said he went to visit Quinas.
'He'll be very upset when he cos. I wonder if it's okay to et him now.'
I looked at the small glass bottle on the table. The liquid inside was a dark brown extract made from willow bark by Parham.
Knock, knock.
Leto entered after the knock. He looked better than I expected, though he seed sowhat subdued.
"Why are you here? Looking for ?"
He spoke casually and sat down in front of . On closer inspection, his face looked more haggard.
"You refused when I asked to et you."
"I had a lot of work. Are you alright?"
"What?"
"I heard about Professor Quinas."
He said nothing. He just looked at
with a smile on his face.
He must be struggling.
He stood up and looked out the window.
"He was already very sick. He's been bedridden for over a year. So we moved him to the palace and gave him the best care. We did all we could, and it's his ti to go. Isn't it?"
"......"
"Everyone dies eventually."
I understand. He doesn’t want to show his vulnerable side.
I decided to understand him. After all, I didn't co here to comfort him. Besides, he should show such emotions to ril, not .
I will just do what I can.
I picked up the glass bottle and stood up. I walked to the window and stood behind him.
"Yes. Professor Quinas will pass away soon. It's too late to stop it."
"Is that what you ca to tell ?"
He laughed bitterly.
"No, I ca to say that I can ease his pain."
Leto slowly turned around, disbelief in his eyes.
"...Is that true?"
I placed the glass bottle on his desk. His gaze fell on the bottle.
"Normally, it would be made like tea, but for a severe illness, it wouldn't be effective enough. So I made it much more concentrated. If used correctly, it has strong analgesic effects."
He seed at a loss for words. He just looked at
with wide eyes.
It was finally ti to say it. Words I couldn't bring myself to say even to Parham.
"However, if not used correctly, the side effects are severe."
"Side effects?"
"First, it tastes awful. It's naturally repulsive. Especially for soone with a weakened consciousness. Even if you manage to get him to drink it, it can cause vomiting or chills. In severe cases, it can cause dizziness and fainting."
Willow bark extract is indeed the origin of aspirin. But the word origin ans primitive. And primitive ans dangerous.
"The decision is yours, Your Majesty. Of course, if it fails, you'll face the wrath of both the Temple and the nobles."
"And if it succeeds?"
"You'll be able to send your beloved ntor off peacefully. And."
"......"
"You'll have a final conversation with him."
Leto took the bottle and examined it as if fascinated. Then he looked at
and asked,
"What would you do?"
I didn't expect him to ask that. But it wasn't a difficult question.
"I'd take the risk. If there's even a small chance."
Just like now.
If Leto uses this, I'll have to step in too. I’ll have to reveal the source of the dicine. Ultimately, I'll share the responsibility if it fails.
But I still want to prevent the predicted misfortune. Rather than waiting for the heroine to appear and resolve the situation.
Sure enough, Leto had the sa concern.
"If I use this and fail, you'll be in trouble too."
"Then you'll protect , won't you, Your Majesty?"
I said half-jokingly.
"Anyway, think about it and let
know. Judging by the situation, it seems best to decide quickly."
The decision was his. I turned and walked toward the door.
I heard urgent footsteps behind . Leto hugged
from behind.
"...I'll use it. Even if it fails, I won't let you suffer any consequences."
"I understand. Then let's go to the Western Palace imdiately."
I tried to free myself from his arms, but he held
tightly. I couldn't move.
He rested his forehead on my shoulder. Was he very upset? Or worried about the side effects?
I hesitated, then gently patted his head. He remained still.
"The dicine will work well for Professor Quinas. The more severe the illness, the more necessary it is to use painkillers despite the side effects."
"It's not about the professor."
'Then?'
"You pulled
out."
"From where?"
"The abyss."
Leto lifted his head and turned to look at . Our eyes t. His gaze seed to have returned to normal.
Knock, knock.
There was an urgent knock. Leto finally released .
The door burst open, and Yuton entered.
"Your Majesty, you must go to the Western Palace imdiately."
From those words alone, I knew that Professor Quinas wouldn't make it through the night.
Leto and I hurried to the Western Palace. Many nobles were gathered outside the guest room. It showed how many students Quinas had ntored.
The nobles made way for us. The room was even more crowded. Nobles and priests filled the space. The High Priest was sitting by the bed, praying.
"Ugh... ahh..."
Quinas twisted in pain. He seed too weak to even scream.
"Livia. Your Majesty."
Louis approached us. Shawn, with teary eyes, was with him.
"The High Priest... we couldn't stop him. It's the protocol."
Louis said to Leto. He was tense but firm.
"I see. Good job."
Leto lightly patted his shoulder. Louis' eyes widened in surprise. He must have expected Leto to be angry.
I said to Leto,
"I'll administer the dicine myself."
"Let a servant do it."
"It needs to be done a certain way. There's no ti to explain."
Also, Quinas would reject it due to the taste and sll. An ordinary servant would be too startled to handle it.
I approached Quinas. The High Priest imdiately pointed to the glass bottle.
"What is that, Your Majesty?"
"It's a painkiller."
"...What do you an? Only the goddess can relieve pain."
"I didn't say I would save him. I said I'd ease his pain."
"Your Majesty, this is not acceptable. Such impure—"
"High Priest."
Leto had approached from behind .
"Try to stop the Empress once more."
"Your Majesty!"
"Do you think I'm a good student who can't even draw a sword in front of my ntor?"
The room buzzed with murmurs. It wasn't a threat. He was serious.
The High Priest clenched his teeth and stepped back.
Servants held Quinas' head. I poured the dicine into his mouth.
"Ugh!"
He gagged before it even entered his mouth. It was because of the awful sll.
"See, I told you. You should stop now—"
"High Priest."
I called him.
"The goddess instructed
to make this dicine. Do you not trust the goddess?"
"Even so, it's still a human hand that made it."
He ant . Subtly denying my connection to the goddess, now of all tis.
"Then watch and see what human dicine can do."
I poured a bit more into Quinas' mouth.
"Cough."
And a little more.
"...Ugh."
Swallowing was difficult. But I kept going, little by little.
"Hu..."
After several tries, the bottle was empty.
"The pain relief takes so ti. Everyone, please wait."
I had done my part. I moved away from the bed and watched the situation.
"Ugh... ugh..."
Quinas' groans continued. The nobles watched him, holding their breath.
I was very nervous. It was a high dose, almost like a narcotic. It would have numbed all his senses.
Seeing no vomiting, it seed there were no side effects. But he might faint.
Sothing warm touched my arm. Leto was standing next to , holding . As if to reassure
that everything would be fine.
However, Quinas' breathing gradually slowed. His eyelids drooped.
The High Priest gave
a peculiar smile. As if he had won.
Then it happened.
"...Ha."
A faint sound ca from Quinas' mouth.
"...Your Majesty."
Miraculously, he opened his eyes. He looked around for Leto. Leto sat by his bedside.
"I'm here. I'm listening."
He leaned closer to hear his ntor's words.
Quinas spoke to him in a trembling voice.
Leto nodded.
"...I understand."
A noble behind
murmured in disbelief.
"This is like magic..."
Quinas passed away early the next morning. His death was peaceful, like falling asleep. Many of his students stayed by his side.
The funeral was held at the Temple according to protocol. However, the High Priest did not preside over the ceremony.
'So all he did was boycott it. How childish.'
Leto went ahead with the funeral regardless. It was conducted with the sa ceremony as for royalty.
An elder priest led the funeral in place of the High Priest. Without the High Priest, the ceremony felt more reverent and dignified.
Leto conducted the funeral calmly. I asked him quietly,
"Your Majesty, what was Professor Quinas' final ssage?"
He looked at
and smirked.
"That's a secret."
"I see."
"You don't ask twice. That's boring."
"I can't entertain you at a funeral."
I said that, but I was relieved. It seed he hadn't beco desolate.
Many nobles ca to greet . They now truly saw
as a divine figure, thanks to the painkiller's effect.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness."
"Duke Bern."
Leto greeted Duke Bern. He was a short, stout man. Despite his appearance, he was skilled and had many followers among the nobles.
And he was one of the High Priest’s hidden supporters. He provided substantial funds for the 'Goddess War.'
"You must be deeply grieved."
"I'm fine."
"Your Highness, the story of the painkiller you made is spreading among the nobles. You did a great thing."
"Thank you, Duke Bern."
He seed to be saying nice things. It wasn't sincere. He was just mindful of Leto and the other nobles.
"Are you here alone, Duke Bern?"
"Oh, my wife has a severe headache and is just holding her place."
I followed Bern's gaze. His wife, Lady Yena, was sitting there.
When our eyes t, she quickly turned away.
'What's that? Was it intentional?'
At that mont, the temple door burst open. Everyone turned to look.
"The fool has arrived."
Leto muttered.
Soone was crying and running. A man with bright red curly hair and a red beard. A huge man.
I recognized him at once.
Luminos. The Guild Master of the mage guild 'Fantasia.'
"Master!"
Luminos shouted loudly.
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