The 14th Prince's Sage

Chapter 18

This level of cleanliness can be attributed to Alistair and Newcastle, who strategically placed Inscriptions in discreet locations throughout the West Wing, channeling mana to “maintain a dust-free environment” and “release a pleasant fragrance.”

Initially, he was convinced that it was Alistair who kept the West Wing clean all day. It is understandable, as Alistair possesses an exceptional level of reliability. Nevertheless, it was Newcastle who pointed out the Inscriptions when he asked about organizing the bookshelves on his first day as an assistant.

‘This is how I came to realize how useless I am to Newcastle.’

In truth, his position in the library is unnecessary. The speed and effectiveness of magic far surpass his own capabilities. Additionally, access to the West Wing of Konstantinos’s palace is highly restricted, which accounts for the few people entering or leaving to borrow books.

In summary, aside from delving into literature, honing his skills in both modern and ancient languages of Fides, and working to practice magic, he has no other interests. Cielo remains perplexed by the 14th prince’s choice to hire an assistant despite the clear absence of duties.

This is made worse by the frequent absences of his new boss, leaving him feeling quite isolated. Newcastle only goes to the Library when he has no other obligations.

Cielo vented his frustration by banging his forehead against the table. It has only been two days since he realized he couldn’t use magic, yet he is already feeling bored.

Even though he has finished the introductory book on magic, Newcastle has forbidden him from accessing more advanced materials until he can demonstrate his ability to see mana.

‘Right now, I would do anything for a phone.’

Why didn’t that wretched device accompany him in this world!? It had been right there on his bedside table during his last moments. They should have done him a favor by including that damn thing.

After finishing his lunch shift, he made his way to Dr. Happy’s infirmary to ask for a favor.

“Here, take a look at this.”

Cielo took the paper and reviewed the schedule.

It detailed his exercise routine and dietary recommendations. Since he cannot use magic and is forbidden from wasting time on it, Cielo believes it’s more advantageous to concentrate on improving his physical fitness.

Lacking knowledge about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, he turned to Dr. Happy for help. Not only did she offer him guidance, but she also took the initiative to create a thorough schedule and a list of foods he should eat to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.

“I believe this is ideal.”

He meticulously folded the paper and smiled as he expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you for your help, Doctor.”

“You’re always welcome. However, I do have some concerns…”

He understands the reason behind her worry for him. Dr. Happy remains unaware that his magical training has stalled because he cannot harness magic, which is why she fears he might be overexerting himself by also engaging in physical training alongside his magical studies.

“I’ll be fine. But if I do start to feel unwell, I will definitely come to you for help.”

Only after he gave her this reassurance did she exhale deeply and allow him to leave the infirmary.

***

“I was under the impression that you worked as a Librarian.”

This question arose during a moment of boredom one day when he spoke to Newcastle.

It has been three days since their last meeting. During the week he had been employed by Newcastle, he had only spent three days at the library. It appears he has finished his previous works, as he is now aimlessly loitering around the library again.

Newcastle paused in his reading of a book with a blank cover and looked up at him, stifling a laugh as he replied.

“Did you actually believe that?”

“I did to some extent, but I guess this is just a part-time gig.”

Cielo shrugged.

The people on this side of the palace are anything but ordinary. It’s evident they don’t have standard jobs, which is why he wasn’t taken aback to discover that Newcastle’s true profession is something quite different.

“What is your real job then?”

The smile on his face disappeared instantly after he posed that question.

“You’d rather not know.”

There was a note of caution in his voice that made him pause. Such moments made him painfully aware of how little he understood about the people he had been living with for the last three and a half weeks.

Seeing his reaction, Newcastle casually gestured with his hand and relaxed his expression.

“There’s no need to worry. I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m just warning a cat about the dangers of being too curious, as it could kill them.”

He glanced out the window as he continued.

“My previous cat had a tragic fate because of its curiosity. I buried her in my favorite place.”

“Oh…”

Cielo blurted out with a shaky voice.

Newcastle burst out laughing after seeing his reaction.

“Why do you always take my words so seriously? I’m just kidding, honestly!”

Are you?

Cielo doubts it. That sing-song voice isn’t making him feel any better.

After a moment of silence, Cielo finally calmed down. Meanwhile, Newcastle went back to reading peacefully like he didn’t scare the shit out of him.

He glances at the clock, the only thing making noise in the library. It’s still 9 in the morning, his shift ends at noon.

Cielo placed his cheeks on his right hand as his left hand tapped the table.

‘It’s too quiet.’

He can’t take the silence, it’s driving him crazy, that’s why he called out Newcastle again.

“Hey… does it involve killing people?”

Do you kill people?

He made it sound like it was something illegal or immoral. Perhaps Newcastle is some assassin?

Normally, he would hesitate to ask such questions but at this point, his boredom is taking over. He just wanted something interesting to happen.

Newcastle stared at him before throwing his head back and started laughing. He was even holding his stomach from laughing too much.

‘There he goes again.’

One moment, he looks like he’d kill him if he crossed the line, but now he is laughing loudly like he just didn’t threaten him. That unpredictable personality of his sure is something else.

After he is done laughing, Newcastle wipes the tears on the corner of his eyes.

“I am His Imperial Highness’s spy. That’s all you need to know.”

There was evidently more to Newcastle lore but since he made it clear he won’t talk. Cielo decided to change the topic.

“I didn’t have the time to ask before, but do you dislike Alistair?”

Although it’s been days, Newcastle’s reaction to the man is bothering him. This is the only time he remembered to ask because Newcastle tends to disappear whenever.

“I don’t dislike him. He dislikes me.”

The answer was immediate this time.

Cielo tilted his head in confusion.

‘Alistair dislikes him?’

The only time he saw them interact was the first day he met Newcastle but judging from that brief interaction, it appears to him that it was Newcastle who disliked the man due to his reaction.

“You were the one avoiding him.”

He pointed out.

“Just because I avoid him doesn’t mean I hate him.”

‘That’s true…’

He didn’t realize that the hostility was actually the other way around.

Newcastle let out a deep sigh as he leaned back in his chair.

“That person embodies loyalty. When we first met, the situation made him wary of me.”

‘Huh? Was that the case when they first encountered each other?’

Alistair’s steadfast loyalty is clearly with Konstantinos. It seems that Newcastle was once an enemy before he abandoned his family name to ally himself with the 14th prince.

Given his unpredictable behavior, it’s no surprise that Alistair remains on guard around him.

“Once he takes a dislike to someone, he will stop at nothing to bring about their ruin. I’ve lost track of how many times he has sabotaged my efforts or tried to frame me.”

Cielo was taken aback.

He didn’t take Alistair to be that kind of person. The man had stayed by his side since he woke up, always looking out for him, bringing him food, and meeting his needs. Is it because he has the most pleasant impression of the man that it was clouding his judgment?

Unlike his calm first meeting with Alistair, his exchange with Newcastle was marked by annoyance and lighthearted teasing. While it wasn’t entirely unpleasant, it certainly didn’t match the heights of his earlier experience. Still, he couldn’t deny that spending time with Newcastle could be fun, as long as he could avoid the constant ribbing.

Newcastle let out a sharp breath, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Your face indicates that my words are difficult for you to accept. I can see why. That person had already won your favor before we even met.”

“Wait, that’s not—”

“Let’s put an end to this. I know you’re feeling restless, but could you please ask about something else?”

The other person seemed unhappy, which led him to steer the conversation toward the plans for the next day.

Indeed, the time had finally come for him to leave the West Wing and the Imperial Grounds. He was already aware of his duties and had even practiced how to act as a blind person. However, he was still unsure about what mode of transportation would be used.

“Teleportation. What else is there?”

“…I’ve only been here for a month.”

Cielo tried to defend himself. He has been in isolation and has only interacted with five people in total. Please don’t look at him with those judgmental eyes.

Newcastle laughed at his reply once again.

“Teleportation demands a considerable amount of mana, which is why His Imperial Highness and the others are making their way to the Evergreen Palace. Meanwhile, you will be accompanying me.”

They might leave before the prince. Perhaps he could convince Newcastle to take him there sooner than planned, giving him a chance to explore. Surely, the prince doesn’t believe he can escape the man without using magic?

Cielo lounged in his chair and asked.

“By the way, what exactly is the Evergreen Palace?”

“It serves as the residence of the First Emperor and is also his final resting place. The area is abundant in mana, which is why large-scale teleportation happens frequently there.”

‘First Emperor?’

Cielo realized he had never come across any information about this person before, but the respect in Newcastle’s voice indicated that he was a figure of great importance. He decided to look for a book about him later, as he seemed quite fascinating.

After their conversation, Newcastle left to attend to his duties, while Cielo chose to explore the area before heading back to his quarters. Although his shift wasn’t over yet, he felt his presence wasn’t particularly necessary at that moment.

As he stepped into his room, a wave of dread washed over him when he noticed that the sheets had been changed.

He had always turned down Alistair’s offers to replace the bedsheets, worried that Alistair might discover the many pages he had ripped from the original edition of the Empire’s Guidebooks he had lent him.

Furthermore, the sheets didn’t even need changing, as they had self-cleaning capabilities. What could have motivated Alistair to make this unexpected choice?

Cielo inspected the pillowcase and found it empty.

“Shit.”

He was about to go into full-blown panic after the ripped pages had gone missing when he noticed something on the table in the corner.

On top of it lay all the ripped pages he collected with a note written in what Cielo thinks is the most beautiful handwriting he had ever seen saying “The papers would crumble if you kept laying on it. Be more careful. :)”

“… .”

“… … .”

Alistair had seen the ripped pages. However, he neither took the documents nor immediately sought him out for questioning, but the smiley face on the note was enough to fill him with a sense of dread.

“I think I’m in serious trouble.”

At that moment, he started to acknowledge Newcastle’s claim that Alistair was truly someone to be feared.

Cielo kept fidgeting after he went back to the library and wasn’t able to sleep in the night due to his nerves. He expected Alistair to show up and demand an explanation but the man was nowhere to be found the entire day.

When he found Doctor Happy in the morning in the dining area, she told him that Alistair had gone out with the 14th prince and hadn’t come home yet.

“Then who delivered the dishes?”

They are strict when it comes to food and he only ever sees Alistair doing the preparing and delivering. Not even Newcastle touches the food unless it’s his share.

“The chef, of course.”

“The chef?”

He hasn’t had the chance to meet the chef yet, as they are always on the first floor where the main kitchen is located. Additionally, he is not allowed to go to the first floor, which effectively keeps him from accessing the main kitchen.

His restricted access to the first floor is due to its direct connection to the main hallway of the palace. The second through fifth floors are completely separated from the rest of the palace.

He only learned about this a week ago.

‘Clearly, they do not trust me enough.’

Although the first floor is linked to the main hallway, it is not without barriers that would prevent him from leaving. It’s likely that there are mechanisms similar to the lock inscriptions used by the prince on all the doors in the West Wing.

‘Thinking about this is making me upset.’

Regardless, it’s a relief that Alistair isn’t here. He has more time to come up with a believable excuse that could save his life.

His breathing eventually became more even.

“I see. That’s comforting.”

“Hm?”

Doctor Happy looked confused by his comment but wisely chose not to delve deeper into the issue, instead inviting him to share a meal with her.

Cielo enjoyed his breakfast without any worries.

Just as he was about to savor the desserts, Newcastle arrived, already dressed in the same black and silver uniform that Alistair had worn during their first meeting.

He observed the man as he approached Doctor Happy and patted her head. The doctor simply pouted at his gesture.

“You seem taller than the last time we met.”

“Please, don’t tease me, My Lord!”

As he watched their exchange, he noticed something that left him feeling perplexed.

‘They look close?’

Now that he thinks about it, this is the first time he saw the two interact.

He had expected Doctor Happy to be more cautious about the man, considering her earlier warning. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case, as she seems sincere in her interactions with him.

“Nonetheless, I am busy at the moment.”

“I know, my lord. Please do what you came here for.”

Newcastle pulled his hand away from her head and the doctor quickly fixed her hair, which had been tousled by Newcastle.

The man turned his attention to him.

“You’ve already had your meal? Wonderful. Let’s go.”

“Eh? But the desserts…”

“No time for that. This is a busy day.”

Before he realized what was happening, he found himself being pulled away.