A garden was filled with blooming flowers beneath the morning light.
In the middle of it, a blue-haired boy sat at a small tea table, gazing into the distance. A faint golden glow shimmered in his eyes—as if he were seeing something no one else could.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
“It seems Lavis and Camelia made the children cry again.”
Not far from him, a man with a military bearing stood upright. He followed the prince’s gaze for a moment before speaking in a flat tone.
“The explosions were quite loud. It seems the training grounds were destroyed again.”
Yuma chuckled softly. The golden glow in his eyes faded as he picked up his quill again and signed the documents before him.
“Being enthusiastic is a good thing.”
“Being enthusiastic and going insane are two different things, Your Highness.”
Artian grimaced, imagining the two of them as horned demons with black wings.
After finishing the last document, Yuma looked at him with a gentle expression.
“How about your twin?”
“Hansel is filling in for Captain Rue, Your Highness.”
“Rue?”
“Yes. Captain Rue is currently focused on handling the Archduke’s territory. So for the time being, Hansel is taking over the duties related to the archers.”
“Hmm...”
Yuma nodded slowly.
A gentle breeze rustled through the garden, lifting strands of his blue hair. A soothing and purifying aura spread from him without intention.
Several flower buds bloomed as if welcoming him.
The servants standing some distance away merely lowered their heads. They were already accustomed to the phenomenon—though even so, whenever that aura spread, breathing somehow felt easier.
Artian closed his eyes for a moment as he enjoyed the tranquility flowing around him.
Yuma was not even consciously using his soul power.
It simply happened.
He returned to arranging the documents and waved a hand.
“Your Highness.”
Artian stepped closer and accepted the stack of papers.
“What about the Viscount’s case?”
“The child’s contamination is quite severe. Captain Chloe is still trying to purify him.”
Yuma looked toward the soldiers’ headquarters.
“If they’re having trouble, let me know.”
“It isn’t difficult, Your Highness. It simply takes time.”
Yuma nodded.
Seeing that there were no further orders, Artian saluted and left. The documents had to be delivered to His Highness the Archduke for processing.
After Artian left, Yuma picked up his teacup again.
His movement stopped for a moment.
He took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of his lips.
There was not much blood.
But it was enough to remind him that his body had not fully recovered yet.
“They’ll probably lock me up even longer if they see this...”
His tone was light.
A blue aura enveloped the cloth. In an instant, the handkerchief broke apart into fine, shimmering dust before disappearing into the wind.
Several flowers nearby rustled softly again.
Yuma glanced at the servants in the distance.
They were still keeping their heads lowered, unaware of anything.
Yuma let out a quiet sigh.
His soul damage had not completely healed.
In the previous battle, he had used his soul power on a massive scale. The power he normally used to suppress the remaining contamination had eventually been depleted as well.
When the clash of powers occurred, his body finally gave out.
Yuma gently tapped his chest.
“...”
Still under control.
For now.
He stopped tapping.
Two days of rest had been enough to recover his strength. At least enough for him to once again suppress the contamination and the conflicting forces within his body.
Although his body was still tired, this was already much better.
Of course, “better” by Yuma’s standards.
According to Chaiden, the boy’s body had only just stopped being on the verge of failure.
The organs that had weakened were now stable, but by normal standards, he was still far from healthy.
Yuma maintained his peaceful expression as he sipped his tea.
“Your Highness.”
Chaiden’s voice broke the silence.
Yuma turned toward him.
“What brings you here, Professor?”
Chaiden placed three small boxes on the table.
“I brought the samples.”
Inside were a bracelet, an earring, and a ring.
“Which one will you choose? Or perhaps we could repair the earring in your ear at the same time?”
Yuma touched the blue earring on his right ear. He had had it since childhood, and now it served more as a memory than as a tool.
“No need.”
“The one on the left is gone too, isn't it?”
“I gave it away.”
Chaiden fell silent.
“...To whom?”
Yuma tilted his head slightly and smiled.
“A secret.”
Chaiden groaned.
“Don’t smile like that. You could make someone faint.”
Yuma chuckled lightly.
“Those with purifying and soothing abilities do tend to attract people’s affection. But surely it’s not enough to make someone faint, Professor.”
Chaiden wanted to argue, but stopped himself.
This was exactly why the nobles were reluctant to let Yuma appear in public.
If the full extent of Yuma’s abilities became known, other kingdoms—even the Western Empire—might start competing to propose political marriages with him.
And then there was the warm snow.
If Yuma used his healing ability at full strength, snow would fall—snow that could heal and purify anyone who touched it.
Far too conspicuous.
Fortunately, using his healing ability on a small scale did not cause the snow to fall.
“Give me your hand.”
“I’m already fine.”
Chaiden continued holding his wrist anyway. Soul power flowed from his hand as he examined Yuma’s body.
“Hmm...”
His expression relaxed slightly.
“Better. But still, get some rest.”
Yuma nodded.
Of course, no one could see it.
Something that had been churning inside his body had now settled again. His soul power was slowly finding its own rhythm.
The wounds caused by regression could not be detected either. Those wounds only appeared for a moment before fading again.
Chaiden released his hand.
“Your body is still considered weak for a normal child.”
“Hmm.”
My body has never really been healthy since I was young.
“Academy registration is in three days.”
The quill in Yuma’s hand stopped.
“...Wasn’t it a week from now?”
“A week was only a rough estimate. Registration starts in three days, followed by the power assessment. The process takes quite a while because students come from various places.”
Yuma fell silent.
Rue.
He let out a quiet sigh.
“I see.”
“A good opportunity to make some friends.”
“I have a mission.”
“Making friends won’t interfere with your mission.”
“Professor...”
“Huh, all right.”
Chaiden took a stone from inside his coat. It was black, with tiny specks inside it that looked like stars.
“Channel your power into this stone.”
“Hmm.”
Yuma channeled his soul power into it. Fine cracks appeared across the stone’s surface, spreading for a fraction of a second before stopping.
“Your power is still too strong.”
“Is that enough?”
“Enough. I only needed a sample. I have to go back.”
“Won’t you have some tea first?”
“Sorry, Your Highness. My time is limited.”
Chaiden said his farewells in a hurry.
Silence descended upon the garden once more.
Yuma stared at his teacup, which was beginning to cool.
Footsteps approached.
Rue appeared with a stack of documents in his hands.
Yuma blinked slowly.
“Ah...”
It seemed today was going to be a long day.