Chapter 131 - Reason For Fighting (4) (2/2)

Kayone let that out in a shaky voice.

New tears pooled in the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over even now.

“… I don’t really understand, what’s the problem with that?”

I dropped down on the bench, keeping one body length away from Kayone.

“… His Highness, who has had power in his body since childhood that even adults cannot control, was like a bomb that could explode at any moment. The magical power that leaked from his body could even harm himself. His father, His Majesty the King, had no choice but to give the newborn His Highness a certain treatment.”

“As a baby?”

“Yes.”

From the grim look on Kayone’s face, I knew that this was no ordinary treatment.

“There is an ore on the Sphere Continent that dissipates magic power. It’s called Ajinanka stone, a rare ore similar to iron ore.”

“Ajinanka…”

Huh?

I think I heard that name recently.

I’m sure that’s what Alba Germain was talking about, the ore that Jaja and Nana need.

I think that’s what it was called.

“When His Highness was two months old, he was given a tattoo all over his body, constructed with Ajinanka as a dye. It was the only way to dissipate the magical power that was destroying him.”

“… two months old. Is that okay?”

“Of course it wasn’t okay!”

For the first time, Kayone barked emotionally in front of me.

The tears were already flowing clearly from her eyes, and her fists were clenched and shaking.

“I’m sorry… I’m a little distraught.”

“No, no. I was a little too casual about it. Please forgive me.”

Tattoos made from Ajinanka stone, huh?

I don’t think so, but is Alba planning to give it to Jaja and Nana?

No, no, that’s not good.

Absolutely not.

“Well, what happened to the prince with the tattoos?”

I have to ask.

I don’t mean to be rude, but I feel like this is the one thing I need to know.

“When he was young, his skin was so sensitive that even a little dust would make his whole body turn red and he would cry all the time. He also developed skin diseases and complications at the same time, and by combining the medical technology here and magic, he was able to survive, but there were times when we were afraid that he might not. There were several times when we were afraid that the environment in the royal capital would be harmful to His Highness’ health, so before he turned one year old, we decided to take him to a lake guarded by the House of Inteira. The scales of the Sea Dragon are submerged there, and the lake has healing properties.”

The scales of the sea dragon…

Does it have that kind of effect?

I wondered if the dragon forms of Aoi and Rouge would have any different effects.

No, it’s more about the prince now.

“After several years of cleansing his body with lake water, he managed to become as fit as a normal person by the time he reached the upper years of his childhood. However, he still needs to purify his body in the lake water once a month for a day or so.”

“Once a month, how does he… ah, there was transfer magic, wasn’t there?”

They can just use magic on the way there and take a private plane for royalty on the way back.

Comet to think of it, these guys have been absent for a few days at a time.

“Serious magic power.”

“Magic power?”

“Yes. His Highness’s original magical power was so enormous that the only way to deal with it was to carve a powerful magical mark into his body with a tattoo. However, this is not something that can be finely tuned. As a result, all the magic power was released from His Highness’ body.”

All the magic power.

It’s not really something that clicks for those of us who can’t use magic.

“Those of the royal family who were born with white wings have left behind various achievements for generations. The people still have high hopes for Your Highness even knowing his personal circumstances.”

“But the prince can’t use magic, right? Then…”

He can’t live up to the expectations of the people, can he?

“… His Highness has been working hard. The whole time. Even if he couldn’t use magic, he believed that there must be some other way to live up to his expectations.”

Kayone looked at me and smiled gently.

She looked at me as if she were looking at the prince of that time, with nostalgic eyes.

“… but it was a cruel thing, His Highness was mediocre in other areas. The other princes had talents that easily surpassed His Highness’s in academics, socializing, domestic affairs, production, and military affairs. It is not that His Highness is inferior to others. But…”

Kayone shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

A shuddering breath escaped from Kayone’s mouth.

“… Atol-sama worked so hard.”

It was a weak voice that she managed to squeeze out.

It was a sad voice that held back tears, suppressed sobs, and still lost to the air rushing up from her lungs.

“He was trying his best. Atol-sama was really trying hard. He was trying to be praised by his father, whom he had only met a few times, and he was trying to be a wonderful prince who could live up to the expectations of his people, that he even neglected sleep every day! He had to endure the pain in his skin! Endure the comments of those around him who were selfishly disappointed! He was trying so hard! And yet! And yet!”

I completely get it now.

Kayone was distraught, her face distorted into a crumpled mess.

Her tears overflowed one after another, leaving a large puddle on her clenched fist.

All I could do was stare at her, unable to find anything to say.

I don’t know what I can say to stop her tears.

“Being chosen as the ‘Servant of the Sea Dragon’ was Master Atol’s first achievement! Training your body! Studying tactics with single-minded devotion! It was the only thing he was proud of that he had finally obtained after years of training and discipline!”

“The servant of the sea dragon…”

Was that the reason why he wanted to fight me?

Yeah, if that’s the only thing I’m proud of, I can kind of understand.

He’s got a lot of pride, and he wants a duel with me.

I’m sure he felt that he didn’t want to give that up at least.

“… I’m sorry, I lost my composure again.”

“Ahh. It’s okay.”

Kayone rubbed her eyelids with both hands and wiped away her tears.

As I watched her, I thought about it.

I’m sure she really likes the prince.

“… His Highness was delighted. After the selection ceremony, he flew straight to the Inteira house and gave me a big smile, proudly saying ‘Finally’!”

“… I can’t imagine that from what he’s like now.”

I recalled Prince Atol, sitting in the back of the classroom with his arms crossed in a pompous manner.

The way he sits there looking bored with a frown, doesn’t match what Kayone is saying now.

“… The incident took place at the festival celebrating the 40th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s reign. It was a reunion with his father, His Majesty the King, for the first time in years.”

“The incident?”

After catching her breath, Kayone dropped her gaze to her feet again.

She took a quick breath and slowly looked up.

“His Majesty the King said that as soon as His Highness became the ‘Servant of the Sea Dragon,’ he would lower him to last in line to the right of succession to the throne.”

Her eyes were filled with nothing but sadness as she said that.