Yuder was relieved that he didn't have to answer the awkward question. A youth wearing the traditional attire of the Nelarn Kingdom stopped in front of Ejain, panting heavily.
"Goodness! Do you know how long I've been looking for you? Where on earth are you going without a word…! Especially when such a significant event has just occurred, why do you always choose such times Prince…!"
"Melbon, Melbon. Can't you see the person next to me?"
"Eh?"
The young man, who had been about to pour out his words, finally noticed Yuder standing next to Ejain and quickly closed his mouth, surprised.
"My, my apologies."
"You never learn to pay attention to your surroundings when you're excited, no matter how many times you're told."
Ejain scratched his head while glancing at Yuder with a wry expression.
"Well, I wasn't intending to hide my identity, but I ended up having to. Although, since I am an envoy, I didn't lie."
Ejain grumbled, explaining that it was hard to have a casual conversation once his prince status was known, and looked at Yuder, who showed no particular reaction, in wonderment.
"But… aren't you surprised after learning who I am?"
"No, I was surprised."
"That doesn't look like a surprised face."
"I apologize, but this is my surprised face."
"Did you know who I was from the beginning?"
"Truly, I did not."
Ejain's pupils subtly narrowed as he looked at Yuder, who insisted calmly. His gaze was either amused or dispassionately observant.
"Um, Your Highness… We don't have time to delay…"
"Alright, I got it. I'm going, so stop nagging."
A young man, standing nervously by Ejain's side in the tense silence, spoke cautiously. Ejain, who had chided him lightly, turned towards Yuder.
"We've had the most enjoyable conversation since I arrived in the empire, and since it's all due to you, may I know your name?"
Yuder hesitated for a moment, but then replied.
"It's Yuder Aile."
"Yuder Aile."
Ejain repeated Yuder's name and wore a satisfied expression.
"I'll remember that. I hope we'll meet again soon so we can continue our unfinished discussion about the Awakeners."
Unfinished conversation, indeed. Would they ever meet again in this lifetime to continue such a talk? Even if Ejain were to become a King again, as in his previous life, it would be incredibly difficult to meet again as long as Yuder remained an ordinary Cavalry member.
Yuder watched the retreating figures of Prince Ejain and his party, who soon disappeared into the distance, then turned away.
He had intended just a brief stroll but meeting Ejain had caused a considerable delay. As he retraced his steps, trying to find a shortcut, Yuder started to wonder about the report the prince's subordinate was about to deliver.
'Has something happened in Nelarn? Or… was he about to report on an incident within the Empire?'
There was one thing he could guess about the Empire. It might be related to the fact that Kishiar and the Cavalry had gone to Lenore's funeral today. The thought made him eager to return and check.
"Where have you been? If you were any later, we were going to start searching for you."
The servant who welcomed the hurriedly returning Yuder sighed in relief and relayed the news that Kishiar had already arrived.
"I cannot imagine how worried the Duke must have been."
"Yes, I was quite worried. When I finished my tasks quickly and returned, there was no one waiting for me."
"Duke."
The servant, startled by the leisurely voice from behind, turned around with a start. Yuder courteously bowed his head in greeting toward Kishiar who had silently been leaning against the wall.
"I'm sorry, I lost track of time while out for a brief walk. I apologize for causing concern."
"Your well-being is more important than the worry you've caused. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
Only then did Kishiar remove himself from the wall and stride over. An immense energy that Yuder hadn't felt before his disappearance still enshrouded him, but unlike a few days prior, it didn't feel threatening. Kishiar too seemed to be sizing up Yuder, eventually nodding his head.
"Good. I can tell you're not lying."
"Then I can return to the Cavalry now?"
"Actually, even if you do go back, you'll have to rest for three more days. Are you so eager to return?"
"Yes."
At his firm response, Kishiar let out a small laugh.
"Alright then. You can go straight back."
After thanking the servant who had cared for Yuder over the past few days, Kishiar confidently strode toward the back of the palace. Upon boarding the waiting carriage, Yuder felt a weight lift off his shoulders, realizing he could finally return to the Cavalry.
As he watched the carriage leave the palace through the window, Yuder quickly asked the question he had been most curious about all day.
"Did you manage to successfully complete all the tasks you had today?"
"You would have found out soon enough. Were you that curious?"
"Yes."
"I'm more curious about what you saw during your long walk. Isn't that more interesting?"
His words sounded absurd, but Kishiar's smiling face did not waver. Yuder blinked for a moment, then cautiously replied.
"…Nothing much really."
"Same for me."
"Do I have to share?"
"Of course not, if you don't want to. Same goes for me."
It seemed like a joke, but Kishiar didn't appear to be backing down.
'Really, nothing happened…'
Was he suspecting that Yuder was hiding something? Suddenly that thought seemed plausible, and Yuder started to struggle to recall his day.
What did he see when he was out today? Nothing but flowers came to mind. Even that was becoming increasingly vague because, compared to the handsome man in front of him, the flowers seemed insignificant. After a moment of thought, Yuder awkwardly opened his mouth.
"I saw… flowers."
"Flowers?"
"Yes."
"Well, it is the blooming season. Anything else?"
"I saw some fish briefly."
"Fish… Oh, there was a pond nearby."
Kishiar, who had nodded, asked again, "Anything else?"
"While looking at a sculpture that resembled a pillar… I had a brief conversation with someone who was lost."
"Someone who was lost?"
"It was an envoy from Nelarn. Turned out, he was actually the Second Prince. We ended up having a long conversation because he was so curious about the Awakeners."
This answer seemed to surprise Kishiar, who then broke into laughter.
"Now that is indeed interesting."
"I didn't find it so."
What joy would there be in answering something you already know? Even during his conversation with Prince Ejain, the only thing occupying Yuder's mind was curiosity about what might have happened at Lenore's funeral where Kishiar had gone.
"I've told you all that I saw. Now, it's your turn to answer."
"What I did, it's just as you would expect. There were no surprising variables."
Only then did Kishiar leisurely open his mouth to speak. Yuder attentively listened to the events of the day as they flowed from his lips, exhaling deeply when he heard that Aishes Shand Apeto had disrupted the funeral.
'Impressive. The gap between the Apeto family, the Diarca family, and Crown Prince Katchian will surely widen due to this incident. The next trial should proceed more smoothly without any disruption.'
Although he achieved his goal simply and surely and returned, his extremely calm demeanor was because he was already considering his next targets without satisfaction. Who could guess his true intentions from his outwardly playful demeanor, where all these calculations were hidden?
Sensing that Yuder's mind had also become busy, Kishiar quietly spoke.
"Yuder. No matter how much you want to work, you can't for the next three days."
"…I understand."
"And when you return, don't go straight to your quarters. Make a stop at the medical division first."
"The medical division… you say?"
At these unexpected words, Yuder turned his head, and Kishiar's red eyes sparkled playfully.
"The bodies of the Awakeners are indeed different from ordinary people, so I've long felt the need to establish a dedicated medical division for research from the ground up. Originally, I was planning to set it up later, but I decided it would be better to start, even if imperfect, and gradually improve it, so I accelerated the plan."
In his previous life, there was no medical division until Kishiar retired. It could only be established when the number of members increased several folds and there were many Awakeners with healing abilities, and it took quite a long time to operate it properly due to the interference from those who were discontent with the Cavalry.
"We've secured beds in the empty space and brought in a doctor and pharmacist, even a priest. That's a good start, isn't it?"
When did he plan and manage to set up a medical division amidst all the busy work, let alone select a doctor and priest? It was hard to believe, but there was no way Kishiar would lie about such a thing, so it must be true.
"You'll be the first member to use the medical division. As a trial sample, I expect you to experience it with utmost sincerity and provide your feedback."
"…Understood."
He was flustered by the unbelievable fact that all these things were accomplished in just the day and a half he had spent unconscious from manifestation and the day he took to rest. Kishiar, stroking his chin and smiling, watched Yuder respond.
"But before that."
"Yes?"
"Now that you're fully recovered, shouldn't you heal the spot on the back of your hand? I can take care of that, let's finish it before we go back."
“Come, take off your glove.” His voice, feigning solemnity yet carrying a hint of laughter, caused Yuder's fingertips to tremble.