“Oh dear, my brother-in-law is such a handful. I’m shaking in my boots here. But I’ve burdened Latriche a lot in the past, both when the former queen still held power and when I first took the crown, so I can’t say anything back to him,” King Bertrand said.
“I can tell that Prince Valen treasures Her Majesty,” Lord Nazel replied.
“Yeah...”
“And that he fancies my wife too.”
“He does?! How terrifying... I imagine he’ll suffer if he makes an enemy out of you.”
“Indeed. But, well, Agnes is completely indifferent to him, so I can rest easy. She’s the best.”
I didn’t really get it, but I was happy that Lord Nazel seemed to trust me.
“Yes, your wife is so devoted to you that it’s clear even to an outsider like me,” King Bertrand said. Apparently, I was such an open book that even he could notice. I felt a bit embarrassed.
A short time later, there was another knock on the door, and Queen Latriche’s handmaiden pushed in a stroller carrying the two princes.
Here come King Bertrand and Queen Latriche’s kids. I was surprised since I thought I’d only get to see them at the party.
“We wanted the two of you to meet them in advance,” Queen Latriche said; King Bertrand nodded in agreement.
“I’m so happy I can see the twin princes up close like this. They’re adorable.” I carefully observed the two toddlers. Lord Nazel also looked very interested in them.
Prince Valen smiled and looked fondly at his nephews.
“Their expressions are just like Latriche when she was little.”
A warm atmosphere enveloped the room.
A short time later, a retainer came calling for Prince Valen.
“Your Highness, regarding tomorrow’s schedule—”
“Come ooon. Why did you have to call for me now? I don’t want to go.” That said, Prince Valen couldn’t exactly disregard his duties, so he reluctantly left the room.
He’s here as Polpystan’s representative, after all. He must be busy. I sent him off with a wave of my hand.
The two princes were still asleep. They had the same hair color as King Bertrand. They were showing no signs of waking up even in front of so many people. The palace was full of handmaidens and maids, so maybe they were used to being around others.
“Is your Solis also in good health, Lady Agnes?” Queen Latriche asked.
I nodded.
“Yes, he’s healthy. The other day, he used his magic in the garden and made the sweet potatoes’ vines grow much longer than normal. It was quite an issue.”
“He’s only one year old yet he can already freely use his magic?” Queen Latriche said after a short pause. “What frightening talent.”
“Yes. He’s been able to use his magic since he was even younger, but he’s gotten quite naughty recently. He keeps running away and causing trouble for his wet nurse and maids.”
“If I’m not mistaken, his magic is soil manipulation, right? We received an official report from the church. It’s similar to Nazelbart’s magic. Sutrena really can’t be taken lightly.” King Bertrand had a serious expression.
“Exactly. That’s why we’d like you to keep Solis’s magic a complete secret. His magic can guarantee an abundant harvest regardless of the soil used,” Lord Nazel reminded King Bertrand.
“Yes, of course. First Lady Agnes, now Solis... To think so many talented people in need of protection would be gathered in Sutrena.”
“I plan to publicly announce that Solis’s magic can move the earth. Even that on its own is an incredible kind of magic, after all.”
“Indeed. Being able to freely manipulate the earth is already incredibly convenient. It can even change the terrain itself, so it’s useful for civil engineering projects.”
“Well, we’ll announce it on a smaller scale.”
“That would be a wise decision...”
King Bertrand and Queen Latriche gazed at the empty sky with distant looks. They often made that kind of expression whenever we met.
“Come to think of it, have you looked into the princes’ magic yet?” I asked Queen Latriche.
“They can’t use it yet, but we’ve gotten them appraised. The elder has disappearance, while the younger has transfer.”
“What rare magic. They’re similar to their parents’ magic, but also not quite...” I said.
King Bertrand possessed storage magic, while Queen Latriche’s magic was substitute. Storage was a convenient magic which allowed its user to take things in and out of an independent space. His Majesty had once used his magic to pose as a merchant. Meanwhile, Queen Latriche’s substitute could create an identical copy of herself to act as her double. She’d helped me with her magic in the past. However, the substitute couldn’t perform complex movements, so it had to be used with caution.
“I’m happy that my sons have useful magic, but I feel like they’ll be a real handful once they can freely use their magic. One of them can vanish at will, while the other can move anywhere he wants... I doubt I’ll be able to supervise them both,” Queen Latriche said. That really sounded daunting. If the princes turned invisible or moved to some strange place, no one could catch them if they escaped like Solis. “I’m seriously considering having their magic sealed away until they’re old enough to understand things better.”
“It’s quite the problem when you take their safety into account,” I said with a nod. Perhaps it would be better to also have Solis’s magic sealed for a while. I’d like to avoid that if possible. But it might be something to consider depending on how Solis behaved from now on. There’s a risk of him wiping out all the vegetables and fruit trees in our garden. We’d be in serious trouble if he left the estate and started heading for the people’s fields.
In Desnim, if a child was discovered to have powerful magic they couldn’t control, it was permissible to temporarily seal their magic for their own sake. Normally, a report would be sent to the country through the church, and if the petition was accepted, a person with sealing magic would be dispatched. When those children grew up and reached an age where they could properly handle their magic, another petition would be sent to the church, and a person with release magic would be sent out. People with sealing and release magic most commonly worked in managing criminals, but there was also this kind of demand for them. After all, there was an infinite variety of magic in this world.
Sealing a child’s magic is a rare occurrence, though. The adults around them usually deal with it.
Time passed by in a flash as we talked with King Bertrand and Queen Latriche, but they had to leave since it was time for the princes to eat. They were still sound asleep.
I hope I can see them awake tomorrow, I thought as we saw the royal family off.