The defamatory rumors were only going to spread, but then again, what else was new? All the same, as someone still relatively new to the imperial capital and the empire, it just wasn’t a good look for me to be seen spending the majority of my time in the company of the crown prince. Still, my problems meant nothing to Six.
“Listen, your problems are nothing more than shit compared to what Reinald and I have to deal with! No, actually, they’re even less, because at least shit can be used as fertilizer! The Conrad family barely registers on the nobility scale, and all you get from a misunderstanding is a little hate and some rumors. We, on the other hand, are looking at several hundred dead at the tiniest of slipups. The lake around the capital will run red with blood, and disease will run rampant. The soil will sully to the point that no crops can be grown, and the people will be in a panic. All of that on the line, and you’re going to make your meager idea of pride the priority? Well, you won’t! I know full well you’re smarter than that!”
“I can’t tell if you’re praising or belittling me right now!”
“I’m doing both! I’m very honest like that!”
Well, whichever it is, they’re both awful!
“I’ve always thought of you as a fool with a big heart and terrible luck, but I believe you to be entirely capable of making wise decisions,” said Six.
“How do you even get along with this guy, Sir Reinald?” I asked.
“You get used to him,” replied Reinald. “There’s no other way. But I will say this: Let him get it all out now, and there will be less to deal with later.”
“This is not the time to be talking about what’s realistic and what’s not! And it goes without saying that the girl’s reputation means nothing. Here’s what matters—you two staying together until we know what Ern’s messages are all about. Stick together as often as you can, or I’ll cast something to ensure that it happens anyway.”
“Just out of curiosity, exactly what kind of spell are we talking?” I asked.
“Maybe you’ll get diarrhea whenever you stray too far from each other, or perhaps I’ll allow you to see the world of the undead.”
Both sounded horrific.
“Or how about this?” continued Six, seemingly on a roll now. “You’ll look like every man’s dream. The moment you speak, they’ll think you’re inviting them to bed. And you better believe I can do it. Human senses are nothing to me. I can make even the ugliest of wenches look like the most beautiful woman in the world!”
“You! Are! The worst!” I cried.
“Well, duh! That’s how harassment works! The more vulgar it is, the more effective!”
I didn’t know if the spells he talked about actually existed. I’d never heard of anything like any of them, but I still couldn’t rule out that he might try. And even if he didn’t cast those particular spells, he would definitely do something if he didn’t think we were helping him.
“Fine, we’ll do as you ask,” I said. “But I do have a schedule to keep and to rearrange, so at least understand that I can’t do anything immediately. I’ll find some reason to be at Sir Reinald’s side, but at least give me time to make arrangements.”
“That’s the sincerity I’m after. I might even forgive you your nasty remarks.”
Who does this box think he is? The Lord of the Boxes?
“You’ll find it terribly boring in my company,” said Reinald.
“But it’s not like we can make the opposite work all that easily,” I replied. “But we’ll have our answers just as soon as I’m able to communicate with that girl in my dreams, so for now we just have to hope that happens sooner rather than later.”
“We’ve no other options. I’ll find a way to keep you occupied.”
“A fun game or something of the like?”
“How about playing cards with Moritz?”
“Ah! I’d like that!”
“Reinald, you know exactly how to rub that guy the wrong way,” remarked Six.
“You think so? He’s so talkative around her that I thought he’d enjoy more conversation.”
I enjoyed being able to hear about so many different things, and I found myself looking forward to a potential card game.
“By the way,” said Six. “That steward of yours doesn’t look so flash. Is he okay?”
It was such a strange thing for the mage to say.
“Oh, you noticed?” I remarked. “He’s taking a break from work because he’s rather unwell.”
“And you’ve a gardener too, right? An old guy. How’s he of late?”
“Now that’s a surprise. How did you know?”
I told Six that Ben was resting as well, to which the mage only murmured thoughtfully. He looked as uninterested as usual, but it was still very curious.
“I don’t really like saying stuff like this, but...” started the mage.
“What is it? Is something wrong? You’ve gotten all serious all of a sudden.”
“If the elderly in your household are unwell, then you should send them away from the capital for a little while. And I’m not playing any tricks, okay? I mean this sincerely.”
“What are you talking about? They’re unwell, and they’re already resting...at home. Isn’t that what’s best for them?”
“I’m just saying that it will take longer here, or it might not help at all. I’m certain of it, in fact.”
Even Reinald was curious now. He knew it wasn’t just Six up to his usual mischief, and he wanted to know why Six had brought this up.
“Okay, look,” admitted the mage, “I don’t have any proof of what I’m about to tell you. That’s why I haven’t said anything to anyone until now.”
“Not even me?” asked Reinald.
“Of course not. Like I said, nobody can do anything even if they know. And before you ask, no, I haven’t even mentioned it to Karl.”
Which was to say that not even the emperor himself could do anything about it.
“So, because of the development of magical culture across the continent, exterior wounds are relatively easy to heal. As long as the wounded person has enough magical energy, their wounds will close. At least on most occasions. But even healing magic doesn’t heal everything.”
“You mean diseases, right? Even I know that much.”
“Yes. Putting aside the vomit-inducing upper classes with their own methods, the ordinary citizenry relies on doctors. Colds, fevers, that kind of thing—that’s their realm.”
“The realm of medical professionals, yes, who prescribe herbs and other similar medicinal remedies.”