The two of them thanked me and introduced themselves to us plainly, without any air of superiority. I had a feeling that they were intentionally trying to convey a sense of approachability.
Still, that man was the first prince of Illumasia, huh?
“You are much too kind,” I said. “I am but a mere healer who, just like you, simply wants to go by Luciel. How are you feeling?”
“My body still feels a bit light, but I can move just fine,” Albert said.
“Me too.” Melphina nodded. “I tried to use my magic earlier, and I encountered no difficulties whatsoever.”
Oh, so she hadn’t been able to use it before? They had most definitely been the subjects of some experiment.
“That’s good to hear. I know you must be curious, so let me do the introductions. This is Lionel, one of my followers.”
Albert’s and Melphina’s expressions stiffened the moment they heard his name.
“It has been quite some time, Your Highness, Lady Melphina,” Lionel said with a slight bow before sitting back down. He was composed, showing no sign of inner turmoil. Albert and Melphina were the complete opposite.
“Are you really my master?” Albert asked. “You seem much younger than in my memories... You look exactly the same as you did back then.”
“I remember you looking more like a devil, Mister Lionel,” Melphina said hesitantly.
While his body was technically younger now, the fact that he didn’t have a beard probably didn’t help their impression of him. Besides, he only looked like a devil on the battlefield. Plus, ever since he’d learned that Nalia was pregnant with his child, he’d been practicing how to smile every day. The fact that his expressions looked less severe than before was the result of his hard work.
“I gave you spankings every time you misbehaved until you were twelve, Your Highness,” Lionel said. “Then, when you became an adult, I listened to you ramble on about Lady Mel—”
“F-Fine. You’re my master. I’m convinced now,” Albert hurriedly interrupted him.
“Is that so?”
All it took was for Lionel to bring up the prince’s embarrassing childhood to convince the prince that he was the real deal.
“You truly are Mister Lionel. But then, who was that masked man in the Holy City who called himself by your name?” Melphina asked.
She had spoken before Lionel could continue his conversation with Albert and embarrass him further. Women sure were good at preventing crises, huh? Perhaps it had something to do with their emotional maturity.
As I pondered that question, we began our discussion with the prince, Bazack, and Melphina: Would we be joining forces with the resistance, or would we be heading to the imperial capital on our own?