By Zephyria 
Leo noticed the scar on Cecile’s chest.
Although he couldn’t read the ancient script, he seemed to have realized that the shape of the scar was changing little by little. It was clear that he couldn’t bring himself to ask about it and was only suffering in silence.
Cecile let out a small sigh. He had endured for quite a while. In fact, he had recently felt that the pain was becoming more frequent, making it increasingly difficult to cope alone.
“Leo.”
After a brief moment of decision, Cecile called out to his most trusted and cherished attendant.
“Come to my chamber later with the Court Physician.”
“Is something else wrong? Is it… your heart again?”
“That’s part of it, but… I have something to discuss. It’s important, so it needs to be done in secret.”
Leo’s face darkened for a moment. Although Cecile spoke in a calm voice, he had a feeling that what he had to say wouldn’t be good news.
After a while, as Cecile requested, Leo and the dedicated Court Physician from Peridot Palace arrived at the chamber.
Cecile was comfortably seated on the sofa in his night attire. Upon seeing them, he smiled and gestured to the opposite sofa.
“It’s fine. Come and sit comfortably.”
Leo and the Court Physician hesitantly approached and sat down on the sofa. They were so worried about what Cecile was going to say that even breathing felt uncomfortable.
The first to speak was Ethan Grayson, the Court Physician. He had been assigned to Cecile at Peridot Palace for the past five months.
Although he appeared fine on the outside, Cecile frequently complained of chest pain and had fainted several times. This fact was a secret known only to the attendants of Peridot Palace and Ethan.
To treat the illness, one must know its cause, but Cecile had resolutely refused to allow anyone to touch his body. Fortunately, Ethan had a natural talent for concocting medicines, which allowed him to alleviate Cecile’s pain to some extent.
“How have you been feeling lately?”
“Ah, I actually have a request. I’d like to switch to a stronger painkiller. It seems I’ve built up a tolerance, and the effects wear off quickly.”
“Excuse me? Stronger? Sigh, Your Highness. The medication you’re currently taking is already very potent. Increasing the dosage further would turn it into poison.”
“With your skills, Ethan, you could easily create something stronger. I’ll make it worth your while.”
“No, I cannot do that.”
“Even if I say I’m going to die soon?”
Ethan and Leo both looked stunned. Facing them, Cecile calmly began to unbutton his shirt.
As his smooth skin was revealed, Ethan hurriedly averted his gaze, and Leo seemed at a loss for what to do.
In the meantime, Cecile had become half-naked. He beckoned to the two sitting across from him with a slight gesture of his fingers, indicating for them to come closer.
The two hesitated but approached. Cecile glanced up at them, who couldn’t even lift their heads, and spoke in a steady voice.
“Leo, you’ve probably seen it a few times. The scar on my chest.”
“…….”
“And you’ve noticed that this scar is changing little by little.”
Cecile gently pressed his fingertips against the scar on his chest, confirming that it was indeed unerasable.
“This signifies the days I have left to live. There are now 73 days remaining.”
“What do you mean…!”
“Just wait a moment. It’s almost midnight.”
Cecile stared at the wall clock, counting down the few remaining minutes. The moment the hour and minute hands aligned perfectly, the scar etched on his chest began to distort.
As the shape of the scar changed before their eyes, both men widened their eyes in shock. A sound resembling a groan escaped their lips, as if they couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.
In contrast to their astonishment, Cecile remained composed.
“I have a set day to die. This is a life determined by the gods, and I cannot extend it.”
After confirming this, he casually picked up his shirt and put it on. As he buttoned it one by one, he continued speaking.
“Ethan, you mentioned that an examination is necessary to uncover the cause of my condition, right?”
“…Yes.”
“The pain I experience is because I’m inadvertently revealing to others the events that will happen in the future. It’s a sort of punishment.”
“What do you mean? How can one know of future events…?”
“There are sometimes things in this world that are hard to explain. I acknowledge that it’s difficult to believe. But what can I do? It is the truth. If you wish, you may examine my body.”
Cecile, who had been adamantly refusing an examination, ultimately gave his consent. Having already revealed the scar, there was nothing left to hide.
“It’s a secret I’ve kept for a long time, but I think it’s time to share it with you. It’s a bit too much for me to handle alone.”
And he finally made his request. In revealing this, he had essentially disclosed his secret.
“Of course, if I don’t reveal the future, I could live a peaceful life. But I intend to continue enduring pain for Alexis’s sake.”
“…….”
“Though there isn’t much time left, I hope you will help me. Ethan, you will continue to prepare my medicine until the day I die, and Leo…”
Cecile paused mid-sentence. The moment he saw his attendant, who was already in tears, his throat tightened.
Seeing Leo, who was struggling to hold back tears with his hands clasped behind his back, made Cecile’s eyes well up as well. He forced a smile.
“I hope Leo will help keep my secret. If I were to collapse in front of others, Leo must be the first to protect me. No one must discover the secret of my body.”
“Ugh, Your Highness. Your Highness….”
Leo sank to the floor and sobbed. His heart-wrenching cries pierced the hearts of those who heard them.
“It’s only a few months. If you both help me until the end, I will reward you generously. I promise.”
At Cecile’s calm voice, Leo cried even louder. Ethan stood by, rubbing his face in distress.
Still, the two believed Cecile’s words. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense.
After some time, Leo finally managed to compose himself. As he exhaled heavily, mixed with sobs, Cecile gently patted his head.
“Do you think I’m crazy?”
“I’d rather… you were crazy.”
“You little rascal. You have no qualms about speaking to your master like that.”
Cecile, who intentionally scolded lightly, felt just as sad. He was beginning to sense that it was time to prepare for the end.
* * *
A few days later, the imperial army led by Crown Prince Alexis set out on an expedition.
Kazazhan was also preparing for war, but unexpectedly suffered a crushing defeat. They were attacked at a stronghold they had never anticipated.
The area where the Berka Empire army invaded was the upper reaches of the Rione River, far from the capital. As soon as Alexis captured the source of the river, he cut off the water flow.
The Kingdom of Kajazhan fell into chaos. Naturally, they had only prepared for war in the capital and key strongholds, so it was a blow from behind.
Water is a vital resource directly linked to survival. Given Kazazhan’s geographical characteristics, surrounded by the sea, river water was used for drinking. While it might be fine for now, it was only a matter of time before they would be affected. Moreover, with the absurd rumor that the imperial army had poisoned the river, no one dared to take action.
The imperial army easily gained the upper hand in the war with a strategy that caught the enemy off guard. It was a battle that subdued Kazazhan without shedding a drop of blood.
News of the great victory led by Alexis spread like wildfire throughout the empire. The citizens were already elated, feeling as if they had won the war, and their loyalty to the Crown Prince soared to the heavens.
Cecile also heard the news of the victory from the Imperial Palace. Despite being bedridden, he couldn’t contain his joy.
He had endured bravely, but living on strong medicine had left his body in tatters. He had been bedridden for about a week since Alexis left for the expedition.
“You absolutely must not take any medicine. My liver and stomach are in no condition to handle it. At this rate, it’s clear I won’t even last my remaining lifespan.”
“You’re quite the scary one with your threats.”
Cecile, lying in bed, replied in a weak voice. After revealing his secret, his physician, Ethan, was now speaking harshly about a person’s life.
“It’s not a threat; it’s a request. I’m merely asking you to refrain for a while.”
“Isn’t His Highness away? You should be able to rest during this time. Instead of nagging, focus on improving your health. Ethan, aren’t you the renowned physician I acknowledged?”
“I’m worried because you’ve won so decisively. You could take it a bit slower. I’m afraid you might return sooner than expected….”
“Don’t say such alarming things, ugh!”
Cecile scolded, then covered his mouth. Seeing this signal, attendant Leo rushed over and held a bucket under the bed.
Ugh, Cecile vomited right there. What came out was nothing but yellow gastric juice and bile. After a long bout of vomiting, Cecile lay back down with a pale face.
Leo was on the verge of tears, and Ethan could no longer scold him. Those who had learned the secret could only look at Cecile with pity as they assisted him.
Four days later, news arrived that the Crown Prince had entered the capital. Accompanied only by the commander of the knights and key aides, Alexis returned directly to the Imperial Palace.
As soon as he arrived, he headed to Peridot Palace. He wanted to be the first to share the news of the victory with Cecile.
“Did you hear? How great our victory was. It’s all thanks to you.”
As soon as Alexis saw Cecile, he lifted him up and kissed him on the cheeks.