By Zephyria 
Ivan did not hesitate to answer. He straightened his shoulders and lower back as if he had long awaited Ruben to bring up the matter, and looked directly into Ruben’s face. A thread-like smile, unseen until now, hung on the corner of Ivan’s lips.
“What about trade monopolies?”
“That’s not something I can promise.”
“I was just asking. How about a 50% reduction in overseas trade tax?”
“20.”
“30?”
“Alright. Let’s make it around 30%.”
I wasn’t the only one stunned by the rapid back-and-forth. Ivan’s wife’s eyes widened as she stared at Ivan, her mouth opening and closing. Seeing her, I realized how pathetic my own expression must have been and hastily composed my features.
Ruben tore a page from his notebook and drafted a brief contract in his handwriting, handing it to Ivan. Ivan fanned it three times to dry the ink, folded it neatly, and tucked it into his chest.
Watching him, Marianne’s voice echoed in my ears once more. Hadn’t she told me to get permission wherever I went before signing? She was right. I firmly resolved to seek the help of clever individuals before making any signatures or promises.
Having obtained what he desired, Ivan resumed speaking with his usual cool expression.
“Until last year, the strange phenomena continued from west to east, but starting this month, similar incidents are occurring simultaneously in all ports. Due to my influence, the number of fishing boats using Mana defense Artifacts has increased, and some boats that discover the phenomena are managing to return alive.”
“What does that mean?”
“Would you like to meet locals who know the related legends, or would you prefer to see the Golden Island?”
“Can you guarantee safety?”
“Yes. I have taken civilians who wished to see the Golden Island on expeditions to the waters several times.”
“Several times?”
“Four times.”
This audacious fellow was treating it like a tourist excursion with people’s lives at stake. I was utterly astonished.
Ruben seemed to be deep in thought. “Why?” I asked, patting the child’s hand. Ruben’s gaze traced from my left shoulder down to my elbow. He worried about the strangest things. It was with this arm that I had carried the child here. After resting for a day and a half, I felt I could handle anything.
“It’s okay,” I mouthed. Ruben, who had been contemplating, nodded.
“Then, both. I would like you to guide us.”
Ruben did not choose just one of the options.
We decided to go first to hear the legends related to the mysterious Golden Island. Although Ivan and his wife had seen the Golden Island with their own eyes, they knew little about Yulan’s legend and had merely assessed the surreal scene as an objective phenomenon before moving on.
It would be more helpful if we heard the legends and learned what to pay attention to. Then, we planned to visit the area where the Golden Island appeared during broad daylight and return.
“When would you like to depart?”
“Today… right after dinner.”
“Very well.”
All of Yulan’s economic activities were concentrated on the sea. Because of this, the port of Songbrue, the closest to Yulan’s capital, Palmire, was only half a day’s journey away.
If we boarded the carriage in the evening, we would be able to speak with the fishermen early in the morning. Ivan readily agreed to my suggestion to sleep in the carriage to save time.
I instructed the servants to prepare a place for them to rest, and then went with Ruben to meet the quack doctor.
The quack doctor properly bandaged and immobilized my arm. He applied a full-length splint that perfectly matched the shape of my arm, from shoulder to elbow to wrist, and wrapped it with bandages. The surface was so hard that I thought it could even serve as a shield in a pinch, which I found quite remarkable.
He started his incessant nagging again.
“Some knights, when bandaged like this, use it as a shield, but you absolutely must not. Injuries like this accumulate, and the impact goes deep inside. Do you understand?”
“Mm.”
“If you feel even a little pain midway, don’t endure it and take regeneration potions regularly.”
“Mm.”
However, it was better to get some fresh air than to just sit around and wait. I paid no mind to his nagging. Ruben took several regeneration potions for me instead. I felt a tickle in my ears from the child’s anxious gaze.
❖ ❖ ❖
We sat facing each other in a spacious four-person carriage, Ivan and his wife beside me.
Ivan’s wife was as large in build as she was tall. Because Ivan was thin, there was enough space even when sitting next to her; if Rubel had been seated beside her, our shoulders would have touched, making for an uncomfortable journey.
Sienna Bicov’s ordinary wheat-colored face was flushed a deep red. Come to think of it, he hadn’t spoken a proper word until now. I didn’t know if he was shy and reserved or naturally prone to flushing, but I couldn’t treat him as if he weren’t there, so I spoke first.
“Baroness Bicov.”
“Yes? Yes… Yes?”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No! No, I’m not.”
Didn’t he say he helped Ivan beat up the sailors?
Indeed, his limbs looked thick and strong. If Ruben had built muscle on his naturally straight limbs through training, this man was clearly born with a robust frame. Signs of sword training… none. At best, he might have carried a few things.
His eyes were narrow and his nose was sharp, but his perpetually worried and tense expression made him unsuitable for business. Looking at him from every angle, I thought it would have been better if he had started sword training earlier. Just then, a thin hand reached out and blocked the man’s view. It was Ivan.
“Hmm?”
“Why are you staring so intently at someone else’s wife?”
“…”
“She’s mine.”
“Hah.”
Even though I knew he was joking, I burst out laughing.
Seeing this, I knew it was Ivan. I quickly recognized the playfulness hidden in Ivan’s calm expression. Come to think of it, I remembered Marianne saying something once. Ivan’s dream was to go swimming with the person he loved. It was amusing, so I played along with his teasing.
“I was just looking to see how well you two match.”
“And? Do you think you match well?”
“Yes. Was the swimming enjoyable?”
“…Where did you hear about that?”
Ivan also burst out laughing.
Only Ivan’s wife was flustered and fidgeting, so I added an explanation.
“Whether you’ve heard or not, your husband and I were classmates at the Academy. We got close by helping each other out during the semester, so I’m being a bit familiar.”
“He told me on the way.”
“How?”
“He said two handsome men would be sitting together, so don’t fall for them.”
That joke made me laugh again.
“Did he not mention that Your Highness was here?”
“Hmm… I wasn’t sure myself. I didn’t expect my wife to be so surprised.”
“Is that so?”
“If Mikael had asked me to explain, and the First Prince was sitting there, would you be surprised?”
“I would be surprised, wouldn’t I?”
“Why would you be surprised?”
If I were to encounter the First Prince now…
First, I would have to check if Wesley was nearby. There had been no news of the missing Wesley returning to the capital. Now that I had confirmed that individuals from the Academy who were close to Wesley had turned into Black magicians, it was only right to be wary of the First Prince.
Hesitating, I finally answered.
“Well… I consider him a political rival, and he could be dangerous.”
“Exactly. The Eldos Merchant Guild has almost no political ties to the Imperial Palace, so I didn’t think it would be surprising. I know the First Prince is in the capital, and the Second Prince isn’t dangerous.”
“…Mm.”
Ruben, who had been listening quietly to our conversation, smiled kindly and spoke gently.
“It’s alright. I’m not that scary a person.”
“…That… That’s not it. No, it’s not. You’re not scary at all.”
“The truly scary person is someone like Baron Bicov. He’s the type to steal your nose before you can blink.”
“Me? How much help have I been to Your Highness?”
“Have I?”
Ruben looked at Ivan with a puzzled expression.
Then Ivan looked at me. I was the only one who understood what he was saying. My face instantly flushed with heat. I gritted my teeth and glared at him.
“…Don’t say useless things.”
“He says not to say it.”
“…Huh?”
Rubel tapped my right shoulder with a puzzled look. He was urging me to speak. But I had no words to reply. I merely glared at Ivan with wide eyes.
Without any fear, he patted his wife’s hand a few times, held it, and then spoke in a nonchalant voice.
“Let’s go to sleep now. We’ll have a lot to talk about when we get there.”
“…Yes. Let’s do that.”
Hoo. I heard Ivan’s wife sigh secretly, but I didn’t make it obvious.
The lantern illuminating the carriage was extinguished.
Ivan fell asleep quickly, and his wife, tense for a long time, couldn’t even breathe properly before falling asleep as Ivan leaned on her shoulder. And I remained awake, listening to the rattling sound of the carriage.
The windows of the carriage were all closed to prevent the cold wind from entering, lest I catch a cold. The only thing worth looking at was Ruben. The child sat with his arms crossed, his posture straight, eyes closed, not leaning against the wall or me.
Seeing his gentle breathing, I wondered if Ruben had fallen asleep too.
…Or was he pretending to sleep while deliberately staying awake?
I could see well in the dark. Leaning my shoulder against the backrest, I watched him for a long time. His finely lowered eyelashes twitched.
Finally, the child quietly opened his eyes and looked at me. I watched his confused blinking for a long time. His dark pupils, which had never lost their gentle glow in front of me, sparkled in the darkness.
Beneath his straight nose, his lips parted in confusion, then closed.
After seeing Ivan, who had suddenly grown into an adult in my absence, I looked at this child and finally understood.
Ruben has also grown quite… a lot, hasn’t he…?