The 14th Prince's Sage

Chapter 10

As the doctor was focused on something else, his eyes stayed focused on his hands, absorbed in thought.

“… .”

Alright then.

He clenched his hands tighter.

He's not focused on the elements that played a role in his recovery. What truly mattered was the freedom to travel and participate in physical activities without worry, to bask in the sun, and to relax on the grass. Those moments were bound to be delightful.

“Is there a problem?”

She must have sensed his reaction and asked.

He greeted Doctor Happy with his sincerest smile.

“Everything is okay. I'm just feeling happy.”

By the time the physical therapy session ended, the afternoon had already set in.

“I can now move my legs.”

While standing is still a struggle for him, with his legs trembling at each attempt, this represents a remarkable improvement in just one day. The speed of his recovery seemed a bit unusual, however, in a world rich with magic, it felt less surprising. After all, they had managed to cure his once-incurable illness, so what else could truly astonish them?

Four days later, the prince entered his chamber to obtain his final decision regarding the contract.

He sat quietly in front of Konstantinos as the prince examined the contract.

“I have signed it.”

He announced, his voice barely above a whisper.

Konstantinos hummed and remarked.

“You have chosen wisely.”

The prince felt a deep sense of satisfaction upon discovering that the contract had been finalized. He handed the documents to Alistair, who accepted them quietly and tucked them away in what appeared to be a magical artifact.

“…I suppose I did…”

His decision to sign the document was primarily driven by his desire to learn more about magic. The only individual who could share this knowledge without exposing his identity as a Traveler to the outside world is the prince.

‘He could also potentially use this against me.’

He is hesitant to draw attention to himself simply because of his status as a Traveler. Revealing this information publicly would leave him open to various threats, both friendly and hostile.

In the end, his only practical choice was to sign the contract, ensuring that the prince would protect both him and his true identity. Furthermore, there is no need to worry about his retirement, as he is projected to be financially stable in three years. Even when confronted with life-threatening circumstances, he views it as an acceptable risk.

‘As long as I am prepared to confront death, it isn't a major concern.’

This mindset has consistently shaped his perspective.

But what is Alistair up to? He appears to be occupied with something that he cannot see.

Alistair must have noticed his intense focus on the unusual folder and decided to satisfy his curiosity.

“This folder is a formal acknowledgement of the contract, young master. If you choose to breach it, there will be consequences.”

“I expected as much.”

He was aware that they would resort to magic to trap him rather than relying solely on traditional paperwork. They seemed like the kind of people who would take such actions so it wasn't surprising.

Alistair simply smiled at him.

“… .”

He observed the prince, who had been quietly sipping his tea for the last three minutes.

‘Are we just going to sit here?’

Since they hadn't left his room yet, it was clear that the prince had more on his mind. Yet, he opted to stay silent! Could this be why Alistair considers him a fool?

Oh, how he wishes for them to be direct and leave quickly.

Given that he holds a subordinate position to the prince and that the prince owns the residence where he currently lives, he does not have the power to evict them on his own. Their departure must be voluntary, but the challenge lies in figuring out how he will make that happen.

Noticing the prince's brief pause and feeling his own uncertainty, Alistair intentionally cleared his throat. This seemed to bring the prince out of his reverie.

Alistair offered a smile, pretending that he hadn’t interrupted the prince’s thoughts.

“Shouldn't the two of you engage in a discussion regarding the young master's fabricated history and the matter of the young master's unique hair color? It poses a risk for him to be seen in public in this manner.”

The prince halted for a moment, gazing at his flowing silver-white locks, before giving a slight nod of his head.

“Alistair, you are correct.”

What on earth is wrong with him? Konstantinos unusual behavior remains a mystery.

The prince took another document from Alistair and gave them to him. He accepted them quietly and began to review the contents.

The section meant for a name was left blank, indicating that he is expected to choose one. However, the rest of the document is quite detailed.

He is an orphan who grew up in the slums of Guhya City, one of the three main cities of the Empire. Many residents of these slums often lacked proper identification, which made it easier for him to be registered later on.

Guhya City, named in honor of the Prince Consort of the 157th Empress Regent of the Fides Empire, serves as a commercial hub adjacent to the forest. The area is not primarily residential, attracting numerous tourists who come and go, thus alleviating any concerns he may have about being forgotten should an inquiry into his past arise.

“In the upcoming month, an operation will be initiated to raid a warehouse involved in the production and illegal sale of counterfeit magic books in Guhya City.”

The Emperor has specifically assigned this task to the 14th prince.

Konstantinos clasped his hands and held steady eye contact.

“In reality, we have already identified their base.”

The prince revealed.

The operation should have been completed by this time, considering that they possess all the necessary information. However, they require an opportunity to slip him into the group, which is the reason for the delay in the operation.

“For your role, listen carefully.”

His task was straightforward: to disclose the location of the base along with two sites where the majority of their transactions occur. Following this, the prince would express his gratitude and offer a reward. At that moment, he would reveal that his sole desire was to serve within the Imperial Grounds, a request the prince would graciously grant.

He inclined his head slightly.

“Out of curiosity, do you readily accept a homeless individual?”

Shouldn't there be more caution involved? What if he has ties to our enemies and is only pretending to be broke to find an opportunity to infiltrate the Imperial Grounds?

“We are not foolish. Had you genuinely been homeless, we would have performed a comprehensive background investigation before arriving at any judgments.”

‘That's good to hear.’

The prince continues his explanation.

“Requesting that I accept you as a servant wouldn’t raise any eyebrows. Your participation in this endeavor would be enough for me to agree to that request.”

‘For them to easily accept a homeless person, I suppose counterfeiting magic books is a huge crime in the Empire.’

Furthermore, many people facing homelessness hope to find work at the Imperial Grounds, making his request seem quite ordinary to those watching. It doesn’t seem overly complicated.

However…

“Do we really have to go through all of this?”

It sounds like a hassle.

The prince looks at him intently. His expression conveyed a sense of scrutiny, which stirred a bit of annoyance in him.

“Spies are swarming my palace. Your unexpected arrival would arouse their suspicions.”

He clears his throat, feeling a sense of embarrassment.

He does not belong to this world. Naturally, there are aspects he remains unaware of or overlooks.

Once they verified all the details regarding his fabricated identity, they proceeded to discuss his disguise.

“Your hair can be easily concealed. However, your eyes present a challenge.”

It seems that magic doesn't work on his eyes, which have some kind of special inscription engraved in them. As a result, he cannot hide them using magical methods.

“Wait, slow down.”

‘There's something engraved in my eyes!?’

He pondered, filled with dread. Had the mark appeared while he was in a comatose? Or was it the result of some kind of magic? Regardless of the method, the thought unsettled him. He would certainly examine it in the mirror as soon as he was able to leave his room.

“We offer options for black, brown, and blonde hair dye.”

Alistair's mention of hair dyes snapped him back to reality, prompting him to quickly interject.

“I have no desire to dye my hair.”

He appreciates its current hue and is reluctant to alter it by applying black or brown dye.

Konstantinos's eyebrow twitched at his refusal.

“Are you implying that you do not wish to conceal your hair?”

“I will keep it hidden, but I won’t change the color of my hair to do so. I could choose to wear a hoodie, a cloak, or a shawl. There are plenty of options to consider.”

The two exchanged glances.

It might not be wise to challenge a prince, yet he stood firm. Just because he was currently serving the prince didn’t mean they had the right to dictate even the color of his hair. He wouldn't allow them to control him to that extent.

It was only when Alistair cleared his throat that the prince finally averted his gaze, signaling his agreement, and took a sip of his tea.

“Regarding the eyes…”

Alistair took the initiative to further the discussion.

“What about contact lenses?”

He put forth a suggestion. Although he had no previous experience with them, he was confident in their potential effectiveness, believing that the problem of hiding eye color was simply a matter of magic.

“What is that, young master?”

“… .”

Of course, they were also in the dark about it.

‘This is the reason I doubt the claim that this nation has existed for 10,000 years.’

It seems unlikely that they could have survived for such a long time while making so little advancement in technology.

“…Forget it.”

In the end, he opted for sunglasses, recognizing that attempting to create contact lenses without the proper knowledge could lead to negative outcomes.

Even though tinted glasses weren't available at the time, Alistair confidently assured him that making a pair would be a simple task.

“I need a pair with the darkest tint.”

“That could indeed be effective.”

While it might seem odd to wear sunglasses in this era, he could easily pretend to have sensitive eyes or even be blind. Since some blind individuals use eyepatches to cover their eyes, this choice wouldn't seem too out of place.

Should they continue to press the issue…

‘I could claim that I was the one who came up with it.’

In this world, patents are nonexistent, meaning no one would contest his taking credit for others' inventions. This scenario presents significant opportunities in the future, and the thought elicited a chuckle from him.

As Konstantinos and Alistair were about to depart, Alistair asked.

“What name would you go by?”

“That's a good question.”

Not wishing to use his birth name, he realized he needed to devise a new identity. Yet, over the last few days, he had struggled to find a name that resonated with him.

His eyes turned toward the prince, a hint of uncertainty flickering within them. Konstantinos had been quiet ever since he decided against dyeing his hair. He is either extremely upset about not having his demands met or just quiet as no one is talking to him since the prince usually only participates in conversation when asked.

Nevertheless, he gathered his courage and confidently approached the prince with a question.

“I would be grateful if His Imperial Highness could help me choose a name.”

Alistair, caught off guard, let the papers he was holding fall from his hands, sending them scattering across the floor.

He raised an eyebrow at the butler.

“What caused such a reaction?”

It was an exaggerated display, one that seemed out of character for Alistair.

“Is there something wrong?”

Even the prince looked confused. Well, sounded confused, as his facial expression stayed mostly the same, making it hard to notice any differences.

“My apologies.”

The man used magic to collect all the scattered papers without moving from his spot.

My goodness…

Was that really magic? It was the first time he had seen Alistair use magical abilities. In fact, aside from the contact mirror, this was the first occasion he had witnessed magic in action.

Disregarding the prince, Alistair approached him.

“Are you certain you wish for him to name you, young master?”

Alistair murmured in his ear after collecting all the papers he had dropped.

“I don't see why not?”

The name suggested by the prince might actually be more fitting for this world than the earlier options he had considered.

“Interesting.”

The prince replied with a contemplative hum. At first, he thought the prince was against the idea of naming a commoner, but then he took his seat again and seemed to be lost in thought.

‘…He is genuinely considering it.’

It was reassuring to know that the prince would take his time to choose a name rather than rush to a decision.

In contrast, Alistair displayed an unusual restlessness. He struggled to stay still and leaned forward to whisper something to the prince.

“My prince, he is someone from another world and is not obligated to hide his origins. I urge you to think this through more carefully.”

“…? Very well.”

The prince, perplexed, tilted his head but ultimately acquiesced to his butler's request.

He felt an inexplicable urge to watch them from afar.

For reasons that were hard to put into words, the act of renaming him seemed far more dramatic than their previous discussions regarding his interdimensional travels and fabricated identity.

How odd.

“I have made my decision.”

The prince declared.

He anxiously fidgeted with his fingers while waiting for the prince's final verdict.

Alistair was also tense as they waited.

“Cielo.”

“Cielo…?”

Konstantinos responded with a nod.

A surge of relief flooded Alistair as he heard the name the prince had selected. Although it may seem a bit feminine, believe him when he says that's the best the Imperial Prince could come up with.

“I encountered this word in a book I read yesterday. You were the first person who came to my mind, prompting me to choose the name Cielo for you.”

“… .”

The name carried a notably feminine connotation. Rather than feeling insulted, he experienced a wave of nostalgia instead.

After mentally repeating the name several times, he let out a gentle laugh.

“Well, it's not an unpleasant name. I can accept it.”

‘Ciel would also be a lovely choice, but I find myself unable to say it.’

He requested a name, so he had no grounds to be unhappy with his own choice.

As the prince departed, he appeared quite pleased, leaving Cielo scratching his cheeks in bewilderment. What an unusual individual, he thought.

As Konstantinos and his butler made their way to the office, Alistair chuckled softly.

“You are becoming quite adept at creating names.”

He commented.

The prince turned to the man, tilting his head in confusion.

“Is that worthy of celebration?”

“If you wish it to be.”

“No.”

The prince's dismissal merely prompted Alistair to shrug, and they continued their journey in silence.