Published: January 4, 2026
“...Where am I?”
“Awake, huh?”
“—!”
Don, who had woken up in bed, tried to jump up in surprise but felt a sharp pain and collapsed back onto the bed.
This wasn’t a mansion but a room in a commoner’s house on the outskirts of the city. It was just the two of us—Don and me.
“Don’t push yourself. You were close to death.”
“D-death?”
Enduring the pain, Don frowned and looked at me.
“Don’t you remember? I had everything monitored, so if you don’t recall, I’ll tell you.”
“...Ah.”
It seemed he had remembered.
“Yes. After you reported eliminating the witness, the person who was covering for you cut you. Looks like you, who messed up, were also discarded.”
“I see...”
Even lying on the bed, Don’s disappointment was clear.
“I had someone follow you because I thought something like this might happen, but I never imagined they would actually silence you.”
I sighed.
My older brother really is...
“People are treasures.”
“...”
Don turned his face sideways and stared at me.
“Did you foresee that I would be discarded?”
“Something like that.”
“You truly are the prince wise, as rumored...”
Don chuckled softly, wearing a face that seemed both impressed and resigned.
“If only I had been on your side from the start...”
He muttered, his voice tinged with self-mockery.
“It’s not too late even now.”
“Huh?”
“You mean that if fate had been different, you would have been my subordinate by now. That’s what I meant. So it’s not too late even now.”
“You’re serious...?”
“But I’m strict about betrayal. Once you become my subordinate, you won’t be allowed to leave until death.”
“Thank you...!”
Don propped himself up on his elbows, the pain likely fresh, and bowed his head in a kneeling apology on the bed.
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Alarate
Prince Minister of Legal Affairs
Gender: Male
Level: 3/∞
HP: E+F Fire F+B
MP: F+F Water E+S
Strength: E+E Wind F+F
Endurance: F+F Earth F+F
Intelligence: F+E Light F
Spirit: F+F Darkness F
Speed: F+F
Dexterity: F+F
Luck: F+F
―――――――――――
Unlike when I first came as a spy, my status had improved.
It was proof that Don was genuinely determined to become my subordinate.
“All right. Then focus on healing your wounds. Tomorrow, I’ll find a fallen noble and arrange for you to be adopted. A new identity and name. Change your face a bit too.”
“Y-yes...”
“You should stay away from the Imperial Household Ministry, or rather the city, for a while. I’ll find you a magistrate position in Almeria so you can cool off there.”
“Th-thank you...”
“That will suffice for now. We’ll decide what to do next later.”
“...”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know if I can repay Your Highness’s kindness... but the Poinix wine that Gilbert presented to Your Majesty should be immediately stopped from consumption.”
“...Why?”
When I asked, Don lowered his voice and confided the secret so only I could hear.
☆
After leaving the house on the city outskirts where Don was resting, I returned briefly to the Ministry of Justice, then rushed to the palace.
Upon entering, I requested an audience with Your Majesty and waited.
After about an hour, I was led to a study resembling a library.
“Oh, Noah, what’s the matter?”
“Your Majesty, I have a matter of utmost secrecy. Please have everyone else leave.”
“Hmm...?”
Your Majesty gazed at me as if examining me carefully.
“You may speak freely. Except for Cruise, no one here can hear.”
I glanced at the young eunuch doing chores beside Your Majesty.
He behaved as if he couldn’t hear anything during our conversation.
I see—the palace placed deaf individuals in the study from the start to maintain secrecy.
“Understood. Your Majesty, please stop consuming the Poinix wine immediately.”
“Poinix... the wine produced in Gilbert’s fief and presented to the palace starting this year, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s a matter of food combination.”
I relayed Don’s information to Your Majesty.