“Albert, you mustn’t lose consciousness.”
On our way down the path, I could hear Albert’s groaning. Each time, I felt my anxiety shooting up as high as a mountain. I ran as fast as I could.
Would I be able to use magic? With such worries plaguing my mind, I cried out a spell.
“Run!”
It was one of the few spells that I knew by heart. I was worried about whether I’d be able to do it since I was in the middle of the ordeal and I didn’t have a wand, but I felt my steps getting a little faster nonetheless.
I didn’t have a wand with me, so that must be why the spell wasn’t as effective as it should have been. But it was still worth using anyway.
With his face buried in the crook of my neck, Albert said nothing.
What is he thinking, I wondered.
He came all the way out here, determined that today was truly the last day of his life, yet someone he didn’t even know suddenly appeared and saved him.
Was he feeling desolate? Or was he feeling that it was still worth living?
I wish that the comforting words I gave him earlier had moved his heart. Still, if a single attempt wouldn’t work, I could understand.
Because I would keep going to him without fail.
After going up the slope of the cliff and reaching the forest, I soon began to see other people.
Some people seemed to be travelers, while others seemed to be nobles.
The strange thing was that people were just staring at me, slowly avoiding my path.
With frightened expressions upon their faces, they looked as if they were seeing a ghost. They weren’t leaving entirely though, and they just looked awkward.
…What’s with them?
As this question passed through my mind, I realized that those people’s eyes were not on me, but the person on my back—Albert.
Gray hair was not common here either.
Even if Albert had covered his face, he was still recognized. Was Albert such a threat to them?
Nevertheless, my priority remained to be bringing Albert to the mansion first. It’s not the time to ask these people questions.
After passing through the woods, I reached the mansion that Albert mentioned earlier. I did hear that the mine was raking in a lot of money, but this villa was bigger than I had initially expected.
When Albert came to the lake, the mine was already ruined and people were busy trying to drag each other down. I can’t believe they hadn’t sold a villa this enormous yet.
There’s no end to human greed.
When I reached the front of the mansion, I banged on the door. No one was there to guard the entrance.
“Is anyone there? I brought Young Lord Albert—”
“It’s no use.”
Still on my back, Albert was breathing heavily as he muttered.
“Why?!”
“Because they’re all gone…”
…It looked like a decent mansion from the outside, but it seemed like it was a mess inside.
Indeed, even if I was an employee here too, I wouldn’t stay if I wasn’t being paid my wages properly.
Surreptitiously, I pushed the door open. It wasn’t properly locked at all, and so it opened almost immediately. As soon as I entered, I locked it.
I mean, there’s a child living here, but the doors weren’t locked properly?
Entering the mansion, I saw someone running towards me and Albert from afar.
“Prince Albert!”
As the woman rushed towards me, her face seemed oddly familiar. Since she’s the middle-aged woman who’s looking after Albert now…
“…You’re floating in the air right now? Did you use magic in front of other people? Really, do you even know how worried this nanny of yours is?”
Of course, it was Greten. It was the nanny I met when I went to Liam’s residence back then.
I was slightly touched by the fact that she remained by Albert’s side even when everyone else had already left.
It seemed like her loyalty to Albert wasn’t just mere words.
However, she mentioned that Albert was floating in the air. As I was reflecting on what she said, Greten easily pulled Albert off my back.
It wasn’t just that. When she took Albert, Greten’s hand passed through me like I was air. As if I didn’t exist.
Only then did I understand why those people reacted like that.
…Even so, I saved Albert. I took his hand, I talked to him, and I carried him on my back.
Besides that, I couldn’t go through walls like I used to do. I could touch things like a human being could, and I could open and close that door just now.
Was Albert the only one who could see me, while to others I remained a specter? Whatever it was, it’s better than staying in that state as a soul, but… It’s still frustrating. I didn’t know everything that was going on.
I touched the platinum bracelet on my wrist—the bracelet that was originally meant to be my gift to Albert.
Then, the person who must have cast a spell on this bracelet was him…
There must have been a limit to the spell it could contain. Albert wasn’t as adept at magic related to the soul compared to Rosé, so this made sense.
I looked at Albert, who was now in Greten’s arms.
…Should I go back now?
Drawing closer to Albert, I examined his condition.
I recalled how Greten had taken care of Albert. It’s clear to me that she would take care of him.
But it bothered me. I was left with the impression that he didn’t like Greten that much.
In any case, I was invisible to others, so it didn’t matter. I’d rather stay in the mansion since it’s like this anyway.
I’ll keep watch over him.
“Albert.”
As I approached Albert and called his name, he barely managed to open his eyes. Exhaling, he made eye contact with me.
His reddened cheeks were so cute.
Albert clutched the hem of my clothes.
“Don’t leave…”
I wasn’t going to leave anyway…
Hearing his pitiful voice, I couldn’t move a single step away.
“Albert, you mustn’t lose consciousness.”
On our way down the path, I could hear Albert’s groaning. Each time, I felt my anxiety shooting up as high as a mountain. I ran as fast as I could.
Would I be able to use magic? With such worries plaguing my mind, I cried out a spell.
“Run!”
It was one of the few spells that I knew by heart. I was worried about whether I’d be able to do it since I was in the middle of the ordeal and I didn’t have a wand, but I felt my steps getting a little faster nonetheless.
I didn’t have a wand with me, so that must be why the spell wasn’t as effective as it should have been. But it was still worth using anyway.
With his face buried in the crook of my neck, Albert said nothing.
What is he thinking, I wondered.
He came all the way out here, determined that today was truly the last day of his life, yet someone he didn’t even know suddenly appeared and saved him.
Was he feeling desolate? Or was he feeling that it was still worth living?
I wish that the comforting words I gave him earlier had moved his heart. Still, if a single attempt wouldn’t work, I could understand.
Because I would keep going to him without fail.
After going up the slope of the cliff and reaching the forest, I soon began to see other people.
Some people seemed to be travelers, while others seemed to be nobles.
The strange thing was that people were just staring at me, slowly avoiding my path.
With frightened expressions upon their faces, they looked as if they were seeing a ghost. They weren’t leaving entirely though, and they just looked awkward.
…What’s with them?
As this question passed through my mind, I realized that those people’s eyes were not on me, but the person on my back—Albert.
Gray hair was not common here either.
Even if Albert had covered his face, he was still recognized. Was Albert such a threat to them?
Nevertheless, my priority remained to be bringing Albert to the mansion first. It’s not the time to ask these people questions.
After passing through the woods, I reached the mansion that Albert mentioned earlier. I did hear that the mine was raking in a lot of money, but this villa was bigger than I had initially expected.
When Albert came to the lake, the mine was already ruined and people were busy trying to drag each other down. I can’t believe they hadn’t sold a villa this enormous yet.
There’s no end to human greed.
When I reached the front of the mansion, I banged on the door. No one was there to guard the entrance.
“Is anyone there? I brought Young Lord Albert—”
“It’s no use.”
Still on my back, Albert was breathing heavily as he muttered.
“Why?!”
“Because they’re all gone…”
…It looked like a decent mansion from the outside, but it seemed like it was a mess inside.
Indeed, even if I was an employee here too, I wouldn’t stay if I wasn’t being paid my wages properly.
Surreptitiously, I pushed the door open. It wasn’t properly locked at all, and so it opened almost immediately. As soon as I entered, I locked it.
I mean, there’s a child living here, but the doors weren’t locked properly?
Entering the mansion, I saw someone running towards me and Albert from afar.
“Prince Albert!”
As the woman rushed towards me, her face seemed oddly familiar. Since she’s the middle-aged woman who’s looking after Albert now…
“…You’re floating in the air right now? Did you use magic in front of other people? Really, do you even know how worried this nanny of yours is?”
Of course, it was Greten. It was the nanny I met when I went to Liam’s residence back then.
I was slightly touched by the fact that she remained by Albert’s side even when everyone else had already left.
It seemed like her loyalty to Albert wasn’t just mere words.
However, she mentioned that Albert was floating in the air. As I was reflecting on what she said, Greten easily pulled Albert off my back.
It wasn’t just that. When she took Albert, Greten’s hand passed through me like I was air. As if I didn’t exist.
Only then did I understand why those people reacted like that.
…Even so, I saved Albert. I took his hand, I talked to him, and I carried him on my back.
Besides that, I couldn’t go through walls like I used to do. I could touch things like a human being could, and I could open and close that door just now.
Was Albert the only one who could see me, while to others I remained a specter? Whatever it was, it’s better than staying in that state as a soul, but… It’s still frustrating. I didn’t know everything that was going on.
I touched the platinum bracelet on my wrist—the bracelet that was originally meant to be my gift to Albert.
Then, the person who must have cast a spell on this bracelet was him…
There must have been a limit to the spell it could contain. Albert wasn’t as adept at magic related to the soul compared to Rosé, so this made sense.
I looked at Albert, who was now in Greten’s arms.
…Should I go back now?
Drawing closer to Albert, I examined his condition.
I recalled how Greten had taken care of Albert. It’s clear to me that she would take care of him.
But it bothered me. I was left with the impression that he didn’t like Greten that much.
In any case, I was invisible to others, so it didn’t matter. I’d rather stay in the mansion since it’s like this anyway.
I’ll keep watch over him.
“Albert.”
As I approached Albert and called his name, he barely managed to open his eyes. Exhaling, he made eye contact with me.
His reddened cheeks were so cute.
Albert clutched the hem of my clothes.
“Don’t leave…”
I wasn’t going to leave anyway…
Hearing his pitiful voice, I couldn’t move a single step away.
