The Young Consort Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 71

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According to Yuri’s words, the royal family of Sylvanus had no power. The power of the kingdom was in the hands of Duke Flint, and there was no reason for Seora to take the side of the powerless royal family.

Moreover, Seora did not have much exchange with the Western Continent. Occasionally, the Western Continent would send envoys and Seora would give gifts, which was the extent of their trade.

It wasn’t a country that would be missed even if it collapsed, so even if it was possible for Seora’s power to help restore mana, there was no need to exert effort to help them.

At my resolute words, Yuri’s eyes became gloomy. I thought he would cry again, but Yuri quickly composed his expression firmly.

“It will be helpful.”

It was quite unexpected. I closed my mouth as if telling him to speak.

“Among the items from the Western Continent that the Duke is selling, there is something called opium.”

And I was even more surprised. It was truly an unexpected remark.

“That drug makes you forget pain and boosts your mood, but it is highly addictive. He plans to paralyze the country by getting the people of Seora addicted to it.”

I wasn’t surprised by that since I already knew it. What surprised me was Yuri’s attitude.

‘So you knew.’

Yuri looked innocent and kind. It was rare to see someone being angry not at the regent who took their place as royalty, but at how he couldn’t properly govern the country.

I thought he believed the whole world was only good, and that he was such a child too. So I was surprised that even though Yuri knew the Duke’s plan, he didn’t think to stop it.

I wonder if his philanthropy only applied to his own people. If opium spreads, the people of Seora will also suffer quite a lot of damage.

But I changed my mind. He too was only moving in a way that could benefit him.

It was my mistake for hastily thinking he was a good person. How foolish it is to define a person as one thing. After taking a deep breath, I asked him.

“So what?”

“……”

“How can that be of any help to Seora and the imperial family?”

“If, if we don’t stop the spread of the drug early, those who have taken it for a long time will not be able to function in daily life without the drug.”

Well, of course. I readily nodded my head.

“But there are a few things you are mistaken about.”

It’s impressive that you found out that much, but it’s a pity that it won’t be of much help.

“First. That drug is not being sold by the Duke, but by the Yeoran family’s merchant group.”

I stretched out my index finger. One.

“And it is not called opium, but has a rather ridiculous name of panacea.”

And one more,

“It is not being sold to commoners.”

Lastly, this too.

To be precise, the price is so high that commoners cannot afford it. I added.

“They intend to addict only the nobles and use them.”

Getting the entire population addicted is indeed shaking up all of Seora. But if old, grouchy nobles who want to live long get addicted, it will only shake up the court. It was not something that would lead to the downfall of Seora.

“And you should remember that you are also a member of the envoy group.”

When I pointed to Yuri with an innocent face, Yuri flinched as if stabbed with a knife.

“Her Majesty would not look kindly upon you keeping your mouth shut about such a dangerous drug being spread, and then using it as a bargaining chip to get what you want.”

I politely rephrased it as “If you do that, you’ll be charged with treason, have the information taken from you, and be executed.”

Yuri’s face was pale even though I spoke as kindly as possible. Moving his lips, Yuri managed to utter a voice.

“…Then, then what should I do.”

“……”

“If magic disappears like this in Sylvanus……”

Oh dear, if left alone like that, he’ll cry again. In fact, Yuri didn’t need to despair like that already.

“Instead of that, how about having a discussion with me?”

“Pardon?”

Perhaps it was an unexpected remark, as Yuri made a startled face. I thought he would be happy with my words.

He seemed to ponder in perplexity for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth, hesitating.

“But Your Highness is still young……”

“……”

“So it’s a little……”

This brat.

“Are you saying that even after hearing everything I’ve said so far?”

Yuri, who had been muttering, suddenly stopped. Meeting his surprised eyes, I narrowed my eyes.

Based on the appearance I’ve shown so far, am I not trustworthy enough? No, in the first place, we don’t even look that far apart in age. He’s fine but I’m not. This is why kids are.

“Then, you mean you will help……”

“Of course, I too have no intention of doing charity work. But if you are of help to me, I too can help you.”

Yuri was quick to switch gears. His brightly blooming face shone radiantly. I smiled back at that sight.

“So how can I help you?”

It was a very kind remark, but my thoughts were not as kind. I’ll help you, so let’s hear about that mana or whatever.

Yuri, who was quite clever but still naive, was simply delighted. Then he rummaged through his chest and took out something. It was a strange-looking white object. The object, which looked hard, was long and had a sharp edge that looked like it was broken.

I quietly watched as Yuri thrust it out to me with a brightly smiling face.

“……”

Silence flowed in the room for a moment.

What do you want me to do with this?

As I silently looked down at it, Yuri became flustered.

“If, if you do it……”

“Do what?”

“You just need to store mana in it……”

I was puzzled by his words, glancing at me. What is that?

“How do I store it?”

At my question, Yuri blinked his eyes. Then, as if realizing something on his own, he held out the object to me.

“To put it simply, think of it as making an artifact. Do you know what that is?”

I shook my head.

At that, Yuri momentarily looked perplexed, then searched his chest and took out a small necklace. The necklace had a translucent turquoise oval object strung on a string.

“This is an artifact. It has water magic cast on it, like this……”

As Yuri fiddled with the oval object, a round water droplet appeared in the air.

“It stores magic.”

Yuri smiled at me, but I couldn’t smile back.

‘Is that possible?’

The abilities of Seora cannot reside anywhere. That was common sense. Since abilities and magic are interconnected, if abilities cannot be contained, magic should be the same.

“How was it made? What is this object, and what is the duration?”

At my rapid questions, Yuri blinked his eyes as if he didn’t understand.

“Does Seora not have artifacts?”

“Abilities do not reside anywhere. I thought magic would be the same……”

I trailed off and fixed my gaze on Yuri’s necklace. Neither the white object from earlier nor that oval object looked ordinary.

Are there specific objects that power can reside in?

“Artifacts are not very common in the Western Continent either. There aren’t many wizards with enough mana to engrave magic into artifacts, and the materials for artifacts are scarce too.”

“Do you use specific materials? What kind?”

“Well, it’s the remains of dragons.”

Yuri answered with an awkward smile to my question.

The remains of dragons?

“The Western Continent has the remains of the dragon that created magic.”

That explanation didn’t feel unfamiliar. It was a legend I had heard before. The legend of how abilities and magic came to be.

After the death of the first emperor who was his companion, the dragon greatly grieved. Unable to remain in the Eastern Continent where traces of his companion were everywhere, he left the Eastern Continent, and the place he went to was the Western Continent, and that’s when magic began in the Western Continent.

The dragon’s will in the Eastern Continent, the dragon’s body in the Western Continent.

The dragon’s will in the Eastern Continent.

That must be…

‘The wish-granting jewels.’

Abilities can reside in the remains of the dragon. It was a fact unknown to most, perhaps all the people of Seora. It had to be that way.

The shattered wish-granting jewels were not large in quantity, so they were heirlooms managed by the imperial family. But the dragon’s body was much larger, so artifacts could be made from it.

“Then how can it be made?”

The two wish-granting jewels in this very room came to mind. Does it mean I can store abilities in them and use them freely?

“You just need to cast that magic on the object that will store the magic. It’s difficult because you have to pour in a strong enough force to be contained, but it’s simple.”

It’s simpler than I thought!

‘I need to find Garam.’

The fire ability was useful in many ways. Just thinking about it made me excited already. Lost in happy imagination, the white object kept flickering in front of my eyes.

“……?”

Why isn’t he putting that away?

Yuri was looking at me with expectant eyes and docilely holding out the white object.

I soon recalled one fact. Right. He doesn’t know I can’t use abilities.

“I cannot use abilities.”

When I said that, Yuri made a surprised face.

“Pardon?”

“I’m an occasional mutant. I didn’t inherit any of my parents’ abilities.”

At that explanation, Yuri hesitated and asked me again.

“But Your Highness has a great amount of mana……”