Mushoku Tensei (LN) - Volume SS - Chapter 29

Short Story:

The Imprisoned Prince

AFTER THE TROUBLE IN the Asura Kingdom died down, Ariel gave me an estate. She couched it by saying I could just stay there when I had business in the Asura Kingdom, but it was twice the size of our house and came with a garden. On top of that, it was crawling with servants, so in all honesty, I didn’t feel comfortable there. But for the time being, I took advantage of the convenience as I dealt with the aftermath.

On one such day, a servant I didn’t recognize approached me. “I beg your pardon, sir. A letter has arrived for you from a personage of note.”

Of course, only a short time had passed since I began my stay at the estate, so maybe there were still servants I hadn’t seen yet. Either that, or they might have left so little an impression when they introduced themself on the first day that I hadn’t remembered them.

For the time being, I took the letter, but—

“Hey…huh.” No sooner had I done so than the servant vanished like a ninja. So they were an intruder. 

If that had been an assassin just now, I could have been in trouble, I thought, breaking out in a cold sweat. But I’d missed my chance to sound the alarm. For the time being, I decided to see what the letter said.

Loosely translated, it basically read: I wish to speak face-to-face. Come to room 403 at the palace the day after tomorrow.

Room 403 was the room on the third floor of the fourth tower from the east of the castle. The sender’s name wasn’t written, but the sealing wax was marked by the crest of the Asuran royal family. That made me think it was a summons from Ariel…except that if it were, she would have sent Sylphie or Luke or another servant with a message rather than bother with a letter. Heck, she might have just come herself. 

This really was suspicious. Maybe it was some sort of spam mail. If I went to the location as instructed, I might get locked up and asked to pay a massive sum of money. All the same, the letter intrigued me. Therefore, that night, I went to the graveyard to ask Orsted’s advice. I couldn’t help but wonder what he’d think of his new recruit showing up in the middle of the night with a piece of spam mail, asking, “What should I do with this?” But Orsted didn’t look annoyed.

“It’s Grabel,” he said.

Honestly, I needn’t have bothered Orsted. Grabel Zafin Asura was the first prince. He’d lost the struggle for the throne and been imprisoned. If I responded to the summons of a guy like him, that might draw undue suspicion from Ariel. All the same, the fact was, I was interested.

The next day, I told Ariel that Grabel had contacted me and decided I’d go and meet him. Ariel raised one eyebrow like she wanted to say something. But when I told her I had Orsted’s leave, she only nodded politely and made no comment. She didn’t have to look so grave about it…but then, I suppose Ariel had to consider the possibility that Orsted might swap her out for Grabel. It’s hard being in a weak position, huh?

***

“You weren’t surprised that it was me who summoned you.” Grabel was just like the last time I’d seen him—a handsome older dude in expensive-looking clothes.

“I knew after I looked into it,” I explained.

“And here I thought I’d chosen people who wouldn’t crack even under torture… Does being a magician of rare skill allow you to read the hearts of men as well, then?”

“No, of course not.”

The room in which Grabel was informally imprisoned looked like any other noble’s quarters. The furnishings were all top-class, and he even had servants and a maid. About the only thing that spoke to his imprisonment, if I had to name something, was the guard on the door. But then, this was confinement for a member of the royal family. I guess they picked the location accordingly.

“So, what did you want to see me for?” I asked.

“It’s nothing, really. I merely wanted a good look at the one who bested me.”

“You know Queen Ariel is royalty, right? I’m pretty sure it’d be rude to stare at her.”

“It would appear I have the misfortune to have been bested by a man with a terrible sense of humor.”

I thought it had been quite the witty riposte… But then, as first prince, he’d been at the heart of the Asura Kingdom. He would have seen all sorts of jesters who’d put me to shame.

“I barely did anything,” I said. “I suppose I created an opportunity for Queen Ariel, but she’s the one who took it.”

“Hah. Playing the sage, are we…? But that is what I wish to ask you about. You will tell me about the course of your life thus far.”

First he summoned me here, now he was ordering me to tell him about my life with an air of superiority. He was royalty through and through. But I guess it was fine. I mean, I was the one who’d walked into this.

“Long ago, in a village called Buena in the Fittoa District, there lived a young couple named Paul and Zenith…”

But we’re gonna be here for a while.

“Hmph. So it was a bad joke after all, eh?”

Though I thought it would be a long story, it didn’t actually take that long to finish. Maybe two hours or so.

“I don’t know about that,” I said.

“As if I asked for your opinion…but now I understand.” A faraway look came into Grabel’s eyes. Soon, he would be sent off to some remote corner of the Asura Kingdom, where he would spend his days in comfort but without freedom. Though his life would be spared, he would be separated from his retainers and his children and live out the rest of his life a defeated man. Without understanding how he had got there, it would probably be unbearable.

“Tell Ariel to pay heed to the conflict zone. She may maintain the balance or destroy it as she pleases, but if she missteps, she will set off quite the explosion.”

“I see.”

“In addition, she is not to offer welcome to the knight orders of Millis. That lot are a pack of heartless demons. To rely on them is to lose one’s soul. Even when not at war, she must not neglect the military.”

“I see.”

“In addition—”

“There’s more?” I said without thinking. Grabel looked taken aback for a moment, then he snorted.

“No,” he said at length. “That’s all.”

I was sure there was no end of things he’d have liked to say. Not to mention things he’d wanted to do after becoming king. I mean, from what Orsted said, even if this man had become king, the Asura Kingdom would still be standing strong eighty years down the line. Yes, he would have been a great king. In the world where Ariel had lost, he would have expanded the Asura Kingdom even further.

“You may go, sage,” he told me.

“Thank you, Your Highness…except, I’m only a sage after my wife and I get intimate.”

“Your jokes are awful, but I found our talk interesting. You have my thanks.”

As I left, it struck me that in becoming Orsted’s servant, I had altered one part of history.