Chapter 42
Amalfi’s face was drenched in exhaustion so profound that anyone who looked would have been able to feel it. She seemed aware of the stares raining down on her, so she swept her gaze around the room, then—pretending not to care—tilted her head against a pillar and closed her eyes. Her outfit was noticeably disheveled in a way that was so unlike her, yet she showed no sign of noticing.
“Y-yes! Um… anyway… we love to tend the flower gardens…”
Amalfi continued, her voice still a little shaky.
“Nefetia.”
Zafiri poked his elbow into Nefetia’s side.
“Prince Arkin… today he’s acting extra strange, isn’t he? He looks tense.”
“Yeah.”
Nefetia nodded.
Arkin was clearly different from his usual self. He radiated the chill of a person who had lost all warmth—sharp, icy, and unwelcoming. Only yesterday he had been the perfect student, quietly tending to his duties. Today he was an ice block that emitted freezing energy in every direction. He had never been one for many words to begin with, but now his presence felt so suffocating that no one could approach him.
Was something wrong? Was he sick?
Zafiri tapped Nefetia’s hand lightly and whispered with a mischievous grin.
“You rejected the destiny of sharing a bed with him, so you’re cursed, right?”
It was meant to be a joke, but Nefetia felt a sudden twist of worry and stared at Arkin for a long time.
Her brows were furrowed, lines of fatigue and irritation etched into them. His body had clearly grown leaner; the sharp angles of his jaw and the firm line of his lips still carried that stubborn charm. But nothing could compare to the old Arkin. His eyes had once been clear, deep, and serene—now they were cloudy and unfocused, as if trapped in endless nightmares.
A sudden, sickening lurch hit her heart. If that were true… what would she do?
***
“In Astraria we read the movements of the stars, interpret the messages of the future they carry, and record them…”
Stella’s voice droned on in a slow, monotonous line, each word dragging like it was trying to put everyone to sleep.
“In the beginning, the great Creator God fashioned twelve vast mansions in the sky.”
After taking one breath, she began to speak in a quiet, steady tone.
“The first is the Ram’s House, holding the spirit of spring and war. When a red star enters this house, war will break out in the kingdom or the eldest son will take up a sword. The second is the Bull’s House, governing abundance and material wealth. A golden star here means a bountiful harvest that year and the second daughter will be married to a wealthy man…”
One by one the trainees’ eyes began to glaze over. The voice continued without pause or change in rhythm or tone, a voice deadly to drowsiness.
“…The third house belongs to the Twins. When a silver star passes through, the child born under it will have two faces and the power to speak both truth and lies at the same time. The fourth house is where the Crabs gather. It serves to protect mothers and families. When the moon is full and the star enters this house, it is the best time for a woman to conceive. But when the moon wanes…”
Kaichen’s mouth fell open in a massive yawn. Beside him, Elio—who had been pinching his thigh repeatedly to stay awake—finally let his head droop sideways.
“Eeeh… The Lion’s House symbolizes kingship and glory. A child born when a large golden star lingers here inherits the fate of a leader, but if a black star appears at the same time, that glory will be stained with blood…”
Stella kept going, oblivious to the fact that no one was listening. The monotonous, hypnotic rhythm of her voice pierced the room, lulling everyone into slumber.
“As the planets pass through these houses, our destinies are decided. For example, if the red star of war is in the first house, the person will be quick-tempered, loves to argue, and is especially prone to wounds on the forehead. If the star of love is in the second house, they will have a beautiful voice and be an excellent singer…”
Crack!
A loud crack rang out as Seneca shot upright in one motion. Blinking sleepily, he wiped a string of drool from his chin, then clapped his hands sharply.
“Excellent! That was a most… beneficial time!”
The trainees, freed from the spell of sleep magic, gave a half-hearted round of applause. Stella, standing off to the side, rolled her eyes once before gliding away like a ghost.
Chewing his gums as he rubbed his own, Seneca hurried to call the next person.
“Next! Next! Zafiri.”
His introduction was delivered with elegant grace, and a spark of energy slowly returned to the room.
“Ivica is the kingdom of the free vines.”
His voice was as sweet as honey.
“Some of you may have already heard rumors about our culture, of course.”
Zafiri smiled lazily and winked at Petra.
“In truth, we live beautifully without needing to tie each other down with marriage or fiancés—we simply strive to give our best to one another at every moment.”
His captivating smile swept over everyone.
“And our Ivica does not look down on the joys of the body. They are part of life itself, a blessing. We believe that expressing ourselves naturally is healthier than suppressing or enduring it. Rather than bottling up until everything explodes, it’s better to release in moderation, don’t you think? There are always those who need more freedom.”
A few more names passed, and then Petra stepped forward with bold confidence.
“Now, listen carefully. I am very happy to introduce the history of Stonegard.”
She spoke with the energy of someone who had been waiting only for this day. Her voice rang out as she described Stonegard’s legendary ancestors—the first king who carved a city out of a massive mountain range with nothing but his bare hands, the queen who built a stone fortress, the heroes who conquered the world with a single pebble…
Everyone had already prepared to applaud, thinking the long list of names would soon end. But Petra’s speech did not stop there.
“Stonegard is the kingdom that possesses the continent’s greatest mines. Among them, the most precious treasure is the Magma Stone, of course.”
She glanced around with a proud air and continued quickly.
“Of course you all know that diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and every gem in the world are mined right here in Stonegard.”
Once more she launched into a long, detailed tale of Stonegard’s mines. Seneca shot her a few warning glances, but her national pride only grew stronger. Thanks to her, the trainees learned exactly which region’s dried meat the miners of Stonegard loved to eat.
“Today I could only give you a taste of the surface. Does anyone have any questions?”
Of course, no one raised a hand. Seneca, his eyes dark with fatigue, poked out his tongue in a long sigh.
“You did well… Next, the last one—Kepet.”
Nefetia was called, but Arkin never opened his eyes. Even with his eyes closed, his face would have been unmistakable. Besides, he had no intention of looking at her face right now.
She cleared her throat softly, took a small breath, and began.
“I… am Princess Nefetia of Kepet. I received a special oracle from the Sun God…”
Arkin kept his eyes shut. The brilliant legacy of the Kepet royal line, the greatness of Nefetia’s ancestors—all of it was carried on her calm, soothing voice. It was more pleasant than the actual content. The constant throbbing headache in his head gradually eased, and his body felt warm and relaxed. There was something powerful in her voice…
But then one single sentence sliced through him like a blade and lodged itself deep in his heart.
“When we established the nation, sixteen faithful ministers helped us. In exchange they were given the sons of the king as concubines…”
…Concubines?
The tension that had been coiled tight as a blade snapped a little. Arkin’s eyes flew open.
He stared at Nefetia in disbelief. What had I just heard?
Nefetia continued in a slightly haughty tone.
“They are sixteen healthy young men who cared only for me. With their loyalty, I will surely receive an heir as well.”