IYAMD: Episode 10

Jaha’s meal lasted quite a long time. The man, showing no signs of exhaustion, continued to feed him the thin soup with unwavering patience. He waited for Jaha to swallow without rushing him.

Throughout the meal, Jaha suffered from the constricting pain in his throat. Even after finishing, the foreign sensation in his throat refused to disappear.

“Ashton.”

A middle-aged man approached, suggesting that he was Ashton. Marsilia handed him the tray with the empty plate and asked,

“Is the royal physician waiting?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. He is currently in the reception room.”

“Have him come in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ashton gestured to another servant, indicating that he was the highest-ranking among them.

The servant returned with a middle-aged man who had a gentle demeanor. After bowing to Marsilia, he took a seat in the chair the servant had brought for him.

“He seems to understand the common tongue, though I don’t know how much. Let’s start with what we can.”

“May I see your hand?”

Jaha stared blankly at the physician’s outstretched hand, prompting Marsilia to intervene.

“He’s a doctor. He’s treated me since I was young. You don’t need to be afraid, Jaha.” Marsilia enunciated his words carefully when addressing Jaha. As Jaha stared at him intently, the physician’s forehead wrinkled with hesitation.

“Is it difficult? He’s a doctor. It’s fine to hold his hand.”

Marsilia took Jaha’s hand and placed it in the physician’s. His warmth was almost scalding against Jaha’s skin.

As Jaha stared at his own hand, the physician checked his pulse.

Is this similar to the Eastern Continent’s methods?

The physician lifted Jaha’s eyelids, observed his pupils, and examined various parts of his body.

“Can you try to speak? If you can’t form words, just make a sound.”

Jaha remained silent, merely gazing at the physician.

Marsilia spoke in a quiet voice.

“He doesn’t seem to understand.”

“Hmm… It does seem that way….”

As their whispered conversation ended, Marsilia reached out and gently turned Jaha’s chin towards him.

“Try saying ‘Ah,’ Jaha. Ah—make a sound.”

With a serious expression, he repeatedly demonstrated the sound, urging Jaha to follow. Watching his lips move without a hint of irritation, Jaha hesitantly parted his lips.

“Ah.”

Marsilia’s eyes widened slightly.

Then, he relaxed into a faint smile.

“Try again—Ah. Can’t make a sound?”

Jaha opened his mouth a few times but couldn’t understand why no sound came out.

“It’s probably not a congenital issue.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Even if someone is born mute, they can usually still make some sound.”

Marsilia kept hold of Jaha’s chin, studying his face closely. His green eyes darkened slightly as he slowly scanned Jaha’s features.

Jaha found the gaze unsettling and lowered his eyes. But more than Marsilia’s stare, the warmth of his hand on his chin was unbearably distracting.

In the end, unable to endure it any longer, Jaha lifted his hand and lightly pushed Marsilia’s arm away. Marsilia hesitated for a moment, his hand left hovering in the air.

Before withdrawing, he gently brushed the back of his fingers against Jaha’s cheek and then stood up.

“Tell Serez to bring today’s documents here. I’ll handle my work here today. Postpone all audience appointments.”

He moved toward the table beside the bed and called the physician over. Leaning back into a plush chair, he spoke again.

“Let’s talk. Ashton, prepare some tea.”

While the two conversed, Jaha quietly observed the room.

The emperor….

Now that he thought about it, the room was indeed luxurious.

His gaze drifted to the servants standing around. Outside the room, the presence of guards was palpable. One of them emanated a particularly strong energy, so much so that the others’ presence seemed faint in comparison.

Like the emperor himself, that warrior has a commanding presence.

I woke up lying in bed, so I wasn’t captured against my will… but why am I in the Arhen Imperial Palace?

Jaha couldn’t remember much from when he had been conscious. The only vague memory he had was of Marsilia’s eyes.

If they had brought him here, shouldn’t they explain the situation? Yet, Marsilia didn’t seem to care about that at all.

“Divine power seems to be working well. If he remains stable like today, I think we could perform the ceremony soon. What do you think?”

“Hm… I think it’s too early. If his inability to speak is psychological, there’s a high risk of recurrence.”

“What if I use divine power each time?”

“The ceremony requires at least 100 days, Your Majesty. Every day, prayers must be offered at the Sacred Tree without fail. But after using divine power, you often lose consciousness. And if a priest gets injured, the temple might refuse to proceed with the ritual.”

Jaha, with his heightened senses, couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.

Are they not concerned that I can hear?

The conversation intrigued him. Even without them specifying, he knew they were talking about him.

A ritual, prayers—unfamiliar words that made his ears perk up.

“For now, let’s observe him a little longer, Your Majesty. Don’t rush your judgment.”

“I… haah. You’re right. I’m being impatient.”

“It took ten years, after all. It’s understandable, but you need to pace yourself. At least now, there’s a glimmer of hope.”

Marsilia let out a bitter laugh. His voice dropped to a chilling whisper.

“I don’t want to be deceived by hope anymore.”

Just then, Ashton returned with the tea. Marsilia took the cup as soon as the red liquid was poured. He muttered something, and a faint green light flickered around his hand before sinking into the tea.

The same thing had happened when he brought the soup earlier.

After taking a sip, Marsilia continued.

“Let’s observe for a month before deciding. In the meantime, I want you to stay here. The reinforcement troops for the Deto Mountains depart tomorrow—could you prepare to join them as a cover?”

“I will, Your Majesty.”

“Spend today with your family. Come here first thing in the morning.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good. You’re dismissed.”

After the physician left, Marsilia took a sip of tea, his gaze resting on Jaha.

Jaha, who had been watching, met his eyes. Marsilia called his name.

“Jaha.”

It didn’t sound like he expected a response—rather, it seemed like that was the only word he knew.

“…Jaha.”

He murmured it again, softer this time, then smirked as he drank his tea.

Though his lips were hidden behind the cup, his piercing gaze was unmistakable.

—

Serez, acting on the emperor’s orders, gathered the necessary documents and headed toward the Sun Palace, accompanied by his subordinate and a few attendants.

Orders were orders, but of all places, he was being sent not to the emperor’s chambers but to where that man was staying.

The horrifying scene from last night replayed in his mind, making him shudder.

As a civil official, Serez was just an ordinary man. He had never trained his body seriously, his only form of exercise being horseback riding, which he had learned as a child.

Even the emperor knew this. That’s why, when leaving for monster subjugations, Marsilia always left Serez behind at the palace—he was of no use in the field.

And there was never a reason for Serez to be in the imperial bedchamber at night. If an assassin targeted the emperor, he would only hear about it in the morning.

That’s why he had never encountered such a sight before.

Perhaps that was why, after witnessing it last night, he had been plagued by nightmares. He had carried out his duties mechanically during the day, but the moment he lay in bed at night, the trembling returned.

And now, before he had even recovered, he was being sent back there.

Taking a deep breath to steel himself, Serez nodded at the attendant and stepped forward.

Hopefully, I won’t see anything disturbing today….

As the door opened, his heart pounded. His legs felt weak.

But the scene inside was unexpectedly peaceful.

Jaha sat blankly on the bed. The emperor was calmly sipping his tea.

The gruesome traces from last night were gone, replaced by a serene fragrance lingering in the air.

Sigh.

Relieved, Serez smoothed out his pale face and bowed to the emperor.

“You look like you had nightmares all night,” Marsilia teased with a smirk.

As Serez straightened, he felt another gaze land on him. He struggled to avoid looking in that direction and forced a smile.

“Good morning, Your Majesty.”

His tongue fumbled slightly, but he considered it a decent greeting.

Then, there was one more step left.

He stiffly turned his neck, forcing his expression to remain neutral.

“…Good morning, Lord Jaha.”

His voice trembled at the end. Even without looking, he could feel the emperor grinning.

Damn it.