The Elven Duke Reluctantly Marries The Cursed Lady - Chapter 38
A report regarding the investigation on the tea and sweets in the King’s warehouse was released later that evening. As it turns out, the goods in question were indeed enchanted with magic just as they expected.
“It seems to be a spell that was forbidden during ancient times,” Quince said as he gave Hydrangea a supplementary explanation on the matter.
The confiscated goods were enchanted with a spell that could decrease the pancreas’ ability to break down sugars and increase a person’s blood sugar levels.
Apparently, the King’s blood sugar levels would remain high as long as he ate the sweets and drank the tea.
Magic that affected the organs in a person’s body was previously developed by mage doctors to treat diseases. However, even if it was used to treat diseases, it also became clear that it could cause harm depending on how it was applied. Thus, it was treated as a forbidden art. And because it was ridiculed as an evil form of magic, mage doctors eventually disappeared as well.
Currently, there should have been no more records left about such an art, but the unknown enemies were using this very technique to harm the King.
“I knew it, someone is intentionally plotting to aggravate His Majesty’s illness.”
“Yes, I also came to the same conclusion.”
“…..”
Hydrangea ground his teeth and clenched his fists.
There is a department in the Magic Division which inspects all items that enter the castle for curses and other harmful magic. However, such items had passed the inspection and reached the King.
Said tea and sweets then made it into the King’s mouth and wreaked havoc.
There was no doubt that the Magic Division was to blame for such a blunder.
“Quince, I’m going to report this matter to Prince Magnolia. Stay here.”
“As you wish.”
Hydrangea teleported immediately to Prince Magnolia’s office.
◇◇◇
“— I see. So that’s how it is.”
Prince Magnolia bit his thumbnail as he read the report in frustration.
“This is the Magic Division’s blunder. I am willing to take whatever punishment is necessary.”
“No, this is the other party’s fault. Among the forbidden arts, there are no books left in the kingdom about internal medical magic that was formerly used by mage doctors. Nobody could have anticipated and dealt with such a thing.”
Could I call this a blessing in disguise? After all, we did find out the trading company where those tea and sweets came from and even discovered that they were employing a mage.
Hydrangea also reported about the relationship between his wife’s family and the trading company and how the familiar he released to survey the merchant’s estate came back almost completely dry of mana because of the mana absorbing barrier that surrounded the estate.
“Suspicious, isn’t it?”
“Why would a mere trading company keep a mage around?”
“I can’t imagine what use they have for one either.”
For mages, the highest paying job is found in the Magic Division. Even fifth-class mages who have the lowest rank in the organization receive a salary that is equal to that of a platoon leader from the Knight Corps.
Aside from the high salary, joining the Magic Division was also seen as a great honor. Mages are treated as heroes even in small villages. And for this reason, few mages willingly go under the employ of private individuals.
“So what are you going to do now?”
“We still do not know who are our enemies or our allies. If we are going to make a move, it would be best to do it with a small group.”
“Makes sense.”
They concluded that evidence would only be hidden if they gathered the key figures in the country and reported it to them, so they decided that it would be better to keep the matter among themselves for now.
“I had a bad feeling, so I erased the memories of the warehouse manager who showed us around that afternoon. I did the same for the other employees and the knights around us.”
“Excellent.”
“Wasn’t this one of the things I taught you before?”
“Trust no one but yourself, right?”
“Indeed.”
Since there were people who wanted to kill the King, it meant that Prince Magnolia also had a lot of enemies. Hydrangea taught him not to put too much trust in the people around him.
“The King did not heed that advice.”
“Father definitely became worried.”
“Worried?”
“Yes, he worried if it was alright for him to be King.”
“He worried about that now?”
“It’s my fault. I worked hard to take over his duties after all.”
