Something’s Not Right About This Transmigration

“…….”

“Haa, enough. What’s the point of saying any more now?”

Regulus sighed again and shook his head.

His lips moved several times, but he ultimately did not scold Frey any further. He apparently couldn’t keep berating someone whose face was deathly pale and who could barely breathe.

“Fortunately, the side effects don’t seem too severe this time.”

Regulus let out a fourth sigh, as though forcing down his rising anger, and pulled Frey’s blanket higher.

“But how did you know to come here, Your Highness? This still seems to be the ducal mansion…….”

“I returned to the Count’s mansion as soon as day broke. I intended to interfere.”

“Oh…….”

“But you were gone.”

Only after Regulus made inquiries through other people did he learn that Frey was at the ducal mansion. He had even discovered that Frey used his ability and collapsed unconscious.

“Do you have any idea how frightened I was?”

“W-well, um……. I’m sorry……?”

When Frey rolled his eyes and answered, Regulus pinched the tip of his nose just hard enough not to hurt, then released it. Even the gesture carried such affection for ‘Frey’ that Frey ultimately had no choice but to look away.

“Oh, that’s right. What happened to the former Duke?”

“What do you mean, what happened? You used your ability, then fainted from the aftereffects. The result is obvious.”

“He recovered?”

Truly, from that ridiculous incantation?

“Yes, my father is well now.”

The moment Frey opened his eyes wide and asked, the door opened without so much as a knock and Samuel entered. Regulus frowned and folded his arms at Samuel’s unannounced intrusion.

“Even if this is the ducal mansion, you shouldn’t enter without knocking when someone is resting.”

“I don’t believe the man who suddenly barged into my mansion is in any position to say that, Your Highness. But enough about that.”

Samuel lightly dismissed Regulus’s criticism, approached the bed, and looked down at Frey.

“My father has recovered completely. However…….”

Samuel trailed off and looked Frey up and down.

His gaze rested first on Frey’s dry, tangled silver hair, then on his bloodless, parched lips. After coughing up blood and collapsing, Frey looked terrible.

“You suddenly fainted after using your ability, so I was quite alarmed. I sent word to the Count’s mansion and was surprised again when none other than the Imperial Crown Prince came.”

At Samuel’s seemingly innocent words, Frey’s eyes rounded and he looked at Regulus.

“I hear using your power shortens your lifespan.”

“……?”

“The physician told me. You have only recently come of age, but you have grown very weak after continuously using your ability since childhood.”

……What in the world was he talking about?

When Frey looked at Regulus in confusion, Regulus wore a similar expression.

It was an obvious fact that ‘Frey’ suffered aftereffects when he used his ability. As Frey understood it, however, those effects merely caused severe physical pain and did not seriously threaten his life.

‘I’m sure that was what the novel said…….’

Or had it said that at all?

Perhaps because he had only just regained consciousness, his head felt hazy. As Frey searched his memory, Samuel continued with a disbelieving laugh.

“And apparently, those aftereffects were why you didn’t regain consciousness for the past three months…….”

Samuel pressed his fingers to his temple, exhaling sharply in disbelief.

“You refused to heal a single member of House Norbert despite countless threats. I am certain you have a reason for healing my father now.”

“…….”

“Tell me. What more do you want from me in this marriage?”

Samuel lifted his chin and waited for an answer. He was certain Frey would never have acted without a reason, but he was at least willing to hear him out.

‘Isn’t this…….’

An opportunity?

Frey swallowed and slowly sat up against the headboard. Then he looked directly into Samuel’s eyes.

“Now that I think about it, there is one thing. A wish only you can grant, Your Grace.”

“……I knew it. Very well, then. Let’s hear it.”

“Please break off our engagement.”