After returning to the mansion,
I decided to distribute the gold coins and gems we gained from the Golden Room, excluding the items, as a bonus to the party members.
After all the hardships they'd been through, it was a well-deserved reward.
Everyone was working hard, but especially the main party was sweating bullets in the face of all the battles and challenges.
I filled individual pouches with everyone's share and handed them out.
"Instead of giving it to me, it would be better used for your military funds..."
"Oh man, this is hefty. And your pouch is large too, senior."
"Your Highness, you don't have to give us this much..."
However, upon distributing the shares, Lucas, Evangeline, and Damien all seemed uncomfortable.
I clicked my tongue and chuckled.
"It's not that the price of loyalty is only money. But a ruler can't expect loyalty if they don't properly reward their subjects."
I gave each of their shoulders a pat.
"It's a fair reward for your hard work. Take it and spend it freely."
In the end, all three took their pouches.
I had to deliver to Junior and Jupiter as well.
And Lilly. I also had to distribute some to the Shadow Squad and the Dion Mercenary Group.
'I should give a bonus to the Twilight Battalion and the regular soldiers on duty during their next payday.'
After dismissing the three who worked hard, I told them to buy something tasty with the money today~.
***
That evening,
I took a carriage to downtown Crossroad.
Since I had given out bonuses, I wanted to distribute them to all main party members today.
It would be unfair if some got it and others didn't.
First, I stopped by the alchemist's workshop and gave Lilly hers. Lilly received it gratefully, but she asked me with a worried look.
"But am I still part of the main party...?"
"...You're a reserve, a reserve."
Don't look like a soldier who was told to re-enlist after being discharged.
Even though it sucks, a reservist has to respond when the country calls. That's just the way this world works.
After giving Lilly hers, only Jupiter and Junior were left.
'Is Jupiter at the temple? And Junior...'
I heard that Junior was staying at the city's only inn, 'Etti's Honey'.
The inn was closer from the alchemist's workshop. I decided to stop by first.
'It's dinner time. Maybe we could have a meal together.'
Unlike the other main party members, I'm not very close with Junior yet.
We haven't spent much time together.
This is a good chance to foster our relationship.
While it's not necessary to be close with all party members, having some understanding of each other can be helpful.
And so, I went to the inn, 'Etti's Honey'.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
"He's here!"
"Ah... Uh..."
Past the overwhelming greetings of the innkeeper and crew, I stepped into the inn.
The overdone chandeliers and upholstery were still visible.
It seemed they'd continued to maintain the ambiance of a national hotel since the last renovation.
'Did I inadvertently wipe out a cozy inn in a small city...?'
With an odd sense of guilt(?), I approached the counter.
The innkeeper hurried behind the counter, flashing a strained smile. Hm.
"Is there a guest by the name Jupiter Junior? She's a mercenary I hired."
"Ah, you mean the magician. Let's see... She's in the room at the farthest end on the third floor."
"Is she in her room now?"
"Yes. She hasn't gone out today."
Following that, the innkeeper tilted his head.
"Well... for the past few days, she seems to have been holed up in her room..."
"..."
Suddenly, the image of Junior, who had been reeling and coughing a few days ago, came to mind.
Maybe she's been sick since then?
If she's sick and wants to hide it, it would be better if I went alone. I turned to Lucas, who was with me.
"Lucas, wait on the first floor."
"But."
"It might have to do with Junior's privacy."
Lucas reluctantly nodded.
"I understand, My Lord. But please call me immediately if anything happens."
Well, what could possibly happen?
I climbed the stairs alone to the third floor.
'The room at the far end, right. This one?'
In front of the room at the farthest end of the corridor. I cautiously knocked on the door. Knock knock.
"Junior? Are you there?"
But there was no answer. Did she go out?
That's when I heard a sound from inside the room. I pricked up my ears. What was that?
"Cough, cough! Haah, ugh..."
It was clearly the sound of someone in pain.
"Junior? Are you okay? Junior?"
"Cough, cough..."
I started to panic. It seemed like an emergency?
"Jupiter Junior, respond! Are you so sick you can't answer?"
"Haah, ah...? Your Highness?"
"I'm opening the door now! Stay still!"
"Wa, wait! You can't come in-"
I took some distance from the door, then charged at it with my shoulder. Bang!
The thin chain lock on the door broke and fell apart, and the door swung open.
I rushed in and looked around.
"Junior! What happened! Are you all...right..."
...Not at all.
Junior was sitting on the floor of the private bathroom in her room, looking considerably worse for wear compared to usual.
Her hair, which always covered her left face, was messed up.
And because of that, her left face was fully exposed.
A distinct burn.
From her forehead to her left cheek. There were traces of being burned on her face. That's why she was hiding it with her hair.
'No, the problem right now isn't the burn!'
Blood, blood!
The bathroom sink and floor were splattered with what looked like the aftermath of her vomiting blood. She was still bleeding from her nose.
"Er, Your Highness? How is this? Ah, no, that's not what I mean."
She stumbled, hastily raising a hand to hide the left side of her face, then—
"Cough?!"
She spit out blood.
The already bloodied surroundings turned a deeper shade of red. I jumped back in alarm.
"Whoa! Are you okay?!"
"Uh, um..."
After a brief hesitation, Junior gave a weak smile.
"No."
Thud!
Junior immediately collapsed onto the bathroom floor.
Her face smashed onto the floor. Then she was motionless.
"Whaaaaaaaa!"
I let out a scream.
"There's a dead person here, a person! Whaaaa! Somebody come quick!"
***
Thank goodness.
Junior wasn't dead. She had just pressed her burned face onto the floor because she didn't want to show it to me.
"Please give me some time to sort out my face," she asked, so I waited anxiously outside the door.
It might have been 20 minutes? All sorts of ominous thoughts were bubbling in my mind.
The door creaked open.
And Junior cautiously peered out, looking around. Our eyes met.
"..."
"..."
Junior looked completely normal.
Her frazzled blonde hair covered the left side of her face, and her complexion seemed calm. Her face looked a little worn out.
"..."
"..."
After a tense silence,
Junior, noticing my unease, spoke up.
"Uh, it's dinner time... have you eaten, Your Highness?"
And so here we are.
In the inn's first-floor dining room.
We sat opposite each other with only a glass of water before us, not in the mood to eat. Lucas was watching us from a distance.
After some hesitation, Junior cautiously spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness."
"Uh, hmm? For what?"
"For showing you such a dreadful sight. I'm a little unwell."
"It's not just a little unwell? You seemed like you were on your deathbed? Are you okay?"
You were so bloodied that I thought you had been bitten by a ghoul or turned into some sort of zombie.
'I thought it was a zombie apocalypse in a fantasy world or something.'
I had all sorts of thoughts waiting for you for those 20 minutes. His Highness was terrified.
"A deathbed..."
Junior, with a bitter smile, slowly nodded.
"I thought I had hidden it well... Yes, you're right."
"What?"
"I'm terminally ill. I have about 3 years left at most."
A chill ran down my spine.
I didn't know how to react, so I hesitated. Junior silently picked up her water cup and took a sip, then—
"Cough!"
She violently spit it out. What the hell?!
Junior laughed, wiping her chin that was wet with water.
"This time, it's a joke. The atmosphere got too heavy."
"Don't use your illness as a joke!"
It's not funny! It's scary!
"Ugh..."
I shook my head and asked.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"That you're sick."
"If I'd told you, would you have hired me?"
I shut my mouth. Junior looked down.
"A sick magician who might die anytime?"
"..."
I couldn't answer easily.
I would have hired... her. A magician is a valuable asset.
But I wouldn't have put her in the main party.
The main party needs to be filled with members who can carry this game long term.
A magician who might die anytime, honestly, I wouldn't have put her in. At most, I would have used her in a sub-party.
"I need money, Your Majesty. I have a lot of family to feed."
Junior spoke frankly.
"My grandmother, who has been responsible for the family's livelihood for a long time, is sick, so I have to earn money."
"..."
"In this situation, I couldn't admit that I was sick."
I cautiously asked.
"Don't you need to overwork yourself if you're not well? Even if your family's livelihood depends on it..."
"I won't live long anyway."
Her response was indifferent.
"It's better to be of use to someone and die."
"..."
"Don't worry. I won't have any problems in battle, even in this state. I am confident in my abilities."
I stopped trying to say I wasn't worried about that.
The truth was.
Unconsciously, my biggest worry was, during a battle, if Junior fell... our strategy would be thrown into chaos, and our front line would collapse.
It wasn't about the well-being of an individual named Junior, but the safety of our front line that could be affected by the absence of an area attacker. I couldn't help but worry about that first.
Because I'm the commander.
That was the reality.
"My probation period is until this defense battle."
Junior looked up at me with drooping eyes.
"You can see if my health condition affects the battle, and if it's not satisfactory, you can fire me then."
"..."
"And I'm confident that won't happen."
I remained silent. In response, Junior gave me a weak smile.
"Thank you for the bonus, Your Majesty. For coming to see me, for worrying about me. And..."
Lowering her gaze, Junior whispered a request in a small voice.
"Please keep it a secret from my grandmother that I vomited blood."
***
It was dark when I left the inn.
I had stopped by to give a bonus to Jupiter, but she wasn't at the temple.
When I asked the priests where she had gone,
"She disappears as soon as night falls and returns in the morning."
That was their response.
This old lady! She should rest!
'Well, I have an idea where she might be.'
So, I headed to the Mercenary Guild.
Creak-
Sure enough, when I opened the door and entered.
Jupiter was sitting at the bar inside the guild, gulping down whiskey alone.