"Mind telling this old man what's the deal with this book?" The Emperor asked with a smile, though anyone who wasn't blind could clearly see that the smile was one of pleasantry rather than a genuine one. Derick gulped usually the other would've run his mouth, calling the book cursed, but seeing the Emperor's chilling gaze made him unable to speak. In the end, he remained silent and nudged Yuno on the shoulder instead.
'You tell His Majesty!'
The Emperor was still patiently waiting for an answer. Though the doctor said that his nephew didn't receive any major injury, it still didn't explain the fact that a book suddenly came out from nowhere, hit him, and rendered the 29 year old General unconscious.
Seeing his nephew who wouldn't even flinch when doctors stitched his injury suddenly getting hit by a book and fainting, the Emperor was shocked-stupefied even. If it weren't for the sudden scream of his servants jolting him back to reality, he might have thought that the whole situation was a dream. Unfortunately, all of it was real.
He hurriedly called for the palace doctors and royal physicians, even doctors who didn't have any relevance to the injury were called in. Additionally, the head magician was also summoned, but even then the result was still the same.
"The General just fainted from the sudden impact. He'll be fine in no time."
But that wasn't even the strangest of them all. What the Emperor found the most confusing was the book.
"Hmmm...this seems to be a normal book-albeit blank. I don't sense any mana or any lingering curse in it. The same can be said for the General, there aren't any traces of outside factors intervening in his unconscious state. It really just seems like he got hit by the book so hard that he fainted."
"That's bullsh-mnph!"
"Still, that doesn't explain the fact that the book suddenly came flying from nowhere and hitting my nephew."
The head magician could only shrug. "Your Majesty said that the wind was strong at that time, maybe it flew away from Sir Derick's person and coincidentally flew towards the General, hitting him."
"Ack-the book was freezi-Yu-amph-me!"
In the end he dismissed the head magician and the rest of the doctors. The head magician's explanation was reasonable, the only problem was that the situation didn't make sense. No matter how he reasoned it to be a coincidence, it was still too precise to be labeled as one.
Though he was old, he was still the Empire's Emperor. If someone's trying to secretly harm his people-especially targeting his nephew, then he'll have them hanged on the Empire walls. But judging from the doctors and the head magician's observations, the book doesn't seem to have any bad intentions. Still, nothing can be overlooked-especially since this was the second time his nephew got hit.
"So? It seems that you two know something that the head magician overlooked, mind telling this old man?"
'Please! Please Yuno! I'll treat you to that newly opened shop in the central district. I heard that they sell shortcakes!'
Yuno sighed, he didn't even spare Derick another glance as he calmly looked at the Emperor and slowly bowed.
"Though we know slightly more of the book than the head magician, our knowledge isn't certain and is still lacking. So I kindly ask the Emperor to keep that in mind."
"Very well then." The Emperor nodded as he motioned for Yuno and Derick to sit down. They were still inside the General's resting area with the Emperor sitting beside Cyrus's bedside.
"So what does Your Majesty like to know?"
"The last time Cyrus visited the palace and was rendered unconscious...is it the same book?"
Yuno nodded. The Emperor was now definitely sure that it was no coincidence.
"At that time, was there anything strange going on, like the wind suddenly getting stronger or something similar?"
"I don't think there was anything off with the weather. Though at that time we did notice that the General was slightly out of it. Before we left the manor, we realized that he was having a headache so we decided to accompany him to the palace. And in case he couldn't handle the news of his sudden marriage."
"That's right, that's right. Things only started getting weird when the General stepped into the garden and when that official came." Derick cut in, nodding his head as tried to back up Yuno.
"Ho." The Emperor said amused as he motioned for the Lieutenant to continue.
"At that time we were both walking behind the General when he suddenly stopped in place. Just in time an official came running and instead of greeting him, the General just tilted his head upward. I was curious so I also looked where he was looking and then I saw that cur-I mean book. Of course at that time I only thought that one of the apprentice mages from the palace must have messed up a teleportation spell. Besides the General could probably avoid it, if I knew back then that the book was going to make him unconscious for three days then I would've taken the hit instead! General!" Derick's wail was quickly shut by Yuno who hit him on the head.
Well, the Emperor couldn't really blame him. For once he also had the same thought as the Lieutenant. At that time, when he first received the news, he also thought that the culprit was from the palace's magicians that's why he cut their budget in half after that incident. Knowing that they didn't have any part in this, the Emperor felt a little guilty.
'No wonder the head mage acted off...they must be upset. I should fix the budget after this.'
For now, the book concerning his nephew was still a priority. He turned to look at Yuno and stretched out his hand. Without words being exchanged, Yuno quickly got the message and handed the Emperor the book.
For the second time, the Emperor was filled with a strange sensation as he flipped through the book. Like the first time he went through it, the book was still blank, inside and out. There was no title on the front cover nor any author's name-well considering that it didn't have any words from the start, it seems that there was no author. The book was as hollow as it could be.
"When Cyrus woke up, was there anything strange?" He watched as Yuno and Derick stared at each other, probably unsure whether to tell him or not. Though the Emperor's guess was quite right, it was still a mile off from the two's conversation. Instead of debating whether to tell the Emperor or not, they were in fact debating what to tell and what to censor.
'Should we tell him that the General's d*ck is being threatened?'
'Feel free to say it, just don't expect me to save you when you go to court for using crude language in front of the Emperor.'
'Oh come on! So what do we tell His Majesty? That the General woke up like some madman looking for the book or that he tried to burn it on impulse and almost created a fire?'
'...I thought you idolized the General.'
'Huh, of course I do!'
'...'
'Hey, so what do we tell?'
'Tell whatever you want. Just make sure it doesn't leave this room.'
'Hey why me?! You tell His Majesty!'
'I've been the one explaining since earlier. You explain this time.'
'Ugh fine...'
"The General ahem-since the following information are quite um-sensitive so I kindly ask that His Majesty doesn't spread the news." This time Derick was the one who bowed, his expression though awkward still carried the seriousness in his voice. The Emperor nodded and Derick gulped before continuing.
"After the General woke, you see..."
.
.
.
The room fell into silence as Derick finished retelling all of the strange behaviour the General's been doing. It was already midnight and the three were still wide awake, gathered around the General's bedside. Bags were starting to appear under the Emperor's eyes along with the stress building up. Derick didn't look any better, since the General passed out, he assigned himself to be on night watch. And he could barely sleep during the day since he was busy accompanying Yuno during his turn to guard. Out of all the three, Yuno seemed to be the only one fairing well enough. Compared to the haggard faces surrounding him, his face was still smooth and soft as ever. There were hardly visible bags under his eyes, nor any sign of stress at all.
Derick looked and slowly turned away. Though he saw it already, his enemy's face really resembled that of a girl. He quickly vanished the thought though when he remembered the other beating the shit out of him.
"So, this is the third time, and not the second?" The Emperor's hoarse voice asked. Yuno quickly went to brew tea as Derick answered the Emperor with a "Yes".
Yuno quickly came back with a fresh batch of newly brewed tea. He poured a cup and handed it to the Emperor who took it gratefully. While the Emperor was busy drinking, Yuno poured another cup and this time, handed it to Derick.
The Emperor put the cup down, his face taking a serious turn. His sharp gaze landed on both Yuno and Derick. The Lieutenant nervously put his cup down as he waited for the Emperor to speak. Yuno had to stop his eyes from rolling as he watched the other from the corner of his eye.
"Before the sudden breeze interrupted our conversation, the General mentioned something quite shocking...He said that he'd be impotent, but not yet. You also said that someone's seemingly threatening to cut his manhood off. Not to mention that the book appeared when I was supposed to announce his arranged marriage. And Yuno seemed to suggest that Cyrus can read the book, but not share its content. Don't you think that-"
"The book is a holy item!"
"No that's to-" Before Yuno can shut off Derick's stupid idea, he was cut short by the Emperor's enthusiastic reply.
"Exactly!"
"..." Yuno slowly closed his eyes, too afraid that he might give in and smack the Emperor in the head too. In the end he could only stare at the General's sleeping figure, peacefully unaware of the chaos he just created.
'Cyrus, hurry the fuck up and wake up already...'