The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me

20 – The Prince of the Night (2)

“Insomnia is a disease that can recur at any time. But! You’re lucky. You’ve come to find the renowned, but sorrowful second-best physician of the Empire, Gilbert.”

“…”

“Drink this medicine and you’ll be able to fall asleep right away.”

Ascal looked at the doctor with a suspicious eye.

It was an era when there were priesthood healing, potions, and healing magic. So, in some areas, the Empire developed advanced skills due to magic. However, the development of medicine was relatively slow in comparison.

The current state of the Empire’s medicine was such that if someone joked around and just pricked a patient’s hand with a needle, they would be deemed a great physician.

“Would it be possible to ask about the ingredients of the medicine?”

“Um, we usually don’t disclose the formula to foreigners, but…”

However, having spent a long time in public service, Ascal could read the nuance in Gilbert’s tone.

Ascal took out a shiny silver coin and placed it on the table. Gilbert absorbed the silver coin into his pocket as fast as lightning.

His swift hand movements seemed to imply that he would be good at surgery.

“But! For the sake of the patients, this Gilbert! What wouldn’t I share? The main ingredients of this sleeping pill are first, the devil’s herb. Then, mixed with magic stone powder, animal tranquilizers, and chamomile. All of which have been personally prepared by myself, a medical doctor.”

“I see. I’ll go and take my goldfish out for a walk then.”

“Wait! My patient!”

It’s not that I want to sleep forever.

Ascal hurriedly got up from his seat.

It’s better not to go to hospitals in the Empire.

“It’s time to return as the Prince of the Night after a long time.”

Ascal applied oil to his hair and wore a black cloak. He also put on the half-mask he had bought at a flea market in the slums. He had managed to obtain it at a low price through dramatic bargaining, as the seller tried to raise the price by claiming it was an ancient artifact.

His appearance was covered entirely in black.

Ascal, who checked his reflection in a silver mirror, felt a little embarrassed.

If Sushia had seen him like this…

“What is it, Section Chief? Prince of the Night? Ahahahahaha! Shouldn’t we have left such things behind when we were younger?”

It was embarrassing.

‘I must never reveal my identity.’

Ascal hypnotized himself. You must respect me. I am the Prince of the Night, the observer who bends the night, the mastermind of the darkness…

‘Alright.’

Ascal, who had been mumbling his self-hypnosis like a spell for a while, finally managed to immerse himself completely as the Prince of the Night.

“The night is about to embrace its master.”

Ascal stepped outside, his cloak billowing, but then stopped. The edge of the cloak caught on the door. After struggling for a while, he managed to free the hem of the cloak. It was a close battle.

The Empire’s Second Princess, Serena Varba, had not been in good spirits recently.

She was naturally sensitive, but recently, even her close attendants had been cautious around her, as she’d become continuously gloomy.

“Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

Serena, who was sitting reclined in the chair, tapped the armrest. It was a silent expression of discomfort.

“I found him. The black-haired prince who visited the Empire recently.”

“Really?”

Serena smiled brightly.

Her mood suddenly improved.

“He is said to be visiting here soon.”

“Really? I don’t look strange, do I? No hair sticking out, eyebrows well trimmed?”

“Yes. You appear to have no problems.”

“No, I think I should do it again. I have to check my clothes as well.”

Serena checked her clothing with a fluttering heart. A natural appearance was important for a first encounter. Not being too much, but not falling short either.

With the help of the maidservant, Serena had done everything she could to ensure she appeared perfectly presentable and calmly waited seated in a chair.

“How do I look?”

“Yes, you look very beautiful, Your Highness.”

Three minutes passed.

“Is the color of my lips too dark? Should I redo it?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Five minutes passed.

“No, this outfit isn’t right for our first proper meeting. I want to change.”

Serena stood up to change but she could not.

For the guest was already arriving.

“The prince is entering!”

The door slowly opened.

Without reason, Serena fiddled with her ears as she waited for the door to open. It had been a while since she felt this nervous.

“Ah, I didn’t realize the princess was looking for me.”

And the black-haired prince appeared.

The prince gazed at Serena and gave a subtle, but warm smile.

“May I ask why the princess sought me out? Oh, and do not be shy. You are as beautiful as I’ve heard.”

Beautiful, flowing red hair as smooth as silk, pale skin, and eyes that resemble carefully carved rubies.

The prince appraised the princess’s appearance with a sensual gaze.

“Your Highness?”

Serena didn’t say anything, just looked at the prince, and then.

“You’re not the one.”

She muttered in a whisper.

“What do you mean by that?”

His plump cheeks glowing with a healthy luster, as if he had never been hungry in his life. A face of arrogance, as if he had never experienced hardship.

Expensively-adorned clothes that were needlessly bright, to the point of hurting one’s eyes. A complete lack of artistic sensibility.

This prince was not the one she had been searching for.

A coldness welled up in the princess’s red eyes.

“Get lost.”

“How rude. Your Highness. This could potentially lead to a serious diplomatic issue…”

“Get lost.”

At the snakelike stare, the prince’s body stiffened.

With a gasp, the prince stumbled backward, then kicked the door open and fled.

“Noella. Did you bring in the wrong person?”

“I’ll accept any punishment.”

“…Sigh. No, that’s not it. I shouldn’t have expected to find someone of that caliber so easily.”

Serena sighed.

This matter had become somewhat bothersome.

The prince who had just left was, after all, merely a prince from a small island nation. Even more vulnerable than the Empire’s barons. The likelihood of it escalating into a diplomatic issue, as he had suggested, would be practically zero.

The problem lay elsewhere.

“How can I see that person again?”

An answer emerged.

“Yes. Let’s do another play.”

The prince of the night seemed to love the arts.

“With that, that man will come again.”

The princess smiled.

Somehow, feeling a chilling sensation, Ascal wandered the streets at night. Even though he thought that the thick cloak wouldn’t make it that cold…

Regardless, the destination was set.

The Moonlight Troupe.

As he turned around the corner, a familiar alley appeared. The wandering musician was still playing music there.

“Ah, my lord.”

Ascal tossed a coin. This time it was silver.

“Gasp! This is too much.”

“No, it isn’t. Thanks to the troupe you told me about, I had a good experience.”

“Did you, my lord? Then have you heard that news?”

“What news are you talking about?”

The words that came from the wandering musician’s mouth were shocking.

“The Moonlight Troupe has gone bankrupt. They said they couldn’t continue the troupe due to financial difficulties.”

No way.

Ascal swallowed the words that almost reflexively came out and acted as the Prince of Night.

“Ah, so this unfortunate moment has finally come. I can’t believe that the troupe who touched my heart would meet such a tragic end… truly a sad thing.”

“Still, I believe they must have been happy to perform for you. Would you like me to recommend another troupe that may move your heart?”

“Please do.”

Who knows, he might meet someone who would heal his insomnia again. With a hint of anticipation, Ascal went to the troupe recommended by the wandering minstrel.

“Oh! Ysolde! You are so beautiful!”

Not Ysolde again?

Ascal patiently waited, holding on to the expectation that the girl might appear again in this troupe.

But.

The play only stimulated his eardrums unnecessarily, and no matter how long he waited, the girl did not appear.

Instead, Ascal’s eyes became bloodshot as the little sleep he had dissipated.

“I must find her.”

Ascal began to wander the night streets.

He was exhausted.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

It felt like death.

“Please… save me. Where on earth are you?”

At this rate, he would become not the Prince of Night but the Ghost of the Night.

For a long time, Ascal wandered through various troupes, but the girl never appeared.

“I want to see her. I want to hear her voice.”

He still couldn’t forget it.

The gentle girl’s voice that, upon hearing the first verse, seemed to induce sleep waves, naturally leading him to slumber. He wondered if it was a manifestation of a siren.

‘”If I’d known, I’d have asked for her name…”

Making a stylish exit had now come back to haunt him.

Ascal let out a deep sigh and entered a theater where the lights were still on.

From No ble mt L dot c om

It was a desperate attempt.

And then.

As soon as the girl on stage appeared, Ascal knew right away.

It was her.

“I’ve found her! My sedative.”