Ch.12EP.4 – Ihan Has Been Demoted

…As I recalled the memories and sensations from the previous day, I felt my mind—which had been cleared through deliberate training—becoming clouded once again.

Anguish.

Desire ruled my body, making me desperate to feel those sensations again.

But unfortunately.

[It’s called synthetic ‘Ambrosia.’ A legendary remedy said to cure all curses and diseases that existed in ancient times. The royal family has recently succeeded in reconstructing the recipe and produced it directly. Every ingredient used in its production is difficult to obtain without royal resources. Only royal pharmacists can create the finished product, and I am the biggest investor and director of the Ambrosia restoration project. If you follow my words well, I’ll make sure you’re the first to receive the completed Ambrosia when it’s ready. What’s this, just a gift from a sister to her brother. You needn’t decline, hoho.]

The witch wouldn’t hand over the medicine easily.

‘Tough lady, really playing a vicious move.’

Ambrosia.

That was the name of the liquid I drank yesterday, merely an incomplete version with only 1% of the effectiveness of the finished product.

Yet with just 1% effectiveness, Ihan had witnessed a “miracle.”

The miracle of recovering from what he had secretly given up as a permanent disability…!

“Haaah…!”

It was only natural to feel anguish when such possibility was rekindled after having resigned oneself to it.

Ihan had to close his eyes in meditation for a moment to calm his mind.

…Because if he didn’t suppress the boiling anger from his past, he felt he might explode at any moment.

‘Those damn bastards…!’

Crunch!

Suppressing anger was never an easy process, but.

* * *

During his time being raised as an assassin, Ihan had consumed various poisons.

It was to build poison resistance, and since he was just a fifteen-year-old kid without past life memories at the time, unlike now, he diligently followed the adults’ instructions.

It was on one of those days when he was consuming various poisons.

Someone took the wrong poison and caused an accident.

[What the hell is wrong with him!?]

[That poison seems to be one used in making aphrodisiacs?]

[That crazy bastard.]

An incident where a trainee tried to assault a female officer and died in the process.

Afterward, the assassins realized that the trainees’ “sexual desires” could become problematic.

Sleep drive, hunger drive, sexual drive.

The three major desires were problematic in organizations in both his past and present lives.

If the organization had been an ordinary guild or association, they might have resolved such issues with flexibility.

However, the organization Ihan belonged to happened to be an assassination organization, where extreme restraint of desires was considered natural.

And so.

[Castrate them all.]

[Should we cut them?]

[No, they might die during the procedure. Use the curse poison.]

Curse poison.

A mysterious poison born from sorcery that doesn’t cause major harm to the body but can leave permanent disabilities—an extremely toxic substance.

It was rare and seldom used, and its value was underestimated because its effects weren’t significant if quickly treated by a priest. However, the assassination organization not only possessed this rare poison but also strictly controlled its members from moving freely.

The process that followed is probably predictable.

Ihan consumed that curse poison, had to lie sick for about three days, and most of the children called Numbers had their sexual desires “removed.”

No, the sexual desire itself still existed, but it was more like they couldn’t use it.

…Because it wouldn’t rise.

But no one considered this a problem at the time.

Why?

They were children who had never received any education.

Moreover, there was no awareness that this needed to be treated.

So naturally, it remained a permanent disability.

The same was true for Ihan.

He couldn’t have known that the organization would collapse years later, nor that by coincidence, he would regain memories of his past life.

And when he regained his past life memories and realized he had a disabled body…!

“Nnngh…!!”

…Even now, recalling that time fills him with rage.

Thirty years in his past life, thirty years in his current life.

In total, he had become a sixty-year-old bachelor living alone.

But as time passed and he focused solely on becoming stronger, he didn’t pay much attention to his disability.

Occasionally, when some members boasted about their lovers or wives, his heart would ache, but each time, he would beat them up—no, engage in fair sparring sessions to relieve his feelings.

But now, Ihan realized.

He hadn’t overcome difficult pain; he had simply given up.

And now that an opportunity had arisen, his heart was stirring.

Flash-!

“…It would have been easier if I didn’t know, why did she have to make me aware of it?”

One thing he couldn’t understand was how she knew about his shameful secret.

Where did the information leak from?

He had never revealed it to anyone.

“What a scary lady, anyway.”

Crash!

“Oh my!”

“…Stop falling already. Just stay still.”

“Hehe, I can’t do that. The princess sent me here to assist you, Sir Knight! I’ll work hard!”

“…You really don’t need to.”

“Just leave it to me!”

“……”

Another question.

…What was the intention behind sending this brain-pure maiden to him?

‘…Could she be trying to investigate me?’

Crash!

“Ah, I’m sorry! The dish…!”

“……”

…Probably not.

Ihan quietly stood up.

Though he still had many questions.

‘That woman is going to ruin all my household items.’

Ihan rushed to protect his belongings.

* * *

The White Lion Palace.

A palace where only the king’s successor among the Pendragon royal family could reside.

It was merely a temporary place to stay until entering the White Dragon Palace, the king’s palace.

And the current owner of the White Lion Palace, Isis Elaine de Pendragon, was personally taking care of a child.

“Awoo.”

“You have strong fingers. Unlike your walking corpse of a father, you seem healthy, which is good.”

“Woo?”

Though she spoke without restraint in front of the child, fortunately, the baby couldn’t understand her words.

It was fortunate that the baby was only five months old.

But Isis wasn’t alone.

“Hehe, Princess. How can you speak ill of the father in front of the child? This Albert is deeply concerned that the prince might learn your manner of speaking in the future.”

“Silence, old man. Don’t interfere with my child-rearing.”

“Hehe, is that really education?”

“Of course, since it’s being done by the greatest woman, it must be the greatest education.”

“…Well, your confidence is admirable.”

“Hmph.”

Impertinent remarks only possible from an Aura User butler.

It was already special treatment that he called her “Princess” instead of “Your Highness” when addressing the crown princess.

Perhaps that’s why Albert was allowed to ask personal questions.

“By the way, Princess. How did you know that Sir Ihan needed Ambrosia?”

Albert was genuinely curious.

Ihan, that young man, had never revealed his weaknesses or flaws to those around him.

Even the royal intelligence agency knew only that he was born to someone, sold as a slave, and sold to some organization, but they didn’t know about his condition.

It meant only the princess knew.

“Hmph, what’s the intent behind your question? Do you think I slept with my adopted brother?”

“P-Princess….”

An incredibly embarrassing topic.

Albert gave her a reproachful look, wondering how a woman could speak of such things, but Isis merely sipped her tea nonchalantly.

And then slowly.

“My adopted brother, you see, has never fallen for me.”

“…?”

“Not once has he felt excitement toward me. Toward me, who is so beautiful.”

“…Pardon?”

Albert thought his ears were deceiving him.

As an Aura User, his hearing wasn’t likely to deteriorate with age, but now he suspected it had.

He couldn’t believe such vulgar remarks had come from her refined lips.

But she was confident.

“My beauty is the finest in the kingdom. This doesn’t change even as I age. No man has ever failed to fall for me, and it’s natural for them to act like dogs in heat. But my adopted brother never did so. At his young age, seeing no reaction, I considered two possibilities.”

Either his adopted brother preferred the same sex, or he had lost his male function.

“But my adopted brother doesn’t like men. So I was automatically certain there was a functional issue.”

“…And you made such a deduction based solely on that?”

“Of course. My beauty is supreme.”

“…Your self-love is remarkable.”

“It’s simply an obvious fact!”

“…Hehe.”

Albert was dumbfounded.

Really, for such a reason, she discovered a secret that even the kingdom’s intelligence agency couldn’t uncover?

Albert inwardly felt sorry for Ihan.

How unfortunate to have his weakness discovered by such a woman.

‘…Well, he can obtain the medicine, so it’s beneficial for him too.’

Mutual benefit.

Since both could get what they wanted, it was advantageous for everyone.

“Hehe.”

Albert laughed lightly, trying to acknowledge her absurd statement.

“But why did you send Leira to Sir Ihan?”

“Ah, the maid?”

The maid who was suddenly sent to work for Ihan instead of at the royal palace.

What was the intention behind sending her to Ihan?

Perhaps she had discarded Leira…

“For motivation.”

“…Pardon?”

“My adopted brother is probably still hesitating whether to accept my ‘request.’ However, living with a young woman, won’t his body respond? He’ll realize that accepting my request is beneficial.”

“……”

“Though she’s a bit lacking in intelligence, her appearance isn’t bad, so, hoho. She’ll cause him sufficient mental anguish.”

“…You are truly cruel.”

Thinking again, he felt sympathy for Ihan.

How unfortunate to be caught by such a woman…

The old butler shook his head at his master’s meticulousness and wickedness.