The cursed boy

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 We arrived at our destination, 『The Southern Royal Villa』, just before noon.
 
 The carriage passed through the gate, and headed to the palace built far in the distance.
 
 “The view’s amazing! It’s the first time I’ve seen the sea!!”
 
 Anna, who was looking out the carriage window, let out a voice of wonder.
 
 “Same for me. And the location is good too. To have an unbroken view of the sea and the town… as expected of 『The Royal Family’s Vacation Home』.”
 
 While smiling at Anna who was shaking about in high spirits, I looked out at the scenery once more.
 
 
 
 The kingdom’s largest port city, Marmeldia.
 
 And overlooking that town and the sea from atop a hill was the Marmeldia Royal Villa.
 Commonly known as 『The Southern Royal Villa』.
 
 This palace is where the royal family go to spend the winter, a holiday home so to speak, but it also has a guest house that accepts foreign dignitaries that arrive in Marmeldia by ship.
 
 At the time of accepting this time’s request from His Majesty, the details regarding the 『son of the friend』 that was struck with an illness weren’t revealed right up till the end.
 
 However, given the fact that this 『son』 is staying at the Southern Royal Villa, it’s easy to imagine that he’s related to someone important from another country.
 
 
 
 (Last time we had this conversation, I was 16, and he was 15. ——— meaning, right now, he’s 11 years old.)
 
 The memories of the future that I possess.
 
 In the past, I also met him in this Southern Royal Villa, and attempted treatment of his illness… no, his 『curse』.
 
 The result, half success. And half failure.
 
 We were successful in removing the cause, but it resulted in great side-effects being left behind.
 
 At the time, that was the limit for me.
 
 However———
 
 “I won’t repeat that same mistake.”
 
 Hearing my words, Anna turned around.
 
 “Is something wrong?”
 
 “Nah, it’s nothing.”
 
 Saying so, I returned a smile.
 
 The me right now knows the cause of the 『mistake』 from that time.
 Moreover, although simple, I’ve also prepared for it.
 
 ——— this time, I’ll show you, I’ll eliminate that damned 『curse』, and save him.
 
 Unaware, I tightly gripped my fists.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The carriage arrived at the palace’s guest room.
 
 “Ojou-sama, your hand.”
 
 I got out of the carriage with Anna’s help.
 
 And, from the front entrance, a single middle-aged gentleman showed up, accompanied by several maids.
 
 “Thank you for coming this far out. Countess Ainsworth.”
 
 Coming before me, the gentleman bowed very deeply.
 
 At a glance, he looks like a butler, but he actually isn’t.
 
 “Thank you for welcoming me. This is the first time meeting in this way, isn’t it. Viscount Kessel.”
 
 Saying so while I returned a curtsey, the Viscount stared at me with a surprised expression.
 
 “That’s… having seen you at the peerage ceremony, I thought you were an intelligent person, but it seems Your Excellency far exceeded my imagination. I understand now why His Majesty had you handle this matter.”
 
 “I should say the same of you. I am very honoured for Lord Kessel, who has protected this palace generation after generation and welcomed numerous noble visitors, to say so.”
 
 Saying so, we smiled at each other.
 
 In this short exchange, we had each finished our self-introductions.
 
 『I know who you are.』
 
 『I also know who you are.』
 
 Something like that.
 
 Moreover, since I was taken care of by him 『last time』 and know what kind of person he is, I know him better than he knows me.
 
 The old noble family, the Viscount Kessel Family, have been of the Neutral Faction since a long time ago, and are particularly loyally faithful to the royal family, while he himself is considerate of his surroundings and extremely sensible.
 
 
 
 “Lord Ainsworth, you must be tired from the long journey. It’s nearly noon, so how about having lunch?”
 
 Viscount Kessel asked so, and I hesitated for a moment.
 
 It’s almost noon.
 
 I am just a tiny bit tired from moving since morning, and I am getting hungry.
 
 However, I ———
 
 “I’ll go greet the 『patient』.”
 
 I decisively said as such.
 
 The Viscount hardened when he heard those words.
 
 It seems my reply was outside of his expectations, as after some deliberation, he spoke with a bit of a troubled tone.
 
 “I understand Your Excellency’s feelings, but now is a bad time. ——— as the Patient-sama would likely have calmed down by evening, how about taking it easy till then?”
 
 Lord Kessel proposed as such.
 
 In his own way, he’s likely worrying about my first meeting with 『him』 going well.
 
 From the Viscount’s point of view, that is the correct thing to do.
 
 Because, if our relationship is sour from the very beginning, it’ll be difficult to have a good relationship in the days to come.
 
 But, I ———
 
 “I already know that it’s nearly noon… the time when the 『seizures』 occur. That’s why, I ought to be by the patient’s side.”
 
 I looked straight at the Viscount’s face as I said so.
 
 
 
 I know.
 
 That 『seizure』 is accompanied by intense pain.
 And also, how to mitigate it even in the slightest.
 
 I can’t do something like ignoring the pained screams of a boy younger than me.
 
 Besides, this is also the first step in dealing with the 『curse』.
 
 
 
 As I stared at him, Lord Kessel showed a troubled expression once again.
 
 “But, what will the patient say…”
 
 “Doesn’t matter. Please guide me up till his room. I’ll persuade him.”
 
 The Viscount and my gaze competed against one another.
 
 However, that time didn’t last long.
 
 Letting out a sigh, Lord Kessel spoke as if giving in.
 
 “As expected of the hero of salvation. I’m no match for the Countess. ——— Understood. I’ll guide you to his room.”
 
 Saying so, he asked me to follow him.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 That room was the furthest one on the first floor of the expansive guest house.
 
 (So it’s the same room as 『last time』, huh.)
 
 Strangely, or rather, as expected.
 
 The room he was staying in was the second or third largest of the extravagant rooms in the building.
 
 “May I ask the name of the patient?”
 
 I asked Lord Kessel, who was walking one step ahead of me.
 The Viscount turned around while telling me.
 
 “The patient’s name is 『Theo-sama』.”
 
 “Even in front of the maids and servants, can I call him by that name?”
 
 “It doesn’t matter. It’s just…… right. Your Excellency is intelligent, so you might notice something when you see him. But, that———”
 
 “I’ll try not to mention it.”
 
 When I said so, Lord Kessel said “That helps” in relief and smiled.
 
 
 
 And so, when we came near the room.
 
 “Get out!!”
 
 Gashan!!
 
 “Hiii!”
 
 A sudden yell, and the sound of something falling over.
 And then, a shriek.
 
 “S-, sorry sir!”
 
 Immediately after we heard apologetic female voices ——— the door opened with a bang, and two maids rushed out of the room.
 
 “?!”
 
 For an instant, the maids looked at us with startled faces.
 
 The two of them were dressed in clothes of a different design to anything I’d seen up till now.
 
 Those girls said with a slight accent,
 
 “Excuse us,”
 
 bowing before walking in the direction we’d come from, whispering among themselves.
 
 “……”
 
 The Viscount and I exchanged glances.
 
 “Somehow, it seems Theo-sama’s condition isn’t too good.”
 
 “I think it’s fine to just say that he’s 『in a bad mood』. Though it doesn’t bother me.”
 
 When I replied so, the Viscount showed a troubled smile on his face and shrugged his shoulders.