MDL | Chapter 2.4

“Is that gold?” the prince murmured.

“Gold? Your Highness, that’s impossible,” Zig said, lowering his voice after glancing around.

“Look. This is a poor country with no visible mines. Where would they get the money to cover a palace roof in pure gold? It’s probably just gold paint.”

The prince only let out a noncommittal hum. Despite his confident tone, Zig rubbed his eyes and stared again at the glittering golden palace.

“…Is it really gold?”

He muttered to himself, but no one answered.

By the time they finished exploring the bustling market street, they noticed a large windmill on a hill slightly removed from the main area. Something was off, though. Its blades weren’t turning, even though it wasn’t the off-season. The wizard paused.

“Oh dear. Looks like Hans is taking the day off again.”

Middle-aged women with finely woven cloth on their heads chatted as they walked toward the market.

“He was so motivated just last year. Then he fell into drinking for a while, but he seemed to pull himself together…”

“But who would bring work to a mill these days? There’s a big factory just a day’s walk away in the next village. If Hans wants to keep working, he should invest in modern machinery.”

“True. You can only rely on neighborly goodwill for so long.”

“And Hans has a daughter, doesn’t he?”

“Hoho. That’s right. The queen who spins gold thread.”

“Ah, but have you heard? About the newborn prince. No, well…”

The women suddenly lowered their voices, having noticed the wizard. They shot him wary glances, whispered among themselves, and hurried away. Words like “kidnapping,” “outsiders,” “wizard,” and “ransom” floated on the breeze. It seemed the red cloak’s warnings about the country’s unrest were true.

“Wizard! What are you doing over there?”

The group, now gathered under an oak tree at the foot of the hill, called out to him.

“Coming! I’m coming, Zig!”

The wizard waved at Zig, hiked up his robe, and ran over. He considered telling the group about the motionless windmill blades but decided against it.

A moment later, Rose arrived under the oak tree. She had separated from the group earlier, saying she had errands in the market. Now, a strange object hung at her waist.

“Huh? That thing?” the wizard exclaimed, frowning.

“Oh no! You actually bought it?”

“Uh, yeah…”

Rose awkwardly laughed and pulled her cloak to hide the object.

It was a gun.

Ah, no wonder… She couldn’t take her eyes off the red cloak’s hunting rifle earlier.

The gun Rose had purchased wasn’t a long musket like the red cloak’s but a more portable pistol.

“I traded my emerald necklace for it. Don’t worry, I didn’t touch the travel funds.”

Misinterpreting the wizard’s sharp gaze, Rose snapped back irritably.

“No, that’s not what I meant… Do you even know how to use it?”

“I learned a bit at the shop.”

“What? You bought something you don’t even know how to use after just a little—”

“Anyway, this place is really interesting. There’s a separate shop for these kinds of weapons, not just a blacksmith’s. Apparently, it’s trendy for girls my age here to buy pistols. For self-defense, they say. In case of kidnapping.”

“Ha, really, Princess…”

“Are you going to keep sighing every time I talk?”

“Ha, I’m sighing… Huh? What? Wait, what did you say?”

“I said, are you going to keep sighing?”

“Huh? No, not that!”

Flustered, the wizard flailed his arms like a bird flapping its wings, unable to find the right words. Watching this awkward display, the prince finally spoke.

“It seems this is a country where kidnappers run rampant.”

“Yes! Exactly! That’s it!”

According to the red cloak, a threat to kidnap “the queen’s baby” had been sent to the palace. Combined with rumors of a piper who lured away all the children, the situation was deeply concerning. But now, even young women were buying pistols out of fear of kidnappers? As the prince said, this seemed to be a country where kidnappers ran wild.

A small, humble, peaceful, and beautiful country.

An old, old story unfolding within it.

A brave prince meets a beautiful bride, a kind girl falls in love with an enchanted prince, and a compassionate farmer is rewarded.

An evil wizard falls into a pit of fire and dies, a wicked giant is skewered on a spit, and a greedy man who drove out his brother becomes lion food.

People as clear-cut as if sliced by a knife, and the happy endings of virtue rewarded and vice punished prepared for them.

Where did all that go?

Were the countless happy fairy tales we know just the surface, while something entirely different was happening behind the printed words?

The wizard twisted his lips into a melancholic frown. His gaze turned to the prince. When their eyes met, the prince maintained his usual impassive expression and naturally shifted his gaze toward the windmill.

A westerly wind blew over the hill.

The windmill’s blades slowly turned half a rotation. The wind slid down the hill and rustled the branches of the oak tree above the group. Though warm and humid, the faces of the prince’s party were as hard as ice.

“…Whatever the case, everyone,” the wizard said brightly, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

“We have to go to Omphalos.”

…We?

The wizard seemed to chew over his own words, glancing at each member of the group one by one.

A knight in name only, who has never protected anyone.

A princess more interested in pistols than romance with the prince.

And the prince.

“We”?

The wizard laughed again.

No, that’s not it. Only the guide, the wizard, and the prince, who holds the key to the rift, need to go to Omphalos. What happens to the knight and the princess, whether the world collapses into the rift—what does any of that matter?

Once we reach Omphalos…

Then, everything will…

…

…

Yes, that’s right. That fact remains unchanged.

So, isn’t that something to be grateful for?

…

Following Zig’s suggestion, the prince’s party headed to the palace. The plan was to explain the impending anomaly and the purpose of their journey, asking for passage. It was a perfectly reasonable idea, so no one objected.

“Is this all gold?”

“Haha. Really, Princess. As if it’s all real gold.”

The same conversation from earlier repeated between Rose and Zig.

Even Zig, who had stubbornly denied it could be real gold, tilted his head in confusion as the palace drew closer. The palace’s round roof, the pointed tip of the bell tower, the swan statues overlooking the people from the walls… Not just these, but everything—literally everything—was a dazzling golden color. The columns, the walls, the doorknobs, the sturdy iron gates of the palace entrance, and even the garden stones visible beyond them!

Hmm, at this rate, even the…

“Is the outhouse gold too?”

“Good heavens, Sir Zig! How could you say something so vulgar!”

Chastised by the wizard, Zig snapped back to his senses.

“Ah, no! I didn’t mean that kind of outhouse! Believe me! When I said outhouse, I meant… uh, you know… a storage room! Yes, a storage room!”

But Rose simply turned away, visibly embarrassed.

“Wizard! Be honest! You hate me, don’t you?”

Finally, Zig shouted at the wizard, his face red with frustration. The wizard only fanned the flames with a nonchalant, “Hmm, who knows?”

Amidst all the commotion, the prince stepped forward and announced his identity to the palace guards with dignity…

…

…

…Only for the guards to be momentarily stunned by Zig’s antics…

An elderly palace attendant soon came out to greet the group. The deep worry etched into his face silenced even Zig and the wizard.

“Welcome, travelers from afar!”

The attendant led them to the audience chamber.

Glitter, glitter…

Glitter, glitter.

Glitter… glitter…

Glitter.

The palace was a sea of golden brilliance. Not a single thing failed to sparkle. To put it crudely, as Zig might say, even the outhouses and chamber pots might be made of gold.

“Welcome, travelers from afar!”

Upon entering the audience chamber, they were greeted by the king seated on a dazzling golden throne. He was quite handsome, though not quite on the prince’s level. His overly polished smile, however, was less appealing.

“Thank you for your hospitality despite our sudden visit.”

Trying not to be distracted by the gold scattered throughout the chamber, the prince spoke courteously.

“I always welcome travelers. You shall be treated as honored guests of the palace, so please rest at ease.”

“We appreciate your kindness, but we did not come today merely to rest.”

“Then what is it?”

“We’ve heard that the borders are sealed, and no one who enters this country can leave. As you said, we are travelers, and it is our fate to keep moving toward our next destination… Could you perhaps lift the lockdown, even briefly, to allow us passage through this country?”

The young king’s face darkened at the prince’s words. They say the brighter the light, the deeper the shadow. The gold adorning the king, the golden surroundings, and the light they emitted seemed to make the anguish on his face even darker.

“Where are you travelers headed?”

After a long silence, the king finally asked.

“To Omphalos.”

“Omphalos? Truly?”

“Yes.”

“But isn’t that an uncharted land where no living soul has ever reached? A land of divinity, they say. I’ve heard only souls can go there.”

“We have a good guide, so there’s no need to worry.”

…Hmph, hmph… This was the first time the prince had praised the wizard like this… Moved to tears, the wizard sniffled.

“…I’m sorry, but that’s impossible.”

The king spoke firmly.

“You may have already heard the rumors, but I have a son, not even three months old. And some vile scoundrel has publicly declared they will steal him! How dare they! My son!”

The king’s anger erupted suddenly. He pounded the armrests of his golden throne with his fists, then, realizing his guests were present, flushed and composed himself.

“I’ve made a poor display.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty. Please don’t trouble yourself.”

Despite the prince’s words, the king covered his face with one hand, visibly embarrassed.

“I’ve sent soldiers everywhere to find the culprit, but it’s all been in vain. Another shameful display. The only comfort is that my kingdom isn’t vast. The culprit must still be within its borders. If I seal it off and search every corner, I’ll catch them, won’t I?”

The king looked at the prince pleadingly, as if seeking agreement. But the prince met his gaze coolly, refusing to give the answer the king wanted.

Resigned, the king continued.

“Therefore, I cannot grant your request. What if, in that brief moment the lockdown is lifted, the culprit escapes? Then I’d have to live the rest of my life in fear. The terrible fear of losing my son.”

“So, Your Majesty, do you intend to keep the country sealed until the culprit is caught?”

“Yes.”

The king’s answer was firm. The prince pressed further.

“Even if it takes a year?”

“Even if it takes a year.”

“Ten years?”

“Ten years.”

“A hundred years?”

“A hundred years.”

Even if it takes a thousand years, ten thousand years, even after his death, even if the world turns to ruins.

The king was resolved to keep it sealed forever.

What touching paternal love.

By now, a deep vertical line had formed between the prince’s handsome brows. For the first time since entering the audience chamber—no, since entering this golden palace—the prince slowly looked around. He saw the glittering gold everywhere. If the rifts invaded and monsters poured in, there would be no place to hide in this palace. Even if the second night fell and all the lights were extinguished, the golden blocks would continue to shine.

“…I know of a king who, to avoid a curse placed on his son, removed every needle in his kingdom.”

The young king flinched, his shoulders trembling.

“And? Did he avoid the curse?”

A self-deprecating smile appeared on the prince’s lips.

“No. He did not.”

The faint hope that had briefly flickered in the young king’s face quickly withered. But the prince continued in a cold tone.

“Only his people suffered, ravaged by the king’s near-mad obsession with needles.”

“B-but…”

“The world will soon shatter.”

A sudden declaration, a verdict, an assertion… What should it be called?

A prophecy?

A grim prophecy?

The young king was speechless, staring at the prince in shock. The prince’s companions were equally stunned. None of them had expected him to so bluntly announce the coming of the rifts.

“Are you out of your mind?”

Rose whispered, tugging at the prince’s sleeve. The prince shook her off and took a few more steps toward the golden throne.

“I mean it literally, Your Majesty. Just a few days ago, an anomaly occurred in my kingdom. Cracks began to form in the empty air and sky, and the world started to break apart.”

As he spoke, the prince picked up a decorative glass vase. He lifted it high and let it drop. A servant rushed forward in alarm, but stopped short under the prince’s icy gaze.

A thin crack appeared in the glass. The prince nudged it lightly with his foot, and the crack spread until the vase silently shattered into pieces.

“Like this vase,” the prince said.

“And from beyond the broken world, things of unknown origin crossed over. Monsters that human weapons cannot kill. They resemble shadows. Just as shadows disappear when light fades, so do they. Complete darkness, without a single light, is the only way to escape them. Of course, you may not believe me. I still find it hard to believe myself. But Your Majesty, this is not a matter of belief—it’s a matter of survival. We are heading to Omphalos to stop this unbelievable phenomenon. So please, open the way for us. There are only four of us. It will take no longer than the time it takes to fill a teacup for us to walk from your territory to the outside.”

“O-Omphalos…”

Perhaps intimidated by the prince’s intensity, the young king stammered.

“If you go there, will that strange phenomenon be resolved?”

The prince turned to look at his companions, at the wizard, and said:

“I sincerely hope so.”

The wizard fluttered his eyelashes and lowered his gaze.

The king on the golden throne fell into deep thought. His contemplation was much longer and deeper than when he had first refused the prince’s request. By the time the young servants standing at the side of the audience chamber began to fidget from sore calves, the king finally spoke.

“I cannot open the way.”

The answer was unexpected. The prince’s lips twisted stiffly.

“The one targeting my son is elusive. They slipped into the queen’s chamber in the dead of night and left a threatening note pinned to the bedpost. Even if I lift the lockdown for the briefest moment, I cannot completely rule out the possibility of that scoundrel escaping. You must understand. The prince is my only child.”

The young king adjusted the golden brooch securing his golden cloak and straightened his posture on the golden throne, as if trying to assert his dignity before the foreign travelers.

“Besides, this anomaly hasn’t struck my kingdom, has it? I’m sorry to say this, but isn’t it possible that this misfortune is confined to your kingdom? Can you guarantee it will reach mine? If the anomaly comes, we can deal with it then. There’s no need to panic prematurely. Ah, but don’t think I’m dismissing your words as lies. The culprit will be caught soon. I assure you. Ten days at most. That should be enough. Even if the culprit isn’t caught in ten days, I’ll let you go. So please, stay here for just ten days. As guests of the palace, you’ll lack for nothing.”

The prince’s lips twitched as if to argue further, but the king sharply waved his hand.

“What are you all standing around for? Escort our guests to their chambers with the utmost courtesy!”

Unfortunately, there was no room for further discussion. Surrounded by threatening servants and knights, the prince’s party had no choice but to leave the audience chamber.

In essence, this was… the fate of a prophet in an old tale.

Persecuted by kings who refused to believe and covered their ears…

At least it was fortunate that this kingdom’s king didn’t throw the prince’s party into a lion’s den or make them walk over burning coals. What? Don’t exaggerate, you say? But, everyone, in old tales, those who deliver ominous prophecies before kings usually meet lonely deaths amid scorn and ridicule. That’s just how it goes for prophets in stories!

In truth, this kingdom’s king might have wanted to silence them in such a way. Perhaps he only held back because the prince was from another kingdom.

…Well, this incident must have taught the prince a lesson. The lesson that bluntly speaking the truth and grating on someone’s nerves should be done sparingly…

“Are you out of your mind?”

Rose scolded, sticking close to the prince. Now that they were out of the audience chamber, her voice was sharper than before.

“What were you thinking, saying something like that to a king already on edge because of a kidnapper?”

“I told the truth,” the prince shot back. His mood wasn’t great either after being practically kicked out of the audience chamber.

“Yes. And our request was beautifully dismissed.”

“Even if I had made up some plausible lie instead of the truth, I doubt the king would have lifted the lockdown.”

“You don’t know that. Don’t you see, Prince? You provoked the king’s fear. He’s already terrified of losing his son. So why would he open the way? Whether disaster comes or not, he’ll lock the doors even tighter. In the place he thinks is safest.”

“The place he thinks is safest… You mean this palace?”

The prince let out a hollow laugh, glaring at the gold-plated corridor.

“Come to think of it, you might be right. Did you see how the people outside the palace live? Every grain of sand in this palace is gold, but the people outside seem so humble. A king who hoards gold for himself without giving to his people would only care about his immediate safety, even in the face of disaster.”

“This, exactly this, is the problem. It’s amazing how you can always say what you think is right, no matter who you’re talking to. Must be nice.”

“Then how should I have spoken? Should I have coddled him like a child?”

“I never said that. I’m saying you don’t understand human emotions. People are afraid to face terrible truths. Don’t you know that speaking such truths can get you stabbed?”

“Lies or silence are no better alternatives.”

“No, even now…”

…

…

…

Huh? What’s… going on here?

Why are these two arguing? These two are the prince and princess. The prince and princess from The Sleeping Prince of the Thorn Castle. They’re supposed to overcome curses, share sweet kisses, be enchanted by each other’s eyes, and promise eternal love and marriage. So why are they glaring at each other like mortal enemies?

…It’s, it’s fine.

This kind of conflict… is something that can be overcome someday. Just as love at first sight is a thing, so is love that blossoms after fighting… Isn’t that a pretty traditional development, haha?

Fortunately, before the two could stab each other with their eyes… the servant who had briefly stepped away returned.

“I’ll guide you to your guest rooms. Please follow me.”

Sensing the icy atmosphere, he hesitated for a moment but, being a seasoned palace servant, pretended not to notice and led the way. Being a servant is tough…