[Albekail] “Video Calls Are Not Possible, Episode 1”

Seeing the blue light on his voice communicator flash, Albert thought for the first time that day, “Something good is going to happen today.” And no wonder—after all, this message was from Kale Henitus.

Unfortunately, however, his prediction turned out to be a little off.

"……Your Highness?"

Secretary Cora asked cautiously. Albert’s hand had come to a halt over the diplomatic documents spread out on the desk. To be precise, the nib of the fountain pen he was holding had come to a stop while still touching the paper. Ink from the fountain pen slowly, very slowly, began to bleed onto the paper.

Albert slowly formed a smile, consciously controlling each and every muscle in his face.

"Hmm. I see. Good job."

The secretary said goodbye and left. The door closed. Click.

Albert gently set down his fountain pen. He stared silently at the diplomatic document, which had turned black from the ink. Silence fell. Silence flowed and flowed, and flowed still.

Albert, having barely regained his composure, finally managed to speak.

"……That bastard."

As if sensing Albert’s feelings, the voice communicator was calmly flashing a blue light. Albert activated the communicator once more to listen to the voice message Kale had left.

[Your Highness, this is Kale Henitus.]

[I’m going to live in the Magic Tower of the Kingdom of Wipper.]

[Just a heads-up: I won’t be available for video calls for the next week. I’m going away for a short trip. I’m letting you know in advance.]

Click. The voice cut off.

Albert placed both palms on the desk and slowly, gently rested his forehead against it. The cool touch of the marble brushed against his forehead. Albert remained in that position, silent, for about 30 seconds.

"……Buy the Magic Tower. The Magic Tower of the Kingdom of Wipper… That Magic Tower…?"

With his forehead still resting on his hand, Albert thought.

With what kind of money? Do you have any idea how much a single magic tower costs? That massive building? The magic tower where the wizards live?!

And he let out a silly, hollow laugh as the air escaped. When he gave me the golden token, I wondered what on earth he was planning to buy with it…

Albert quickly came to his senses and straightened his posture. It would have been a disaster if anyone had seen the Crown Prince with his forehead pressed against the desk.

[For your information, I won’t be able to make video calls for the next week.]

He slowly stroked his forehead as he stared silently at the communicator. He had a mountain of questions he wanted to ask Henitus. But to think he wouldn’t be able to communicate for a whole week. As far as Alber knew, there were only a few places on the continent where video communication was impossible. And those few places were all places no human would ever go.

Albert opened the drawer of his desk and took out a small medicine bottle he had carefully stored inside. It was medicine prescribed by his physician to take when his headaches became too severe. Albert took a sip. Then he put it back in the drawer.

……What’s a week, anyway? It’ll fly by. In no time.

Up until that point, Albert truly believed that to be the case.

---

The next morning. As usual, Albert woke up at five in the morning. Then, as usual, he changed his clothes, finished his light sword training as usual, and sat down for breakfast as usual.

And I did one thing that was different from usual.

As soon as I sat down at the table, I placed the communicator on it.

The page hesitated for a moment. Albert casually ignored the page’s gaze and began to pour and sip his tea with elegance.

Well, you never know—they might get in touch unexpectedly. I said a week, but you never know what might happen.

That morning’s meeting was convened to review diplomatic matters. Albert neatly arranged the communication device on the conference table before the meeting began. As time passed, the communication device remained silent.

During the meeting, Albert found himself unconsciously glancing toward the communication shaft again and again. One of the ministers attending the meeting finally spoke up.

"Your Highness, are you perhaps expecting an important message?"

At that moment, Albert, conscious of every single muscle in his face, flashed the most affable smile imaginable.

"No, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it."

"That's right. I shouldn't worry about it." He repeated those words to himself.

That afternoon, upon returning to his office, Albert gazed quietly at the communication device on his desk, then moved it to the center of the desk. He then moved it to the side of the desk, then to the left corner, and finally to the right corner.

When Secretary Cora entered after knocking, Albert withdrew his hand from the communication port as if nothing had happened.

"What's going on, Kora?"

But since there was only one communication port on the desk, Kora had no choice but to figure out what Albert was up to.

"Your Highness. Were you in the process of relocating the communication shaft?"

"Not at all. It’s just that my desk was a bit messy. I was in the middle of tidying it up."

Cora’s gaze shifted to Albert’s desk. Seeing the desk perfectly organized, with nothing but a single communication port, Albert averted his eyes from Cora’s returning gaze. 

Kora replied politely.

"Yes. I understand, Your Highness."

Cora finished her report and left. Albert returned the communication device to its place in the center of the desk.

---

Day three. Albert activated his intelligence network.

"I’d like you to check on Prince Kale Henitus’s current whereabouts."

The intelligence officer replied, “Understood,” without raising any questions, and left. After all, this was something he had been asked to do several times before. Knowing he would soon be able to locate Kale, Albert went about his work with a slightly lighter heart. 

Three hours later, the informant returned.

"Your Highness. I have a report."

"Right. Where was it again?"

"Hans, the deputy butler of the Count of Henitus, replied, 'The young master is currently on a short vacation.'"

"……Anything else?"

The informant paused for a moment before speaking.

"That is all, Your Highness."

"……Is that it?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

After politely dismissing his informant, Albert leaned back deeply in his office chair and gazed up at the ceiling.

Isn’t there something wrong with an intelligence network that takes three whole hours to gather information this meager? No, honestly, wouldn’t he have heard exactly the same thing if he’d just contacted the Count Henitus family himself?

Albert finally cast another glance at the communicator on his desk. The communicator remained silent, showing no reaction whatsoever.