Chapter 334
Chapter: 334
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 334
>Chapter Title: Salon (4)
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>Woooowooo!
>By the time embroidery class ended, Sungjin headed to the training grounds a bit later than usual and found himself grinning ear to ear without realizing it. The familiar howl welcoming him was the reason.
>Max, you adorable mutt!
>Woooowooo!
>-Why are you so late? Where do you go every day, leaving me behind?
>Sungjin lightly patted the excited dog wagging its tail furiously as it bounded over.
>"Yeah, Max. Sorry about that."
>Woof woof woof!
>-Play with me! Play with me!
>"But I have to train now. So just wait over there for a bit."
>Woooowooo!
>-Play with meee!
>"Hmm..."
>At this point, he started thinking it might be okay to play for just a little while.
>Sungjin usually hated anything that interrupted his training, but who could resist when such a cute puppy was pulling out all the stops with its charm?
>'...Puppy?'
>Of course, to the other resident knights, it just looked like a massive wolf menacing the young prince.
>"Alright, alright. Let's play for a bit. But how exactly do I play with you?"
>You can't even do 'fetch,' can you? If we tried 'tug-of-war,' you'd just shred everything with those sharp teeth.
>Woof woof woof woof!
>-Ride me! Ride your strong, huge self around far and wide like before!
>"No, I told you that's impossible..."
>Kkiiing-
>Max understood Sungjin's words perfectly and stopped whining, instead slobbering all over his cheek with a lick.
>[Get lost! You stupid mongrel!]
>Thanks to that, the demon king's mood soured instantly—he couldn't stand Max.
>"Look at that loathsome thing... Acting all meek only in front of His Highness."
>"It knows it's favored, doesn't it? If it weren't for Prince Moraes, I'd have dealt with it already!"
>It wasn't just the demon king who disliked Max. Sungjin could clearly hear the grumbling from afar. It was Sir Karmen and Sir Haven, who got picked on by Max more than anyone.
>He felt a little bad, but what could he do? It was their fault for being at the bottom of Max's pecking order. They should've trained harder sooner.
>"The palace must be boring and no fun for you, huh? What am I gonna do with you, Max..."
>Sungjin sat down and gently stroked Max's head.
>This guy used to roam the Sigismund Territory freely like a wild wolf. Sungjin still wondered sometimes if bringing him to the palace had been the right call.
>'Maybe he'll get used to the palace if we spend time together?'
>That's why he'd kept him inside at first, even sleeping in his room every night.
>Then one day, Edith came to him with a tearful face, saying she couldn't handle the mischief anymore.
>Turned out, Max acted all proper when Sungjin was around, but the moment he left, he'd chew up expensive furniture and artwork.
>So one time, Sungjin scolded him and showed him the shredded mess. But Max just looked up with those innocent eyes and whimpered.
>-Everyone else plays with them too, right? There are so many cool toys, so why pick on me? Huh?
>To Max, the palace servants bustling around cleaning looked like they were just playing with toys.
>No choice but to let him outside, so now he had a makeshift doghouse in the corner of the training grounds.
>'But winter's coming soon. Should I bring him inside then? I need to start properly training him soon...'
>Chomp chomp chomp.
>Oblivious to Sungjin's complicated thoughts, Max innocently licked his hair.
>This guy loved playing with Sungjin's hair sometimes. Even at Pearl Palace, he'd only destroy the shiny, expensive stuff, so he must like sparkly things.
>"Alright, alright. If you think that's fun, fine."
>It was a bit gross with the drool, but if you like it, my hair's yours.
>Leaving Max to play by himself, Sungjin quietly closed his eyes and focused his mind. Might as well meditate in the meantime. That way, he could finish training early and play with Max longer later.
>"No way..."
>Not long after, Masain and the resident knights witnessed a truly bizarre sight.
>The young prince deep in meditation, surrounded by a faint aura breeze, with a massive wolf dog perched on his head.
>"...He's meditating? For real?"
>"With the dog slobbering all over him? That make any sense?"
>It was a shocking scene that upended common sense. Even Bruno, the former Decaron Knight captain, was visibly flustered.
>"I have no idea how His Highness maintains focus in a situation like that. I thought I had my share of enlightenment as a Decaron Knight once, but his mental fortitude is on another level—I can't keep up."
>Amid everyone's shock, only Masain gave a wry smile. He'd seen the prince squat in a flower bed alone and complete Aura Level 5 before.
>Watching a little brother who'd always stuck out to him since childhood grow so much was incredibly joyful.
>But-
>'As lacking as I am, I wonder how much longer I can serve at His Highness's side.'
>It was right then.
>Flinch!
>Masain and Captain Bruno tensed simultaneously, drawing their swords from their waists.
>"...!?"
>Clang! Shing!
>For a split second, it felt like the wolf dog on top of the prince had swelled massively in size.
>The dog's aura exploded outward, its presence ballooning uncontrollably.
>Whoosh-
>Everyone in the training grounds panicked at the sudden event. But their eyes weren't on the wolf dog—they were on Masain and Captain Bruno.
>"Sir Masain?"
>"...Why are you two suddenly doing that?"
>It had been such a fleeting moment.
>As the two broke out in cold sweat and looked again, the wolf dog was back to normal, casually slobbering on the prince's hair.
>'What was that? My imagination?'
>'No. I definitely felt it too, for a moment, Sir Masain.'
>'Captain Bruno. That dog is...?'
>The training grounds grew too chaotic, so Sungjin sensed it, ended his meditation, and opened his eyes.
>"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
>He tilted his head at the two looking pale as ghosts.
>"..."
>Huff huff huff!
>As the flustered pair stayed silent, only Max seemed in a great mood, wagging his tail happily at Sungjin.
>* * *
>"...Luis."
>In his office, the Holy Emperor suddenly looked up from flipping through papers and called for his chamberlain.
>"Yes, Your Majesty."
>"Could you summon Vice Captain Francis right now?"
>The Holy Emperor's gaze wasn't on the papers—it was fixed on one corner of the office, blocked by the wall.
>But spotting the familiar silver gleam in his eyes, the chamberlain realized the Holy Emperor was staring off at some distant place, not the room.
>"Yes, I'll see to it immediately, Your Majesty."
>Luis bowed politely and hurried out.
>The Holy Emperor kept staring there for a long while before finally sighing softly and picking up his papers again.
>He'd half-expected something like this ever since his son brought back that Ionian wolf, claiming he wanted to raise it.
>'I knew preparations were needed soon, but it's earlier than I thought. Son, what were you planning to tell the Orthodox Church and Heresy Inquisition about that demon wolf?'
>Did he really think he could just tame it like a normal dog?
>His clueless son about Ionian wolves might've actually planned that.
>'Francis is gonna complain nonstop about the extra work.'
>But if that's what the kid wants.
>What choice was there? He'd just have to turn it into a dog he could raise without worry.
>* * *
>"Edith. Have you been keeping all the letters sent to me?"
>Late evening. As usual, Sungjin savored the Melbourne tea Captain Bruno had brewed and asked.
>"Yes, Your Highness. Even after sorting out the junk, it's three full sacks."
>...That many?
>"Can you bring them now?"
>"Of course, Your Highness."
>Edith left the room with brisk steps.
>Ever since Captain Bruno took over tea duty, she'd escaped the burden of brewing that bitter stuff and seemed much more relaxed lately.
>Lately, she felt more like Max's personal attendant than mine, though.
>"Is there a particular letter you're looking for, Your Highness? Didn't you order us to keep anything unimportant out of sight entirely?"
>Captain Bruno poured more tea as he asked.
>Well, yeah, I'd said that. Lately, flowers, gifts, and pointless letters had been flooding Pearl Palace.
>After the monster incidents and the Sigismund Territory defense, Prince Moraes's status in the capital had skyrocketed, as expected.
>Invitations to banquets and social gatherings poured in by the ton.
>I'd been ignoring them since they were a hassle, but the backlash had reached Amelia even.
>-Recently, letters asking if I can attend gatherings with you have increased.
>-With you, sis? Why?
>-They say you never reply to their invitations?
>Sungjin clicked his tongue while tying off his embroidery.
>'No way those randos who invited me out of the blue expect a response from me?'
>Unlike Sungjin, who found it annoying, Amelia seemed pleased with the attention on her brother.
>-Everyone's curious about you. You saved Sigismund Territory, and at your age, you're already leading a government department.
>Well, Logan did the real work, and I'm just the monster task force consultant.
>-Plus, everyone's dying to know about your recent ventures. If they succeed, Bertrand & Ri will become the undisputed top trading company in the North.
>But the real reason they sought Sungjin or Amelia was different.
>Until recently, the capital's premier social circle had been Ricardo Scarpino's group.
>But with him suddenly bedridden from mental illness, other hosts vied to claim the top spot by inviting the Holy Emperor's children.
>-The wealthy Murray family of Anatolia and the Sorcha family based in Cyprus are in a fierce rivalry. But whichever wins, getting in good with them has big perks.
>"I see. But don't you skip regular socials too, sis? How do you get all this intel?"
>Her personal intel agent, who handled the gossip, wasn't around anymore.
>Heard she'd sent the one from Monkey Tower on a long overseas assignment.
>Where was it again? Rohan, or something?
>-Hehe. Lady Scarpino's been a big help. Lady Ballua too. So sharp despite their youth.
>Ah, got it.
>'How'd all Moraes's fiancée candidates end up buddy-buddy with sis?'
>Anyway, with Amelia's hint, Sungjin figured it was time to sift through the decent invitations.
>But one thing nagged at him.
>'What if it causes trouble again?'
>[What?]
>'I have a jinx, you know?'
>[Jinx?]
>Yeah.
>The so-called 'social gathering curse,' where he just had to attend one and get dragged into massive chaos...