Chapter 105
Chapter 105
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Summoned Before the King
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Nihil had insisted on Lianus taking such a flashy carriage specifically to provoke the 1st Prince's side.
The 1st Prince, who had already shared classes with Lianus, would have noticed the psychological shift in him and likely guessed that he himself was the cause to some extent.
The reason the Queen hadn't summoned him yet was probably either because she hadn't uncovered anything about him at all, or because she wanted to keep psychologically pressuring Lianus.
Of course, the cute little seaweed seemed to have forgotten all about the Queen long ago.
Nihil gauged how the 1st Prince's faction might react, but soon it was time for Lianus to arrive at the main gate, so he went out to greet him.
"Nil..."
Lianus, looking a bit worn out, flung himself at Nihil the moment he saw him. Without a word, Nihil scooped him up and headed to the reception room where the etiquette teacher was waiting.
Lianus clung tightly to Nihil's head and mumbled,
"Sorry, Nil. His Majesty found out everything..."
Nihil, who had expected it from the start, simply nodded as if it was fine and patted Lianus's back. Lianus had always been terrible at hiding his expressions.
But that wasn't the end of it, as Lianus fidgeted restlessly in his arms before finally speaking again with effort.
"Nil, um..."
"Yeah."
"His Majesty said... you for a long time."
"...?"
Caught off guard by the sudden remark, Nihil stopped in his tracks and looked at Lianus.
A brief silence fell, and when their eyes met, Lianus rolled his eyes around in panic before burying his face again and mumbling on.
"...right now."
"..."
Lianus added in a tiny voice, as if making excuses.
"H-He said he wouldn't scold you. So... no need to worry."
In truth, Lianus had been a bit late because he'd wrangled a firm promise from His Majesty not to punish his close friend. But Nihil hadn't even considered getting scolded in the first place. The only thing bothering him was how openly he'd been summoned.
He knew it wouldn't be great for Lianus if word spread inside the palace that he was associating with him, yet His Majesty had called anyway, so there must be some calculation behind it.
Nihil figured he should first take Lianus to the reception room and then prepare to leave, so he resumed walking.
When he opened the reception room door, the Countess, who had been about to give Nihil a piece of her mind, froze at the sight of Lianus cradled in his arms.
Unaware of where he was, Lianus dangled his legs while nestled in Nihil's hold, mumbling apologies over and over.
Nihil soothed him that it was okay, pulled out a chair, and sat him down. Only then did the sulky Lianus notice the Countess and widen his eyes.
The Countess greeted him awkwardly.
"A-hem. Your Highness, did you enjoy your weekend?"
"Ah, um, yes, Teacher. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No need. I heard you met with His Majesty... Wait, where are you going now!"
The etiquette teacher frowned at Nihil slipping out of the reception room without a word.
He was a child she just couldn't bring herself to like. Well, his face was pretty... but that was it. Low-born with terrible manners—she simply couldn't warm to him. And it felt like he was taking advantage of the prince's fondness to do as he pleased.
Before the Countess's misunderstanding could grow, Lianus quickly jumped in to explain.
"Oh, my close friend has been summoned by His Majesty."
"By His Majesty?"
"Yes... Please understand even if my friend doesn't observe proper etiquette. He's very kind to children but with adults, he's really... Ah, Nil, Nil! Wait! Sir Evan, grab Nil for a sec!"
As if it had just occurred to him, Lianus called out to Nihil. Sir Evan, responding to the prince's summons, scooped up the retreating Nihil with one hand and strode back into the room.
Hanging from Evan's hand, Nihil just tilted his head as if wondering what was going on.
"Nil, um, you know... I get that you don't use formal speech."
Nod.
"B-But, still, in front of His Majesty... could you maybe watch your words a little?"
Nod.
"For real?"
Nod nod.
Nihil nodded eagerly, as if promising to do so.
Of course, it meant he'd watch his words, not that he'd use formal speech—but Lianus, unaware of that, let out a sigh of relief and glanced at Evan.
"Maybe it's better if Sir Evan goes with you?"
"...No real need for that. Don't worry too much. Didn't His Majesty promise not to punish you no matter what?"
"That's true, but... what if something happens? There'd be no one to protect you..."
Lianus, unaware that Sedes and Nihil were already acquainted, fidgeted anxiously, but Evan—who knew about the wildcat's first meeting with His Majesty—quirked his lips upward.
"Protect him? This one?"
Evan snorted and shook Nihil roughly. Then something hard bumped his hand, and with a strange expression, he started rummaging through Nihil's pockets.
...Out came a dagger.
"...Wildcat."
Nihil tilted his head innocently, as if asking what the problem was.
"Why."
"No weapons allowed in the palace except for the designated royal guards."
"..."
At that, Nihil began pulling more things from his pockets: thin wires, a pocket knife, and needles of various lengths whose purpose was unclear...
Evan was speechless at the endless items emerging from such a small frame.
"What the hell are you carrying all this for?"
"Gotta protect myself, right?"
Nihil replied matter-of-factly, then tapped the table where he'd laid everything out, as if telling Evan to pick what he could take. Evan shook his head firmly.
"None of it. Leave them all."
Nihil openly furrowed his brows at having to leave everything. Spotting the kitten peeking curiously, he pulled a glass vial of pills from his pocket and handed it over.
"What's this?"
"Nutritional supplements."
Hearing that, Lianus popped the lid with a pop, sniffed it, and popped one into his mouth.
"Whoa, Your Highness! You can't just eat random things...!"
"Tasty!"
Despite the Countess's horrified cry, Lianus's eyes sparkled at the sweet-and-sour flavor, and he grabbed another.
"Rian, don't eat too many in one day."
"Okay!"
Evan watched the kids bickering affectionately as usual with a complicated expression, then picked up the wildcat again and thoroughly searched his pockets. Sure enough, several vials that looked like medicine tumbled out.
"...Drugs aren't allowed either. Leave them."
"You're being picky."
Nihil scowled openly, then abruptly held one of the vials out to the Countess.
"Wh-What is it?"
"Sleeping pills."
"Wh-Why give it to me?"
Nihil stared blankly at Countess Tarandrus, placed a memo detailing the usage on the table, and slipped out of the reception room.
Just before boarding the carriage, Evan caught up and stopped him.
"Don't cause any trouble and come back safe. And if this gets found out, just play dumb."
With that, Evan slipped one of the confiscated pocket knives into Nihil's coat inner pocket. He even pulled the robe hood tightly over his head, claiming it was cold.
Nihil pretended indifference while low-key chuckling at Evan's fussing, then boarded the carriage.
A man serving as both guide and escort was waiting inside. Not one of the King's shadow knights from before—just some random guard on duty, it seemed.
'Well, he must have his reasons.'
Trusting that the old man had his own plans, Nihil settled into the carriage.
The royal guard who had been tasked with bringing the prince's close friend was currently feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles.
His Majesty had clearly promised the prince not to scold or punish the friend, but the kid was getting reamed out pitifully. From what he overheard, it seemed the kid had lured the prince into doing something dangerous outside and brought him back.
The child stayed huddled under his hood, head bowed, shrinking in place without moving. He even wiped at his eyes with his sleeve, as if crying silently.
"...If you ever lure the prince into something like that again...!"
"Your Majesty, the child's terrified. His fault is grave, but he's come alone to an unfamiliar place—show some mercy."
The soft-hearted Prime Minister held back the King. Only then did the King notice the servants' gazes, calm his excitement a bit, and speak.
"Ahem, I got a little heated. Everyone except the child, withdraw."
After finally dismissing all the servants, Sedes let out a long, weary sigh. Today's events would spread through the entire palace no matter how tightly he ordered mouths shut.
Sedes approached the child, likely hurt by his outburst, and asked carefully.
"Are you crying?"
"Sedi, even I think you went too far."
Abel scolded Sedes. The kid must have come expecting not to get chewed out by the prince, only to get harshly reprimanded in front of everyone the moment he arrived—how upsetting that must be.
Thinking to wipe away the child's tears, Abel cautiously lifted the hood.
And met clear eyes without a single tear.
"..."
"..."
Abel stared at the fluffy, utterly dry eyes and muttered awkwardly.
"...Not crying."
Both men felt a bit played by Nihil's perfectly fine appearance and were momentarily dumbfounded.
Ignoring their reactions, Nihil removed his hood, roughly tidied his hair, and plopped onto the sofa. He jerked his chin toward the opposite sofa, as if telling them to sit already.
"...Abel, soundproofing magic, please."
Sedes couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation.
Abel gaped at Nihil's attitude, which pierced the heavens and shot straight into space, grumbled about how he'd really thought the kid was crying, and then deployed the magic circle.
Sedes chuckled helplessly as he sat on the opposite sofa. A child calmly taking a seat first in front of a king and prime minister of a nation—fearless didn't even begin to cover it.
"At this rate, it's lese-majeste... No, never mind. Sit down."
Sedes quirked his lips in a half-smile, tossing a joke, but when the kid immediately stood from his seat without hesitation, he quickly backpedaled.
"...Can't win against you."
Sedes shook his head. The kid already knew. That he hadn't been called here to be scolded.
Nihil opened his mouth, then closed it and mimed writing in the air, requesting paper and pen. With all the servants dismissed, amusingly, Sedes had to fetch them himself.
As Sedes handed over the paper and pen, he eyed Nihil's hands wrapped tightly in bandages and voiced his curiosity.
"What happened to your hands?"
"..."
Ignoring Sedes's question, Nihil looked at Abel across from him and patted the sofa beside him, gesturing for him to come over.
Abel, of course, hurried right over and sat next to Nihil. Sedes stared at his close friend in disbelief.
"Abel, where's the dignity a prime minister should have...? Never mind. But why do you need paper and pen?"
At Sedes's question, Nihil silently began writing on the paper.
"..."
"..."
It didn't seem like something that could be fixed just by not speaking.