Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: A Cozy Nap
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Lianus placed colorful petals atop the open thick book and thought to himself.
'Nil likes green!'
Recalling Nihil's comment about wanting to change the ribbon on the rabbit doll to green, he stole a glance at his dear friend. Come to think of it, the cloak Nihil was wearing today was also dark green. And if Nihil liked green, it made perfect sense why he kept petting Lianus's hair. His own hair was dark green, after all!
Lianus had no qualms about letting his friend pet his hair as much as he wanted, so he lay prone on the mat and subtly tilted his head toward Nihil. It was a silent invitation: pet away anytime.
Nihil stared at the head of hair thrust toward him for a moment before starting to stroke it. He hadn't grasped Lianus's intent, but since something soft and fluffy was right there in front of him, he saw no reason to refuse.
And so, their misunderstanding deepened further—but neither had any inkling of the truth.
"You two really get along so well."
A knight, now dressed in proper knightly attire rather than a maid's outfit, smiled warmly at the pair of little ones. The transformation magic had been dispelled, restoring his sturdy, masculine build, but he clearly resembled his sister the maid.
The knight had trembled in fear for his sister's safety, peeking nervously, but once he learned her punishment was merely changing a doll's decoration, he stuck close to Nihil and Lianus and refused to leave their side.
"Go away."
Lianus shot a glare at the knight who was openly fawning over his friend. It was all because his friend was too pretty, he figured. He quickly pulled up the hood on Nihil's cloak to shield him from prying eyes.
I wish Sir Evan would hurry back.
"Rian, too tight."
"Ah, sorry!"
Lost in thought, Lianus had yanked the hood strings too hard and quickly loosened them. He'd nearly choked his friend.
The two little ones carefully arranged flowers and petals on the book and gently closed it. Left like this for a week, they'd make lovely pressed flowers. Lianus beamed proudly at the thought of gifting them to Nihil, then suddenly remembered the flower crown Nihil had made for him. He needed to dry that properly too. Gently, he lifted the crown from his head.
As Lianus's gaze lingered on the flower crown, Nihil spoke up.
"Rian, don't think you need to keep the flower crown I made for long."
"Huh? Why not?"
"It's medicinal herbs."
"Uh?"
"I'm gonna dry it and brew it into tea."
"Oh... right..."
Lianus had no idea why medicinal herbs were growing in his garden, but aside from that, knowing it was meant for him to drink left him with a strange feeling.
At that moment, the knight started chattering again.
"By the way, young master, you're truly lovely. I didn't believe it when everyone kept saying how pretty you are."
"......"
"Your hair is as white as snow—dazzling. Mind if I touch it? It won't melt, will it?"
"......"
"Young master, they say you can see mana—is that true?"
"......"
"How did you know I'm not my sister? Did you distinguish it by my unique mana?"
"......"
"They say you took a liking to our captain. What about me? Am I worth liking?"
"......"
"Young masteer~ Pay some attention to me~"
"......"
Lianus ignored the knight's babble, watching clouds drift by, until curiosity struck him—when had his friend even met this guard captain to take a liking to him? He turned his head.
Lying beside him, Nihil hadn't spared the knight a single glance despite his desperate pleas, though the noise seemed to annoy him as his brows furrowed ever so slightly. Sensing Lianus's gaze, he rolled over, hugged him tightly, and closed his eyes.
Nihil mumbled as he spoke.
"Rian, let's return him."
Lianus paused, figuring out what "him" meant the knight, then replied a beat late.
"Uh... should we?"
"Yeah, too noisy."
"Hey, that's too much! Even if you're returning me, at least look at my mana!"
"Sigh..."
"Don't bother Nil."
As Nihil let out a small sigh, Lianus frowned and cupped the small white head, pulling it into his embrace. Seeking strength and comparing skills was instinct for every swordsman—or anyone who trained in martial arts—but that didn't mean it was okay to pester his friend.
"If you're so curious about your skills, spar with the other knights."
"But Your Highness, aren't you curious too?"
"I'm not. So stop bothering Nil and go away."
"Don't say that—convince him for me, Your Highness~"
"No."
Lianus bickered with the knight for a while longer before glancing down at Nihil in his arms, who seemed unusually quiet. He found Nihil fast asleep, not stirring at all.
"Nil, asleep?"
"......No."
A delayed reply came to Lianus's whisper. Remembering how Nihil had nursed him all night and slept late, Lianus grimaced with guilt.
"Sorry, Nil. I was only thinking of myself."
"No. I'm not asleep."
Nihil sat up as if he truly wasn't sleepy at all, the drowsiness in his eyes seemingly gone. But Lianus gently pulled him back down.
"Nil, take a nap."
Lianus held down Nihil's body as he tried to rise again, spread out a blanket, and covered him with it. Then, just as Nihil always did for him, he patted his chest.
"No. Rian, I'm really not sleepy."
"Really? Then... um, I'm gonna practice violin. Lie here and listen."
With that, Lianus rolled his eyes playfully, sat up, and began tuning his violin. He couldn't sing lullabies like Nihil, so he'd play one instead.
Once tuned, Lianus tilted the violin and drew out the first long note, beginning the melody. It was the lullaby Nihil had sung to him, words incomprehensible. Without sheet music, it wasn't perfect, but he played slowly, piecing together memories.
Even the chatty knight fell silent during the performance. Nihil lay on his side, listening, until at some point his eyes closed and he stopped moving entirely.
Unsure if his friend was fully asleep, Lianus played on for quite a while. If Nihil wasn't asleep, he'd surely clap the moment the music stopped.
That was how kind his friend was.
Finally ending the piece, Lianus brushed aside the hair tickling Nihil's face and lay down beside him.
"Going to sleep, Your Highness?"
"Yeah."
"I'm bored."
"Do you chatter that much even at His Majesty's side?"
"......Of course not."
"Then be quiet."
"But Your Highness, do you know how dull it is lurking in shadows, just guarding? When else can I speak up if not now?"
"I'll tell His Majesty?"
"......Sorry."
Lianus silenced the knight and snuggled into the blanket. A soft bed might be nicer for a nap, but with the fine weather and gentle breeze, he felt too good to head back to the palace.
Besides, who knew when he'd next nap leisurely outdoors on a weekday afternoon.
Lianus made a pillow for Nihil from the blanket and lay with his head on Nihil's arm. The slow, steady pulse there always lulled him to sleep.
'Doesn't it go numb if I use it as a pillow...?'
The knight chuckled at the prince, who was both considerate and spoiled toward his friend, then wiped the smile away as the two fully dozed off. He stood vigilant, guarding their surroundings.
Soon after, his sister brought the fixed rabbit doll, and the head maid delivered refreshments, but the little ones were lost in sweet slumber and wouldn't wake.
How much time passed? The sun dipped slightly, sunlight starting to pour in.
Worried the pale children would sunburn, the knight shifted the canopy bit by bit. Then he sensed a familiar presence approaching.
He finished adjusting the canopy and spoke.
"What's up, Captain?"
The man called captain appeared and replied.
"His Majesty summoned me to escort them, but they're both asleep."
"His Majesty? The talks still going?"
"Mm, seems he has many questions."
Not just His Majesty—the prime minister and other knights were equally curious, dragging things out—but the captain didn't mention it.
Recalling the young knight flustered amid curiosity bombs, he glanced at the snow-white little one slated as the next victim. Today wasn't the day for satisfying curiosities, it seemed.
"Since they're sleeping, I'll head back."
"Captain, why not wake them and escort?"
"......"
Tempted for a moment, the man stared at the adorably sleeping pair before shaking his head. Waking children deep in slumber to sate their curiosity wasn't right.
"Or just carry them as is."
"Mm......"
It seemed a good idea.
Waking them brought guilt, returning empty-handed failed the order, but carrying them asleep fulfilled duty without the remorse.
"......Then, we'll take them like this."
And so, while the baby kitten and lynx napped, they were kidnapped to the tiger's den.
"......"
"......"
Silence filled the main palace office. Or rather, only soft breathing sounds echoed.
"Even so, sleeping children......!"
"Uuuu......"
"......!"
Sir Evan protested in a hushed whisper, then froze at Lianus's sleepy murmur.
Tension crammed the office.
Abel tried flipping papers as if uninvolved in this kidnapping farce, but the rustle seemed deafening, so the page half-turned before snapping back. Scratching his pen was unthinkable.
Confirming Lianus asleep again, Evan whispered.
"I'll take them back."
"...Do that."
King Sedes ignored the young knight's resentful glare and replied. He shot a glare at the captain he'd sent on the errand.
'The kid took a liking to that guy, so I sent him on purpose—didn't expect him to backstab me like this.'
King Sedes resolved to drill his knights properly.
Evan held his breath, approaching the entwined—actually, one-sidedly wrapped—sleeping duo, and cautiously extended his arms.
From experience, the lynx could be tossed roughly without waking, but if by chance he did and saw this, king or not, who knew what drastic move he'd pull.
And Evan didn't want this cheeky one executed for royal insult.
Evan first gently unwrapped the baby kitten's arms and legs clamped around the lynx, then carefully lifted him.
"Got..."
Twitch.
Before Evan could savor success in picking up the baby kitten, the corpse-like lynx's fingers twitched. Then, the tiny black hole that had been motionless in his unblinking cosmos began to stir.