Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: How the Prince Makes Friends
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"......"
"......Gulp."
The sound of someone swallowing came unusually loud. Sir Evan was so startled that he froze with his hand outstretched, unable to move.
Damn that feral cat! The guy who didn't even flinch when His Highness trampled and tormented him wakes up this easily!
The little cosmos, half-floating in the air, rolled lazily toward Evan. He still looked full of sleep; putting him back to bed seemed like it would work just fine.
At that moment, Nihil's mouth twitched a few times before he forced out a hoarse voice.
"Me..., let go......"
"......?"
"Turn..., me over......"
"......"
"...Turn me over......"
Everyone was focused on Nihil's mumbling when, from a short distance away, a watching knight quickly handed over the rabbit doll he'd brought just in case, tucking it into Nihil's arms.
Nihil clutched it blankly, blinking a few times before tossing the doll under the sofa.
The knight picked it up and tried to hand it back, but Nihil threw it even farther away as if he had no need for it.
"Ah! Young master, don't throw it like that—the rabbit will get hurt......"
"Don't..., need it......"
The knight fetched the tossed rabbit doll again and put on a deliberately pitiful expression, but it had no effect.
"You don't like dolls?"
"No heartbeat..., doesn't beat......"
"Pardon? Well, of course it doesn't—it's a doll......"
"Dead things..., don't need them."
"......"
"Give me..., something alive......"
"What in the world......"
What kind of bizarre, horrifying statement was that?
Everyone twisted their faces as if they'd heard something truly strange, but only Sir Evan caught on to what Nihil wanted and let out a small sigh.
Sir Evan swiftly scooped up Nihil and tucked him into the same arm as Lianus.
"There. That better?"
Nihil stared blankly at the still-sleeping Lianus, then hugged him tightly like something precious before murmuring softly.
"......Yeah."
With that, his eyes closed again. His head and arms drooped limply, making him look as if he'd fainted.
Sir Evan let out a deep sigh. Beyond hearing his name, he could guess another situation that would wake the boy from sleep.
When the heartbeat beside him stopped sounding.
It might not apply to everyone, but... this seemed like some kind of trauma the boy carried.
"......Has he fallen back asleep?"
In the silence, King Sedes cautiously spoke first. Sir Evan boldly stretched Nihil's cheek and nodded firmly. He definitely hadn't woken.
"Yes. He's asleep."
"He really doesn't seem to like dolls."
"Talking about living things and heartbeats like that... he might have some kind of trauma."
As everyone sobered at Sir Evan's words, one oblivious knight smacked his palm as if he'd hit on the right answer.
"Ah! Like a precious person dying in his arms or something?"
"......"
"......"
The office fell silent once more. King Sedes rubbed his dry face before speaking.
"......Frederick, you're confined to quarters for a week. No training either."
"What?!"
The knight called Frederick cried out, his face paling as he collapsed to the floor. Was the problem that his voice was a bit too loud?
"Nngh......"
"......!"
Lianus frowned in Sir Evan's arms and began rubbing his face with his small hand. No matter how you looked at it, he was about to wake up.
King Sedes added quietly.
"Frederick, make it ten days."
Frederick despaired as his confinement stretched to ten days, but everyone's attention was fixed on the little prince wriggling in the burly knight's arms. Some knights even held their breath and tried to stealth away unnoticed.
"Nngh..., hmm......?"
Blink. Blink.
Lianus blinked his big eyes with a half-awake expression. His view was completely blocked by the chest in front of him, so he looked up blankly and saw a familiar face.
Sir Evan smiled awkwardly and spoke.
"......Sleep well, Your Highness?"
"Evan kniiiight......?"
"Yes."
Still not fully awake, Lianus drawled out his words, eyes half-open as he flopped against Sir Evan's chest.
"Nngh..., that knight got returned......?"
"......Pardon?"
"Nil said..., too noisy..., so let's return him......"
"......"
Sir Evan glanced sideways at the returned knight, Frederick, who was avoiding his eyes. He'd clearly pestered Nihil quite a bit in that short time.
His Majesty's narrowing gaze suggested Sir Frederick's confinement might extend further.
Sir Evan gently patted and soothed Lianus.
"Your Highness, why not sleep a bit more? I'll take you back to the palace—no, your bedroom."
"Nngh......"
Lianus fell asleep again right away, and Sir Evan inwardly sighed in relief.
But he'd overlooked something. Right before falling asleep, Lianus had called Nihil's name.
"......!"
Sir Evan barely stifled a yelp. Nihil had woken up at some point and was staring straight at him—back to his usual self, no trace of sleepiness.
"A..., awake?"
"......"
Nihil didn't reply, quietly scanning the room. Everyone stiffened one by one under his calm gaze. Then his eyes lingered on empty air—the spot where a shadow knight was hiding.
The hiding shadow knight realized concealment was pointless and quickly revealed himself.
Only after scanning everyone did Nihil finally turn to King Sedes and slowly speak.
"Father."
King Sedes thought to himself.
Was the word "Father" always this terrifying, or did it feel that way because this child said it? His expression and voice were utterly serene, yet no tension could surpass it. It must be because he'd done something wrong.
King Sedes replied belatedly.
"......What is it."
"I'll give you a chance to explain."
"......"
"I doubt you kidnapped the prince—who was feverish last night—for no reason. Especially... a child napping."
"......"
"Surely there was a very... compelling... reason."
"......I did order him brought, but I didn't expect you'd bring a sleeping child. I apologize."
King Sedes quickly backpedaled. Nihil tilted his head slightly and asked.
"Did you have business with the prince?"
"...No. You were the one I needed to see."
"Very urgent business, I take it?"
Nihil said with a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. It was a breathtakingly beautiful smile, yet somehow too frightening to look at directly. Everyone realized for the first time how terrifying a smiling face could be.
King Sedes couldn't admit he'd kidnapped sleeping children out of curiosity, so he shut his mouth. But silence didn't mean Nihil couldn't guess.
Nihil wiped the smile away, reverting to an expressionless face, and flicked his eyes toward Abel.
Abel's pupils trembled finely upon meeting Nihil's gaze as he frantically scanned the desk for ribbon-like things. Naturally, there were none, so he began making excuses.
"K-Kid, I didn't ask you to bring him......"
"Prime Minister."
"Uh-yeah?"
Abel internally struggled over how to respond to the stiff title and let out a weird noise.
"I distinctly said no magic."
"Ah, th-that's not it, I was sorting magic circles yesterday and couldn't hold back my curiosity......"
"......"
"R-Really, just once......"
"......"
"......Can't you let it slide just this once?"
Abel quickly tucked in his tail, unwound his cravat, made a ribbon, and placed it lightly on his head. Predictably, the unsecured ribbon fell right off.
"......"
Unable to comprehend the prime minister's bizarre behavior, Nihil raised an eyebrow and glanced at Sir Evan.
Sir Evan whispered.
"You said you like cute things..., so he's trying to look cute."
"......"
At the absurd explanation, Nihil's lips parted slightly. Then they closed, and a soft leaking sound emerged, followed by a gentle chuckle.
Everyone in the office widened their eyes at the unexpected laugh from Nihil.
"This is the last time. Use magic once more, and I really won't treat you."
"Uh..., uwoong? Oh! Right! Ahaha, thanks."
Abel stared blankly at Nihil's slightly curved eyes before grinning foolishly. He mentally revised the kid's tastes a bit. Not just small, young, and cute—apparently stupid things too.
He had tons of questions for the kid, but he'd hold back this time. Better to stay quiet and at least break even. Now was the time to sit obediently and build favor.
Nihil turned to Sir Evan and nodded toward the sofa. Sir Evan laid Lianus down, and Nihil immediately grasped his wrist to check his pulse and temperature. No complaints meant his condition was decent; when Lianus unconsciously grabbed Nihil's hand in his sleep, Nihil smiled faintly again.
"So why'd you call me, Father?"
Nihil erased his smile in an instant, face blank as he addressed King Sedes. The king had relaxed at the more childlike tone but flinched when singled out.
"Ahem, it wasn't that urgent, actually."
"I know. You got curious chatting with our house mutt and couldn't resist kidnapping us. If the mutt couldn't answer your question..., it must be about manpower or me overseeing the mutt's training."
King Sedes frowned subtly at Nihil's return to an old-soul speech pattern. He mimicked his conversation partner's tone, but the atmosphere flipped too abruptly.
Was he talking to his son's friend or a foreign diplomat? He couldn't tell.
"......Spot on."
"Hey, what's manpower? And young master, you completely ignored me when I asked you to check my aura! That's not fair!"
As Sir Evan explained manpower, Frederick—who hadn't heard from the 2nd Prince's Palace—blissfully jumped into the conversation.
King Sedes barely suppressed a sigh and waved his hand dismissively. Other knights grabbed Frederick's arms and forced him to his knees.
"......I sentenced that knight to ten days' confinement. Speak if you think it's insufficient."
"Confinement? Isn't that just a ten-day vacation?"
"Training's banned too. Hard to believe, but it's a big punishment for my knights."
"Hm......"
Nihil narrowed his eyes, deep in thought, then shook his head—evidently finding the punishment too light.
"Half a month."
"Extend the confinement to half a month?"
"No, lend him to me for half a month."
"......Sir Frederick?"
"Yes."
...Didn't he say to return him because he was noisy?