Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Misunderstood Kisses
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Sir Evan's mind went blank for a moment. Rian just tilted his head, clueless about what was being discussed. Even so, the conversation pressed on.
"When did I ever suck on him?"
"You did!"
"I didn't."
"I saw it clear as day!"
"You saw wrong."
"Don't play innocent!"
"I said I didn't. Don't spread weird misunderstandings."
"Do it to this old man too! Do it and I won't eat you~ Waaah!"
With that, Frederick scooped Nihil up into a tight hug and shoved his face right in. Nihil, who rarely reacted strongly to anything, freaked out and started shoving Frederick's face away.
"No! Get off!"
"Ah, come on! You're acting so high-maintenance! It's not like it wears out!"
"Put me down! Get lost!"
"I want one of those cute little kisses too!!"
"Kisses...?"
The word "kisses" left Evan and Rian staring blankly at Nihil. But Nihil was in such a desperate spot that he couldn't clear up their confusion.
Nihil smacked at Frederick's encroaching face in a panic.
"You're crazy—get that snout away from me!?"
"Ehehehe, a kiss for the young master, muah!"
"Urk, d-damn it. Puppy, what are you just standing there for?!"
"...Ah."
At Nihil's prompting, Evan finally snapped to his senses and quickly snatched Nihil away. Rian jumped in front, blocking Frederick's path warily.
"S-Sir, enough joking around. The kid doesn't like it."
"Yeah! Don't bully Nil! You, you...! I'll take you back!"
The little kitten yowled fiercely. Frederick dramatically dropped to his knees at Rian's display.
"Ack! Your Highness, my apologies. Please don't return me. I'll work hard!"
Rian glared at Frederick like a wary kitten on guard, then whipped his head toward Evan.
"S-So..., you did that..., to Nil...?"
His eyes brimmed with betrayal, as if wondering how a full-grown adult could possibly molest Nihil like some toddler. Evan fumbled for an excuse, but Rian stepped protectively in front of Nihil, who'd hopped down from Evan's arms, and declared firmly.
"Nil! Next time, just say 'No, don't, stop it!'"
"......"
"...I'm the one who got molested, Your Highness."
Evan grumbled in frustration, while Nihil wondered who was in charge of the prince's sex ed.
'If saying "No, don't, stop it" stopped molestation, there'd be no sex criminals in the world.' A fresh example was right there—Frederick, who hadn't backed off even after being told to scram.
"Rian, if anyone tries to molest you, just kick 'em right in the balls."
"Wh-What?"
"Hard. Make 'em burst. Or go for the throat or poke out their eyes."
"Uh..., um......"
"Answer me."
"...Okay."
The seaweed wilted even more, as if scolded. Nihil earnestly warned that those closest were the most dangerous, then stroked the trembling seaweed to satisfy his urges.
Evan grumbled discontentedly at the sight.
"...Don't you molest our prince."
"When did I ever molest him?"
"You're petting his head right now!"
"...This is just..., texture play."
"......"
"Everyone does it when kids are little."
With that, Nihil petted Rian's head even more vigorously. The fluffy softness felt amazing. His kisses had been acts of affection, not molestation—just accepting the 'chocolate.'
'Or... is it molestation?'
Nihil tilted his head slightly and gazed at the beaming seaweed. Technically, exchanging breath within a certain distance was enough, but he'd made physical contact to hide that the 'chocolate' condition was just 'breath.'
Rian was oblivious enough that nothing would slip past him, but the sharp puppy was different. Still, the pup was just shy of twenty—a kid who fell for it easily. Once his head grew a bit more, fooling him wouldn't be so simple.
Just like Frederick, grinning slyly without dropping his guard.
Evan stared incredulously at the brazen wildcat insisting on 'texture play,' then jolted when the kitten narrowed his eyes at him.
How could his little kitten look at him like that? It had to be the wildcat's scheme.
It hadn't even been intentional on his part—he'd been unconscious—so he couldn't confirm if the wildcat had really kissed him. Utterly unjust.
"Whoa, Your Highness! Why are you glaring like that? I'm the innocent one here! And this guy's already kissed you twice...!"
"Three times."
"You bastard! When was the other one?!"
Evan shook the thieving wildcat roughly, yelling about never letting him near the prince, threatening to report everything to His Majesty—threats that weren't quite threats.
"To begin with! Why sneak a kiss like a thief when the person's not in their right mind...?"
Evan trailed off, tilting his head as something felt off. If it was an act of affection, why pick times when the other person wouldn't remember?
The first time, he'd kissed Rian's nose when the prince was drunk on the alcohol in the chocolate, calling it a stamp. Fine, whatever.
The second, he'd stayed up without sleeping and kissed him right before he dozed off... The third, Evan hadn't witnessed, but since Rian didn't remember, it was probably similar. And this time, while Evan was passed out...
As Evan teetered on the edge of realization, Nihil thought, 'This is why I hate sharp puppies,' and quickly slipped from Evan's grasp to approach Rian.
"Rian, want a kiss?"
"Wh-What?"
"Argh! Get lost, you rotten thieving wildcat!"
This damn thieving wildcat—he wouldn't let him get away with it!
When night fell, Evan tried chasing the thieving wildcat to his own room, but the kitten's pout stopped him.
"...What's so great about that guy...?"
"Ehehehe, this place is a riot."
Frederick burst into laughter at Evan's sulky pout. Among the royal knights, Evan was infamous as an arrogant, obnoxious brat.
The rumors probably stemmed from jealousy of the insecure types. Sure, his competitive streak played a part, but up close, what a cute junior.
"Ehehehe, Sir, you're a real fun guy—urk!"
Frederick slapped Evan's broad back, only to crumple mid-swing, clutching his shin.
"Urk... that really hurts."
Frederick whined with a teary face, but Nihil—who'd kicked his shin—glared with furrowed brows.
"Don't hit the puppy."
"I-I didn't hit that hard! And smacking that muscle slab would've hurt my hand more!"
"I said don't hit him."
Evan narrowed his eyes at Nihil's unexpectedly fierce reaction.
"...I'm the one who got hit. Why are you freaking out?"
"......"
"He's right! This is discrimination! I'm staying here as your puppy for a fortnight, so treat me nice too!"
"No."
"You only like the young ones—us old folks have it rough!"
"......"
Ignoring the old man's grumbles, Nihil fetched two vials from his bedroom. Spotting them in Nihil's hands, Rian flinched.
"I took my medicine after dinner... another one?"
"This is for the puppy. Take your shirt off, pup. Drink this."
Evan downed the potion without suspicion and rolled up his shirt. Rian gasped at the bruised black expanse of Evan's back, but Evan soothed the kitten, insisting it didn't hurt.
Nihil stood before the wide back and slathered on ointment like he was dumping it all out, plastering it thick.
"Easy with that."
"Shrink your back and then talk."
"You never let up."
"Focus on recovering. Other guards are here. Come if the pain spikes at dawn."
"As if. Just give me the medicine."
"Can't even reach your own back—what good's medicine?"
"What nonsense...?"
Evan paused, tested reaching behind his back, and...
...Couldn't.
"I'm applying it. Stop flailing and move your hand."
"......"
After washing up, the fluffy little ones crawled under the covers and lay side by side. The day's end was Nihil's scary bedtime story.
"...But that person was actually an evil witch!"
"What? What about the villagers?"
Nihil lowered his voice as Rian leaned in, engrossed.
"Everyone was on the verge of becoming the witch's slaves."
"S-So...?"
"The villagers huddled together and racked their brains. If things kept going, the whole village would fall into the witch's hands."
"...!"
"After debating, they decided to sneak to her house while she slept and set it ablaze. The witch was too strong to kill any other way—only fire would do."
"F-Fire?"
"Yeah. But it wasn't easy. The evil witch tried to flee."
"S-So? Did she get away?"
"Then, a brave young man stepped up, threw himself at her, and pinned her down. They plunged into the flames together!"
Rian's face crumpled like he might cry.
"...Did that man... sacrifice himself...?"
"Right. He gave his life to save the village. Just when peace seemed restored..."
"Seemed...?"
Rian clutched Poofu tight at the unfinished tale. His already crooked right eye looked even more askew.
"No matter how they sifted through the burned-down house, they couldn't find the witch's body. Only the young man's corpse remained..."
"...?"
"Weirdly, the young man's body lay so peacefully. In that fire pit, like he hadn't felt a thing."
"...!"
Poofu's face squished further. Rian stared up at Nihil tensely.
"So... what happened to the witch?"
"Hm, she might be dead already. Or maybe she survived and..."
"Survived and...?"
"Went after tender, cute kids with squishy cheeks..."
"...?"
"Rawr!"
Nihil lunged, nibbling Rian's soft cheek.
"Eek!"
"What the hell, you damn wildcat?!"
Evan reached out in alarm. Nihil was hoisted up. Too late—Rian's plump round cheek bore Nihil's teeth marks.
"Hng..."
Rian rubbed his cheek with a pout. But Nihil's prank wasn't over; he flailed in the air, howling.
"...Why'd the witch turn into a tiger? Cut the crap and sleep. Or I'll kick you to your room?"
"No! I'd rather get bit."
Rian shook his head wildly. Evan sighed deeply and set the wildcat down.
"You're spoiling him rotten, Your Highness."
"But..."
Rian hugged Nihil tight, refusing to let go again.
Nihil glanced at the cheek and spoke seriously.
"Kids naturally put everything in their mouths when they're little."
"Put what in mouths?! You a baby?!"
Babies don't eat people!
"Once you grow up, the chub vanishes. Gotta bite now."
"...Just sleep."
Evan chuckled helplessly at Nihil's miraculous logic, but found himself eyeing Rian's puffy cheeks.
True, once the prince grew, those cheeks would be gone.
Not entirely wrong, Evan thought, tucking them snugly under the covers.
"Goodnight, Your Highness."
"Yeah, you too, Sir Evan. Rest well."
"Wildcat, no funny business. Behave."
"What'm I doing?"
"No biting or sucking, no matter how cute the prince is!"
"...Hmph."
Nihil huffed without replying, burrowed under the covers, hugged Rian tight, and shut his eyes. Evan shook his head helplessly, finished lighting the lamps, and left the bedroom.
"Nil, asleep?"
In the quiet, Rian blinked open his eyes and whispered cautiously.
"Hm? Can't sleep?"
"Just... curious."
"About what?"
"That witch..."
"Rian, she's just a story character. No need to be scared."
"Yeah..."
"Sleep now, Rian."
"Okay, night. Nil."