Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: A Hungover Morning
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Sir Evan opened his eyes. The ceiling of his bedroom came into view.
'...When did I get back to the palace?'
Still, he thought it fortunate that he'd made it back to the palace at all and tried to sit up to get some water. But something was pinning down both his arms, making it impossible.
"......?"
He tilted his head slightly, and there was a small, cute little head.
"...."
A dream, perhaps.
Sir Evan closed his eyes again upon seeing the two little ones sleeping with their heads on his arms one by one. He hoped desperately that this was all just a dream.
But the soft, steady breathing was far too clear. Flexing his hand, the faint weight that hadn't registered before now felt all too real.
Thud.
Then a small, insignificant, and utterly adorable foot plopped onto his body. Evan had no choice but to face reality and open his eyes once more.
This was definitely his bedroom. The wall where he'd tested his sword at fifteen, right after being assigned as the prince's guard knight and given these quarters—still bearing the nick from his youthful bravado—and the gold ornament with his bite mark intact proved it beyond doubt.
Fine, the lynx kid was one thing, but how on earth had they ended up putting our noble baby kitten in a place like this?
The air was so thick with the stench of alcohol that he half-wondered if it was steam or booze vapor hanging around.
"...Damn it."
Sir Evan couldn't just leave his cute and beloved prince in this booze-soaked dump. He finally struggled to sit up.
He flung open the windows in a hurry for some ventilation, scooped up the two little ones, and Sir Frederick—who had appeared out of nowhere—let out a "Pfft," bursting into laughter.
Sir Evan shot him a betrayed glare and grumbled.
"Sir, that's too much. How could you let His Highness sleep here?"
"If anyone's too much, it's you, junior. Wouldn't let go of your 'baby kitten' for anything..."
"...."
"And you had the young master sleeping on the floor, didn't you? While you spread out a blanket for yourself on the floor..."
At those words, Evan's gaze dropped. Sure enough, there was a single blanket laid out in the corner of the floor.
"It was a total mess."
"...."
Sir Evan pretended not to have heard a thing and bolted out of the bedroom. The hallway air had never felt so fresh.
Once they reached His Highness's bedroom and laid the little ones on the bed, Frederick handed him something.
"...What's this?"
"No idea. The young master gave it to me. Said it's good for hangovers."
"...."
Sir Evan squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed the potion. Even if it was poison brewed by that lynx kid out of revenge for nearly being made to sleep on the floor, there was nothing for it.
But it didn't end with the potion. Frederick thrust something else forward.
It was chocolate.
"He insisted you eat this too."
"...."
"Said chocolate surprisingly helps break down alcohol. That you should feed him as much as he wants since he asked for it specially."
"...."
Sir Evan peeled several chocolates at once and shoved them into his mouth. His hangover wasn't that bad, but he felt like booze breath wafted up every time he exhaled.
At least chocolate smelled better than alcohol during conversations.
With a twinge of unease, Evan asked again.
"...Anything else?"
"Oh, the young master suddenly left, and just as you were about to fall asleep, you got up staggering, muttering 'Gotta catch that lynx bastard,' and chased after him."
His body stiffened at those words.
"Did I... do something to the kid?"
Sir Evan eyed the soundly sleeping lynx kid with anxious eyes. Maybe because it was chilly? For some reason, instead of his usual simple pajamas, he was wearing frilly ones that came up to his neck.
"Ha... Junior, do you have any idea you nearly killed the young master?"
"D-Did I threaten him?"
"It's ridiculous no matter how I think about it. Listen, junior. There was some bear sprawled out in the hallway, so I had to haul it up with effort?"
"...."
"And get this—that bear was cradling the lynx."
"...?"
"Doesn't it click? Junior, you nearly crushed the young master to death."
"Haa..."
His legs went limp.
No more drinking, ever.
Sir Evan figured even if the lynx kid got revenge on him, he couldn't complain. After all, not only had he been booted to the floor, but he'd nearly been smothered to death. Separately from humbly accepting any revenge, he resolved to take extra good care of the lynx kid for at least half a day.
But if only the revenge had been something like poison.
-Waaah, Captain! I kept calling him lynx, lynx, and he turned into a real lynx...
"Agh, please!"
-He's all white and fluffy now!!
"I said I'm sorry, stop replaying it, you maniac!"
"Kuhuhu..."
Damn lynx kid was already replaying the who-knows-when-recorded video for the fifth time. And every time, he found something new to chuckle about. Even that fluffy tail, which had only looked cute before, now swished tauntingly.
In the video, he was hugging the prince tight like some pervert uncle, crying or yelling like a madman. He wanted nothing more than to smash that crystal orb right then and there.
"How the hell did you even record this?! I thought it was just a communicator!"
"Hasty modifications. Like it?"
"Annoying as hell!"
How does one even mod magic tools?! And you did it on the fly just to record me? That pisses me off even more!
"You, you little—!"
"What."
"...I-I messed up. I swear off booze forever."
In the end, Evan was the one who surrendered. He had no idea how many times this made it, but he was the one in the wrong. The moment he'd seen the video orb, he'd freaked out and kowtowed to the captain.
"It'd be nice if you drank occasionally. You only got drunk because there's no mana in your body right now—who knows when you'll get another chance."
The kid said that and replayed the video.
-Waaah, Captain! I kept calling him lynx, lynx, and he turned into a real lynx...
"...."
That was definitely a demon lynx. No other explanation for such wickedness.
Knock knock.
As Evan half-accepted his fate and glared sleepily at Nihil, there was a knock at the door.
"Your Highness, it's Butler Paul."
"Come in!"
Our cute prince's voice was bright and lively. The butler must have thought the same, entering with a pleased smile.
The butler glanced at the lynx kid clutching the... no, the crystal orb, and let out a small sigh for some reason. Even he must think the lynx kid was hopeless.
"What is it, Butler?"
"Well... While this old man was sorting herbs, I went and broke a precious potion."
"What? Are you hurt?"
Our baby kitten jumped in surprise. Worrying about the butler first—my master was cute and adorable, with a heart of gold too.
"No, I'm fine, but the precious potion..."
"No worries! We have plenty left, so don't sweat it. But the butler making a mistake? That's new."
"Haha, guess I'm getting on in years."
"...!"
At those words, our baby kitten's face hardened. He grabbed the shoulder of the lynx, who was polishing the crystal orb with his sleeve.
"Nil! Make some tonic for the butler!"
"Your Highness, I'm still spry."
"Stay put, Butler."
The baby kitten seized the butler's hand and shoved it at Nihil. The lynx set the crystal orb aside and took the butler's wrist to check his pulse.
Seizing the moment, Evan snatched the lynx's egg—no, the crystal orb.
Haha! Take that, you damn lynx—you can't even guard your own egg! Now, just delete the video...
His glee at snatching it was short-lived. Evan rolled the magic tool around in his hands, wondering how to operate it. No matter how he turned it, it looked like just a regular crystal orb to him.
Squinting at it intently, the lynx—who had finished taking the pulse—looked at him like he was worthless trash. Cocky eyes.
"What."
"...I'll delete it."
The kid extended his hand. But Evan couldn't trust the demon lynx.
"I'll delete it myself! Just tell me how..."
Suddenly, the crystal orb lit up.
Thinking he'd messed it up, Evan panicked, rolling it like a hot potato before tossing it back to Nihil.
"W-What's wrong with it?!"
"Just a connection."
Nihil smirked at Evan's flailing and deftly operated the communicator.
Morris's face soon appeared. He seemed to be looking for something, then his expression turned perplexed.
-Not connected...?
"Merchant lord."
-...Ah, I can hear you. Can't see my face—must be broken?
"Someone checked it over here. Can't have you knowing who's with me."
-...You can do that too?
"Your business?"
-Straight to it—cold.
"Class soon."
-...
Morris's face shifted oddly at the mention of class. It seemed he was only just realizing his conversation partner was younger than expected.
-Uh, well... Listen to your teacher...
"Business."
-Ahem, about the appointment date—how about ten days from now?
"Busy, huh."
-His Majesty tasked me with something, so I have to head to another region.
"Tasked... The attendance thing?"
-...Did you arrange that too?
As Morris asked awkwardly, Nihil laughed lightly and changed the subject.
"Weekdays are tough on this end, so weekend of that week."
-Got it.
Nihil discussed the meeting place and time with Morris, then ended the call abruptly.
"...Done?"
The baby kitten, frozen stiff by the unfamiliar device, crept closer and peeked.
Nihil handed the communicator to the kitten and turned to the butler, who was still lingering and staring at him intently despite having no more business.
"Old timer, something to say?"
"Pardon...? Oh, no, nothing. Just... The outfit suits you."
At that, Evan checked Nihil's attire too. The kid usually lounged in pajamas all day on off-days or wore plain shirts or blouses on class days, but today he was fully dressed, even with a cravat at his neck.
"Dressing properly until quarterly evaluations. Note it."
"Ah, that's why. Understood."
"Good. Off you go."
"...Yes."
The butler hesitated uncharacteristically before leaving the bedroom. Nihil checked his cravat one more time and hopped down from the bed.
"Rian, time for us to head down too."
"Yeah!"
"Hey, delete my video before you go!"
"Let's go."
"Ah— you said you would!"
A pitiful puppy whine echoed, but Nihil didn't tell Evan that he'd already deleted the video when the communication connected.
"Hey, you damn demon lynx bastard—!"
The puppy howled.