Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Watching the Knights' Training
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Sir Evan gently coaxed the grumbling Lianus out of bed.
"Your Highness, it's time to get up. You have swordsmanship class."
"I don't wanna gooo..."
"...Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"Nooo... Just..., I don't wanna go."
Lianus lifted his head slightly before burying his face back into the pillow. He'd forgotten, but the memory of losing to his older brother in swordsmanship class just the other day came rushing back.
It wouldn't have bothered him normally, but thinking of his dear friend who had nodded without hesitation when asked if he sucked made him not want to go for no reason at all.
And meanwhile, that dear friend of his was sleeping soundly right beside him.
'Nil's an idiot...'
"Your Highness, is something the matter?"
Sir Evan was puzzled since Lianus had never before shown any sign of skipping class like this. He gently soothed his master, wondering if something had happened during swordsmanship class on the day he'd been out.
"...No. Nothing happened..."
"Tell me. I might be able to help."
At those words, the cute baby kitten's head peeked up. The baby kitten pulled over the bear doll Poofu from beside him, hugged it tight, and hesitantly opened his mouth.
"Hey..., even Sir Evan thinks I suck...?"
"What..., do you mean?"
"...My..., swordsmanship..."
"...! Who the hell said that? Was it the Duke?!"
Sir Evan flew into a rage, looking ready to challenge the kingdom's sole master to a duel right then and there.
"I'll go demand an explanation...!"
"No..., the Duke didn't say anything."
The Duke didn't even watch properly in the first place...
Lianus grew even more depressed and hugged Poofu tighter. Then he noticed Popo lying all by itself a bit away. Since Nihil wasn't holding Popo while sleeping, he figured he should at least do it himself and pulled Popo over too.
"Then, was it that damn snake—no, the 1st Prince?!"
"...Huh? No, no. Actually, it was Nil..."
"Hey, you mangy lynx! Get up right now!!"
Realizing the baby kitten's gloom stemmed from the lynx sprawled out sleeping right next to him, Sir Evan immediately grabbed Nihil by the collar and shook him vigorously.
"Ahh, Sir Evan, stop! Nil just nodded...!"
"Get up, you lazy bum!"
The baby kitten tried to intervene from the side, insisting it wasn't like that, but the words fell on deaf ears for the dog whose eyes had already rolled back in fury.
After a few more vigorous shakes, white eyebrows furrowed slightly, and arrogant eyes fluttered open. Even dangling in midair by his collar, the guy crossed his arms arrogantly and tilted his head cockily.
"What."
"Did you tell our prince he sucks?!"
"When did I."
The lynx feigned innocence like that, glanced at the clock, then turned to our baby kitten—who was clutching Poofu and Popo tightly—and asked.
"Rian, not going to swordsmanship?"
"...Not really..., don't wanna."
"Good. Smart choice."
"...!"
Our baby kitten's face twisted up like he might burst into tears at the lynx's blunt reply. He was clearly holding back sobs, not wanting to cry, and the sight was utterly heartbreaking.
"What kind of thing is that to say!"
"What thing?"
"Why tell him not to go!"
"That Duke guy doesn't teach shit anyway."
"Well, true, but...!"
"Waste of time. Letting something that lame pass as a lesson—what were you thinking? Better if you taught him yourself."
"...!"
Sir Evan's eyes widened. But soon his expression darkened.
"...How could I presume to be Your Highness's teacher...?"
A commoner like him teaching the prince would only tarnish the prince's reputation further. Moreover, unlike the squires with formal training, he'd joined the knights solely on raw strength, so he risked teaching the prince flawed swordsmanship if he wasn't careful.
Nihil glanced at the somewhat downcast Evan, then twisted his body slightly and hopped down from his grasp.
"Rian, wanna go watch the knight order's training?"
Sniff..., y-yeah...?
Lianus, who had been dabbing his tears on Popo's big ears, lifted his head in bewilderment.
"Get ready."
"...?"
Lianus found himself dragged to the knight order's training grounds by the hand of his dear friend, almost against his will. But his dear friend was wrapped head to toe in a robe to hide his ears and tail, staying silent too, so it fell to Lianus to do whatever needed doing.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?"
While everyone else kept their distance, wary of his 'curse,' only Sir Ernest approached and spoke to him. Unsure what to say, Lianus mumbled awkwardly before relaying exactly what his friend had said.
"...Mind if I observe the knight order's training?"
"Your swordsmanship class...? No, of course you can observe. We'll prepare a spot right away."
Walter thought the delicate 2nd Prince must be down after losing to the 1st Prince in their last spar, and quickly changed the subject.
"Ah, no need for a spot. Just..., pretend I'm not here and carry on with training."
"...Understood. Make yourself comfortable."
Walter pushed aside Lianus's somewhat dejected look and assembled the knights. The brief break ended, and morning training began.
A few knights showed discomfort, but the prince held tightly to his friend's hand, settled in a corner, silently watched, and left.
But when the prince's visits continued the next day and the day after, discontent erupted among some knights.
He'd rushed through dawn training due to backlog and switched to individual practice, only for a few subordinates to come complaining as expected—but Walter soothed them and sent them off.
"Captain, why does the 2nd Prince keep coming?"
"...Haa..., Vice Captain, even you?"
Walter scowled as even his trusted vice captain turned on him.
"Why are you all shunning that young prince? There's no curse. Even if there is, Sir Evan's fine, so it's clearly not contagious."
"It's not the curse—it's that stare that's creepy! At least tell us why he's coming!"
"He just sits quietly and leaves. What's creepy about that?"
"You wouldn't get it, Captain!"
Aaron thumped his chest in frustration.
Honestly, the first day hadn't fazed him. If anything, it felt like they were being observed by the prince and his group. He—and probably the other knights—had eyed the prince and his companions too.
Curiosity about the infamous 'Mana Curse' aside, the prince skipping his own sword lessons to watch theirs was odd, and intrigue about his entourage ran high: the freakishly pretty friend so drop-dead gorgeous he had to hide his face, or the infamous rude commoner-born youngest knight.
But from day two, it changed. Aaron shuddered recalling the prince's predatory, obsessive gaze. Expression blank, unblinking—he stared like he was hunting prey. Chills ran down his spine.
The unrelenting stare persisted through water breaks and rests, keeping tension sky-high the whole training.
"Did you do something to offend the prince?"
"That's my line! What did I do to get singled out like that?!"
"He's so kind, just tell him it bothers you and he'll hold back. We've gotten by without incident so far..."
"Fine, I got cursed! Now what!!"
"...You were here?"
What the...?
"......"
"......"
Walter and Aaron stared blankly at each other for a moment before bolting outside.
Knight who should have been doing individual training were surrounding the pint-sized prince, who barely reached their thighs.
The prince was huffing indignantly, as if he'd heard something outrageous, and shrieked.
"Y-You! I'm gonna pass the curse to you!"
"Raaargh—!"
Sir Evan watched the fearsome baby kitten beast—arms raised high, declaring he'd pass on the curse as he chased the knights helter-skelter—and muttered.
"...You've taught him something real good."
"Kkh... heh...!"
"Don't laugh, you damn lynx."
Even as he said it, Sir Evan had to clamp his lips shut to stifle his own laughter. Knights fleeing from a kid who only came up to their thighs? Self-respect kept them from bolting far—they just backpedaled or dodged—but freaking out at his tiny hands was hilarious.
As Sir Evan watched the baby kitten counterattack without backing down, thinking 'Our cute, quick-learning baby kitten prince—imagine if he chased me that adorably,' one of the pursued knights tripped our baby kitten's foot.
Thud, splat—.
'That bastard...!'
Evan's eyes rolled back as he lunged at the knight who'd tripped the baby kitten, ready to beat the cornmeal out of him,
Thwack—!
"Urk...!"
But the lynx beat him to it, kicking the knight's Achilles' heel with all his might.
Sniff, Nil...
The lynx scooped up the teary-eyed baby kitten in one arm to soothe him, then smacked the groaning knight's face. It didn't look painful, but the motion screamed boiling rage.
"You, damn brat...!"
The knight swung wildly, but the lynx dodged effortlessly and dashed back to Evan with the baby kitten in his arms.
Sir Evan reached out to take the baby kitten, but for some reason, the lynx wouldn't hand him over and jerked his chin toward the center of the training ground.
"...? What."
"......"
"What am I supposed to do...?"
Sir Evan cocked one eyebrow and tilted his head, not getting the gesture.
Frustrated that Evan didn't catch on, the lynx finally lifted his face cloth slightly and mouthed.
'Warm up.'
Sir Evan's eyes bulged.
"Can I move now?"
Nod nod.
With Nihil's casual nod, the dog charged the knight who'd tripped him and picked a fight.
"Still pulling childish crap at your age, Adolf."
"You insolent pup...!"
"Whining after getting hit by a kid. How bad could it hurt?"
Sir Evan sneered as he spoke. Thrilled at the chance for a proper spar at last, his excitement built—until the lynx tugged his clothes again.
"...Why?"
Shake shake.
"...? You said I could move!"
Shake shake shake.
Why give then take back?!