Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Lullaby for the Little One
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Nihil shot Evan a single glare before continuing.
"Anyway, I used polite speech. I was worried that the things he'd learned from me might become stumbling blocks for him once he became independent."
"You really used proper polite speech?"
Evan, still skeptical, narrowed his eyes and sized Nihil up. It was hard to imagine that wildcat using honorifics consistently.
Nihil seemed to contemplate hurling his fork at Evan for nitpicking again, but he glanced at Lianus and obediently set it down.
"...Yeah. Only in front of him, though. I put so much effort into it that it became a habit—whenever I saw his face, polite speech just came out automatically. Ah, but..."
Nihil's eyebrows furrowed slightly at Evan's prodding as he continued his explanation, but then he suddenly seemed to remember something and started chuckling. Lianus and Evan blinked at the sight of Nihil laughing as if he were truly delighted.
Lianus thought to himself that Nihil could laugh like that and wished he could be the one to draw out such a pretty smile.
"But what?"
Evan, curious about the story behind Nihil's laughter, paused mid-bite of his sandwich and urged him on.
Nihil chuckled a bit more, caught his breath, and opened his mouth again.
"That kid was pretty sly, too. In the end, he started mimicking my speech exactly."
"What do you mean by that?"
"He used polite speech with me consistently, but with everyone else, it was all casual talk."
"......"
"He was so well-behaved in front of me that I never suspected it."
Evan's jaw dropped in disbelief. That slyness was just like a wildcat's—or maybe even worse.
"Where is that kid now?"
Lianus asked without thinking, then immediately regretted it. If such a young child wasn't with him anymore, something must have happened.
His guess hit the mark. The faint smile that had graced Nihil's face vanished, replaced by his usual blank expression. But after having seen him smile, that familiar impassivity now looked unbearably lonely.
"Who knows... dead, maybe."
"......"
"Even if he's alive, he'd have forgotten me by now. It's been too long."
"...Sorry."
Lianus bowed his head deeply. He felt heavy-hearted, as if he'd erased his friend's smile.
"No need for you to apologize. Long story short, circumstances forced us apart after that, and I stopped using polite speech. It'll come back with time, but right now, I have no desire to force it. Understand? He was a kid I truly cherished, so if he's alive, I'd love to see him again."
"...If you ever meet him, what would you do?"
"Well, he probably wouldn't remember me anyway... Hmm, maybe sing him a lullaby."
"A lullaby...?"
"He loved it so much."
"I see."
"So, tell your knight here to give up on fixing my speech. Better yet, just pass on that I said to quit while he's ahead."
"...Got it."
Evan replied immediately without needing a separate message. He'd wondered why Nihil said "raised" instead of "cared for"—turns out it wasn't just looking after a younger sibling for a year or two, but raising an infant who could barely speak, growing attached in the process.
It was natural for a child just starting to talk to mimic their guardian's speech patterns, and babies that young got sick often, requiring constant care. No wonder he'd handled nursing the ailing prince so deftly—he'd raised a high-maintenance infant through it all.
To go wandering while tending to a sick baby, singing lullabies, and even using polite speech for the child's future... he must have truly adored him.
Evan, who never imagined the root of that impudent speech habit lay in such circumstances, reflected on his past teasing smirks as he stood and returned to his guard post. Having finished his share of the sandwiches, he couldn't justify the impropriety of lingering by the prince's side any longer.
As the dining room's mood cooled slightly, Nihil changed the subject.
"Speaking of the queen, Rian."
"Ah, don't worry about the queen! I'll block her no matter what it takes!"
"Hmm..."
Lianus pounded his chest, insisting they rely only on him. He had no excuse prepared, but he desperately wanted to protect his friend somehow. The queen still terrified him, but she had to be even scarier for his dear companion.
But Nihil thought differently. He appreciated Lianus's protective intent, but the prince was already at a disadvantage for befriending a commoner child. His very existence was a stain on Lianus.
The more that commoner kid hid behind the prince without showing his face, the more attention it drew. And if word spread that the prince was shielding the commoner... the fallout would land squarely on Lianus alone. Even with a mere noble, it would be fatal—let alone the queen. There was no avoiding her.
Nihil's hand paused mid-slice of his meat. His white lashes gently brushed over his black opal eyes as they lowered. In the quieted atmosphere, Lianus and Evan's gazes naturally turned to him.
His slightly bowed head let his white hair cascade softly, and the fork in his hand tapped rhythmically against his quietly pursed red lips.
That small, unremarkable gesture stole everyone's attention. Had the servants not been dismissed, they all would surely have been staring at Nihil.
Lianus, too, simply gazed at his friend without resisting the pull.
A long silence stretched on, but neither Lianus nor Evan moved to break it.
Nihil's head lifted slightly. His night-sky eyes rose again. The faint smile that had vanished returned. That warm smile, like one soothing a child, made it feel like he could do anything.
Catching that careful, reassuring gaze, Lianus unwittingly broke into a beaming grin.
"Rian."
"Yeah."
"Don't worry."
"Yeah."
"It's all fine."
"Yeah."
Lianus didn't ask why, how, or what. He just nodded with a simple "yeah, yeah." Seeing that smile bloom on his usually impassive face made everything feel like it would be okay.
But the touching moment was short-lived. An unexpected remark slipped from Nihil's lips.
"Alright, finish your meal. I'll give you the antidote."
"...Huh?"
"Forgot about it."
"...H-Huh?"
All thoughts ground to a halt.
Antidote...? What antidote?
Lianus racked his brain, wondering what on earth he meant.
Then, like a flash, he recalled the lunch medicine—bitter, astringent, sour, then bitter again—that horrific taste.
He'd nearly spat it out without realizing.
If Nihil hadn't clamped his mouth shut, he definitely would have.
Was it really poison?
Lianus's pupils trembled faintly. The reassuring warm smile was gone. Just his usual blank expression remained.
"I-I haven't had any symptoms at all."
"That's because you kept your body warm the whole time."
"It was... really poison?"
"If you're curious, go outside lightly dressed and see."
"......"
"Just don't blame me. I diligently prepared the antidote."
"......"
"If you're going out to test it, let me know. I'll prepare a stronger one. I don't want you dying, so I'll do whatever it takes to save you. But I can't guarantee it, so I recommend you just behave and take it."
"Eek..."
Lianus deflated at the thought of taking more medicine. Any tension from the queen talk had evaporated.
Sir Evan, standing behind Lianus, began trembling with suppressed laughter. To avoid entering the prince's view, he stepped back another pace.
Lianus was too busy staring pleadingly at Nihil with teary eyes, begging for a way out, to think of turning toward Evan. But across from him sat Nihil, who could plainly see Evan straining not to burst out laughing.
Nihil remained impassive, but Evan read a terrifying message in those indifferent eyes: 'If I catch you laughing, I'll shove medicine down your throat.'
And even amid it all, spotting Lianus being picky, Nihil remarked with a concerned look, "Rian, you're not being picky, are you?" He subtly pushed more medicine by adding, "If you don't get balanced nutrition, the antidote won't work well, and you might need a second dose."
Our baby kitten, unwilling to endure two more doses, jumped up and insisted he wasn't picky, demonstratively munching on the bell peppers he'd set aside.
"All done," Lianus announced, his voice tinged with a whimper.
Evan's composure crumbled further. How on earth was he supposed to handle this cute, adorable, lovable innocent creature!
Before long, Evan fully collapsed inward, hunching over and clamping his large hand over his mouth. He held his breath to avoid detection.
He himself wouldn't touch anything as vile as the medicine that made the prince—who hated bell peppers—eat them. He could only pray his pure baby kitten wouldn't turn around.
Ah, I'm losing it.
After the meal, in the bedroom.
As Lianus swallowed the "antidote" (read: cold medicine) with teary eyes, and Evan struggled to contain his laughter, the butler arrived.
The butler widened his eyes in surprise at his teary-eyed prince but smiled warmly upon seeing Nihil soothe him by popping a piece of chocolate into his mouth.
"Your Highness, did you enjoy your meal?"
"Mmm."
Lianus nodded, letting the chocolate gently comfort his beleaguered tongue.
The elderly butler smiled faintly and handed Lianus a sheet of paper.
"Your Highness, here's the updated class schedule. The Tesaurus Duke says he lacks the time, so swordsmanship classes can't be split and will proceed as originally planned."
"The duke's no slouch either, so it can't be helped. He volunteered as my instructor because of Older Brother anyway."
Come to think of it, hadn't he gone to a playdate at the duke's mansion the day before yesterday and come home crying?
It had felt so heartbreaking then, but after meeting Nihil and spending a hectic day, it already seemed like ancient history.
Thanks to that playdate, he'd met Nihil—maybe he should be grateful.
"As for the Prime Minister, due to the recent illegal auction house incident, classes can't be split for a while, but he'll adjust the schedule immediately once it's resolved."
"The Prime Minister's busy too, so I'm just grateful he's willing."
Lianus nodded as he scanned the schedule.
"Butler, good work. Now take a week off—no work, just rest."
It was precisely five days, but the butler, with no intention of resting anyway, simply smiled warmly and left the bedroom without a word.
"Nil, swordsmanship is three times a week in the mornings. It'll be boring, but wait for me at the palace."
"Yeah."
"Imperial studies with the Prime Minister is twice a week for an hour each, and once the auction incident's sorted, we can attend together!"
"...Ugh..."
A flicker of annoyance crept into Nihil's eyes.