Chapter 186
Chapter 186
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: The Grand Duke's Long Hair
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Clack... clack...
Rustle... rustle...
With each step the man took, his jet-black long hair dragged along the floor, producing a rustling sound. Or maybe it was coming from his pitch-black, flowing robes.
Everyone stared at the man, forgetting to even breathe. The garments resembling priestly robes were less ascetic and more alluring.
Clack... clack... halt.
At last, the man stopped and scanned his surroundings. The knights, momentarily dazed by his immeasurable power, flinched under his gaze and tensed their bodies once more.
Eyes no human could ever possess.
That darkness brought a piercing gleam to his pupils, even under the bright lights.
The corner of his mouth curled up slyly.
"Plenty of God's minions in sight."
"...Grand Duke."
King Sedes, rigid with tension, finally snapped out of it and rose from his seat. As he descended the dais with firm steps, the Queen and the princes hurried after him.
"Grand Duke, welcome."
"Long time no see, Rex."
"......"
Sedes subtly raised one eyebrow at the form of address he still couldn't get used to. When he was a boy, his father had been Rex and he the little Rex, so he suspected it was some term for royalty—but he wasn't certain.
"...Little Rex."
At that moment, the Grand Duke's gaze shifted to Lianus.
Lianus flinched in surprise and tried to look away, only to realize that would be rude, so he looked back, then lowered his eyes before finally peering cautiously up at the Grand Duke.
"Last year, you looked half-dead."
The Grand Duke said this while tilting his head slightly.
"A different kid?"
"It's the same child, Grand Duke. And it wasn't last year, but the year before. It's been two full years since we've met face-to-face like this."
Two years prior, there had been the prince's poisoning attempt, and it hadn't been long since his nursemaid died—Lianus's condition had been poor. He seemed to remember that.
"I see."
The man nodded carelessly, glanced alternately at the princes, then spoke.
"The Elixir."
Lianus startled at the somewhat dry question. His Elixir was right there in his arms. Only half remained, but...
Two years ago, Lianus had received the Elixir and sobbed uncontrollably, rejecting it with, 'I don't need this anymore.' No matter how miraculous the treasure, it couldn't bring back his already deceased nursemaid.
Come to think of it, the Grand Duke hadn't lost his temper back then—he'd insisted on placing the Elixir in Lianus's hand until the end.
He'd been so heartbroken, crying his eyes out, but he knew better than to toss away a gift, so he'd reluctantly stored it in his safe. Yet every time he attended banquets, memories of his nursemaid made him carry it along.
Upon reflection, he'd used it to save his dear friend—so the Grand Duke was his friend's benefactor and his own!
"Th-that Elixir... thank you so much, Grand Duke."
"You're keeping it."
"Y-yes. Only half left, but..."
"...Half?"
"Sh-should I return it...?"
Lianus rolled his eyes, inwardly hoping it wouldn't be taken back. If his friend got hurt again, he'd need the Elixir.
A sidelong glance at his friend revealed Karus gripping Nihil tightly in tense anticipation.
His friend still wore the face cloth but seemed to be staring straight at the Grand Duke. Entrusting his friend to Karus and the baron had truly been the right decision.
However, that wasn't what the Grand Duke meant to ask. Turning to His Majesty, he opened his mouth.
"Doesn't seem like it was taken."
"...What do you take me for?"
Sedes narrowed his eyes, a touch offended. But he knew the reason for the question.
"Your father was quite greedy."
"......"
Indeed. The late king had been greedy—greedy enough to hoard every drop of Elixir meant for his sons. Later, when the Grand Duke learned of it, he'd returned Lianus's share, but not his older brother's.
No, more accurately, it couldn't be returned. His older brother had already breathed his last by then.
'If the Grand Duke hadn't stepped in back then, I wouldn't have been able to save Lianus.'
Suddenly, this ominous man appeared to be a benefactor.
"Shall we sit?"
The man gave no reply and simply stepped forward. Sedes followed behind the trailing locks of hair, then signaled the knights.
The knights moved with crisp precision—crisp, crisp, crisp—encircling the edges of the banquet hall. Some had likely been enjoying the festivities... but what could be done?
One might think knights useless against a Grand Duke whom even a Swordmaster Duke couldn't block if he unleashed his power. In truth, however, the knights weren't summoned to stop the Grand Duke.
"Resume the banquet."
It was to swiftly remove anyone irking the Grand Duke's mood—and save them in the process.
Lianus propped his chin on his hand, sitting slightly askew as he sneaked a peek at the Grand Duke, who was stepping on his own hair.
The long locks lay disheveled in places, yet the Grand Duke made no effort to tidy them.
He'd assumed the man cherished his hair too much to touch it, but it seemed he simply hated anyone laying hands on his head.
The demon who appeared to be the Grand Duke's attendant—and had quietly followed—kept a wide berth to avoid the hair, his eyes conveying utter exasperation.
The conversation between His Majesty and the Grand Duke dragged on at length; soundproofing magic must have been at work, for not a whisper reached them.
Lianus inspected the mountain of magic stones the Grand Duke had brought as a "gift."
Truly extraordinary magic stones—wisps of what he presumed to be demonic energy rose hazily, shimmering around them.
"...Anus."
"......"
"Lianus."
"Y-yes?"
Lianus had been blankly mesmerized by the hazy demonic energy wafting up from the stones when he abruptly turned his head.
"What are you spacing out for?"
"Y-yes? Oh, n-nothing."
"Won't you go to your dear friend?"
"Ah."
By now, His Highness and Older Brother had descended from the dais and were mingling with the nobles. As Lianus pondered heading to his friend, he suddenly remembered his promise to play the violin for them.
"Um... Your Majesty, that is..."
Violin... he'd practiced, but...
He mumbled and fidgeted, gauging the mood, when a low rumble sounded from above—a large hand gently rested on his head.
"Then, why not play for us?"
"Y-yes!"
Lianus hopped down from his chair at once to prepare. At His Majesty's gesture, the invited orchestra halted playing in unison. Lianus was so nervous his heart felt ready to leap from his chest.
That's when he spotted his friend, a short distance away behind Sir Evan—head poking out while wrapped head-to-toe in the knight's mantle. When had he gotten all the way over here?
His expression was hidden by the face cloth, but for some reason, Lianus sensed Nihil was tense.
Seeing his friend apparently more anxious than the performer himself gave Lianus courage. He took a deep breath and drew the bow long across the strings.
Having finished his performance, Lianus bowed his head, a bit crestfallen. He'd tried so hard to play beautifully, but he'd made a small mistake.
"Lianus, that was a splendid performance. Why the long face?"
"I messed up the most important last piece..."
"Really...? It was more than good enough, though..."
It was a piece Sedes had never heard before, so spotting the error was impossible. Still, he couldn't bear seeing his son so dejected and gave a subtle nod to the orchestra's conductor.
"A truly fine piece. Might I know the title and composer?"
As the conductor asked cautiously, Lianus's face lit up. As expected of a professional—they knew a good piece when they heard one!
But Lianus couldn't answer. All he knew was that it was a lullaby.
'Should've at least asked Nil the title!'
Late regret hit him, followed by an even greater worry.
'If they ask where I heard it, what do I say?'
He couldn't say his friend had sung it as a lullaby. Everyone believed his dear friend couldn't speak!
"...Prince?"
As he hemmed and hawed, people began looking at him curiously.
Lianus sneaked a glance at his friend. A lazy hope that Nihil might resolve the situation.
He shouldn't rely on him so much... Even so, when Nihil slightly lifted his face cloth, Lianus stared intently beneath it.
Lip-reading Nihil's mouth, Lianus stammered on.
"Um... I h-happened upon some old sheet music and, w-wanting to play it for Your Majesty too, practiced it."
Lianus's eyes went wide after speaking. To come up with such an excuse on the spot—his friend was a genius!
"...Where's that sheet music?"
A low but clear voice sounded then. The Grand Duke was approaching.
Clack... clack... With the slow footfalls, the murmurs ceased, and people scattered like a receding tide.
Whether from fear of the Grand Duke or to avoid stepping on his hair, Lianus couldn't say.
If the latter, then the Grand Duke undoubtedly grew out his hair precisely to create such situations.
The Grand Duke picked up the sheet music placed on the podium and asked,
"Is this it?"
"N-no. That's my quick arrangement of it, faster to match the mood from the old score."
Lianus hastily added,
"So I don't really know the title or composer."
Perfect—situation resolved! Lianus inwardly cheered and glanced back at the greatest contributor.
Nihil had already rolled himself tightly back into Sir Evan's mantle, only his shins visible.
The uncharacteristically timid behavior puzzled Lianus, but he figured it was just more acting and looked away.
"Not bad."
The Grand Duke murmured while scrutinizing the score. He seemed to like Nihil's lullaby.
"...Grand Duke, do you know the piece?"
Lianus asked cautiously, heart pounding. But the response was disappointing.
"Don't know."
Rip— Along with the answer came the sound of something tearing. The hall had been so quiet that every eye turned toward the source.
There stood none other than Sir Evan.
"...My apologies."
Sir Evan, flustered, quickly shed the torn mantle to gather it up. The presumed culprit—his friend—had vanished in the interim.
To rescue his knight from the suddenly converging stares and fidgeting, Lianus spoke up.
"Uh, um... he's my guard knight."
"......"
"Please look upon him kindly."
Cough... Sir Walter, on guard at the entrance, made a strange noise and clamped his lips shut. Sir Evan hung his head, then covered his face with his hand.
This wasn't helping.
Looks like he had zero talent for smoothing over crises. He'd always need Nil for this.
'But where'd Nil go?'
The celebratory performance was done; now they could play together...
As he scanned about for Nihil, a low voice came from above his head.
"Little Rex."
At the form of address that seemed aimed at him, Lianus tilted his head.
"Grand Duke, my name isn't Rex—it's Lianus."
"......"
He'd corrected what seemed a mistake on the Grand Duke's part, but the man's expression turned subtly odd. Not just him—His Majesty looked a bit awkward too.
"...Sheet music... no, never mind. I'll take my leave."
The Grand Duke started to say something, then turned away.
Clack. As the footfalls echoed, people parted like the tide, clearing a path to the entrance in an instant. A truly wondrous sight.
Yet the Grand Duke smirked as if it were nothing and raked his hand long through the empty air. Just as when he'd arrived, space tore open, birthing a pitch-black passage.
Lianus peeked inside, wondering if the Grand Duke's mansion might be visible, but saw nothing.
The Grand Duke slowly stepped into the abyss-like hole.
Clack... clack...
Just as that jet-black mane was about to vanish into the gap,
Whoosh—!
"...?"
Something white darted swiftly past his side, then,
"...!"
Yanked at the black locks.
```