Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Friends Assemble
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'Yeah, I'll be there soon.'
"Perry, Perry!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Nil said he hasn't had lunch yet, so prepare some snacks that he can eat anytime."
"Understood."
Lianus sprang into bustling action the moment he heard Nihil was on his way back. Nihil had only been away from the palace for a few short hours, but it had felt like an eternity.
"Butler, Butler!"
"Yes."
"When are the others arriving, by any chance?"
"The Allie family is almost here, and the Tarandrus household should arrive within the hour."
"Great!"
He was thrilled that everyone was coming despite the sudden invitation. Nil would surely be delighted too!
"Your Highness, I'm here!"
"Noah, come on in!"
Soon enough, the Allie family arrived, their carriage loaded to the brim with get-well gifts.
Most of the presents were medicinal herbs for Nihil, but there were also prototypes from the Allie merchant guild slated for release soon, along with a few magic tools.
"Your Highness, Your Highness! I brought pajamas. Doggy ones too! Let's have a pajama party!"
"Really?!"
A pajama party! It was something he'd always wanted to try with friends!
Lianus's excitement bubbled over.
The baron mentioned he had business to discuss with Nihil and decided to wait with him. Not long after, the Francesca siblings and Sir Bella—in her cat form—arrived.
The place grew a bit chaotic with so many people, but the once-empty palace felt filled to the brim, lifting Lianus's spirits.
"You've arrived, Marquis."
"Haha, Baron Allie is here too. Do you have business with my dear friend?"
"Yes, something work-related to consult about... Oh, and I heard your younger sibling is a mage. Might I ask for some advice?"
"Of course. Cayen, come here."
As Karus introduced Cayen and continued chatting with Morris, the group naturally split into the guardians and the wards.
The knights, naturally, stuck close to the wards for protection.
"Sir Michael, Puppy, long time no see."
Bella, now in human form, greeted the escort knights. In her hand was a doll outfit.
"Why'd you snatch the doll clothes?"
Our prince doesn't have many toys as it is...
Evan's mood soured upon hearing earlier that the playroom had been cleared out.
"Oh my, oh my, these are my clothes? They're a matching set with the cutest, most lovable Kara in the world!"
"...That?"
It was barely big enough for an arm...
Do people dress arms these days?
Evan eyed her suspiciously, but Bella smacked his back playfully.
"Puppy, don't you dress up your daughter too?! Of course, she probably hates wearing clothes most of the time."
"I don't have a daughter... Wait, is that one a girl?"
Evan belatedly realized Bella's "daughter" meant the dog and widened his eyes. He'd assumed it was a boy, leaving him a bit flustered.
"What? Lobby's a girl?!"
Lianus reacted the same way, dashing off to fetch the dog the servants had been watching.
"Sorry, Lobby! I thought you were a boy!"
If he'd known she was a girl, he'd have given her a prettier name!
"No wonder! Lately, Lobby's been barking so boldly, so I praised her like a big tough guy, and Nil kept giving me weird looks!"
Why didn't anyone tell me?!
"Kkyang!"
But Lobby seemed unbothered, barking boldly as ever.
"Lobby, you're one cool girl!"
"Even doggies wear fancy clothes!"
"Awesome!"
As the kids picked out outfits for the dog, the young lords from House Tarandrus arrived. Their unexpected guardian made Lianus greet him warmly.
"Prime Minister!"
"Your Highness, I hope you've been well."
Abel removed his hood and smiled gently.
"May I join in?"
"Of course! Come on in!"
Lianus beamed brightly, delighted to see his favorite people gathering one by one.
Behind the Prime Minister stood a man with his hood pulled low, face hidden—likely an escort knight.
Lianus's gaze kept drifting to him oddly, but the man blended in among the other knights. Perhaps because he was unfamiliar, the other escorts' shoulders tensed noticeably.
Somehow, it felt reassuring!
"Now we just need Nil!"
His best friend would surely be thrilled to see so many visitors for his sickbed.
Lianus regretted summoning everyone on his own whim. He should have at least asked Nihil first.
"......"
"......"
A strange tension hung over the once-lively playroom. Everyone's faces were stiff, except for Nihil's unfamiliar inverted eyes, which curved round in amusement.
"Why?"
Lianus snapped to his senses at the amused voice and scanned the room.
Every escort knight except the Prime Minister's was crushed by some invisible force, down on one knee and gasping for breath.
"Rian, I'm back. No welcome?"
"Nil... why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
Nihil tilted his head innocently. His slightly longer white hair cascaded softly over his shoulder.
Lianus glanced up. The black horn sprouting from Nihil's head stood out starkly against his white hair, looking utterly alien.
Looking closer, something bulky shifted under his robe. Wings or a tail, maybe. Sorry, Nil, but please no tentacles.
"Come here, Rian."
There, good boy?
It felt like a demon's temptation, but Nihil would never harm him, so Lianus shuffled over without much hesitation.
And in that instant, his body lifted into the air.
"......?"
Had Sir Evan been freed? He turned to see the hooded Prime Minister's knight.
"...Troublesome."
Nihil muttered lowly, one eyebrow arching. He looked just like a storybook villain.
"Rian, you coming or not? I'm leaving."
"What?!"
Where to!
Panicked, Lianus flailed and leaped from the knight's arms to grab Nihil. The knight gasped and scooped him up again, but Lianus clung desperately to Nihil's robe hem.
"You can't go!"
Nihil's lips curved into a smile at the shout.
"Dia, I win this bet."
"......?"
A bet? What— Just then, a faint tongue-click echoed from somewhere.
"Rian."
"...You leaving?"
"No. But I need permission for one thing."
"Yeah...? Anything you want!"
Lianus tilted his head, wondering what Nihil could possibly need permission for, then boldly promised anything.
"Then......"
With permission granted, Nihil cautiously opened his robe front.
And from behind Nihil emerged not wings, not a tail, not tentacles...
"Can I raise the kid here?"
A tiny black-haired head peeked out.
Lianus felt a bit unsettled watching Nihil slice meat for the baby on his lap.
It seemed his best friend had kidnapped a baby.
Nihil's eyes had returned to normal—he wasn't scary anymore—but the black horns remained, nagging at him.
"...Nil, you didn't really steal this kid, right?"
"No."
"Not like you found it alone on the street?"
"No."
Nihil answered plainly, but the baby seemed displeased, furrowing its tiny brow.
Babies can make faces like that, huh.
Whining or crying would be normal if upset, but this baby—brought by Nihil—was sternly furious.
"But... Nil, those horns......"
"Ah."
At the question, Nihil chuckled as if just remembering, then removed the horns from his head.
"......!"
"Pfft... cough!"
Clatter, clink—utensils dropped everywhere amid coughing fits. Nihil, amused by the reactions, laughed again.
"...They come off......?"
"Brought 'em for you to eat."
"...For me... to eat......?"
Those horns?
Lianus imagined gnawing on them and shuddered, pupils quivering.
Thank goodness they hadn't actually grown from his friend's head, but...
"I'll boil 'em tender."
"It's for boiling! Phew, relief!"
No need to worry about losing his permanent teeth yet! Lianus sighed in relief, picking up his fork again.
Everyone stared oddly, but he was oblivious.
Nihil smiled at the moody baby kitten, placed finely chopped meat before it, and handed it a fork.
"Dia, eat up."
"......"
Crack, crunch—
Still sulky about losing the bet, the little one snapped the plate in two with the fork.
"......"
"......"
Everyone gaped in shock, but Nihil laughed it off casually, re-chopping meat and offering it directly on his fork.
"Dia, you're still clumsy with utensils."
"......"
The baby's face crumpled again at the words. Savoring the teasing, Nihil smiled brightly and tapped the meat against its lips.
"Looks like I'll have to feed you. Say ahh."
"......"
The little one glared but devoured the meat with fork-chomping ferocity. The butler discreetly cleared the shattered plate.
Lianus, watching cautiously, spoke up.
"...You okay with this?"
"With what?"
"The baby... doesn't seem happy......"
"Just throwing a tantrum 'cause things aren't going its way. It's a total sweetheart."
"Uh... yeah......"
Nihil turned from thoughtful Lianus, spearing a meatball and bringing it to the baby's mouth.
The little one glared murderously but eventually ate it. Even mad, it played along—such a good kid.
"Nil... shouldn't babies be with their parents?"
Lianus still thought Nihil had kidnapped it, but Nihil played ignorant.
"Yeah, I think so too."
Then he flicked a glance at the hooded man among the knights—the baby's father.
King Sedes had planned a quick glimpse of his son before leaving, but his son's friend exuded such an eerie aura that he couldn't tear himself away.
One moment of carelessness, and the boy might whisk his son off somewhere.
"Abel, stay longer."
"No, Your Majesty. You want me playing patty-cake with the kids?"
Abel glanced at the children giggling in pajamas and grumbled.
"What excuse should I use?"
"Allie's still here. And the Francescas too."
"The baron's here for business with Nil anyway. Plus Noah's clinging to him."
Abel eyed Noah coquettishly begging, "Father, match pajamas with me, okay?" then turned to his nephews.
"Sweet! Me too!"
"Riven, there are ladies present—don't strip like that...!"
"Ugh, bro, quit nagging. Live a little! Gimme your pajamas!"
"......"
His second nephew preached living casually while shedding clothes; the eldest hastily draped a blanket over him.
Sis would faint at this sight.
The nephews ignored him disappointingly.
Maybe it's time to marry...
Abel imagined a foxy wife and bunny-like kids, then glanced at the young marquis—another guardian.
He was shoving pajamas at Sir Evan.
"Haha, my secret friend Sir Evan, join us?"
"...I'm fine."
"Same as the prince's?"
"...Then... no, I'm fine."
Seeing Karus seamlessly blend with the kids, Abel sighed deeply.
"Your Majesty, I'm too old for that crowd, no secret friends here, no kids. Even the one I raised—Your Majesty—is all grown up."
"...Don't talk nonsense, Abel."
"Let's go. Gotta water my Sirentea under moonlight."
His pet plant needed tending. Destined for his belly later, but still.
"Ack, Nil!"
Sudden commotion erupted amid the kids' laughter.
"Ah, baby, no, don't do that!"
"Wah, Your friend's hair's getting yanked out!"
"Baby, be good! Don't pull that. Kara'll give you this!"
"......?"
Abel and Sedes turned simultaneously.
"D-Dia, sorry. I won't tease anymore, so let go."
There, a little one flailed helplessly, hair gripped by the baby.