Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: Stealing the Cherished Friend
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"Dressing like this really makes us look like brothers! Right?"
"Today, even Nil can call me big brother!"
I wonder what kind of face you'll make when I steal away that precious friend of yours you've cherished so much.
The child hugged the bouquet to his chest without a hint of suspicion. Lawrence watched him with a subtle sneer that didn't show.
The boy seemed to like the bouquet so much that he stared at it intently for a good while. Then, as if trying to sniff its scent, he buried his face in it...
"That's not for eating!"
Lawrence hurriedly stopped the boy from shoving the flowers into his mouth. He wasn't a baby—why was he trying to put just anything in there?
"...Do you live off flowers, by any chance...?"
He quietly asked, half-wondering if this fairy-like kid really subsisted on flowers, but Nil just tilted his head, neither confirming nor denying it.
As doubts crept in about whether they were even communicating, the black furball-like hair ornament atop Nil's head slowly lifted its head.
"...!?"
"I-It moved...!"
"Your Highness, step back!"
The guard knights freaked out and pointed their swords at the child again. But Nil calmly shook his head and gently removed the furball from his head, tucking it carefully into his bosom.
Lawrence stared blankly at his actions before cautiously asking.
"...Do you raise it?"
Nod.
"What... kind of animal is it?"
Nil pondered the question for a moment before shaking his head.
"...You don't know what animal it is, but you carry it around anyway?"
Shake, shake.
"...?"
"...Your Highness, it's best to keep your distance."
Before he could resolve his doubts, the knights slunk closer, blocking his path. Lawrence immediately waved them off.
"It's fine. Stand down."
He was just as confused himself, but Lawrence didn't want to miss this opportunity. Nil usually just hid behind Lianus, so this chance to communicate—even if it was questionable whether they really were—brought a strange sense of satisfaction.
"Besides... the Grand Duke must have deemed it safe before releasing him, right?"
Nod, nod.
Nil pulled the black furball from his bosom and showed it off as he nodded vigorously at Lawrence's added words. Lawrence stared blankly before realization dawned, his eyes widening slightly.
"Don't tell me... the Grand Duke gave it to you?"
Nod, nod.
The servants murmured at the nod. A gift from the Grand Duke? It's probably for surveillance. So he didn't just take him without reason after all. Is that thing a mana beast, then?
The Grand Duke only deals with royalty, after all.
As the servants whispered, Nil seemed eager to show the furball was harmless. He stroked it and offered it a single flower from the bouquet.
"...!"
"What is that thing?!"
But contrary to Nil's intent, chaos erupted again. The furball opened its mouth—twice the size of its body—and swallowed the flower whole.
"I-It ate the flower...!"
The servants cried out in horror, but Nil stroked it approvingly as if to say good job and even planted a light kiss on it. The more Lawrence watched, the weirder it all seemed.
Is this how Lianus usually communicates with him? As that thought crossed his mind, Nil suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him behind a nearby tree.
"...? What's this abou—"
Just as questions arose about Nil's odd behavior, a girl's voice rang out from not far away.
"Noah, sir! Kara found you!"
"Ah..."
"Now you have to help Kara."
"...Got it."
The young heir of House Allie nodded weakly and began searching for the other hiding children, just like the seeker. He must have already known where another was hiding, because grumbling voices soon followed.
"Of all places, Noah had to hide right nearby..."
"Haha..."
"It's fine. Now the monster team wins. Bro, I know you're there. Come out."
"Livon!"
"Don't nag! Your head was totally visible anyway."
The caught child found another, who found their sibling, and the hidden kids were caught in a chain reaction.
Only then did Lawrence understand the game's rules—and the meaning behind those slightly eerie song lyrics.
Offering up other children to the monster...
"You find this fun...?"
As he tried to speak, Nil raised a finger to his lips, silently shushing him. The unhesitant touch felt odd, but Lawrence decided to play along for now.
With all these servants around, what's the point of hiding anyway...?
"Now only the prince and his friend are left!"
"Great! Michael, find the prince."
"...Young master, that would be cheating."
"Then find Nil at least."
"...Nil... I can't sense his presence at all..."
Lawrence glanced at the guard knight flustered by the surrounding children, then whispered to Nil.
"How do you erase your presence like that?"
Even his swordmaster great-uncle couldn't sense Nil's presence. The Grand Duke hadn't noticed his sneak attack either.
...But is that even possible?
Nil just tilted his head, either not understanding or pretending not to.
That's when Lawrence noticed Nil's scraped, red palms.
"Did you hurt yourself when you fell?"
He whispered softly. Nil checked his palm and nodded a beat late, as if only now realizing he was hurt.
Lawrence saw it as a golden opportunity and tugged Nil's hand.
"Let's go to my palace. I'll treat it."
Shake, shake.
But Nil refused to budge. Soon, voices calling for him echoed.
"Friend, where are you!"
"Nil! Where are you! We won, so you can come out now!"
Lawrence quickly grabbed Nil, who started toward the voices.
"...That's a lie."
"...?"
"They're luring you out with lies to offer you to the monster."
Nil's eyes widened slightly at that.
"Wouldn't it be better... to win? I'll help you avoid the kids."
Nod, nod.
If I can just drag him to my palace like this... With that thought, he pulled Nil's hand. But despite agreeing, Nil still wouldn't move.
"Why won't you come?"
Nil glanced at Lianus, who was flipping rocks. Lawrence couldn't grasp the exact meaning, but it seemed like he wouldn't go while the kids were around.
Lawrence shot a pitiful glance at Lianus, who was searching under rocks and up trees for his "friend," then leaned close to Nil and whispered as if sharing a grave secret.
"Lianus is cursed."
"..."
"His mother said so. Everyone around Lianus ends up unhappy. If you hang around him, you'll be unhappy too."
"..."
"I'm trying to help you, so don't refuse."
"..."
But Nil just kept tilting his head, as if he couldn't comprehend the persuasion.
Irritation bubbled up in Lawrence. Perhaps that's why his voice sharpened without thinking.
"How long do you think Lianus will protect you!"
"...!"
Seeing Nil flinch, Lawrence realized his mistake too late.
He's already skittish—what if he runs off scared? In a panic, he softened his brows and made the most pitiful face he could.
"Sorry for yelling. But... this isn't a joke."
Lawrence quickly grabbed Nil's hand as he tried to edge away. He rephrased his earlier implication—that just as Lianus's attitude toward him had changed after bringing Nil, Nil would be discarded too—and whispered it softly.
"...Do you understand?"
But Nil stared back blankly, expression unchanging.
Did he not get it? As Lawrence thought that, Nil's hand rose toward his face.
"How disrespectful!"
But the servants stopped the gesture immediately, so Lawrence never learned what Nil intended.
"Nil, where are you!"
Lianus's voice grew closer. Lawrence grew desperate.
"...If you come with me, I'll provide a better environment."
Shake, shake.
"Why not? My palace has rare toys you can't find here."
"..."
"...If there's anything you want to eat, I'll get it for you."
"..."
"Gold coins... don't you like them? I can give you as much gold or jewels as you want."
"..."
"I have... lots of other flowers for that mana beast. There aren't many here, right?"
Nil finally showed some interest at the last one. He must really like that furball mana beast the Grand Duke gave him.
Lawrence grinned unwittingly and tugged Nil's hand.
"I'll show you my greenhouse. It's a beautiful place."
But after just a few steps, his body halted. Nil had stopped again.
Wondering what was wrong, he turned to see Lianus gripping Nil's hand, face hardened.
"...Brother, what brings you to my palace unannounced?"
Lawrence glared at the guard knights for not warning him of Lianus's approach, then quickly softened his face into his usual smile.
"It's been a while, Lianus."
"...It's been a while, Brother. So why are you trying to take my friend?"
"Don't misunderstand. Nil got a little hurt because of me, so I was going to treat him."
"What? Nil's hurt?!"
Lianus jumped and inspected Nil. Then he narrowed his eyes at the bouquet in Nil's hand.
"Those flowers...?"
"...I brought them as a gift."
"You... Brother?"
Lianus's expression soured at "gift." He scrutinized the flowers as if checking for poison, pretending otherwise.
...He used to take anything I gave without checking...
How dare Lianus of all people suspect me? Lawrence nearly frowned but regained composure and smiled again.
"I startled him and he got hurt. I'll treat him and send him back."
Lawrence said, lightly tugging Nil's hand. Lianus gripped harder in response.
"It's fine, Brother. My palace's physician is very skilled. And if I startled my friend, I should apologize instead."
"...I hurt him, so I should take responsibility."
Lawrence pulled harder, not wanting to lose, but Lianus held firm, and Nil wouldn't budge.
"Nil might want treatment here."
"..."
Nil's arm stretched taut like it might snap, but Lianus and Lawrence glared at each other, neither letting go.
Suddenly, Lawrence doubted: Was Lianus always this strong? The doubt shifted to unease seeing Lianus straining.
"..."
Lawrence eased his grip skeptically. Against expectations—or as expected—Nil didn't go to Lianus.
"Brother! Let go of my friend!"
Lawrence blinked at Lianus straining alone and Nil staring blankly at him, alternating glances.
"..."
Nil, noticing the gaze, pretended to be pulled and leaned slightly toward Lianus.
Lawrence was speechless at the sly move, staring dumbly. Lianus, still clueless, yelled desperately.
"Nil, I can do everything Brother said too!"
...He heard what I said to Nil?
Lawrence frowned, embarrassed at his unseemly display. Then Lianus bellowed as if making a grand vow.
"I—I can even give you Poofu if you want!"
A scoff escaped. Poofu? Who would want that ragged doll?
But Lawrence's face hardened as warmth slipped from his grasp. A bright smile bloomed on Nil's usually blank face.
Why...?
What's so great about that bear doll to smile like that for him? Why Lianus and not me? I could get a doll too. I can give more than Lianus...
How dare a commoner choose?
His teeth ground.
"...Nil, do you want Poofu by any chance?"
Lianus asked, gauging Nil's eyes.
A scoff again. All talk, but he didn't really want to give the bear doll.
See, you're the same in the end. So why...?
"Prince, found you?"
"Hey, why won't you come out."
"Kara's hungry now."
"Time to head in."
...Why only you...?
Lawrence unwittingly covered his mouth with his hand. His stomach churned.
Regretting coming, wishing he hadn't, in that fleeting remorse,
"...?"
Suddenly, something pink filled his vision.