Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Doubts and Loyalties
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King Sedes sank into thought, recalling the boy assassin who had charged at him without a shred of hesitation.
Even though he had bound him with a magic contract, assassins inevitably thought differently from ordinary people. The way they carried out orders without hesitation, knowing failure might cost them their heads, was proof enough.
'Of course, if I hadn't commissioned the Assassins' Guild, the Queen would have caught on long ago...'
Sedes grimaced slightly as he remembered how the Queen had immediately greased palms at the Adventurers' Guild and Mercenaries' Guild upon hearing the rumor of a new pharmacist being hired. He quickly snapped out of it and asked,
"By the way, how did you know the location of Abel's room?"
The question felt a bit odd now that he thought about it. He hadn't told him the locations of his own bedroom or office, yet his son's friend had snuck in on his own.
"I simply tracked your personal mana flow. There are plenty of knights around you, Father-in-Law, so it was easy to find you."
"...I make sense, but... the Prime Minister should be in class with the princes right now?"
"I only told you Sirentea's location, not the Prime Minister's room."
"I see."
Sedes nodded roughly. He had no intention of arguing. The backing behind his son's friend was far too intimidating for that.
"I've brought it."
The potted plant soon arrived, and his son's friend immediately inspected Sirentea. Since fruit had already formed, and Abel had been making a fuss about it recently, Sedes was grateful that his son's friend was taking care of it on his own.
"Sirentea's condition looks good."
"How much longer will Abel's treatment take?"
"The treatment is already finished."
"...?"
Sedes raised an eyebrow. From what he'd heard, there were supposed to be two more sessions...
"The inherited magic is quite unstable, so I deliberately lied about it. It's fine for a use or two, but if it builds up, the circuits could tangle again."
"...I see."
"The Prime Minister must have practiced a lot of magic as a child, right?"
Sedes nodded seriously at the question.
"He was a magic-obsessed lunatic. He even memorized high-circle spells he couldn't use yet."
"...".
Nihil's expression turned subtle at the description.
Did the kid's dad know? That the magic-obsessed lunatic had gone around spreading tales of being a love-obsessed lunatic.
'...True friendship.'
Nihil nodded and continued.
"Anyway, he probably overused magic recklessly while his mana circuits were still forming, causing them to tangle. So keep it a secret from the Prime Minister that the treatment's done."
Sedes nodded readily, though he regretted not being able to use Abel for a while longer. To use someone long-term, you had to know when to hold back.
"Oh, wait. You're the one teaching him magic?"
"That seems best. I've already entrusted it to the guild."
"I heard you couldn't use magic..."
"I have the knowledge. Didn't I make him a magic tool?"
"Not at all...?"
"Why?"
As Nihil asked curiously, Sedes glanced at him slyly and pulled an oval locket from his pocket.
"...Could you cast a preservation spell on this before you go?"
"...".
"Last time it was a bit late, and the color faded..."
"...Let me see it."
Nihil took the locket. Inside were portraits of a half-elf woman on both sides—one as a young girl, the other as a proper adult.
Nihil stared at the lunatic dotard for a moment, then chuckled helplessly and squeezed out some blood in secret, casting the spell.
But tactless Frederick, who saw it, chimed in.
"A moment—using blood magic?"
"Father-in-Law, can't you keep that mouth of yours in check? Or at least give him some tact."
Nihil frowned and grumbled reflexively. Experience had taught him to act bold in situations like this.
Sure enough, the kid's dad apologized right away.
"...Sorry."
"No, no, my lord. Don't say that; it hurts my feelings. I was just checking for your safety..."
Not to mention you almost got assassinated moments ago! Frederick rattled off excuses about fulfilling his duty, but Sedes waved him off to be quiet.
However, since Frederick's point wasn't wrong, the other knights visibly tensed while pretending otherwise.
Nihil sighed and stood up. He needed to see his seaweed, who always accepted him without suspicion, to soothe his mind and body.
"...Where are you going?"
"To see the kid. Anything else?"
"You came to see the kid?"
"Did I come to see you, Father-in-Law?"
"...Well, true... but that blood,"
"Why."
Nihil snapped back grumpily at the unwanted topic resurfacing. But the kid's dad continued impassively, unperturbed by his son's friend's rudeness.
"From now on, if there's no other way, just refuse. It's not my place to say since I asked, but if my son finds out you got hurt because of me, how wildly do you think he'll throw a fit?"
"...".
"And if possible, stop getting kidnapped. Do you know how much my son cries when you don't come?"
"...".
Catching Nihil off guard with the unexpected words, he stared up at Sedes in a daze. Sedes hung the locket back around his neck and tucked it carefully into his clothes, seemingly unbothered by the blood magic revelation. He then looked at the still-dazed Nihil curiously.
"Why are you just standing there? Do you need medicine?"
"...Father-in-Law."
"Hm?"
"Want me to make the portrait move?"
"???"
Sir Evan was glaring intently at the redhead. Feeling the gaze, the redhead flinched and turned around, but Evan quickly averted his eyes and feigned ignorance.
'Why did that one have to follow?'
"Haha, so as I was saying, that arrogant one..."
Aidan chattered on after turning back. Evan glared just as intently at the back of the head of Gonghon, who had become the 1st Prince's play attendant. Even if it was a break time, wasn't that mouth too loose?
If he'd known just anyone could be brought to imperial studies, he would have brought his own wildcat. What if his baby kitten felt intimidated?
"Lianus. I'm sorry for bringing Young Lord Aidan without notice. We take other classes together, so..."
"No!!!"
"...?"
"I'm fine! Bring him to the next imperial studies class too!"
Contrary to Evan's worries, Lianus's eyes sparkled instead of dimming. Now he could bring his own dear friend without worry!
"...You're planning to bring your play attendant to class too, aren't you."
"Yes!"
Lianus answered boldly. If the son of a duke's son with no real status could come, there was no reason his far more impressive dear friend couldn't.
"...Lianus, I have no intention of interfering with your time with your play attendant, but don't forget you're a prince."
"Older Brother, I consider my dear friend my equal."
"A pipe dream. That kid has nothing but his body. He relies on you for food, clothing, and shelter—do you think he can ever be your equal?"
"...".
Lianus's eyes darted as he recalled the barrage of patent fees and supply contracts that had flown into his palace. It wasn't wrong that he provided for Nihil's basics, as his brother said, but his dear friend had more money than he thought.
How shocked had he been at the monthly deposits, amounts of gold larger than his own allowance? He was probably expanding businesses, with expenses to match, but Lianus could only admire his dear friend's finances.
And that was just the start. His dear friend was knowledgeable in herbalism and medicine, could whip up magic tools, had no unknown languages, and taught him homework and even swordsmanship...
'...Maybe Nil should get a salary too.'
Looking at it this way, his dear friend was underpaid for his work. One-off help was one thing, but he was essentially his pharmacist and swordmaster, doing it for free.
Lianus didn't know exact salaries for pharmacists or tutors, but five gold coins seemed reasonable.
'Last time it was stamped 18 gold total, so five would definitely help!'
In truth, the receipt was in platinum coins worth 100 times gold, but Lianus didn't know that yet.
'Funds are always better the more you have...!'
Proud of his clever idea, Lianus suddenly remembered he was mid-conversation with his brother and hastily replied.
"Ah, my dear friend is talented in many ways. If anything, I'm the one receiving more help."
But Lawrence, interpreting his delayed response as he would, continued worriedly.
"I'm... worried about you."
"...Worried about what?"
"That he's using you."
"My dear friend isn't like that."
"You can't be sure."
Lawrence smiled faintly at Lianus's firm assertion. Then he whispered very softly.
"Do you think that closeness will last even after you lose the Harpen name?"
"...".
The Harpen Kingdom had many unique customs, the strangest being royal succession.
The king's children all inherited the Harpen name unconditionally, but when one sibling ascended the throne, the rest inevitably lost theirs. This was why there were no legal Harpen collaterals despite living bloodlines.
And it applied to their mothers too.
After succession, the king's mother became queen dowager, but the other queens remained former queens. Upon her death, even she lost the Harpen name, just like the princes. This held even for consorts.
Dispossessed royals weren't exiled but lost royal privileges.
Young former queens sometimes remarried, but usually lived quietly in a corner of the palace. Returning to their changed families meant being a burden.
Of course, only if relations with the new regime were amicable.
If not...
'Oh, Louis. This mother has never even dreamed of my prince losing the crown to that lowly thing.'
'Me neither, Mother.'
'Of course. If that half-breed takes the throne, he won't leave me be.'
'...'
'I trust my prince will take care of it.'
'...Yes.'
As long as his Swordmaster grandfather lived, his mother's risk was minimal, but Lawrence nodded willingly. He had no intention of losing to Lianus anyway.
But... if, just if, he didn't become crown prince...
"...He'd be discarded."
That would be the end of his usefulness.
"...? Older Brother, I don't understand."
But Lianus couldn't comprehend Lawrence's words. It sounded like Nihil was friends with him only because he was a prince?
'I'm a prince!'
'...So?'
'Wanna be friends?'
'No.'
Recalling his first meeting with Nihil, Lianus felt a bit down. That immediate rejection still stung.
"...Older Brother, there was a time I thought being a prince made it easy to befriend commoners."
"...?"
"But now... I know that was arrogant."
Nil wouldn't care if he were prince or beggar. Status meant nothing to his dear friend.
Yes, if he had to pick something to maintain their smooth friendship, it was keeping his childlike cuteness...
"...".
...Was this relationship really okay?
Lianus wanted to stay close with Nihil but also had ambitions to grow taller than Sir Evan, so he pondered ways to stay cute even when tall.
'...Nil sometimes looks at Sir Evan like he's cute too, so maybe growing like this is fine...?'
"Lianus, don't trust others too much."
"...?"
Lianus, lost in a thought that would have made Nihil choke with laughter, looked up at Lawrence's advice.
"People are drawn to wealth and power. They smile to your face but badmouth you behind your back—that's reality."
"Nil doesn't."
"...".
A twitch crossed Lawrence's lips at the instant reply. Where did such boundless trust come from?
But Lawrence pressed on undeterred.
"Won't it hurt more if someone you truly trusted betrays you? The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment."
Especially if you'd been together for years. Lawrence muttered as he glanced at Evan. He saw him avoid eye contact and bow his head.
His mood lifted a little.