Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The First Prince's Extended Hand
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The 1st Prince, Lawrence de Harpen, sneered at Lianus. The guy who had always struggled desperately to keep up now seemed to have completely given up, showing zero focus.
Lianus stayed completely spaced out right up until swordsmanship class was nearly over. The duke, their instructor, never once called him out during the entire session. If anything, he ignored him even more, devoting all his attention to teaching Lawrence.
Once class wrapped up, Lawrence approached with a furrowed brow, feigning concern.
"Lianus."
"...Ah, Older Brother."
Lianus, who had been staring blankly, responded a beat late to Lawrence's call.
"Are you still not feeling well? You seemed totally drained today."
"I'm fully recovered. I was just lost in thought for a moment."
Lawrence's lips curved into a red afterimage of a smile. He figured the incident at the duke's mansion must have hit Lianus pretty hard.
After all, the guy had come down with a fever afterward.
He wanted to see this foolish little brother torn to shreds, crumbling right before his eyes. So every time the idiot presumptuously clawed his way up, Lawrence shoved him straight off the cliff like he'd been waiting for it.
Sometimes, right as he was about to collapse, he'd even extend a hand. Oblivious to whose it was, the fool would climb back up again and again, his face plastered with inferiority.
Watching his brother like that was Lawrence's one and only pleasure. It was hilarious seeing him rise and fall completely at Lawrence's whim. Each push off the edge sent a strange thrill surging through his body.
Now it was time to extend that hand to the fallen fool once more.
Putting on an innocent face like he knew nothing, Lawrence carefully broached the subject with Lianus.
"I heard they're splitting the class. I should've been more considerate of you at the duke's mansion. You must have been really upset. Let me apologize—how about we cancel it and not bother the innocent instructors?"
Lawrence extended his hand, rounding his crimson eyes.
Lianus, who had been staring at the ground, lifted his head as a palm entered his view, meeting those crimson eyes.
Snapping out of his own distraction at the sight of the outstretched hand, Lianus realized they were in the middle of a conversation and fumbled to recall what it was about.
"Ah, no, Older Brother!"
"...No to what?"
"The class split is because I want to take lessons with my friend. It has nothing to do with you, so please don't worry about it."
"...Your friend."
Lawrence lowered the hand he'd slightly raised. Then he recalled the conversation with his mother from the day before.
'My prince, that cursed child brought a commoner kid to His Majesty, claiming him as a friend.'
'A commoner kid?'
'I don't know what the kid does, but I've already set people to find out. You'll hear soon enough.'
'No one pays attention to him, so he's clinging to some commoner for comfort, right?'
'Exactly. Don't worry about it, my prince. Your mother will handle it. Do as you please. If you can use him, do so. If he gets in the way, just remove him...'
'Yes, Mother.'
"...Brother!"
"Hm? What did you say?"
Lost in thought, Lawrence snapped back at Lianus's call. Swamp-colored hair fluttered before his eyes.
"I said I'm heading out first. My friend's waiting."
Heading out first? The guy who always stayed behind for extra practice alone after class?
Only then did Lawrence realize something was off. Desperate to figure out what had changed Lianus, he blurted out something to hold him back.
"Don't go—how about we have a meal together for old times' sake?"
"Sorry, Older Brother. I have plans with my friend first. He's getting bored waiting, so he told me to hurry! See you later!"
Before Lawrence could say another word, Lianus grabbed his knight and dashed off.
His cry of 'Sir Evan, let's go!' was brimming with cheer.
The once-damp, dreary swamp-colored hair now looked vibrantly fresh, swaying like forest leaves in the breeze.
Lawrence stood frozen, staring at the retreating figure. The Tesaurus Duke watching nearby, along with the escort knights, silently gauged the 1st Prince's mood.
Comforting some lowly commoner's boredom took priority over dining with him?
This guy who had never once refused his words. The audacity.
A crack began to form on Lawrence's ever-gentle smiling face.
The foolish brother had given up climbing his cliff. No—he'd found another one.
Something other than him.
A grinding sound echoed quietly from one corner of the training grounds.
Back at the palace, Nihil was scampering down the stairs into the lobby. He rushed straight to Lianus, gave his face a quick once-over, smirked, and whispered for him to hurry and wash up.
And in Lianus's bedroom.
"Why are you grinning like that? Just bark already."
Unable to stand the gaze full of barely contained laughter, Nihil spoke first.
Lianus still hadn't emerged from the bathroom.
Sensing the wildcat wanted it, Evan obliged with a meek "Woof."
Nihil's face visibly hardened at the actual dog sound. Doubting his ears for a moment, he even dug at them.
"...You've finally lost it."
"Maybe I have."
No matter what Nihil said, Evan just kept beaming. Then, as if struck by a thought, he burst into loud laughter.
The sound was so booming that Lianus called from the bathroom, "Sir Evan, what's going on?!"
Nihil furrowed his brows.
"If you're going mad, do it gracefully."
"Thanks to you, I got a rare show."
Evan reminisced about the training grounds that day.
He should've recorded the baby snake's changing expression with a viewing stone...
When the 1st Prince's escort knight picked a fight, he'd snapped back like a wildcat, nearly sparking a dogfight—but even that had been utterly satisfying.
"What's my viewing fee?"
Not even asking what happened, Nihil demanded payment. Evan nodded vigorously, saying of course he'd pay up, and asked what he wanted.
Evan was willing to grant anything within his power. It had been that rare a spectacle, and he was in high spirits.
"...Think up some games to tire Rian out so he crashes early. About five should do..."
"......"
Evan was speechless. He realized his capabilities were far more limited than he'd thought.
"Viewing fee."
"...Too expensive."
"Fine, three."
The wildcat's price was steeper than expected. Down from five to three, but by the time Lianus finished bathing, Evan hadn't come up with a single one.
Nihil clicked his tongue, muttering about the incompetent fool, but the incompetent Evan clamped his mouth shut. He couldn't argue.
Nihil had been racking his brain all morning over 'games to play with Rian all day,' but hadn't thought of any either—and now this even more bewildering mess.
Etiquette class started right after lunch.
The insolent mutt who hadn't paid up properly had left on some errand, leaving Nihil seated beside Lianus for etiquette class.
The instructor teaching culture and manners sometimes turned lunch-hour classes into exams by dining together to check table etiquette—and today was one of those days.
It had been scheduled, but with the timetable shifting just yesterday and Lianus all excited about taking classes with his friend, he'd completely forgotten. So Nihil, clueless, suddenly found himself eating before an unfamiliar lady.
The Lianus beside him whispered softly.
"Nil, sorry. I forgot too."
Nihil just nodded indifferently. Sitting down to eat with a stranger out of nowhere was startling, but not unwelcome. Since when did he care about others' opinions?
The etiquette teacher entering the dining room startled at the sight of Nihil's white hair but quickly composed herself.
Fortunately, the meal disguised as class passed more smoothly than expected. Lianus had warned in advance that his commoner friend would attend every session, and Nihil—for once—didn't act out, eating decently enough.
Whether the etiquette instructor had low expectations for the commoner Nihil or simply ignored him, she didn't nitpick much.
Conversation throughout the meal had been minimal anyway, so Nihil tuned it out and focused on eating.
Even after the meal, class continued in another room, but Nihil sat there like a sack of barley, unmoving.
Ways to greet His Majesty depending on the situation, hierarchies between imperial and foreign royalty, points to watch when conversing with foreigners, tips for dealing with lower-ranking individuals...
Unlike what Nihil expected—just posture and basics—the content was surprisingly practical.
Not that it mattered to Nihil, who treated everyone equally.
He thought they lived exhausting lives and inwardly clicked his tongue.
Nihil had sat properly enough to avoid bothering Lianus, but by the end of class, even his posture had crumbled; he lounged against the backrest carelessly.
As Lianus called out to encourage Nihil, the etiquette instructor, Countess Tarandrus, summoned Lianus instead.
"Your Highness."
"Yes, Instructor."
"Today's lesson ends here."
"Well done, Countess."
During class, Lianus addressed instructors formally as "Instructor," a mark of respect for teachers. His switch to informal signaled the end of the session.
The countess glanced at Nihil sprawled beside Lianus and cautiously spoke up.
"Your Highness, keeping an uneducated commoner boy at your side isn't wise."
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't insult my friend."
"I'm saying this for your sake. Reputation aside, behaving like that before royalty and nobles..."
"Enough."
Lianus cut off the countess.