Chapter 220
Chapter 220
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 220
Chapter Title: Pacts and Partings
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Clack, clack.
Queen Helia strolled down the corridor, flapping the contract paper instead of exchanging greetings. A sinister smile laced with satisfaction and mockery played across her face.
"He's a bit grown, but still just a novice."
"……."
"Isn't that right, Sir Leopold?"
"…Yes."
Sir Leopold's response to the queen's question came a little late. A corner of his heart felt uncomfortably sticky.
He had only been standing guard from afar, so he couldn't hear everything clearly, but he could guess the gist from a few keywords.
'Are all shadow knights like that?'
Caught by their weaknesses and forced to do dirty work in their stead?
Of course, someone had to do it, but Leopold felt a twinge of pity for a shadow knight who moved solely on weaknesses and contracts, without any trust.
"Do you pity him?"
Leopold inwardly cursed at the question. He always had to manage his expressions while serving Her Highness, but he'd let it slip without realizing.
"No, ma'am."
The queen's face twisted into a wry smile at his firm denial.
"No need to pity him, Sir Leopold. He's a criminal, after all."
"…Is that… so?"
Leopold found himself questioning the word "criminal," a bit puzzled.
"What crime did he commit…?"
"I can't share the details, but just know it's a crime worthy of execution."
"……."
Leopold unconsciously frowned upon hearing the explanation. It was laughable how a criminal had put on that facade, swearing not to harm anyone further.
'Not grateful to Her Highness who spared him… What an ungrateful wretch.'
Leopold swept away the sympathy he'd felt for the knight named Nave. Helia flashed a grin at the sight.
'What an idiot.'
The returned Wernus Palace was utterly quiet. Sir Evan inwardly sighed in relief as he changed clothes before heading up to His Highness's bedroom. Fortunately, nothing seemed amiss—the little ones were sleeping soundly.
Sir Evan gazed fondly at Lianus, who was sleeping in an odd position with one foot propped on Nihil, then gently poked the prince's plump cheek. It was incredibly soft.
"Mmm… Nom…."
Perhaps because it filled his mouth, the prince's brow furrowed slightly, but he smacked his lips and promptly grabbed Sir Evan's hand tight, drifting back to sleep.
"Sorry for stepping out suddenly."
"No problem."
Rima, who had been quietly keeping watch, shook his head at Sir Evan's apology, saying it was nothing.
"No one approached?"
"There was a presence drawing near, but it withdrew soon after."
"…I see."
Sir Evan apologized again for waking him in the middle of the night and sent Rima back. Just in case, he planned to stand guard all night this time.
"Kkiang."
"Shh, quiet down, Almond."
The well-toasted almond-colored puppy, now awake, waddled over to Sir Evan.
"Did I wake you? Go back to sleep."
"Kkiioong…."
Sir Evan shooed it away with gestures, but the puppy burrowed even closer. After a moment's hesitation, he scooped up the tiny thing into his arms. The small warmth felt comforting, drawing an involuntary smile.
"Sorry for waking you."
"Kkiwoong…."
Sir Evan whispered another apology and lightly kissed the little black nose. But at that moment, he had no idea there were three more apologies owed for the wake-up.
"Woof woof."
"…I get it. I understand."
Sir Evan glared at the medicines Nihil had spread out everywhere as he replied. Who knew there were so many types of potions?
"Any holy water left?"
"Holy water?"
"Yeah. The Grand Duke's place will be thick with demonic energy, so I thought I'd grab some…."
"Hold on."
Tired of memorizing potion types, Sir Evan jumped up. With Young Master Sergio studying diligently too, his own brain could take a break.
'I know I put it here somewhere… Ah, found it.'
Back in his room, Sir Evan rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a glass vial of holy water.
'I figured there were four left….'
Unaware that Nihil had secretly used some, Sir Evan tilted his head but packed all three remaining bottles anyway.
'Might as well give them all.'
There should be a couple more at Ariel's place anyway.
It was expensive—two months' salary for even one—but he didn't mind much. He'd secretly swiped some potions the lynx boy had made before, so this evened the score as payment.
"Make sure he eats his veggies properly."
"…Understood."
"Paprika… you can let it slide once. No, twice."
Returning to the prince's bedroom, Sir Evan found the lynx boy seated with Young Master Sergio in front of him, mid-lecture. The topic seemed to be "proper eating habits for the healthy, robust growth of our esteemed baby kitten."
The lynx boy's own little one sat nearby—unclear when he'd arrived—shooting an openly exasperated look, suggesting this was routine.
Sir Evan gave a pitying glance to the dejected baby kitten's head before handing the holy water to Nihil. The nearby child spotted it and scowled fiercely—maybe he was demonic kin, not dragon.
"Skipping greens won't kill him. Don't torment our prince."
"Sure for a sturdy one like you. Rian needs careful management since his body's balance is off."
"…Right."
Faced with solid reasoning, Sir Evan meekly agreed. But seeing the drooping little head again, he timidly protested.
"Still, can't he be picky for a couple days?"
"Well, yeah."
"Really? …Ah, no, I can handle it maturely. Don't worry, just go."
Lianus perked up at the permission but quickly shook his head. He was almost eight—couldn't keep acting like a baby.
Then the quiet child sighed and spoke.
"Let's go."
"Wait, Dia. I still have safety rules to—"
"Requies! It's just two days!"
Smack! Finally fed up, the child slapped the lynx boy's back. It felt oddly refreshing.
"…Rian, I'll be back soon. Souvenirs too."
"What souvenirs?"
The rascal was spouting disaster. Souvenirs from the Grand Duke's—meaning stolen goods.
'…Come to think of it, did this guy even get permission from the Grand Duke…?'
"Don't worry, woof woof. Won't forget yours either."
"…I don't need any."
Still, if it was something from the Grand Duke's mansion, it'd be no ordinary trinket for the prince.
A pitch-black passage opened at the child's gesture. Sir Evan sneaked a glance, then added softly just before the lynx boy vanished.
"…Come back quicker if you can."
Yeah. He could've sworn he heard that faint reply.
Thud. As soon as he passed through the passage, Nihil popped a red berry-like thing into his mouth. It was Lianus's blood, magic-treated and solidified.
He'd been terrified at the request but shoved out his arm anyway, urging him to hurry. How hilarious was that?
"Father."
As Nihil hopped around to adjust to his numbing body, Dios—back to his true form—approached cautiously.
"The wolf pup seemed a bit suspicious. Is it really okay to leave?"
"It's fine."
"……."
Dios made a face like he couldn't comprehend the calm reply. Nihil stretched languidly and chuckled lightly.
"Why stare like that?"
"…You cherish little Rex so much, so why not help directly?"
"You know, Dia. I have to prepare even for the 'Nil' persona vanishing."
"……."
"Didn't you advise me to cut ties for that very reason?"
Besides, this time had been a real close call—he had no choice but to play it safe.
He just wanted to spend as much time as possible with Lianus, so he'd chosen this roundabout path.
"And I'm helping in my own way."
"Isn't your method awfully cumbersome? And if that child learns his 'choices' were all guided by you from behind… he definitely won't be pleased."
"Well… better a hate with reason than one without, right?"
"……."
Dios fell silent. He couldn't casually comfort someone who'd deliberately created the reason for baseless enmity just to avoid it.
"By the way, everyone seems to think the Grand Duke's territory is an island in the sea."
Nihil tried lightening the mood by peering down the cliff and changing the subject. Harpen Kingdom flickered into view through passing clouds.
"I just told them it was an island. Their misunderstanding."
"Well… doesn't matter. Ah, can I bring the kids to play next time?"
"Do as you please."
"A lot of them?"
"……."
Dios had a gut feeling then. His mansion was about to become a kids' playground.
"…Enough nonsense. Follow me."
Dios scooped up the dangling Nihil under his arm. Nihil found the position uncomfortable but obediently let himself be carried without complaint.
"No sparring if you don't rest at least three hours between training."
"Plenty. I won't interfere with work."
"Use any empty room."
"Alone? Can't share with you, Dia?"
Dios let out an incredulous chuckle.
"Not a child needing supervision, are you?"
"But what if I'm alone and get eaten?"
"What nonsense—"
"You didn't forget I'm fused with the child, right?"
"……."
"Rawr."
"…Stay in my room."
A creeping unease told Dios things were about to get noisy. And it soon became reality.
"Your Grace! Where have you been agai—Kkiiiaaak!"
"……."
"His Grace brought a child!!"
"Ha…."
Dios ruffled his hair roughly as his aide shrieked down the hall and fled. Come to think of it, he hadn't told his subordinates about the guest.
Then Nihil, tucked under his arm, peeked up and whispered.
"See? Should've held the kid properly. Now you've caused needless misunderstanding."
"Quiet down, Requies."
Dios pinched his brow at his teasing father amid the chaos. Already exhausted.
"Dia, my solar plexus is starting to hurt."
"Can't you warn me beforehand?"
"But when else will I get carried like this by you?"
"……."
Dios stopped responding and readjusted his hold on Nihil. As the holy water aura neared his heart, a slight discomfort welled up.
"……."
Only then did Dios realize he'd unconsciously kept the holy water at bay—and that his father knew it, submitting to the awkward carry.
"Dia, you can just set me down."
"It's fine."
Stubborn defiance made him hug tighter. Teasing about his inexperience with kids continued, but he ignored it and kept walking.
"Y-Your Grace, that child…?"
"Do your job."
"Grand Duke, is that person perha—"
"No. Work."
"A child…!"
"Ignore and work!"
But every subordinate he passed nitpicked, so Dios finally couldn't take it and set Nihil down.
"Amuse yourself."
"…Dia, I'm not here to play…."
"I'll visit after finishing up. My room's at the top. Go ahead or sightsee."
Want souvenirs? Head to the warehouse. Dios added mentally as he gathered mana to summon an anima.
"Fluff fluff."
"Ku-ya!"
Somnus hopped joyfully toward Nihil's arms but halted. It instinctively recoiled from the holy power emanating from the vials.
Nihil apologized to Somnus and carefully placed it atop his head.
"Don't take that off."
"Got it."
Nihil nodded. With his trusty grand—er, Somnus, exploring the Grand Duke's mansion would be a breeze.
But moments later, Nihil realized that was wishful thinking.
"Fluff."
"Ku-ya?"
"…Are we looping the same spot?"
"Kuii."
Somnus nodded affirmatively, then tilted its head as if wondering what the problem was.
'Dia, why didn't you tell me I messed up?'
'I figured Father had some plan.'
"Mm…."
A fleeting old conversation crossed his mind, and Nihil swallowed a groan.
Looks like Somnus had fooled him.