Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Lessons in Caution
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The games continued right up until dinner. At Nihil's request to eat casually while chatting, all the servants had been dismissed. Thanks to that, even Sir Evan was sitting comfortably at the table with them, enjoying the meal.
Delighted by how much fun the games had been, Lianus scooped up some mashed potatoes and asked,
"What should we do for fun after dinner?"
Nihil paused mid-cut with his knife, pondering the question.
He's a prince, after all. Is it really okay for him to just keep playing like this? He must have a ton of duties—he's not wasting time on me, is he?
"Rian, what did you usually do after dinner?"
"Hmm..."
Lianus thought back on his past evenings. Nothing came to mind right away.
He'd often fallen ill and missed lessons, forcing him to cram through the night to catch up, only to spike a fever again. Sometimes he'd read books or practice swordsmanship.
On rough days, he'd hole up in his room all day, doing nothing but sleeping.
Thinking about it, those weren't exactly joyful times, and admitting the truth felt a bit embarrassing, so Lianus just brushed it off.
"Oh, you know... not much."
"You're not putting off important stuff because of me, are you?"
"Nuh-uh, nope!"
Lianus shook his head vigorously.
There weren't any must-do tasks, really. Sure, studying and sword practice would help if he worked hard at them, but for now, he just wanted to hang out with Nihil without a care.
Lianus knew he'd changed a lot since meeting Nihil. He no longer obsessed over studies or swordplay, and even chatting with his older brother didn't make him tense anymore. With Nihil around, it felt like he could handle anything.
His best friend gave him confidence and peace just by being there.
"Meeting you was the best luck ever."
Lianus beamed. Nihil, far from touched, just raised one eyebrow.
"Rian, you don't go trusting people that easily, do you?"
Sir Evan, who had been cutting his food, lifted an eyebrow at Nihil's blunt words, shooting him a look that said read the room, but Nihil pressed on.
"Don't trust anyone that easily besides me."
Nihil scolded Lianus firmly. Picking up strays and getting attached like this was trouble.
"Rian, always stay on guard. Don't take food from just anyone, and don't pick up random junk."
Sir Evan muttered beside him, "Then why should we trust you? You've already picked up a stray and can't turn back now," but no one responded.
The guard dog looked forlorn.
Lianus glanced sympathetically at the dejected Sir Evan before continuing.
"Nil, should I not eat stuff you give me either...?"
"You can eat what I give you. No need to doubt me. I'd never harm you."
"Okay!"
"But you should doubt whether it's really 'me'."
"...?"
Lianus tilted his head. He didn't get it.
Don't doubt Nihil, but doubt if it's really Nihil? Like someone disguising themselves as him? What if they looked exactly alike and he couldn't tell?
"How can I tell the difference?"
"It's not hard. Just get to know me better. Spending time together will make it natural, but first things first—you should know I'm way more prideful, experienced, and suspicious than you think."
"Hmm..."
"And... borrowing your knight's words, I'm pretty ill-mannered."
Sir Evan nodded vigorously while chewing steak. The wildcat kid's got good self-awareness, he thought.
Lianus jabbed his knight's side, who was nodding as if it were obvious, then replied,
"Nil, I know you have your reasons, so it's fine. And anyone who spends time with you will quickly see what a good guy you are."
Nihil fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Rian, it's only been three days since we met. I'm saying this because I'm worried—don't get attached to people so fast."
"Got it! You're the only special one."
Lianus dunked a torn piece of bread in his soup and grinned widely.
Nihil really was special. Lianus was extremely wary of outsiders, after all—that's why he kept only a minimal staff in his palace.
"Alright, Rian. What did I say earlier?"
"Don't doubt 'you', but doubt if it's really 'you'."
"Right. So if a maid comes saying I sent her with some medicine, what would you do?"
"Hmm... thank her."
"..."
Nihil realized nothing had gotten through and quietly set down his water glass.
As silence fell, Lianus blinked his big, round eyes rapidly, tilting his head as if wondering if he'd said something wrong.
Nihil figured his explanation needed simplifying to match Lianus's level and opened his mouth again.
"Rian, what kind of person am I?"
"Umm... prideful, experienced, and super suspicious?"
Nihil mashed a well-cooked bean with his fork, nodding, then looked straight at Lianus. Low on application, but good memory. That's something.
"Rian, the super suspicious 'me' doesn't trust people easily. Especially not with something important like medicine—I wouldn't let anyone else handle it. Not even a simple dessert would I hand off to someone else while name-dropping myself. So if that maid claims it's from 'me', it's not."
"Ah...!"
Lianus's eyes widened in realization, and he nodded rapidly. His dark green, seaweed-like curls bounced along.
Seeing Lianus get it, Nihil continued.
"Good. Now, what if your knight brings you a snack, saying I prepared it? What then?"
"Um, can we eat it together?"
"..."
Nihil was at a loss for words again. His throat suddenly parched, he gulped down a full glass of water.
Sir Evan, listening quietly from the side, burst out laughing. The awkward half-understanding was funny, and the kitten-like prince asking permission to share snacks with him was just too adorable.
"Rian. I wouldn't send that dog—er, your knight—to bring you snacks alone..."
"Sorry, I'll eat it by myself then..."
Lianus drooped his head, feeling scolded for some reason.
Nihil also hung his head, rubbing his forehead. Probably because he trusts his guard too blindly—his reasoning's not kicking in.
Sir Evan chuckled at the two drooping boys, then took over the explanation for Nihil.
"Your Highness, what he means is he'll never send anyone with food. So even if I—whom you trust without question—bring snacks claiming they're from him, you should suspect it."
Sir Evan smugly emphasized "trust without question" and grinned at Nihil.
Nihil ignored him completely and kept going.
"Listen up, Rian. Food, items, even living things—I'll hand them to you myself, directly. Unless I warn you ahead of time, they won't go through anyone else's hands. Eat poison from me directly if I give it, but don't take supplements from others. If someone name-drops me, suspect them first. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Lianus nodded brightly, apparently missing the poison bit entirely.
Sir Evan noted the extreme example but didn't call Nihil out. He knew why the kid was drilling this so hard—Nihil understood his own precarious position.
A wandering orphan who was the prince's friend and nothing else. Easy to approach, exploit, and dispose of once done. No one would care if he vanished quietly.
Conveniently, he'd picked up the herbs and medical books Nihil had requested during their outing today. Couldn't trust him fully, but keeping watch nearby would minimize risks.
"And Rian, even if you suspect something, don't show it. Your face is too honest."
"I'll try!"
Lianus answered without a second thought.
Effort alone wouldn't hide his innate honesty, so Nihil eyed Lianus's sky-high confidence dubiously. But teaching it wouldn't help either, so he just nodded and switched topics with another example.
"Rian, if I got kidnapped or taken hostage and begged you to save me, what would you do?"
"Ask the kidnappers what they want."
"..."
Nihil sighed inwardly. Perfectly reasonable, but not what he wanted.
"I don't beg for my life."
"Why...? What if you get hurt?"
"No, that's not the point. A 'me' begging for life isn't the real me."
"So I shouldn't help if 'you' ask for it?"
"Exactly. Could be illusion magic or a disguise."
"B-but it might be the real you. What if it's a really, really dangerous situation?"
"Sure, I could get kidnapped or held hostage. It might look dire to you... But Rian, think. If the real me was captured and locked away, how would I act?"
Lianus closed his eyes, furrowing his brows, seriously imagining a kidnapped Nihil. But no matter how hard he tried, no sense of crisis emerged.
Even when he'd woken up after being hit by a carriage, his first words weren't "Help" or "Save me," but "Who are you?" Even with his head busted open and blood pouring, Nihil's expression hadn't changed much from now.
Was his imagination lacking? Or had he just never seen Nihil rattled by emotions? Either way, no desperate, panicked Nihil came to mind.
Lianus haltingly voiced his step-by-step imaginings of kidnapped Nihil's actions.
"You'd... probably just be rolling around on the floor."
"..."
"Then when I came to rescue you, you'd ask what took me so long and sit up."
"..."
"And let out a short sigh. Then get up casually, pick the lock like it's nothing, and say let's go home."
"Ha..."
Nihil couldn't argue. I might be easier to read than I thought, he realized.
Meanwhile, the more Lianus imagined, the more he felt like he'd somehow wronged Nihil.
"It's like... super reassuring, but it feels like I'd be messing up your plans. Sorry for ruining them."
"...Don't apologize for your own imagination."
"Kkh, heh, kuhahaha!"
Sir Evan, who'd been watching, clutched his stomach, stifled laughs turning into full-blown guffaws. If this were a bedroom, he'd be rolling on the floor.
Forgotten was the kidnapping scenario; Lianus and Sir Evan started plotting a rescue for the un-kidnapped Nihil.
Nihil pondered where to even begin correcting them, then realized thinking about it was a waste of time. He mashed some cold potatoes and took a bite.
Let's just eat.