Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Saving the Princess
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Lianus woke up earlier than usual today. The night before, Nihil had been practicing his reading by reading him a fairy tale, but Lianus had dozed off midway and fallen asleep early.
The early morning air was quite chilly due to the flower frost that had returned after just four days. The mischievous jealousy that seemed to begrudge spring's arrival had frosted the terrace windows white overnight, just when the weather appeared to be warming up.
Sir Evan, back from his predawn training, arrived even earlier than usual and immediately began vigorously stuffing logs into the fireplace.
On days like this, snow could fall out of nowhere—it was the perfect weather for the frail prince to catch a cold.
As he crammed in about fifteen logs, a white figure came toddling over, dripping water from its head.
"Doggy."
"...What."
"Take this."
"What is it."
Sir Evan unfolded the slip of paper Nihil handed him. It was none other than a list of medicinal herbs.
"If you get the time, gather them one by one. The ones marked on the side are poisonous, so keep that in mind. Skip any that are too hard to find."
"How much?"
"One bundle each."
"...Got it."
Sir Evan tucked the note into his pocket and summoned the servants to bring breakfast. The wildcat felt Nihil's gaze boring into him persistently, but he ignored it for the moment.
The three of them gathered around the table for their meal—a sight that had become quite familiar by now.
Nihil began spooning up a spicy chicken soup that felt a tad too bold for breakfast. In contrast, Lianus, savoring his creamy white mushroom soup, paused with his bread halfway dipped and spoke up.
"Yeah, I dreamed I became a hero."
"Is that so?"
Sir Evan replied with a warm smile. Nihil nodded along, figuring it must have been from the hero tale he'd read to Lianus before bed.
"I went as the hero to rescue Nil, who'd been kidnapped by a witch!"
"Cough...! Hack!"
The mention of being kidnapped by a witch sent the spicy soup surging back up.
Lianus shot to his feet in alarm, hurriedly passing a napkin and patting Nihil's back. But the ticklish, stinging burn at the back of his throat refused to let the coughing subside. Tears even welled up from the reflex.
Sir Evan, picturing Nihil as a dainty princess in a frilly dress being whisked away by a witch, laughed so hard he nearly overturned the entire table.
Then his eyes met Nihil's, streaming with tears, and guilt stabbed him. He quickly offered a glass of water.
Too caught up in coughing, Nihil nearly splashed the water across Sir Evan's face but managed to hold back.
"Nil, you okay?"
"Hack, yeah, I'm, hack, fine."
After a sip of water, Nihil felt a little better. He indifferently wiped away his tears with his palm and lifted his head.
From all the coughing, perhaps, Nihil's face was flushed bright red with heat, his white lashes damp and glistening. It was oddly impressive that he kept his blank expression through it all, but somehow that only made him look more pathetic.
Sir Evan clamped his mouth shut, unable to mock the sight any further. Nihil kept sipping water to stifle the lingering coughs.
Tormented by guilt over making his dear friend cry, Lianus fidgeted and spoke up.
"Nil, sorry for coming to rescue you!"
"Pfft! Hack!"
The water pooled in Nihil's mouth sprayed back out into the world. He slapped a hand over it in haste, but droplets still trickled between his fingers.
"Nil!"
Lianus's eyes went wide as he thrust another napkin forward. Sir Evan struggled to contain his laughter but utterly failed.
"Kh, kkhuhu, wow, Your Highness, are you, cough, doing this on purpose?"
"Huh? Doing what? Did I mess up again?"
"N-No, cough, nothing. Your Highness is perfect. How could a rescue be wrong."
"Hack, Ri, Rian, hack, just, hack, hack, don't say anything for a bit."
"Uh, o-okay..."
Sir Evan teetered on the edge of collapsing to the floor. The image of a delicate kidnapped princess Nil was hilarious enough, but watching the innocent kitten unwittingly torment the wildcat with pure words and deeds was just too adorable and commendable.
The table and all its dishes trembled in sympathy with Sir Evan's quaking frame.
Nihil finally quelled his cough and spoke.
"Rian."
"Yeah. You good now, Nil?"
"I'm fine. If you're sharing the dream, spill it quick."
Nihil wanted to wrap up Lianus's dream story before resuming breakfast. He had no desire to spew food mid-meal from some unforeseen twist.
"Ugh, Your Highness, by any chance, did the, ugh, witch's tower explode?"
Sir Evan, still spasming intermittently as he reined in his laughter, posed the question to Lianus. His face was twisted from the stomach cramps of mirth, almost resembling sobs.
Aware of Nihil's prior feat of demolishing a pirate ship, Sir Evan resolved to tease him mercilessly this time.
Nihil shot Sir Evan a look of utter disdain, but innocent Lianus reacted with his heterochromatic eyes bulging as if ready to pop out.
"S-Sir Evan, how did you know? I barely reached the tower entrance when—boom!—it exploded and burst into flames!"
"Kkhuhuhu...!"
"But there was Nil, who I figured was at the top, crawling up from the basement covered head to toe in dust?"
"Kkuk, khahahaha!"
Sir Evan dissolved into hysterics once more.
Now Lianus's worried gaze shifted from Nihil to Sir Evan.
The little kitten mewled anxiously at his side, the wildcat clutched his forehead with a sigh, but Sir Evan laughed without a care.
It was the rowdiest, most uproarious morning of Sir Evan's twenty years.
Lianus left his palace a little early. He wanted to pay respects to His Majesty before class.
Until now, he'd made a habit of brief greetings after lessons, but with the class separation, visits to the main palace had dwindled. Today featured imperial studies, so he'd resolved to drop by when time allowed for even a short chat.
Especially to express thanks for approving his friend's entry to the palace.
Early as it was, His Majesty would already be buried in paperwork in his office.
The main palace, a spitting image of His Majesty, exuded stern grandeur without ostentation. Though he never summoned the princes personally, he never turned away a visiting one if he was present—no fear of being sent packing.
Waiting demurely in the reception room adjacent to the office, Lianus soon heard His Majesty enter.
He sprang up and bowed deeply.
"Sit."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A maid served tea. A faint floral aroma warmed the room, trailing the rising steam.
"Sorry to drop in unannounced when you're so busy."
"No matter. Something on your mind?"
Sedes had kept interactions with the princes to curt survival checks, so this felt a touch awkward. Princes didn't visit without cause—he braced for trouble.
"No! Well, no, Your Majesty, it's not about any issue. I just... wanted to see you. With the class split, I come here less, and... you permitting my friend's palace entry..."
"Getting along with your friend?"
Sedes cut in unusually. He'd feigned disinterest when approving the entry to avoid drawing eyes, but truth be told, curiosity about the child gnawed at him too.
At the question, Lianus pictured Nihil and broke into a beaming grin.
Sedes, beholding his son's pure smile after so long, let his eyes widen ever so slightly.
"We're doing great, Your Majesty. I especially wanted to thank you again for allowing it."
"Good."
Relief—he seemed fine.
Sedes sipped his tea wordlessly. Floral notes bloomed across his tongue.
Lianus mirrored him. Clink—the cup met saucer, resounding in the hush.
Sedes spoke first this time.
"I heard you're taking separate lessons from the 1st Prince because of that child."
"Yes, out of my greed to spend more time with my friend."
"A commoner, wasn't he? Might struggle to keep pace."
"...He seems bored at times, but no real problems yet. Marquis Karus—no, Francesca—appears to like him, though..."
Lianus trailed off, expression ambivalent. Memories surfaced of Karus clutching Nihil's trouser leg and throwing a fit.
'That qualifies as liking him, right?'
Sorting his thoughts, Lianus nodded firmly.
"He likes him a lot."
"That one's so unbound by convention, status means little."
"Yes. Your Majesty, may I...?"
"What."
"Could you dismiss the maid? There's something I'd like to ask."
"......"
Sedes waved the maid away. Finally, the real topic—he sobered up.
Something was definitely afoot.
"What is it."
Lianus didn't reply at once, double-checking the room had cleared before speaking.
"Sorry. It's minor, but my friend prefers his story not spread, so I'm being careful."
"Your friend said that?"
"Yes, that he might become my weakness."
Sedes narrowed his eyes.
Sound advice, yet its soundness cast suspicion on the friend. No ordinary child would counsel thus. Scheming to exploit the prince's station? Yet hiding nothing suspicious muddied judgment further.
Hope our naive prince hasn't tangled with some shady sort...
"...A commoner, but sharp as a tack. Older than he looks?"
"Not sure on age exactly, but our heights match. And he really is clever. Which is why... may I ask?"
Oblivious to his father's mounting anxiety, Lianus beamed at the implied praise for his friend, nodding brightly.
"...Out with it."
"Have you heard anything about my friend from the teachers or anyone?"
"The countess mentioned you seem quite fond of him."
"Of course! Anything else?"
"No. I didn't probe, no rumors surfaced. The marquis clammed up entirely—likely taken with the boy. Patrol guards say they've never spotted him venturing out alone. Your friend prompt that question too?"
"...Yes."
Lianus felt apologetic—meant to give thanks, yet yammered solely about his friend.
Sedes noted Lianus peeking nervously, seeming deflated. For conversation's sake—and intel on the commoner—he pressed directly.
"Mind if I ask about him?"
"Go ahead! Ask away!"
"Didn't he warn against letting his details circulate? This easy to share?"
"It's fine! He said if Your Majesty asks, no need to hide. Hiding would show on my face anyway, and it'd paint him suspicious."
"......"
Worry crept over Sedes.
Is this really okay?
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