Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Where Did Nil Go?
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"...Nil?"
Lianus blinked awake and stared blankly at the spot beside him. His dear friend was nowhere to be seen now that morning had come, leaving only Poofu lying demurely in his place.
He was definitely sleeping right here with me...!
Worried that Nihil might have shrunk down and gotten buried under Poofu, Lianus lifted the doll—but of course, Nihil wasn't there.
It was a doll he'd always cherished, but now that it was standing in for Nihil, he couldn't help finding it utterly hateful.
What if he got kidnapped...?
The thought that he'd be the first target if anyone was kidnapping people never even crossed Lianus's mind. His face drained of color all the same.
His heart pounding with anxiety, he sprang out of bed and slipped on the slippers on the floor. Just then, a knock came at the door.
"Your Highness, did you cough?"
It was his guard knight, Sir Evan. Overjoyed, Lianus dashed to the door and flung it open.
"Sir Evan!"
"Your Highness, it's an honor to have you greet me personally like this."
"Sir Evan, have you seen Nil?"
Sir Evan recalled the white-haired beast he'd glimpsed darting past during his dawn training and answered awkwardly.
"If it's him, he's probably washing up in his room. He woke up... early."
He'd spotted the white beast before the sun had even risen, right in the middle of his solo training.
The dirt-covered creature had peeked at his training for a moment before casually going on its way—toward the back mountains behind the palace, no less.
What the hell is that thing wandering around for at this ungodly hour...?
He'd considered following it since it might be dangerous, but he couldn't leave a set distance from His Highness, and the beast vanished from sight the moment he looked away. So he'd just focused back on his training.
He ran into it again on his way back to the palace after training ended.
The beast was clutching a small flowerpot and a few grass roots in its arms, looking even filthier than before—like it'd tumbled down the hill in the back mountains. Its once-pristine white fur was caked in dirt.
The second time they crossed paths, it glanced up at him again before calmly continuing on. Training was over, and curiosity about its destination won out, so Evan decided to tail it.
But contrary to expectations, the lynx-like thing headed straight to its own bedroom.
Once there, though, it didn't go in. It just stood in front of the door, staring up at him intently.
Evan, puzzled by the behavior, asked,
What? Telling me not to follow?
Open the door.
...
Only then did Evan realize it was waiting for him to open the door. He did so personally, escorting it all the way to the bathroom before heading to his own room to wash up.
After a quick rinse, he came up to His Highness's bedroom to find their sweet, adorable baby kitten hopping about in distress over the lynx's absence!
"He went to wash up. I thought he'd been kidnapped..."
"...Wouldn't it be more efficient to kidnap Your Highness than that thing?"
"Uh... yeah, I guess?"
Lianus nodded thoughtfully, then shook his head as second thoughts hit.
"No, kidnapping a prince is too risky, so they might go for Nil instead."
"...I doubt he'd let himself get kidnapped so easily, unless he was cold and starving."
"Hmm, yeah, you're probably right..."
Relieved that all was well with his baby kitten, Lianus headed to the bathroom to wash up.
Soon after, the white beast crawled into His Highness's bedroom. Evan had a million questions, but with water dripping from its head, he wrapped a towel around the wet hair first.
For something freshly washed, its skin felt surprisingly chilly to the touch.
"Did you bathe in cold water?"
"......"
Nihil didn't answer, instead scurrying straight to the fireplace. It pressed right up against the flames, looking almost combative in its intensity, but Evan just figured it was cold and let it be.
He'd find out why it was toasting itself so fervently only after His Highness emerged from the bathroom.
"Nil!"
"Yeah."
"You washed up?"
"Yeah."
"Hahaha, your cheeks are all nice and toasty, like you just came out of a hot bath!"
"Yeah."
Delighted, Lianus pressed his hands to Nihil's flushed cheeks and rubbed vigorously.
Sir Evan eyed Nihil sidelong as his face got squished and distorted.
So that's it—desperately warming up by the fire to hide that it'd bathed in cold water.
Softie...
That thing was definitely a fox. He should've nicknamed it that from the start.
Evan debated telling His Highness about the lynx's fox antics but held his tongue. It'd only hurt His Highness in the end.
His angelic prince, who considered even that his friend, would surely freak out if he learned his dear companion had dunked itself in ice-cold water.
Lianus stuck to Nihil like glue right up until he had to leave for swordsmanship class. He dawdled so long that Evan finally scooped up the baby kitten and loaded him into the carriage when it was clear they'd be late otherwise.
"Your Highness, we must go now."
"Eeeh... Nil, I'll be back soon."
"Yeah."
"Don't go anywhere."
"Yeah."
Lianus bid farewell with eyes brimming with reluctance. They'd see each other again at lunchtime, and after imperial studies, they'd spend the whole day together in the palace—but longing was longing.
Nihil waved until Lianus's carriage was out of sight, then went straight to the butler, handed over a memo listing needed items, and headed back to the rear mountains. There were still plenty of herbs left from his interrupted dawn harvest.
He hopped nimbly along the steep, deserted paths, gathering herbs quickly. The palace's back mountains surprisingly held many rare varieties. Likely because no one dared trespass in the royal forest to pick them.
Or perhaps it was the influence of that half-elf said to be Lianus's mother. The palace wing Lianus used now had been hers until her death.
Nihil's courage wasn't that great, but since the kid's dad said it was fine even if he picked them, he grabbed his trowel without worry.
Lianus would be back by 11:30, so he'd wrap up and return by then.
Afternoon plans were packed too. Sort the gathered herbs, make emergency potions for the kid's field trip tomorrow. He wanted to scout Sharton Street ahead of time and clear out hazards, but he couldn't stray too far—Lianus might come looking, especially after fretting over a possible kidnapping this very morning.
Remembering Lianus's fragile condition, Nihil sighed deeply and plunged the trowel back into the earth. How was a prince with such a frail body supposed to survive this harsh world?
Not that he was in any position to worry about others, honestly.
He'd dozed off countless times before, but sleeping five hundred years straight was a first, as was waking in a child's body. He'd lost his power and his cherished child, boiling with rage at first—but with this cute thing fluttering around him, he'd regained some composure.
The problem was how broken his body was; he couldn't even maintain his original form. He couldn't pin down what his "original form" even was anymore, but he'd weakened to the point where "those guys" would spot him instantly, rendering mana use impossible.
Forcing it might work, but they'd notice and prepare the hunt right away.
At least the body itself is sturdy, and I can still use mimicry. Small mercies.
When kidnapped by pirates, various drugs had failed to take full effect, so his pre-existing poison immunities seemed intact.
Judging by his current state, in 7-10 years, he'd have decent combat prowess for the mortal realm. Even now, he was stronger than a regular human, enough to back up the dog and protect one little prince.
Though I couldn't protect that child...
Feeling unusually spry, Lianus ran hard and swung his sword with vigor. The harder he pushed, the sooner it'd end—or so it felt.
His form seemed sharper than usual too.
Sir Evan smiled warmly at his diligent charge.
His Highness usually glanced at his half-brother while swinging, botching his form—except during solo makeup training. Today, though, his stance was rock-solid. It was the 1st Prince stealing glances instead, which was downright satisfying to watch.
Class over, Lawrence approached his younger brother.
Lianus was rushing to pack up; he had to get back to his palace by 11:30 to play with his dear friend.
"Lianus."
"...Y-yes?"
"No makeup training today either?"
"Ah, yes."
Lianus gave a curt reply and resumed packing. Without a servant, handling his own gear was a hassle.
Lawrence waited for an explanation, but none came. Instead, Lianus grabbed his sweat towel last and turned toward the training ground showers.
Lawrence grabbed his arm before he could bolt.
"W-wait, Lianus."
"Yes?"
"Why the rush? You've got imperial studies this afternoon anyway. Let's eat together and chat like old times. I'll have them prepare that mint tea you like."
"Ah, Brother, thanks for the invite, but I'm eating back at my palace. Next time."
"...You have to go back?"
"Yes. My friend doesn't like eating alone. See you in imperial studies."
Oblivious to Lawrence's stiffening face, Lianus grabbed his things. "Sir Evan, hurry, hurry!" he urged, dragging Evan along.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Lianus halted and whirled back toward Lawrence. Lawrence thought, There we go, bracing for an apology like "Sorry, Brother, I was thoughtless."
But that wasn't it. Lianus cupped his hands in front of his mouth and blurted out what he'd always wanted to say.
"Brother! I actually don't like mint tea that much!"
"......"
"I drink it sometimes because you like it!"
"......"
"See you later!"
With that, Lianus dashed to the showers without looking back.
He had to make it back to the palace by 11:30.