Chapter 566: Jealousy is My Power (66)
Chapter 566: Jealousy is My Power (66)
First Prince Vilteon.
Since his youth, he had been a man renowned for his jovial and bold temperament. Rumors of his striking beauty were equally widespread.
The descendants of the dragon, who inherited the blessed bloodline, were generally blessed with fine features. However, it was said that three among them possessed looks that were truly exceptional; one of those three was First Prince Vilteon.
For reference, the other two were Second Princess Iris and Fifth Princess Cien. Recalling the beauty of those two, I had already formed a rough estimate of how dashing Vilteon would be.
He could probably have filled several wagons with the women he’d made cry over the years.
I was currently realizing that my assumption hadn't been far off.
"Care for a drink?"
We were in a garden located on the outskirts of the Academy.
It was a place usually filled with flowers that bloomed profusely every season. Like butterflies drawn to the scent of blossoms, it was a famous spot frequented by groups of women and couples alike.
As such, there was rarely a day when it wasn't crowded.
Today, however, it was unusually deserted.
It wasn't that Vilteon had used his authority to clear the area; rather, the students had simply stopped coming of their own accord. A grim atmosphere had been hanging over the school lately due to the rumors regarding vampires.
Furthermore, due to the influence of the abnormal heat, weeds were growing thick throughout the garden. No one would want to take time out of their day to visit such a desolate-looking place.
Well, except for a few eccentrics.
I never imagined that one of those exceptions would be a prominent heir to the imperial throne.
I could already feel a headache coming on.
"My apologies, Prince Vilteon. I have far too many matters to attend to lately... I don't have the luxury of enjoying a drink in the middle of the day."
"Hahaha, is that so? You truly live up to your reputation as one of the Empire's Divinities. Usually, when I offer a drink, most people pretend to give in and take a glass."
Was that a compliment or a mockery?
I couldn't fathom Vilteon's true intentions. In the first place, politics was never my specialty.
Those in power always hide their true feelings.
They do so because it forces their subordinates to watch their step. Whether the powerful speak their minds or hide them, those who fear that power will always strive not to cross them.
In many ways, it was an exhausting process.
I was a martial artist to the core. That meant I preferred swinging a sword to wagging my tongue.
There was only one way for a man as socially oblivious as me to deal with a person of power.
Displaying unfiltered sincerity.
It was a far better strategy than any clumsy tricks.
"To be honest, Your Highness, I cannot fathom why you have sought me out at a time like this. Is it not an emergency, with His Majesty returning to the Capital? I would think the competition with Princess Iris is no longer a priority..."
"I heard my younger sister is quite fond of you, Sir."
'Younger sister,' he said.
As implied by his title of 'First Prince,' Vilteon was the Emperor's eldest son. Naturally, there were several people he could call his younger sister.
But among them, there was likely only one who followed me around.
After a moment's hesitation, I asked cautiously.
"...Are you referring to Princess Cien?"
"Yes, Cien. My cute little sister... Unfortunately, I am a very busy man myself. I wanted to take this opportunity to have a conversation with you. Is that still not possible?"
At that simple explanation, my mouth clamped shut.
It wasn't a sentiment I couldn't understand. If Lia were following some man around, I, too, would be more than willing to conduct an 'interview' in various senses of the word.
Mainly in the fields I was confident in.
Like swords, or hand axes.
I had more than enough means of 'conversation.'
At this point, I couldn't just keep refusing the talk. I made up my mind to converse with Vilteon as sincerely as possible.
Though I still had no intention of clinking glasses with him.
When I showed no sign of reaching for a glass, Vilteon let out a smirk as if he had expected it. Then, without hesitation, he tilted his own glass back and drained the liquor.
With a satisfied exhale, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
The smile that eventually surfaced on his face looked somewhat melancholy.
It was a bitter smile for reasons unknown. Perhaps it was the lingering scent of the alcohol, or perhaps something else.
Even that lasted only a moment. Soon, Vilteon spoke to me with a sly grin.
"Don't worry too much. I know how heavy a burden you are carrying."
"In that case, may I ask what your business is?"
"Have you ever heard of the Imperial Secret Garden?"
He got straight to the point without hesitation.
Caught off guard, I couldn't find an answer for a while. I had heard the truth from Princess Iris, but I couldn't understand Vilteon's motive for bringing it up.
Come to think of it, had I seen this before?
The Alphenhauser twins used to display a particular wariness toward Vilteon. Until now, I had interpreted it as mere caution toward their master's rival, but facing Vilteon now, a certain question began to rear its head.
What if there was more to it than that?
In the power struggles of the elite, hostility was like a blade. No matter how much you aimed it at a political opponent, you had to hide it meticulously to strike at the unexpected moment.
The Alphenhauser twins and Princess Iris were not people who would be ignorant of this.
Despite that, why had they shown such blatant distaste specifically toward Vilteon?
Even under my questioning gaze, Vilteon merely swallowed a faint chuckle.
"Judging by your reaction, it seems you have heard of it. Did Iris tell you?"
"With all due respect, Your Highness, I cannot discuss matters of secrecy, even before a Prince..."
"Heh, interesting. Do you really think I wouldn't know about the Imperial Secret Garden?"
I chose silence instead of an answer.
Of course Vilteon would know, but secrets were secrets for a reason.
There was no need for me to be the one to speak first.
At my stubborn attitude, Vilteon shook his head slowly.
"Fine, I can't fault you for sticking to protocol... Then I'll change the question. What do you think of Cien?"
"I think of her as a kind and thoughtful junior."
"And what about Cien's 'eye'?"
That was the second time.
I found myself speechless again, my lips pressed thin. Internally, I felt the need to revise my evaluation of Vilteon.
The First Prince was surprisingly blunt.
His direct questions made it difficult to answer. As I hesitated once more, Vilteon refilled his empty glass and suddenly brought up a story from the past.
"I have many siblings, but Cien is the one who weighs most on my mind. Do you know why?"
"Because she's pretty?"
The retort slipped out reflexively.
The moment I said it, I felt a pang of regret, but the water was already spilled. More than anything, Vilteon's reaction to my joke wasn't bad.
A laugh burst out of him.
This was how an older brother who cherished his sister should react. At the very least, I didn't have to worry about getting a bad reaction for praising his sister.
"Does she look that way to you too? I thought she only looked pretty to me because she's my sister, but I'm glad you think so as well... However, that's only half right."
Gently swirling his drink, Vilteon's gaze deepened as he stared into the glass.
It was a gravity that didn't quite match his age. Perhaps it was because the density of the years he had lived was different.
"Cien is wearing clothes that don't fit her frame. The Fifth Princess of the Empire, the daughter who inherited the thickest concentration of the dragon's blood... She has shown brilliance since she was a child, but I don't know. I find it hard to shake the feeling that Cien is overextending herself."
"What do you mean by 'overextending'...?"
"She hasn't fully grown yet."
Tap, tap.
As he spoke, Vilteon tapped his temple a couple of times with his thumb.
"Cien's growth stopped in her childhood. Should I say she tasted too much of life's bitterness back then? She wears distrust like armor and scoffs at the world to protect her heart."
"She is someone with the ability to do so."
"That's true. But inside, she's still the same coward she was back then."
And with that, another glass of liquor vanished.
He was drinking it down quite well, considering there wasn't even a snack to go with it.
"Iris is placing too much expectation on Cien. I don't know if she thinks Cien resembles her in some way, but the expectations are excessive. Cien is not yet a vessel capable of becoming the Great Witch's disciple. And she is certainly not the talent to fulfill the Imperial Secret Garden's purpose."
"Is it because of the 'Dragon's Eye'?"
It was the first question I'd asked in a while.
At that, Vilteon's gaze drifted toward me. It was a sign that he wanted further explanation.
"I wondered if the reason Princess Iris holds such expectations is related to the 'Dragon's Eye.'"
"An old legend."
A short, flat statement.
As if he were discussing something trivial, Vilteon continued his explanation in a nonchalant tone.