Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 180
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 180
“…”
Jack watched Lion in silence.
‘He knows more than I expected.’
The shift in how he addressed him was a trivial example.
In a formal setting he had talked down to him as if it were only natural, but hadn’t he dropped the deference the moment they met in private?
And he had done it so naturally, too.
‘At the very least, he knows I’m Jack.’
And he was clearly inferring more than that.
What sort of private relationship he had with Kyle.
What kind of trouble that relationship might bring him.
The only mercy was that the young master could speculate but couldn’t be certain.
No one knew the relationship between Jack and Kyle anymore.
If he insisted he was merely a collaborator, that insistence became the truth.
‘Honestly. I knew he wasn’t a pushover young master.’
He’d realized it when he sidestepped the board he’d laid as smoothly as a snake slithering over a wall, but he was no easy opponent.
And he also knew how to pick his moment to strike.
‘So that’s why Freyania kept staying there.’
It didn’t seem to be solely because he was an alchemy prodigy.
That man was no eccentric or idler.
At his core, he was a considerable strategist with remarkable insight.
If he could be made one of Kyle’s people, he would undoubtedly bring enormous gains.
And the kid would probably be safer than he was now, too.
But…
‘The risk outweighs it.’
Jack’s face hardened for a moment, then returned to a smiling expression.
“Oh my, why the sudden formal speech?”
“I find it more comfortable. You may speak however you like as well.”
Lion glanced around, indicating that there was no one else here, as he could see.
“Haha.”
Jack burst out laughing and lightly swept a hand over his face.
“Ah…”
Then he fixed his gaze on Lion, his eyes cold and devoid of mirth.
Was it that he had drawn a line, regardless of his identity as Jack?
‘In a formal setting, perhaps, but in private, I want nothing to do with you.’
‘Well, whatever. Doesn’t matter to me.’
He was more accustomed to being disliked than to eating a meal, and he wasn’t the sort of personality to be wounded by such trifling things.
If this man made Kyle his priority and kept him safe, he was even prepared to be disliked gladly.
But he didn’t do that.
‘His number one priority is…’
His younger brother, Rickshel, the heir of House Asteri.
In truth, when you pieced together every action from the meeting room until now, didn’t it all quickly point to the fact that everything was for Rickshel Asteri?
You could tell just from how he deflected credit and prevented his younger brother from having more frequent contact with the Second Prince.
Kyle seemed to know this and still wanted to keep the man before him at his side, though.
‘I don’t want that.’
Kyle would only soften endlessly, and that softness would inevitably lead to carelessness.
Wasn’t it obvious what the Second Prince’s carelessness would lead to?
His death.
A dog’s death, at that, the kind so senseless there wouldn’t even be words left to mourn him.
‘Not because of Lion Asteri, of course.’
But if people like this multiplied, Kyle’s gaps would widen even further.
What if someone feigning a gentle nature drew close and slipped a dagger through that opening?
Kyle would be the only one to suffer.
His body was already suffering; there was no need for his heart to suffer too.
In that sense, the man before him now was sweet poison.
So… what choice was there? He had no choice but to volunteer as the villain.
“How could I possibly do that? Haha. I’ll simply relax a little. Hmm, first… to answer your initial question, we are merely business associates.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. We’re joining forces and marching side by side for the greater good, nothing more. I won’t be hiding in the Second Prince’s arms, so you needn’t worry.”
Oh-ho.
‘He doesn’t like me.’
Lion stifled a laugh inwardly at Jack’s sharp reaction.
He was aware he wasn’t liked, but he hadn’t expected him to be this blatant.
Well, if he didn’t say it today, who knew when he’d get another chance, so that was probably why.
In fact, that was precisely why Lion had been gently needling him first.
‘What to do…’
He’d wondered what to do, but on his way here he’d already roughly decided how to handle Jack.
‘First, give up on establishing a close relationship.’
This was someone who had risen to the position of Criminal Underworld Leader at a young age and endured the weight of the crown.
Which meant he was an expert at reading people’s inner thoughts.
Perhaps not as well as Lion himself, but he certainly could not be underestimated.
‘If I answer carelessly…’
He would only grow more obsessive and hostile.
‘Come to think of it, his personality is quite similar to the Second Prince’s.’
No, perhaps the Second Prince’s personality had come to resemble Jack’s.
In any case, he wasn’t an ordinary opponent, so he would use this approach.
Having made up his mind, Lion spoke bluntly.
“You aren’t hiding the Second Prince in your arms, are you?”
“Oh my, where would I have the ability to do that?”
“Is that so?”
Lion answered without bothering to hide his laughter, then clasped his hands behind his back and walked slowly, as if taking a stroll.
Jack followed behind him, posing another question.
“Rather, I’m curious why you would think such a thing, Lord Lion.”
“Haha. I may seem insignificant compared to my younger brother, but I can grasp this much.”
“My, my. I truly wonder where the young master gets all his information! It would be wonderful if you put that talent to use for the Second Prince.”
“Hmm…”
“If Lord Rickshel is what concerns you, just give me a quiet hint. I’ll put in a good word with the Second Prince.”
Even at the mention of Rickshel, Lion’s gait didn’t change.
As if to make a point, his hands clasped behind his back showed not the slightest movement, and his leisurely pace remained the same.
Jack frowned.
An ordinary person would show at least some minimal reaction.
Denial, agreement, displeasure—something.
Yet he was utterly indifferent.
Judging by how he responded to his words, he was certainly no fool who failed to notice any of this.
If anything, he was the opposite.
‘I only intended to get a read on what kind of man he is…’
And, as a bonus, to issue a warning.
To stay away from the Second Prince unless he intended to do something foolish.
Not to meddle in his affairs anymore and live a free and easy life on his own, as he had until now.
He’d intended to lead him to believe that was the rational choice as well.
And behind the scenes, he had resolved to covertly investigate everything about this man.
Because that was what he did best.
But the more they talked…
‘He’s no easy mark.’
In truth, Jack was most comfortable dealing with nobles.
They already had names, information, and fixed residences.
If that were the case, what information could possibly elude the head of the Criminal Underworld?
Just uncover every trivial hobby, weakness, and hidden corruption, hold them in his hand, and shake them—that was all it took.
Lion Asteri?
He certainly didn’t display any corruption, unlike ordinary nobles.
But didn’t it seem like he was hiding something far greater?
It looked as if he was about to commit an act that even his family didn’t know about.
If he could get his hands on that secret first, he had judged he could naturally manipulate this man in the palm of his hand as well… but.
“Are you finished speaking?”
“…”
“Then it’s my turn to speak, I suppose.”
Lion stopped walking and turned around.
The moment their eyes met, an instinctive wariness surged up within him.
It was a reaction born from being unable to read anything.
It felt as if he’d regressed to his unskilled days before he became Jack.
Perhaps he should simply subdue him by force.
That thought was on the verge of dominating his mind when—
“You’re excessive.”
At Lion’s single remark, all the momentum drained out of him.
He’d wondered what he would say, and the word ‘excessive’ came out.
“Hmm, I don’t understand what you mean by excessive.”
“I mean it literally.”
Lion unclasped his hands and shrugged his shoulders.
If he’d faced Jack knowing nothing, it might have become troublesome, but in any case, he had inadvertently come to know Jack’s past.
Furthermore, he had also roughly discerned Jack’s objective.
Jack’s actions were clearly for protecting Kyle.
He hadn’t made that guess simply because they stood together like brothers in Story Mode.
Throughout the meeting today, Jack had set the stage for Lion to be praised while closely observing the reactions of those around him.
And the person he scrutinized most wasn’t Lion himself, but Kyle.
To be precise, how the Second Prince evaluated the person called ‘Lion Asteri.’
‘The Second Prince didn’t dislike me.’
If anything, if one had to choose between like and dislike, it seemed closer to like.
Probably because he was his friend Rickshel’s older brother, though.
But that Jack seemed quite displeased that Kyle might hold a favorable impression of him.
He might have also judged him as useless on top of that.
Well, judging others inwardly is an individual’s freedom, so he wouldn’t add any further comment on that, but following him around like this to speak to him…
Frankly, it looked like nothing more than an overprotective attitude toward the Second Prince.
And even its direction was a little twisted.
Let him correct that.
‘…It was quite a bit twisted, actually.’
It was excessive.
From the look of it, he had driven off anyone who wasn’t useful to Kyle until now.
Even if that person was the eldest son of House Asteri.
He was a veritable prickly hedgehog.
“You aren’t someone joining hands and moving forward together; you’re protecting His Highness’s surroundings with your entire body. You’re exactly like a guardian.”
“…What exactly are you trying to say?”
At the word ‘guardian,’ a small disturbance flickered across Jack’s face.
Lion noticed it but didn’t bother to point it out.
“Haha, nothing much… I simply wondered whether His Highness would be able to see what’s ahead of him if you keep blocking everything like that.”
“…”
“I see you understand.”
He meant that if he kept merely protecting him, he would instead become the Second Prince’s greatest obstacle.
And by extension, he meant that he should stop meddling in whoever Kyle paid attention to.
In other words, mind your own business.
But that was—
‘Aren’t you the same, Lion Asteri?’
He wanted to counter like that, but he couldn’t.
Whatever the case, Jack was currently just the Criminal Underworld Leader and nothing more than the Second Prince’s business associate.
“Ah, and one more thing. You seem to be laboring under a misconception.”
“Go on.”
“I am not locking my younger brother away.”
“…”
Having finished speaking, Lion lightly tapped Jack—no, Jade—on the shoulder, then began walking away first.
“It was a pleasant chat. Well then, my brother is waiting, so I’ll be off now.”
Jack parted his lips as if to refute those last words, then froze in place.
‘…He knows the relationship between Kyle and himself.’
‘How?
Not even Rickshel Asteri or Freyania knew this, much less anyone in the Criminal Underworld.
He had killed everyone else or manipulated the information.
So… how on earth did he know?
A chill ran down his spine for the first time in a long while.
Just how far did Lion Asteri’s information network extend?’
“…Ha, this is.”
‘I thought he was just a young master, but he’s a veritable viper.’