Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 181
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 181
By the time Lion returned, the conference appeared to be over, and Rickshel was already outside.
“Brother.”
His gaze swept over Lion’s body.
“Were you all right?”
“Hm?”
Lion knew exactly what Rickshel was asking, but he tilted his head, feigning ignorance.
“Oh, those exhibits in the lobby were quite something. Made for great sightseeing.”
“…Were they?”
Rickshel let out a relieved sigh, as if his worries had been put to rest.
Only then did the Second Prince, who had been watching from a distance, step forward.
He appeared ready to leave with the guild master.
‘…Anyway, crisis averted!’
He’d resolved the matter with the Second Prince and brushed off the guild master for good measure.
The man would first have to track down exactly where his own information had leaked from, so he wouldn’t come anywhere near Lion for a while.
That was enough.
‘Well, if the trail goes cold, he might nose around once.’
When that happened, he could simply feign ignorance again.
Silence was impenetrable.
And more than anything, the workplace superior who had been overloading Rickshel had recovered his health to some extent, so the overwork would ease considerably.
‘Hm, not a bad haul.’
Of course, he’d been through an experience he’d never had before, but that was — literally — an accident, and it had brought its own compensation, so he’d let it slide for now.
“Shall we head back, then?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
The moment they moved to board the carriage —
“Just a moment, Lioooon!”
Someone came running, breathless, from a long way off.
It was Willi …
… and several more people were sprinting along behind him.
All of them clutching enormous boxes to their chests!
“Wh-what’s this?”
Lion froze with one foot on the carriage step, mouth hanging open, and looked at Rickshel.
“It’s as much a surprise to me, but they appear to be gifts.”
No wonder they’d rushed off the instant the conference ended.
Rickshel exhaled lightly.
Meanwhile, Willi and the staff reached the carriage and fixed Lion with an oppressively earnest gaze.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Had we known you would be departing so soon, we would have prepared the presents even faster.”
“Hahaha … you really didn’t have to go this far.”
They’d already cleaned up so handsomely that he’d forgotten the hotel even gave gifts.
Lion laughed awkwardly and eyed the daunting pile of presents.
“So, are all of these for me?”
“Yes, they are. Allow me to explain, starting with this one …”
Willi launched into a thorough explanation of the gifts.
Most were rare toys and keychains obtainable only at Hotel Easter, but next came, surprisingly …
“Rare seedlings.”
“Seedlings?”
“Indeed. The truth is … no matter how much Hotel Easter holds a premier position among hotels, we cannot remotely approach the wealth of House Asteri, so …”
Presenting jewels would be awkward, and giving a hotel stay voucher was pointless since Easter was already within the Asteri territory.
In other words, Lion could visit whenever he pleased.
“We deliberated at length, and decided this would be the finest choice … we would be profoundly grateful if you would accept. Heh-heh-heh …”
When Lion moved to inspect the boxes, a quick-witted staff member opened the lids to reveal their contents.
They were packed with herbs and plants that grew only beyond the continent.
More importantly —!
“This.”
“Yes, indeed. A fruit specially cultivated right here at Hotel Easter.”
Mushberry seedlings.
Their appearance was utterly dreadful, but their flavor was nothing short of fantastic!
‘With these alone …!’
If he could grow mushberries himself, the possibilities were endless.
He could make fruit syrup, or turn them into jam and juice.
Candied fruit … might be a bit off-putting visually, but still!
Anyway!
‘It means I can let the people at home taste them, too!’
He’d been wondering if he should let the Mushberry Liqueur sit for a few years because of Rickshel, who was still a minor — so this was perfect.
Lion’s eyes sparkled, and Willi, relieved, gave a thumbs-up with both hands.
“Growing instructions are enclosed as well. And we selected only the finest seedlings, so they will flourish in no time!”
“This is the best gift! Truly, thank you!”
“The relief is all mine that they please you!”
“Hahaha!”
The two of them were instantly on the warmest of terms, even sharing a light embrace.
Watching this, Rickshel could only …
‘…When did they get that close?’
As far as he’d observed, their relationship had been strictly hotel-manager-to-guest.
What in the world had happened, brother, while he’d been working and sleeping …!
“Ahem, well, we’ll make sure to take good care of the gifts.”
As if he’d heard Rickshel’s silent cry, Lion swiftly wrapped up his farewell with Willi and slipped back into the carriage.
The staff closed the box lids and systematically filled the luggage compartment to the brim.
Their tidying was so immaculate that the compartment was packed solid in an instant.
“Haa. Well then. I trust you’ll handle the rest.”
Rickshel sighed, gave Willi a perfunctory nod, and climbed into the carriage.
Fully prepared, the carriage began its slow journey out of Hotel Easter.
“Heh-heh.”
Lion smiled in satisfaction, thinking of the reassuring trove of presents in the luggage compartment.
“Does it please you that much?”
“Of course. When is someone like me ever going to receive this many presents? And it’s all thanks to you.”
“Thanks to me?”
“Huh? Well, sure. You asked Willi to place an extra request, and these are the repayment for that, aren’t they?”
“What?”
“Huh?”
It wasn’t like that …
Lion turned his head to look out the carriage window.
Far away, Willi was still waving a handkerchief to see them off.
Even that vanished once they passed out of Hotel Easter’s grounds.
“Brother.”
“Uh, yeah?”
“Would it be acceptable to stop the carriage a moment? I’ve realized there’s something I’ve yet to ask the manager.”
“Ah, well, if it isn’t important, wouldn’t it be fine to let it go?”
Evidently, that letter had been sent discreetly to Lion alone.
In other words, if the carriage stopped now, Willi would probably be …
‘Caught like a rat.’
And Willi had ended up giving him fine gifts in the bargain, so there was no need to land him in that trouble.
“Haha … ha … oh, boy, I’m so tired. I’m going to get some shut-eye. Right, Nature?”
“Peep.”
Lion made a show of ignoring Rickshel’s request, forced a stretch, and closed his eyes.
Nature peeped as if lodging a protest, but Lion gritted his teeth and ignored that too.
“Brotheeer!”
“Ohhh, I’m so sleepy. Snore …”
Thanks to Lion’s pretended slumber, the carriage didn’t stop and sped unhindered all the way to House Asteri.
Thus the short yet long hotel getaway came to a close.
* * *
The moment he arrived at the mansion, his plan to make sauces was completely shattered.
The reason being …
“You are confined to the house for the next week.”
“What?”
“The forest, the kitchen, the library, the knight order — all are forbidden.”
“Whaaat?”
It was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Not only were trips to the village forbidden — every place Lion frequented was sealed off as well!
“Grandfather, what have I done wrong to deserve this?”
To Lion’s indignant protest, Petrick used Flight Magic to send a single letter winging his way.
He apparently couldn’t bring himself to fling the letter at a grandson so precious he could put him in his eye without pain.
Baffled, Lion opened the letter. Inside was —
“…Yes. I’ll just shut myself quietly in my room.”
A note sent personally, in the Second Prince’s own hand.
Its contents were to the effect that, thanks to Lion, he’d had a rare fine meal and received a great deal of comfort.
There was even a heartfelt postscript adding that, as Lion had looked thoroughly exhausted, a solid week of rest at home would likely be best.
If there was a silver lining, it was that the letter made no mention whatsoever of the curse or the disguise …
‘You really sold me out.’
Lion couldn’t help letting out a blunt remark for the first time in a while.
“Be aware that Hoffman will arrive this afternoon.”
“Yes.”
He wanted to say he was fine, but truthfully, even Lion didn’t know his own condition.
Even with the potion and Nature’s power, this was slightly different in nature from a typical internal injury, so it was possible he wasn’t fully healed.
“Um, Grandfather.”
“…”
Petrick regarded Lion with an expression that mixed several emotions.
He’d sent his grandson off to rest, and the boy had come back overworked — he seemed worried, and equally cross.
A grandson who just wouldn’t do as he was told must also be exasperating.
His grandfather didn’t ask for much.
Simply that he be healthy.
That he not be in pain.
On top of that, that he enjoy his own life happily.
Honestly, weren’t those the basic things any family would wish for?
‘He’s been very considerate, too.’
In truth, a week of confinement was already a sign that his grandfather had exercised considerable restraint.
A bit sheepish and apologetic, Lion rubbed the back of his neck, hesitated briefly, then flashed a grin.
“It was fun, though.”
“Haah …”
Petrick let out a deep sigh at the sight.
How on earth had he turned into such a magnet for trouble?
It was a smile just like his mother’s, so Petrick couldn’t even find it in himself to scold.
No — in the first place, perhaps the fault lay not with his irreplaceable grandson, but with the Second Prince.
‘But why on earth, Second Prince — that unfeeling wretch — why did he drag my grandson into …’
Something had certainly happened in the interim, yet neither Lion nor the Second Prince seemed willing to open their mouths.
He could threaten them to force the truth out, but Petrick knew well that such a course was not right.
The moment you tried to know their every action, it was the same as clipping the wings of your own flesh and blood.
“…If Hoffman’s report states you’re fine, I will reduce your confinement by half. However, if he reports a problem … then prepare yourself to stay in your room for however many months it takes until you are fully healed.”
“Yes.”
“And … when you go out to enjoy yourself next time, be more careful.”
“I’m sorry for causing you worry.”
“Enough. Off with you.”
Lion smiled sheepishly and left the room — only to come back and poke his head around the doorframe.
“Ah, I brought some fine liquor back from Hotel Easter. Please let me know when you have time.”
“You rascal …!”
He’d just heard through another person’s letter that his grandson was ailing, and here the boy was, inviting him for a drink.
Petrick felt a surge of emotion, then sighed again and flicked his hand.
Fine, I understand — now just go and rest.
“Heh-heh.”
Lion chuckled at his reaction too and exited the room.
It felt as if every time he went out and came back, his grandson returned a little more peculiar.
The problem was that, even when Petrick resolved to give him a stern scolding, seeing Lion wander about so freely was enough to quell his anger.
‘…Still. Liquor, he said.’
He couldn’t recall the last time he’d shared a drink with family outside an official function.
And sharing a glass with his grandson was something he’d never even imagined.
“They say the old grow young again.”
This was no good for him — here he was, hoping the day he could drink with his grandson would come soon.
Meanwhile, having returned to his room, Lion …
‘First, let’s check the Shilling Shop.’
He searched the Shilling Shop for keywords that included “Netherworld.”