Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: 37. The Prince's Return (3)
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Cedric burst out laughing at the look on Yuri's face.
"Why so surprised?"
"No..."
Yuri tried to mask his fluster as he replied.
"Just caught me off guard..."
"I'm kidding."
"Huh?"
"It's not Ekaterina—it's her cousin I'm seeing."
"Oh... right, yeah?"
The sheer relief he felt rubbed him the wrong way.
After reining in his emotions for a moment, Yuri turned to Cedric.
"That's great. How long?"
"She came with Ekaterina to the palace ball back then."
Yuri had been too focused on Georg and Ekaterina at the time to notice anyone else around them.
"We've been exchanging letters since we first met there, checking in on each other. Things just... clicked."
"Sounds like she's super sharp."
"Spot on. Katriona and I just get each other."
In his past life, Cedric had never dated or married anyone. Yuri had assumed he just wasn't into women much, so this came as a shock.
Was this another ripple from changing history?
His head spun a bit, but Yuri offered his congratulations anyway.
"Congrats, brother."
Cedric beamed.
"Thanks. I've talked about you a lot, too."
"Really?"
"Five years ago, she said you were impressive for standing up to Georg like that. She figured you'd shine in the Allied Forces this time."
"Aw, come on. Heh..."
Whoever she was, she seemed decent enough.
"Meet her when you head to the Empire. Could be useful."
"Appreciate it."
As Ekaterina's cousin, Katriona was imperial royalty too. Connections like that could make a huge difference in the Empire.
Thanks to Cedric, things there might go smoother than expected.
Reliable as ever, big brother.
Yuri looked at him with genuine admiration.
"Thanks. I owe you big time."
"Please—I've been in your debt forever. This is me finally paying one back."
Yuri shook Cedric's hand.
"By the way..."
"Yeah?"
"That reaction earlier..."
"What reaction?"
"Ekaterina."
Cedric smiled slyly over his glasses.
"I heard Joshua's head over heels, but you got feelings too?"
"No."
"You flinched when I said her name. She is pretty, though."
"Just wasn't expecting the name."
Yuri denied it to the end. Cedric just chuckled and let it drop.
"Sure, sure. Makes sense—you're already with the Holy Kingdom's princess..."
Yuri swallowed hard and choked. Cedric patted his back.
"You okay?"
"No, where'd you hear..."
"It's all over the rumor mill."
"What?"
"You know the Empire's got long-range comms, right?"
"Uh..."
"Guess the reports on the Allied Forces included you two dating. Started from the top and spread like wildfire."
"Ugh..."
Never owe favors. He hadn't seen this coming.
"Not true?"
Yuri explained the fake relationship setup, and Cedric cracked up.
"So that's why you jumped at Ekaterina's name?"
"Exactly."
"No interest in either?"
"None."
"Anyone you like?"
"Nope."
Yuri flashed a grin and thumbed at himself.
"Love's not my thing."
Unnecessarily cool smile.
Cedric stared at him in silence for a beat, then nodded awkwardly.
"Right..."
A few days had passed since Yuri returned to the palace. Plenty had happened in that time.
First off, Fiore and Moyong Chan had their duel.
No one knew the outcome.
The two greeted each other warmly, then headed straight to the underground training hall and didn't emerge for ages.
When they finally did, both looked perfectly fine.
Yuri asked about the result, but neither gave a straight answer. From their vibes, though, Fiore seemed to have the edge.
Fiore acted unchanged afterward, but Moyong Chan kept clenching his fist out of nowhere, muttering regrets and scratching his head.
Classic sign of dwelling on past mistakes.
Made Yuri happy, at least.
One more reason for Moyong Chan to stick around Brioll.
"Hm..."
Yuri paused mid-steak cut, furrowing his brow as he glanced up.
"No one's giving you grief?"
"About what?"
Jared was chewing away contentedly.
"Royal Guard eating with a prince?"
"Well..."
Jared took a moment to swallow, so Hernando jumped in.
"Not proper, Your Highness."
"What'd I do?"
"Sir Jared's fully on your side now, isn't he?"
Hernando dabbed his mouth with a napkin.
"You took him to the Allied Forces, raised him up—can't just stick him back on palace guard duty."
"That's his issue."
Jared shot Yuri a look.
"Whoa..."
"Why the disappointed face again?"
"You really don't care about me. My assignment changed."
"To where? Gardener after Royal Guard?"
Hernando shook his head.
"Sir Jared's aesthetics wouldn't allow it."
"Right?"
"Sigh..."
Jared stuffed another huge bite and mumbled.
"I'm your direct guard now. You said you'd keep using me, so it's better that way."
"My guard?"
Yuri snorted, then kept chuckling, ducking his head.
"You're mocking me, right?"
"Yep."
"Ignoring Third Prince's direct guard Jared?"
"You guarding me?"
"Sometimes..."
"Got it, Guard Jared. Train hard."
Jared pointed at Hernando.
"Sir Hernando too."
"My guard?"
"No—advisory mage."
After the Allied Forces disbanded, Fiore reshuffled personnel for Yuri's convenience, officially recognizing these two as his aides.
"Sir Hernando."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"An archmage like you as my advisor? Honored."
"The honor's mine to serve you."
They bowed to each other.
Jared pouted, chomping more steak.
"Just you wait..."
As they lunched, Ena approached Yuri.
"Your Highness."
"Yes?"
"Lots of guests."
"Guests?"
"Yes. Important ones here to see you."
"Who?"
Yuri tilted his head.
His usual visitors topped out at Guillermo, Ireine Merchant's VP—and no appointment there.
Jared chimed in.
"Obvious. Your fame's rising, so nobles sniffing around for face time."
"Ah."
"Blocked them while you rested, but opened today."
"Jared, more useful than I thought. Guard approved."
"Hoo..."
Made perfect sense.
Yuri smirked.
"Such simple creatures."
Five years back, after dueling Georg's great warrior to save Ena, no nobles approached him.
Rumors of imperial disfavor, plus little prospects from the unpromising third prince.
But one whiff of his Allied Forces exploits, and here they came.
"Turn them all away."
"High nobles, all."
"Highest rank?"
"Well..."
"Reverse it. Lowest status?"
Ena pulled a list from her pocket and scanned it.
"Hm... this one. Pides?"
"Pides?"
Yuri chuckled at the name.
"What's that guy doing here?"
Jared cocked his head.
"Rings a bell..."
"Allied Forces soldier. Fast runner. Hernando, I sent him in the last battle—remember?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Long way from home. Ran here too?"
During the Oqua fight, Yuri tasked him via Hernando to prep magic for killing the shaman.
Yuri finished eating and stood.
"Time to greet my guest."
Ena arched a brow.
"Your Highness."
"Yeah?"
"You said 'guest' singular, not plural. Just Pides, then? Spot on?"
"Nailed it. You know me."
"It'll stir things up..."
"What're you gonna do?"
"Sigh..."
Yuri took Jared and Hernando to the reception hall near the palace entrance.
Guards at the door saluted sharply as he arrived.
"Your Highness! Loyalty!"
"Good to see you, Dungsung."
The war had boosted Yuri's status, especially among fellow knights and soldiers.
"Your Highness, I respect you!"
"Thanks."
Yuri clapped the Royal Guard's shoulder and entered.
The loud salute stirred the packed hall. A line of people stretched visibly far.
A staffer approached Yuri apologetically.
"Your Highness. Too many guests. Mind if we group by rank...?"
"No."
Yuri shook his head.
"Just one."
"Pardon?"
"Problem?"
"N-no, sir. Who...?"
"Guy named Pides..."
Yuri stroked his chin.
"Hm, calling him straight up would be no fun, though..."
Pides rubbed his legs, grimacing.
Running was his specialty, but after the grueling campaign with no real rest, sprinting to the capital left his legs screaming.
Couldn't sit, though.
"You there."
"Yes?"
"Fetch some water."
"I'm not your baron’s lackey..."
"So, no?"
The baron glared.
"Fine..."
Brioll's class system wasn't as rigid as the Empire's, but by the book, commoners had to obey. Plus, this baron had three knights.
Pides didn't want hassle, so he fetched the water.
"Tastes awful."
But the baron didn't even sip—just set it down.
"What's with the crowd? Even lowly commoner brats like you angling to see the prince..."
His rank was low among the third-prince seekers, so no private lounge—he shared with Pides.
"You."
"Yes?"
"What business you got with His Highness?"
"No obligation to tell you."
"Insolent punk."
He nodded at a knight, who stepped up to Pides.
The knight said,
"Best show some respect."
Pides sized him up. Not a scar in sight.
A soldier he'd been, but he'd fought orcs aplenty. This soft knight? No threat.
"Yes, sir."
Pides replied half-heartedly. The knight's brow twitched.
"Milord, I should discipline him."
"Nah. Don't make a scene."
The knight glared once more, then turned away.
The baron fanned himself in his chair.
"Gotta suffer like this just to make a connection. Bloodlines, huh? Lucky bastards."
"Yes."
"If I'd been born royal... envy city."
Pides smirked at that.
This bloodline-bragging bully was trash-talking the third prince who'd fought on the front lines.
"Making us wait 'cause he's some royal brat..."
Pides held back.
"Obvious. Sat back, stole the glory. Kid's cunning. Actually fought orcs?"
Pides shot to his feet.
"Baron, enough."
"What?"
"Insult His Highness again, and I won't stand for it."
The baron's face flushed red.
He jumped up, glaring at Pides.
"Eavesdropping? You insolent..."
"Hard not to hear your nonsense loud and clear."
"Nonsense, eh?"
Face twisting, the baron shoved his knight forward.
"Fine. Long wait ahead—entertainment's nice. Cripple him for life. Say he left early."
The knight advanced. Pides stood firm.
Even if it meant trial, he wouldn't take this anymore.
Glaring past the knight at the baron, Pides spat,
"Insulting His Highness insults the entire Allied Forces, you bastard."