Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: 43. Now Again (1)
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"Extra! Extra!"
A newsboy shouted as he tossed sheets of paper while running about.
"Get your extra here!"
He scattered papers wherever his hands could reach, but the streets of the imperial capital didn't end up littered. Every passerby picked them up to check the contents.
The extras in the imperial capital were always short and to the point. Just one illustration and a handful of sentences.
One such fluttering sheet drifted down onto the head of a woman walking the streets of the capital.
She snatched it and unfolded it.
"Hmm..."
Her delicate brow furrowed.
"Why's this kid here?"
There weren't many who could refer to Brioll's Third Prince as "kid." And she was one of the few.
Sibylla Arsaint, princess of the Holy Kingdom and commander of the Allied Forces, invited to the empire.
"This is ridiculous..."
The extra had come flying out of nowhere while she was walking. Seeing Yuri's face on it made her chuckle despite herself.
The illustration's composition was especially outrageous.
Yuri sat at a table, smiling softly as if being interviewed by some art world luminary.
It didn't match Yuri Brioll's real demeanor at all.
"What the hell is he up to?"
There were a few keywords, but a single extra sheet didn't reveal the full story.
It was more an ad to hype tomorrow's sales than a factual report.
"Sigh..."
This wasn't the time to get distracted. Sibylla shook her head to clear her thoughts and headed to her appointment.
"Ah, Your Highness."
Her counterpart waited at an outdoor table at the teahouse.
He was dressed sharply in the latest imperial fashion, but he was a temple priest—and a high-ranking one with influence over the entire temple branch in the empire.
"It's been a while."
"How have you been, Brad?"
"Well, thank you. Sorry for asking to meet so suddenly."
"What's this about?"
"I need some help, and when I heard Your Highness was coming to the capital, I reached out."
"Not my brother?"
"No, not at all. Haha."
The Holy Kingdom delegation was already in the capital, led not by Sibylla but by her brother, Larson.
When Sibylla had set off for the empire at the emperor's invitation, he'd insisted on tagging along. The Holy Knights, including Fenek, were now busy attending to him. He was so demanding they'd ended up renting out an entire hotel.
Brad took a sip of his tea.
"Your Highness, what tea would you like...?"
"I'm good."
Sibylla had no intention of lingering and skipped ordering a drink.
"Get to the point."
"Straight to it, then?"
"That's easier."
"Understood."
Brad leaned forward, fingers interlaced.
"To be frank, I'd like Your Highness to connect me with Brioll's Third Prince."
Sibylla had half-expected this. The kind of help a princess without much backing could offer was usually just making introductions.
"Sorry, but I doubt I'd be much help."
"You're lovers, aren't you?"
"It's fake."
Sibylla was upfront, but Brad didn't seem surprised. He smiled as if he'd known all along.
"Even if it's acting, feelings might develop if it goes on long enough, right?"
"Not shocked?"
"I already knew."
"How?"
"His Highness Raguna let it slip while drunk. Anyone who needs to know already does."
"I see."
Raguna had tried to set up his niece Ekaterina with Yuri, but Yuri had used Sibylla as an excuse to decline.
Raguna had seen through the excuse from the start.
He'd even joked to Sibylla about knowing the truth when Yuri wasn't around.
He's probably got everything lined up now, just waiting for Yuri and Ekaterina to cross paths.
Sibylla shrugged.
"Figured as much. So what does Yuri want to meet about?"
"Business expansion."
"What kind?"
The temple operated publicly for charity, but in truth, it ran on cold, hard money more than any other group.
What sort of business could link the temple and Yuri?
"Drugs have been circulating in the empire lately."
"I've heard."
"These aren't like the usual stuff. Sorry for the crude term, but the quality is high. That's why they're trending among the nobles."
"Profitable, huh."
"Yes. And last night, Brioll's Third Prince personally admitted an addict to the temple. The capital's in an uproar over it. Our rehab clinic's getting a lot of buzz."
"You want to capitalize on the momentum?"
"Exactly."
Brad smiled warmly.
"I'd like to partner with the Third Prince to promote our drug rehab clinic in earnest."
"Ah..."
Was this what came from hanging around the empire? The idea of using a prince as a PR tool was bold.
Yet for some reason, Sibylla had a hunch Yuri Brioll might actually go for it.
Imagining that mischievous face, she couldn't help but chuckle.
"What's in it for me?"
"A spot in the Temple Knights for you."
Sibylla tilted her brow at Brad's words.
"For real?"
"Yes."
"You think I'll join the Temple Knights?"
"Do you have other options?"
The Holy Kingdom's knight forces split mainly into the Holy Knights and the Temple Knights.
The Holy Knights served the royal family; the Temple Knights protected the temple.
With Larson's ascension to the throne looking likely—and his jealousy toward Sibylla—rising high in the Holy Knights was nearly impossible for her.
Brad had pinpointed that.
He knew she wanted success as a knight.
"You could snag a knight order captaincy under the Temple Knights. After that, it'll depend on your abilities."
Sibylla pondered.
Chewing it over, it was her best option. With rumors already spreading, using Yuri as a shield only bought limited time.
She needed countermeasures before King Larson forced her into marriage.
After some thought, Sibylla nodded.
"Fine."
"Wise choice."
"But I'll hold off on joining the Temple Knights. Consider it me owing you one for now."
"Of course. Take your time."
"When do you want to meet Yuri?"
"Anytime works, but sooner the better. You could tell the Third Prince it's about his friend in the clinic."
"Nah, no need."
Sibylla smirked.
"Just ask if he wants to bring you along to advertise the clinic."
"That okay?"
"Yeah."
The Yuri she knew didn't care about face or formality. He was the most pragmatic person around.
Just prepare proper compensation for a deal that works.
"No clue what he'll want, though. You'll have to talk it out."
"Deals are for negotiating."
Sibylla nodded. It was more satisfying than expected.
Brad, a high temple official, had requested a sudden meeting, putting her on edge with wild guesses. But it turned out pleasant and mutually beneficial.
Sibylla stuck out her hand abruptly. Brad tilted his head.
"This is...?"
"Handshake."
She said it, then felt awkward herself.
This was Yuri Brioll's habit. No matter who, he'd offer a handshake after a good talk.
Had she picked it up unconsciously?
Brad hesitated briefly, then smiled and took her hand.
"Your Highness, you've changed."
"Me?"
"For the better."
"Maybe..."
She and Brad weren't personally close, but he'd done his utmost when her mother suffered from illness.
Despite pressure from Larson's maternal family, Brad focused solely on treatment.
"Thank you."
"Of course."
Brad held the handshake, gazing at her steadily, then slowly released.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Huh?"
"Brioll's Third Prince."
"He's a weird one."
"First time I've seen Your Highness talk so casually about someone."
After the interview with reporter Aile, Yuri gathered his group before leaving the hotel.
"The palace visit is in a few days, and the tournament after that. Until then, feel free to do as you like."
"Yes, sir!"
"But..."
During their stay, he'd allowed free time outside official schedules.
Still, Yuri felt uneasy about young Simon and Gines.
"Just in case, don't do anything stupid."
"Stupid?"
Yuri's gaze fixed on Simon and Gines.
"Especially you two."
"Sir?"
"I've noticed your eyes wandering lately while walking the streets."
"What do you...?"
"I get that you're excited to be in the capital. It's not something I can force, but there's one thing I want you to know."
"What is it...?"
"Romance is for real. If you're just fooling around, meeting whoever, I won't stand for it. Uphold Brioll's honor. When you meet someone, be ready to take full responsibility."
Simon and Gines stared at Yuri, momentarily stunned.
"Yes, sir..."
The Third Prince was royalty and a monster dwarfing them in martial prowess.
But he wasn't even thirty.
Younger than them.
They'd rolled through society training as knights, more worldly than the palace-raised prince.
Yet strangely, his expression and voice carried an undeniable dignity.
His eyes held a melancholic depth, like he could fill a book with love stories.
"Got it."
"We'll keep it in mind."
They answered, masking their fluster.
Rolang nodded in admiration, while Hose beside him burst into hearty laughter.
"Your Highness thinks of everything."
"Whoa, Prince Yuri. Didn't know you were an expert on romance too. Haha!"
Hose, by the way, was sticking with them until Burksen's group arrived in the capital—but Burksen was delayed, so he was still mooching off them.
Jared, standing sullenly, spoke up.
"Says the one in a fake relationship..."
Most of his close aides knew Yuri and Sibylla's romance was a sham.
Yuri shot Jared a look.
"I did that to dodge an unwanted meeting."
"Speaking of which, Your Highness. I've been curious for a while."
"What?"
"Don't you have anyone you like?"
It was an unexpected question.
Everyone but Yuri nodded in agreement, eyes on him.
Put simply, Yuri was the continent's most eligible bachelor.
His Allied Forces exploits had spawned countless admirers. Looks, strength, status, fame—nothing lacking.
Yet he showed bizarre disinterest in romance.
He'd nailed it as fake with Sibylla, and even rebuffed beauties like Marirose.
Meeting all their gazes, Yuri sighed.
"You guys are making me repeat myself. I said it before."
"Huh?"
"Me?"
Yuri paused, fiddling with Guilty's hilt, lost in thought.
Painful regrets from his past life had forged one resolve.
Recalling the day he'd tossed his umbrella to shed tears, only to collapse as rain blurred his vision, Yuri spoke in a wistful tone.
"I don't do love..."