Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: What on Earth is He Scheming?
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What on earth is he scheming? I frowned and finished reading the letter.
At least by reading it, I figured I could catch Ryan's true intentions.
But the more I read, the deeper I fell into a maze.
...Did he really write this himself? The handwriting was unmistakably his, but the content was totally off.
[I'd like to meet you there and talk alone.]
It was sweet, like he'd been brainwashed by someone. What the hell happened to the guy who used to snarl at me like he wanted to devour me whole?
Ah, is this his idea of roundabout noble speech?
...So he can meet me and slit my throat?
[I know it's a burden, but I can't accept a refusal. There's something I need to tell you.]
Refusal is still refusal. It felt like my brain was stuffed with udon noodles. Who'd want to meet the guy who'd been threatening me nonstop and even sicced people on me just a little while ago?
How could a creep like this have been the male lead?
I shook my head and narrowed my eyes.
No, there's that saying—to me he's a dumpster fire, but to someone else he might be a Mercedes.
That might actually be the case.
‘The imperial balls aren't held that often, so it's a shame...'
Since it was hosted by the imperial family, everyone I needed to see would be gathered in one place, which sounded convenient enough.
But Ryan's presence alone was intense enough to ruin all that.
"The ball isn't a one-time thing anyway."
I decided to completely ignore Ryan's bullshit. Of course, since the letter came from the imperial family, I phrased my reply politely, but to sum it up:
[Why me?]
I figured a snarky response would piss Ryan off enough to drop it. But I miscalculated.
Ryan was even more unhinged than I'd thought.
The very next day, like he'd been waiting for my refusal, a second invitation arrived.
I had to wonder if the ink from my rejection letter the day before had even dried.
[Ah, I forgot to mention the reason for the ball. It's to celebrate the second prince who's been stirring things up lately.]
He finally got around to explaining what the ball was for.
A celebration for the new prince's ascension meant everyone had to show up no matter what—and the letter seemed to see right through how close Darsi and I really were.
...Must be fallout from us going to that play together.
‘Darsi getting close to anyone that fast is way too soon.'
From the rumors, that public outing had been his first time showing his face openly.
...Truth be told, it felt good being the one by his side for his debut.
Either way, this made dodging the ball impossible.
With it being a celebration for the prince, every noble had to attend regardless of any ulterior motives—and I wasn't exempt.
On top of that, wasn't it for Darsi?
I wanted to celebrate him spreading his wings in public too, just like I was starting to.
In the end, I decided to go to the ball.
The event was set just a week later, announced like it had been thrown together in a rush.
Darsi returned from seeing Marso and shut himself in his room. Even as a prince now, the place he stayed hadn't changed.
The palace was a place of hatred, yet it was still part of his life. There was no other space in the imperial palace that he knew as well or had spent as much time in.
He'd chosen to stay out of a twisted love-hate. Amid all the tangled emotions seeping into this place, there was still that reassurance that it was his space.
And to sort through his chaotic feelings, he needed that reassurance.
Meanwhile, Kaisen headed to his office to report after carrying out orders. But it was empty.
Darsi, who was supposed to come find him, had vanished for three days. After wandering around, Kaisen's last resort was the palace itself.
"I'm coming in."
With a curt greeting, Kaisen entered the room. Fortunately, Darsi was there.
But that was only half the story.
"...What are you doing?"
Kaisen was at a loss for words at the sight of Darsi.
He was sprawled languidly in his chair. Messing up his hair, he looked up.
Spotting Kaisen, he half-lidded his eyes. A long silence stretched on, thick smoke rising from the lit incense before he finally answered.
"Thinking."
Kaisen gazed pityingly at the prince before him and murmured.
"You must have a lot on your mind about your future as a prince."
Probably mulling over the upcoming party. Sure, he didn't seem to care about others' stares, but he couldn't shake them off completely...
"No? As if."
"Pardon? Then what..."
"No need for you to know that much."
"..."
Fair enough, but it still grated. Watching them talk, it was hard to believe they were really battle-tested comrades.
His face was the most beautiful he'd ever seen, fine—but the speech, the sarcasm, the flippant attitude? None of it screamed imperial blood.
He stood at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Ryan.
And yet, the reason Kaisen had decided to back him was...
"You came all this way, so you must have a report."
That look in his eyes when things turned serious—it changed completely.
The heterochromia he'd stopped hiding lately gleamed with brilliant, mismatched colors.
The man rose from his slouch, transforming from rogue to noble prince.
Darsi slowly lifted his head, his fingers beckoning the report like an impatient flick.
"It went smoothly. Emperor Kies and Prince Ryan met. I couldn't catch their exact words, but their intentions were clear enough."
Darsi had deliberately loosened security around Emperor Kies. To give Ryan a chance to meet him.
And he'd planted someone there. Kaisen.
Magic was precise. His words had been "can't kill"—nothing about ruining him or making him suffer.
He had no intention of going down easy.
He and Kaisen had synced up plenty of times before.
One reason Kaisen had set his sights on becoming imperial knight commander was his reverence toward the emperor.
When he learned his comrade was Darsi, it was only natural for him to come running.
Kaisen hated the current emperor just as much as he did and harbored outright hostility toward Prince Ryan. Perfect material for a trusted subordinate.
It wasn't just about surveillance.
Darsi was also ready to crush whatever desperate hope Emperor Kies clung to.
Even if the emperor spotted the loopholes in his words, he'd scramble to try something—anything.
And despair. Darsi was prepared to smash every attempt, thoroughly and mercilessly. Nothing new there. It was exactly what the emperor had done all this time. Give him just enough rope to breathe, let him taste a flicker of hope, then bury him alive. Staying here until Marso was happy was already a done deal. So why not toy with Kies until then?
"Keep eyes on everyone Ryan meets from now on. Report it all."
It was also a chance to pay back Ryan, who'd relentlessly hounded Marso under the prince title. Darsi hoped they'd cling to hope, nurture dreams of beating him. That way, crushing them would be all the more satisfying. Narrowing his eyes, Darsi let out a smirk. ‘Not totally lost my mind yet, huh.' His head was sharp for other schemes, but the moment Marso crossed it, he turned into a lunatic. That face wiped out all thought. ‘...Gotta hold the line.' He wanted Marso happy, but he knew it wouldn't be by his side. The love he'd learned couldn't make anyone happy. ...Unless he devoured her whole. Realizing where his thoughts had wandered, Darsi sighed and pressed a hand to his temple. The fading headache roared back. He turned to look at Kaisen.
"Get in secret touch with every mage connected to the imperial family. Set up meetings with me."
He remembered the look in Emperor Kies's eyes when he'd seen his magic crystal invention. Pupils laced with fear—and greed. ‘A weapon he's never seen before.' For so long, Darsi had moved as one of Kies's limbs. Plenty of chances to read him. Kies would absolutely try to replicate the magic tools he'd made. Mass-produce them for a backstab. Call it intuition from long experience.
"Just tail Ryan."
Of course, with him locked away, the prince would handle everything. This wasn't from any brainwashing. Pure foresight. Darsi opened a drawer and tossed something to Kaisen. He snatched the flying cloak midair.
"It's a cloak embedded with magic tools. It'll mask your presence when you're shadowing the prince."
Kaisen's eyes widened as he inspected it.
"Thank you."
Darsi hadn't exaggerated—the hem was crusted with magic crystals. Kaisen bowed his head.
"Then I'll take my leave."
"There might be something to discuss with you later too..."
Kaisen's spine chilled as he recalled the time Ryan had been beaten to a bloody pulp. ‘No way.' But they were comrades who'd trusted each other's backs—would he really go that far? And for Marso Etwar, of all things.
"Gotta keep working anyway—might as well now..."
Watching Darsi mutter something cryptic, Kaisen hurriedly changed the subject.
"Speaking of, there's a party next week celebrating Your Highness. Preparations going well?"
"...Party?"
"Yes, they say all the nobles will attend."
"Just hearing about it now."
Darsi let out a hollow laugh, realizing how out of it he'd been. ‘Lost my damn mind walking around.' "All the nobles..."
"Yes."
Then he'd need to prepare thoroughly. He murmured it like a whisper and rose from his seat. Complicated worries aside, he had to look prettier than anyone in front of Marso.