Ch3 - [Alida] He underestimated the terrifying nature of national gossip

“I’m so mad! Sirius, that guy, is such a horrible sham!” Alida didn’t even charge into the room before starting his rambling. Seeing his friend, he revealed an even more indignant expression.

“Nalun, you heard about it, right? Saying such an absurd thing with such an upright face, yet no one is even questioning his moral conduct?”

Nalun swept him with a cool gaze. Alida’s family has always had a rift with the Monte family. Normally, he often had conflicts with Sirius as well.

“What are you doing here?”

Alida was very angry: “We both rolled the sheets. So why did my dad have to chase me with a stick!”

Not long ago, Alida slept a young, fresh little underclassman. After this happened, the little underclassman appeared on his doorsteps, crying and weeping. Nalun also heard about this.

The Earl, who has always been the essence of ‘loyalty and devotion’, was very furious at his son for randomly jumping into bed with another man. With a stick, he chased his son around and gave him a good beating. For a while, this matter became the most popular topic amongst the aristocrats.

“If you can stand at the same height as Sirius, the Earl probably would have left you some face as well.”

Alida had an explosive temper. With only some light prodding, he always acted in ways that satisfied Nalun.

Alida smacked the table heavily and said angrily: “But I can’t win against him!”

Nalun: “Fighting is the behavior of barbarians. The mind is the weapon of civilized people.”

Alida squeezed his fists: “But I can’t think of any plans to deal with him!”

–Such a tragedy.

Nalun sat on the sofa and beckoned with a finger, cold as ice.

Alida immediately leaned over while asking him in confusion: “Why are you wearing night clothes? And draping a coat over it? Isn’t the weather very hot?”

“That’s not important. Come here. I have a plan to make Sirius suffer.”

Eyes lighting up, Alida abruptly looked towards him.

A while later.

“Nalun, why does your face color look so terrible?” Seeing Nalun’s pale white face, Alida couldn’t help but ask in worry: “Is your injury from a few days ago not healed yet?”

Nalun pressed his lips together: “Don’t mention that to me. I’m very well right now.”

A few days ago, he lost a ‘friendly duel’ with Sirius and twisted his wrist in the process. This wasn’t something that Nalun wanted to recall at all.

Alida clearly didn’t think that. He comforted: “Nalun, don’t feel bad. I know how outstanding you are. Even though you can’t win against that monster Sirius, you’re still an innocent youth of the Empire.”

Nalun expressionlessly: “…….” He didn’t really want to reply.

Alida then said: “I wonder just who’s the idiot that actually yielded his bottom to a man.”

Nalun: “……” Can we change the topic here, friend.

“Everyone who appeared at the Princess’ birthday party are all nobility and prestigious people. My guess is some guy from a 3rd rate family or a penniless schmuck, attempting to bind himself to Sirius so they can improve their fortunes.”

Stop watching so many dog blooded dramas.

Nalun cursed internally and spat out some words with difficulty: “If they really wanted to make a connection, they wouldn’t have left without a word.”

Alida realized with a start: “That’s right.”

Nalun sneered: “Sirius is self-righteous. Perhaps this entire thing is his one-sided wishful thinking.”

Wishfully thinking about taking responsibility.

Looking at Nalun with a changed expression, Alida said in awe: “Your words really do sound quite reasonable!”

Nalun: “……”

Alida looked solemn and serious. Who knows what kind of story he just fantasized in his head.

“The Hunting Festival will be in a few days. Will your body really be okay?”

Why return to this topic again?

Nalun grinded his teeth. There was nothing apparent on his face however: “I only incidentally injured my wrist.”

Alida shook his head: “I wasn’t talking about your wrist, Nalun. Right now, your face color is really very terrible. You look extremely weak.”

Nalun nodded his head, expressing coldly and distantly: “Then I’ll be needing my rest.”

Alida: “Ah? Wait wait. I came because I wanted to say, the Imperial Guards are currently interrogating all of the male guests that appeared at the banquet party……”

“To help Sirius find his one night stand?” Nalun felt a bit panicked inside. If this were really the case, he needed to prepare a long intergalactic vacation to lay low.

Fortunately, Alida immediately waved his hand: “No no. The Scepter disappeared. It disappeared from Princess Shasha’s party.”

Nalun let out a breath of relief.

Alida drank a sip of water and added: “However, I heard his majesty made a special exception for Sirius and told the guards to note any possible individuals for him during the interrogations.

Nalun: “……”

–He definitely needs to refuse that investigation!

For the sake of finding the Imperial Admiral’s bed partner, dragging most of the aristocrats into the water was really too unreasonable!

His majesty, the Emperor, must have been bewitched by some strange force to give such a strange order. Other than those fallen families with only ranks but no actual authority or power, Nalun refused to believe that any other nobility would willingly cooperate with this unfathomable investigation. Anyone with principles would find this unbearable, right?

Alida: “I already cooperated with the guards in their investigation and eliminated myself as a possible match. Hehe. I even told others to hurry up and accept the questioning. This way, we can find out the identity of Sirius’s one night stand even faster.”

……

Nalun turned his head and looked towards Alida in silence, his grayish-green eyes completely dead.

Are you still my good friend, Dada?

Very clearly…… He underestimated the terrifying nature of national gossip. Compared to the insignificant reputation of aristocrats, the masses were more partial towards working together with the common purpose of pulling out the other main character of the gossip.

Nalun asked: “Do you even know what you’re doing?”

Alida flinched and strangely felt a chill up his back for no apparent reason: “Na, Nalun?”

Eyes spinning around briefly, Nalun said with a low and gentle voice: “Why cooperate? This would only permit more outrageous requests to appear in the future. It’s not the guards’ duty to investigate romantic affairs. This time it’s to help Sirius investigate his bed partner. Next time, would it be to help Sirius investigate something even more secretive?”

He paused for a moment and gave a slightly cold smile: “Different jobs each have their limits. This is already exceeding the scope of the guards’ responsibilities. If you guys do not object, and even treat it favorably, then…… Very shortly, all sorts of excessive, trivial interrogations will become a regular occurrence. The dignity of nobilities would sweep the floor. Who knows, perhaps by that time, you guys will end up getting investigated even when Sirius loses a button.”

Alida’s expression blanked. After a long time, he finally asked slowly: “It, it’s not that scary, right?”

Nalun didn’t answer. He only gave Alida some time to think about it himself.

After a while, Alida smacked his thigh angrily, saying: “……object. We must object! You’re absolutely right. We can’t indulge it! I will stop the others immediately!”

Nalun nodded his head in gratification.

It didn’t matter what the others did anyways. As the only Honored Prince of the Asha Empire, he had a respected identity and special privileges that cannot be encroached upon. Seeing him, the guards could only ask some routine questions. As for providing an answer, that would all depend on his mood.

Why would he steal the Scepter?

And plus, the Honored Prince Nalun and Admiral Sirius were like fire and water. No one would suspect him to be the ‘one night stand’.

Both things weren’t issues. He needed to remain steady.

Alida suddenly asked: “For Sirius to go through all of this trouble searching for that person, could it be cause he suffered losses and flew into rage out of humiliation?”

Otherwise, why would he search so obstinately?

Nalun’s face froze. He was very clear who’s the one that suffered here. However, he couldn’t express anything.

If other people knew of his bitter experience, he would become the biggest laughingstock of the Empire, the topic of discussion after every drunken party!

He naturally wouldn’t be stupid enough to reveal it himself. However, if he had to suffer this silently, that would be impossible.

Sirius must pay for this.

The only thing worth rejoicing was that guy, Sirius, didn’t know who he had rolled in bed with.

It should be said that, in the entire Empire, only one person knew.

Nalun knew.

But he definitely wouldn’t say it.

Walking on the streets, Sirius suddenly sneezed loudly. Behind him, his vice-admiral took a step forward in worry. He waved his hand, indicating that he was fine.

“Admiral. Princess Shasha is extremely emotional. Do you want to go over and take a look?”

Sirius’s tone was very cold: “She’s already 18 years old. She should take responsibility for her own actions.”

If he guessed correctly, if the mishap that night didn’t happen… he would have been drugged into bed by a little girl who just came of age.

The vice-admiral didn’t say anything more.

Sirius: “The Hunting Festival is soon. I want to invite the handsome and talented youths of the Empire to the onsen at the foot of LuoRi Volcano. Can you help me draft the invitation cards?”

The vice-admiral: “Ah?”

Sirius repeated profoundly: “The handsome and talented youths of the Empire.”

The vice-admiral: “??”

Sirius patted his shoulder and smiled: “Handsome and talented, youths.”

The vice-admiral: “……” He understood.

— How was this inviting people to soak at an onsen? This clearly searching for the one night stand!

Did this “national love rival” have some kind of unspeakable mark on his body? My god, why was his brilliant and powerful Admiral-daren suddenly amidst a romance?

Love at first sight is completely old-fashioned, alright?!

However, his admiral was evidently ‘love at no sight’; he couldn’t even remember the person’s face. Could this be the power of ‘physical compatibility’? This was simply absurd!

Ignoring the vice-admiral’s internal hysteria, Sirius looked rather relaxed and carefree. While passing a flower shop, he even paused for a moment and then turned inside.

When he came out again, he was holding a bundle of lavenders in his hand.

Maintaining a calm, paralyzed expression, the vice-admiral silently took out his personal comp and searched the meaning of flowers.

“……”

The fck. Waiting. And. Anticipating. For. Love!

The tumultuous chaos of love was too fast, like a tornado, tearing him apart, engulfing him, and sending him into the heavens!

The vice-admiral re-adjusted his emotional state. He still couldn’t help but ask tentatively: “Admiral, are you……” really planning to get involved in a relationship? Like those pure love dramas that young girls love to watch, deep love at first fuck?!

Sirius lowered his head and smelled the fragrance of the flowers, a pensive smile hanging around the corners of his mouth. Suddenly, he felt rather artistic: “Andrew, how about setting the date of the onsen before these flowers wither?”

How about it?

How about nothing!

This kind of flowers that’s been sprayed by chemicals to remain fresh can’t even last that long!

Sirius: “You’re my most capable subordinate, and also my most loyal friend. I believe in you.”

Andrew: “……”