Chapter 48

#048 The Prince Couldn't Sleep (1)

"Is that all you have to say?"

"Yes, that's all."

To the prince's brusque question, Kristel answered cheerfully.

They seemed like members of a secondhand market who had just completed a cool transaction.

It's not as romantic as I thought it would be...

I figured the two main characters of the novel would know better than me, a lifelong singleton.

"Then, I'll take my leave."

Prince Cedric nodded slightly.

Kristel quickly bowed and moved away from the carriage.

I was about to leave with her, but then I remembered that I also had something to discuss with the prince.

After confirming Kristel's shrinking figure, I approached the carriage.

"Your Highness, I also have something to say."

He raised an eyebrow without a word. He was really good at reading the room.

I continued calmly.

"Cardinal Boutet may have told you, but I still feel I should tell you myself."

The prince must know that I have decided to cooperate with him.

I'm not sure if I can be a significant help, but I declared that I would assist him in winning the 'Great Beast Purge' and obtaining the 'Sword of Grace.'

However, I had never told him directly.

It seemed like a good opportunity to clearly express my motives and intentions.

I first observed the page, David, who was sitting opposite the prince.

"Is it alright if David listens, as it concerns Sayuri?"

"Cough, cough! Cough! Choke!"

David started coughing violently.

He looked extremely flustered, pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, and continued to cough, covering his mouth.

"David, are you alright? Should I call the physician?"

I became worried as the middle-aged man made choking sounds.

In response to my question, he shook his head and struggled to speak.

"In the, cough! saliva, cough cough! there was a chill, cough! don't mind me, cough!"

"You know about it, so there's no need to be self-conscious."

The prince spoke softly.

After all, David had been serving the prince for a long time and couldn't possibly be unaware of the illegitimate child.

I nodded and looked around.

Everyone was busy preparing to depart, and no one was near the prince's carriage.

My voice became even softer.

"I'm officially participating in the Great Beast Purge as a confessor, but I hope Your Highness will obtain the Sword of Grace. That relic... you will use it for Sayuri, won't you?"

He frowned immediately.

The prince seemed to want to say something but couldn't find the right words to start.

I felt uneasy and added a question.

"Am I wrong?"

"......Theoretically, you're correct."

He finally answered in a low voice. If it's correct, then why the 'theoretically'?

I clicked my tongue at his lack of commitment and said the most important sentence.

"Then, I'll do my best to help. I hope your son won't suffer anymore."

"What did you say?"

"Prince Yuseo?"

At that moment, the coachman's voice calling for me was heard from a distance.

It seemed it was really time to leave.

I didn't want to hear that I had caused another delay, so I hurriedly bowed to the prince and started to walk away.

The last thing I saw was David burying his face in his handkerchief, which made me a bit uneasy.

*

"Prince, we can see the castle ahead!"

*Clank*

Ganael called out brightly.

I helped Demy, who was climbing the window, to see outside.

Bengjiameng followed Ganael's finger to the view ahead.

"Wow......"

"It's quite different from the palace. The castle of the Duke of Dume boasts a very long history."

Bengjiameng explained considerately.

It was a scene that naturally evoked admiration.

The castle of the Duke of Dume, shrouded in a gentle mist like a cloak, stood proudly and majestically.

Behind the castle, which was generally grayish, a mountain range that resembled the fangs of a beast loomed large and sharp.

The clouds at the peaks looked like a grand screen.

After three days of travel from Luka Village, we finally arrived at the Dukedom of Dume.

"The capital is mostly flat, but there are many mountains in the east."

"Yes. There's a large mountain range in the direction of the border. Except for the southern part of the empire where a river flows, the eastern part is mostly this kind of terrain."

Their response wasn't very enthusiastic.

"I understand that after what happened in Luka Village, scrutinizing the inn ledgers and pressuring the innkeepers in other villages is understandable."

Bengjiameng answered calmly. I agreed with that point.

As a future emperor, the incident with Claudine Green would have been intolerable, and he might have been concerned about whether similar acts were happening elsewhere.

However, his words and actions were much colder than usual.

Was it because the food didn't agree with him?

"And......"

Ganael cautiously began.

"Your Highness has always been like this, Prince."

"Huh?"

"Come to think of it, you seemed much more relaxed after you entered the palace."

Is that relaxed? Seeing my expression, Bengjiameng added.

"There weren't many people who could even speak a simple word to His Highness. Probably only the Emperor, the Cardinal, Sir Elizabeth, and David. Even the Duke of Dume would behave himself in front of His Highness."

"<Weekly Liester> even gave His Highness a nickname. 'The Noble of the Ice Point'......"

I felt my limbs go cold.

It seemed to be the work of Sir Velliar, who liked to create strange nicknames......

"Fortunately, the Duke of Dume is in sight."

Bengjiameng gestured. I looked out the window again.

There was a man standing there, his pale pink eyes sparkling like cherry blossoms, waving his arms flamboyantly.

That guy is still the same.

*

"Once again, I sincerely welcome His Highness the Prince and all of you to my castle. Thank you!"

"Long live His Highness the Prince!"

"Cheers!"

As Duke François Dume called out loudly and raised his wine glass, thunderous applause and cheers erupted.

The Duke, a master of recreation, managed to create a bright and lively atmosphere even with the prince, who didn't say a word, as the guest of honor.

I had never seen such a social butterfly.

As Ganael said, there weren't many people invited to the welcoming banquet.

It seemed to be less than 50 people, including the prince's entourage, the Duke's family, and their close associates.

Sitting at the end of the long VIP table at the front of the banquet hall, I was enjoying my meal in the corner.

To my left sat Sir Elizabeth.

At the right end of the VIP table, the Duke and Kristel had already started drinking.

Mixing beer with wine......

"Basically, it's like a treasure hunt in the mountains."

"Sir Elizabeth, beasts are not treasures."

"But every time you catch one, you get points, and the person with the highest score wins. It's no different from treasure."

The head of the palace guard smiled broadly and sipped his sherry.

Although Sir Elizabeth said she hadn't watched the Great Beast Purge since joining the royal guard, she knew the rules and procedures of the competition by heart, as befitting an imperial noble.

"You saw the large mountain range on the way here. The largest cave is on the lowest peak, and we call it the 'Dume Dungeon.'"

Dungeon...... This world really has everything.

I chewed on the tender duck roast and waited for her to continue.

The meat was juicy, and the accompanying Bigarade sauce was delicious.

"The beasts in the dungeon come out and attack the castle and nearby cities around this time of year. Since different types of beasts appear each year, setting up barriers is of little use. Some of them inevitably escape the mountains. That's why the competition, which starts in the mountains, ends on the castle's plain."

I knew this.

Even when the royal family and nobles attack in groups, some beasts manage to escape and approach the Sword of Grace.

They do this because they feel an instinctive aversion to the relic and attack it.

"Even if you catch a lot of beasts, it's usually the person who catches the largest and most ferocious one who gets extra points. Quality over quantity."

"I see."

I nodded and glanced at the prince sitting to Sir Elizabeth's left.

His handsome face showed no trace of a smile.

He was already a cold person, but now he seemed to be turning into a tropical low-pressure system.

"Do you think the prince will win?"

"Of course."

Sir Elizabeth answered immediately.

"Even though it hurts to admit, the only person who can defeat His Highness in combat is the Emperor."

"But he doesn't seem to be in good condition lately."

"His Highness?"

She turned her gray eyes wide and looked to her left.

Feeling our gaze, the prince looked at us.

His eyes were still fierce, and he clearly looked tense about winning.

That was the only way to explain his recent sharp attitude.

I casually ignored his orange gaze and took a sip of orange juice.

You, you're really showing your age at 24.

*

"......They believe I'm their son."

"Ah! You finally found out! Hahaha!"

Elizabeth laughed and screamed simultaneously.

She laughed so hard that the VIP reception room might have floated away, then buried her face in the sofa cushion that David hurriedly handed her.

If the noise was too loud, Duke Dume might come over to see what was happening or join in the laughter.

Elizabeth, almost crying, slapped David's arm repeatedly.

"Sir David, how did you hold it in? Why did you keep this funny thing to yourself?"

"Baroness, it was the greatest challenge of my life."

"Ah! What do we do! Prince Yuseo!"

"George."

Cedric called her middle name in a boiling voice.

It was a sign to tone it down, but Elizabeth couldn't hold back and buried her head in the cushion again.

When Prince Yuseo had that misunderstanding, she almost fainted from laughing, and now that the person himself knew the whole story, she felt like she would die from laughter.

This was, this was really too much. Tears started to flow.

"I said, black, I would confess the truth rather than be misunderstood like that."

"......Why didn't you think it was the same person?"

"What are you saying! Do you want to be found out?"

Elizabeth now waved her hand and sobbed.

The prince looked at his friend with a complicated expression.

Actually, his feelings had been turbulent for the past three days.

He didn't know whether to be angry at Elizabeth for hiding such a misunderstanding or to be harsh with the prince who dared to speculate about his illegitimate child.

He had ignored her hints and had bet on the prince's goodwill.

Such an uncertain and illegitimate state.

Is this any different from when I was a child?

"Hmm, hmm. But don't you think the prince is justified? The symptoms of Eter depletion are varied, but your case is unique. It's not even in the books."

Elizabeth finally composed herself and continued.

"Besides, using Eter is a secret. It makes sense that he believed you were someone else."

"So, it's all my fault."

"Hehe, hehe. Sob."

The baroness started to dab her tears on the cushion again. The prince sighed softly.