Chapter 16

It was the second time he realized that he had fainted and woken up.

No, was it the third time?

Whether it was two or three times didn't matter.

His entire body ached and throbbed as if he had suffered from a severe cold. Judging by the feverish feeling, his condition seemed to be at rock bottom.

He couldn't leave the bed that was supporting his body.

Since there was a bed, he had probably returned to Hartmann Castle.

When he barely managed to push up his eyelids, which felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, a blurry light painfully dazzled his dry corneas.

'Living like this, I'm really going to die.'

Where was Arndt? He needed to call him to help him get up.

His lips were as dry and crisp as winter leaves, making it difficult to even open his mouth. A shadow suddenly entered his field of vision.

"Now... it seems he's woken up in his right mind."

"I'll call the physician."

A physician? Did we have money to call a physician?

What happened to the Vormi teeth? Have they all been sold?

No, before that, wasn't there something that happened? We were trying to go to the eastern wasteland but got lost...

The pit.

Black mud.

People jumping down.

As soon as these thoughts came to mind, his body automatically shot up.

A somehow glittering, clean, and luxurious room, a bed that comfortably fit his body, and a strange fragrance lingering around his nose.

There were three or four people standing by the bed.

Most of them were surprised and just looking at each other, except for one person.

"You're quite energetic. We might not need to call the physician after all. Are you somewhat conscious?"

Who was this...?

The man had such an appearance that the phrase "handsome" would come out naturally at first glance.

His shirt, which was close to black in color, had ample sleeves and was a simple outfit centered on practicality.

He wore black gloves on his hands, made of lace that didn't show any skin.

It was a rather flamboyant design for a man to wear, but it suited him quite well.

His long blond hair, neither too dark nor too light, was tied into a single ponytail that hung down his back.

Still, there were a few strands of hair draped over his cheeks and forehead, but perhaps due to the man's aura, there was no impression of disarray.

Red eyes that attractively drew attention, just when it seemed his appearance, not deeply colored, might be swallowed by his clothes.

A different type from Leandros.

Even as he was thinking this, a fancy cup was placed in his hand, and steaming food was brought to him.

"There's no need to be so overwhelmed. I happened to see you and saved you, that's all."

"Saved me?"

"Yes. You were collapsed in the eastern wasteland. I couldn't just leave you there, so I rescued you while I was at it."

Just in the wasteland?

What about me floundering in the pit? The splashing sounds?

Suddenly, it occurred to him that it might have been an illusion.

Just as they had lost their way and weren't in their right minds, perhaps he too had had a bad dream.

...In a world with madness, it's impossible to distinguish which is the dream and which is reality.

The white bowl placed on his knees was heavy and hot.

He turned his head to greet the person who had brought the food, but the servant flinched and stepped back a few paces.

Even to a stranger, it was clearly an expression of fear.

Why was he so afraid? Haven't they just met?

He looked at the servant and then turned his head towards the blond man.

Amid everyone's restlessness, he was the only one with a peaceful demeanor.

As he stared at the man standing with a slightly crooked posture and his hands lightly behind his back, something suddenly flashed through his mind.

The servant wouldn't be afraid for no reason.

Could it be.

Surely not.

The prince, seeing him freeze, smiled with pleasure.

"The royal palace's chef wouldn't have dared to put poison in it. Eat. Or are you disregarding the goodwill of me, the Crown Prince?"

Yurik den Menadia.

The Crown Prince who was said to have the most powerful authority except for the current King.

An enigmatic figure who might even have more influence than the King.

And

The main villain of the original work.

This place was the Crown Prince's palace.

For him, it was no different from a lion's den.

We're screwed...

* * *

In the original work, the prince was the mastermind behind everything.

Behind every incident experienced by the protagonist and supporting characters was the prince, who always had a sinister motive and persistently followed.

A character suffers? It's the prince's scheme.

A character gets entangled in an incident? It's the prince's plan.

The prince was a character his brother had put a lot of effort into, to the extent that he might be considered a deus ex machina in a negative sense.

As a simple reader, he couldn't understand what the intention was.

But what was clear was that Yurik was definitely not a good character.

He shouldn't be...

"Perhaps it doesn't suit your taste?"

"That's not it. My mouth just feels oddly dry. Perhaps it's because I've been asleep for a long time."

"Then should I bring in the chef? Should I punish him for not considering the patient's condition?"

"Absolutely not. Don't you think it's better to let the chef continue with his work...?"

Is this Yurik a bit different?

First, he dismissed everyone.

Only Yurik and himself remained in the room, and he insisted on sitting by the bed, forcing him to finish the food.

At least the meal was delicious. A clean taste that settled well in the stomach.

Honestly, if it weren't for the prince, and if his stomach weren't strangely calling out for more, he would have asked for the entire pot.

The pressure of Yurik's gaze made it impossible to eat more.

"I've eaten well. Thank you very much for saving me. I should have thanked you first, but I was disoriented. I apologize."

"I didn't do it expecting gratitude."

"Oh... I see."

Oh my, is that so?

He frantically rotated his brain to properly grasp the relationship between Yurik and Arenheit.

Yurik and Arenheit weren't on good terms, but Yurik was the Crown Prince.

Moreover, for some unknown reason, he was also the one who had restored Arenheit's status.

From Arenheit's perspective, he must see him as the mortal enemy of his parents.

It seemed best to be polite but somewhat cold.

But how cold?

How much courtesy? Shouldn't he appear not to be too subservient?

It was vague to calculate the acceptable range in a class-based society.

Arndt was his servant, but he didn't strictly follow formalities.

Leandros's speech was concise, and his attitude was no-nonsense, but he never felt that he was polite.

After a brief deliberation, he decided to show as much courtesy as he could muster.

"I hope I can repay the grace I have received from Your Highness."

"The Duke's presence at Hartmann Castle is considered fulfilling that role. Is that why? I never dreamed of seeing the Duke in the east."

Huh. Was I supposed to be at the castle?

His spinning mind fabricated an excuse on the spot.

"There were difficulties in running the castle... I was on my way to sell furniture. There was no other purpose."

"It pains my heart to hear that the situation is so unfavorable that you even have to sell castle items. I should see what help the royal family can provide for your recovery."

"What?"

"For a nominal ducal family, what if rumors spread due to such indiscriminate selling?"

Yurik's expression looked genuinely heartbroken.

Well, when you think about it, wasn't that your doing?

This is incredibly shameless, isn't it?

"Rumors easily spread and disappear. For now, I need to take care of the people I can."

"I hope that your heart doesn't change. The names of those with you were Leandros and Arndt, weren't they?"

Yurik began to speak freely.

"Arndt, being raised in your family, is understandable, but the story of Sir Leandros, who claimed to be a free knight, lowering himself to join Hartmann, is famous. The fact that he has been loyally serving until now. Isn't it truly a moving story?"

Was it?

"It's certainly an impressive tale."

"Yes, even I remember it. The country was in an uproar at the time, it was truly surprising. Do you know that I wanted to incorporate Sir Leandros into the royal knights?"

Did he?

The behind-the-scenes story the character was telling was of a kind I had never heard before.

Was this a subject that didn't appear in the original work?

"I was not aware of that."

"Considering his age at the time, it was excessive modesty. But do you know how I felt when he volunteered to escort the Duchess?"

"You must have felt quite displeased."

I wouldn't work under you either.

Unaware of what he was muttering internally, Yurik put on a pitiful expression.

"Since then, I've been disappointed that I couldn't hear tales of his valor while he was in seclusion at the ducal residence. He was truly a talented individual."

"I should continue to treat him well."

"Yes. You should. You inherited what I wanted without any difficulty. Although the situation is difficult in many ways, treat him well."

Ah, now I understand a bit.

It seemed Yurik still wanted Leandros.

That's why he was saying these things to him who was with him.

But no matter how he thought about it, it seemed unlikely that Leandros would step forward to work under Yurik.

Should he tell this to Yurik or not?

He answered with a slight mischief.

"Yes, I will cherish him to the best of my ability. As Your Highness said, since he is a talent I gained thanks to my mother, shouldn't I treat him without any dissatisfaction? My late mother would be pleased too. Thanks to Your Highness's words, I feel like I've realized this anew."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Although we are in dire straits now, I believe it will improve soon. I should make it so, even if I have to sell the gold leaf attached to the walls of Hartmann Castle's banquet hall."

"I think it was truly a good decision to appoint you as Duke."

"I, too, am merely honored by Your Highness's sincere advice. You are truly wise."

"Hahaha."

"Hahaha."

Laughing while facing Yurik was a harmonious scene for anyone to see.

A Duke promoting the Crown Prince who had restored his status, and a Crown Prince happily accepting the Duke's flattery.

But there was an uncomfortable current that only the parties involved knew.

Yurik nodded readily with a smile.

"Hearing that you will treat the talented well puts my mind at ease. Then, should I soon permit Sir Leandros to enter the palace? I thought it would be reassuring for both of you to see each other's faces."

"What?"

Enter the palace? What entry?

Why would Leandros enter the palace? Does this mean Leandros is at the royal palace?

Yurik, still with a kind face, added an explanation to him who was dumbfounded.

"It's been two weeks since I rescued you. Sir Leandros and the Duke's servant have been waiting for permission to enter for more than a week."

"What?"

"It's quite remarkable how they sensed it without even being notified. Such loyalty."

Two weeks.

14 days.

I had been missing for that long...?

When he couldn't say a word, Yurik smiled broadly.

"Ah, that's right. I forgot one more thing."

"Yes?"

"Come to think of it, when we were about to call the physician earlier, you seemed to have woken up, and in the rush, I might have given permission for Sir Leandros to enter the palace. As one ages, being preoccupied with significant matters often leads to forgetting minor details."

There are other things you should forget, you madman!

Yurik, with a sparkling face, personally went to the bedroom door and flung it wide open.

The Crown Prince's hearty voice resonated throughout the bedroom.

"Welcome, Sir Leandros. Seeing you like this, isn't it delightful? I will have to leave due to busy matters ahead. You understand, right? Enjoy your reunion at your leisure."

Haha, there's been a lot of work lately. As the Crown Prince who had been smiling kindly disappeared, Leandros with an ominous aura was revealed.

With slight exaggeration, anger was boiling throughout his entire body.

Behind Leandros, pale text was written at an incredible speed.

【Leandros was typically good at containing his anger. But this time, he absolutely couldn't bear it.

In the brief moment he took his eyes off, this colt had jumped all the way to the royal palace?

Leandros felt like begging the Duchess, if she were alive, to withdraw her request even now.】

He forcibly moved his facial muscles that weren't moving.

"...It seems you've mastered the skill of killing people with your eyes in the meantime, haha. Hahaha. Hahahaha..."

A blood vessel bulged on his Adam's apple.

Damn. I shouldn't have joked.

He closed his eyes tightly.

"Duke Hartmann, Your Grace-!"

The lion's roar that Leandros let out that day became a topic of conversation among the servants of the Crown Prince's palace for a long time to come.