ESMLT 13

Chapter 13

I dragged a dining chair over and sat across from the bed.

On the bed, Cien was wrapped up like a cocoon in blankets, with only his eyes peeking out.

Yaaawn—

Despite already having taken a nap, he let out a yawn, his big eyes tearing up as though he were exhausted.

If not for that pretty face, I’d have mistaken him for a shut-in.

Cien’s looks were famous even throughout the Empire.

Skin so pale it was nearly translucent, black layered hair that draped down his nape, eyes of soft unfocused violet, plump lips and a sharp nose.

His perfectly pressed shirt and slacks that fell neatly to the ankle completed the image of an aristocratic young master.

“……Haa-aam.”

Another yawn escaped him, and his tear-brimmed eyes blinked slowly. His long lashes trembled, making the fringe brushing his eyes twitch slightly.

Scrape—

Just then, the Crown Prince dragged a chair beside me and sat with his legs crossed.

With his sculpted looks and graceful bearing, for a moment I could’ve mistaken this shabby cabin for a hotel lounge.

If only it weren’t for that sour expression.

He’d been wearing it ever since I said I would accompany Cien.

“So… what I’m saying is, we should escape from here, Tower Master. You understand me, right?”

Even after I had just finished explaining the zombie situation, Cien only yawned wide again, face still drowsy.

“Tower Master? …I still haven’t heard your opinion.”

When I pressed him, he shifted his eyes lazily toward me.

“I don’t want to.”

“…Why not?”

“It’s bothersome.”

Right. This brat wasn’t just aloof—he was downright finicky, like some spoiled princess.

“And—”

Cien lifted his gaze and fixed it on the Crown Prince. His languid eyes sharpened.

“Why should I have to go with him? Disgusting.”

He screwed up his face and turned his head away with a snap.

The Crown Prince tilted his chin, glaring down at him with disapproval.

“See? You can’t expect cooperation from this one. Forget him—we’ll just find another survivor, Lady.”

Sigh. I pressed a hand to my forehead.

“Your Highness, could you please just stay quiet?”

Not only was he not helping, he was actively making things worse.

The Crown Prince turned to me with a look of disbelief.

“…You’re taking his side instead of mine?”

“What are we, kids? Why are you making this into teams?”

“……”

There was a faint trace of hurt in the Prince’s eyes as he looked at me.

…Why does he look like that?

Cien, meanwhile, didn’t care whether we quarreled or not. He lay sprawled on the bed, chin propped on his elbow, staring out the window with utterly disinterested eyes.

Not a shred of motivation in sight.

Ugh… I thought I’d just managed to climb one mountain with Jaeger, and now this.

I heaved a deep sigh and raked my bangs back, ruining the neat line into a messy fringe.

The relationship between these two went way back.

When Cien was eight, the former Tower Master picked him up and adopted him. As it turned out, the boy was a goose that laid golden eggs.

Before he even turned ten, he had surpassed the Tower Master’s direct disciple.

Not only was he born with immense mana, but he also easily solved spell formulas that even adult magicians couldn’t unravel.

He grew up coddled, never once creasing his brow in hardship.

Being the Tower Master’s foster son and blessed with unparalleled mana, it was natural in a world of survival-of-the-fittest for people to cater to him.

But Cien did have one nemesis—none other than the Crown Prince.

At twelve, following his foster father to the palace, he happened to meet the Prince, who was in training while the Tower Master was away.

There in the training ground was the Prince’s most cherished treasure, a sword that belonged to his late mother.

Cien, fooling around, got his hands on it and ended up dropping it into the rear garden pond.

The Prince had raged, but held it in—for the sake of maintaining friendly ties between the royal family and the Tower.

He did hold it in…

That is, until Cien, asked to apologize, merely said:

“I don’t want to.”

From that moment, their enmity began.

How insolent. If he’s ever to grow into a proper man, he’ll need discipline.

The Prince kicked him straight into the pond.

Then, watching the Tower Master’s heir thrash about in the water, he turned away with cold contempt.

Leaving only one command behind:

“Until he climbs out on his own, no one is to help him!”

Splash—

Since unauthorized magicians couldn’t use mana in the palace, Cien could only flounder helplessly.

Only after the Prince left did he realize his feet could reach the bottom—the pond was shallow.

Soaked like a drowned rat, dripping water from his tangled hair, he glared at the Prince with burning humiliation.

Before countless attendants, he had been utterly disgraced.

From then on, they became rivals—sworn enemies.

In short, the two could never rest until the other was crushed.

Coming back to myself, I let out a faint sigh.

For all his languid looks, Cien’s actually ferocious in battle. Whenever they meet, he and the Crown Prince end up competing with their abilities until they’re neck-and-neck.

I stole a glance at them. Both were refusing to even look at the other.

The more I watched, the more my temper flared.

Seriously, weren’t these the same guys who agreed wholeheartedly to polygamy later on just so the heroine wouldn’t suffer heartbreak? Yet in front of me, all they do is snarl at each other.

I pressed down my irritation and tried to steady myself.

Calm down. Deep breaths.

Right now, persuading Cien was the priority.

Honestly, I’d rather just grab him by the collar and drag him along, but I should at least make an effort to win him over properly.

To change someone’s mind, you needed patience and understanding.

Which meant, for now…

I leaned close to the Crown Prince and whispered.

“Your Highness, let’s just stay here for today and wait for the right moment to persuade the Tower Master.”

“He’s not even an important asset. Why not just abandon him?”

“…How can you be so heartless?”

I narrowed my eyes in reproach.

I saved you, didn’t I? I cried because of you, remember?

“Tch.” With a low mutter, the Crown Prince ruffled his hair roughly.

“Fine, fine.”

In the end, we followed my plan and stayed the night at the northern shelter.

In the original story too, as long as the Holy Forest’s barrier held, the northern shelter was safe, so we could relax.

“We can rest for a while, at least.”

Sszzz—

Oh no.

Lost in thought, I almost burned the meat.

I quickly flipped the slab and pressed down the tenderloins tied with thread using the tongs.

Juices seeped out, sizzling as they mixed with oil, filling the air with mouthwatering aroma.

I added scallions that had been marinated with oil and salt, grilling them beside the meat.

After lowering the heat, I covered the pan with another, stirred the mushroom soup simmering in the pot so it wouldn’t stick, and began preparing the steak sauce.

A rich yet familiar demi-glace.

I dabbed a bit on the back of my hand to taste and couldn’t help but exclaim softly.

“Mmm.”

Yes. My skills hadn’t dulled one bit.

I’d chosen only the finest ingredients from the northern storehouse to prepare these dishes.

Sure, rationing was important for survival—but I had my reasons for raiding the pantry.

For someone born with extraordinary power like Cien, people around him were always filled with nothing but greed and ambition. Their twisted “affection” only left his heart impoverished.

Except for his foster father, he had never been able to give anyone his trust. To fill that emptiness, he turned to food and sleep.

So of course he loves eating.

That’s why I had decided, even before entering the zombie zones: I’ll win him over through his stomach.

“…He should be reacting to this smell by now.”

Stretching my neck like a deer, I peeked at Cien, who was still bundled up on the bed like a caterpillar in a cocoon.

Well? How’s this? My self-taught cooking, honed during my time as a restaurant apprentice.

Ha, I knew it.

A satisfied smile spread across my face.

Even with his eyes closed, Cien was clearly reacting to the aroma, twitching at the edges though he pretended to be asleep.