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Chapter 11
“Ahaha. Hahahahah!”
A lively laugh filled the lavish office. After laughing for a long time, the Crown Prince wiped away tears and spun his chair around.
“I really like it when Kaillen makes that kind of expression.”
He suddenly stood up from the spinning chair and grabbed the arm of the youngest aide, who was trembling in a corner of the office.
“Stand here! Just like this!”
The Crown Prince placed the aide beside the sofa and roughly grabbed his chin.
“Ugh!”
The aide collapsed from the sudden force.
“Hey. Get up.”
The Crown Prince’s face turned cold. He kicked the aide’s leg lying on the floor.
The Chief Aide Handler, who had been watching, quickly helped the fallen aide up.
The Crown Prince clicked his tongue and slumped back onto the sofa. His displeased expression vanished in an instant, replaced by another burst of manic laughter.
Handler signaled the youngest aide to leave. The aide quickly escaped the office.
“Still, I’m the older brother. I should at least grant my younger brother’s request, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The Second Prince will surely be deeply grateful for Your Highness’s generosity.”
Handler quickly responded. Otherwise, something might be thrown at his face.
The Crown Prince seemed to be in an extremely good mood.
It was likely because of Prince Kaillen, who had visited and bowed his head an hour earlier.
A noble lady from a baron’s family had been arrested in Kaillen’s place.
The lady whom Kaillen—who had never once approached anyone to ask for a dance—had personally approached first.
Intrigued by this fact, the Crown Prince had arrested the innocent woman.
His prediction had been correct. Prince Kaillen had come to the Crown Prince, who was in charge of the arson investigation.
And he had bowed his head, claiming her innocence.
When the library storing the ledgers caught fire, Ferdinan had gone to the Emperor and taken responsibility for the arson investigation.
The Emperor, saying it happened during the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, had granted permission for Ferdinan to lead the investigation with the Imperial Guard.
At the time he became the chief investigator, the Crown Prince had only intended to pressure Kaillen. He had not expected his thorn-in-the-side half-brother to personally come and bow his head.
Today, he was in an unusually good mood.
On days like this, he needed alcohol. The Crown Prince stood and walked to a trolley. Ice clinked in a crystal glass.
He picked up a glass filled with rose-colored liquor from the famous Privnik region and leaned against the sofa armrest.
“That guy wouldn’t leave any traces behind. And he really didn’t. That’s what makes him so annoying, don’t you think?”
Chuckling, the Crown Prince took a sip.
“But who would’ve thought some foolish girl would be there.”
Handler thought about the man who would one day become Emperor of the Liveliden Empire.
Prince Kaillen was too exceptional.
And that was the problem. As a child, he had been sent to the frontier to die, yet he returned alive. He had even resolved the troublesome Tetra tribe issue and discovered the Torpaz mine.
The mine was absorbed into the Imperial Family, strengthening imperial authority, and the Emperor had been delighted.
Kaillen, who resolved border conflicts and gained the Emperor’s trust, became a hero to the citizens and his popularity soared.
After Kaillen returned to the capital, the Crown Prince’s hysteria only worsened.
He had not expected the arson incident involving the ledger hidden in the library to be exposed. But more than that, he was pleased that Kaillen had bowed his head to him.
At that moment, something was thrown at Handler’s head. A dull “thud” sounded, followed by the sharp crash of glass.
Blood trickled down Handler’s forehead.
“I told you not to think about anything else when you’re talking to me.”
Handler calmly wiped the blood with a handkerchief from his back pocket and bowed.
“Apologies.”
The Crown Prince clicked his tongue irritably and dismissed him.
Left alone, the Crown Prince walked toward his desk, then frowned at a crunching sound under his shoe.
He looked down and saw crystal shards and blood droplets stuck to his shoe.
He wiped it off on the expensive imported carpet as if cleaning dirt.
Once his shoes were clean, he hummed and sat down, spinning his chair while looking out the large window.
The imperial garden spread beneath him.
“An insignificant bastard born from a lowly womb.”
He thought of his half-brother who had bowed his head.
Then he smirked.
“Which noble house is that marriage rumor with Kaillen again?”
“Lady Hernia, Your Highness.”
“Hah! Know your place…”
The Crown Prince kicked the floor and spun his chair again.
Then he smiled.
“This is getting interesting.”
Late into the night, laughter echoed from the Crown Prince’s office.
“What did His Majesty want to see you about?”
Dylan followed Kaillen, who had returned from an audience with the Emperor. Kaillen said nothing and walked quickly.
“Lord Kaillen.”
Dylan, being shorter, hurried to keep up. Suddenly Kaillen stopped, forcing Dylan to halt as well.
“Greetings, Small Light of the Empire.”
The Duke of Hernia stood in front of Kaillen’s office.
Placing a hand over his chest, the Duke slowly raised his head.
“I thought I might have something to discuss with you, so I came personally.”
Kaillen’s expression briefly stiffened, then he smiled and opened the office door.
“Come in.”
They sat on the sofa, and Dylan left to bring tea. After the door clicked shut, the Duke spoke.
“Perhaps I misunderstood Your Highness’s intentions all this time.”
Kaillen adjusted his posture and loosened his jacket button, crossing his long legs.
“Duke, I think we should cancel the matter of marriage we discussed before.”
“…Then the rumors are true?”
Kaillen’s smile froze.
The rumor the Duke referred to was the same rumor Kaillen had just heard from the Emperor.
Knock knock.
At the right moment, Dylan entered with a tea trolley.
After placing the cups, he poured steaming tea into both Kaillen’s and the Duke’s cups, then left.
Silence settled.
“It’s… true.”
Kaillen lifted his cup and took a sip.
The Duke slowly withdrew his hand and clasped both hands over his knees. After a long pause, he sighed.
“I see… that is unfortunate.”
“Duke. About what we discussed…”
“Yes. I will need more time to think.”
The Duke stood.
“I will take my leave. Given the circumstances, please forgive my rudeness.”
He bowed and left without looking back.
Shortly after, Dylan and Caspian entered.
“The Duke’s expression looked terrible, what did you—ack!”
Dylan stepped on Caspian’s foot to shut him up. Caspian finally noticed Kaillen’s dark expression and went silent.
Kaillen stared at the untouched tea.
Then he stood, removed his jacket, and rolled up his sleeves.
He picked up the top document on his desk.
“Prepare the wedding.”
Dylan and Caspian exchanged glances.
“…Pardon? With who… is getting married?”
Dylan asked cautiously.
“Me.”
Caspian’s jaw dropped. Dylan’s eyes widened.
“W-who with who?”
“Who do you think?”
Kaillen let out a dry laugh and looked back at his documents.
Dylan hit his head repeatedly, trying to think.
Their lord had suddenly announced a marriage. Two candidates came to mind.
One was Florence Hernia, the only daughter of Duke Hernia, a marriage long discussed as part of a political alliance to strengthen ties with one of the empire’s great noble houses.
And the other was…
Dylan frowned deeply.
