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Chapter 9
After parting ways with Annabella and returning, a mysterious smile lingered on Javier’s lips.
She kept averting her gaze, insisting she did not have “the color of the royal blood”…
He felt like she was hiding something, but there was no rush. He had plenty of time ahead.
Javier stopped abruptly, staring down at his own hands, unaware of how the palace servants looked at him.
Something felt strange.
From his toes to the top of his head, a warm energy suddenly surged through him, yet an inexplicable sense of discomfort followed.
What was this unfamiliar yet pleasant feeling?
Tilting his head slightly, he raised it again—and saw a face he was more than happy to see.
The young prince, his eyes already slightly damp, ran toward him.
***
“Could it be possession?”
Barrett Toston, second prince’s secretary and the second administrative officer of Labonne Palace, looked at Javier with that thought.
Wasn’t it said that a skilled medium had been brought from the territory of the Temple Grand Duchy?
Ah, and then wasn’t it revealed that he was a fraud and kicked out?
Maybe he should go to the Holy Kingdom and get some holy water as soon as he left.
“Are you alright, Barrett? Are you hurt anywhere? Does your throat hurt? Can I take a look?”
Even if it was urgent, cold water alone wouldn’t help.
The person he served kindly examined him, but Barrett only felt uncomfortable. Aside from some stiffness in his neck, he was fine. It seemed like another lecture about how reading too much would make his neck stick forward again.
“…It’s very cleanly attached.”
At Javier’s touch, Barrett, who had been limp like a rag, suddenly stiffened again with a serious expression. It sounded like he was talking about Barrett’s head being detached and reattached. His trembling voice confirmed that this was not a joke.
‘Did he have a nightmare or something?’
He had been strange since morning. The second prince had burst out in sleepwear, then returned looking completely dejected upon seeing Barrett’s face. And then he had hugged him tightly with shaking hands. When asked what was wrong and where he had been, he simply said he was sorry and that he had missed him terribly.
‘Yesterday he refused an audience saying it was a servant dog’s birthday party… and wouldn’t meet me?’
Still, Barrett could tell Javier’s condition was serious.
The way he clung tightly to him made the servants exchange secret glances. What kind of rumors would spread between the second prince, who refused his fiancée, and his closest aide… Barrett shut his eyes tightly. He didn’t even want to think about it.
‘Ah, not the time for this.’
Today, he had resolved to have a proper conversation no matter what excuses were made. Javier usually spent his time either playing with young servants, lying in the garden reading, or suddenly playing the viol. He rarely made time for Barrett.
Barrett had prepared thoroughly to speak with him. He even checked whether spies or artifact devices were listening in.
And indeed, he had found a recording artifact under Javier’s bed.
Looking at the small bead-like device, Barrett suspected Javier might already know of its existence. After some thought, he decided to disable it for three days.
Let Decline—presumably the one who installed it—wonder why it suddenly stopped working, what happened during the gap, and what conversations took place.
‘Let him suffer a bit.’
He couldn’t just ask openly. That would mean admitting he installed a secret device.
Anyway, Javier didn’t seem interested in suspecting or competing with his older brother.
Barrett wanted that brother to feel some discomfort—some concern over Javier. Ever since “that incident,” Barrett had been doing everything he could to trouble Decline.
Decline had a habit of making people drop their guard with his gentle smile and soft demeanor. But Barrett was not fooled. Occasionally, there was a wild, beast-like glint in his eyes—like he could bite anyone beside him at any time. So Javier had to keep trusting him…
‘Today, I will at least get him to agree to study statecraft.’
Javier would likely try to avoid it, understanding exactly what it meant.
Just as Barrett took a deep breath at the door, Javier suddenly burst out and ran like the wind. Even though he knew Javier was somewhat skilled from academy sword training, he had never imagined he could run that fast.
‘Ahh, Second Prince… just how much have you been hiding?’
Lost in lament, one of Javier’s servants approached.
“What happened to His Highness?”
“I don’t know either. Did anyone follow him?”
“He disappeared like a ghost…”
“He left in sleepwear, so he should return soon.”
“In sleepwear?”
“What were you all doing not to stop him?”
Barrett sighed deeply, taking the tea from a servant, deciding it was pointless to wait.
Eventually, he seated Javier on the sofa.
“Please have some tea and calm yourself.”
“What year is it now?”
“Year 875 of the Barlem Calendar.”
Barrett answered calmly even to strange questions.
Javier’s gaze carried emotions too complex to understand—especially one resembling guilt.
Was he really that sorry for yesterday’s lie?
No… these emotions felt far older than that.
“What do you know about Sion Perid?”
A familiar name.
Barrett let out a small exclamation.
“You mean the new knight of the Temple Duchy’s knight order? Lady Lydia was pleased, saying a useful one has joined recently.”
Lydia was the commander of the Orid Knight Order under the Temple Ducal House.
She even lamented wanting to train him as a deputy if he hadn’t been from a conquered nation.
“She rarely praises subordinates, so it left an impression.”
“I’d like to meet Sion Perid.”
“I’ll arrange it, but why? And how do you know him?”
Javier only shrugged.
“Just because. Don’t you think I might need my own knight order now?”
“…Pardon?”
Barrett made a foolish sound in disbelief.
“No, seriously?”
Princes were not allowed to form private knight orders. Of course, there was the Eastern Knight Order guarding Labonne Palace and personal escorts existed. But a private knight order meant one thing—it meant preparing for conflict.
The Eterinta Empire followed primogeniture, but under certain conditions, other princes could claim the throne. Namely, legitimate dragon bloodline and popular support.
And Javier possessed both.
