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Chapter : 23
Meanwhile, a banquet was in full swing in the imperial palace.
However, separate from the lavish dishes laid out on the table, the emperor and empress both wore grim expressions.
“Phew….”
“There’s no news again today.”
The reason was simple.
It had already been three months since Castilian’s last survival report before he disappeared.
As mentioned earlier, Castilian had been secretly living in the estate of Chase and only occasionally visited the palace—
to confirm whether he was alive or not.
The problem was that those “occasional” visits happened only every few months.
A familiar name escaped the empress’s lips as she sighed.
“Castilian… when will you come back?”
To find their son, who kept running off somewhere, the emperor and empress had dispatched dozens of hawks across the entire nation.
Yet there had been no results whatsoever.
Recently, they had even heard that one of the fifty hawks had gone missing.
That was why their worries were now reaching the sky.
The emperor’s brow furrowed.
“How can the crown prince of the empire behave in such a disgraceful manner… This is all because I spoiled Castilian too much.”
“No, Your Majesty. Castilian has always been exceptionally intelligent since he was young. The reason you spoiled him is because he was the kind of child who couldn’t help but be treated that way.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“……”
“…Hm?”
The emperor and empress barely touched their food as they talked about Castilian.
It seemed they had almost forgotten to eat.
A man who had been quietly listening to their conversation spoke up.
“Father, Mother. Please don’t worry too much.”
With a gentle smile on his youthful face and golden hair identical to Castilian’s, the man was named Edel La Pesirod Carnon.
He was Castilian’s younger brother and the empire’s second prince.
As his plain two-syllable name suggested, Edel was not one of the thirty male leads.
He wasn’t even a character in a novel.
He was an NPC in a game—only visible when attempting to pursue Castilian.
The reason the developer created the character Edel was…
Because Castilian was simply too difficult to raise as a male lead.
When was first released, complaints flooded the game’s website.
“Castilian’s route is too hard. Isn’t his difficulty much higher than the other male leads? Please add a difficulty adjustment feature.”
“How are we even supposed to get an ending with Castilian? No matter how much I follow him and talk to him, he doesn’t respond.”
“Is this a bug? But even my Castilian at home is practicing silence… ㅠㅠ”
“Am I really not going to be able to say hello to Castilian this year…?”
Overall, the complaints were that Castilian was too silent to be pursued.
So the developers added an NPC named Edel.
He was placed beside Castilian as his “spokesperson.”
A prince sitting in the imperial garden can be seen.
Should you talk to him?
- “Your Highness Edel, where is Prince Castilian?”
- “Your Highness Edel, I actually… have a worry and can’t sleep at night.”
- “I’m a handsome bandit. Hand over Castilian.”
Edel, a highly emotional and empathetic person, was simple-minded.
If the player evoked sympathy, he would unquestioningly reveal information about Castilian.
“Your Highness Edel, I actually… have a worry and can’t sleep at night. Could you listen?”
“Ohh, OO. Of course! Edel will listen!”
“It’s about Prince Castilian…”
…
“I see… OO must have been very troubled.”
“……”
“But I’m sure Brother Castilian didn’t do it intentionally. Brother…”
Anyway, since Edel was created for Castilian’s route, he was completely on his side.
His habitual line in the game was even:
“Brother Castilian is the best!”
Because of this, Castilian cherished Edel greatly.
He even told him where he was currently staying.
“Where could he be hiding to remain completely unseen?”
“Exactly. Neither the imperial knights nor the hawks have found him…”
Edel, with his extreme empathy, felt sorry for the emperor and empress.
Father… Mother… You’ve aged ten years already…
But he clenched his teeth.
No. Focus.
Since his brother had told him not to reveal anything, he had to stay silent.
Inside, he kept chanting:
Baron Izet’s estate! Baron Izet’s estate!
Edel knew why Castilian kept escaping the palace.
Six months ago, he had finally asked.
“Brother, why are you hiding at Baron Izet’s estate? Is there a reason?”
“…There’s someone I like… so I go out.”
“Huh, Brother…!”
Edel was moved by Castilian’s unexpectedly romantic reason.
After that, he supported him and helped with his escapes.
I hope Brother’s love comes true soon.
Then I’ll get a sister-in-law!
As an NPC, Edel’s thoughts were simple. He just wanted to find out who Castilian liked.
To do that, he had to keep a straight face in front of the emperor and empress.
Because Brother told me to!
The empress asked,
“Edel… do you truly not know where Castilian is?”
Edel met her eyes.
No, I know! He’s at Baron Izet’s estate!
He said he’d return before the upcoming imperial ball!
I received a letter this morning through the messenger hawk!
Though his mind was noisy, his expression remained calm.
“I don’t know either.”
“……”
“But Brother Castilian isn’t someone who acts without reason. There must be a valid reason.”
“……”
“I believe he will return safely one day.”
As always, he only repeated obvious words.
The emperor and empress continued their sighing battle.
Edel ate small pieces of meat while using their sighs as background music.
Brother’s future wife…
My sister-in-law!
I can’t wait to see her.
Would Edel’s wish come true?
* * *
A few days later, in an alley near Valenri’s clothing shop.
I was hiding with a scarf wrapped around my head.
I wrote the situation down on a log sheet.
[Just now, Violet Bringer entered the clothing shop.
Viscount Johan Belloster will arrive within 10 minutes.]
Beside me today was… yet again, a sticky shadow.
Rian de Vichel.
While taking notes, I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
“Ugh, it’s hot…”
The weather had turned humid recently, making things unbearable.
Even just walking was hot—yet I had to wear a scarf for disguise.
Why did Johan request this in the summer…
In The Flower Garden of Milaira, Johan was strangely immune to heat.
The story even described how everyone in the same space would be exhausted from the heat—except Johan, who remained perfectly fine.
When I first read it, I thought that trait was cool.
I was completely smitten with him, so even minor details felt attractive.
But now it was deeply frustrating.
Johan, you may be fine walking around in summer—but I’m not!
I envied the staff inside the air-conditioned center doing transcription work.
“Center Director.”
At that moment, Rian called me.
I glanced up.
“Hot?”
“Yes, it’s hot…”
Rian looked relaxed as always.
At least this guy doesn’t seem immune to heat like Johan.
Because his shirt had noticeably thinned over the past few days.
While unconsciously scanning his outfit, I quickly turned my gaze away.
My face burned.
No matter how hot it is, why are you dressed like that…
Hey, Rian.
We’re still on duty right now.
I admit it’s hot—but don’t you think your outfit is inappropriate for the situation?
Why was I muttering like this?
Because… Rian was wearing a sheer shirt.
