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Chapter 12
You’re Not My Child
Luimond flinched inwardly but skillfully hid his expression and looked up at the sky.
The sharp, cold golden eyes were scrutinizing him, waiting for his answer, but he was not one to feel pressured by such things.
How many years had he navigated the snake-like noble factions and the political arena?
Being the Crown Prince, born as the empire’s pawn, proved useful in times like this.
Even under Shaimon’s gaze, which could pierce through his heart, he could manage to appear composed.
“Such a perceptive guy…”
He raised his glass slightly, wetting his lips with whiskey. The drink, as if it were a potion of the devil, perfumed his senses.
“I can’t believe he didn’t notice Kalia trying to leave everything behind.”
This implied that Kalia’s decision had been sudden.
“It seems a family is about to form.”
“A family… what could that possibly mean?”
It was a story famous enough for everyone in the empire to know.
A penniless girl from the backstreets had saved a kidnapped minor duke, and that girl ultimately became a war hero who saved the empire—a legendary true story.
That penniless girl was an orphan, without a family.
She had been abandoned so young that no one even knew exactly when.
“…It doesn’t seem like she found her biological parents.”
Many had tried desperately to find her parents. Both Shaimon, the Crown Prince, and Kalia herself had made efforts, but they never uncovered any clues.
“Then… could it be a lover?”
Luimond lowered his gaze, his face pale, and looked at Shaimon standing by his side.
Golden eyes stared at him coldly, as if asking why he looked that way.
He was already shocked and drained by Kalia’s decision—what would happen if Shaimon found out?
“He might turn into one of those crazy wizards you only hear about in stories…”
The thought made Luimond’s head throb, and his fingertips trembled.
His mind was restless, his chest tight. It had been a long time since he had felt such a surge of emotion.
With a sigh heavy enough to crush him from within, Shaimon’s expression turned icy.
“Kalia’s involved, isn’t she? What happened? Tell me.”
But Luimond couldn’t blurt it out to the pressing Shaimon. He had made a promise to Kalia.
Instead, he masked his conflicted feelings and spoke instead.
“…Nathan has proposed a marriage. They want the future empress position as a reward for supporting the war.”
During the previous Salt War, Nathan had invaded Lohas but quickly surrendered due to lobbying efforts.
Cleverly, Nathan immediately proposed an alliance with Lohas, transforming from invader to ally and enjoying the spoils of victory.
Although their slick actions irritated him, it was an alliance that wasn’t entirely disadvantageous to Lohas, so he let it slide. Politics worked that way.
Shaimon wasn’t particularly surprised, having already anticipated such a reward.
“You knew they’d aim for the vacant Crown Princess position, didn’t you?”
“I know. But even knowing, it’s hard not to feel unsettled, Shaimon.”
“No matter how uneasy you feel, I know you won’t refuse it.”
Luimond didn’t deny it, instead smirking as he finished his whiskey.
Shaimon, staring at him intently, added slowly:
“Well, if you really don’t want to, you can refuse. If it’s against your will, I’ll make a reason for you.”
Luimond turned his head to look at Shaimon.
Shaimon perched on the railing, shrugging his shoulders.
“Or, I could make Nathan completely regret it.”
Luimond laughed at the affection hidden in Shaimon’s casual words.
It was always like this.
His cousin seemed cold, but he wasn’t heartless.
A man who could casually sacrifice himself for someone else, as if it were nothing.
Cold to enemies, warm and kind to those close to him.
Perhaps even blindly devoted at times.
“…In the end, maybe the coldest person is me.”
Not Kalia holding a sword, not Shaimon casting deadly magic, but Luimond himself—the one who controlled the two from behind the scenes.
“Thanks for the words, but I’m fine. I don’t want to dishonor my dear cousin to avoid my duty.”
“Alright, if that’s settled.”
Shaimon nonchalantly returned to the main topic.
“So, what did you discuss with Kalia?”
“Persistent fellow…”
Luimond clicked his tongue inwardly and realized that if he closed his mouth halfway, this interrogation would never end.
He knew Kalia better than anyone, and he knew Shaimon’s feelings for her.
“Well… just a minor military personnel issue.”
If he were ever found out later for this lie, Shaimon might just rage and threaten the only Crown Prince of the country.
Indeed, Shaimon could very well destroy his head—or maybe even the entire palace.
“A minor personnel issue? That’s it? Nothing else?”
Luimond unconsciously rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at Shaimon.
Shaimon still looked at him with faint suspicion.
He forgot that Shaimon’s disposition changed entirely when it came to Kalia, no matter how warm he usually was.
A vivid headline from a palace newspaper flashed in Luimond’s mind:
[Mad Archmage Goes Berserk! Destroys the Palace, Drives the Crown Prince to Death!]
“…No. Absolutely not.”
Shuddering at the horrifying but plausible image, Luimond forced a mask over his face.
This must never be discovered.
With a deliberately irritated tone, he snapped:
“Shaimon… please, enough. If you’re so curious about Kalia’s every move, why not just shrink her magically and carry her around?”
“Shrink her?”
…Imagine a tiny Kalia. Just the thought was unbearably cute.
Shaimon’s eyes sparkled as if he had discovered something incredible, praising Luimond silently.
He immediately pondered whether a spell existed that could alter a person’s size.
Watching him, Luimond shook his head at Shaimon’s worsening “Kalia obsession.”
He realized he would need to manage his neck carefully.
No, Shaimon was a mage—if angered, he could unleash fireballs or lightning. Not just the palace, but the entire capital might be in danger.
“…I should order the capital’s defensive magic circles to be reinforced.”
Luimond, the Crown Prince, fretting over the possibility that the palace might be destroyed by his talented young mage cousin…
“What a pitiful state I’m in.”
Still, he didn’t think Shaimon and Kalia would truly threaten the country.
Their devotion and love had been instrumental in building the empire’s current fame.
Moreover, it had been these two who supported Luimond more than anyone else, helping him gain the upper hand against the nobles.
Even more than the emperor or his brothers, their support had placed him in his current position.
“Well, if you said nothing, that’s fine. I have urgent research to attend to.”
“Shaimon.”
Luimond suddenly called after him, anxiety creeping into his voice. Seeing him turn away, his last shred of conscience held him back.
Was keeping silent really the best choice?
What if, much later, he regretted staying quiet all this time?
“The business trip… the day after tomorrow.”
Shaimon nodded lightly as if acknowledging.
Luimond opened his mouth with a blank expression, then closed it again.
He was reminded of Kalia’s smile, as if she held the whole world in her hands.
The smile, tinged with blush and radiating happiness—Kalia’s first smile that Luimond had seen.
A warrior who had saved his life countless times, his most trusted guard, who fought until she was in tatters.
“…Maybe I shouldn’t go.” That thought almost escaped, but Luimond swallowed it.
He forced the words down like dry bread and shook his head with a faint smile.
“Have a good trip. It’ll be pretty boring without you.”
“Lightweight, huh.”
Shaimon curled the corners of his mouth into a smile and left the office.
Thud-
The heavy wooden door closed.
Watching the door close completely, Luimond’s head dropped onto the desk with a loud thump.
“…God, why do you test me so?”
For the first time since ascending as Crown Prince, Luimond wanted to cry.
He wanted to open the door and shout, “Kalia says she’s leaving us! Stop her!”
But he couldn’t. All he could do was suffer.
“Kalia… Kalia.”
He closed his eyes and imagined the lemon-colored hair that always protected him.
His chest tightened, but hesitation had ultimately become his final permission.
The next day came, and the day after that, as Shaimon, Minister of the Magical Department, led eight mages on a two-week trip to inspect the defensive magic circles.
