Chapter 231
“It’s okay. I want to have a conversation.”
I walked out while supporting myself on Luwen’s arm. When I passed by Luwen and approached right up to the 3rd Prince’s face, his hands gripping his pants tightened even more. His arms trembling, he looked at me with teary eyes.
“I don’t think you properly answered why you’re apologizing.”
I pulled on my sleeve and gently tapped around his eyes. Wearing a caring smile was a bonus.
Does he remember? I had done the same thing in front of the campfire.
“Ugh, huu. Fei-!”
The 3rd Prince suddenly leaped into my arms, and I caught him reflexively. It was intentional behavior on my part, but it was an unexpected reaction. I couldn’t help but notice, so I glanced back. Luwen’s eyebrows twitched.
‘This time he’s really angry…’
I had a premonition that some part of the 3rd Prince’s body might disappear if I wasn’t careful, so I hastily pushed him away. But this stupid guy, not reading the atmosphere, clung to me again.
“3rd Prince… This puts me in a difficult position.”
“Huuu, huk, I, I like you, Fei, I like you… I’m sorry. Please forgive me… I’ll do anything. If you’ll just forgive me, anything, everything…”
It was such a pitiful crying voice that I felt sorry for him. This time it didn’t seem like he was lying either.
“Do you want to be forgiven for betraying me?”
“Yes, y-yes.”
“First, step back. Let’s talk first. Stop crying too.”
The 3rd Prince sniffled and raised his head. Then, as if he made eye contact with Luwen, he was startled and hiccupped with a face that had turned pale. Our Luwen is scary when he’s angry.
“Hiccup, hiccup.”
Even covering his mouth with both hands couldn’t stop the sounds from leaking out. I brought a glass of water to the 3rd Prince who was acting up in various ways.
…It’s just water, but does he really need to be moved to tears like that?
‘This is so burdensome I could die.’
At any other time, I would have cut him off coldly without giving him any chance, but now that I’m being held hostage, I can’t do that since I don’t know where or how he might bolt.
No, but this bastard too. He clearly knows I have a lover and knows I can’t be harsh right now, yet he dares to confess.
‘Isn’t he really a selfish bastard?’
Saying he likes me while not considering me at all – it was inconsiderate behavior.
‘Right, all royalty are like that. Should I be thankful that at least he’s not a despicable bastard? Since if he took Luwen hostage, I couldn’t resist.’
Thinking about it that way, he doesn’t seem like such a bad guy- no, no. Let me come to my senses. This is the kid who casually held a blade to my throat and betrayed me.
‘…Right. He was skilled at packaging his appearance so I couldn’t notice his schemes at all.’
Maybe even now he’s just ‘pretending.’ I can definitely feel sincerity, but there’s no harm in being cautious. I let my guard down and Luwen got hurt. That’s why I was even angrier.
‘At this bastard… and at myself too.’
I didn’t say anything and just waited until the 3rd Prince calmed down. He downed the water in one gulp and set the glass down. If he had continued hiccupping, it would have been annoying, but fortunately it seemed to stop quickly.
“Are you calm now?”
“Sniff, a little…”
“I understand that you’re sorry. But I can’t trust you. The price of betrayal was too high.”
Wrinkles formed on the 3rd Prince’s chin. If he cries again like that, it’ll be tiresome – did I speak too harshly? But right now I need to deal with him with this level of tension. Only then can I draw out his true intentions if he’s hiding them.
“That’s… understandable. Since I did what I did…”
I closed my mouth again. As if the silence was uncomfortable, the 3rd Prince’s eyes wandered aimlessly. He said he’d do anything. If that’s sincere, there should be something he needs to say. I waited for those words.
“Back then, I didn’t really understand. I was just obsessed with the thought of taking you to Tuaso and made the wrong choice.”
The 3rd Prince watched my reaction. I still maintained my silence.
“B-but the story about the imperial palace wasn’t a lie. I really was trying to become emperor. And to end the war you wanted…”
His words trailed off. Did he finally realize it? That what I wanted to hear wasn’t that kind of thing.
“I need to… prove it, right? If I want to restore trust, I need to pay the appropriate price. What is it? If I can earn qualification, I can do anything. Tell me.”
He looked straight at me with unwavering eyes filled with determination. Though it was a somewhat more extreme interpretation than what I wanted, the essence was right, so I spoke up.
“Can you answer honestly to my questions?”
“Yes. Ask me anything you’re curious about.”
“How did you communicate with Lord Ludwig while you were with us?”
A question that had never been resolved. And if this isn’t resolved, even if I take the 3rd Prince with me, I can’t be free from Ludwig. That’s why I was going to wrap him up tightly leaving only a breathing hole and drag him along like luggage, but.
“With this flute.”
The 3rd Prince took out a small white flute from his pocket. It didn’t look much different from an ordinary flute, but how did he communicate with this?
To me tilting my head in confusion, the 3rd Prince held out the flute.
“Want to try blowing it?”
“Is it okay to just blow it randomly?”
“Yes. You’ll understand if you try.”
I can play violin and piano, but this is my first time with a flute. It’s not that I don’t know how to blow it, but I’m not skilled enough to actually perform.
‘I don’t want to look foolish in front of Luwen.’
I was about to hand it back to the 3rd Prince, but my personality that needs to check things directly myself put on the brakes. I thought maybe I just needed to make a light sound instead of playing, so I brought the flute to my lips and blew air into it.
“…”
But no sound came out at all. I couldn’t even hear the sound of air leaking, so I was flustered. I blew it properly, didn’t I? After building up all that atmosphere, I couldn’t even make a sound. My face started burning with embarrassment.
“Wow! I’ve never seen anyone blow it properly on the first try, amazing! That’s Fei for you!”
Is this bastard making fun of me?
“No sound came out at all.”
“That’s right. It’s a flute that’s not supposed to make any sound.”
I tilted my head and examined the flute.
“But it definitely would have been transmitted to the flute on the other side. The sound Fei just blew.”
“How is that possible?”
“It’s a treasure of Tuaso. Ludwig has the flute’s pair.”
The 3rd Prince puffed out his chest proudly and exclaimed.
“Ludwig is approaching.”
Then Luwen whispered to me like a warning. How many seconds passed? Ludwig entered the barracks without permission.
“Your Highness!”
“You came?”
“Just now there was a strange signal… why does the young master have that?”
The 3rd Prince grinned broadly. As if proud of himself for not lying.
“I let him try it. Nothing happened.”
“Didn’t I repeatedly tell you that the flute must never be exposed?”
“I had to prove it.”
“Return it for now.”
Ludwig extended his hand toward me. Looking at his large, rough hand, I blew the flute once more. Again, no sound could be heard. But after a moment, a small vibration sound briefly resonated with a “buzzing.”
“I told you to return it.”
It was a threatening voice, but I calmly handed the flute to Luwen.
“Luwen, hold onto this.”
“Young master!”
“You don’t need to raise your voice for me to hear you. I will return the flute. However, I’ll give it to you when I judge that Luwen and I are safe.”
Seeing Ludwig’s reaction, it seemed that it really was a treasure of Tuaso. In the past, the empire was a country where magic was developed, and Tuaso was a country where magical tools were advanced. The flute is probably a remnant from the past.
‘Maybe it still works because its function is simple.’
Perhaps in the past, it might have been something easily obtainable in the market.
“Are you saying you’ll negotiate over that item now?”
Ludwig asked in a stern tone. His low voice carried intimidation.
“I understand how it works. But you also informed him about my existence. How did you do that?”
I ignored Ludwig and questioned the 3rd Prince. Without needing to explain, if I showed the 3rd Prince’s attitude, he would understand why the flute came into my hands.
“The vibration changes depending on how you blow the flute. I talked about it beforehand so it could be interpreted.”
Ludwig was shocked at the 3rd Prince who explained obediently. Then he looked at me and frowned deeply. As if I had used some kind of trickery.
“When Blight was carrying Fei away in the field, I followed behind and sent signals.”
The 3rd Prince explained everything in detail, even things I didn’t ask. Thanks to that, all my questions were resolved. As long as we have one side of the flute, there’s no way for the two of them to communicate when they’re far apart.
“It doesn’t seem like a lie.”
“I only told the truth.”
“I’ll trust you.”
Watching the 3rd Prince who was relieved and happy, I gained confidence that his feelings were sincere. And also that he wanted to somehow make up for making me upset. Then maybe… would something like this work too?
“Could you also let Luwen and me go?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
