Chapter 19
The embarrassingly childish argument didn’t stop. It was almost a relief that they weren’t pulling each other’s hair. Ethan, who was relatively disadvantaged in physical fights, suspected there was some bias. But even a verbal fight was hard to watch—too childish. Just as it seemed like it would drag on, Ethan poured cold water into prepared cups and handed them out. The meaning was clear: drink and calm down.
“You’re not even as good as my servant.”
“Stop dragging others into this when you have nothing to say.”
They still glared at each other as they took the cups. At least they realized they were overheating. Of course, they didn’t forget to glare even as they drank. They were truly talented, being so noble and yet so skilled at this.
The crown prince, Serzel, spoke.
“So. How’s the research coming along? I haven’t heard anything.”
Del’s face twisted completely.
“Because someone can’t even properly supply the materials, so it’s stuck. What do you expect?”
Ethan watched. Serzel took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm himself. A truly tearful effort. Of course, it lasted only a few seconds before it burst like a bubble.
“Hey, watch your words. How am I supposed to bring you the imperial treasure?!”
“Do you think you can just say ‘do this, do that’ without even that much resolve? You thief! If you’ve got the guts of a thief, then just steal it!”
“Now you’re trying to make the crown prince a thief? Come up with something realistic!”
Ethan was hearing something terribly troubling. He quietly went to the door and locked it. The idea of the empire’s crown prince and the duke’s heir arguing over who should be a thief was terrifying. It seemed they had forgotten Ethan was even in the room. No matter what Ethan thought, their voices grew louder.
“Do you think that’s something you can just do?! If it were that easy, the research would’ve been done a hundred years ago!”
“I’ve heard incompetent people blame their tools!”
“Have you seen a better magician than me in the empire?! My skills have already been proven!”
“Yeah! You’re amazing!”
“I know I’m amazing!”
Ethan calmly handed them each another cup of cold water. These noblemen’s arguments would never end unless he intervened. Two men in their early twenties, among the most noble in the empire, fought like seven-year-olds every time they met. It was astonishing that their childish rivalry had continued since their first meeting.
If someone asked Ethan when and why their relationship had become like this, he wouldn’t know how to answer. When they first met, shortly after Del’s coming-of-age, they had glared at each other as if they’d seen a bug. The next time, they fought like enemies. The time after that, they dropped all honorifics. By their fourth meeting, they were rolling on the floor, grabbing each other’s collars. No one could predict what would happen next, so the emperor and the duke arranged for them to avoid meeting in public for a while.
It would have been better if they never met at all, but that was impossible from birth. One was destined to be the emperor, the other the pillar of the empire as duke. The emperor and the duke agonized before deciding to place a cushion between them before they came to blows. It was a good idea. If only that cushion weren’t Ethan himself, it would have been perfect. Ethan had been given the honorable task of mediating between the two by both the emperor and the duke.
From their first meeting, their instant enmity puzzled even the duke and the emperor. The duke, who had previously warned Ethan never to leave Del alone with someone from the imperial family, now had a slightly different request. The original meaning was still unclear, but now it was certain: the duke didn’t want the two fighting to the point of punching each other, so he told Ethan never to leave them alone. Of course, it was a natural decision when the crown prince’s cheek swelled like a beehive and the heir’s eye turned black. The duke had even called Ethan in seriously to ask:
“What on earth did they fight about?”
“I don’t know.”
Ethan truly couldn’t answer. It really was nothing. Their noble faces ended up like that over something so trivial that Ethan forgot it moments later. The mudslinging between the highest of nobles happened in the blink of an eye when he took his eyes off them.
Fortunately, today they didn’t seem to be in a particularly bad mood. After a while of exchanging childish insults, a cushion flew between them. Ethan quickly caught the cushion Del had thrown, and Serzel, who had half-lifted his own, quietly put it down. Thankfully, the crown prince knew how to restrain himself when he realized someone else was present. He even seemed a little embarrassed to show this side in front of Ethan. Truly fortunate.
The two finally seemed tired, leaning back on the sofa and catching their breath. Fighting was exhausting, after all. Ethan wanted to bring them sweets and soda, but he couldn’t take his eyes off them for fear of what might happen. He pulled over a side chair and sat down. It was truly uncomfortable to have to watch two grown men like children.
“What about last time?”
At Del’s question, Serzel rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a brooch with a blue gem. He shook his head and handed it over. Del sighed and put it in his own pocket.
“No effect at all. Again.”
“Is that why you avoided me today?”
“Yeah. But running into you here is some kind of curse.”
“Bad luck.”
Serzel’s words made Del drop the subject. Ethan was confused by the new dynamic. Something had happened between them, something he didn’t know about. It seemed like a deal or a promise. But Del had never mentioned it. After six years by his side, Ethan thought he knew everything about Del’s affairs. But today, Del was looking at the crown prince, Serzel, with an unfamiliar expression.
“It’s hard to get the Sword of Izerilian. It’s too conspicuous. Is there no alternative?”
“The token of the oath is the most reliable. Well, it’s difficult before your coronation, so I’m looking for alternatives.”
“Is there no one who can help with the research?”
“Who can do what I can’t?”
It might have sounded arrogant, but Serzel agreed with Del. Ethan realized from their conversation that they were discussing some kind of magic. Oath. The word wasn’t unfamiliar. It was an ancient-sounding oath, briefly mentioned long ago. He never expected to hear it from the crown prince’s mouth.
“Phew…”
Serzel let out a long breath and leaned back on the sofa. Ethan moved behind Del. Neither paid much attention to Ethan’s actions. But to Ethan, Serzel was still someone to be wary of. One might think they simply didn’t get along, but Ethan knew it wasn’t just that. It was in the way Serzel sometimes looked at Del.
The longing in his gaze.
At times, he looked at Del like that. Serzel clearly had no romantic interest in Del. He didn’t seem to have much human affection either, but romance? No. Yet occasionally, his eyes flashed with longing, obsession, and possessiveness. He seemed unaware of it himself, furrowing his brows as if such desire disgusted him. Serzel stood up.
“We might need to hurry. Before my father finds out I’m cooperating with you.”
“Did you mess up and get caught?”
“Watch your back. The pressure’s increasing lately. Haven’t you noticed?”
“Has he caught on?”
“Not yet.”
Serzel’s words made Del fall deep into thought. Ethan couldn’t even greet Serzel as he left, but he didn’t seem to mind. Ethan naturally escorted him and unlocked the door. The crown prince’s pale eyes briefly met Ethan’s.
“Do you know what it’s like to long for something you don’t want to long for?”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s a really awful feeling.”
It was an abrupt remark, but Ethan understood. He was talking about that occasional gaze. Serzel smiled and said:
“That’s why I hate your master.”
As if Ethan would be curious. Everyone could see the hatred, so why explain? But Ethan couldn’t understand why Serzel was telling him this now.
After Serzel left and Ethan closed the door, he turned back. Del was still deep in thought, motionless. Had he asked if Ethan knew what it was like to long for something he didn’t want to long for? Ethan already knew something similar.
But it didn’t feel as unpleasant as it did for him. What came to Ethan was more like the shimmering haze he couldn’t grasp in his hand. A similar feeling.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
