Chapter 59
“Your Highness. I love my sister. So I want her to be happy. You cherish our sister, don’t you?”
I thought I had given enough warning not to mess with me, so it seemed time to bow a little. There was no benefit in being at odds with the Second Prince anyway.
“Actually, all that talk about debts was a joke.”
The prince’s eyebrow twitched, perhaps thinking he had been played. This time he’s clearly showing his emotions. It’s displeasure.
“The truth is, I wanted to see how much you value our sister. Just as Your Highness checked me. In a way, it was just a bothersome task that wasn’t much help, but you stepped up for sister’s sake.”
“Of course. The situation is already difficult, so I should help that much at least.”
“That’s when I was convinced. Only Your Highness could be my brother-in-law. It seems sister will be happy by your side.”
At first, the prince tilted his head with a strange expression, but soon it changed to an arrogant face as if saying ‘of course’, and he curled up the corners of his mouth.
“Naturally. I will make Irene happy. Even without you testing me.”
“It was out of care for sister. Now we’re each other’s only family. Please forgive my disrespect.”
I placed my hand on my chest and bowed politely.
“Honestly, your earlier words about bothering me because of your injury seem more credible, but this doesn’t seem like a lie either. It’s suspicious.”
People usually stretch their legs according to their blanket. As the prince’s mood had considerably softened and he even seemed a bit pleased, I acted cheeky with a comfortable heart.
“You’re perceptive. It was killing two birds with one stone.”
“Cheeky brat.”
“May I take that as a compliment?”
“Have you ever thought about working under me?”
“No.”
“Without even considering it?”
“I want to live a life flowing like the wind and clouds. All I wish for is the peace and happiness of my precious people.”
“You’re making ‘I don’t want to do anything’ sound plausible.”
“I can’t help it if you interpret it that way.”
I meant I didn’t want to participate in headache-inducing things like the struggle for the throne.
“As long as Irene is by my side, she’s bound to be caught up in my battles. The same goes for you.”
The prince, having properly grasped my meaning, even changed how he addressed me. From ‘hey’, ‘you’, ‘brat’ to ‘you’ (polite form). It feels like I’ve been acknowledged, but I don’t know why. Wasn’t I acting quite disrespectfully?
“Isn’t there a big difference between getting caught up and standing at the forefront?”
In truth, the moment I decided to bring down the First Prince, I already had one foot in. However, I’m just rear support at most, I have no intention of standing at the front.
“I understand for now. If you change your mind, come to me anytime. As Irene’s brother, I’ll especially cherish you.”
“I don’t want to be tested again.”
When I flatly refused, the prince suddenly reached out his hand. Then, unexpectedly, he grabbed my chin and turned my face this way and that as if examining it. What is he doing…
“You’re different from Irene, yet similar. I quite like you too.”
“Thank you, but… it’s not very welcome.”
The prince burst into hearty laughter.
“I like people like you who have clear opinions, aren’t afraid of me, and are smart. I’m sick of those who only read the room and flatter.”
“I like people with firm convictions.”
“Then that’s exactly me.”
This is ridiculous. How can this snake-like schemer say that? As I let out a laugh of disbelief, the prince showed a smooth smile.
“Let’s stop the idle chat here.”
The prince held out a map to me. So there was a real purpose.
“I looked at the place where you said you’d send the Kans. A fortress-like place surrounded by mountain ranges is very inefficient for setting up something like a mine. So if it was used until it became an abandoned mine in the past, there must be a path leading to the outside.”
He’s accurate. It’s smart to deduce this just by looking at the map. It’s information anyone with a bit of intelligence could think of, but I had to acknowledge his initiative in examining the map after hearing my story. I wonder if he predicted what comes next too?
“They couldn’t have moved large amounts of ore over the mountains, so they likely dug a mining road.”
The prince’s finger moved to another location. Seeing that, I honestly couldn’t help but be impressed.
“If a foreign country invades and war breaks out, there’s a high probability that battles will occur on this plain. The enemy can occupy the hills, so they won’t enter the forest. Therefore, if the enemy occupies the queen’s nest, they could cut through the middle of our army following a path we don’t know about.”
He hit the nail on the head. The reason Irene fell into a trap in the original story. The reason Luwen had to die. As the prince worried, it was because the troops were split in half and isolated.
“Do you think war will break out?”
I asked, wondering if the First Prince was already making moves. Wasn’t father’s poisoning incident slightly different too? So there was no guarantee it wouldn’t be the same this time.
“How far have you seen?”
The answer to my question came back as another question.
This is tiring. I wish he’d just answer the question I asked.
“It’s a coincidence. There’s no way I could have thought that far. It was just an answer that came up while pondering a safe place to evacuate to.”
I could have explained, but I suddenly felt lazy and just made an excuse.
“I wonder. Would someone trying to sit above me really do that?”
Why doesn’t he believe me? I wish he’d just believe me. I’m really tired. My head isn’t working well now. I want to lie down. I want to sleep.
“Hmm. I think it’d be better to talk again later.”
“I have nothing more to say.”
The prince pushed his chair back and stood up, then placed his hand on my forehead. Unable to resist as he pushed me down, I ended up lying on the bed.
“I thought your face looked strangely flushed, and you do have a fever. I’d appreciate it if you kept my visit today a secret from Irene.”
So that’s why. I was feeling tired and my head was fuzzy. Was it because of the fever? Is he asking me to keep quiet so he won’t get scolded by sister for keeping me up while I’m sick?
“Try to look good to me. Don’t be troublesome.”
“Looks like you’ve lost all respect now.”
“I’m a patient, you know.”
“That’s quite an excuse.”
The prince stood there blankly.
Maybe because my body was struggling, but thinking about having to discuss this issue again later made me really dislike it. If the prince is going to be on guard anyway, he’d be more effective than me… I decided to just be honest and opened my mouth, intending to drive him away.
“I don’t know if war will break out. I’m just keeping it in mind as one possibility.”
“I see. So it is that person after all.”
“Probably. Be wary of information leaking outside.”
“I’ll leave the Kans settlement to you.”
“Yes. Now I want to sleep. I’m dizzy.”
“Rest well.”
Finally, the Second Prince left the tent.
Come to think of it, that guy just talked a bit and got all the information. I gave it up more easily because it was beneficial for me too, but somehow I feel like I’ve been had.
Ah, I don’t know. We’re going to be family anyway, so might as well help each other.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, Luwen’s voice brought me back to consciousness. It was amazing how I still responded diligently to Luwen even at times like this. At this rate, aren’t I like Pavlov’s dog?
“Young master, take your medicine before you sleep.”
Luwen said as he helped me sit up. I just want to sleep.
“Sleepy…”
“Take it and then sleep. Come on.”
I felt the hard touch of a glass cup on my lips. In my dazed state, I just opened my mouth and water came in. Then the familiar smell of medicine. After swallowing, he put the cup to my lips again, and after a few more sips of water, I was able to lie down.
“Sleep well.”
“Mmm.”
“Today, you’re more like a child than me, young master.”
Luwen stroked my hair. Just like I used to do for him when he was a child.
* * *
The next morning, my physical condition was much better. Breathing was easier, and strength returned to various parts of my body.
Despite this, I was still confined to bed under sister’s surveillance.
“Fei, it’s no use looking at me with a sullen face.”
How about this then?
“…Being cute won’t work either.”
Tsk. It’s not working.
I could change my expression more, but there was no need to show my hand unnecessarily. If she finds out my specialty, she might see me as the boy who cried wolf. I didn’t want to be caught out, especially since it was true.
“I’m really fine now. Didn’t you say Dedric is coming back today? Then I need to talk with the Kans boss too.”
“You don’t need to go greet them. More importantly, did you think I wouldn’t know that your fever rose again last night?”
“But I’m feeling great because Luwen gave me medicine and I slept well…”
“Why did His Highness have to bother you that night…”
Seeing sister’s frowning face, I was momentarily flustered and stupidly opened my mouth.
