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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Meeting Prince Idis (3)
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"A servant will guide you to where Prince Idis is."
"Aren't you going to introduce me yourself?"
"Young people should enjoy themselves. What would I do, getting in the way?"
At Behitz's words, telling him to just go find Prince Idis even though he'd never met him, Sei-an let out a short sigh inwardly.
He wanted to argue that it was wrong for an old man to meddle in young people's friendships in the first place, but feeling Count Shurayton's gaze, which seemed ready to strike him for his repeated rudeness towards Behitz, he had to swallow his words.
"Haha! The Emperor is waiting for us, so let's head that way."
"Yes."
Behitz, who had been watching from the side, burst into loud laughter once more, then left the spot with Count Shurayton.
"Please follow me."
"..."
A moment later, a servant approached Sei-an and, seemingly already briefed, began to guide him to Prince Idis.
"This way."
Soon after, Sei-an arrived at a swordsmanship training ground, following the servant. It seemed to be exclusively for the Prince.
"You can wait here for a moment."
"Thank you."
"..."
"...? Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no."
The servant who had guided Sei-an couldn't help but be a little flustered seeing Sei-an politely express his gratitude for his words.
He had never once seen a noble visiting the Imperial Palace thank a servant or speak to them with such respect.
"Well then..."
The servant then bowed even more respectfully than usual and quickly left the spot.
"..."
Left alone, Sei-an quietly watched a person intently practicing swordsmanship in the distance.
'That must be Prince Idis.'
Tall, much like Lucian, with a short, well-fitting haircut, he was fully engrossed in his sword training, darting back and forth.
"..."
After watching for a long time, Sei-an began to feel bored and sleepy as the training showed no signs of ending.
Moving his steps, Sei-an found a spot under a shaded tree nearby and sat down, waiting for Prince Idis's sword training to finish.
'I'm sleepy.'
However, sitting idly in the sun-drenched grass was enough to naturally invite drowsiness.
"..."
A short while later, Sei-an, against his will, leaned against the tree and, without even realizing it himself, slowly drifted off to sleep.
*Thump... Thump-thump!*
"..."
How much time had passed? Feeling something lightly nudging him, Sei-an slowly woke up.
"Who are you?"
He was met with a person staring down at him with cold eyes. It was Prince Idis, who had been engrossed in swordsmanship training just moments before.
He had finished his training and was heading to his residence when he spotted Sei-an asleep in one corner of the training ground, feeling utterly bewildered as he approached him.
He was curious to know who this audacious person was, daring to fall asleep in such a place, of all places.
But seeing Sei-an show no signs of waking easily even after he approached, Prince Idis had nudged him awake with his foot.
"..."
Sei-an's face became utterly expressionless as he saw the distinct footprint on his clothes.
He then slowly stood up, brushed the dirt from his clothes, and politely bowed his head towards Prince Idis.
"..."
After that, he turned and began to walk away without a word.
"...! Hey, I asked who you are!"
Prince Idis's face crumpled in a frown at Sei-an's actions, and he shouted at him in an even colder voice.
He was suddenly furious at Sei-an's audacity to turn his back on him without answering.
"Do you need a friend?"
"What?"
At the sound of Sei-an's voice for the first time, Prince Idis's eyes grew puzzled. A friend, out of nowhere? He couldn't make sense of the nonsense he was spouting.
"I'll tell him you kicked me and said you didn't need someone like me."
"..."
At the sight of Sei-an bowing again after that remark and turning to leave, Prince Idis took a large stride, grabbed his arm, and spoke.
"I'm warning you, if you turn your back on me again without my permission... I'll kill you."
"..."
Sei-an felt that Prince Idis's words were sincere, but he was not one to be intimidated by them.
"Excuse me, could you please let go of my arm?"
"..."
"I'd rather not have sweaty hands on me."
"...Don't order me around."
"It's a request, not an order."
"..."
Prince Idis's face creased into a frown once more, seeing Sei-an continue to talk back without any fear despite his cold words and expression.
"I'll ask again. Who are you?"
"My name is Sei-an Shurayton."
"Shurayton? Are you Count Shurayton's son?"
"Yes."
Prince Idis was well acquainted with Count Shurayton.
He knew that while the Count didn't possess vast influence or wealth, he was someone who didn't cling to any single power or amass riches by leveraging his family's name.
"So?"
"...Did you not hear anything?"
"Hear what?"
"..."
That old man is definitely senile. If he intended to send someone, shouldn't he have given a heads-up beforehand?
Recalling Behitz, who had conveyed nothing to Prince Idis, Sei-an gnashed his teeth inwardly.
'He's just like Lord Shainos.'
Sei-an let out a short sigh, considering Behitz and Shainos to be similar in their tendency to create problems without any contingency plans.
"An elder who enjoys causing unnecessary trouble and is on the verge of senility sent me to Prince Idis."
"Are you referring to Behitz?"
"..."
Sei-an was speechless for a moment at Prince Idis's immediate understanding of his words.
He had to ponder whether he should be happy or sad that someone else shared his exact thoughts.
"So?"
"He told me to be your friend."
"What?"
"He told me to go and become Prince Idis's friend."
"..."
"Well then, I'll be going now."
Having revealed everything, Sei-an lightly turned around and walked away.
He figured if Prince Idis himself dismissed him, rather than him refusing, this matter would simply conclude easily.
"Wait."
"..."
However, Prince Idis grabbed him again, forcing Sei-an to stop his turn.
"You have a bad memory."
"Pardon?"
"I told you not to turn your back on me until I allowed it."
"So, you're going to kill me?"
"..."
Prince Idis silently stared at Sei-an's face, which uttered the word "death" with such composure.
"Follow me."
"What?"
"I don't need a friend, but it wouldn't be polite to simply send someone Behitz sent back."
"..."
*You're talking about politeness, but you kicked me with your foot!* Sei-an wanted to retort, but he swallowed the words and quietly began to follow behind Prince Idis, who was walking ahead.
He figured since he had already made the trip, it was best to see things through properly.
***
"This is quite an unusual place to entertain a guest."
"Do you dislike books?"
"No, I don't."
"Then it's fine."
The place Prince Idis took Sei-an to was the Imperial Library.
Books were packed densely throughout the vast space of this library, to the extent that it was said all books existing on the continent were gathered here.
It was said that any book not found in the Cezaros Imperial Library did not exist in this world, which spoke volumes about its scale.
The only problem, if it was one, was that it wasn't exactly a place to entertain guests.
"Hmm."
However, Sei-an wasn't there for a formal reception either, so he soon began to look around the library for books worth reading.
He then picked out a few intriguing books, found a spot near a window, and began to read.
"..."
Watching Sei-an, Prince Idis, who had already been seated and reading, subtly frowned.
Normally, the children of noble families, when with him, would shower him with flattery and cling to his side, trying to gain his favor in any way possible.
But this fellow he met today, for all his apparent self-importance, wasn't even attempting flattery. He had chosen the seat furthest from Prince Idis and was reading a book, as if he'd forgotten Prince Idis was even there.
'He's a boring one.'
At first, Prince Idis simply let it be. But as one, two, then three hours passed, and Sei-an still hadn't lifted his gaze from his book, Prince Idis stared at him with an incredulous expression.
And he slowly began to get angry. He felt somehow disregarded by the fellow.
"Your Highness, I've brought the tea."
Just then, a servant quietly entered the library. Since Prince Idis often spent long hours there, servants would bring him tea when the time came.
*Swish!*
In a sudden fit of childish mischief, Prince Idis subtly extended his leg as the servant passed by his side, trying to get Sei-an's attention.
"Oh... oh!"
The servant tripped over Prince Idis's leg and rapidly fell forward.
"..."
But then, something astonishing happened. The servant, who was about to hit the floor, was smoothly pulled back up as if by an invisible force, returning to his original standing posture.
It was a sight unbelievable even to one's own eyes.
"..."
Even the servant himself wore a bewildered expression.
As his body was lifted against his will, as if a string were attached to his back, the servant repeatedly tilted his head and looked around.
"..."
Prince Idis also looked on with a puzzled expression, wondering what had just happened in this sudden situation, before quickly turning his head to look at Sei-an.
But Sei-an seemed oblivious to what was happening around him, simply continuing to read his book as before.
"What are you doing? Pour the tea."
"Huh? Oh, yes."
A moment later, Prince Idis, annoyed for no particular reason, spoke loudly as if taking out his frustration on the servant. The dazed servant quickly prepared the teacup and offered it to Prince Idis.
He then moved to pour tea for Sei-an as well.
"Thank you."
"Oh, no problem."
The servant was flustered by Sei-an's gratitude and quickly bowed his head.
"From now on, always watch your step carefully."
"Pardon?"
"Because there are many who indulge in pointless mischief."
"..."
At Sei-an's sudden remark that followed, the servant tilted his head in confusion, then seemed to think it was because of his earlier fall. He bowed once more and quickly exited the library.
*Clink!*
"The tea was delicious."
Sei-an, who had drained the tea the servant offered in one gulp, stood up and finally spoke to Prince Idis.
"I'll see you again tomorrow."
"...You're coming again?"
"I suppose I'll have to humor the adults for a while, won't I?"
"..."
"Then, I'll take my leave."
After giving a slight bow to Prince Idis, Sei-an left the library.
"...What was that guy?"
After Sei-an disappeared, Prince Idis, left alone in the library, frowned fiercely, unable to shake his displeased expression for a long time.
"And what was that just now?"
Then, Prince Idis fell into deep thought about the inexplicable phenomenon that had just occurred with the servant.
