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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: An Unwelcome Guest
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‘…How did he get out?’
Eaton, dressed in a servant's clothes, stood there with a face full of rage. He was glaring at the back of Ryan's head, his face burning with anger.
It seemed he had recognized who Ryan was.
‘This is bad.’
Unlike Darcy, Ryan wasn't forcibly dragged into battle, but he was someone who strongly advocated for the Imperial Family to strictly control mages. Besides, didn't Eaton mention it before?
“When I think about it, I hate the Prince and the Emperor the most.”
The "Prince" he mentioned surely wasn't just Darcy. Ryan alone was a headache, but now things had gotten twice as complicated.
‘No, before that, how did Eaton get out of his room?’
“…What are you thinking?”
“I'm considering how to take Your Highness's words. I trust you can wait for that.”
I replied stiffly and approached the window.
“The light is quite bright.”
I drew the curtains myself, meeting Eaton's gaze. After confirming with a sideways glance that Ryan couldn't see my face, I mouthed some words.
*Go back to your room. Now.*
As expected, Eaton mouthed back.
*No.*
I understood. How often would a mage get a chance to face a defenseless prince? An opportunity like this was golden.
His figure, visible through the window, disappeared.
‘He just said that but went back, right?’
After closing the curtains, I tossed out a question to check on his and Reshuan's status first.
“Where is your lover, Your Highness? I'm concerned that strange rumors might spread again if we're seen like this.”
“You don't need to worry about Reshuan.”
I narrowed my eyes at Ryan's stiff tone.
“I don't quite understand how meeting another woman while you have a lover is something not to worry about.”
“Because she was the one who suggested it.”
Reshuan suggested this?
“Will you accept a gift along with my apology? This is actually the main point… It's a larger quantity of magic stones than what Marquis Etoile offered last time.”
He took out the magic stones he had brought. I wondered how long it took him to come up with such a convenient excuse. It was pathetic to see him trying to use me now when he should have treated me well when he had the chance.
The magic stones themselves were blameless. I decided to give them to Darcy for his research. How perfect would it be to bring Ryan down with a gift from Ryan himself?
I bowed my head, feigning being moved.
‘Is that all the information he has?’
It was about time to send Ryan back…
“It's best not to trust Prince Darcy too much, Etoile.”
The person I should distrust is right in front of me, though?
I'd endured enough. I shot up from my seat.
“I never knew you would speak so ill of your brother in front of others. I'm disappointed.”
“It's for your own good.”
“My, for my sake? If Your Highness from a few months ago heard that, you'd jump in surprise.”
“…I'm serious.”
Ryan met my eyes. I frowned as if something dirty had touched me.
“You must be disappointed that the fish you'd already caught got away.”
“…”
“You should have treated me more sincerely when you had the chance.”
After snapping at him, I calmly headed for the door.
Ryan stood up to follow me. It seemed he intended to stop me, but I was about to show him out right…
“Eaton.”
…away.
Until I saw Eaton at the door, holding a tray with tea and simple refreshments.
I quickly turned my head. Ryan glanced at Eaton with a blank expression.
“Since the tea is here, why don't you serve it?”
Fortunately, he didn't pay much attention to Eaton.
‘Then Eaton is the problem.’
I stole a glance at his hands. The way he was clenching his fists was more than just suspicious.
‘Did he make something with the magic stone I gave him?’
I had to stop Eaton from making a move.
As I pondered a way, I placed a hand on Eaton's shoulder and pulled him toward me.
“Good work.”
“…That's high praise for a mere servant.”
I smirked at Ryan, who was muttering in displeasure behind me.
“He's a boy I'm fond of.”
In doing so, I naturally hid Eaton's face. They might meet later as mages, but there was no good reason to let Eaton and Ryan become acquainted now.
“…It seems you have many lovers. First the second prince, and now another man in your house. Your taste seems to be consistent.”
I knew he was being sarcastic, but I had no desire to make excuses. In fact, if this made him lose interest, all the better.
I nodded.
“Yes, I have a weakness for pretty things.”
Wait.
This is no different from what Princess Werna said earlier.
But there was no better way to resolve the situation without revealing Eaton's face. Plus, unsettling Ryan was a bonus.
I turned my gaze to Eaton for a moment and advised him in a whisper.
*Endure it. He's not someone you can take on.*
But Eaton's eyes looked as if he had almost lost his reason.
“But something's strange.”
Ryan's words sent a shiver down my spine. He had somehow gotten close to me and Eaton.
“I can sense a killing intent, as if he wants to kill me right now. A hostility that I, as a prince, cannot simply overlook.”
Like a proper male lead, he was equipped with a killing-intent radar.
“I've never been one to let people like that go.”
Being ruthless to those who weren't his own was a virtue of a male lead.
Ryan proved this by drawing his sword with a *shing*.
Eaton was not one to be held quietly in my arms. He struggled to break free.
I mustered all my strength to hold him back. But I knew this wouldn't last long.
Even though he was a boy, there was a clear difference in our strength.
‘If only I had a gun right now…’
As I was screaming internally, I saw someone open the door and walk in.
A face seen through swaying silver hair.
‘Am I seeing things?’
“Oh, Marso. I thought I was the only one who could be by your side.”
Darcy, who had pulled Eaton away from me with near-superhuman strength and enveloped him in his own arms, greeted me with a brilliant smile.
“Can't you be satisfied with me by your side?”
He lowered his eyes, his face tinged with sadness. His face, which I hadn't seen in a while, was as beautiful as a gorgeously bloomed rose.
…But why?
I had been eagerly awaiting the day I'd see him again, but behind his pretty smile, I felt like I was seeing the grim reaper. Why did his sorrowful face give me the creeps?
“What am I to do if you're holding another man like this? I'm in despair, thinking you've found a lover while I was away.”
“…That's not possible.”
I waved my hands in denial. Darcy should know better than anyone that Eaton wasn't my lover, so I didn't understand why he was being so difficult.
Is it because Ryan is here?
“Then am I the only one by your side?”
It was like watching a whining child. But I had a gut feeling that something terrible would happen if I didn't answer.
I answered meekly.
“…That's right.”
It's the truth, anyway.
A faint, satisfied smile then spread across his lips.
Darcy whispered something to Eaton, and Eaton's struggling body went rigid. It was completely different from when I was trying to restrain him. I had no idea what he said.
“Do you have a reason to meet Marso?”
Darcy stood defiantly before Ryan, not even bothering to use a title.
“And I don't like you trying to shed blood here.”
Darcy then placed his hand over Ryan's, stopping him from drawing his sword. Ryan scowled.
“This is none of your business.”
Veins bulged on Ryan's arm. But he couldn't move an inch.
This meant it wasn't that Ryan wasn't drawing his sword, but that he was being stopped by Darcy.
“It's time for the uninvited guest to leave.”
His voice was so leisurely, as if he were on a picnic, that it was hard to believe he was exerting any force.
Ryan stopped trying to force his sword out and smirked at him.
“I haven't finished my conversation with the person who offered me tea. Did you receive an invitation?”
“We're not on terms where we need an invitation to visit each other's homes. It's a shame your relationship with her is only that shallow.”
The attempt to provoke Darcy fell completely flat. Watching their verbal sparring at times like this was so satisfying.
“Besides, my dear brother is about to get busy. You'll be heading out for the next battle.”
“I know. His Majesty the Emperor already informed me.”
“Isn't this the battle you so longed for? I hope you go and achieve everything you wanted.”
“Don't be sarcastic. It's my duty as a prince. I am the true talent His Majesty has been cherishing all this time.”
“Ah, yes.”
Every time I saw it, that nonchalant face was amazing. His skill of letting anything he didn't want to hear go in one ear and out the other was marvelous.
“Honestly, isn't this a busy time for you to be preparing? A greenhorn who's never even experienced a real battle.”
“…”
“You're not unaware that our continued victories so far have been because of me, are you? If you lose this time, your pride will hit rock bottom. Aren't you afraid?”
The days of hiding Darcy and making good use of him were over. Rumors of his exploits had started to spread, so continuing to use him was risky.
It was tantamount to openly declaring support for Darcy as the Crown Prince.
It was completely different from the book's plot, but Ryan was now heading into battle. And the opponents he would face were…
“All mages must be under the control of the Imperial Family. I'll show them this time.”
Ryan's gaze lingered for a moment on Eaton, who stood with his back to them, facing the wall. His eyes were as cold as ice.
“I'll take my leave for today. Marso, I'll come see you again later.”
He looked furious enough to explode, but Ryan didn't lose his temper today.
The sight of Ryan leaving, suppressing his anger, was actually more chilling.
There was no telling what he was hiding inside.
“He's not that scary.”
Darcy muttered with a blank expression.
It was a confidence born from skill.
