How the Prince Makes Friends - Chapter 152



Only Noblemtl

Episode 152

I won. All the aspiring journalists who came to take the test.

But before he could enjoy the joy, Evan’s mood soon fell into the abyss.

‘F, F, F, I can do it! Please, please give me a chance!’

‘Evan, stay quiet.’

‘Please! I won’t let the Vice-Captain’s reputation be tarnished!’

‘Be quiet!’

‘… … !’

Was he embarrassed that he was friends with a commoner like him? He shouldn’t have acted like he knew me. What if the vice-captain was in trouble?

No, maybe he was just upset because he realized he spent 50 gold on the wrong thing.

As a result, the vice-captain took pity on my situation and accepted me as a full-time employee, but he changed his title and tone of address, perhaps because he wanted to keep his distance.

Evan couldn’t be a bother to the vice-captain any longer, so he kept his distance from him as much as possible.

I was a little disappointed when I found out that the knights weren’t as righteous as I had thought, but I took comfort in the fact that there were people like the vice-captain.

Even when dirty water suddenly poured over my head, even when my plate was spilled and I starved, even when a bunch of idiots attacked me… it was all okay. Because I paid them back in kind.

‘Huh, those guys who can’t even attack me one-on-one… … .’

But when I received the news of my mother’s death, I wasn’t okay.

‘ah…….’

‘I’m sorry, Evan. I haven’t been feeling well for a while, but your mother didn’t want you to know.’

The kind lady who had moved in recently said this and handed me a letter.

As I unfolded the crumpled and wrinkled letter, I noticed the crooked and blurry letters that were written without much effort.

-Evan, don’t sweat the small stuff and do what you want to do. I’m sorry I couldn’t be a good mother to you.

My strength suddenly drained. I turned my head slightly and something small caught my eye. Lying in bed, all I knew how to do was cry, sleep, and eat.

‘Evan, I’ll look into childcare. How can you raise a child? This is normal, so don’t feel guilty.’

‘… … .’

Evan couldn’t say no right away. Small things were a burden to me. How did he become a knight? How did he hold on? He couldn’t give up like this.

That night, Evan tried alcohol for the first time. It was the beer his father often drank. But it was tasteless and only made him feel worse, so he quickly threw the glass away.

With a thud, the contents spilled out, wetting the floor. The little thing’s cries grew louder.

Evan got up nervously at the sound of the piercing noise and walked towards the source of the noise. Tears were already pouring out of his swollen eye sockets.

‘Is it really necessary to send him to a daycare center? He’ll die anyway if we don’t give him medicine.’

Then wouldn’t it be better to kill him now? It’ll hurt less even for a day.

Evan lifted his rough hand and compared its size with the small one. The face was so small that it could fit in one hand. He carefully placed his hand on the slender neck and felt warmth.

And at that moment, everything around became quiet.

The little thing that had stopped crying looked up at itself with its plump, swollen eyes that wouldn’t open properly. Something evil was reflected in that small hole.

‘ah…….’

So this is why my father covered the beast’s eyes before killing him.

At that moment, a short question suddenly popped out and rang through my mind.

‘Why do you want to become a knight?’

How did you answer this question?

‘I will be the one who protects.’

Even when told that it wouldn’t be easy, he confidently answered that it would be okay. He would protect both his mother and Ariel, didn’t he?

I couldn’t breathe.

If he couldn’t protect his mother and couldn’t even protect the remaining children, then what on earth was he trying to protect by acting as a knight?

‘… Aryl.’

‘Oops, bar!’

Evan quickly hugged Ariel, who was laughing with tears streaming down her face. Ariel’s face was hot from crying.

But unfortunately, the warmth was so welcome that I hugged her tighter. Her small arms also wrapped around my neck.

‘Aryl, I will protect you.’

But there was nothing he could do right away. He had to earn the money himself, so he had to hire someone to take care of Ariel.

Vice-captain, no, should I ask the teacher who has now become the captain for help?

I didn’t want to bother you anymore.

But I couldn’t help it. You might call me shameless, but he wouldn’t just let it go.

dripping-.

Just then there was a knock on the door.

Evan glanced outside at the pitch-black darkness where the moon had not yet risen, then squinted his eyes.

‘Who are you?’

‘Is this the original home of Sir Evan?’

‘…That’s right.’

‘The Queen sent me.’

‘… First, please come in.’

Evan welcomed the stranger into his home, holding Aryl in his arms. It was not proper to welcome a guest, as there was not even a single candle lit, but he could not leave someone sent by the Queen outside.

‘… I’m sorry. I have nothing to offer you.’

Evan quickly brought the candle and lit it. Aryl, who was in my arms, waved her hand while looking at the flickering candle. Still, she didn’t cry anymore, so it seemed like she wouldn’t be in pain tonight.

‘It’s okay. I’ll be there soon, so don’t worry.’

‘What brings you here at this hour… … ?’

‘The Queen is very interested in you. It is only natural, considering you have shown great ability at such a young age.’

‘…What do you want to say?’

‘So I also received the news of your mother’s death. Oh, I guess praying for the deceased’s soul to rest in peace is the priority.’

The man said this, then took off his hat and gave a brief bow.

‘…thank you.’

‘This is a condolence gift from the Queen. It is small, but please use it for funeral expenses.’

‘… … .’

Evan couldn’t refuse, even with empty words. What he needed most right now was money.

After hesitating for a moment and then picking up my wallet, the man smiled broadly and continued speaking.

‘I didn’t know you had such a young sibling. Oh, and of course Sir Evan is still young too… … .’

As he spoke, the man glanced at Aril in his arms and gave her a small wave. When the stranger greeted her, Aril turned her head and snuggled into his arms.

‘Your Majesty, it seems like it will be difficult to take care of your younger sibling… Should I speak to the Queen?’

‘…What does that mean?’

‘So that the King can focus on his knightly activities. The Queen thinks highly of the King, so she will be happy to help.’

‘but…….’

Evan thought of the queen with red eyes and red hair. Despite her intense colors, she had a very gentle appearance.

If I hadn’t been there in the first place during the knight exam, I might have failed on the spot. It seemed like the teacher had no intention of letting me pass.

‘Sir Evan, why are you so troubled? Surely you do not think that caring for a mere child will be a burden to the Queen?’

‘… … .’

‘You don’t have to give me an answer right away. Oh, and I’m going to stay at a nearby inn for about a week, so send the deceased off first and then think about it slowly.’

After saying that, the man left, leaving behind a piece of paper with an address written on it.

***

‘Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t know in advance that Sir Evan had such circumstances.’

‘Oh, no, no. I’m ashamed.’

‘Don’t worry too much, I will send your younger brother to the Duke’s house and take good care of him.’

‘…thank you.’

‘You don’t have to worry about the cost of medicine. I’ll also make sure to investigate the incurable disease your brother is suffering from.’

‘Thank you so much, thank you so much.’

Evan bowed deeply in gratitude. Red eyes looked at him with gentle curves.

I thought that the queen was truly a warm monarch who cared even for those below her level.

I carefully took the hand that was extended to me and placed it on my forehead, feeling slightly excited at the thought that this time, unlike our first meeting, I had properly paid tribute.

“Shit!”

Boom-! Bang!

The crystal goblet containing the fine liquor hit the table and shattered into pieces.

I’m angry.

To my past self who was naive, stupid, foolish, foolish, and inferior.

“…Are you okay?”

The owner approached me and handed me a handkerchief. I felt a little foolish for showing him such kindness even though I had caused a commotion and broken a glass.

Maybe it’s because my expression is so messed up.

Evan apologized and paid for the broken glass before leaving the bar.

The sun that reminded me of red eyes had gone away, and the sky was filled with darkness. Neither the moon nor the stars were visible.

Evan felt the cold air on his skin and tried to button up his coat, but he just left it on. He didn’t feel like walking right now, and he felt even more awkward raising his hands.

It seemed like the alcohol was kicking in as I was hit by the cold wind.

After walking for some time, he began to doubt whether he was properly returning to the palace, when he came into view of the palace hallway.

‘When did you come back?’

And I saw a small, black one, with a white tail poking out from under its robes.

“A wildcat… I have to catch it.”

I have to kill her… I have to kill her. Otherwise, Ariel… … .

The little thing paused for a moment at that muttering, then started walking again.

Evan followed. Perhaps because everything around him was dark, only his white tail sticking out stood out.

My mind was hazy. My vision was getting narrower and narrower, and I could see nothing but that small thing.

‘But why does it walk unsteadily like that?’

Looking at them walking around in a staggering manner, I began to wonder if they had already been hunted and were about to die.

I wish you would just run away.

Run away, far away. Where I can’t reach.

Evan repeated this to himself, then realized that it was not something small that was stumbling, and looked at his feet.

thud-.

And at that moment, I lost my balance and fell over. It didn’t hurt. I thought I was cold, but it wasn’t cold at all.

Just, a feeling of being numb.

At that moment, the small thing stopped and stared at him intently. No, he couldn’t see its face, but it felt like it was something like that. It was a figure waiting for him, and his emotions surged.

“Why…, why are you waiting…?”

“…….”

“Just, just go……”

“…….”

“Go. Just…, go away. Disappear.”

“…….”

“please…….”

Despite the words “go away,” the small thing came closer and lifted up its hood and cotton swab. Its mysterious eyes caught my eye more than its pure white hair.

The more I looked at it, the more my mind seemed to become dazed.

If I kill you… … .

“…Should I blame you?”

As I muttered like that, something appeared before my eyes. I couldn’t see anything.

“This is nothing but nonsense, so do as you wish.”

“…Huh, that thing…?”

“okay.”

If it’s nothing, won’t it die even if you kill it? Will it become something that doesn’t die even if you kill it?

I closed my eyes and opened them again, and the background had changed again.

Where is this? Is this a bedroom?

“This is a nightmare.”

Oh, I see. It was a nightmare. It was a dream.

This situation I am in, and the wildcat that might die by my hand.

The little beasts that died in my hands, the prince who cried while hugging the beast’s corpse, even the knights who almost had their mana hearts destroyed in my hands…

I wish it was a dream.

“In my dream…, I want to wake up.”

I didn’t want to have dreams like this anymore.

“Your will will come true.”

“…but…….”

“Evan.”

My heart sank when I heard my name, but it soon calmed down.

‘This is truly a dream.’

There’s no way that lynx would call my name.

“You can try. It will all be back to nothing.”

… You said I could try it, but is that okay? If I try it and regret it, can I go back?

Hands went up.

There was no need to cover his eyes, as his face was already black as if it had been painted black with something.

If my hideous face had been reflected in those mysterious eyes, I would have stopped again.

Ugh-.

A merciless sound woke me from my dream.