How the Prince Makes Friends - Chapter 186



Only Noblemtl

Episode 186

Again, again

Sarak-, Sarak-

With each step the man took, his long, pitch-black hair swayed against the floor, making a rustling sound. Or perhaps it was the sound of his black, tangled clothes.

Everyone stared at the man, forgetting to breathe. The attire, resembling a priest’s robe, was more alluring than ascetic.

Again, again, again, tall.

After a while, the man stopped and looked around. The knights who had been standing there blankly for a moment, stunned by his unfathomable power, flinched at his gaze and gathered their strength again.

A vision that humans can never have.

The darkness, even under the bright lights, created a gleam in his eyes.

The corners of his mouth went up in a bitter manner.

“I see a lot of God’s minions.”

“…grandee.”

Sedes, who had been frozen in tension, finally came to his senses and stood up from his seat. As he trudged down the platform, the queen and princes followed right behind.

“Your Highness, welcome.”

“It’s been a while, Rex.”

“…….”

Sedes raised an eyebrow at the title that he still couldn’t get used to. When I was little, my father was Rex and I was Little Rex, so I guessed it might mean royalty, but I wasn’t sure.

“…Little Rex.”

At that moment, the Archduke’s gaze turned to Lianus.

Lianus flinched and tried to look away, but then thought it would be impolite to look at him again, then lowered his eyes again and then cautiously looked up at the Archduke.

“It seems like everyone was dying last year.”

The Archduke tilted his head slightly as he spoke.

“Someone else?”

“It’s the same child, Your Highness. And it wasn’t last year, it was the year before last. It’s been two years since we last met in person.”

Two years ago, there had been an attempted poisoning of the prince, and his nanny had died not long ago, so Lianus was not in good condition, and it seemed that he remembered that.

“I see.”

The man nodded vaguely, looked at the princes in turn, and then opened his mouth.

“Elixir.”

Lianus was startled by the somewhat dry question. My elixir was in my possession right now. There was only half of it left… … .

Two years ago, when Lianus received the elixir, he cried and refused, saying, ‘I don’t need this anymore.’ No matter how great the elixir was, it couldn’t bring back his already dead nanny.

Now that I think about it, the Archduke wasn’t angry at that time and just gave me the elixir until the end.

I was so upset that I cried a lot, but I couldn’t throw away the gift that was given to me, so I had no choice but to accept it and put it in the safe. But because I thought of my nanny, I always carried it with me whenever I attended a banquet.

When I think about it, it saved my friend’s life, so the Archduke was my friend’s benefactor and my benefactor!

“That, that elixir was truly appreciated, Your Highness.”

“Are you keeping it?”

“Yes, yes. There’s only half left, but…….”

“…half?”

“Should I return it to you…?”

Lianus rolled his eyes, wishing he had not taken it away. If his friend got hurt again, he would have to use the elixir.

I glanced at my friend and saw Karus holding onto Nihil tightly, looking tense.

My friend was still wearing his cotton turban, but he seemed to be staring intently at the Archduke. It seemed like it was a good idea to ask Carus and the Baron to take care of my friend.

But that wasn’t what the Archduke wanted to ask, so he opened his mouth, looking at His Majesty.

“It looks like it wasn’t stolen.”

“…What do you see me as?”

Sedes narrowed his eyes, as if he was somewhat offended. But he knew why he was asking this question.

“Your father was greedy.”

“…….”

Yes, that was right. The former king was very greedy. He took all the elixirs that were supposed to belong to his sons for himself. Later, the Grand Duke found out and got his share of elixir back, but he didn’t get his brother’s share back.

No, it would be correct to say that I couldn’t return it. My brother had already passed away.

‘If the Archduke hadn’t stepped forward then, we wouldn’t have been able to save Lianus.’

When I thought about it that way, suddenly this gloomy man seemed like my benefactor.

“Would you like to sit down?”

The man did not answer and continued walking. Sedes followed him, watching his hair trailing behind him, but stopped and signaled to the knights.

The knights moved around the edge of the banquet hall, scurrying about. There must have been knights who were enjoying the banquet in their own way… What could they do?

If the Grand Duke uses his power, you may wonder what use the knights are in a situation where even the Duke, who is a sword master, cannot stop him. However, the knights were not called to stop the Grand Duke.

“Let’s resume the banquet.”

It was intended to immediately take out and save those who went against the Grand Duke’s wishes.

* * *

Lianus glanced at the Archduke, who was sitting slightly crooked, his chin resting on his hand and his feet on his hair.

His long hair was disheveled here and there, and the Archduke made no effort to straighten it.

I thought she was protecting her hair and not letting anyone touch it, but it seems she just doesn’t like having anyone touch her hair.

The demon who appeared to be the Grand Duke’s attendant, who had followed him quietly, was standing far away from the hair, and his eyes looked somehow disgusted.

The conversation between His Majesty and the Archduke continued for quite some time, but no sound could be heard, as if they had used some kind of soundproofing magic.

Lianus looked at the mountain of magic stones that the Archduke had brought as a gift.

It was a truly great magic stone, and the surrounding area was rippling with what appeared to be magic auras.

“…Anus.”

“…….”

“Rianus.”

“Yes, yes?”

Lianus was blankly staring at the magical energy vaguely rising from the magic stone, then suddenly turned his head.

“Why are you standing there blankly?”

“Yes, yes? Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Is it okay if I don’t go see my friend?”

“ah.”

Before he knew it, Vision and his brother had already gone down to the platform and were chatting with the nobles. Rianus was thinking about going to see his close friend, but then he suddenly remembered that he had decided to let him hear the violin performance.

“That…, Your Majesty, that is….”

I practiced the violin… … .

As I was mumbling and hesitating to look at him, I heard a slight throat thump and a large hand was raised above my head.

“Then, would you please tell me?”

“Yes, yes!”

Rianus jumped down from his chair and prepared to play. At the gesture of His Majesty, the invited musicians all stopped playing, and Rianus was so nervous that his heart almost burst out of his mouth.

At that moment, I saw my friend, who was standing a little way behind Sir Evan, with his head peeking out with his cloak wrapped around him. When on earth did he get here?

Although his expression was not visible because of the cotton cloth, Lianus had a feeling that Nihil was nervous.

Seeing his friend looking more nervous than he was, Rianus took a deep breath to gather his courage and lowered his bow.

* * *

After finishing his performance, Rian looked a little sullen and lowered his head. He had really tried to play well, but he ended up making a few mistakes.

“Rianus, that was a wonderful performance. Why are you so gloomy?”

“I messed up the last and most important song……”

“Really…? It was a good enough performance, but….”

Since it was the first time he had heard the song, there was no way Sedes could have noticed the mistake. However, Sedes could not bear to see his son so helpless, so he nodded to the conductor of the orchestra he had invited.

“That’s a really good song. Can you tell me the title and composer?”

When the conductor of the orchestra asked cautiously, Rianus’ face immediately brightened. It seems that experts know how to recognize good music!

But Lianus couldn’t answer the question. All he knew was that the song was a lullaby.

‘I should have asked Neil the song title!’

As I was feeling belated regret, an even bigger worry suddenly came to mind.

‘What would you say if someone asked where you heard that?’

I couldn’t tell him that Nihil had sung me a lullaby, because everyone knew that my best friend couldn’t speak!

“…Prince?”

As I hesitated, people looked at me strangely.

Lianus glanced at his friend. It was an action born of complacency, thinking that Nihil would be able to resolve the situation.

I shouldn’t rely too much on it…, Lianus thought as he stared intently at the bottom of the cotton as Nihil lifted it slightly.

Rianus continued to speak hesitantly, watching the shape of Nihil’s mouth.

“I… I, I happened to find some old sheet music, and it’s a song I practiced to share with you, uh… no, Your Majesty.”

Rianus opened his eyes wide after speaking. My friend must be a genius to come up with such an excuse!

“…where is that sheet music?”

Then a soft but clear question was heard. The Archduke was approaching.

Crack, crack, the commotion stopped with the slow sound of shoes, and the people dispersed.

I don’t know if it’s simply because they’re afraid of the Archduke, or if it’s to avoid stepping on his hair.

If the latter, then the Archduke must have been growing out his hair on purpose to create this situation.

The Archduke asked, picking up the music score placed on the stand.

“Is this the score?”

“Oh, no. That’s just something I arranged a little faster to fit the mood, looking at an old score.”

Lianus quickly added.

“So I don’t know the song title or the composer.”

Okay, that’s it! Lianus cheered inwardly, glancing back at the person who had contributed the most to resolving the situation.

Nihil had already rolled up Sir Evan’s cloak again, leaving only his shins visible.

Lianus was puzzled by her seemingly timid behavior, but he looked away, thinking she was just acting.

“Not bad.”

The Archduke muttered as he looked at the music score carefully. It seemed that he liked Nihil’s lullaby.

“…Your Highness, is this song something you know?”

Lianus asked cautiously with a pounding heart. However, he could not help but be disappointed by the answer that followed.

“I don’t know.”

Boo-wook-, along with that answer, there was a sound of something being torn. Since the surroundings were so quiet, everyone’s eyes were drawn to the source of the sound.

At the end of his gaze was none other than Sir Evan.

“…sorry.”

Sir Evan looked embarrassed and quickly took off his torn cloak to fix it. His friend, who was supposed to have torn the cloak, was already gone.

Lianus opened his mouth to save his knight who was fidgeting under the sudden gaze.

“Uh, um…, he’s my escort knight.”

“…….”

“Please look at me nicely.”

Sir Walter, who was standing guard at the entrance, pursed his lips and made a strange noise. Sir Evan lowered his head and covered his face with his hands.

Isn’t this it?

I guess I’m just not good at handling situations. I guess I need Neil.

‘But where did Neil go?’

The congratulatory performance is over, now we can play together… … .

As I was looking around for Nihil, I heard a soft voice above my head.

“Little Rex.”

Lianus tilted his head at the title that seemed to be used to address him.

“Your Highness, my name is not Rex, it’s Lianus.”

“…….”

When I corrected the Archduke, who seemed to have mistaken my name, his face became strange. No, not only that, His Majesty also looked a little uneasy.

“…sheet music…, no, no. I’m going back now.”

The Archduke turned around, unable to say anything.

Then, as the sound of footsteps rang out, people dispersed like the ebb tide and in an instant, a path was opened up to the entrance. It was truly an extraordinary sight.

However, the Archduke laughed bitterly as if the path was not the same, and scratched the air with his hand. Then, just as he had appeared, space tore open and a pitch-black passageway appeared.

Lianus glanced inside to see if he could see the Archduke’s mansion, but he saw nothing.

The Archduke walked slowly into the hole that resembled an abyss.

Again, again

At the moment when even that long, pitch-black hair was about to disappear into the hole,

Whoosh-!

“……?”

Something white quickly passed by me,

“……!”

He pulled the black truck.