Chapter 152

Chapter 152
Chapter 152: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

For some time now, Kyle Sol Aionys, the second prince of the Empire, had been experiencing a rather perplexing morning.

“What did you just say?”

“That is…”

The servant continuing his report to the second prince faltered, casting a cautious glance around before repeating his words.

“Young Master Rikschel Asteri wishes to postpone our scheduled meeting…”

“…”

Even as the designated successor of the Asteri house, it was undeniably presumptuous for a mere young lord lacking a formal title to ask an imperial prince for a delayed appointment.

Yet, Kyle was not the sort to take offense over a simple scheduling shift for the same day.

He had endured far worse slights while clawing his way up from the very bottom.

Capriciousness was second nature to the nobility; the higher their station, the more their whims bubbled to the surface.

Ordinarily, such a minor discourtesy would not have fazed him at all.

“What reason was given?”

“A, a personal matter arose.”

“A personal matter.”

“Yes. Exactly, Your Highness.”

*Rikschel Asteri?*

Indeed, that was what caught Kyle off guard.

The fact that the individual in question was none other than Rikschel Asteri.

Putting aside his lineage and status, Rikschel was hardly the type to casually put off an engagement for a trivial private affair.

If anything, he was the most uncompromising individual Kyle had ever encountered.

Everything strictly by the book.

Schedules coordinated with absolute precision.

If an encounter wasn’t prearranged, he drew a firm line, regardless of who stood before him.

This rigid standard applied equally to Kyle, his chosen ally, and to Rikschel himself.

Kyle had always considered that trait both the man’s greatest asset and his fatal flaw.

And yet!

“Hah.”

Kyle let out a dry laugh.

Rikschel Asteri had unilaterally delayed their meeting without any prior warning.

Had anyone else pulled such a stunt, Kyle would have suspected foul play from the outset.

*Has this fellow changed his allegiances?*

*Is he meeting the first prince instead?*

*Or has something gone awry?*

*Certainly not.*

Duke Petrick Asteri stood like an unshakeable ancient tree behind his son, ensuring Rikschel’s safety remained uncompromised.

Above all, a man of such inflexible principles would never overturn a decision on a whim.

*Especially not regarding this plan…*

Though unstated, this venture served as the crucial stepping stone toward securing the crown prince’s seat.

Wasn’t today supposed to be the day the second prince’s secret backing finally stepped into the light?

The hot spring resort development project in Easter, proposed by Rikschel Asteri.

Through that very project, Kyle intended to forge a fresh identity for ‘Jack’ from the underground shadows.

The blueprint had no flaws, and the first prince, who might have interfered, was currently confined to his quarters under forced house arrest due to his own blunder.

“…”

While minor irritants occasionally reached Kyle’s ears, they posed no threat to the broader design.

For someone to behave this way amidst such smooth momentum…

“Ah.”

As rumination settled in, a past memory sparked within his mind.

Kyle seized upon the fleeting recollection to examine its contents.

Yes. It was the coming-of-age ceremony for the eldest son of the Asteri household.

Young Master Lion Asteri had vanished for a brief period.

Publicly attributed to an unexplained seismic tremor, hadn’t a select few witnesses seen otherwise?

The Labyrinth itself had triggered an anomaly.

*At that time, Rikschel Asteri was thoroughly rattled.*

The second prince vividly recalled that normally expressionless man fighting back tears until his eyes turned bloodshot.

*…I assumed it was merely an act.*

Dressed in matching attire and stubbornly insisting on calling him older brother.

Kyle had suspected a sophisticated psychological ploy aimed at undermining the imperial family.

After all, the prevailing rumors had painted Lion Asteri as a talentless oddity, giving Rikschel no logical reason to suddenly acknowledge him as an elder brother.

However…

*What if it was genuine?*

The smile that had lingered on Kyle’s lips slowly faded.

For reasons he couldn’t quite name, a profound unease settled over him.

Did it disquiet him that Rikschel, seemingly devoid of vulnerabilities, had finally found one?

No, that wasn’t it.

This was a more fundamental discomfort, a sensation entirely foreign to him.

Thus, a dangerous curiosity took root.

*Just what kind of person is Lion Asteri?*

*Is he an adversary, or an ally?*

*Or is he perhaps as formidable as Rikschel?*

Rumors alone provided no answers.

In that case.

“Very well. I understand. Inform him that the schedule is postponed.”

“As you command, Your Highness.”

The servant bowed low and hurried from the chamber.

Once the door clicked shut, Kyle rose smoothly from his seat.

A shadow-cloaked operative stepped forward silently, draping a warm coat over the prince’s shoulders.

“Shall we make preparations?”

“Yes. We depart immediately.”

A smirk returned to Kyle’s face.

Since the schedule had cleared and freed up his time, how he spent it remained entirely at his discretion.

—

Now, where to begin describing this turn of events.

Scarcely ten minutes prior, a colossal deer bearing luminous golden antlers had silently materialized beside Lion and settled down.

It happened precisely when Lion had been fretting that his younger brother might miss the sight entirely, making the encounter feel like a stroke of sheer fortune.

Yet, the real complication arose immediately afterward.

When Lion absentmindedly stroked the creature’s head and antlers…

*Swish.*

It lowered its massive frame completely, offering its broad back!

As though inviting him to mount.

*This is…*

Lion recognized the phenomenon instantly.

Within the mechanics of the game world, druids conducted preparatory work to cultivate beast taming by establishing a rapport with wildlife.

That foundation was empathy.

By understanding the emotional states of various animals and sparing them distress, the practitioner laid essential groundwork.

However, success required the creature to demonstrate significant initial favor toward the druid.

In essence, the task remained virtually impossible unless the animals approached and offered acceptance of their own accord.

Consequently, the druid class had long been the exclusive domain of beastfolk, whose innate affinity for animals bordered on the unbalanced.

Yet…

This golden-antlered beast had initiated the contact!

*This works in my favor.*

Lion had no intention of squandering the opportunity, regardless of how it came about.

It gave his younger brother a chance to observe a magnificent creature up close while maximizing the value of Hotel Easter.

And simultaneously, it laid the groundwork for beast taming!

No greater advantage could be asked for.

Furthermore…

*It looks incredible.*

Isn’t this the sort of scene one only encounters in daydreams?

Riding atop a giant golden-antlered deer, smoothing its coat, and sharing a silent communion.

He would have hopped onto its back instantly, but…

Lion met the beast’s gentle gaze, stroked its snout, and murmured,

“May I truly ride you? I am rather heavy, you know.”

Blink. Blink.

The creature blinked its clear eyes twice in quiet acknowledgment.

Then it turned its head toward Rikschel.

The gesture seemed to suggest that his younger brother was welcome to join as well.

“I am quite all right.”

“Are you certain? This is a rare opportunity.”

“For now, simply witnessing this is enough.”

It appeared his shy younger brother remained somewhat intimidated by large beasts.

Lion pressed no further, carefully stepping upward to settle onto the creature’s back, upon which the deer rose with fluid grace.

Then…

*Whoosh.*

Though subtly, the animal’s massive form lifted entirely off the ground.

“Goodness…!”

Rikschel’s jaw dropped at the sight.

*So that explains the lack of tracks.*

While the forest wasn’t heavily trafficked by humans, local fauna abounded.

Yet, the complete absence of footprints had puzzled him until now—this was the explanation!

*Moreover, a deer capable of levitation magic…*

He had wondered at the golden antlers, but the pieces fell neatly into place.

This rare beast was undoubtedly one of the dwindling luminis deer remaining across the realm.

He recalled reading in a historical text that these creatures had narrowly missed ascending to spirit status by the slimmest of margins.

*I see. That explains why, in my brother’s presence…*

Rikschel’s lips twitched with a misplaced surge of pride.

Naturally, communicating directly with wildlife stemmed entirely from his older brother’s innate gifts, yet he felt strangely accomplished by association.

Just as he noted his brother wearing a deeply contented expression, Lion leaned forward to murmur softly into the deer’s ear.

*Is he planning to adopt it?*

If his brother harbored such a deep affection for animals, perhaps they should build a menagerie at the Asteri family estate rather than developing Easter, he mused.

Rikschel trailed closely behind the luminis deer as it glided through the air with a serious expression.

*Where are we headed, exactly?*

Fortunately, the question didn’t linger long.

After carrying Lion aloft for several minutes, the luminis deer gradually slowed its pace and descended gently to the forest floor.

And waiting directly ahead…

“Oh my word! I never expected visitors to wander all the way out here!”

An attendant, previously camouflaged by dense foliage, sprang up and clapped their hands together in delight.

“And guided here by a luminis deer, no less! My goodness…”

The employee marveled at how anyone had managed to secure escort from a creature notoriously difficult to encounter, before offering an afterthought.

“In any case, you have thoroughly explored the Rare Animal Sanctuary!”

Beaming with excitement, the staff member extracted an oval token from a pouch and extended it toward Lion.

“Please accept this reward!”

“Ah.”

Lion accepted the egg coin while thinking to himself.

*They actually located one?*

Truth be told, moments prior, he had asked the deer on a whim if it might happen to track down an egg coin.

Naturally, he had expected no reply, but when the deer took flight and ventured elsewhere, he figured he had nothing to lose.

Frankly, even Lion found the outcome difficult to credit, considering he hadn’t yet unlocked the beast taming skill.

*Swish.*

Lion glanced down into his pouch.

The dormant entity inside stirred, blinking its eyes sluggishly.

*So nature itself wasn’t the catalyst…*

Could it be?

Just to be certain, Lion tapped gently against the shell.

Instantly—

*Rumble!*

The egg vibrated lightly, as though quietly amused by his touch!

『The Evil Beast’s Egg has grown fond of you!』

Simultaneously, a prompt that had never appeared before flickered into view.

The notification faded away a moment later.

“…”

No further details were provided, but Lion understood.

This astonishing capacity for animal communication was likely the bizarre handiwork of the evil beast’s egg.

And the underlying reason…

*Because it wants me to befriend the local fauna?*

Perhaps it had intercepted his thoughts.

Lion gazed quietly down at the spherical shell.

It remained an ordinary round egg on the surface, yet it somehow conveyed the distinct impression of asking, *Did I do well?*