Chapter 155

Chapter 155
Chapter 155: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“S-shall I give eating it a try?”

“It would be wiser to cleanly divide it using a blade.”

The more eager patrons proceeded to break open their chocolates.

Yet, inevitably…

“Ah. No luck here.”

“It’s simply regular chocolate.”

Since the odds weren’t particularly favorable, I ended up drawing an ordinary piece.

My heart, which had brimmed with eager anticipation for an Egg Coin prize, dropped instantly.

Still, even so…!

“Hmm, this is quite tasty?”

Perhaps owing to its exquisite flavor, my disappointment vanished as quickly as melting chocolate!

The outer shell, softened slightly by body heat, provided a delightful sensation on my palate.

I let it linger in my mouth for a moment before biting down gently, releasing a potent liquor that moistened my lips.

That liqueur, however…

“Oh! This is magnificent…!”

It possessed a refinement capable of pleasing even the most fastidious of nobles.

It offered initial notes of sweet caramel, followed by a rich nutty aroma that filled my senses, blending seamlessly with the leftover chocolate to create pure bliss.

It was a confection truly deserving of being called a masterpiece.

The non-alcoholic chocolates were equally impressive.

When I crunched into the glistening treat, the crispy interior yielded effortlessly.

The wafers, finer and more delicate than pasta, mingled with a specialized paste to deliver a thick, rich, and sugary finish.

Guests of all ages and backgrounds were thoroughly enjoying themselves, regardless of whether they found an Egg Coin.

“Older Brother, you ought to sample yours promptly as well.”

Yet, strangely, Lion had left his chocolate untouched.

Rikschel tilted his head in confusion.

It was entirely unlike his Older Brother to forgo a sweet treat under such circumstances.

Normally, he would have been the first to dig in.

Could there perhaps be something amiss with the confection?

“Ah, I find it too pretty to consume just yet, so I shall save it for later.”

Lion tapped the flawlessly plated chocolate in its bowl with his fingertip.

The confection, bearing a soft sheen indicative of perfect tempering, shifted across the dish.

『 Easter Special Chocolate Bonbon (★★)』

-The glossy chocolate contains a special liqueur.

-The aroma of nuts and caramel is exquisite!

-However, unfortunately, it seems it does not contain what was expected.

‘A miss.’

The chocolate resting in front of Rikschel bore the same result.

It wasn’t a matter of intentional withholding; rather, the winning odds were simply that low.

‘Easter’ had clearly put immense care into designing the Egg Coin event.

Consequently, they relied on no cheap tricks, that much was certain.

‘Well, missing out here is of little consequence.’

Lion lightly squeezed the Egg Coin resting in his pocket.

He anticipated that this token would prove useful down the line.

That accounted for his continued observation of the room.

After all, noting who managed to secure the coins could prove advantageous.

Besides… the whole affair was quite entertaining.

“Older Brother.”

“Yes?”

Lion turned his gaze toward Rikschel, whose tone had turned serious.

Clearing his throat, Rikschel adopted a purposely subdued voice.

“Ahem, you previously advised me against consuming an excessive amount of sweets, didn’t you?”

“That is correct.”

Was he about to bring up something of importance?

Rikschel rarely uttered nonsense.

“Yet, in my observation, Older Brother appears rather fond of sweets himself…”

“Waaaaah!!”

“……”

Regrettably, Rikschel’s observation remained unfinished.

While they conversed, the initial winner let out a cry loud enough to cut straight through the noise-canceling enchantments.

Alternatively, the protective spells might have been temporarily lifted to heighten the dramatic flair of the Easter celebration.

“We have our very first Egg Coin winner!”

“My congratulations!”

In tandem with the staff’s cheers, the remaining guests hurried to finish their confections.

They had clearly mastered the art of building suspense.

As the second and third victors were announced, Lion popped his chocolate into his mouth and bit down.

Once the brittle shell fractured, rum flooded his senses.

Though the quantity was small, the alcohol concentration was high enough to impart a warm glow to his tongue and throat.

‘It is pleasant, though I remain somewhat indifferent to hard liquor.’

Spirits weren’t his favorite, but Lion harbored a profound appreciation for grilled pork belly paired with soju.

A bite of perfectly rendered samgyeopsal, rich with pork fat, alongside well-charred kimchi…

‘Magnificent. Ahhh.’

That combination possessed an unmatched, rustic charm.

“Ah, now, what were you saying a moment ago?”

“……”

He had intended to make a reasonable point while his Older Brother was busy savoring his dessert, but the commotion had drowned him out.

“……It was nothing of importance.”

Seeming to abandon the thought entirely, Rikschel shook his head and quietly chewed and swallowed his non-alcoholic piece.

“Personally, this does not suit my palate.”

“Nor mine. The coin?”

“Absent.”

“Shall we take our leave shortly, then?”

The meal had drawn to a close, and the Egg Coin event appeared to have concluded with its trio of winners.

“Indeed. Let us head back.”

As the pair stood from their table, others began gathering their belongings as well.

Though most had walked away empty-handed, their expressions radiated amusement from a fun experience.

Indeed, how often does one witness people of such stature cheering with such unadulterated joy?

That sight alone was worth the visit.

“Did you find the meal to your liking?”

Upon stepping out of the restaurant, a staff member of higher rank approached with a polite smile.

“Yes. It was satisfactory.”

“It was quite acceptable.”

Visibly relieved by their replies, the employee smiled warmly and handed Lion a prepared envelope.

“This correspondence is intended for holders of the Egg Coins. We advise reading it in privacy, if possible.”

“Ah.”

“Then, we wish you a delightful remainder of your stay here at Easter.”

Lion stared at the luxurious envelope.

Bearing the official wax seal of Easter, he deduced it was likely an invitation.

“Since the instructions specify privacy, I shall abide by them.”

“Indeed. That mission falls to Older Brother this time.”

Expecting Rikschel to display some irritation, Lion was surprised by his calm demeanor.

‘Could it be that he fails to recognize the significance of this envelope?’

On second thought, that made sense. The Egg Coin was a revival of an Easter tradition dating back decades.

Without supplementary information, a youth like Rikschel would hardly decipher its purpose instantly.

‘Truthfully, it is better that he remains unaware.’

The contents might prove too overwhelming for the earnest youngster.

With those thoughts in mind, they returned to their suite.

What followed was an evening of tranquil routine.

After satisfying his appetite and spending time with the animals, he washed away the day’s fatigue, slipped into comfortable loungewear, and relaxed in the common area.

Rikschel occupied himself with documents pertaining to the hot spring enterprise, while Lion observed the brilliant magic fireworks display outside the window.

It formed the quintessential conclusion to a hotel getaway.

As the final pyrotechnic faded from the sky:

“Younger Brother.”

“Yes, Older Brother.”

Setting aside his paperwork, Rikschel looked toward Lion, sensing a topic on his mind.

“Oh, it is nothing major.”

“……”

“It is past time for bed.”

“Pardon?”

“Surely you had no intention of remaining awake through the night after traveling all this way?”

“……”

Rikschel found himself utterly lost for words.

He lacked an appropriate response for such a directive.

After all, it was merely ‘night.’

Not dawn, simply night.

Naturally, humans rested when night fell.

However, he was a mage who had crossed the threshold of the fifth circle.

Moreover, he was the designated successor of the Asteri lineage.

With ample stamina and numerous responsibilities, retiring early solely because the sun had set made little sense.

In truth, maintaining such a relaxed posture while reviewing reports already constituted a luxurious form of leisure.

“Older Brother… I appreciate your concern, but I—”

“You are not yet of age.”

“……”

“Even Grandfather would disapprove of you overworking yourself to this extent.”

The logic was sound, yet he felt unfairly treated.

As he sheepishly reached for his documents once more, Lion stepped in and confiscated them directly.

With the paperwork removed from his grasp, Rikschel’s hands hovered helplessly in the air.

Caught entirely off guard by such treatment, he found himself guided to the bed and tucked securely beneath a blanket before he could protest.

Yet, a complication arose.

Blink…

Perhaps owing to the day’s physical exertion, his eyelids grew heavy the moment his head hit the pillow.

He resembled a stubborn child fighting against fatigue.

‘This outcome hardly seems fair…’

Even so, as his muscles relaxed, the desire to rise vanished entirely.

“Rest well. That, too, forms part of your responsibilities.”

“……Understood. Do ensure you get some sleep as well, Older Brother.”

“Indeed. No one will penalize you for taking a single day to rest. Ah, perhaps I ought to remain here until you drift off…”

“I shall sleep, so please take your leave.”

Weary of being treated like a child—fond of his Older Brother though he was—Rikschel issued a firm refusal.

Anticipating that exact response, Lion chuckled softly and stepped toward the door.

Click.

As the door clicked shut, Rikschel let out a quiet laugh.

‘What on earth could be contained within that envelope?’

He suspected his Older Brother intended to investigate something after ensuring he was asleep.

Curiosity warred with anticipation.

Opting not to fight the exhaustion any longer, Rikschel surrendered to slumber.

Before long, his steady breathing filled the room as deep sleep claimed him.

“Phew!”

Emerging from Rikschel’s quarters, Lion exhaled a quiet breath of relief.

At the very least, getting Rikschel to bed had succeeded.

‘Though I suspect he simply humored me.’

Regardless, Lion’s primary objective—allowing his younger brother a proper rest—had been achieved.

“Now then…”

Retrieving the envelope he had left alongside his garments, Lion broke the seal.

As anticipated, the contents revealed:

『 Arcade Invitation』

-Esteemed holder of an Egg Coin! Are you enjoying your stay at Easter?

-Through your acquisition of the Egg Coin, access to a restricted venue has been unlocked.

-Should you seek extraordinary entertainment and thrilling diversions, please request our disguise service and insert your Egg Coin into the vertical aperture of this stationery.

-We await your arrival.

True to the description, the paper featured a precisely cut oval slot capable of holding a coin.

Though it appeared a simple opening, it clearly functioned through some hidden mechanism.

‘A disguise service.’

He distinctly recalled the instructions provided during hotel registration…

“I simply need to pull this cord.”

Lion gave the tassel tucked in the corner of the room a couple of gentle tugs.

Moments later, through unknown means, an ornate masquerade mask materialized on the bed alongside a tidy parcel.

『 Easter Special Disguise Mask』

-The intrigue of a masked ball multiplies when identities remain hidden!

-When equipped, it obscures all physical traits save for gender and age.

-Active zone: Within Hotel Easter Grounds

-Secured with an anti-theft protocol. Unauthorized removal attempts will incur a penalty fifty times the item’s baseline value.

Glancing briefly at the listed baseline cost, Lion deliberately looked away.

The figures printed there belonged to a tier he had only ever encountered within gaming environments.

Since he had no intention of making off with the item anyway, he chose to pretend he had never seen the price.

Reaching out, Lion picked up the mask and secured it over his face.