Chapter 169

Chapter 169
Chapter 169: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“You don’t trust me?”

The Second Prince struggled to mask his sheer bewilderment.

‘He doesn’t have faith in me?’

At the same instant, a sharp sting of injustice hit him.

Wasn’t escorting an unidentified stranger directly into this sanctum completely unescorted a profound demonstration of confidence?

Granted, he took that liberty because his own abilities guaranteed his safety, yet he assumed individual competence had no bearing on matters of trust.

Besides…

‘As a priest, he wouldn’t even recognize where he is or what anything does.’

Even if his own physical symptoms made the curse obvious.

Kyle reined in his chaotic thoughts.

Perhaps enjoying this rare taste of tranquility for the first time in memory, or perhaps experiencing it entirely anew, a rebellious defiance flared fiercely within him.

‘Get a grip.’

In any case, he was the one begging for assistance here, wasn’t he?

If the man claimed trust was lacking, he had no choice but to accept it.

That was the only logical stance.

Therefore, refusing to let his temper flare, he needed to listen intently to whatever the visitor uttered, gently steering him toward the desired answers if silence persisted.

Indeed. Stay composed.

…Or so he should.

*Swish.*

Despite those rational resolutions, Kyle was already moving.

He rose from his seat, closed the gap between them, and trapped the individual standing before him.

He slowly cornered the man, barring his escape with a single outstretched arm as he tilted his head.

“What is the actual reason?”

“……”

Hemmed in by Kyle with no route of retreat, Lion suppressed a chuckle internally.

Though he anticipated this exact reaction, a shiver still ran down his spine.

Didn’t he resemble a predator boxing in its prey, calculating how best to tear it limb from limb?

Clearly, this wasn’t someone who could be tamed merely by offering a meal.

‘…Or is he?’

It felt less like a wary kitten and more like a black panther throwing a fit.

‘The Duke of Byedantis actually seemed much more agreeable.’

Even though that nobleman’s prowess was likely vastly superior.

At any rate, from the viewpoint of a humble commoner like Lion, they were all cut from the same cloth.

Nevertheless.

‘It is better to confront this head-on right now.’

There remained only one path to dismantling the Second Prince’s curse.

That required touching upon the Second Prince’s absolute taboo.

“-The clue might be much closer than you realize.”

A clue.

Could it be a physical artifact, a fragmented memory, or perhaps a hidden emotion?

He could not yet determine it, but unraveling that tangled knot necessitated peering into Kyle’s inner psyche, a realm Lion had never before witnessed.

The complication lay in the fact that this man had never opened his heart to a single soul throughout his entire existence.

And if Lion attempted to force that door open…

‘I will merely cultivate his hatred.’

Should hatred be the sole harvest, he might actually find peace in that outcome.

After all, it was impossible to please every living person.

Wouldn’t collecting animosity and curses ultimately extend one’s lifespan?

The true hazard, however, resided in the secondary effects accompanying such hostility.

Lion shook his head internally.

‘He will immediately set about uncovering my true identity.’

Given the Second Prince’s obsessive disposition, he would latch onto even the most insignificant details with relentless tenacity.

Consequently… the exposure of Lion’s background was simply a ticking clock.

He was, after all, the primary heir of the Asteri household.

What other outcome could there possibly be?

Regardless of how meticulously he attempted concealment, clear boundaries existed.

“If my true identity comes to light, surely my life won’t be in any real danger?”

Naturally.

His grandfather would undoubtedly move heaven and earth to prevent so much as a scratch from landing on Lion’s skin.

Rikschel and Elvia felt the exact same way.

Yet the core issue transcended mere physical safety.

Hadn’t Lion already dropped a definitive hint to this very Second Prince?

That he… ‘has zero interest in authority.’

‘He will undoubtedly try to…’

The man would invent every conceivable pretext to shackle a heavy responsibility onto Lion’s shoulders.

If the public ever caught wind of all the eccentric schemes Lion had pulled thus far, they would force him into an official post and grueling forced labor against his will…!

Peaceful afternoon naps, undisturbed rest, and leisurely strolls would all vanish forever!

In fact, the prince might even fabricate entirely nonexistent talents and dispatch him on punishing business tours across the provinces or the frozen North.

He might even force Rikschel to accompany him as a co-defendant of responsibility!

‘…Though if Rikschel secures the title of Duke, trips to the North for meals would be mandatory anyway.’

Regardless, the mere thought sent an icy shudder down his spine.

‘That scenario must be avoided at all costs.’

Thus, he had to take the initiative.

He needed to make this man restless first.

So desperate that he would surrender to impulse, throwing all rational judgment to the wind.

Fortunately, having managed all sorts of demanding clients during his past commercial ventures, Lion possessed the exact skill set required for this maneuver.

“It is precisely as I stated.”

“Provide proof. Otherwise, I find it difficult to grant you my genuine belief.”

The shadow looming over Lion deepened.

At any second, the prince might reach out and forcibly rip away Lion’s concealing mask.

However.

*Swish.*

Lion deftly slipped past the barrier of the prince’s arm, casually dusting off his garments.

“It is nothing of consequence. The chamber is merely somewhat cluttered.”

“……!”

“Given that you appear to have just returned from an excursion, your oversight is understandable… but discussing curses in an environment like this remains rather inappropriate.”

Though he framed it politely as a “cluttered” room, the Second Prince instantly grasped the underlying meaning.

He was referring to the concealed weapons the prince had personally positioned around the space for self-defense. The visitor had spotted every single one.

‘…How can an ordinary priest notice such things?’

Wasn’t the title of divine messenger usually earned through specialized spiritual power alone?

Yet nothing in the man’s posture hinted at combat training.

The moment he first opened the door, he had been stumbling about as if intoxicated.

Even his current attempt at escaping looked clumsy and entirely unconvincing.

He was clearly an individual who had never so much as gripped a blade.

So, frankly speaking… yes.

The prince had assumed concealment was unnecessary.

Hence.

‘It is equally true… that I found it impossible to place my trust in him.’

Had he not harbored suspicions from the start that this priest harbored alternative motives?

That genuine goodwill was entirely absent from him.

With that realization, he had resolved to unmask not only the secret of the curse but also the priest’s genuine sentiments.

That explained his initial attempts at appeasement.

“That oversight was entirely mine. However…”

“It is quite alright. How can anyone place true emotional investment in someone they have only met once?”

Before the Second Prince could formulate a proper justification, Lion interjected with a faint, knowing smile, as though he completely understood, before adding:

“Therefore, I shall take my leave for today.”

“……”

Though phrased with apparent acceptance, the words carried the edge of a drawn blade.

Or rather, an absolute, chilling indifference.

“Until next time.”

“Hold on a moment.”

The Second Prince’s hand shot out, clamping around the departing man’s wrist.

“When do you intend to return?”

“That is…”

The prince’s throat felt bone-dry at the hesitation in that response.

He hadn’t experienced this kind of burning thirst even when excruciating agony had deprived him of food and drink entirely.

A deep panic was setting in.

‘Why is that?’

Was it terror at the thought of the man walking away and never coming back?

Was it dread that the torment of the curse would resume its grip?

Or perhaps a fear that this individual would break his word and abandon the cure altogether?

‘…No.’

None of those explanations hit the mark.

If the curse remained unlifted, it would certainly be unfortunate, but alternative avenues existed.

If push came to shove, he could eliminate the First Prince via extreme measures while simultaneously recruiting several Senior Priests to force the curse away.

The pain itself was a companion he had known since birth.

While he despised it intensely, it did not drive him to absolute despair.

Then what was the actual cause?

Why was he bending over backward to placate this person?

Nay, moving past mere appeasement, why…

‘…Why do I feel like I’m being disciplined?’

The Second Prince found his own mental state completely unfathomable.

Though a brief moment ago he had felt a strange easing of his breath, the prince, remaining entirely oblivious to the manipulation, decided to follow his raw intuition after a protracted internal debate.

Whatever the reason, he needed to keep this man tethered.

“……”

Lion felt the subtle tremor rippling through the hand gripping his wrist, though he offered no verbal acknowledgment.

Instead, he gently slid his arm free from the hold and answered smoothly.

“I will return for the evening meal tomorrow.”

With those parting words, Lion stepped out of the chamber.

“Ha…”

The instant the figure vanished, a suffocating vacuum swallowed the room whole.

It was an entirely different sort of stillness compared to the peace he had felt moments prior.

“He actually left.”

The faint sounds of footsteps echoing outside the portal faded completely into nothingness.

It signaled that the visitor had successfully retreated to wherever his temporary lodgings were located.

The Second Prince stared down at his own hand, which had remained suspended in mid-air.

It had undeniably been shaking just a moment ago, yet that nervous trembling had vanished the instant he secured an appointment for the following day.

He must look utterly absurd and pathetic, tossed to and fro by a single utterance from another…

*Clench.*

The Second Prince slowly tightened his fist before relaxing it.

For a fleeting second, healthy color rushed back into his pale, bloodless palm.

“…I must finish my work quickly so I can return for dinner tomorrow as well.”

And after that, by any means necessary, he would adopt whatever strategy was required to win over that suspicious individual.

To begin with, he needed to clear away his hidden armaments.

Thus, the Second Prince’s earnest campaign to secure favor commenced for the remaining hours.

—

Rikschel Asteri observed the Second Prince, who was once again preparing to depart ahead of schedule today.

He appeared remarkably healthy for someone battling the debilitating effects of a curse.

In fact, he carried an air of tranquility that surpassed his usual demeanor, and his administrative output had actually surged.

He operated with a frantic dedication, as though racing to wrap up all pending duties prior to dinnertime.

Such sudden behavioral shifts from someone usually as rigid as dry tree bark felt deeply unnatural.

Furthermore…

“How does one go about forming healthy interpersonal relationships?”

Had the Second Prince not dropped a remarkably unorthodox inquiry—one he would have never uttered in a million years?

“*Cough*!”

Willy, standing nearby, reacted with such violent shock that he sprayed his tea across the room, while right beside him—

“Hahaha! Do you actually pose such questions, Your Highness?”

The very individual who had journeyed onto dry land precisely because of this venture—the ‘Merchant Guild Leader’—exploded into laughter, clutching his aching stomach.

Finally, Rikschel, the direct recipient of the bizarre question, offered his perspective.

“Have you lost your mind?”

He delivered his harsh verdict without an ounce of hesitation.

The Second Prince’s facial expression remained entirely unruffled by the remark.

“My mind is perfectly sound. More so than ever before.”

“…Good grief. Let us drop the subject here.”

Rikschel turned back to stack his parchment documents.

It was clear no further productive headway would be achieved today.

‘Besides, everything important is nearly finished anyway.’

In truth, whatever tasks remained could easily be managed by the Merchant Guild Leader and the Manager on their own.

This efficiency was entirely thanks to the Second Prince’s shockingly rapid processing speed.

To think he possessed such formidable capability once his physical condition stabilized.

Indeed, claiming the imperial throne required this level of exceptional competence.

With this settled, he could head home early and salvage the remaining hours in Easter alongside his elder brother.

Recently, due to the heavy workload, his sole glimpse of his older brother was of him fast asleep upon returning to their quarters.

To make matters worse, his remarkably considerate older brother invariably prepared evening meals himself before retiring to bed.

Unspoken though it remained, how dreadfully boring and monotonous that routine must be!

“I will be taking my leave first.”

Rikschel stood up abruptly, prompting the others to quickly tidy their workspace in response to the shifting mood.

As the Second Prince likewise rose from his chair, eagerly preparing for his own rapid departure, the man slated to become the Merchant Guild Leader tossed out a casual observation.

“I cannot claim expertise in human relations, but if you wish to truly captivate someone, you must first expose your absolute self.”

“Expose my absolute self?”

“Indeed. Completely.”

He added with a light, mocking tone, “When you bare everything, stripping away all pretense until you stand vulnerable, the other person will either feel overwhelmed or deeply satisfied~”

“Not a bad thought.”

The Second Prince weighed the advice with complete seriousness.

‘Good grief.’

Rikschel released a heavy sigh and stepped out of the room.

Having assembled his retinue based purely on raw talent, it seemed he had inadvertently surrounded himself with individuals possessing deeply flawed personalities.

He needed to hurry back and find some rest.

As those thoughts crossed his mind, he pulled open the heavy door.

“…What are you doing here?”

He collided directly with Lion, who had just finished placing Rikschel’s prepared dinner on the hallway table.

Or more precisely, disguised Lion.

“…Huh?”

And standing right there… was his utterly flustered older brother.

…For what reason?

“……”

An impossible puzzle began clicking together inside Rikschel’s head.

“Could it possibly be…”

The true catalyst behind the Second Prince’s sudden physical recovery…

Older brother, please tell me this isn’t real.