Chapter 177

Chapter 177
Chapter 177: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing
At that moment, the second prince was caught in a heavy surge of restlessness.

Lion made it back to his quarters without incident.

Noticing the living room remained cold, it appeared Rikschel had stayed inside his space ever since going in.

Judging by appearances, the malformed beast’s egg seemed to have been brought into that area as well.

‘Even better.’

Since he had intended to manage the situation without Rikschel’s awareness anyway, moving in this quiet manner worked out well.

Lion stepped inside promptly, secured the latch behind him, and shed his disguise.

Perhaps because he had coughed up blood earlier, his body felt somewhat more settled than before.

At the very least, he figured he could hold out long enough to get his bearings.

Lion cast a glance toward the mirror hanging in the space.

‘I look a mess.’

A swift inspection showed faint reddish traces lingering around his mouth, with similar smudges on his hands and cuffs.

Lion quickly transferred his stained garments into his inventory to eliminate any proof, then wiped away the remaining crimson streaks using a hand towel he regularly carried.

He was well aware that simply collapsing into rest without bothering would have been easier, but…

‘If I don’t, I won’t manage things by morning.’

Regardless, his swift actions brought a quick resolution to the cleanup.

Lion lightly brushed his pale cheeks with both palms and let himself drop onto the mattress.

‘Wait, wasn’t checkout supposed to be tomorrow?’

If so, he needed to prepare for departure, but…

Oh well. Sleepiness was overwhelming him now.

Lion cut off any further train of thought and drifted into a profound slumber the moment his head hit the pillow.

—

Not long after Lion drifted off, Rikschel pushed himself upright in bed.

He had meant to wait for his older sibling, but it seemed weariness had overtaken him unawares.

Normally, going a full day without sleep posed no issue, yet the comforting aura near his older brother’s spirit perhaps lulled him into repose.

‘Has older brother returned?’

Stepping outside, he found the previously ajar door now firmly bolted shut.

It seemed he had made it back safely.

‘He didn’t overexert himself, did he?’

Rikschel paused outside Lion’s entrance and let out a soft sigh.

Banging on the wood meant waking a resting sibling, and he simply wished to verify his condition.

‘…Right. It is still the early hours, so I will check on him once I head out.’

Disturbing his older brother’s peaceful rest merely to satisfy an urge to inspect him felt improper for a younger brother.

Besides…

‘There was also yesterday’s incident.’

Reviewing the matter with a clear mind this morning, he felt he had been far too harsh on his older brother.

How could he dare threaten him!

Declaring he would refuse aid to the second prince.

He had only piled extra burdens onto his older brother’s shoulders.

Truthfully, if he disliked the second prince so much, he could have quietly severed support behind his older brother’s back.

‘I still have a long way to go.’

Rikschel scolded himself mentally before heading back to his own quarters to prepare for departure.

Today marked the final day of their stay at the hotel, requiring a thorough final sweep.

And as luck would have it.

‘I can check the second prince’s demeanor while I am at it.’

In any case, settling the hotel matters required another meeting with both the second prince and the merchant guild leader.

‘Originally, my plan was to introduce him to my older brother…’

That way, it would appear outwardly that his older brother was also fulfilling duties mandated by the Asteri Family, but… that was no longer necessary.

Furthermore, on a personal level, he hoped his older brother would cross paths with the second prince no further.

The second prince was shrewd.

Moreover, should he apply his mind to it, gathering clues to discover that the man he met every evening was indeed his older brother would prove effortless.

‘Naturally, I will make things difficult if he tries.’

Even so, avoiding interaction entirely remained the wiser course.

At any rate, his older brother must be thoroughly exhausted, so taking him to a comfortable residence for proper rest was paramount.

And while watching over his older brother’s recovery…

‘I must uncover the truth.’

A certain monumental event that even his older brother could only speculate about.

Just as Rikschel entertained these thoughts and reached for the door handle to depart.

“……”

A persistent sense that something was amiss nagged at him.

Since when did his older brother lock his door before sleeping?

Ordinarily, he did keep his quarters securely fastened.

He had heard it was to keep other attendants from getting entangled in unforeseen complications.

However, during times of peace, he rarely bothered throwing the bolt.

That could only mean…

His chest tightened instantly.

Rikschel pivoted away from the exit and strode straight toward Lion’s chamber.

The moment he raised a hand to force open the magically warded portal.

“Haaam.”

Lion, still half-asleep and sluggish, pulled the door inward and gave a vast yawn.

Rikschel studied Lion intently.

Perhaps due to lingering worry, he appeared somewhat more frail than usual today.

Or perhaps he had pushed his limits once more.

“Morning. Haaam. Did you say today is the last day?”

“……Yes. That is correct.”

Yet, Lion carried an air of relaxation greater than normal.

Granted, he had previously grumbled about feeling fatigued after dealing with the second prince…

‘Am I just imagining things?’

Memories of the previous day likely made him overly sensitive.

“Hold on a moment. I shall accompany you outside.”

“Pardon? Will you not tire yourself further?”

“Even so, as my first outing, I cannot miss it.”

Besides, he muttered, what exhaustion could there be when they were returning to the estate shortly, and patted Rikschel’s shoulder.

“Anyway, pray wait just a moment.”

“……Understood.”

Rikschel nodded, watching the door swing shut once more.

Click.

With the latch fully engaged, Lion let out a deep breath of relief.

‘Did I pull it off?’

Whether by bad luck or good fortune, Lion had woken quite early today.

True, his physical state had not fully mended, but viewing it as a fortunate turn, he quickly swallowed a restorative draft for internal trauma he had brewed previously, alongside a pain-mitigating elixir.

And above all else…

“……”

“……Morning?”

Nature, wearing a thoroughly disgruntled look with every hair standing on end, was already pressing close to Lion.

He realized that the reduction in pain compared to before he fell asleep was entirely thanks to Nature.

And Nature… looked quite furious!

He braced himself for an impending lecture.

Thump.

Despite her grumpy expression, Nature hopped quietly onto Lion’s shoulder.

She seemed to understand that Lion had not courted danger intentionally.

“……”

He felt genuinely taken aback.

Anticipating a scolding, he found worry and care instead.

Such a reaction was entirely novel, leaving Lion momentarily frozen in place, unsure how to respond.

‘……Right.’

In truth, was it not so?

He had not courted agony on purpose.

While he had sought clues regarding the hero, stumbling into ‘Story Mode’ had been entirely accidental.

It was an occurrence beyond Lion’s own comprehension.

Even so, given that he had concealed his condition, he expected her wrath.

What accounted for her restraint?

Honestly, he remained clueless.

Yet one fact was undeniable.

“Were you fretful?”

“Peep.”

Nature had worried over Lion, and while aggrieved that her master had sustained injury, she held no blame for him.

Lion offered a soft chuckle at the strange warmth filling the space.

“Peep……”

“Ah.”

As if provoked by his chuckle, Nature stared at Lion with intensified annoyance.

Her gaze seemed to ask, ‘Are you actually laughing?’

It was a moment that proved the tiny entity possessed quite a fierce spirit.

“Ouch!”

Nature, perched on his shoulder, suddenly sprang forward and clamped onto Lion’s earlobe, tugging sharply.

“Understood. I get it! My apologies!”

Amidst their petty bickering, his vitality rapidly recovered.

He managed to converse with Rikschel as though nothing had transpired, matching his demeanor from moments prior!

Changing into fresh, immaculate garments, Lion unlatched the portal once more and spoke up with feigned vigor.

“Let us depart!”

“……”

Rikschel felt a faint sense of dissonance regarding his older brother’s appearance, yet detecting nothing explicitly amiss, he walked out alongside him.

It was only later, after Lion pulled similar stunts on a couple more occasions, that he fully grasped how much trouble his older brother had been hiding.

—

Around that exact hour.

“So. You handed over your predecessor’s heirloom, is that the gist of it?”

“Indeed.”

“To someone whose very identity remains unknown to you?”

The merchant guild leader, Jack, who had crossed paths with the second prince earlier, glared at the young royal who admitted the deed with total nonchalance.

The second prince kept his features entirely blank as he sipped the brew set before him.

“Hmm.”

The merchant guild leader rested an elbow on the couch, reclining casually, and uttered a curious sound.

A moment later, a grin spread across his face as he broke the silence.

“Shall I have him abducted?”

Though phrased casually, the proposal carried terrifying weight; yet the second prince, anticipating such a remark, simply set down his cup and answered.

“I gave my word against such actions.”

“I made no such promise.”

Jack’s eyes glinted with amusement, thoroughly entertained by the second prince’s reaction.

The Kyle he knew was never one to act with such recklessness.

Furthermore, even during the years he spent caring for his predecessor, Kyle had never displayed such behavior as gifting Predecessor Jack’s keepsake away simply because a stranger fancied it.

‘It is not as though restrictions bind him anymore.’

Rather, as Kyle had stated, the affliction that dogged his entire existence had vanished.

Consequently, Kyle appeared notably… softer than usual.

It felt akin to witnessing his childhood days.

Naturally, witnessing this gentler facet in someone he viewed like a younger brother brought welcome relief.

Well, that aside.

“I should like to meet him as well.”

“He has likely already departed. Spare yourself the interest.”

Hmm. As expected.

Jack offered a cunning smirk at Kyle’s steadfastness, thoroughly convinced.

‘He is well aware of who the man is.’

Yet the fact that he continued to shield the man’s identity indicated deep affection.

Hence, his curiosity burned hotter.

What manner of person could melt the heart of a brother he had hardened without mercy in a single stroke?

‘Well, if he were merely an ordinary fellow, I would simply rejoice.’

Alas, both Kyle and Jack himself were individuals forged in the metaphorical mud.

During Predecessor Jack’s era, the training proved brutal, yet their lives never felt directly imperiled.

Following that figure’s passing, however, they endured trials of every imaginable stripe.

Even now.

While their surroundings shifted to the sunlit Imperial Palace and opulent halls, the burdens awaiting them remained identical.

To claw their way through survival.

For that purpose, Kyle still…

No, perhaps maintaining the edge of a well-honed weapon suited him best for the remainder of his days.

After all, living through hardship beats perishing in comfort.

“Come now, do not be like that. Let me make his acquaintance too. Hm? Your Highness, the second prince~.”

Concealing his deeper musings, Jack resorted to playful teasing to provoke him.

As they whiled away the moments thus.

“Hmm. No more lingering.”

Sensing an approach beyond the portal, Jack brushed against Kyle’s attire and settled back into his seat.

Moments later, the sound of three approaching figures echoed clearly.

First came Willy the manager, followed by the haughty heir of the Magic Family.

And trailing behind…

“My apologies for keeping you waiting. I overslept.”

The eccentric anomaly of the Magic Family.

Lion Asteri, escorted thither under formal protocol.

‘Hmm?’

Jack cast a swift glance toward Kyle before breaking into a wide grin.

Things were shaping up to be quite fascinating.