Chapter 233

Chapter 233
Chapter 233: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

The second prince sat at his table, savoring his morning meal and taking in the quiet solitude amid the surrounding emptiness. Taking command of the imperial palace without a single ally by his side was no small feat, even with smooth words. There was always the distinct possibility that lethal poison had been slipped into the dishes before him.

Yet, despite this looming threat, Kyle polished off every last morsel. Part of it was a silent declaration of his resilience, but more than that…

‘I need to eat properly so I don’t hear any nagging.’

*Hmph.*

Once he finished, Kyle wiped his lips with a linen cloth and allowed himself a quiet, hidden smile. The source of his amusement was, naturally, the nameless righteous individual—or rather, Lion Asteri, who was currently making his way to the palace.

Though reluctant to draw near due to his position, this person simply could not push away his lingering affection and had secretly slipped in to prepare a meal with his own hands.

-You eat well.

…To be honest, hearing that praise felt a bit embarrassing. It definitely carried the tone of an adult speaking to a child. Still, marooned in such an isolated place, those kinds of words were surprisingly comforting.

And that was far from all.

Here was a uniquely thoughtful figure who had managed to unravel a curse that had lingered since the dawn of their world. That single breakthrough had triggered a cascade of events, turning the entire tide in his favor. Chief among them was the removal of his greatest vulnerability.

Kyle had never viewed his lack of pure royal lineage as a true flaw. After all, had he not already been acknowledged as the second prince? However, the agonizing curse that clung to him like a shadow was an undeniable chain and a severe weakness.

When the first prince struck him with another wave of malice-driven sorcery…

‘I have to admit it honestly. It was fatal.’

The eldest prince might have unleashed the curse out of pure spite, but for Kyle, it threatened to unravel his entire grand design. Had he not crossed paths with Lion Asteri by sheer coincidence, and had that same person not taken pity on him, he likely would have withered away by now, perhaps serving as mere fertilizer for the flower beds of the empress or his half-brother.

Regardless of how it happened, Lion’s intervention was a debt Kyle knew he would spend a lifetime repaying.

‘I assumed he would want compensation.’

Even now, while extending an invitation to the imperial palace, the second prince had received zero direct communication from Lion. Instead, it was Jack who had reached out first, claiming he had struck gold.

By this point, leaving political calculations and strategic advantages entirely aside, Kyle simply wanted to catch a glimpse of the man’s face once more. But he had been explicitly told not to visit.

Left with no other choice, what else could he do?

“I’ll just have to invite him myself.”

Kyle sipped his tea leisurely, a cunning scheme forming in his mind. He intended to offer Lion every possible comfort upon his arrival. Showcasing the rare flora cultivated exclusively within the palace grounds seemed like a wonderful gesture, and since the visitor clearly appreciated animals, presenting him with exotic creatures gifted from distant lands would be a surefire way to win his favor.

Wrapped in these unusually relaxed and peaceful daydreams, Kyle slowly shifted his gaze toward the approaching aura he had been anticipating.

Emerging into view was a face he knew all too well.

Terus Sol Aionys.

The empire’s first prince, his own half-brother, currently serving punishment for his reckless behavior. And, to top it all off, the fool who had cursed him out of pure malice.

“It has been quite a while, Brother.”

“Why are you here?”

“This isn’t somewhere I’m forbidden to enter, is it?”

Responding with an effortless counter, Kyle smiled and gestured to the adjacent chair.

“You must be hungry. Please, take a seat.”

“……”

Terus’s face flushed crimson, as though he had grown entirely immune to such mild prodding. He likely never imagined he would be granted a secondary seat within the very halls of the primary palace.

Leaning back in his seat of honor, Kyle tilted his head.

“Is there a problem?”

“…No, nothing at all.”

The eldest prince forced down his boiling rage. He had caught rumors that sweeping changes had occurred during his confinement. Their father, the Emperor, had begun yielding to the demands of that wretched illegitimate son, leaving the imperial servants completely unsettled and scrambling for footing.

Therefore…

Even if he refused to accept it, that outsider currently held a position much closer to the crown prince than anyone else.

‘…No. It’s fine. I can weather this.’

Terus muttered inwardly, reining in his habitual impulsiveness.

Didn’t Mother say so?

Every person faces trials, and there are always those who crumble beneath them.

“However, that does not make him a prince. Trust your mother.”

She had definitely spoken those exact words. And his mother was never one for foolish talk. She always delivered on her promises, meaning she surely had a brilliant strategy in place.

Clinging to that thought, this level of hardship felt manageable. Besides, the curse resting within that bastard’s body was still active!

‘I should have cast something far more potent.’

Merely watching him cough up blood and wither away simply hadn’t been enough. Gritting his teeth, the first prince mentally sifted through every bit of dark lore regarding curses he could recall.

‘Hmph, I’ll pay this humiliation back tenfold.’

Terus took his place in the secondary chair, his expression far more collected than before.

Of course, Kyle took no particular joy in lording over him. He was not the sort of man to derive stress relief from tormenting others; if he wanted to clear his mind, rigorous training or deep meditation were far more productive.

“Whether you’re aware of it or not, I’ll get straight to the point. Starting today, delegations from Asteri and the Byrdantis family will begin arriving to prepare for the birthday banquet.”

Before Terus could interrupt, Kyle dropped the remaining piece of news.

“So, keep a low profile, Brother.”

“What…!”

The eldest prince, who had only just regained his composure, snapped right back.

“Who do you think you are, giving me orders?”

“It would sound considerably harsher coming straight from the Emperor’s lips.”

“You scoundrel!”

Seizing the nearest piece of tableware, the first prince hurled it directly at Kyle. Ordinarily, such an object would never find its mark, but today…

*Splat!*

Incredibly, things played out differently this time.

A sharp dining knife grazed the edge of Kyle’s cheek, leaving behind a narrow cut from which a thin bead of crimson blood immediately began to trickle.

Witnessing the sight, the first prince barely suppressed a triumphant laugh.

‘That’s right—for all his arrogance, his physical condition is crumbling underneath.’

Indeed, the curse was still taking its toll. It would be a miracle if the boy could even walk around upright!

“I have no interest in your advice. Get out.”

“Hmm.”

Despite the booming command, Kyle remained entirely unbothered. He simply brushed a fingertip lightly over the scratch on his face, evaluating the depth.

‘This should be enough to draw notice.’

The entire scenario had unfolded precisely as Kyle intended. Was he not an astonishingly straightforward prince? Had he been born a commoner instead of royalty, his abrasive nature would have likely gotten him tossed out into the streets long ago.

Reaching down, Kyle retrieved the blade that had grazed him, rose to his feet, and walked over to the table where Terus sat.

Then, with a heavy *thump*, he drove the dining knife vertically into the thick, polished wood.

“Yikes.”

Terus choked back a shriek as the blade buried itself deep into the surface, leaving only the handle exposed just a finger’s breadth away from his hand.

“I’m returning this to you. You’ll need it if you plan on eating. Now then.”

Unlike certain individuals, he had a busy schedule to maintain.

Having accomplished his objective, Kyle walked out of the palace without a backward glance. He had secured a visible wound and delivered a clear warning; any subsequent fallout could be readily managed. Besides, the threat was likely too shaken to cause further trouble now.

That meant…

‘I just need to keep the Empress in check.’

With the minor nuisance swiftly handled, Kyle headed straight toward the outer gates where his carriage waited. The afternoon weather was exceptionally pleasant.

—

Just as Kyle anticipated, upon stepping down from his carriage and catching sight of the prince’s face, Lion immediately parted his lips in shock.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“It must have been a taxing journey for all three of you.”

“Not at all. But…”

Mindful of their public surroundings, Rikschel stepped in rather than Lion, whose speech had stalled, and fixed his gaze squarely on Kyle’s cheek. Given the precise nature of the wound and the second prince’s considerable abilities, it was not an injury that could have occurred by accident. Furthermore, the angle ruled out any self-inflicted mishap.

‘The only person inside the palace capable of pulling this off would be…’

The first prince.

Yet the eldest was currently under strict confinement, limiting his movement entirely to his own quarters. Which could only mean one thing…

‘He allowed himself to be struck on purpose.’

The underlying motive was likely to command his brother’s attention. Putting the pieces together, Rikschel narrowed his eyes and held his tongue. The Duke of Byrdantis, possessing deep mastery over the blade, wore an expression that mirrored Rikschel’s silent realization.

Ignoring their intense scrutiny, the second prince offered a brazen explanation.

“A minor scuffle broke out during my meal, and I had to rush over here before tending to it.”

“Treatment would hardly have taken long.”

“I couldn’t leave my guests waiting.”

“……”

Rikschel silently concluded that the second prince’s verbal sparring skills had grown remarkably sharp during their time apart. Still, if he chose to press the issue further…

*Glance.*

His companion would only worry needlessly. Moreover, too many onlookers surrounded them. It would be far wiser to relocate somewhere private…

“I apologize for bringing this up the moment you arrived, but would you mind inspecting the condition of the hunting grounds where the banquet will be held?”

“What?”

“It would be even better if Duke Byrdantis accompanied us.”

“……”

This fellow. He was deliberately making the request in a crowded space so refusal was impossible. Honestly, every fiber of his being wanted to turn the offer down right then and there, but…

‘It is a sensible request.’

Inspecting the grounds would allow them to personally verify whether any hidden threats lurked nearby that could endanger either him or the prince.

“Additionally, I have a few personal matters I’d like to consult Young Master Lion about.”

“By all means.”

“Brother.”

Lion agreed even before Rikschel could voice an objection. Ordinarily, he would have complained about being drafted into chores the second he stepped through the door, but the situation here was entirely different. On the surface, the atmosphere was serene, but underneath, it was a war zone.

‘And among everyone here, the primary target is likely to be me.’

Should that prove true, remaining close to the second prince offered much better protection.

…Whatever questions awaited him, the prince likely just wanted prolonged company and would avoid crossing any lines. Reconciling himself to the task, Lion gave Rikschel a reassuring nod.

“It’s better to finish the job quickly and depart, isn’t it? Right?”

“That is logical.”

“…Yes. Indeed.”

In the end, both the Duke and Rikschel were forced to accompany the second prince directly toward the hunting grounds, exactly as requested. Naturally, they did not forget to cast frequent, warning glares back at Kyle along the way.

A silent message that communicated: *Step out of line, and there will be consequences.*

‘Good grief.’

He truly was a villainous character at heart.

Returning the sentiment, the second prince cheerfully waved back at the departing pair without a hint of intimidation. Victory belonged to whoever seized the initiative first.

“Now then, let’s head inside.”