Chapter 276

Chapter 276
Chapter 276: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

There was a solid reason behind his absolute confidence that his elder brother was being deceitful.

First.

His physical movements were significantly more guarded than usual.

“Older Brother, are you skipping the bread today?”

“Ah… I’m not feeling very hungry this morning. I suppose I overate yesterday evening.”

My older brother, who invariably finished everything on his plate even though his portions were modest, completely ignored the bread.

Naturally, one could attribute this to indigestion or a fleeting loss of appetite.

‘Yet he finished every drop of the soup.’

He had consumed his customary portions of lightly seared salmon and a side of salad topped with croutons and cheese.

In short, his claim of lacking an appetite was entirely fabricated.

If that happened to be the case, why was he avoiding the bread?

‘He simply wishes to avoid removing his gloves.’

And it wasn’t just limited to the silk gloves.

He never stays dressed in daytime attire before breakfast unless he has an urgent trip scheduled to the labyrinth.

Ordinarily, he would still be lounging in comfortable sleepwear.

Instead, today he remained fully covered up, exactly as he had been the previous night.

While he wasn’t wearing his heavy outerwear, it was highly unusual for him to be so formally dressed down to his collared shirt and handkerchief.

Furthermore…

‘He has no complaints whatsoever.’

Normally, his physical discomfort would be glaringly obvious through his restless mannerisms.

He would usually be seen tugging at a tight collar or unconsciously fidgeting to take off his gloves.

Yet not once today.

‘He hasn’t touched them at all.’

To put it plainly, my older brother is deliberately concealing something about himself.

The underlying motive remained a complete mystery to me, as I possessed zero information.

‘Could it be that he kept the Family Head in the dark as well?’

That scenario seemed plausible, but if my older brother truly concealed it, would the Family Head remain entirely unaware?

‘Unlikely.’

Just recently, after my older brother stirred up trouble, didn’t he approach me to vent his frustrations indirectly?

That leaves only one logical conclusion.

‘Everyone around me is engaged in a conspiracy.’

Not just the Family Head and my older brother, but even Elvia as well.

Judging by the lingering looks they cast my way, the motivation is undoubtedly to shield me from a devastating shock.

Surely… something catastrophic must have happened to my older brother.

‘Are they trying to hide things from me again, just like they did during the Easter incident?’

Rikschel tightly clenched his fist underneath the dining table.

Within this household, I was perpetually treated like an infant who had only just learned to walk.

“……”

Rikschel shifted his gaze toward Lion.

More specifically, he stared directly at his gloved hands before slowly lifting his eyes upward.

“It truly is comforting to share our meals like this, Older Brother.”

“Haha, really? In that case, would you like us to enjoy lunch and afternoon snacks together as well?”

The sole reason I found myself unable to lash out at my older brother in that exact moment was his evident gentleness, desperately trying to soothe me despite whatever secret he was desperately guarding.

“Would that be alright? I certainly hope I am not intruding upon your hectic schedule…”

“An intrusion? I was intending to take a few days of rest in any case.”

“You haven’t been pushing yourself too hard, have you?”

“What do you mean by pushing myself? When have you ever witnessed me overexerting my limits?”

“……”

“—”

The dialogue sputtered out into an awkward silence.

Lion dabbed at his mouth with a handkerchief, acting as though his duties were concluded, and slowly stood up.

“Well then, I shall take a brief rest and return in time for the midday meal. Is there anything specific you would care to eat?”

“I would love to sample those snacks you were enjoying recently, Older Brother.”

“Oh those. I simply whipped up a treat utilizing chestnuts. I can prepare them if the kitchen is currently stocked with the ingredients.”

“I appreciate it. I will be heading out as well.”

“Very well. Make sure you don’t wear yourself out.”

Rikschel offered a faint, fleeting smile before walking away.

That second exchange just now.

‘No ingredients available?’

My older brother possesses an ingrained habit of hoarding supplies like a squirrel stashing away winter acorns.

Not only does he forage for every rare herb and plant native to the Mimir Forest, but he routinely drags exotic materials exclusive to labyrinths out of his storage pouch.

Yet he managed to bring back absolutely nothing from Elvia’s private villa?

‘My own older brother?’

That leaves only two possibilities.

He was trapped in a crisis so severe he lacked the capacity to gather provisions, or…

‘…He never actually went there in the first place.’

The warm smile he had worn moments ago vanished, replaced instantly by a chilling, cynical sneer.

Rikschel retreated straight to his private quarters, activated the communication crystal ball, and attempted to reach the Family Head.

However…

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Accompanied by an automated notification indicating the recipient was currently unreachable, the crystal ball abruptly powered down.

The Family Head flatly refused to answer the call.

This behavior deviated entirely from the Family Head’s established pattern of always answering urgent communications, regardless of the circumstances.

“So this is the game you have chosen to play.”

They are operating under a deeply flawed assumption regarding my character.

Rikschel Asteri.

While Patrick and Lion viewed him as nothing more than a somewhat sensitive, well-behaved youngest child of the estate…

Public perception outside the family walls was radically different.

He was widely regarded as the rightful successor to the Asteri lineage, possessing a mind even more meticulous than Patrick Asteri.

A tactical mastermind whose intellect rivaled his prodigious magical aptitude.

A bearer of a cold, calculating brilliance that suited the Asteri bloodline better than anyone else.

“……Haha.”

And lastly…

—

“He exhibits a perfectionist compulsion to systematically eliminate any variable that displeases him.”

As a side note, this exact assessment had been voiced by the second prince, the individual whose political ambitions aligned most closely with his own.

“That precisely explains why you two get along so splendidly, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm.”

Kyle feigned complete ignorance of Jack’s teasing remark, preferring to savor the delicate aroma of his brewed tea.

He had claimed he was merely visiting the Great Barrier, yet it was painfully obvious he had managed to trigger a massive incident.

Given how thoroughly Patrick Asteri was suppressing information leaks, the situation must be grave indeed.

Kyle lowered his porcelain teacup and leveled his gaze at Jack.

Jack’s attire was characteristically flamboyant, entirely fitting for the Merchant Guild Leader known as ‘Jade’ receiving a formal audience within the Imperial Palace.

“You are already aware of the truth, aren’t you?”

“Aware of what specific matter?”

“The current physical condition of Lion Asteri.”

“Haha. How on earth could I possibly possess such knowledge? I have never even been properly introduced to the man.”

Jack fluttered his hand dismissively with an exaggerated, playful air.

“If that is truly the case, why did you schedule your arrival at the Imperial Palace ahead of your official timetable?”

“Simply because it has been an agonizingly long time since I last laid eyes on our esteemed second prince.”

Kyle completely bypassed the blatantly flimsy excuse.

His encounters with Jack had grown noticeably frequent of late.

Ordinarily, maintaining a wide berth from the merchant was far more beneficial for one’s mental well-being, but…

To be entirely truthful, his curiosity was heavily influenced by the existence of Lion Asteri.

Consequently, they had begun sharing casual meals like ordinary brothers while exchanging tidbits of intelligence along the way.

Naturally, these interactions usually consisted of Jack rambling endlessly while Kyle either ignored him entirely or fired back with biting retorts.

“What is Patrick Asteri’s official stance on the matter?”

“Hmm, professional discretion prevents me from divulging anything concerning a client, even to you, Your Highness. Are you genuinely losing sleep over him?”

Jack offered a half-serious quip—“He might grow fiercely jealous if you direct more worry toward another man than toward me”—before leaning back lazily against the plush cushions of the sofa.

“Well…”

Jack muttered softly, lifting his eyes to admire the outrageously ornate frescoed ceiling of the imperial chamber.

“It is certainly no trivial affair, but the situation is being managed in a way that allows it to masquerade as an ordinary occurrence. That is all the information you require.”

“I see.”

“Hmm?”

Jack jerked his head around, genuinely startled by Kyle’s unexpectedly flat and calm reaction.

“What is that look for? Did you honestly anticipate me throwing a massive fit?”

“You seem to invest a rather considerable amount of care into that young master’s well-being.”

“That observation is not entirely incorrect. However, I hardly coddle him like a fragile petal resting in the palm of my hand.”

“Ah.”

Perhaps prolonged residency within the Imperial Palace had polished his verbal articulation significantly.

Still, his younger brother cultivating a more refined lifestyle rather than wallowing in misery was hardly an undesirable development.

Jack buried these internal musings behind a short sigh and tuned his attention back to Kyle.

“He is simply not the sort of man to perish easily from minor setbacks.”

“Is that profound conviction based on what transpired back inside that subterranean cave?”

“Precisely.”

Jack exhaled a subdued breath.

It was glaringly obvious that Kyle had no inkling of how intensely his own internal organs had burned with anxiety during that ordeal.

Yet he brought up memories of that specific catastrophe so casually.

Or perhaps…

‘In a twisted sense, it genuinely qualified as an entertaining excursion.’

Kyle operates strictly according to a premeditated blueprint.

Doubtless, this rigid discipline stems from the necessity of extracting maximum results with minimal physical exertion due to his cursed physique.

Yet that particular day stood apart.

Specifically, the period when he vanished alongside Lion.

Or more accurately, ever since they safely returned, Kyle had formed a habit of reminiscing about those buried events.

He spoke of them with his customary chilling composure, yet his eyes carried a strange, flickering intensity that felt almost ghostly.

‘Tsk. I cannot help but harbor a twinge of envy.’

Still, what choice remained? An older brother must always yield to the whims of his younger sibling.

‘More to the point, perhaps I should whisk him away on a journey before he ascends the imperial throne?’

Once he officially claims the crown, executing such an escape plan would likely prove nearly impossible.

He certainly lacked the temperament to lounge around indolently like the reigning emperor.

Harboring these strategic thoughts, Jack smoothly hoisted himself up from his seat.

“In that case, Your Highness, I shall take my leave and attend to my pressing commercial obligations.”

“Departing already?”

“Indeed. I must labor with utmost diligence if I intend to afford my younger brother a life of absolute luxury down the road.”

Jack formed a coin shape using his index finger and thumb, offering a soft chuckle.

“The timing aligns perfectly for our customer’s inquiry to drop.”

By this exact moment, Rikschel Asteri would have undoubtedly unraveled the deception.

Failing to secure a response from Patrick Asteri, he would inevitably reach out to alternate channels, and…

Just as Kyle astutely noted earlier, Rikschel possessed an ingrained ‘perfectionist’ streak, driving him to unearth every hidden fragment of truth.

‘Ordinarily, professional ethics dictate that I feign complete ignorance, but…’

Well, provided the interaction stops short of breaching the terms of the contract, offering a minor hint should pose no real issue.

And certainly not because petty jealousy flared up at the thought of Kyle dwelling excessively on Lion Asteri.

Hahaha.

“Until next time, then.”

Jack exited the imperial prince’s chambers and strolled naturally toward the designated guest quarters of the Imperial Palace.

Just as anticipated…

A vivid purple glow pulsed steadily from the surface of the communication crystal ball.

“Hmm.”

Jack effortlessly accepted the incoming transmission.

And with practiced ease, he allowed a tiny fraction of classified information to slip through his lips.

Oh, make no mistake! The data shared had absolutely nothing to do with Lion Asteri’s confidential medical status.

—

Consequently.

“Ah……”

Lion found himself cornered, forced to endure Rikschel’s intensely piercing glare, which clearly communicated that the young strategist had deduced the entire truth over the past forty-eight hours.

‘Alright… keep your composure. This development was entirely within calculations.’

Lion maintained a bright, affable smile and raised both palms placatingly.

“Let us all take a deep breath and attempt to calm our nerves first, shall we?”

“I am currently experiencing absolute tranquility.”

Right. Stating that while simultaneously clutching a lethal spellcasting staff does not project an aura of calm whatsoever.

‘Just how much of the puzzle pieces has Rikschel managed to piece together?’

He undoubtedly noted my abnormal attire spanning across yesterday evening and this morning.

Even if he attempted to contact our grandfather, the probability of receiving a direct answer was practically zero.

‘Did he bypass channels and contact Elvia directly?’

Hmm… given Richt’s cautious nature, he likely would have exercised extreme discretion regarding that avenue.

Lion rapidly mentally crossed off various intelligence sources before zeroing in on a single culprit.

‘Jack.’

He must have made direct contact with Jack, circumventing the second prince entirely.

However, since grandfather had undoubtedly initiated countermeasures beforehand, Rikschel could not possibly have grasped the core, foundational truths.

‘Which implies that…’

Alas. It appeared I had no choice but to throw him a bone.

“To clear the air… it is not as though I deliberately set out to deceive you, but I suffered a brief spell of illness. An unexpected complication occurred at the Great Barrier.”

“I see.”

“However, my recovery remains incomplete.”

“…You have yet to fully recover?”

To be mathematically precise, the physical internal trauma had indeed been mended.

Yet the lingering corruption still poisoned his system, preventing a true, holistic recovery.

Hoffman had explicitly concurred that full recovery remained elusive, meaning his statement technically wasn’t a blatant lie.

“That is correct. However, my patience for lingering within the confines of the Magic Tower expired… thus I announced my immediate return home.”

-Your proficiency at spinning fabricated narratives is truly staggering.

-Are you secretly operating as a professional con artist?

Remain silent in your mind.

“……”

Rikschel subjected him to a grueling, microscopic inspection, desperately hunting for any microscopic trace of deception hidden within Lion’s declaration.

Yet he came up entirely empty-handed.

Which was only natural.

After all, the statement was constructed by cleverly intertwining genuine facts with calculated omissions.

‘I am genuinely sorry, my dearest younger brother!’

Still, you must understand, this is a crisis utterly incapable of resolution at the present moment, meaning causing you premature distress serves zero purpose.

Furthermore, grandfather clearly possesses a calculated long-term strategy of his own.

He explicitly instructed me to endure the discomfort for just a fraction longer.

“I find it difficult to simply take your word for it, Older Brother. I apologize.”

…An entirely predictable response, I must admit.

Realizing direct persuasion had failed, Lion executed a bold gamble.

“In that case, shall we travel together and question Master Hoffman in person?”

He operated under the assumption that this concrete proposal would finally shatter Rikschel’s lingering skepticism.

However.

“Let us execute that plan immediately.”

“O-Okay.”

-Incredible. Your younger brother is genuinely a terrifying force of nature.

…And thus, Lion found himself stripped of any alternative options, forced to trek right back to the Magic Tower after a mere two days of fragile freedom.

Accompanied closely this time by an unyielding Rikschel.

“……”

Master Hoffman, suddenly burdened with this ticking time bomb of a situation, furrowed his aged eyebrows into an expression he had never displayed before, confronting a diplomatic and magical nightmare entirely unprecedented in his long career.