Chapter 283

Chapter 283
Chapter 283: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Patrick observed the brothers bickering and emitted a silent, inward chuckle.

‘They have matured so much.’

He had previously assumed only Lion had entered adulthood, but now Rikschel had likewise developed considerably.

This growth explains why he is presently capable of expressing irritation toward me—someone he once found quite intimidating—while simultaneously showing genuine thoughtfulness.

Patrick felt a deep sense of satisfaction regarding this transformation.

“You troublesome rascals. Do you even realize the identity of that mountain lodge you destroyed so carelessly?”

Consequently, Patrick managed to voice his true sentiment instead of merely offering a standard expression of gratitude.

“Grandfather. I was completely unaware.”

“Indeed. Yet you were the instigator of the sparring match in the first place, Older Brother.”

“Such unfilial behavior! Once the Emperor’s birth celebration concludes, the two of you shall go and rebuild it yourselves.”

A multitude of critical matters remained unresolved.

The trio continued to exchange lighthearted banter in a remarkably casual, almost leisurely fashion.

“Hahaha. Grandfather. Surely you are joking.”

“This is no laughing matter.”

“Does this mean my hands are ruined as well?”

“That issue will be remedied beforehand, so put your mind at ease. Nevertheless, owing to the delicate nature of the situation, I am organizing everything under absolute secrecy, meaning I cannot disclose the details.”

He added that they would comprehend the circumstances when the appropriate moment arrived, after which they would merely need to follow the designated guide.

Both Lion and Rikschel offered nods of agreement.

The rationale was entirely logical.

Particularly since the directive originated from their grandfather, and no one else.

He treasured his grandchildren, especially Lion, above all others.

“I understand.”

“Understood. The anniversary banquet approaches rapidly, so I strongly advise you to obtain some rest if possible.”

Rikschel directed a glance toward Lion that clearly communicated a ‘Did you catch that?’ sentiment.

“You as well, Rikschel. From this point forward, entrust every matter concerning me to others.”

“…I understand. Family Head.”

“Very well, let us prepare to rise shortly.”

“Yes.”

All three individuals stood up from their chairs.

Following a period of invigorating physical movement, dining, and replenishment of their sugar levels, they experienced a profound state of tranquility that left nothing more to be desired.

‘It is remarkably peaceful.’

When Rikschel originally fled, I anticipated a major catastrophe, but the situation resolved far more favorably than anticipated.

My sincere hope is that future events proceed with similar smoothness.

I wish to navigate the remainder of my days experiencing only this modest level of tribulation. Hahaha.

Lion patted his comfortably full abdomen with these thoughts in mind.

Everyone present—including himself—was well aware that reality would not remain so accommodating, yet for the present day at least, embracing such optimism seemed the superior choice.

—

Following his discharge from the Magic Tower, the brief interval of rest vanished in an instant.

-Are we departing at last?

Tiamatrak, who had spent the entire night grumbling and complaining about being left unattended for days, displayed considerable enthusiasm regarding the long-awaited excursion.

“Indeed. The time has finally arrived.”

Today marked the commencement of the festival honoring the Emperor’s birth.

‘Strictly speaking, the official events begin during the evening…’

Given that high-ranking aristocratic households such as the Asteri family had extensive preparations to complete beforehand, an early departure was necessary.

‘Though, truthfully, I have no preparations to speak of.’

It would hardly do for me to announce, ‘I shall arrive later~’ while the remainder of the household departed.

Thus, for the sake of convenience, we were making our preparations collectively.

-The ensemble appears quite favorable, does it not?

“Is that your honest assessment? This attire is certainly not my formal party wear.”

-Could this be attributed to your typical appearance resembling that of an eccentric?

“…I appreciate the compliment.”

At any rate, my external presentation appeared acceptable.

Furthermore.

“Do you look charming?”

“Kiying!”

Since proper grooming and formal attire were rare occurrences, I fashioned adorable accessories for both Pus and Nature.

Pus appeared somewhat self-conscious wearing a delicate lace bib, remaining motionless with a single front paw elevated, whereas Nature proudly thrust out its chest adorned with a sleek black butterfly tie.

-You are fortunate. What about my adornment?

“You are already equipped with a formidable item.”

It was the magical ability-suppressing accessory previously bestowed upon me by Lion.

-Hmm… That is a fair point.

-Even from a dragon’s perspective, this device appears remarkably practical.

-Additionally, the longer one observes it, the more endearing it becomes.

“Yes, indeed.”

Lion successfully placated Tiamatrak’s mild grievances and proceeded to don his gloves.

Fortunately, gloves constituted mandatory attire for aristocratic banquets.

It was exceedingly rare for nobles to partake in celebratory gatherings or hunting exhibitions without hand coverings.

‘Come to think of it, the itinerary is remarkably congested.’

Following a two-day festival period, a grand hunting competition was scheduled for the third and final day.

Naturally, one might assume that aristocrats engrossed in indulgence and luxury would lack enthusiasm for such physical endeavors…

‘Yet the incentive is exceptionally attractive.’

The event—or rather, the traditional ceremony—derived from the foundational myth of offering harvested quarry directly to the sun to invoke prosperity. Consequently, the champion of the competition received a substantial prize.

Even if Kyle had managed to capture the reigning Emperor himself, the magnitude of the reward would remain unaltered.

‘It serves as a demonstration to project the zenith of the Imperial family’s authority.’

Consequently, even the most formidable factions were compelled to invest significant effort into the proceedings.

Lion, despite not being the designated heir, was obligated to participate purely by virtue of being the eldest son.

“Ah, participating in activities such as hunting competitions holds very little appeal for me.”

-Lion, my assessment is that your temperament aligns much better with tending to creatures rather than hunting them.

-If a competition existed centered around taming numerous beasts instead of slaughtering them, securing first place would be effortless for you.

“Your logic is sound.”

“Kiying!”

Pus wagged its multiple tails enthusiastically in front of Lion, as if communicating absolute trust.

Each movement dislodged a small cloud of loose fur, yet Lion remained unbothered, pulling Pus into a tight embrace and burying his face in its coat.

“Yes. Splendid. Will you capture every target for me, Pus?”

“Sniff!”

While Lion remained engrossed in hugging Pus and pressing his face into its plush fur, Rikschel entered the chamber after delivering a knock.

“…Older Brother. Regardless of your affection for animals, if you collect fur upon your garments while dressed for this occasion, the domestic staff will be deeply distressed.”

“Ah.”

Lion finally released Pus from his grasp.

The servants stationed outside the doorway hurried forward to meticulously remove the stray hairs from Lion’s attire while gently brushing Pus’s ruffled coat.

Prrr!

Naturally, Pus shook its entire body once, instantly returning its appearance to pristine condition.

“Well, seeing as everyone’s preparations are complete, shall we take our leave? The Family Head is awaiting our arrival.”

“Has his preparation finished already? Let us make haste.”

“Understood.”

Descending to the lower level, we discovered Grandfather already readied and boarding the carriage.

“You are tardy.”

“My apologies. Pus was simply too endearing, and I lost track of time. Hahaha.”

Lion climbed into the carriage wearing an unconcerned smile, and once Rikschel finally stepped inside, the assembled servants aligned themselves with absolute precision and offered a profound bow.

Patrick cast a brief glance toward the procession extending directly ahead and raised his voice.

“We depart now.”

“Yes!”

As the carriage wheels began their rotation, the mounted knights of the Asteri family surged into motion alongside the vehicle, serving as an honor guard.

‘Quite an impressive spectacle.’

Lion reclined comfortably, observing the spectators waving from the roadside settlement.

‘Once the banquet concludes, my priority must shift toward gathering intelligence regarding Mermaid Island.’

In truth, despite the significance of the Emperor’s anniversary, Lion’s personal agenda remained remarkably sparse.

‘Avoiding Jack would certainly be a prudent measure.’

The remaining administrative burdens would be managed efficiently by the household.

Furthermore…

*smirk*

“What is the reason for that expression?”

“Nothing untoward, I am merely anticipating the festivities.”

“…”

I was under the impression that you harbored an aversion to social gatherings, yet that clearly is not the case?

“I am genuinely looking forward to it.”

“Does that apply to you as well, Family Head?”

“Indeed.”

“…I see.”

In truth, aside from Older Brother’s coming-of-age ceremony, the Asteri family had maintained a history of absenting themselves from high-society functions.

The primary factor was simply an overwhelming schedule that left no room for such engagements.

‘Hmm… I must ensure the household hosts social events with greater frequency moving forward.’

While Rikschel immersed himself in formulating yet another novel strategy, Patrick and Lion exchanged significant glances filled with mutual understanding.

Indeed.

The underlying motivation behind both of their anticipations was the pleasing realization that the Asteri household’s cherished youngest member, Rikschel, would be attending accompanied by an appropriate companion!

‘Hehehe. The custom accessory I commissioned for this specific occasion was executed flawlessly.’

The outcome is perfection itself.

Lion deliberately suppressed the corners of his mouth, which threatened to curve upward, and closed his eyes.

Carriages transporting nobles would be converging from all directions, meaning transit time would be substantial.

‘A gentle breeze is currently stirring.’

The motion produces a mild, soothing vibration, lulling me into a gradual slumber.

If I indulge in a pleasant nap of this nature and awaken subsequently, our arrival at the Imperial Palace will be achieved.

…Or so I presumed.

Rumble!

Whoosh!

Without warning, an expanse of dense storm clouds swallowed the vault of heaven, unleashing a torrential downpour.

“…Pardon?”

The weather had been completely clear mere moments ago.

‘No doubt this is merely a localized passing shower.’

Suppressing lingering doubts, I sealed my eyes once more and drifted toward sleep.

Following Lion’s descent into slumber.

“Is the arrangement fully prepared?”

“Affirmative. Absolute perfection.”

Patrick and Rikschel engaged in a hushed, clandestine exchange.

The dialogue remained remarkably brief, omitting any mention of the target or the exact nature of the scheme.

Nod.

The pair exchanged a subtle nod of confirmation.

“We shall initiate the phase once the hunting trials commence.”

“Understood. Family Head.”

—

While the grandfather and grandson—excluding Lion—engaged in their secretive plotting.

“The precipitation is remarkably severe.”

“…”

The individual experiencing a distinctly somber anniversary.

Emperor Tylius lifted his gaze at the sound accompanying the lashing rain.

Stationed before him stood his second prince—an offspring brought into existence through an unintended encounter—arrayed in flawless attire.

“This meteorological display must prove deeply distressing on your anniversary.”

“Distressing?”

Despite the turbulent emotional landscape churning within him, the Emperor summoned an awkward smile and delivered a rapid reply.

“On the contrary, my primary concern is that you, my son Kyle, might harbor feelings of disappointment. Ha, haha…”

He had denied him the status of a son throughout the entirety of his existence.

Even at this juncture, his internal sentiments remained fundamentally unaltered.

Nevertheless, sustaining the external pretense was no longer an option.

“Would it not be a tragedy should inclement weather mar the day the Crown Prince receives his formal appointment?”

Indeed.

The forthcoming Crown Prince was none other than the second prince, Kyle.

He was the very person tasked with bestowing that title.

Furthermore, the gesture signified the potential forfeiture of his remaining authority.

It was an action equivalent to placing a noose around his own neck.

‘My demise cannot occur at this juncture.’

This represented an act of liquidating the distant future merely to purchase a momentary extension of the present.

Consequently, to prolong his existence by even a fraction, he was duty-bound to humble himself before the illegitimate progeny standing before him.

“H-however…”

“Speak your mind, Your Majesty.”

“Regarding the Empress… is there not a necessity to ascertain her current situation?”

The Emperor’s ultimate decision to transfer the throne to the second prince stemmed largely from considerations regarding the Empress.

‘Should I submit to that woman’s directives, the designated title of the succeeding emperor would inevitably become…’

The succession would fall to Lepicent rather than Aionys.

Such an outcome would leave him utterly devoid of dignity when facing his imperial predecessors in the afterlife.

Or rather, to be entirely candid, the prospect of enduring eternal mockery post-mortem filled him with dread.

“Such concerns are entirely unnecessary on your part.”

“I-is that so? My anxiety was solely directed toward your well-being…”

“Should any unforeseen circumstance arise, rest assured it will unfold entirely within the boundaries of my control.”

“…”

A chill ran down his spine.

The literal implication behind those delivered words.

‘Events are already in motion.’

The Empress.

To elaborate, Lepicent, holding the dual authority of Duke and head of the central aristocracy, was actively engaged in covert machinations.

And the second prince was already fully cognizant of those developments.

Information of a truly terrifying caliber.

The sole prior instance where he experienced a comparable degree of dread was his encounter with Patrick Asteri.

‘Refraining from boarding that vessel proved to be a stroke of fortune.’

The foolish Empress and the Duke were destined to collapse beneath the weight of their own greed.

The Emperor commended his own tactical judgment repeatedly while hastily offering words designed to curry favor.

“I shall maintain a presence akin to a corpse, allowing your designs to unfold unhindered.”

“I appreciate your gracious compliance.”

The second prince, Kyle, allowed a smile of profound sincerity to touch his features.

He was already well-informed regarding their intended course of action.

Yet those matters held no genuine significance at present.

A solitary objective remained paramount.

‘To extract Lion Asteri swiftly amidst the unfolding chaos.’

Simultaneously achieving the complete eradication of his physical corruption while isolating him entirely from the turmoil consuming the Imperial Palace.

That alone constituted his singular purpose.