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168. Beggar Siblings – Inner Thoughts

Leo straightened his posture.

He sat up straight, lifted his head high, and glared at the tall Count Peter.

“No need to pretend you don’t know, Count. I came knowing everything.”

“…Have we met before?”

Count Gustave Peter looked genuinely puzzled.

How noble-like. Nobles hardly ever reveal their true feelings honestly.

Honesty is an easy weapon.

By exposing oneself, one can gain empathy and help, but it’s a card that can be played only when needed.

On the other hand, hiding one’s true intentions is challenging.

Once exposed, there’s no going back, so nobles are always careful with their words and demeanor.

Of course, it had been a long time since Leo’s true intentions were exposed. Long before, he had whispered his true feelings.

– “Your Highness, are you running away again?”

– “Hahaha, surprised? We met a few times when I was very young… you probably don’t remember, right? But I recognized you the moment I laid eyes on you. You both are alive.”

“Count, don’t you remember me? We met a few times when I was very young…”

Leo spoke. At this point, there was no choice but to charge straight ahead.

There was a slight reaction. Count Peter’s expression briefly shifted, and Leo seized the opportunity to drive the wedge in further.

“Or would it help if I called you Baron?”

“…Leave.”

The Count gestured to the butler next to him. The butler exited with a polite bow, holding his right hand to his stomach and his left hand behind his back, bowing as if greeting a king or prince.

But he did not lower his head. The Count merely bent slightly at the waist, his eyes fixed on Leo.

“Please, have a seat.”

The two sat down. Baron Monarch gazed at the mysterious prince for a while before finally speaking.

“Remarkable.”

It was an exclamation loaded with meaning.

It’s miraculous that you’re alive. It’s astonishing that you’ve become a royal knight. And it’s shocking that you remember me.

Meeting a prince was over ten years ago.

He was a child, barely old enough to be called a boy, who incidentally bumped into a prince while wandering around the palace and offered a courteous greeting; not that he hoped to be remembered.

A genius.

This prince was undoubtedly a born genius. Count Gustave could guess why Prince Eric had so hastily sent away his younger sibling.

“Where is the princess?”

“…You asked.”

“I apologize. How unfortunate.”

– Clatter.

Count Gustave stood up to express his courtesy, and Leo pretended to stir his teacup.

This time, Leo said nothing. He merely displayed a sad emotion, as if he had just heard a question he didn’t want to think about.

I can do this. The person who now needed to speak up and resolve this was the Count.

But Gwen would be well aware that the prince was playing such a game.

The question of whether there had been someone to back him up in reaching this point was merely curious, and if the princess was dead, it was likely not the case.

Why then, did Gustave seek me out? — he wondered.

“Is your work not too taxing?”

“Fortunately, it’s manageable.”

“I see. As a royal knight, it must be thanks to the grace of the House of Tatalia.”

Leo’s eyebrows twitched and rose.

How dare I speak of another house’s grace knowing I’m of the Yeriel lineage… though it was meant to be a test, I felt I should get angry here.

But getting angry was also within the author’s predicted actions.

To be angry would mean I would stand in an unfavorable position as I came to make a request for my ambitions, and to accept it would mean I came here without ambition as a mere knight.

Neither side was satisfactory.

Leo stole a sip of tea to buy some time. Choosing his words carefully, he tried to shake Baron Monarch.

“No, it’s the grace of the Lord.”

“…”

What does that mean?

The Count felt the thirst in his throat for the first time in a while.

It might be meaningless words. If the prince were a believer of the Cross Church.

But still…

[ Quest: Noble Slaughterer 50/50 – {Noble} ability increases by one level. ]

[ Quest: Traitor 10/10 – {Royal Blood} ability increases by one level. ]

The aura emanating from him was unusual. A person like him wouldn’t spew nonsense.

‘How much does he know?’

The thought crossed his mind, though it seemed improbable. The fact that he mentioned the Lord…

“You must be a devout believer.”

“Is it only Baron Monarch who would say that?”

If only I had tea too.

Baron Monarch licked his lips with his tongue. But his body slowly leaned, and he nonchalantly crossed his legs.

You have taken a wrong turn.

“Why do you say that? Do I look like someone who faithfully attends church?”

“Just because you aren’t wearing blessed relics doesn’t mean you lack faith. What’s important is the ‘inner self,’ isn’t it?”

“Indeed, that’s a valid point. You really know a lot about me, Your Highness. So, what brings you here?”

Damn. It was the same response. Leo unconsciously clenched his fists.

Cardinal Berg was like this too.

The moment he dropped Count Peter’s name, the noble’s attitude shifted as if to say let’s skip the noble pleasantries, and afterward, he never mentioned anything related to the Count again.

He intended to find that out.

With the {Bracelet of Barbatos}, he planned to charm the Count into swearing loyalty and making him confess everything.

Just as he did with Marquis Gaidan.

But this was troublesome. Discussing this further could jeopardize even the current conversation.

Feeling there was no other choice, Leo raised his teacup again. Slurping, he drank tea as

[ Achievement: Met Eric de Yeriel – Gained slight favor from all nobles serving the Yeriel royal family. Gained slight favor from Eric de Yeriel. ]

[ Achievement: Met Klian de Tatalia – Gained slight favor from all nobles serving the Tatalia royal family. Gained slight favor from Klian de Tatalia. ]

He thought he could only trust those two favorable achievements. His teacup was gradually revealing its bottom.

“Please help me.”

He didn’t snort, but Leo felt he might have if they had been sitting closer.

“Why should I help you, Your Highness?”

“…Are you satisfied with your current position, Count? There must be a reason you straddle two kingdoms. If I were to be restored…”

“If I say I’m satisfied,”

Count Peter interrupted.

He uncrossed his legs, leaned forward, a smile revealing his teeth.

“What will you do?”

“…So, you’re satisfied being friends with Marquis Tatian? If so, I find it a bit disappointing.”

Count Gustave Peter looked shocked. His eyes bulged as he burst into laughter.

“You have no fear, do you, Your Highness? Meeting Marquis Tatian… For your courage, let me offer you a piece of advice.”

His laughter ceased. His subsequent voice was lowered as if to be overheard.

“It doesn’t matter how you met the Marquis, it’s best to keep your distance. That friend is a very frightening person. He will soon find out that you were here.”

“…Are you saying the Marquis knows my identity?”

“No. Who in this country would recognize you as the prince?”

The Count appeared disinterested in speaking further, leaning back. He gazed at the teacup, looking bored.

“Well then… Are you unwilling to help me?”

Leo pleaded. He struggled to suppress his desperate feelings, but the more he did, the more the cracks widened.

Count Peter remained silent for quite some time.

He stared intently at Leo, and it took a considerable amount of time for an answer to emerge.

Fortunately, it was a positive one, with conditions.

“Alright. I will help you. But I have things I need to consider too, so you must wait a little.”

If he ordered loyalty here, it wouldn’t do. Leo trudged away from Count Peter’s mansion. The only consolation was that the Count showed him considerable courtesy as he departed.

Whether he could be trusted was yet to be seen…

*

Leo did not return to the royal castle. He stopped by the theater to briefly meet Ksenia, but by this late hour, Lena had long since drifted off to dreamland.

“It’s been a while.”

“…Indeed.”

As dusk settled and they had nowhere to go, the two took a seat in the dark theater auditorium.

“How’s Lena doing these days?”

“She’s doing well. She learns her lines really quickly.”

An awkward air flowed between them. Ksenia turned her head, not speaking, and Leo no longer had much to say either.

He liked this woman. For no particular reason, but he could not deny it. To say it was simply because she resembled Chaehwa wouldn’t hold up, as Minseo was too faint.

‘…Right. What does Kasia have to do with this? I wasn’t fond of her anyway, and now she’s living happily…’

Leo took Ksenia’s hand in his.

As he wrapped his fingers around her soft palm, Ksenia turned back with surprise in her eyes.

“It’s inappropriate to hold a woman’s hand like this.”

“It was a bit inappropriate to steal the lips of a stranger too.”

Though it was dark and invisible, Ksenia seemed to slightly smile. Leo spoke sincerely.

“I’m sorry.”

“…For what?”

“I’ve been too indifferent. I haven’t visited often considering I’ve entrusted my sister to you… I’ve come back many times only seeing her.”

“…And?”

“Last time I lied. I blurted out words in front of my sister but it must have hurt you a lot.”

“…And?”

“…I don’t think I’ve held your hand even once, only eating your food…”

“…And?”

“……I also didn’t tell you what I do. Right now…”

“I’m not curious about that. And?”

Ksenia was inching closer. Leo pondered a moment before speaking.

“………I’ve never told you that I love you. Did I ever say you’re pretty? I’ve been quite at a loss for words… Ugh!”

Something moist clung to his mouth. Heavy breaths exchanged as Ksenia, perched on his knee, spoke.

“You have so many things to apologize for. You only need that one phrase.”

Leo caressed Ksenia’s cheek. He swept her wavy hair behind her neck and whispered.

“Yeah. I love you. Us.”

“…I like that. But…”

Ksenia played with Leo’s lips. She stroked his sharp jawline and whispered softly in his ear.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable here?”

*

In the dressing room with a makeshift bed. Leo picked up his disheveled clothes.

Though they were his own, he felt he should wash and return them.

Under the flickering candlelight, Leo grabbed random clothes from the dressing room and matched lips with the sweat-drenched Ksenia as he said.

“Wake up. I have to go now.”

Ksenia got up. She patted her waist and also donned her clothes.

“Leo, when will you come again?”

“When would you like me to come?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Haha. I’m sorry. That’s going to be tough. I’ll come as early as I can.”

“Got it. But don’t forget there’s a performance of [Demonios] next week. If you don’t come, Lena will feel sad.”

Next week…

Leo counted the dates on his fingers.

That’s when the prince of Austin Kingdom arrives. Since Gilbert Forte and Princess Chloe de Tatalia didn’t cause any incidents on the first day, it seemed manageable.

So Leo promised to come next week and left the theater.

On the roadside in front of the theater, he greeted Oberg, who was loitering, and walked through the night back home, feeling a newfound confidence unlike when he arrived.

He should ask Ksenia to come along.

He was thinking of leaving for the Conrad Kingdom after stopping Gilbert Forte and the princess from kissing.

Although Count Peter promised to help, it didn’t matter whether he actually did or not.

Thinking about it, there was no compelling reason to strictly follow this {event}. The moment Prince Eric summoned Oriax, anything done while keeping Cardinal Berg close by would suffice.

Lies, enlisting knights to kidnap, there were numerous ways.

Cardinal Berg, who hadn’t backed down even in the final moments, had raised his spirit in front of Reb, an apostle of Barbatos, even after enduring several nights in the thorny forest.

There was no way he would turn a blind eye to Oriax’s Apostle.

And even though it was nearing autumn, it wasn’t too late.

Compared to the previous rounds spent wintering in Taamun Village, a few months’ grace was significant, and he was aware of all the knights pledging allegiance to him.

There was no need to secretly persuade the knights and struggle through it.

‘The payday is coming soon… I have enough travel expenses.’

With the token of a royal knight, passing through the gate would be easy. Should a royal knight feel tired and retire, that would be the end of it.

While they might not let him pass easily, he was a promising knight who might become a sword master someday.

While he might worry about going to another kingdom, he wouldn’t let it intimidate him.

He arrived at the royal palace.

Upon entering his room, Leo tossed the noble’s clothes into a basket.

Since a handmaiden was assigned to him as a royal knight, she would take care of washing them.

A spacious room.

Not luxurious, but furnished with all necessities, Leo threw himself onto the bed. He beamed brightly at the thought of Ksenia, her cheeks flushed.