Chapter 109
It had been a year since Killian had chased Mikhail to his chin.
He found Killian’s genius terrifying.
At the same time, he was stimulated by it.
It was the first sense of crisis that the perfect and sincere crown prince felt.
If it weren’t for Killian, Mikhail wouldn’t have grown to this level.
The two learned, felt, discussed, and shared the same things.
That’s why Mikhail had no choice but to like Killian.
“But you, who are so smart, become foolish when involved with the royal family. Do you understand?”
Mikhail finally let out the words he had been holding back due to frustration.
Since childhood, Mikhail had found it strange that Killian, without criticism, accepted the royal family’s demands.
Even with somewhat unreasonable requests, he never expressed dissatisfaction.
Whenever the royal family gave orders, he blindly followed them as if he had set aside judgement and reason.
Mikhail tried to understand such Killian. Perhaps, due to the shock of losing his parents, he might think of the royal family as family and depend on them.
Maybe Killian understands the deep intentions of the royal family that Mikhail doesn’t understand.
However, this time, he simply couldn’t accept it.
“I thought you could at least preserve some dignity when you resigned from the position of the Imperial Guards Commander. After all, you’re the one who created the current Imperial Guards. You built it yourself.”
“… … .”
“But you’re being kicked out like this? Disgracefully?”
Mikhail asked a question.
At least, considering Killian’s achievements so far, it was right to hold a retirement ceremony for a proper and honourable reason.
But what does this mean?
He took all the responsibility on his own for not being able to capture the Black Moon, and in a bad situation after losing the match against Ian, he got injured and resigned without a retirement ceremony.
“Whether I preserve my honour or lose it, it doesn’t matter.”
Killian said, avoiding the intense gaze directed at him.
“Is this the Empress’s decision?”
Mikhail asked.
He knew that Empress Beatrice had a significant influence on the empire’s politics and personnel matters.
Mikhail had always thought, whenever he saw his mother, that she would have become the emperor if conditions allowed.
She had a considerable impact on the aristocracy and bureaucrats by mastering social circles.
And for the past few years, as the Emperor’s health deteriorated and the control of his aides weakened, Beatrice’s influence grew.
Mikhail didn’t think it was wrong for his mother to have an influence on politics.
He considered it a good thing for the Empress to assist the ailing Emperor.
At least, it was better for someone from the imperial family to assist rather than give the Emperor’s power to other nobles.
However, recently, his mother’s actions felt somewhat different.
“In situations like this, you can voice your opinion, right? Isn’t that right, Killian?”
Mikhail’s question was met with silence.
“You can speak up in situations like this, Killian. Right?”
Mikhail questioned Killian, but Killian maintained his silence.
There was indeed regret in stepping down from the position of Imperial Guards Commander.
But that didn’t mean he wanted to stubbornly cling to that position.
After leading the military police with pride for a long time, he now knew it was futile.
With the betrayal of Nicholas and Liam, he didn’t have the confidence to lead the military police as before.
If there was any lingering regret, it was that the opportunity to keep an eye on Nicholas and use him had diminished.
However, now it was more important to focus on Estelle than on Nicholas and the military police.
To achieve that, it might be better to use the excuse of taking a break from Nicholas and the military police to move more freely.
“Surely… was this the result you wanted?”
Mikhail asked while observing Killian’s silence.
“What are you talking about?”
“You lost. To Ian Fraus.”
“I lost?”
Killian brazenly raised one eyebrow.
“Do you think you can deceive my eyes? That day, you deliberately lost to Ian.”
Mikhail asked Killian, mentioning the day of the match.
Mikhail had watched Killian wield his sword throughout his life.
While others might be deceived, Mikhail’s eyes could not be fooled.
“Match manipulation? That’s unlike you. Were you already planning to give up the position of the military police’s commander at that time?”
“Think whatever you find convenient.”
“Killian!”
Mikhail’s voice rose as he observed Killian avoiding the conversation.
“Even for Liam’s sake, I thought you would desperately win. It’s a matter of respect for the deceased!”
At Mikhail’s words, Killian swallowed a bitter smile.
For Liam’s sake? Sacrificing victory for that Rosarfi?
Such glory, Ian Frouss can freely have it himself.
But Mikhail couldn’t understand him.
Killian looked at the irritated Mikhail.
“…So, do you think I deliberately lost to Ian just to pay tribute to the royal family?”
Mikhail’s voice became tense.
No, it couldn’t be.
Mikhail von Orhel.
As much as he knew Killian well, Killian also knew him well.
He is a kind and just person. And Killian has admired Mikhail’s goodness since childhood.
Killian found Mikhail’s sense of justice admirable.
When Killian first came to the palace after the carriage accident, he considered everyone an enemy.
Fearing that the person who killed his parents might be hiding somewhere, he closed the door of his heart, kept his mouth shut, remained on guard, and treated everyone as adversaries.
The palace was too unfamiliar to him, and he knew no one.
Mikhail treated Killian like a younger brother, comforting him with endless kindness.
Despite Killian’s aggressive and hostile attitude, Mikhail opened the door to his heart with boundless affection.
To Killian, who lost his family in an instant, Mikhail’s touch must have felt incredibly warm, and Mikhail might not have known.
Moreover, Mikhail, who excelled in everything without discrimination, was an anomaly to Killian.
Killian learned swordsmanship and studied academics under Mikhail’s guidance, adopting his way of thinking.
If Killian could live a life like Mikhail’s—honest, affectionate, kind, and courteous—it would be a dream come true.
But Killian knew that such a dream was impossible because he and Mikhail were fundamentally different.
Unlike Mikhail’s fertile and well-maintained land, Killian’s land smelled of decay and foulness.
Mikhail was bright because he knew nothing.
He didn’t know how dirty his own mother, Beatrice, was, or how many secrets Killian had to swallow to hide the charred and blackened inside.
So, he was peaceful, kind, gentle, and warm.
There is no need to scrutinise, doubt others, or harbour hatred.
But Killian was different.
Peace? Justice? Benevolence?
The beautiful beliefs and values Killian once believed in were shattered into pieces the moment he witnessed the scene where faceless murderers inexplicably killed his parents.
Believing in the positive values of the world while facing such a brutal reality was a challenging task.
However, the only thing he desperately wanted to protect was his determination not to create more victims like himself.
So, when Mikhail looked at him with such an expression, Killian couldn’t help it.
“Sometimes… I really don’t understand you, Killian.”
Mikhail’s fist seamlessly clenched.
“I thought of you as a closer brother than anyone else, but sometimes it feels like I don’t know you at all.”
Killian faced Mikhail’s gaze, filled with anger.
It was anger mixed with genuine concern and affection for Killian.
And knowing that, he couldn’t be more honest.
‘I can’t bring myself to destroy his world with my own hands… His world…’
For Mikhail, Beatrice is his real mother. Affectionate, elegant, his family.
The family that Killian wanted to protect at all costs.
So, he couldn’t break it.
Knowing the despair when the believed world collapses better than anyone else.
He sometimes wishes to go back to the time when he knew nothing.
He trusted the imperial family, his supposed second family, and wanted to protect everything.
His life became a living hell when he realised that the imperial family, whom he considered a second family and entrusted everything to, was his enemy.
The despair was the same when he was betrayed by Nicholas and Liam, whom he had believed in to some extent.
Therefore, Killian wanted to protect the life of Mikhail, whom he admires.
Even if he had to become the villain himself.
At that moment, the sound of a carriage approached from outside.
When he turned his head, he saw Fraus’s carriage stopping in front of the Grand Duke’s residence.
“…My fiancee is here,” Killian said.
“Would you like to have some tea together?”
With an indifferent expression, Killian asked, and Mikhail’s face twisted.
His stomach boiled as he saw him constantly avoiding answers and calmly changing the topic of conversation.
But Killian had never been like this with Mikhail before.
Even if there were minor conflicts, they would honestly resolve them and quickly become close again.
However, the current Killian was completely refusing to engage in a conversation with Mikhail.
“…It’s disappointing, Killian.”
Deciding that he could no longer talk to Killian, he turned away from Killian without hesitation.
* * *
Upon hearing the news of Killian’s dismissal, Sophia also visited the Grand Duke’s residence.
Sophia, who hurriedly entered the Grand Duke’s residence, encountered Mikhail, who came out with a stern expression.
“Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
As Sophia greeted with courtesy, Mikhail nodded silently.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you here, Lady Sophia.”
Mikhail gave a rather typical greeting.
Mikhail’s always kind and smiling face was dark.
Mikhail always seemed happy when he was with Killian.
‘You’re probably here for the same reason as me.’
‘I don’t know what the conversation was about, but it must have been a pretty heavy conversation.’
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TRANSLATOR:
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