Chapter 78
Pession asked, sounding genuinely frustrated.
“I’m supposed to be watching Arellin work out, why is the Archduke preventing me from doing that?”
“I haven’t really stopped you…”
The mansion’s security had been increased. It must be Mehen.
The Archduke of Halbern’s gaze lingered on the young Crown Prince. Normally, he would have ignored it, but he found it strangely intriguing.
It’s not polite for someone who’s asking for a favor, and he can’t imagine why he’d be so brazenly targeting him.
He was happy for the unidentified hostility. Call it a whim.
“It’s not hard to grant permission.”
“Then, right now…”
“I’ll grant you permission if you answer one question.”
Pession’s eyes narrowed as if he’d been told something. It looked like a child of his age, and Archduke Halbern resisted the urge to laugh.
“What is it?”
“I’m wondering why you’re looking at me with that expression.”
“What’s my look?”
“The scum look?”
Pession flinched at the bluntness of the expression. He felt hot, like he’d been told what he was thinking, but he was also puzzled.
‘Why would you want to know that?’
Pession stared at the Archduke of Halbern, trying to understand.
His eyes and expression were still unreadable. Even though he’s smiling broadly, there’s a barrier between him and the others.
This was too much for a young crown prince who didn’t know the world yet.
“Difficult to answer?”
Pession’s expression hardened.
“I don’t like the Archduke.”
“Oh.”
Archduke Halbern replied, not sounding at all sorry.
“Why?”
“You left Arellin unattended.”
He replied dryly. The Archduke of Halbern’s eyes widened.
“Does the Archduke know what Arellin likes?”
No way.
He has seen it three times now.
If he couldn’t read anything else, he could read this, and Pession froze.
“How could you do that? Why… Why did you leave Arellin alone?”
“I didn’t leave her alone.”
“You might as well have left her alone!”
Pession remembered the first time he’d seen Arellin.
Alone, sitting somewhere in the gardens of the Crown Prince’s Palace in the middle of nowhere, curled up in a tiny ball, waiting for time to pass.
The next time he saw her, she was alone in a deserted mansion, staring out the window, as if she were about to disappear.
“Why do you make me look like that?” He asked.
He wasn’t particularly happy then, but it hurt like hell to think about it again.
Maybe it’s because he likes Arellin more now than he did then.
“If you make Arellin cry, I will not forgive you, even if you are the Archduke.”
The emotion in the childish declaration was so clear, Archduke Halbern was almost glad.
“What if you don’t forgive me?” he asked.
“I’ll get revenge.”
Despite his open antagonism, the Archduke of Halbern laughed as if he found the joke amusing.
It was this attitude that infuriated Pession even more.
He seemed to be belittling himself!
“Funny.”
His eyes fixed on Pession with genuine interest.
“What does His Highness, the Crown Prince, think of the child?”
Pession’s jaw dropped.
His mind was racing. But he didn’t want to be a friend. He wanted something closer than that.
Someone who would be by his side all day, who wouldn’t mind his interference in everything.
Yeah, family.
‘I really wanted to be a dad.’
Arelin didn’t give him permission.
Then…
“It’s nothing.”
Pession replied, his tone a little sour.
“Nothing, and you’re going to get back at me?”
“Yes, I will get revenge.”
“…”
“Because I like it.”
The Duke of Halbern was lost in thought for a moment, watching Pession, his eyes intense and unyielding.
This unanswered dialogue left Graham frustrated, distressed, and despairing behind Pession’s back, but it was none of their business.
Pession made a declaration of war.
“If you don’t start being a proper dad, I’m going to take your place.”
“?”
“If you don’t want me to take your place, work harder!”
The Archduke of Halbern burst out laughing.
What had he just heard?
“Did His Highness the Crown Prince also wish to take Mehen as his wife?”
“What?”
The Archduke burst out laughing again and scowled. Peshion, who didn’t know the context, frowned.
“What are you laughing at?!”
“Oh, really.”
He is having so much fun.
If he knew traveling to the capital would be so much fun, he would have come sooner.
“I look forward to it.”
Wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, Archduke Halbern smiled gently.
“With all my heart.”
“Ugh.”
For some reason, Pession felt defeated, being cheered on by his declared opponent.
Pession, questionable 1 loss.
***
The Knights of Saren have returned from the northern castle through the gate.
Officially, it was a six-year leave of absence, and they were all on standby and could be dragged back to the Northern Castle at any moment, but no one cared about such trivialities.
“It’s vacation. Vacation!”
“It’s National Foundation Week!”
“Eat, drink, and be amazed, finally!”
Some were even distracted by the crowds that had gathered to buy their share of dragon byproducts.
“Dragon! I’m getting a dragon! Life-changing!”
“The dragons are all in the abyss. You’re going to catch them alone?”
“Who cares, I have a master! Jaren, you’re joining us, right?”
“Shut up, barbarians, don’t you dare lay a finger on the poor dragon.”
Mehen smiled faintly at the Saren knights, who were as frenetic, unruly, and noisy as any of Valar’s direct orders.
Even Jaren, who he thought was at least sane, had gone off somewhere and returned.
“We’re making it. Dragon Protection Association.”
Mehen gave up trying to understand.
He wasn’t dealing with madmen, lunatics, and eccentrics.
“So, what about your lord?”
“He didn’t even bother to look at us when we came.”
“He’s in the portrait room again. That’s where he always goes when he’s at the mansion.”
Those who knew the Archduke of Halbern well were familiar with this fact.
“Why? Did you put honey on it?”
“Does she have a lover?”
The chattering knights’ interests quickly converged on one thing.
That’s right. This is the capital mansion.
The place where their idol, Arellin, resided.
“And Young Lady?!”
“I want to see you in person, Young Lady. My heart is about to burst. Are you really as cute as the video?!”
“Ha, heart fluttering. How cute.”
For six years, the infinite love of the Knights of Saren, who had been fed only by the video recordings Mehen had sent them, burst forth.
Mehen was furious.
“Get out of here, rascals.”
He couldn’t let them get to his daughter.
‘My daughter is mine to protect.’
***
It’s overwhelming.
For some reason, everywhere she goes these days, she sees mysterious people hanging in windows.
Even on the second floor.
‘Is it a ghost?’
She was desperately feigning ignorance, but Yuni was irritated.
“Oh, Young Lady, they’re at it again. Let’s go before they reach Mehen.”
“Uh!”
Judging from the exorcism (physical exorcism) done with the palm of one’s hand, it didn’t seem to be a ghost.
“Are you okay?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Mehen, who had come up behind her, hugged her overprotective.
“Who is it?”
“They’re nothing to worry about.”
She was bothered.
Mehen clicks his tongue low, as if reading her expression.
“The Knights of Saren have returned.”
“I see.”
“You can ignore them.”
Come to think of it, all the strange humans she’s been seeing lately seem to be wearing uniforms. Suddenly, she made eye contact with Mehen. Concerned eyes scanned her.
I’m fine.”
“…”
“Really.”
Anyway, her mum has a lot to worry about.
Bashish laughed and hugged her, and Mehen sighed softly.
She never had a more relaxing day.
No workouts, no stalkers, no twins or Pession, no need to go out, it was a perfect time, except for the inner turmoil.
‘By now, Pession is probably…’
No, stop thinking.
She means stop thinking about him!
But it wouldn’t bother her so much if she stopped thinking about him.
“Mehen.”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever had a crush on anyone?”
“?”
Mehen’s gaze trembled slightly as he looked at her.
