Chapter 66
“Don’t worry, it’s fine. By the way, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m glad to see you healthy, young master.”
The noblewoman, who had shards of a broken dish at her feet, spoke kindly to Lady Dowt, who was apologizing over and over.
At this, Lady Dowt gave a faint smile and motioned to her son, who then greeted the noblewoman with proper courtesy.
In no time, people began gathering around them.
Meanwhile, the young master’s little sister, Sarah, was pushed aside, separated from her family, and ended up in a corner of the banquet hall.
Her small face was flushed red, streaked with tear marks.
“Tsk.”
Bentley clicked his tongue without realizing it.
The next moment, Jeffrey let out a startled sound.
“Ah, wait…”
Out of nowhere, a man appeared and walked up to Sarah, who was crouched beside a pillar.
When the man bent down, Sarah flinched and lifted her head.
“What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”
The man spoke to her in a playful tone. His identity was none other than the deposed prince.
Unlike the others, who wore refined tailcoats, he stood out immediately in the old military uniform from his officer days.
“That’s Brother Ravi, right…?”
“Looks like it…”
While Jeffrey and Bentley were struck speechless, the others finally began noticing Ravian’s presence.
In an instant, the banquet hall was abuzz with commotion.
“It’s Lord Ravian…!”
“Wow, it’s really him…!”
Despite the shouts of excitement erupting everywhere, no one dared to approach him first or strike up a conversation.
That was partly due to the infamous temper of the disgraced prince, but even more because the emperor’s face had immediately hardened upon seeing him.
As for Empress Diana, her expression also stiffened for a moment, but she quickly replaced it with her usual elegant, confident smile.
“What a rare guest we’ve received today. Don’t you agree, Your Majesty?”
Instead of replying to Diana, Leopart addressed Ravian directly.
“Even if you’ve long forgotten etiquette, are you truly going to see me and not offer a greeting?”
At the emperor’s stern voice, the noisy hall instantly fell silent.
But Ravian, unfazed, handed Sarah a handkerchief before rising to his feet slowly.
“Oh dear, what a slip of manners. I must’ve forgotten. My dear elder brother only treasures his own daughter, doesn’t he? I suppose it displeases him to see his younger brother, who traveled so far, delayed just a little while comforting a crying child?”
Ravian smirked and, with exaggerated theatrical gestures, snapped a military salute at the imperial couple.
Here and there, some veterans barely managed to stifle their laughter, producing strange muffled sounds. Bentley clutched his head.
“Knew this would happen…”
“If you knew, you should’ve stopped him.”
“Why me? You want me to get smacked by him again?”
“No, I meant big brother. You should’ve warned him not to nitpick at Ravi for no reason.”
It was Normand, the second brother, scolding the youngest in a low voice.
Moments like this reminded him that nothing had changed from their childhood.
“Then why didn’t you say something?”
“That’s… different.”
For the poor younger brothers, Ravian and Leopart were equally terrifying.
If they weren’t crushed between two fighting whales, they could count themselves lucky.
At least Leopart cared about appearances. Ravian, however, would toss everyone’s dignity to the dogs if it meant enjoying someone else’s misfortune—that was the real problem.
“Ahem, Sir, such disrespect to His Majesty—”
The one who finally spoke up was not any of the brothers.
It was Duke Dmitri Cherny, who was sweating profusely as though suffering from some terrible stomachache.
Ravian glanced at Dmitri, then suddenly made a startled face.
“Oh my, what a fright. Don’t tell me you’re already going through menopause? Honestly, the most disgraceful thing here is probably your face.”
“H-how dare you say such an outrageous thing…!”
“Why get so worked up? I was only expressing concern. Hold grudges over every little comment, and you’ll just put on weight and lose your hair.”
With that, Ravian clapped Dmitri’s shoulder so hard it made a sharp sound.
Bentley quickly lowered his gaze to the floor, struggling not to laugh.
As Grand Duke of Systania, he couldn’t afford to chuckle in such a situation.
Jeffrey, on the other hand—no longer bound to this country—snickered freely.
Around the hall, stifled giggles burst out, while Dmitri swayed on his feet, glaring at Ravian. But soon he dropped his gaze.
Even in a staring contest, one had to choose the right opponent.
Silently watching this scene, the emperor suddenly rose to his feet.
Leopart glanced once at Ravian, then strode out of the hall.
It was a clear sign: follow me, we need to talk privately.
That alone was unexpected, but Ravian’s response was even more surprising.
“Still playing the dignified act, I see.”
Clicking his tongue lightly, Ravian strolled after him.
Diana’s restless gaze clung to Ravian’s retreating back, refusing to let go.
Leopart led the way to a side chamber, a little removed from the banquet hall.
He gestured for Ravian to sit, but instead, Ravian leaned casually against the door with his arms crossed.
“Got some chronic illness or something?”
“…What nonsense now.”
“You look weak today. Don’t tell me you’re hitting menopause too?”
He wasn’t just teasing.
For the first time in a long while, Leopart seemed unusually drained and absentminded.
Others might not notice, but Ravian, who had grown up watching him since childhood, saw it at once.
Seated, Leopart stared silently at Ravian.
He had long known that Ravian wore that old military uniform each time he visited the palace purely to provoke him.
But strangely, today, instead of anger, other thoughts filled his mind.
“It suits you.”
“You dying or something?”
“It was sarcasm.”
“Then put some energy into it when you’re sarcastic, so no one misunderstands.”
Ravian, sharp-tongued as ever, was brimming with vitality.
That merciless, lightning-like energy seemed to crackle around him, ready to strike Leopart.
He had always been that way, ever since childhood—overflowing with energy, always the center of attention.
Leopart, on the other hand…
And yet, the one born first was Leopart.
The throne, bound by the fox-sister’s promised power, had been his destiny.
If Ravian so much as hinted at mocking him, then…
“If you’ve got something to say, out with it. Why did you call me?”
Leopart lit his pipe quietly.
From Ravian’s demeanor, he could sense nothing suspicious.
He had thought he would know once they met face-to-face, but now, looking directly at him, the seething hatred within him ebbed away, leaving only emptiness and numbness.
“…There’s something I want you to handle in secret.”
The words slipped out before he realized it.
Even Leopart himself was surprised, though he tried not to show it.
Ravian lit his own cigarette, exhaling smoke as he sneered.
“An emperor shouldn’t talk like that. Have you forgotten I’m an outlaw?”
“I’m not joking. It’s something very… delicate and of great importance.”
“What is it? Did your empress start an affair or something?”
When Ravian mentioned Diana, his face was utterly indifferent.
As if the past had been erased the moment he left the palace—
as if she were nothing more than just another of countless people.
It should have been a relief.
And yet, strangely, even this side of Ravian irritated Leopart.
This younger brother who so easily obtained everything he lacked,
and just as easily cast it aside—
had always been intolerably aggravating.
