Chapter 11:
“Ha ha. Hahahahaha!”
Laughter echoed through the lavish office. After laughing for a while, the Crown Prince wiped away the tears in his eyes and spun his chair around.
“I really like it when Kaylen makes that expression.”
The Crown Prince suddenly jumped up from the spinning chair and grabbed the arm of the youngest aide, who was trembling in a corner of the office.
“He should stand here! Exactly like this!”
He positioned the aide beside the sofa and roughly grabbed his chin.
“Ugh!”
The aide fell to the floor under the sudden force.
“Hey. Get up.”
The Crown Prince’s face turned cold. He lightly kicked the aide’s legs on the floor.
The senior aide, Handler, quickly helped the fallen aide to his feet.
The Crown Prince clicked his tongue and plopped back onto the sofa. The frown vanished, replaced by wild laughter once more.
When Handler nodded for the youngest aide to leave, he hurriedly exited the office.
“Still, I’m the older brother, so I have to grant my little brother’s request, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Second Prince will be deeply grateful for Your Highness’s magnanimity.”
Handler replied quickly; otherwise, he had no idea what might hit him in the face.
The Crown Prince seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.
It must have been because Prince Kaylen had unexpectedly come to him an hour earlier, bowing respectfully.
A young lady from the Baron’s family had been taken in place of Prince Kaylen.
This was the first time Kaylen had ever approached a young lady first and asked her to dance.
Intrigued by this, the Crown Prince had apprehended the innocent girl.
His assumption proved correct. Prince Kaylen had come to the Crown Prince, who was in charge of the arson investigation, and bowed while asserting her innocence.
Previously, when Ferdinan had offered to take responsibility for the fire in the library where ledgers were hidden, the Emperor had permitted him, during the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, to investigate the arson with the Imperial Guard.
At first, the Crown Prince’s goal had only been to pressure Kaylen. He hadn’t expected his irritating half-brother to show up and bow. That was a rare delight.
Claiming he needed a drink for such a day, the Crown Prince stood and walked to the trolley. Crystal glasses clinked as they were filled with ice.
He poured the famous rose-colored wine from the Privenik region and perched on the sofa armrest.
“That guy probably left no trace. And indeed, he didn’t. How annoying, isn’t it?”
Chuckling, the Crown Prince sipped his drink.
“But one foolish girl was there.”
Handler, observing the man destined to become Emperor of the Liveredan Empire, fell into thought.
Prince Kaylen was extraordinary.
Which was exactly the problem. He had survived the borderlands where they had hoped he would die. He had solved the Tetra tribe problem, and even discovered the Torphaz mines.
The mines were claimed by the royal family, strengthening the Emperor’s power, which delighted him greatly.
Having resolved the border disputes and earned the Emperor’s trust, Kaylen became a hero to the empire’s citizens, and his popularity skyrocketed.
Since Kaylen’s return to the capital, the Crown Prince’s hysterics had worsened.
He hadn’t expected the ledgers hidden in the library to be discovered. But more than that, he seemed pleased that Kaylen had bowed to him.
At that moment, something flew at Handler’s head. Thunk. Immediately followed by the sharp sound of glass breaking.
Hot blood trickled down Handler’s forehead.
“I told you not to think about other things when talking to me.”
Handler took a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped the blood, bowing slightly.
“Apologies.”
Looking at Handler’s head, the Crown Prince waved his hand irritably.
Under the Crown Prince’s order, Handler quickly left the office.
Alone, the Crown Prince walked toward the desk and noticed something underfoot—crystal shards and drops of blood stuck to his shoes.
He scrunched up his face and rubbed his shoes on the expensive carpet imported from some distant eastern country, as if cleaning a dirty floor.
Once his shoes were clean, he hummed as he sat back in his chair, spinning it to gaze out of the large window.
The splendid royal garden stretched out before him.
“A worthless brat born in an insignificant belly.”
Thinking of his half-brother, who had been bowing deeply, the Crown Prince smoothed his crooked grin.
“Now, where did they say a noble was negotiating marriage with Kaylen?”
“Princess Hernia.”
“Ha! Clueless…”
At the servant’s remark, Ferdinan stomped and spun his chair once. His previously furrowed brow had smoothed out.
“This is going to be fun.”
The Crown Prince chuckled.
Late into the night, laughter continued to echo from the Crown Prince’s office.
“Why did His Majesty summon me?”
Dylan asked, trailing behind Kaylen after his audience with the Emperor. Kaylen remained silent, walking quickly.
“Prince Kaylen.”
Dylan hurried to keep pace with the shorter man but had to stop suddenly when Kaylen halted.
“We are honored to see the little light of the Empire.”
Duke Hernia stood outside Kaylen’s office.
Placing a hand on his chest, the Duke slowly lifted his head.
“I thought you might have something to say to me, so I came.”
Kaylen’s expression stiffened for a moment before he smiled and opened the office door.
“Come in.”
The two sat on the sofa. Dylan excused himself to serve tea, leaving the office after setting down the tray. A tense silence fell between the two men.
“The rumor… is true.”
Kaylen broke the silence, lifting his teacup and sipping.
Duke Hernia froze mid-motion, staring at Kaylen.
“I have nothing to say to you, Duke.”
The Duke withdrew his hand, folding both on his lap. After a long pause, a sigh escaped his lips.
“What a pity.”
“The conversation we had…”
“Yes. I need time to consider that part carefully.”
Duke Hernia stood abruptly, cutting Kaylen off.
“I’ll take my leave for now. Please forgive any rudeness under the circumstances.”
Bowing crisply, he left without looking back.
Shortly after, Dylan and Caspian entered.
“The Duke looked really unhappy… what did you say… ugh!”
Dylan stomped on Caspian’s foot. Only then did Caspian notice Kaylen’s dark expression, clenching his aching foot.
Kaylen, staring at the untouched teacup, stood and removed his jacket, tossing it over the sofa back. Rolling up his sleeves, he approached the desk.
He picked up the top sheet from a stack of papers, keeping his gaze fixed on them.
“Prepare for the wedding.”
The abrupt command left Dylan and Caspian exchanging confused glances.
Seeing Dylan’s blank expression, Kaylen set the papers down.
“The wedding date will be set quickly. Finish any tasks that can be handled swiftly.”
“Uh… with whom… who is marrying…?”
Dylan adjusted his glasses, asking cautiously.
“Me.”
Caspian’s jaw dropped. Dylan’s eyes nearly popped out, his mouth hanging open as he finally managed to speak.
“Wh-who?”
“Who do you think?”
Kaylen chuckled faintly and returned his attention to the papers.
Dylan thumped his stubborn head with his hand.
The master had suddenly announced a marriage. Two women came to mind as potential brides.
One was Florence Hernia, the only daughter of Duke Hernia, for whom Kaylen had long prepared. But it wasn’t so much about affection—it was a strategic alliance, tying Kaylen to one of the empire’s great noble families.
And the other…
Dylan furrowed his brow in frustration.
