Chapter 06
All of this was because of a king who, ungrateful for past favors, was rampaging about in the name of strengthening royal authority.
He and the other founding contributors had undeniably built the Kingdom of Gayern into what it was today. Now that the nation had finally become prosperous enough to live comfortably, why did the king intend to reduce the political participation of certain individuals?
‘As if.’
He may have seemed to bow his head temporarily, but he had no intention of truly prostrating himself before the king.
Crunch.
Duke Seymour ground his teeth together.
The king had failed to recognize his place and would have to be warned — shown what would happen if he turned his back on them.
Even if that meant using the life of the crown prince — whom the king cherished dearly — as a bargaining chip.
That was why he had joined forces with Grid.
If war was inevitable, it was far more advantageous to exploit it.
And even if Gayern were to lose this war, so what?
He could negotiate with Grid again when the time came. Having played a part in igniting the war, he could demand what was owed to him.
As long as he could secure his own gain, it didn’t matter to Duke Seymour who emerged victorious.
“Still, the state of the Kingdom of Gayern is quite a sight. It’s a rabble if ever I saw one.”
At Grid’s sneering remark, Duke Seymour’s cheek twitched.
“Melshid doesn’t look all that different.”
While the conflict on one side was between king and subject, the struggle on the other was for the throne itself.
Grid had indeed ascended the throne, but his legitimacy was being questioned.
This was all because of the runaway princess.
According to Melshid’s laws, only the heir apparent had the right to claim the throne.
However, that successor was not Grid, but the princess who had fallen in love with a human and fled to Gayern.
Branded an incompetent king, Grid was now searching for his sister.
He could only be acknowledged as the rightful heir once she was dead.
“So, what do you plan to do once you find the princess?”
“Well. What do you think I’ll do?”
At the sight of Grid licking his lips with his crimson tongue, Duke Seymour felt a shiver crawl down his spine.
He didn’t need to hear it spelled out. Grid had no intention of letting his sister live.
“If you’re curious, I can tell you.”
“I’ll pass.”
Duke Seymour turned away, deliberately avoiding Grid’s gaze.
Once this matter was resolved, they would never meet again. He had no desire to entangle himself any further than necessary.
“I’m sure you’ll handle it well.”
“Of course. Just thinking about meeting my sister again makes my heart flutter already, Duke. When should our reunion be, I wonder.”
His long fingers snapped together with a crisp sound.
“Oh, right. I hear there’ll be a Harvest Festival before long. That timing would be perfect.”
Humming to himself, Grid looked positively delighted.
“They say whether it’s a festival or a war, it’s always more exciting when there are plenty of spectators.”
***
“Brother, there’s been a tense atmosphere in the castle lately. Has something happened?”
When the question was suddenly asked, Hayden looked at Theodore and then flinched.
His younger brother, who was usually uninterested in everything, was wearing a yellow cravat — something he never did.
“Uh… I think the issue might be with you. What’s that adorable decoration below your neck?”
“What are you talking about. If you don’t want to tell me, forget it.”
Still feeling the flush at the nape of his neck, Theodore grumbled.
Having caught a rare glimpse of his brother’s cute side, Hayden was briefly lost in thought, wondering whether to tell Theodore the truth about the situation.
Ultimately, he decided not to mention the war.
If the negotiations went well, the war might pass without incident. He didn’t want to burden his younger brother with unnecessary worry.
“Teo, I think I’ll need to head to the capital soon.”
“Yeah? Got it.”
“I thought you’d insist on coming with me again. This is kind of disappointing, you know?”
Hayden idly ruffled Theodore’s jet-black hair from side to side.
“So you’ve gotten attached to this place already? You were saying just the other day that it was boring.”
“Well… it doesn’t seem that boring anymore.”
“Hm?”
Before Hayden could even process what that meant, Theodore slipped neatly out of his arms.
“Anyway, as long as nothing happens, it’s fine. I’m heading out for a bit.”
After tossing out a line that could have easily moved Hayden, Theodore casually glanced at the clock.
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere.”
Leaving a grumbling Hayden behind, Theodore headed for the narrow path.
Right in the middle of it stood none other than Ayla, waving both hands enthusiastically as she waited for him.
“Teo! Did you hear? They’re holding a Harvest Festival in the village soon! You’re from the capital, so you must’ve seen lots of festivals, right?”
“Not really.”
“But the first place we met was at a banquet.”
“That was—”
Because I was the main guest.
Unable to say that, Theodore frowned slightly.
“I don’t really go to festivals.”
“Why?”
“I hate getting shoved around in a crowd of people.”
Theodore answered curtly out of habit, then realized his mistake.
The excitement in Ayla’s eyes wavered awkwardly.
“Ahaha… I-I guess that makes sense. That was a silly thing to ask…”
“What about you? Do you like festivals?”
“Me? I… yeah! I like them.”
After a brief hesitation, Ayla nodded energetically.
“It’s not like the capital, but our village festival is great too. There’s tons of delicious food!”
As if she’d never been worried at all, Ayla’s cheeks flushed brightly.
She was clearly thrilled, chattering away.
“And there’s so much to do! I won’t be able to go, but I’m sure this Harvest Festival will be amazing too.”
“Why can’t you go?”
“Well… if I walk around on a happy day like that, everyone would hate it. And if Piggy finds out, he’ll definitely get angry.”
Ayla replied lightly, then stepped ahead along the path. At the narrowest point, the beach came into view.
As Theodore watched her small, round back as she ran innocently ahead, his dark brows drew together sharply.
He was irritated again.
No — ‘irritated’ wasn’t quite the right word. ‘Upset’ was more accurate.
Had he become attached to her without realizing it after spending nearly every day with her since they fled the storehouse together?
Hearing that she’d been bullied by Piggy grated on his nerves every time.
She was a gentle-looking mermaid, no matter how you looked at her. What part of her deserved such cruelty?
“Piggy Evans, that idiotic b*stard. I should’ve dealt with him properly. A simple ban from going out wasn’t enough.”
Theodore let out a sharp, frustrated sigh.
After the incident in the storehouse, Piggy had been severely reprimanded by his father for being rude to someone without realizing that they were the Second Prince.
Hayden had stopped Theodore from accusing Piggy of insulting royalty, saying that the punishment would be excessive for merely pointing a finger.
He said that it would be excessive for something as minor as pointing a finger.
“Brother is too soft. That’s his problem.”
If he’d known it would turn out like this, maybe he should’ve let Piggy get a slap in. Just enough so Hayden couldn’t call it excessive.
Although dissatisfied with the outcome, he trudged over to Ayla.
For some reason, she was crouched down in the sand, intently picking something up.
“If that’s your reason, don’t worry. Piggy Evans won’t be setting foot outside the lord’s estate for a while.”
“Really?”
“Really. So go. That Harvest Festival or whatever.”
“Mm… no. It’s fine. I don’t have anyone to go with anyway.”
Ayla just laughed and shook her head, undoing all his hard work.
Theodore stuck out his lips in a small pout once again.
“Why wouldn’t you have anyone to go with? You’ve got me.”
“But you said you hated festivals, Teo…”
“I said I can’t stand them. I didn’t say I hate them.”
“…? Isn’t that the same thing?”
A question mark practically floated over Ayla’s innocent face, but Theodore lifted his chin and pretended not to notice.
“So—are you going or not?”
“I’ll go! But then, Teo… does that mean we’re friends?”
The corner of Theodore’s mouth, which had just begun to lift, twitched.
‘Friends.’
He hadn’t thought that far.
Thoughts of status—commoner, mermaid—briefly crossed his mind. But in the end, Theodore nodded.
So what if they did?
“If that’s what you want.”
