Chapter 48

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Chapter 48

“If you can’t believe me, then I’ll tell you personally—about the rumors I’m spreading.”

Observing Greten’s blank expression, the corners of Albert’s lips tugged up faintly.

“The poor prince, whose life had been in danger under the threat of his own blood family, wished to die many times.”

In front of Rosé, he couldn’t open his lips at all as though they’d been covered by stone. However, they opened so easily in front of Greten.

Because he knew that just because he’d say this, it was a fact that Rosé wouldn’t treat him differently.

But with her nature, wasn’t it obvious what she would do? Even though what she would say to him was sincere, he didn’t want to hear it—he didn’t want to see her in tears. He knew that she would cry for him.

How big of an irony this was. He wanted to know more about her, but she didn’t want her to know more about himself. He wanted her to be the one who knew him best, yet he also wanted to hide this side of himself from her.

Even if he were to sell his sob story at a bargain price to buy the sympathy of many, he wanted to stay as the man who wasn’t like that. Only to her.

The one who sometimes teased her, the one who sometimes gets shocked by the food she made, the one who sometimes complained about how well she could read the room. This was the version of Albert Grey he wished to remain in front of her—a prince worthy of this appearance.

His red eyes glistened like blood. In his mind, he could see the figure of his brother, who had collapsed to the ground and was prostrating towards him.

Albert’s voice echoed silently within the room.

“Half out of his mind from living all alone, the poor prince was taken to the palace at the order of the king. However, instead of the attention that he craved, the king instilled hatred.”

As he talked, his intonation was steady with no high or low tones. It was a neutral voice that told this story.

“Now afraid of the prince who might take his place, the king imprisoned him in a tower and spread false rumors about him. Once again, the prince was betrayed by the only person he trusted. And so, the blade of revenge was sharpened.”

“……”

“And right now, that prince is trying to denounce the corrupt king and try to find his place.”

Watching Greten tremble, Albert smiled.

“What do you think? Isn’t it the perfect rumor? A moderate mix of fact and fiction makes the perfect rumor.”

“……”

“My distinguished looks, too, would bring me more power as my appearance can buy more sympathy and gain traction for this narrative.”

Albert rested one hand over Greten’s shoulder. He patted the trembling old woman slowly.

“Do not think that you are special.”

“……”

“The reason I have not revealed this fact thus far was not for the benefit of your arrogant behavior.”

Erasing any trace of the smile he had earlier, Albert whispered into Greten’s ear.

“I wonder when I’ll ever hear again that you’ve used my name to manipulate other people?”

The hand on the shoulder tightened. Greten felt a splitting pain.

She knew very well that he was the kind of person who would go through with it, if he so wished it.

“…I have never thought to do that.”

“Me, too. I want to believe that you don’t have any useless thoughts.”

“……”

“For that, you’ll have to be on your best behavior from now on, right?”

“……”

“Shall we start by reestablishing the line that you had crossed?”

Rising to his feet, Albert turned his back on Greten. He snapped his fingers. In an instant, Greten left hurriedly.

She had a strong intuition that she really might lose her life right here.

Meanwhile, just after Liam had left Albert’s room, he headed straight to Schubert’s room. The baron was there stretching and warming up.

“Oh, Duke.”

Meeting him here, Schubert waved his hand to the duke. He was as light as a feather when he raised himself from the sofa.

“His Highness has declared a new order.”

“His Highness?”

There was a refreshing, boyish smile on Schubert’s face. Underneath his brown fringe, eyes sparkled. Albert had always been someone he looked up to a lot.

Liam then explained the mission to Schubert, and at this, his face grew brighter the more he listened to what Liam said.

“So you must personally go to Marquis Evnen’s residence and hide the dragon there.”

“…I would have to touch the dragon, but I like the idea of sneaking it in.”

Schubert grinned.

“Even if it’s like my role as a knight got buried after I got the title of baron, I know how to do my job, okay.”

[ t/n: Schubert has always been speaking formally until now, but he dropped honorifics here. ]

He spoke in a relaxed manner, which he never did in front of Rosé. Liam replied sternly to him.

Before Liam had inherited the duchy and even before Schubert had entered high society under his new title as baron, the two had been more informal with each other.

As Schubert was a kid he’s known since childhood, rather than a low-ranking aristocrat, Liam considered Schubert to be a younger brother. And to Schubert, Liam was an older brother he could rely on, even though they didn’t share the same blood.

“You’re talking as if you’re hard at work, but look at you, playing hooky.”

“T-That…”

Schubert looked as if he’d been stabbed as Liam continued the relentless remarks.

“I’ve been working hard all this time though!”

Schubert grumbled back—it was a lie.

The previous Baron Bergen had been one of Marquis Evnen’s close confidants. For Albert, Schubert entered the scene as the previous Baron Bergen’s adopted son and took over the title after the previous baron and baroness’ deaths, which were disguised as accidental deaths.

Ever since Albert saved him, Schubert’s line of work was mainly assassination, and he was undoubtedly perfect at the job.

After that, Schubert volunteered to join the knight order for the sake of Albert’s successful coup d’état and started managing the rumor mill from there.

However, back then, Schubert had a problem…

He couldn’t meet Albert Grey, his idol and savior.

Ever since Albert had saved him when he was a kid, Schubert never had a chance to meet the prince in person. All he’s done so far was read about him in books or look at him from afar as a baron.

Albert entered the tower and really couldn’t be seen anymore. But, coincidentally, he got a chance to meet Albert here.

His idol who he met was far more perfect than he expected. And Schubert could take care of him now every day!

So after hearing that Albert would visit the north again this time, he sputtered out sorts of excuses like some chronic illness or whatever just so he could be excused from his post. And thus, Schubert went on his way to the north.

Schubert replied with a melancholy look.

“It’s only because I came all the way up here. That, and you know… Can’t I change the way I talk? I’m tired of talking like a stuck up baron…”

Schubert’s usual way of speaking was so different from how aristocrats normally did, so acting like this was essential. His silent and reticent façade also helped solidify other people’s impression of him and so they wouldn’t suspect him of having killed the previous baron.

“You have to keep speaking like that on a regular basis, otherwise, you might slip up. We can’t take a risk here. And the way you’ve been talking suits you though.”

“…Are you messing with me?”

Schubert’s ears moved as if he had misheard it.

Since he didn’t know much about the nobles, all Schubert could emulate was Liam’s tone of voice, apart from when the duke wasn’t comfortably talking to him like an older brother. It was that stern and aloof kind of tone, befitting of an aristocrat.

But it was completely different from who Schubert was, so he could feel goosebumps rising whenever he spoke like that.

“No, I’m serious. Whenever you talk like me, it really suits you. It’s a good fix to your habit of talking like a good-for-nothing.”

Shuddering as he felt goosebumps rise all over his skin, Schubert quickly retorted. He clasped his hands together in a begging stance.

“Duke, I implore you— I won’t ask for any vacations from now on, but can I please stop speaking like this?”

“Sure, as long as you know when.”

Liam nodded satisfactorily. Schubert bowed then replied back with vigor.

“Yes, yes, I understand perfectly. Duke, can’t you tell His Highness today that I did well?”

“Sure. Departure is in a day though, so before that, you have to check the fledgling dragon’s condition.”

“Uuugh, I got it.”

Schubert wasn’t very pleased about this. He had a phobia of reptiles.

“Ah, there’s one more thing I have to tell you.”

“What is it? I have to go out right away.”

“The cat you’re playing together with these days.”

“The cat that the maid brought with her?”

Schubert smiled happily as he recalled the cat he was with just a while ago.

After everything’s done and over with, his wish was to buy a huge mansion and fill it with cats.

“There’s seriously no other that’s cuter than…”

Looking at the sparkling Schubert, Liam let out a hum that sounded as if he felt sorry for the other man. Schubert tilted his head to the side nervously.

“…What the heck?”

With a wistful look, Liam revealed the truth.

“It’s a fledgling dragon, you know.”

“…What?”

“His Highness told me, so it’s true.”

It would be difficult to classify a dragon as a mere reptile, but Liam recalled how Schubert had freaked out when he saw just an image of a dragon before. He said that he never ever wanted to come across an animal with that kind of skin.

“…I, I petted it, with my ha…nd…”

His face as white as a sheet, Schubert sank to the floor.

“Pitiful.”

Acting as if he was a high lord and with an apathetic expression, Liam immediately left the room. Even after Liam had left, Schubert sat there for a long, long time. Still in shock.

I didn’t visit Albert at dawn. This was because he told me not to come with a very stern look, angry at me. It would be better to give Albert some space so he could think alone. It’s not like I’d be able to soothe his anger only because I’m there in person.

I couldn’t sleep well last night because it’s the first time we had such an argument. When I woke up at dawn, I just stared at Blanc, who was still sleeping beside me.

After I lost my parents, I was constantly afraid of being attached to someone else. Even with pets, I realized that everyone would leave me someday.

I was an office worker back then, so I wondered if I’d even be able to take care of a pet. I would have had a difficult time raising it alone.

I think I know why now—why my friends told me before that I should raise a pet. I now realize that the memories we had together would remain even later, and it outweighed the fear of separation later.

What Albert said might be right. I’m weak to pain, I’m afraid of dying. If I’m like this, who’s to say that I’m fit to be a dragon’s contractor?

I don’t believe in myself either at this moment, so it could be a lucky chance that I could see what happens with the other dragon cub first.

It made my heart heavy that I’d be face to face with someone who I wouldn’t be able to save, and I wasn’t even sure if this was even proper.

But that’s how life originally was. There was more you’re unsure of, and there’s always a moment when you don’t know where you’re headed.

Even still, I had to keep moving forward.

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