Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Translator: Yonnee

—

“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 he 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 prince 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 would get 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 by 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 and find his rightful place.”

Watching Greten tremble, Albert smiled.

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

“……”

“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 such useless thoughts.”

“……”

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

“……”

“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 and now.

* * *

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 did?”

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.”[1]

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.

¹ Schubert has always been speaking formally until now, but he dropped honorifics here. ↩