It’s Sunny But I’m Depressed Chapter 6

 

Chapter 6: The Villain is a Rabbit (1) 

 

Iago Rihu. He was more often called by another name than his real one. The Black King. The ruthless ruler of the desert. A man as fierce and cruel as a black panther. The guardian of the battlefield and the ruler of the Rihu Kingdom.

 

His notorious reputation was largely due to a war that broke out over a decade ago. The ‘First War’ sparked by sudden climatic changes on the island. At just seventeen, he made a demonic impact in the war, etching the name of the Black King into the minds of neighboring countries.

 

Even after the war ended with the declaration of a truce, threats persistently eyed the southern mines. Rihu Kingdom survived solely thanks to the Black King’s fearsome reputation. Despite his beautiful appearance and sharp mind, he was known as a warlike and bloodthirsty desert black panther…

 

But the truth was quite the opposite. In peaceful times on the island, he was born as the second son of the previous king, with no chance of ascending the throne. The child, born with beautiful purple eyes, lost his mother, who had the same eye color, at birth.

 

The king, who loved his wife dearly, kept his second son in a separate residence, focusing solely on governing to avoid the pain. Yet, in his indifference, the ugly duckling prince grew up happily in the separate residence.

 

The gentle child preferred soft, cute rabbit dolls over toy swords and liked plump, adorable puppies and kittens more than large, intimidating warhorses. No one brought military or royal studies to the prince in the separate residence.

 

Only one person, a minister close to his father, came to teach him basic self-defense. It was more fortunate than unfortunate. Just hearing about winning or killing made his skin crawl. The lonely child’s favorite books were romance novels.

 

Filled with soft, tickling dialogues and fantasies, he dreamed of meeting a destined love like the protagonists.

 

‘Then I’ll love that person with all my heart. Please let me be a good husband, a good father…’

 

He had wished upon a shooting star in the night sky. Being a prince of a kingdom, such personal wishes were something he couldn’t share with anyone. Oh, he also loved cooking. He especially enjoyed baking, as he liked the savory and delicious smell during the process.

 

Above all, he loved wrapping them beautifully with ribbons and giving them to his nanny and maids. There were many other things he enjoyed. Gardening in the yard. Making soft cloth dolls stuffed with cotton.

 

‘As long as I have such small happiness, I’m fine.’

 

Even if his father ignored him, and his brother, the crown prince who resembled their father, thought him pathetic, he was fine. The ugly duckling prince abandoned in the separate residence thought so. His fate changed in an instant.

 

A sudden desertification came, and the north, backed by a priestess, ambushed, aiming for the mines. His brave father and brother fought valiantly on the front lines and died. As a result, the abandoned second prince, the ugly duckling, suddenly had to take charge of the Rihu Kingdom.

 

Before the joint funeral of his father and brother ended, a vassal, his father’s confidant, came to him. He was the one who had secretly taught him self-defense.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“Sniff. Sob. Father… Brother…”

 

Young Iago could only cry, unable to respond to the vassal’s call. He had never received a warm glance, but he was still proud and respected them. He hated even hearing scary words like war. The vassal, who had never shown such a stern expression before, now did so to Iago.

 

“You must pull yourself together quickly. Your Highness, no… Your Majesty.”

 

“Y-Your Majesty?”

 

Hiccup. His tender heart was so startled that he even hiccupped. He covered his mouth, his eyes red. Despite his large build, he looked as delicate as a single flower or a small rabbit.

 

“I-I can’t do it. Sob. You know me, don’t you, Minister Otter…?”

 

“…The situation has changed now.”

 

“Sob. Minister.”

 

“Call me Otter. …From now on, you must not show such weakness to anyone.”

 

The fortunate thing was that his father’s loyal vassal remained by his side. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, he still wasn’t sure, but he had a natural talent for war. He reluctantly took up the sword, swallowing his tears inside, and cut down the invaders.

 

Soon, vicious rumors spread.

 

‘The second prince, who coveted the throne, used the war to kill his father and brother.’

 

Shocked by the rumors, he buried his face in his bed and cried all night, but Otter deliberately fueled the vicious rumors surrounding the Black King. It was to hide the fact that the King of Rihu was actually a coward and a crybaby.

 

And Otter secretly helped Iago act the part of the ‘Black King.’

 

***

 

‘So I must become strong. I must not show weakness.’

 

“…Do you understand? You must act strong, Your Majesty.”

 

“Uh, what?”

 

Otter let out a big sigh. Only then did Iago snap out of his deep thoughts. It was not the time to dwell on the past. He was currently in the office, discussing serious national affairs with Otter.

 

“S-Sorry.”

 

Naturally gentle and soft-hearted, Iago apologized first.

 

“The Black King does not apologize easily.”

 

Otter said coldly.

 

“S-Sorry. Ah. No, I mean, not sorry, uh. Sorry…”

 

The more he spoke, the more his large body seemed to shrink. He looked like a frightened rabbit wanting to hide in a burrow, making Otter sigh deeply. Otter wasn’t always so cold. When his father and brother were around, he was a quiet and loyal vassal.

 

But because Iago was so lacking, he became more nagging and his personality turned cold. Iago bit his red lower lip slightly.

 

“Did you understand what I just said?”

 

“Uh? Ah, no. Sorry. No! Sorry for saying sorry again. What did you say?”

 

With another deep sigh, Otter patiently repeated himself.

 

“The priestess is deliberately not making it rain under the north’s command.”

 

“Uh, yes. Even though we signed a truce, the north and south are still enemy nations.”

 

When Iago nodded, Otter let out a sly chuckle.

 

“There is a way. According to the information we secretly obtained, the priestess’s abilities are influenced by emotions…”

 

Otter declared in a menacing tone.

 

“We must make sure to draw tears from that priestess.”

 

‘Draw tears? How could he say something so harsh…?’

 

He recalled the lemon-colored golden eyes looking up at him with disheveled sky-blue hair. Then Iago’s delicate heart began to race.

 

‘Why am I like this? Is it because the thought of making someone cry scares me?’

 

“Have you thought of a method?”

 

Otter adjusted his monocle and looked sharply at Iago. Under that gaze, Iago hesitated and said,

 

“Uh… well… no matter how much I think…”

 

Iago nervously fidgeted with his large fingers.

 

“Making an innocent person cry… that’s too barbaric.”

 

“You must do it.”

 

Otter said firmly with a stern expression. Iago flinched like a small rabbit.

 

“If a barbaric king is needed, you must act barbarically. If a cruel king is needed, you must become cruel.”

 

“But she…”

 

“It hasn’t rained for ten years. If this continues, the downfall of our Rihu Kingdom is not far off.”

 

Otter said with a bitter face.

 

“Downfall… that can’t happen.”

 

Iago’s face turned pitifully pale. It was a kingdom passed down from his father, the previous king, and his grandfather before him. He couldn’t be the one to ruin it.

 

“Please think only of the kingdom, Your Majesty. It’s the path for everyone.”

 

Otter bowed deeply. He was a loyal vassal who had supported him since his ascension. He didn’t want to disappoint him any further, knowing he always suffered because of him. Iago, who was nervously biting his lips, cautiously spoke.

 

“A-Actually, I tried to scare her a little earlier.”

 

“Oh. Did you? Your Majesty? You did very well. See? You can do it when you try. Just being expressionless is intimidating.”

 

Otter’s face brightened as he showered him with praise.

 

“It’s not that you lack ability. You have an abundance of it! With a little more resolve, you can become a king as great as the previous one.”

 

In truth, even though he tried his best to scare her, Ilena didn’t budge, but Iago liked the praise, so he decided not to mention it. Instead, he softened his words.

 

“But, but the priestess didn’t react at all.”

 

He hastily added as if making an excuse.

 

“Well, since her emotions affect the weather, she seems to have trained to control her feelings.”

 

“Those cunning northerners could very well have done that.”

 

Otter pondered deeply.

 

“Then there’s nothing we can do… right?”

 

Iago asked subtly, hoping Otter would change his mind about making the priestess cry.

 

“Ha ha. Even if she learned to control her emotions, the priestess is still human. And there are many ways to make a person cry…”

 

Otter grinned again, like a sly villain. Seeing that, Iago turned pale and trembled.