How the Prince Makes Friends Chapter 128

“Haa…”

Sedes pressed his fingertips against his tired eyes. Checking the ingredients and inspecting the luncheon venue without the hostess, the Queen, finding out had been no easy task.

Since the Second Prince liked shrimp, he’d even added a shrimp dish to the menu. He had also arranged for the strawberry cake the boy had said he wanted.

That should keep me from being treated like a senile old man, at least.

He hadn’t discovered anything unusual during his inspection, so he hadn’t managed to uncover the Queen’s intentions. Still, he decided to put his mind somewhat at ease, trusting that the child would know how to handle himself.

“Your Majesty.”

Just then, a shadow knight appeared.

“What is it?”

“There’s been a fight among the children.”

“…What?”

Five seconds after he’d finally relaxed, trouble had already erupted.

Sedes let out a deep sigh, buried his face in both hands, and remained that way for a moment. He needed time to prepare himself mentally to accept the situation.

Perhaps the Queen had been aiming for something like this from the very beginning. It was an extremely convenient and effective way to drive the child out of the palace.

One could certainly describe the child’s actions as kind, but his way of speaking was hardly gentle. It wouldn’t have been surprising if someone had picked a fight with him.

Furthermore, he spoke plainly and said only what he believed to be right. That wasn’t exactly a manner of speaking that nobles would appreciate.

“Children grow up by fighting with one another. Inform the chief butler and have him settle the matter quietly.”

Sedes added that they should offer generous compensation to prevent any further complaints, then gestured for the knight to leave.

However, the shadow knight didn’t withdraw. He hesitated before speaking again.

“Well… the child involved is the eldest grandson of a ducal family.”

“…Which one?”

“The Duke of Thesaurus, Your Majesty.”

“Haa…”

He didn’t need the family name explained. There was only one duke in the kingdom besides the Grand Duke, after all: the Duke of Thesaurus.

Of all families, it had to be the ducal family. The Queen had undoubtedly arranged this.

There’s no way this is going to end quietly.

As Sedes racked his brain, wondering how on earth he could resolve this situation discreetly, the shadow knight continued.

“Also, while it is true that His Highness’s friend was bullied, he wasn’t the one who fought. According to the servants who witnessed the incident, even when the other child grabbed his hair, he showed no sign of displeasure.”

“He should have gotten angry… Then who fought instead?”

“His Highness the Second Prince fought the eldest grandson of the ducal family.”

For a moment, Sedes wondered whether he’d heard incorrectly. He even rubbed his ears before asking again.

“Who fought whom…?”

“Prince Rianus and Young Master Aiden.”

“……”

“It wasn’t just a verbal argument. They actually exchanged blows. Young Master Aiden even has a dark bruise on his face.”

“……”

“And His Highness threw the first punch…”

The mild-mannered Second Prince had gotten into a fistfight… And he’d even attacked first…

Sedes widened his eyes as though he couldn’t believe it, then asked in all seriousness,

“…Did he win?”

“……”

Your Majesty… This is exactly why people say you lack sensitivity.

 

***

 

“YOU DAMNED BASTARD!!!”

Wham! Crash!

A loud commotion rang through the reception room. Caught off guard, Aiden lost his balance and fell. Rianus didn’t miss the opportunity and immediately climbed on top of him.

“Who do you think you are, grabbing my friend’s hair?!”

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!

“He’s someone I’m careful not to hurt, even by accident! Who do you think you are?!”

“Ugh! W-What is this?! Your Highness, do you even know who I am…?!”

As Aiden raised his arms to shield himself from the merciless punches, Rianus stopped hitting him. Instead, he grabbed the detestable red hair with both hands and shook it violently.

“Who are you? You’re the son of a duke’s son! What makes you think you’re so important?!”

“If my grandfather finds out about this, he won’t let you get away with it…!”

“And what if he doesn’t?! So what if your grandfather is a duke?! My dad is the king, you bastard!”

“Have you gone mad…?!”

“That’s right! I’m mad! What about it?!”

“You little—!”

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?! Are you going to hit me? What?! Go ahead! Try it!”

“Argh!”

Unable to hit a prince and having done nothing but defend himself until now, Aiden finally lost his temper and shoved Rianus away.

Rianus, who was much smaller, was easily knocked aside and rolled across the floor. But he sprang right back up as though it were nothing and prepared to charge at him again.

However, before his small fist could personally shut that insolent mouth, he felt his body lift slightly before being pulled backward.

“…?”

Startled by the sensation of briefly floating in the air, Rianus turned around.

“…Neil?”

Realizing that Nihil was the one holding him back, Rianus’s eyes widened. Then his expression crumpled.

His neatly combed and tied hair was a complete mess. His clothes were disheveled, and his veil was crooked.

Seeing him like that made indescribable emotions surge up from somewhere deep inside Rianus’s chest.

I should have stayed with him…

“Niiil…”

Rianus turned around and hugged Nihil. As though it were only natural, Nihil lifted him effortlessly and gently patted his back.

You’re the one who should be receiving comfort. Why are you comforting me instead?

His chest throbbed, and his eyes grew hot. He had promised himself he wouldn’t cry anymore, but apparently his tear ducts were broken.

Beyond his blurring vision, Rianus could see Nihil’s disheveled hair. He carefully ran his fingers through it, trying to straighten the tangled strands that kept catching between them.

What kind of expression are you wearing beneath that black veil?

Not wanting Nihil to see him crying, Rianus hugged his head tightly.

“Sniff… Neil, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Neil. I’m sorry I let them treat you like this.”

“……”

“I’m… I’m sorry I’m such a weak prince. Sniff…”

“……”

“I-I’ll get stronger, so… Waaaaah…”

Just don’t tell me you’re leaving.

Rianus couldn’t finish what he wanted to say. It was the thing he wanted to say most, but he couldn’t bring himself to utter it. He worried that it might restrict his friend or make him unhappy.

His tears poured down uncontrollably. What if Nihil grew sick of life in the palace and decided to leave? Would he take Rianus along if he asked to go with him, too?

“Sniff… Niiil…”

As he called his friend’s name between sobs, the arms holding him tightened.

The firm pressure felt so warm and comforting. But just as Rianus was thinking that, he felt a slight tremor.

At first, he thought it was his own body trembling.

But it wasn’t.

His one and only friend was trembling.

“Neil…!”

It felt as though something had struck him.

Could Nihil, whom he had always thought of as strong and fearless, actually be frightened by being surrounded and bullied by children his own age?

Rianus regretted not having pulled out every last strand of Aiden’s hair and giving that smug face at least one more bruise. But then Nihil’s trembling grew a little stronger.

“…?”

For some reason, Rianus had a strange feeling that something was wrong. He couldn’t explain it, but something just didn’t seem right.

Much later, when he finally realized what that strange feeling was, he felt as though his tears had instantly dried up.

“Neil…”

He sniffled and called out cautiously. The arms wrapped around him tightened even more, squeezing him firmly.

“Sniff. I’m fine, so… Just…”

“……”

Rianus’s face turned slightly red as he buried it against the back of his friend’s neck.

“Just laugh comfortably.”

“Kehehehehe…!”

Of course.

He wanted to find a mouse hole and crawl inside.

 

***

 

When Sedes hurried into the reception room, he had to rack his brain to make sense of the scene before him.

The eldest grandson of the ducal family, who was said to have fought, was in a dreadful state. His hair was literally a mess, and his face was covered in dark bruises.

Aiden had been glaring somewhere and breathing heavily. But when he saw Sedes, he sprang to his feet and bowed.

“Y-Your Majesty, I humbly greet—”

“That’s enough.”

Sedes waved away the greeting and looked around the reception room.

The person Aiden had been glaring at was the Second Prince. Strangely enough, however, the Second Prince was hugging his friend, who was hugging him right back.

There were no visible injuries on Rianus’s face, but he looked somewhat exhausted, as though he were unwell. His body was limp as he rested his chin on his friend’s white hair.

“…Your Majesty, you’ve arrived.”

At Sedes’s appearance, Rianus lifted his chin from Nihil’s head and greeted him with an expression of quiet resignation.

“…I’m sorry for greeting you in this state. My friend… won’t let go of me.”

Judging by the way the arms wrapped around the prince tightened, that seemed to be true.

Rianus looked down at Nihil, whose face was buried against his chest, and spoke with a sigh.

“Neil, can you… stop laughing now?”

Shake, shake.

“…All right. Let me know when you’re done laughing.”

Rianus drooped again, like a slice of melted cheese. At first, he had been terribly embarrassed, but now he was too exhausted to care.

The noble children whispered among themselves, staring at his friend as though he were a truly strange person. But Rianus couldn’t deny that his friend was a little strange, either, so he said nothing.

Sir Evan, unable to watch any longer, had even tried to physically separate him from Nihil. But Nihil clung to him even more tightly, as though he absolutely refused to let anyone take him away. He was so strong that Rianus thought his waist might snap.

“Neil, but His Majesty is here… Can’t you let go?”

When Rianus cautiously pleaded again, glancing at Sedes, Nihil’s head peeked up. His expression was hidden behind the veil, but he still seemed to be smiling.

It was a little awkward, but Rianus decided to be satisfied. After all, he’d seen his friend crying yesterday.

…Had Neil actually cried yesterday?

While Rianus puzzled over his own thoughts, Nihil’s arms finally loosened.

Thinking that he must have been remembering what happened on Sharton Street, Rianus straightened his slightly rumpled clothes.

He was about to properly greet His Majesty once more when the reception room door opened and the Queen entered with the First Prince.

As the servants and children bowed, Queen Helia smiled, her red eyes curving gracefully, then turned her gaze toward Rianus.

Rianus stiffened and quickly lowered his head. A quiet voice followed.

“…Your Majesty the Queen. What brings you here?”

“Your Majesty, you’re speaking as though I’ve come somewhere I’m not welcome.”

The Queen smiled pleasantly before continuing.

“I heard something unpleasant had happened, so I came out of concern… Good heavens! Aiden, what happened to your face?”

Queen Helia made a great show of concern as she changed the subject upon seeing the bruises on Aiden’s face.

“Aiden, children may grow up by fighting, but it pains me to see you so badly injured.”

“It’s all right. I only have a few bruises. I haven’t been seriously hurt.”

“I heard you fought with the Second Prince…”

The Queen let her words trail off as she looked Rianus up and down.

“The Second Prince seems perfectly unharmed. That’s a relief.”

Helia glanced at Rianus as though asking why he was still unscathed. Under her red gaze, Rianus could only flinch and take a step backward.

Seeing Rianus’s frightened reaction, Aiden smirked and spoke in a calm voice.

“How could I dare lay a hand on a member of the royal family? Besides, as the older one, I ought to have shown restraint.”

“Aiden, you’ve certainly become a sensible young man. How admirable. Second Prince, apologize to Young Master Aiden at once. No matter how angry you may be, how can you so crudely raise your hand against someone?”

Rianus thought, Here we go again. But this time, he refused to back down. If he kept retreating, his friend would have nowhere left to stand.

“…I won’t apologize unless Young Master Aiden apologizes to my friend first.”

“Second Prince, that makes it sound as though Young Master Aiden did something wrong to your page.”

Just then, a red-haired girl stepped forward. It was Camilla, Aiden’s younger sister.

“No, Your Highness! My brother did nothing wrong. That page was behaving so rudely that my brother was correcting him. Then the Second Prince suddenly appeared and started punching him!”

“Camilla, how dare you interrupt when Her Highness— I mean, the Queen, is speaking?”

Aiden reprimanded Camilla for suddenly butting in. Helia simply raised the corners of her mouth, indicating that it was all right, then shifted her gaze to Nihil.

“Child, why are you still sitting down?”

Nihil had remained seated on the sofa regardless of whether the King and Queen had arrived. In response to Queen Helia’s question, he merely tilted his head.

Helia frowned slightly at his behavior, then scolded Rianus.

“Second Prince, no matter how fond you are of your newly acquired page, shouldn’t you at least teach him basic etiquette? How can you allow him to behave so arrogantly? This is not good for the child, either.”

“……”

Rianus found the Queen’s nagging especially irritating today. He glanced at Nihil. He felt a little sorry for his friend, but there was no way he could defend this particular behavior.

So he scampered over, gently took Nihil’s hand, and led him along.

“Neil, come here.”

“……”

At that slight tug, Nihil hopped down from the sofa and followed Rianus.

Then he promptly flopped down flat on the floor.