How the Prince Makes Friends Chapter 137

“When you were born, the physician told me that your mother’s life was in danger.”

“…Ah…”

On the return to this heavy subject, his son’s expression stiffened. Sedes gently stroked Rianus’s head as though it were nothing, then continued.

“Of course, I intended to save her. But… perhaps because her constant insistence had worked its way into my head, when the moment finally came, I couldn’t make a decision right away. I hesitated, wondering whether I had the right to carelessly erase her miracle…”

“……”

“My lover and my child were dying before my eyes. But I could save only one of them, and I had to decide before the situation became irreversible. Rian, I’m sorry, but… in the end, I chose your mother over you.”

Rianus nodded.

Even if he had been in his father’s position, he would have saved the person he loved rather than a child he had never even met. So he could understand.

“But… the moment I made that decision, our eyes met.”

‘Sedi, what about our child?’

Her voice suddenly spread through his mind. It was so vivid, yet it scattered like ink dropped into water.

It was still there, but diluted by the passage of time, just as much as the child had grown. Now, all he could do was believe that it was still there…

“I… reflexively answered her question. I told her the child was safe. That I had used an elixir. That she didn’t need to worry…”

Sedes paused and took a long, deep breath. He didn’t want to be consumed by his emotions, but merely thinking about that moment made his eyes grow hot.

Yet parents were creatures who disliked showing their tears in front of their children.

He had never once properly fulfilled the role of a father, but perhaps he still had enough parental pride left that he refused to let his tears fall.

“Ah…”

But when a small warmth gently stroked his cheek, his expression crumpled despite himself.

“Rian, I… I…”

‘Sedi, I love you.’

A smile resembling the sun, illuminating his entire world, flashed through his mind.

“I still haven’t forgotten the radiant smile she gave me when she heard my lie.”

‘I… I love you, too, Natura.’

‘Love our child, too.’

What had he said in response?

No. He hadn’t answered. More precisely, he hadn’t been able to.

The person who should have heard his answer had already covered her ears.

“…Rian.”

“Sniff… Y-Yes…”

At some point, his son had begun sniffing and shedding tears in his place.

“Did you ask whether I hated you?”

“……”

“Even if I could return to that day, I would still use the elixir on you. It would be better if I didn’t waste time foolishly hesitating like I did that day. No, perhaps I would have thrown away my pride, rushed to the Grand Duke, and begged him for just one more elixir.”

“…Sniff.”

“But what’s done is done. If I had saved her back then, she might have been disappointed in me. I might never have seen that smile again. The way I’m putting it now… it sounds as though I saved you entirely for her sake, but… Do you hate a father like that?”

“Sniff, n-no, I d-don’t…! Hic, sniff, u-uuuuaaaah!”

Unable to hold back the sobs that kept forcing their way out, Rianus finally burst into tears.

Sedes was startled when Rianus suddenly began crying so hard, but he quickly gathered him into his arms and patted his back.

His hands were terribly clumsy, but there was such boundless tenderness in his touch that Rianus only cried harder.

The young prince’s sobs didn’t quiet down until quite some time later.

Sedes savored the peaceful silence a little longer. Then, gently dabbing at the tears still clinging to Rianus’s face, he slowly spoke.

“Rianus.”

“Hic… Y-Yes, hic… Yes…”

“May I call you Ruth?”

“Hic… Y-Yes… I-I’d really like that.”

“Actually, I had intended to name you Ruth, just as your mother called you. It means light.”

“Th-Then… hic… why did you change it?”

“…The Queen gave birth prematurely. Lawrence was born before you.”

“…Sniff… Yes…”

“I also found out that the Queen had pushed herself to give birth early so that Lawrence could have the position of First Prince. I was angry when I learned that. Of course, I don’t hate Lawrence. The child isn’t at fault. Ah, you’ve cried a lot. Have some tea.”

“…I-I haven’t cried that much.”

Rianus blushed. Even so, he obediently accepted the tea Sedes offered him and took a sip.

“Changing your name was purely an act of stubbornness on my part. There was no doubt that your mother should have been my first queen, and you should have been my First Prince. But your mother had already passed away, and your faction was so terribly weak that I couldn’t insist you were the First Prince, not even for your sake.”

“So… that’s why you gave me the name Rianus?”

“Do you know what the name Rian means?”

“Not really… I was only told that it had something to do with being a king.”

“Did your friend tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“…That child really does know everything.”

Sedes murmured quietly, recalling that Nihil was also exceptionally knowledgeable about magic.

“The word ‘Rian’ can mean a young king, but it can also mean ‘crown prince.’ I hear it’s usually given to the First Prince, who has the highest priority in the line of succession. Our kingdom’s laws don’t formally distinguish between the succession rights of the First and Second Princes, but… giving you the name ‘Rian’ was my own little act of defiance.”

After saying that, Sedes quickly added more, worried that Rianus might misunderstand.

“Ruth, I cherish you, but that doesn’t mean I can support you as crown prince without any reason. Moreover, even if things aren’t quite as they should be, Lawrence is still your older brother. Please forgive me for being unable to take sides.”

“Your Majesty, you don’t need to worry about that. Honestly… I still don’t know much about the throne. And now that I think about it, if Mother miraculously became pregnant with me… wouldn’t it be almost impossible for me, as a quarter-blood, to have children of my own, too…?”

“……!”

At those words, Sedes’s pupils trembled. He had never imagined that he would hear his seven-year-old son say he was impotent.

Rianus wondered if he had said something he shouldn’t have, then gave his father an awkward smile, trying to comfort him.

“Please don’t worry too much, Your Majesty. My older brother can have children, right?”

“……”

“How are children made?”

“……”

 

***

 

Evan’s reason had nearly snapped to the point of murderous intent when he saw the seaweed swollen and bloated beyond recognition. But Rianus’s bashful smile had prevented the worst from happening.

“Neil, am I… really that bad?”

Rianus asked whether his face looked so terrible that Sir Evan had practically radiated killing intent. Nihil shook his head, indicating that it wasn’t, then swept him up into his arms.

He did intend to give the child’s father an earful later for making him cry, but not now. Despite his swollen eyes, the little kitten seemed to be in rather good spirits.

“Neil.”

“……?”

Feeling a short vibration against his body, Nihil raised his head.

The little kitten, who had been smiling bashfully, now looked as though he was about to burst into tears.

“What’s wrong, Rian?”

“Neil…”

“Yes?”

“Sir Evan… is calling you.”

“……Ignore him.”

Nihil glanced at Evan, then abruptly turned his head and walked ahead. But after taking only two or three steps, he was suddenly lifted by the scruff, and a large hand covered his eyes.

A faint vibration traveled through the hand covering his eyes.

Nihil calculated the length and intensity of the vibrations, trying to guess what Evan was saying, then opened his mouth at random.

Tell me the truth! Can you hear me or not?!

“I can hear you perfectly well, so stop shouting. You’re going to make me deaf.”

Seriously?

“Of course.”

Then, @##

#&*@&*%@#!@#$*$##

*$^%

The vibrations traveling through the hand were far too long. Even Nihil couldn’t predict something this lengthy. Besides, Evan was probably just saying whatever came to mind precisely because he knew Nihil couldn’t understand him.

Nihil gave a vague reply.

“…Puppy, stop barking and let’s go.”

At that, his vision brightened. He saw the puppy glaring down at him, his face twisted in frustration.

Evan’s mouth moved again.

‘Damn… you little wildcat…’

Nihil closed his eyes.

“Ah, Neil! I’ll do that, too!”

The little kitten hurried over and snatched the bundle of medicinal herbs Nihil had brought.

“…Rian, my hands and feet are perfectly fine.”

Nihil spoke awkwardly as he watched the little kitten wait on him as though he were a critically ill patient.

“Besides, I’m going to use those now. I’m going to grind the herbs. Would you like to try?”

“Yes! I’ll do it!”

Rianus nodded and took the mortar, diligently grinding the herbs. But his gaze kept drifting away from the herbs and toward Nihil.

“Neil.”

“Yes?”

“Your eyes… Why do you keep looking at mana?”

Rianus tilted his head, unable to understand why Nihil kept his eyes white to see mana whenever the servants weren’t around.

“…Does it bother you that much?”

As he asked, Nihil returned his eyes to their original color.

Fascinated by how the color changed like paint spreading through water, Rianus unconsciously brushed the corner of Nihil’s eye.

His friend gently closed the eye that Rianus touched, but the other eye remained fixed intently on his face.

More precisely, on his lips.

Realizing that Nihil was trying to read his lips so they could communicate, Rianus pressed his own lips together for no particular reason.

“Neil, I’ll give you a signal whenever I need to tell you something, so you can relax a little. Hmm, or should I just hold your hand?”

As he spoke, Rianus took Nihil’s hand. His friend could tell whether Rianus was speaking simply by feeling the vibrations transmitted through his hand.

If Sir Evan hadn’t noticed Nihil’s condition first, Rianus might have gone on without realizing that his friend had suffered damage to his hearing. It made him a little sad, but it was also a testament to just how extraordinary his friend was.

He knew his friend was hiding his condition so thoroughly because he didn’t want to worry anyone. But part of him couldn’t help worrying, because it seemed like the instinct of a wild animal trying to conceal an injury.

“Sir Evan and Sir Frederick are here, too, so you don’t have to be so on guard.”

“Hahaha! That’s right. You’ve got me here, after all!”

Frederick appeared behind the children with a hearty laugh, but Nihil didn’t respond. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t respond because he couldn’t hear him.

“Who told you to come out?”

But even if he couldn’t hear, a response eventually came.

Nihil looked straight into Rianus’s eyes—or rather, at Frederick reflected in them—and continued.

“Want to get beaten up again?”

At that, Frederick rubbed his swollen cheek and smiled awkwardly.