How the Prince Makes Friends – Chapter 152

Author: isuzuuy

He had won. He had defeated every single aspiring knight who had come to take the examination.

But before he could even savor his victory, Evan’s mood soon plummeted to rock bottom.

‘D-Deputy Captain! I can do well! P-Please give me a chance!’

‘Evan, be quiet.’

‘Please! I won’t do anything to tarnish your reputation, Deputy Captain!’

‘I told you to be quiet!’

‘……!’

Was he embarrassed to be acquainted with a mere commoner like me? I shouldn’t have acted as though we knew each other. What if I’d put the Deputy Captain in a difficult position?

No, perhaps he was angry because he found out I’d spent the fifty gold coins on something else.

In the end, the Deputy Captain had taken pity on his circumstances and accepted him as a full-fledged knight. However, perhaps because he wanted to keep his distance, he had changed the way he addressed Evan and the way he spoke to him.

Evan, too, no longer wanted to cause the Deputy Captain any trouble, so he kept as much distance from him as possible.

He was a little disappointed when he realized that knights weren’t the righteous people he had imagined them to be. Still, he found comfort in knowing that there were people like the Deputy Captain.

Even when someone suddenly poured dirty water over his head, when his meal tray was overturned and he was left hungry, or when a bunch of idiots ganged up on him… it was all right. He had paid them back twice as hard, after all.

‘Hmph. You lot can’t even face me one-on-one…’

But when he received news of his mother’s death, it wasn’t all right.

‘Ah…’

‘I’m sorry, Evan. Her health had been poor for some time, but your mother didn’t want you to know.’

The kind woman who had moved in recently said this and handed him a letter.

The paper had become wrinkled and crumpled, as though it had been dampened by tears. When he unfolded it, he saw crooked, blurry letters written by a hand too weak to hold a pen properly.

Evan, don’t worry about the little one. Just do what you want to do. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the mother you needed.

All strength drained from his body. When he turned his head slightly, his eyes fell on the little one. The child lying in bed, who could do nothing but cry, sleep, and eat.

‘Evan, I’ll find a care facility for her. How could you possibly raise a child? This is the right thing to do, so you don’t need to feel guilty.’

‘…….’

Evan couldn’t immediately say no. The little one was a burden to him, after all. He had worked so hard to become a knight. He had endured so much. He couldn’t give up now.

That night, Evan drank alcohol for the first time. It was the beer his father used to drink from time to time. But it tasted awful and only made his insides burn even more, so he soon threw the mug away.

With a hollow thud, its contents spilled across the floor. The little one’s cries grew louder.

Irritated by the incessant wailing that seemed to pierce his ears, Evan got up and headed toward its source. Tears were dripping from the little one’s swollen, puffy eyes, which were barely able to open.

‘Is there really any need to send her to an orphanage? If she doesn’t get her medicine, she’ll die before long anyway.’

Then wouldn’t it be better to kill her now? So she won’t have to suffer for even one more day.

Evan raised his rough hand and compared its size to the little one’s. Her face was so small that it fit entirely in one hand. He carefully placed his hand around her slender neck, feeling the warmth of her body.

And at that very moment, everything around him fell silent.

The little one, who had stopped crying, looked up at him with swollen eyes that could barely open. In those tiny openings, he saw something monstrous reflected.

‘Ah…’

So that’s why Father covered the animals’ eyes before cutting off their breath.

At that moment, a question he had been asked long ago suddenly resurfaced, tearing through his mind.

‘Why do you want to become a knight?’

What had he answered back then?

‘I will become someone who protects others.’

Even when told it wouldn’t be easy, he had confidently said it would be all right. Hadn’t he sworn that he would protect both his mother and Aril?

He couldn’t breathe.

He had already failed to protect his mother. If he couldn’t protect Aril, either, then what exactly had he become a knight to protect?

‘…Aril.’

‘B-big… bro!’

Evan quickly scooped up Aril, who was laughing brightly with tears still hanging from her eyelashes. Her face was terribly hot from crying.

But despite feeling sorry for her, he was so grateful for that warmth that he hugged her even tighter. Her tiny arms wrapped around his neck in return.

‘Aril, I’ll protect you.’

But there was nothing he could do for her right away. He had to earn the money himself, so he would need to hire someone to look after her.

Should he ask the Deputy Captain for help? No, his master had become the Captain now.

He didn’t want to trouble him anymore.

But he had no other choice. The man might curse him for being shameless, but he wouldn’t simply turn a blind eye to their situation.

Knock, knock—

Just then, he heard someone knocking at the door.

Evan glanced outside into the darkness. The moon hadn’t even risen. He narrowed his eyes.

‘Who is it?’

‘Is this Sir Evan’s family residence?’

‘…It is. Why do you ask?’

‘I have come on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.’

‘…Please, come in.’

Holding Aril in his arms, Evan let the stranger into the house. They hadn’t even lit a candle, so it was hardly a suitable place to receive a guest. Still, he couldn’t leave someone sent by the Queen standing outside.

‘…I’m sorry. I have nothing to offer you.’

Evan hurriedly fetched a candlestick and lit it. Aril, who had been nestled in his arms, waved her hands toward the flickering flame. At least she had stopped crying. It seemed she wouldn’t be in pain tonight.

‘It’s all right. I won’t be staying long, so please don’t feel burdened.’

‘What brings you here at this hour…?’

‘Her Majesty the Queen takes a great interest in you, Sir Evan. Considering the remarkable skills you’ve demonstrated at such a young age, that’s only natural.’

‘…What is it you wish to say?’

‘That is why I also heard about your mother’s passing. Ah, I should first offer my condolences.’

With that, the man removed his hat and gave a brief, respectful bow.

‘…Thank you.’

‘This is a condolence payment from Her Majesty. It’s a modest sum, but please use it to cover the funeral expenses.’

‘…….’

Evan couldn’t even bring himself to politely refuse. Money was exactly what he needed most right now.

After hesitating for a moment, he took the purse. The man smiled warmly and continued.

‘I didn’t realize you had such a young sister. Ah, of course, you’re still quite young yourself, Sir Evan…’

As he spoke, the man glanced at Aril in Evan’s arms and gave her a small wave. When the unfamiliar man greeted her, Aril quickly turned her head and burrowed into Evan’s chest.

‘Sir, I imagine looking after your younger sister must be quite difficult… Would you like me to speak to Her Majesty on your behalf?’

‘…What do you mean?’

‘So that you can focus on your duties as a knight. Her Majesty thinks very highly of you, so she would gladly offer her assistance.’

‘But…’

Evan pictured the Queen with her red eyes and red hair. Despite those striking colors, she seemed like a very gentle woman.

After all, if Her Majesty hadn’t been there during the knight examination, he might have been rejected on the spot. His master hadn’t seemed to have any intention of passing him.

‘Sir Evan, why are you hesitating so much? Surely you don’t think that looking after one little child would be a burden to Her Majesty?’

‘…….’

‘You don’t need to give me an answer right away. Ah, I’ll be staying at a nearby inn for about a week, so please take care of the deceased first and think it over at your own pace.’

With that, the man left behind a piece of paper with an address written on it and departed.

***

‘Ah, I had no idea you were in such a difficult situation, Sir Evan. I should be the one apologizing for not knowing sooner.’

‘N-No, not at all. I-I’m the one who should apologize.’

‘I’ll have your younger sister sent to the ducal residence, where she will be cared for with the utmost attention. So please don’t worry.’

‘…Thank… you.’

‘You needn’t worry about the cost of her medicine, either. I’ll also arrange an investigation into the incurable illness your sister is said to be suffering from.’

‘Thank you. Thank you so very much.’

Evan bowed deeply in gratitude. The Queen gazed at him with her red eyes gently curved.

Her Majesty truly is a kind ruler who looks after even those beneath her.

He carefully took the hand she offered and brought it to his forehead. He was even a little pleased with himself for properly showing his respect this time, unlike during their first meeting.

‘Damn it!’

Bang! Crash!

The crystal glass filled with expensive liquor struck the table and shattered into pieces.

He was furious.

Furious with his former self, who had been so innocent, stupid, foolish, naive, and utterly pathetic.

‘…Are you all right, sir?’

The tavern owner cautiously approached and held out a handkerchief. Even after Evan had caused a commotion and broken a glass, the man was still being kind to him. Perhaps this owner was a little foolish, too.

Or perhaps Evan’s expression was simply so wretched that the man couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Evan apologized, paid for the broken glass, and left the tavern.

The sun that had reminded him of those red eyes was long gone, and the sky was filled with darkness. Neither the moon nor the stars were visible.

Evan felt the cold air against his skin and considered pulling his collar tighter, but decided against it. He couldn’t even be bothered to walk properly, let alone raise his hands.

The cold wind seemed to make the alcohol rise to his head.

How long had he been walking? Just as he began to wonder whether he was even heading back to the palace, he found himself looking at its corridors.

‘When… Did I get back?’

And then he saw something small and black. A white tail was poking out from beneath its robe.

‘Wildcat… I have to catch it.’

I have to kill it… I have to kill it. Otherwise, Aril will…

At his muttering, the little figure paused for a moment, then resumed walking.

Evan followed behind it. Perhaps because everything around them was pitch-black, the white tail sticking out was especially conspicuous.

His mind was hazy. His field of vision was gradually narrowing until he could see nothing but that little figure.

‘But why is it walking so unsteadily?’

Watching it stagger along, he wondered if it had already been hunted and was on the verge of death.

I wish it would just run away.

Run. Far away, somewhere I can’t reach you.

Evan repeated the words to himself, then realized that it wasn’t the little figure staggering. It was him. He looked down at his own feet.

Thud!

And at that very moment, he lost his balance and fell. It didn’t hurt. He had thought he was cold, but he didn’t feel cold anymore, either.

It was as though he couldn’t feel anything at all.

Just then, the little figure stopped and stared at him. No, he couldn’t see its face, but it felt as though it was looking right at him. The way it stood there reminded him of someone waiting for him, and a surge of emotion welled up inside him.

‘Why… why are you waiting…?’

‘…….’

‘Just… just go…’

‘…….’

‘Go. Just… go away. Disappear.’

‘…….’

‘Please…’

Despite being told to leave, the little figure approached him instead and lifted its hood and face veil. Its mysterious eyes caught his attention more than its snow-white hair.

As he stared at them, his mind seemed to grow even hazier.

If I kill you…

‘…Will you resent me?’

As he murmured those words, something descended over his eyes. He couldn’t see anything.

‘This is merely an illusion, so you may do as you wish.’

‘…An illu… sion?’

‘Yes.’

If it’s an illusion, then I can kill it without really killing it. If I kill it, it won’t actually be dead.

When he opened and closed his eyes, the scenery changed again.

Where am I? Is this a bedroom?

‘This is a nightmare.’

I see. It’s a nightmare. This is all a dream.