Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 31

Chapter 31

 

The eastern third-floor terrace of Saint Palace, known for its breathtaking view, was bathed in the gentle glow of the afternoon sun.

The weather was perfect—pleasantly warm with a soft breeze caressing the air.

Yuria had come to the imperial palace, a rare visit. The only person she sought to meet was the Crown Prince.

“The Duchess of Vandell gifted me yet another dress. There’s no room left in my wardrobe anymore.”

Yuria chattered like a little bird, never pausing. Though the palace was not a comfortable place for her, her expression was noticeably bright. In fact, she seemed even more excited than usual, likely because it had been a while since she last saw Alexis.

The table, illuminated by golden sunlight, was adorned with fresh fruit and sweet sherry wine.

Since it was all meant for the guest, the Crown Prince did not touch anything. Instead, he sat with his arms crossed.

“So, when I told her I’d rather wear trousers instead of a dress—”

Yuria trailed off mid-sentence, her face turning slightly pouty as she studied the man sitting across from her.

It was obvious that the Crown Prince’s attention was elsewhere today.

Alexis’s face was turned away entirely now, long legs crossed as he leaned back against the plush chair, eyes fixed on something outside.

With his sharp nose, chiseled jawline, and hair shining brighter than the sunlight, he was the picture of perfection—except for the deep frown creasing his face as he stared intently at something.

Following his gaze, Yuria turned her head.

Her eyes swept across the vast palace grounds before soon landing on what held Alexis’s unwavering attention.

Cecil Adrian.

Walking along a garden path in the palace, he was accompanied by a group of three or four well-dressed, distinguished-looking nobles.

Laughter filled the air, their conversation seemingly pleasant. On the surface, nothing about the scene appeared particularly noteworthy. Yet Alexis couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Yuria carefully observed him, her fingers unconsciously fidgeting with her nails beneath the table.

She had never seen Alexis stare at anyone so intently before.

Was it suspicion? Caution? Or… something else? Yuria couldn’t say for certain.

“…Annoying.”

“Pardon?”

“Yuria, can you sit alone for a moment?”

“Your Highness!”

Before she could get a reply out, Alexis pushed his chair back and stood up. Yuria could only stare at his retreating figure in disbelief.

She turned her gaze back outside. Despite the peaceful scenery, she had a bad feeling about what was to come. She clasped her hands together. All she could do was pray.

 

To others, it might have seemed like a friendly gathering, but in truth, Cecil was on the verge of exhaustion. Forcing a smile at the nobles was making the corners of his mouth twitch with strain.

Thankfully, he was skilled at maintaining a composed expression, so none of the nobles seemed to notice his discomfort. Or perhaps they were too busy fawning over him to pay it any mind.

“Have you heard the latest news? The perfume business is booming right now! Thanks to fragrance techniques imported from the Kingdom of Khazharzan, sales have been skyrocketing!”

An elderly noble, one of the Empress’s close aides, eagerly chattered beside Cecil, practically spitting with excitement. A perfume bottle, supposedly a gift, had already been placed in Cecil’s hands.

“Perfume, huh… It’s not bad. But the market for it isn’t that large. Selling a few hundred bottles won’t bring in much profit.”

“Then, in your opinion, what kind of business would be the most profitable?”

Cecil rolled the perfume bottle in his hand, studying the delicate pink glass that shimmered in the sunlight like a jewel.

“If it’s something like gemstones… A diamond mine, perhaps. Owning one would be enough to sustain several generations.”

At the mention of diamonds, the noble swallowed his saliva. The other nobles reacted the same way.

Everyone here knew that the Minister of Ceremonies, Marquis Merke, had purchased a mine after listening to Cecil’s advice. What was once barren land had yielded a rich gold vein.

“There will be several mine auctions coming up soon. The Venetia Mine, in particular, is worth looking into. Its rock formations are geologically well-suited for diamond deposits. The investment cost will be high, but the returns will be worth it.”

Recently, the empire had seen a boom in mine development. Nobles with an interest in business flocked to these opportunities, cash in hand.

But the stakes were high. The cost of entry was steep, and many nobles carefully deliberated, hiring financial experts and geologists before taking the plunge.

Mining was essentially a gamble. One never truly knew what lay beneath the surface until digging began. Cecil, however, knew exactly what would be found.

So he pretended to advise the nobles, selectively leaking information. He specifically targeted the Empress’s loyalists, recommending investments that would initially bring them wealth but ultimately ruin them within months or, at most, a year.

For now, they might amass a fortune, but eventually, they would squander everything and plunge their families into ruin. Oblivious to their impending downfall, the Empress’s allies were desperate to hear Cecil’s advice.

“Of course, you should still consult the experts. What I’m saying is just speculation. The mine auction is in two days, correct? Hmm… The timing isn’t quite ideal. I’d say skip this one and wait for a similar opportunity later.”

“Yes! Yes, of course.”

The nobles exchanged glances. Judging by the greedy glint in their eyes, they would likely ignore Cecil’s suggestion and push forward with the auction anyway. Cecil smirked to himself.

“Not that I think it’ll happen, but I’d appreciate it if you kept this conversation private. There have been some strange rumors lately, and it’s becoming quite troublesome. People keep seeking me out…”

He deliberately let out a weary sigh.

Lately, word had spread that Cecil had an uncanny knack for sniffing out profitable ventures, and people had been swarming to him for financial advice.

“Oh, of course! Who would leak such valuable information? You have nothing to worry about! Ha ha ha!”

The hearty laughter spread far and wide. Just then, several neutral nobles appeared from the opposite side of the path. They had been watching for an opportunity and seized the moment to greet Cecil.

“I greet the Empire’s little star.”

“It’s been a while, Lord Melbourne.”

“Cecil, the weather is truly splendid today. I also have something to discuss with you—if you don’t mind, could we have a brief meeting?”

“I apologize, but I’m not feeling well today. If the opportunity arises, I’ll contact you next time.”

Cecil refused without hesitation, and the neutral nobles’ expressions soured. Meanwhile, the nobles from the Empress’s faction raised their noses high, feeling a sense of satisfaction. They were visibly pleased that Cecil was blatantly favoring them.

“I see. Then, please do reach out next time.”

The neutral nobles couldn’t completely hide their darkened expressions as they left. This overt division of factions would surely add fuel to the already circulating rumors. But Cecil didn’t care.

After Rocco’s suicide, a profound change had taken place in Cecil’s mindset.

He had abandoned the act—no more pretending to be kind, clueless, or uninterested in political affairs. He had realized that forming a friendly relationship with Alexis was already a lost cause.

There was no way to bridge the gap between them. The hostility Alexis harbored ran deeper than expected. And Cecil understood why—how could Alexis possibly hold affection for him when his mother continued to oppress him?

Each passing day, the time allotted to Cecil grew shorter. If he wanted to ensure Alexis’s safety within that limited time, he had to set aside his own desires. Being hated was a small price to pay. It was simply easier to do things his own way.

More misunderstandings and wounds were bound to follow. His heart would become tattered and torn, but having already experienced it once, what difference did it make?

As he continued walking down the path with the nobles in tow, his steps once again came to a halt. Unfortunately, he had run into the one person he least wanted to see at that moment.

Given that they were right next to Saint Palace, it wasn’t surprising to encounter the Crown Prince. However, the problem lay in the fact that Alexis was heading straight toward him.

Before he knew it, Alexis stood before him, gazing down at Cecil and the nobles with a particularly displeased expression.

He seemed to have plenty to say, yet all he did was chew his lips, allowing an uncomfortable silence to drag on.

“I greet the Empire’s great star.”

As the nobles bowed to the Crown Prince, Cecil held his head high and met Alexis’s gaze directly. Alexis, in turn, ignored the nobles entirely, directing only a cold stare at Cecil.

“What exactly are you doing?”

“As you can see, I’m taking a walk.”

“A walk?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“You never seem to show up at the office.”

“I got tired of it. I tend to be fickle. Just ignore me. Wouldn’t that be better for you as well, Your Highness?”

Cecil replied without a change in expression. As Alexis continued to send wordless, piercing glances, Cecil gave a slight nod of acknowledgment before stepping past him.

He could feel the scorching gaze stabbing into his back like a dagger. Even without turning around, he knew Alexis was glaring at him.

‘So I’ll spend a thousand days being nothing but resented before I die.’

He no longer expected Alexis to recognize his efforts.

Swallowing the bitterness that rose like bile, Cecil forced the feeling down. By now, he had grown so accustomed to disappointment that it was easy enough to erase.