TAPGB - Chapter 24
The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride
It was a bit quiet while the workers were busy, but there was a place where you could hear the cheerful laughter of a child.
A child with hair as white as snow looked back, fiddling with the bow tie tied around his neck.
"Oh my! How is it? Do I look good on you?"
"Of course, there's nothing that doesn't suit our Crown Prince."
A white face, white hair as white as snow, and golden eyes that shine brighter than gold.
Although he had the same face as Lucian, he was more confident and lively than Lucian and was half an inch taller.
His name is Leopold Odelion. He is the Crown Prince of the Odrian Empire.
He was so excited about his birthday tomorrow, and couldn't contain his excitement.
Serena Odelion, his mother and the most precious woman of the Odrian Empire, was looking at Leopold with satisfaction.
As the Emperor's only beloved woman, she was so beautiful that it was hard to believe that she had an 8-year-old child.
"That's cool, my son."
"Father!"
At that time, the door opened and the Emperor, Ruber Odelion, appeared. He had the same golden eyes and white hair as Leopold. He wondered if Leopold would look like this when he grew up.
When Leopold came running, Ruber immediately picked him up. When he kissed his cheek, Leopold burst into laughter.
"Are you looking forward to the birth banquet tomorrow?"
"Sure! It's a birthday that only comes once a year!"
"If there's anything you want, just say it. I prepared several surprise gifts this time, but the best one of all is the gift you wanted."
"Well, then I... Younger brother!"
For a moment, Ruber's hand twitched. Leopold, who felt nothing, smiled brightly.
"I want a little brother! This time Harry was really bragging about having a little sister!"
Ruber hardened his expression, but when Leopold looked up at him with bright eyes, he smiled and put him down.
"Then this father will have to use some strength."
"Why is Father putting in the effort to make a younger sibling?"
"There's all that. Now, let's go ahead and try on the jewelry, right?"
"Oh right. You can't go while wearing those shoes and accessories!"
Leopold approached the maids. Ruber, who had been smiling with his contented face, hardened his face as soon as Leopold walked away.
"Who told Leo about his younger brother?"
"It is not something your Majesty should worry about. It seems like some of the playmates have younger siblings."
"You weren't talking about that kid?"
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Seeing Serena's swarthy expression, Ruber gave up his doubts. He soon stroked Serena's cheek with a relaxed expression.
"Recently, the number of people who have seen that child has increased, and I am worried. I don't know if I scared you for no reason."
"No. It's something Your Majesty might be worried about."
He was worried that someone had leaked the story about Lucian to Leopold. It had been secretly raised in a place where people could not see, but it was exposed to many people three months ago.
Of course, to prepare for an unexpected situation, we created a story that said.
'There was no choice but to turn the orphan into a member of the royal family and offer him up as a sacrifice.'
In addition, even if exposed, the person who previously cared for Lucian and everyone who served him at the time were erased from the world so that they could not even speak.
However, there was a bit of a commotion when they sent him to the haunted mansion, so there was a good chance that someone would have seen it.
"Dane, are you continuing to send supplies to the haunted mansion?"
Chamberlain Dane trembled and lowered his head.
"A servant named James is sending supplies once a month."
"Is this person trustworthy?"
"Yes. A person with a heavy mouth and no fear of haunted mansions. I haven't told anyone about him or the haunted mansion yet. I will keep an eye on it."
"Hmm. That's it then. It would be easier to have one person in charge rather than constantly changing people. However, if he does anything suspicious, report it immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"No one should know about that child. Especially for Leopold."
The Empress and Dane bowed their heads. Ruber turned back and looked at Leopold, who was picking out accessories in the distance, with meaningful eyes.
He wrinkled his nose and thought hard, but when he made eye contact with Ruber, he smiled brightly.
Ruber smiled slightly and waved his hand. Then suddenly his hands started shaking. Because it reminded him of his second son, whom he met for the first time four years ago.
The younger son was scared yet full of curiosity. Perhaps because they were identical, they looked exactly like Leopold, but their auras were so different that they were clearly distinguishable.
The last time he saw the child was when Lucian was riding in a carriage heading to the haunted mansion.
Since he was born as a twin brother, Ruber thought he was very considerate by keeping him alive instead of killing him, but his blood still his blood?
'It never goes away from my mind."
Ruber was afraid of this, so he stopped seeing that child. When Empress Serena was told that the twins were born, she did not even look at Lucian, who was born late.
Because it's obvious that she will fall in love with it once she sees it. Her choice was right. Even now, she looks like she's going to cry at the mere mention of Lucian.
Ruber quietly wrapped his arms around Serena's shoulders.
Ruber just rationalized that he had done all he could and tried to erase Lucian from his mind.
***
Lucian's birthday is D-day.
Leah and Caesar acted as usual as planned and had Lucian run an errand.
"Am I going alone this time?"
[Yes, you said you memorized all the directions, right?]
"Yes!"
"I won't follow you, so don't follow that strange bastard, and don't give in even if he offers you food. If you force me to drag you. I'll kick your dick!"
I wanted to say that he was teaching really good things, but Leah remained silent because she was still worried.
Caesar used magic to change Lucian's appearance like last time. Caesar, who was firmly putting the hat on Lucian, was silent for a moment and then jabbed Leah's side with his elbow.
"Look. It was a good investment, right?"
[l agree this time.]
Lucian wore the new clothes he bought last time. He definitely got his money's worth. He was so cute and charming that you could even believe he was an aristocratic child.
[Shouldn't you follow along now?]
Caesar glared at Leah, telling her to make sense.
[Still, I feel uneasy if I send him away like that. Lucian is so pretty.]
"Ugh, Lucian. How is it that your bride wraps you around like this? Aren't you going to be stuck like this?"
[Shut up.]
Caesar slapped away Leah's hand that was holding Lucian and led him to the front door. Leah glared at Caesar with a sharp look in her eyes and had no choice but to see Lucian off.
"Here, what you need to buy. I packed my subspace pocket. so I put my stuff there. "After using it, put it in your inner pocket."
"Huh. I'll keep it close because someone could steal it."
Lucian snorted, saying it wasn't his kid.
[Lucian, you don't have to buy everything there. If you get tired or scared, come back anytime, okay?]
"All right. Then, I'll be back!"
Lucian spoke confidently and bravely escaped the fence. Leah stared at Lucian's back as he walked away. Caesar, who was next to her, clicked his tongue.
"It's sad. It's sad. Hey. 8 years old isn't that young. I'm sure he'll figure it out well. You know we have a lot of things to do today, right?"
[Who doesn't know that? I'm just worried.]
Caesar told me to stop coming in and head to the mansion first. Leah was still worried about Lucian and could not leave her seat. Suddenly, Lucian became a dot in the distance.
"Leah! Come quickly!'
[That lizard bastard. You are urging me so much.]
Leah grumbled and had no choice but to head to the mansion.
***
Lucian swallowed hard as he arrived at the village. He was actually nervous, even though he was going to rant to Leah and Caesar.
"Come, come! Fresh apples just picked this morning! "
"This opportunity doesn't come around every day! Buy now and get it for half price!"
"This item is sold out these days!!"
"If you miss this opportunity now, there's no guarantee when you'll be able to live!"
Lucian took his breath away when he saw the merchants touting customers. People moved around in a hurry, and the crowds filled the square. But Lucian steeled himself and looked at the list of errands Caesar had given him.
"Sugar, almonds, seasonal fruits, mortar... Mortar?"
Lucian didn't know what a mortar was, but he decided to buy what he knew first. He would wander around the market and if he saw something on the list, he would buy it right away. If he couldn't find it, he would ask people and go to the store.
"Excuse me..."
Lucian snooped around the spice stand with a crawling voice. The owner, who had been dozing off, suddenly woke up and opened his eyes again when he saw Lucian.
"Hmm. What are you looking for, kid?"
"I came to buy sugar."
"Sugar? For your mom?"
"Yes? Yes..."
Sugar is one of the most expensive spices, so most commoners cannot even think about buying it. But you came to buy sugar on an errand?
"Did you mistake honey for sugar?"
"It says sugar here."
"Hmm Okay, then how much do you need?"
"Oh. It's not written down."
Lucian grunted and roughly raised his fists. The store owner watched him and wrapped the sugar in a cloth. The owner who was measuring the scales took a quick look at Lucian and called out the price.
"2 gold."
"2 gold? Wait a minute."
The store owner asked for 50 silver higher, but he willingly gave it to him? The store owner was inwardly delighted as he wondered what kind of rice cake this was. The moment Lucian innocently tried to lay down 2 gold, someone blocked his hand.
"You have no one to fool, so you fool the child, Mister."
"So, you're fooling me! Who are you!"
"Uh? D.I.O?"
The person who helped Lucian was none other than Dio, the son of the weapon shop owner. He snorted without even giving Lucian a glance.
"Just looking at it. It looks like it's worth less than 2 gold. This is 1 gold and 30 silver, right?"
"30 silver! 1 gold 50 silver. Huh."
The owner, who had mentioned the original price without realizing it, covered his mouth. But Dio, who heard everything, glared at him.
"Look! It's true that you covered it with a dump!"
"This little guy! What does a young person know..."
"Oh my! Local people, look here! A grown man tricks a kid who doesn't know anything into eating it!"
Dio did not give in to the adult's threats and instead made a loud noise, attracting attention. People passing by snooped around to see what was going on.
"Look here! This guy is now..."
"Ah! Ah! I get it! Please be quiet!"
"Mister, I am a native here. If you want to keep doing business, you have to stop deceiving people."
"... The young bastard is showing off his pride. Yes, I understand! Do whatever you want!"
"Did you hear? Not 2 gold..."
Dio took out 1 gold and 30 silver from Lucian's purse and put them on the stand.
"This guy! 1 gold 50 silver! You have to pay the remaining 20 silver!"
"If I cheated 50 silver, wouldn't I have to deduct that much? If you don't like it, don't. Many people..."
"Oh my! Okay, get the hell out of here!"
In the end, the owner raised both hands and feet and kicked the two people out in front of the stall. Lucian blinked at what happened so quickly. Dio stuck out his tongue at the grinning owner and handed Lucian a bag of sugar.
"Here."
"Thank you."
"You must bargain in the market. They usually charge higher than the cost price. You've never run an errand before, have you?"
"Huh. It seemed like it."
"Are you a noble?"
Dio looked up and down Lucian, who was much cuter than before. Lucian shook his head, recalling Leah's words that he should never reveal his identity.
"Or else."
Lucian glanced at Dio, who was pouting and kicking the floor. When the stare became burdensome, Dio rolled his eyes and scratched his head.
"I'm going."
Dio left Lucian behind. And he grumbled inwardly.
'Tch, did I help you for no reason?'
On his way back from running errands for his dad, Dio happened to find Lucian. Because he had such a striking face, he was able to recognize him right away.
Dio didn't really ask for anything in particular, but he thought we would at least become friends, but he didn't say anything.
"Ugh, what do I want..."
"Why are you sighing?"
"Aaaah!"
Dio suddenly shouted at the voice right next to him. Lucian flinched and stepped back.
Comments
Post a Comment