TAPGB - Chapter 67

TAPGB - Chapter 67

 The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

"Oh, why don't you stay a little longer."

"I had a bit of a fight with Leah when I left. I think I should go quickly and makeup."

Dio, who was whining, glanced at Lucian with a pouting expression. He didn't think Lucian was lying.

The current time is 5pm. Dio wants to feed Lucian until dinner, but...

"Ugh, then go quickly and beg Leah."

Dio raised his hands first.

"Thank you for understanding, Dio."

"It's okay. I'm making a special concession because you guys seem to be fighting a lot these days."

Lucian smiled bitterly at the words that hit his bones.

"The day after tomorrow, the announcement of acceptance into the Imperial Knights will be announced. If I succeed, I have to move into a training camp right away, so I might not be able to see you for a few days?"

"Then I guess I should congratulate you in advance. The next time we meet, will you appear as an imperial knight?"

"Hoo, don't get excited! It hasn't been announced yet!"

Although Dio shouted, Lucian's words seemed to please him and he burst into laughter.

Soon the two broke up. Lucian left the village and entered the forest toward the haunted mansion.

"Ha, what should I say?"

He's sorry for getting angry.

He was too harsh.

He won't do that again next time.

Many apologies were offered, but Lucian didn't really like any of them. This is because there was still a feeling of disappointment for Leah in a corner of his heart.

"Still... I'll have to bow first and go in."

Honestly, that's what makes Lucian feel the most comfortable.

While Lucian was trying to figure out how to apologize, he came across the roof of the haunted mansion. But he too had to stop for a moment. Because some knights were standing not far away.

"Hmm?"

One of the knights sensed someone's presence and turned around. Soon he said something to the front line. The knights stopped and looked back at Lucian.

Lucian sensed an ominous energy and took a step back. At that time, a middle-aged man came out from behind the knights.

 "... Nice to meet you, Your Highness Prince Lucian."

Lucian trembled when he referred to him not only by name but also as Prince.

"My name is Dane Orville, and I am the Imperial Chamberlain. I have come to see His Highness Lucian."

"... What?"

What on earth is that guy saying to him...

He came to pick him up? Is this perhaps Leopold's order?

Now?

'No, if it were Leopold, he would have come himself. And Leopold only had his coming of age ceremony today, he did not inherit the throne.'

In that case, the person who came to see him now received orders from a member of the royal family other than Leopold.

A person was drawn into Lucian's mind.

“Ha ha ha... Ha ha ha ha ha!”

When Lucian suddenly burst into laughter, the knights were confused, and Dane made a confused expression.

Lucian stopped laughing and glared at Dane with cold eyes.

"It's funny and embarrassing. The person who abandoned me here is now looking for me?"

‎"..."‬‎

"It looks like you came under the Emperor's orders, is that correct?"

"I apologize."

At the admission, Lucian sneered.

"Yes, tell him, Dane. I will speak clearly. If you want to take me away, tell me first with that noble face."

The knights' faces were distorted by the remark insulting the Emperor 

"How outrageous! Who dares..."

"You have to cut that tongue out right away... !"

"Stop! Who is safe now and is taking out a knife?"

Dane screamed as the knights all drew their swords with deadly intent.

"This is Prince Lucian Odelion! Be polite!"

At Dane's words, the knights hesitated and whispered to each other.

"...Is it true that he is His Highness the Prince?"

"You certainly look just like His Royal Highness, but he doesn't have golden eyes."

"...I never would have thought that His Highness the Crown Prince was a twin."

Dane sighed. It wasn't that he didn't understand the knights' confusion. It is a fact that only a few people know that Leopold and Lucian are twins.

"I know this is a sudden situation, but we don't have much time. I will take you by force."

"...If you can, give it a try."

Lucian took out the sword from his waist. It was a famous sword that Caesar had given him as a birthday present three years ago.

The knights who did not know Lucian's skills approached him with a laugh as if it were ridiculous.

"You must never hurt him. Suppress him so he doesn't get hurt."

"Yes."

The knights surrounded Lucian. They put pressure on Lucian and looked for an opening. 

Although he had sparred with Dio and Caesar several times, Lucian did not let down his nerves as it was his first time-fighting in real life.

At that time, a sharp warning came from behind.

Hyaaa!

Lucian immediately blocked it and struck back strongly. The knight's eyes widened at the strength and accuracy that was greater than expected.

"He is a talented person. Don't relax!"

The knights' eyes became sharper. Normally, if the other person was young, they would let down their guard, but he didn't make that beginner's mistake.

As the knights began to demonstrate their power in earnest, looking for an opening here and there, Lucian gritted his teeth and barely managed to avoid their attacks.

Even after all this, Lucian, who had been taught by dragons, was not easily defeated by them.

Hyaaa!

A total of five elite imperial knights joined together to attack Lucian, but they all broke into a cold sweat.

 'It looks like I just recently became an adult....!'

"That's a great skill. He has skills that are rare among kids his age." 

'But even if they do, they won't be able to defeat us.'

No matter how much better Lucian's skills were compared to his peers, he was significantly lacking in actual combat experience, and it was difficult to deal with five elite knights at the same time.

“...Pfft!”

Eventually, Lucian began to lose ground. Without missing the opportunity, one of the knights struck down Lucian's sword.

The other knights rushed at the same time, grabbing Lucian's arms and dropping his sword.

"Shit! Why don't you get out of here?!"

Lucian struggled but was overpowered by them and pinned to the floor.

"Please forgive my rudeness, Your Highness." 

"Why on earth are you doing this now! A few days ago, you said you wouldn't be sending any more supplies! Aren't you trying to treat me like a non-existent person?!"

Dane made a bitter expression.

"You're right. I wanted you to live a new life like this without being tied down by the imperial family."

"Ha, you're just talking nonsense. Those who abandoned me must have blessed me with a new life."

Lucian is right.

Neither Ruber nor Serena thought about Lucian until Leopold collapsed.

No, they would have erased all thoughts of him a long time ago. In fact, for 18 years, they treated him like a child who didn't exist. 

'Ironically, the person who needs it the most in the current situation is His Highness Lucian.'

Dane did not meet Lucian in person or actually take care of him, but as he received reports from James periodically and inspected him once or twice a year, he unconsciously developed an interest in Lucian.

So, Dane was very unhappy with this situation. Dane thought he should reveal the truth rather than try to lure Lucian with fancy words.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has collapsed."

Lucian, who was thinking about using magic to escape, stopped at Dane's words and looked up at him.

Dane, who didn't know that Lucian and Leopold were close, thought he was just surprised.

"We don't know when he will regain consciousness, so we need someone to take his place."

"Leo... No, the Crown Prince collapsed?"

Lucian, conscious of the attention of those around him, changed his name midway. Of course, no one noticed that minor change.

"... Why?"

"We will go to the imperial palace to discuss details. Please help me just this once. If you help me, I will definitely repay you."

Lucian was just confused about the current situation.

'Leopold has fallen...'

He was in good health when Lucian saw him in the parade just a few hours ago. Didn't he tell himself to wait a little bit?

But why is he hearing the news that Leopold collapsed?

Lucian's heart sank and he became anxious that something might be wrong with Leopold.

'I need to find out what happened to Leopold.'

"... Can I help you just this time?"

Dane smiled brightly at the positive answer.

"Yes! All you have to do is pretend to be His Highness at an upcoming party. We will cover the culture and dance parts on our own."

Lucian thought carefully and then raised his head.

"Take the lead." 

Dane was greatly relieved and quickly got Lucian up. Lucian shook off the dirt and dust and sheathed his sword.

"Come on, let's go this way, the carriage has been prepared."

Dane hurriedly took the lead. As he was about to follow him, a haunted mansion suddenly came into Lucian's sight.

"Can I stop by the mansion for a moment before I go?"

"Sorry. It's so late now that I think we should go right away."

"But..."

"If you need anything, please let me know. We will provide you with better items."

He wants to meet Leah, not an object.

'Well, I just need to postpone it for a bit tonight, so I can come back right away, right?'

"Let's go quickly, Your Highness."

Lucian looked at the ghostly mansion in the distance, with only the edge of the roof visible, and turned his head forward at Dane's urging. Lucian followed Dane, intending to return at least tonight.

Never knowing that it would be his last time with Leah...

***

Lucian arrived at the imperial palace in a carriage. He looked at the imperial palace with new eyes.

It is an incredibly unfamiliar place. He had never been to such a splendid place, even when he lived in the imperial palace.

"Your Majesty, I have brought His Highness Prince Lucian."

"Come in."

The moment the door opened, Lucian clenched his fists.

In the room stood a middle-aged man with white hair and golden eyes, and a woman with brilliant blonde hair and blue eyes, just like him.

As soon as he saw them, Lucian instinctively recognized them.

'Those are my parents..."

This was his second time seeing his biological father, the Emperor, but it was his first time seeing his biological mother.

Until Lucian came here, his heart was pounding at the thought of meeting them. Lucian's heart was pounding not from anticipation, but from tension and anger. But strangely enough, now that the two are actually facing each other...

'... Nothing's wrong.'

That was his impression of his first meeting with his parents.

Thanks to this, Lucian was able to shake off the tension and face the two people comfortably.

However, they were looking at Lucian with complicated eyes, wondering if they were the other person.

What is in those eyes?

Guilty? Sadness? Regret? Sympathy? Either that or fear?

It must be complicated because the child they abandoned a long time ago appears in front of them in perfect condition.

Lucian instinctively thought that there was not a single trace of affection in their eyes. Perhaps that is the judgment he makes towards his parents when he meets them for the first time.

Lucian looked at the two for a while and then raised an eyebrow.

'Why aren't you talking?'

 If they called him for business, shouldn't you they something? 

Or maybe they're just too shy to even think about opening their mouth.

"... So, what is the purpose of your call, Your Majesty?"

Your Majesty the Emperor, not Father.

The choice of words clearly implied that Lucian and Ruber are not parents or children. Those words pierced Ruber's heart. At some point, Ruber may have erased Lucian from his mind and secretly expected Lucian to call him father. 

'That's foolish.'

The reason Ruber brought Lucian here in the first place was for the fallen Leopold. What on earth does he want from Lucian?

"...You really are just like the Crown Prince."

"That's right, we're twins."

When Ruber's eyebrows twitched and he looked at him with a look in his eyes as if he knew that, a sneer flowed from Lucian's mouth.

"I have ears too. Wouldn't anyone be suspicious if I were the same age and birthday as my older brother, the Crown Prince? Besides, if we are twins, I can understand to some extent why I grew up without ever seeing His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress."

It wasn't his intention, but Lucian's words pricked Ruber and Serena's conscience. In particular, Serena, who had turned away from Lucian as soon as he was born because she thought she would become attached to him when she saw his face, was so uncomfortable that she couldn't bear it. 

"To replace the fallen Crown Prince...The Crown Prince has been attacked by some kind and is unconscious. At present, we cannot guarantee when this will happen."

Lucian clenched his fists. He was angry that his beloved brother had fallen, but in the eyes of others who did not know the situation between the two, he thought Lucian was angry that he had called as a replacement.

"Today is a coming-of-age ceremony that only happens once in your life. And today, I was planning to announce that I would hand over the next throne to the Crown Prince. But, now that the Crown Prince has fallen, the story will come out in many ways... For today, we must let everyone know that the Crown Prince is safe."

Lucian was lost in thought.

'Lucian! Just trust this brother!'

I remembered Leopold smiling brightly at him.

'Brother...'

Lucian knows how hard Leopold worked for today. If this incident causes all the efforts he has made to go to waste, he thinks he will be even angrier.

'Honestly, I don't want to listen to those idiots' favor.'

But Lucian didn't want to ignore the situation Leopold was in either.

Lucian finally opened his tightly closed eyes.

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