TAPGB - Chapter 55
The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride
"Your birthday is the day after tomorrow, why are you doing this?"
"You've been acting strange for a few days now, haven't you?"
"Has something happened? Why, you went out every day for a while, but then you suddenly stopped."
"I guess something happened outside."
Two days left until Leopold's birthday. While everyone was having fun and busy preparing for the party, the birthday person stayed in the library and never came out.
He, who always gave off bright energy and brought happiness to people, turned into a different person in just a few days.
There were frequent days when he was wary of people with his sharp eyes and shouted at them.
No matter how much they tried to suppress it, the rumor spread quickly among the users.
"... Isn't the Crown Prince coming out of the library again today?"
Empress Serena, who was feeling Leopold's change more keenly than anyone else, asked her maid with a worried expression.
"Yes, Your Majesty. He hasn't come out for several days, having kicked out all the librarians."
"... How are the preparations for the birth banquet going?"
"First of all, we are preparing as you ordered us a while ago, but since you have stopped doing everything eight days ago, we have done our best to suit his taste. Oh, and he suddenly said he wouldn't hold a masquerade ball."
Although Leopold is not in charge of preparing the party, the composition and general picture should reflect his tastes, so he must prepare together right up to the birthday banquet. But suddenly, the lovely son started to feel strange about 8 days ago.
"It won't work. I will take action myself."
Up until now, the Empress watched him in silence, but she can't ignore him any longer.
The day after tomorrow is his birth banquet. Fundamentally, it is to celebrate his birthday, but it is also an opportunity to publicize to the empire the results of his study abroad trip and that he is alive and well.
He shouldn't appear in front of nobles in such a mess.
Serena followed the maid's guidance and headed to the library. In front of the library, the expelled librarian, guard knights, and servants were standing in disorder.
They all paced restlessly in front of the tightly closed library.
"Woah, meet the Empress!"
Those who found Serena quickly greeted her.
"Is the Crown Prince alone here?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. She didn't come out today, skipping breakfast or lunch."
"... It's definitely something out of the ordinary."
Serena held the library door.
Clap.
But the door was tightly locked from the inside. It seemed as if there was a will to prevent anyone from entering.
"Open."
The servants and knights looked at each other and then brought the key. A door that seemed like it would never be opened has opened.
"I will go in alone, so no one should come in."
"I will follow your orders."
So Serena entered the library alone.
"Leopold, your mother has arrived. Please answer."
Serena looked around. But for some reason, she didn't feel like she was popular. Her unknown anxiety enveloped her entire body.
Serena walked quickly and set out to find Leopold. Before long, she reached the deepest part of the library. The door to the innermost archive room was wide open.
"Why are you here...”
The archives room is a very important place that records the historical events of the imperial family from the time of the first Emperor to the present.
Therefore, security is strict and no one except a very few who are allowed access is allowed to enter.
Of course, Leopold is the Crown Prince prince, so he has full authority to enter, but why is he here?
Leopold was muttering something with bloodshot eyes among the scattered books.
"It was so true. How can a person..."
"Leopold!"
At the Empress's shout, Leopold stopped muttering and raised his head. Serena was moved to tears at the sight of her haggard son.
"What are you doing now? Have you forgotten that the day after tomorrow is the birth banquet? Oh my gosh, look at how flaky your skin has become. What on earth were you doing?"
Slap!
When Serena tried to stroke Leopold's cheek, Leopold reflexively slapped her hand away.
Serena was momentarily embarrassed and grabbed the back of her red hand.
".... Leopold?"
“Ha, ha, ha....”
Leopold was glaring at Serena.
And that too, is full of resentment.
She was embarrassed as she had never been treated like this by her son.
"Why on earth are you doing that?"
"Don't come closer!"
Serena winced again. Whether she was hurt or not, Leopold hated the sight of her like crazy.
How, how can people... No, how could a mother beat her child so coldly?
After gathering information over the past eight days, he was confident that Lucian was his abandoned younger brother.
There was absolutely no information related to Lucian. There is only a gap of about a month after it is written that one was born.
That means that there is something to hide in the meantime, so it was not recorded intentionally.
In addition, when he looked at the imperial records seven years ago, he saw traces of revisions to the records of several employees at the same time. They were all people with no specific affiliation listed. It was understandable that the purpose was to send Lucian to the haunted mansion and eliminate those who saw him.
Historically, the imperial family killed all born twins, regardless of whether they were older or younger. Compared to that, the fact that he and Lucian are alive may be simply luck of heaven or his father's arrangement.
Leopold can clearly see that his father reacted wisely in his own way, but...
'But it's still so terrible.'
If he hadn't become close to Lucian, he would have felt fortunate that he didn't kill his younger brother.
However, he cannot say that he's just glad to be alive when he knows the whole truth.
"Leopold, what's going on... Tell this mother."
Leopold scratched his arm as he heard Serena's sweet whisper. The more he felt his mother's love, the more he remembered Lucian, who had never received her love.
He shouldn't let her know that he knew everything. He must not tell anyone, not just her. If that happens, Lucian might be in danger.
Even though Leopold knows that for now, he has to act like he doesn't know anything, he wants to ask his parents.
"...Why did you do that?"
"Leopold...?"
"Why on earth did you do that..... Why did you do that? Why did you do that! Why! Why! That's what you said! Why!"
Serena was so embarrassed as Leopold struggled and shed tears. She didn't know why he was so angry, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she had done something wrong.
".... The mother was wrong. I don't know what it was, but the mother did everything wrong. So please forgive me."
Serena's apology made him even more breathless. Would she have reacted the same even if Lucian had been this angry?
"What the hell is going on!"
A thunderous roar was heard. The Emperor, Ruber, could not hide his confused expression and glared at Leopold.
He, like Serena, had come to check on Leopold's condition and had just witnessed Leopold getting angry at Serena. The archive room was a mess and the son was stained with tears and full of venom.
As Ruber heard, Leopold's condition was unusual, but the sight of him screaming at his mother was not right.
Ruber walked up to Leopold and slapped him on the cheek.
Slap!
"Your Majesty!"
"What kind of obscenity is this? How can you raise your voice to your mother!"
Leopold lowered his head with his face still turned. But his eyes still stared at his father through his disheveled white hair. When Ruber tried to raise his hand again, Serena hurriedly stopped him. Only then did Ruber sigh and lower his hand.
"There are two days left until your birthday. "LWhy should we fight as a family on such a happy day?"
“Ha ha ha... Happy day...”
Leopold let out a hollow laugh, and his eyes soon became empty.
"Don't worry. I will make sure that Father doesn't have to worry. Isn't it enough to just let people know that I am healthy?
"..."
"I'm sorry, but I don't have the confidence to face you two anymore. I will now leave."
"Leopold!"
"Please! Don't make me miserable anymore...."
As Serena stumbled in shock at the sight of her son standing on the edge of a cliff, Ruber clenched his molars.
To Leopold now, the worried eyes of his parents and the restless gazes of his employees all seemed pretentious.
He feels like he's been thrown into hell.
'Has Lucian always felt like this? Is he that angry because I boasted without knowing how to do it?"
If he could, he would like to turn back time.
Leopold, who managed to stumble into the room, raised his head when he saw who was inside.
".... Your Highness."
It was Harry.
The moment Leopold saw him, he felt that the dam that had been building up was about to burst. Seeing Leopold with tears streaming down his face, Harry quickly approached him.
"Harry, what should I do? What should I do...?"
Harry, who didn't know why, couldn't do anything other than calmly comfort him.
***
"Are you really not going down to the village? There are a lot of delicious things to eat."
".... It's okay."
Dio groaned and looked at Lucian. He came to the mansion early in the morning to celebrate his birthday, but Lucian was still in a state of low pressure. Dio vaguely knows that something happened to him ten days ago.
The reason for this was a fight with Leopold.
'If the person who always comes doesn't come, the reason is obvious.'
Moreover, Harry suddenly came to see him yesterday and asked about Lucian's condition.
'Yeah, he doesn't have any energy....'
'Okay. Please keep it a secret that I found Lucian.'
'Your Highness? It's his birthday tomorrow. I'm busy preparing for the banquet.'
Although he spoke slyly, Dio could tell that he was lying by looking at his strangely quick-witted manner.
Harry and Leopold couldn't miss today's birthday banquet, so they wanted to congratulate Lucian, but the situation was like this.
"Okay, then. Let's play here today."
".... You go. You wanted to go to the festival."
"You're not the kind of person who's going to go to Hellele without a birthday party, right? It's okay because the festival is held tomorrow as well. My friend is depressed. Shouldn't I be there for him?"
"Who would be depressed..."
Dio chuckled when he saw the corner of Lucian's mouth rise slightly.
[Guys, eat lunch. I showed off my skills today.]
I, who had been watching the situation from afar approached them when the atmosphere softened.
When I held up the plate to Dio, I immediately understood.
As I led them to the dining room that I had prepared in advance instead of the kitchen today, the two people's eyes widened.
"Wow! It's a sumptuous feast!"
"..... I said I couldn't see you since morning. Is it because you were getting ready?"
I felt proud to see Lucian's touched expression. I said, putting my hand on his shoulder.
[Because there isn't much I can do for you. Shouldn't we do it like this?]
"What are you talking about? There are so many things Leah has done for me. Still... Thank you. I'm happy."
[I made everything with what you like. I made a not-too-sweet carrot cake, how about it?]
"No matter what I eat, Leah's cake is delicious."
As soon as his face softened, I grabbed his cheek and briefly kissed his forehead. Lucian was momentarily dumbfounded and covered his forehead.
"Lee, Leah...?"
[Happy birthday, Lucian. I'm so glad you came to me.]
Lucian's face lit up. When he covered his face with the back of his hand and looked embarrassed, I laughed softly.
Dio, who saw that scene belatedly, tilted his head.
"What's wrong with your face? The bright red one looks like a tomato."
"Si, it's noisy! Just eat quietly."
"OMG? Why are you suddenly so angry and upset?"
I smiled at the two people's banter as usual.
In this way, I and Dio was able to sing a happy birthday song to Lcian, eat together, and have a proper birthday. When the meal was almost over, something flew in through the open window. The three blinked and looked at it.
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