TAPGB - Chapter 69

 The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

"What are you doing so dangerously?"

Marquis Graham returned, and Ruber pointed out Lucian's unexpected behavior. He heard that Harry Graham was a close friend.

 "Wouldn't this be enough to alleviate suspicion? But don't do that again next time. There are still many risk factors."

Lucian nodded obediently.

The Duke of Sevans came last in line. The Duke and his party and Lilith greeted Lucian.

Indeed, the friendship between the Emperor and the Duke was quite strong, perhaps because they had been engaged since ancient times.

"Ahahaha, when did you grow up so much? Although I am surprised every time I see you. I get a fresh shock when I see Your Highness. It looks like we're the last in line, how about a dance with the ladies? The master of today's banquet should demonstrate at least once."

When Lucian glanced at Ruber, he couldn't help but nod. When he looked indifferently in front of him, he saw Lilith standing there with a simple appearance.

The light pink hair that looked as cozy as cotton candy and the sparkling inside of the wall-like glass beads further enhanced the delicate features of the small face.

This was Lucian's first time seeing her again since he happened to see her at the theater three years ago.

It was a beauty that made him understand why Leopold was missing. First of all, Lucian had to play Leopold, so he said things he would say.

"You're beautiful today too."

"That's too much praise, Your Highness."

Lilith spoke shyly, but her eyes were shining darkly.

'What exactly is so pure?'

Even at first glance, Lucian recognized that she was a different person inside and out. Suddenly, Harry remembered looking at Lilith's scars.

'Yesterday, Princess Sevans went on an outing with another Young Master. She knows clearly what His Majesty thinks of her, and yet she commits such a reckless act? I don't like her. What is it about Princess Sevans that Lucian likes so much about her? He's openly hanging out with other guys!'

Lucian finally understood what Harry said. He says this woman does not love Leopold. Just acting out love.

'I feel sorry for Leopold.'

Lucian, who had completely lost his affection for Lilith, thought he should just dance quickly and get it over with, so he just escorted her out and half-heartedly responded. 

"Your Highness, you are being quiet today."

As the dance neared its end, Lilith also seemed to have noticed something strange and expressed her dissatisfaction with a pouting expression.

"I'm sorry. I'm just tired today. Do you understand?"

"What... It was definitely a forced march. You worked hard. Are you going to dance with another Lady after this?"

"No. I'm tired, so I'll just go in."

 "Yes? But... There are many young ladies waiting for you. Even now, they're giving me harsh looks behind my back."

So what is he going to do?

Lucian doesn't know what Lilith is thinking when she asks this question. Is she trying to arouse some strange sympathy or jealousy?

'I can't watch it because it's the same.'

"Is it? Then I guess I'll have to try my best."

Lilith's smiling face froze. It seems like she was hoping for an answer. 'You're the only one I have.'

He's laughing. He enjoys everything he can do with other young people.

For a moment, he seriously considered dancing with another Lady to get revenge on her for being blind to Leopold.

However, the music ended before a decision could be made, and Lucian decided that it was time to take Lilith to the outskirts.

"Well, Your Highness, are you really planning on dancing with another Lady?"

"... Well. I wonder what it would be like."

As he looked around, he saw quite a few women with shining eyes. Lucian thinks you he catch any of them.

At that time, his eyes met Harry in the distance. He nodded.

"I guess I'll just go in now. Enjoy the rest of the banquet, Lilith. Don't get too carried away with the atmosphere. There are a lot of people around to see it."

In short, it meant not to get caught hanging out with other men. Lilith looked at Lucian with a slightly pale face, but Lucian walked without hesitation without giving her the slightest glance.

Although he could feel Ruber's gaze in the distance, he did everything he had to do.

Lucian left the banquet hall and went into the hallway Harry had headed towards. Before long, Harry appeared.

'Room! No, Your Highness...'

Since there were still people around, Harry was as careful as he could with what he said.

Lucian looked at his surroundings, grabbed his arm, and headed toward the Crown Prince's room.

He then blocked out the sounds around him and Harry.

"You can talk now."

"Lucian! It was really you! How on earth did this happen? Where is Leopold going and why are you here?! Leopold was definitely there this morning..."

"Leopold has fallen."

"...What?"

"I don't know the details either. Suddenly, the imperial court came looking for me and asked me to act as Leopold. He was attacked... He probably has trouble getting up from his seat."

"What is that...."

Harry was in great shock and his hands were shaking. Lucian was feeling the same way, although he was hiding it well now.

"Do you know who was attacked? Who's behind it? How is he now?!"

"I don't know either. But they said they couldn't tell when he would regain consciousness."

"Oh God..."

As Harry looked devastated, Lucian stopped and grabbed his shoulder.

"Why am I imitating Leopo Id? No one should know that Leopold has fallen now."

"If that happens, there will be chaos,"

"Okay. You know how much effort Leopold put into becoming Emperor. I can't let my brother's efforts go to waste."

Harry pursed his lips and rubbed his red eyes. His expression became more determined.

"Anyway, I'm going back to the mansion today. So, please take care of my brother when I'm not around."

"There may not be much I can do, but I will definitely contact you when Leopold regains consciousness. Don't worry, go back to the mansion."

"Yeah, I'm glad I have you."

The two men patted each other and headed to the Crown Prince's room. Leopold and Harry were close friends anyway, so no one would doubt their appearance.

When I entered the room, the gift I received at the banquet hall had been moved there. Harry paused when he saw that.

'Ah! The gift I prepared...."

Harry picked up the gift box he had brought among the pile of presents. And he hesitantly approached Lucian.

"What is that?"

"Actually Leopold has something else to ask of me."

Harry unwrapped the gift box himself and showed it to him. Lucian's eyes trembled slightly when he saw that.

"This...."

It was the exact same design as the one Lucian was currently wearing with only a different color.

"To commemorate your coming of age, His Highness wanted to match your clothes. In fact, it's true that you should be here today as well."

This was a gift for Lucian prepared by Leopold.

Lucian was feeling overwhelmed for a moment and played with his neatly folded clothes. Harry also fell silent when he saw Lucian frowning in pain.

Knock.

"I will go in, Your Majesty."

At that time, Lucian heard Dane's voice, and before he had time to stop him. 

Dane came inside and faced a confused Lucian and Harry.

He looked at the two people in shock for a moment. Then he carefully closed the door and locked it to prevent anyone from entering.

"I didn't believe it. I see you two knew each other."

Dane had followed Lucian as he and Harry left the party.

"Have you already met His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Dane, what do you mean? I can't believe I'm meeting myself..."

After trying to pretend not to notice for a moment. Dane opened his mouth.

"Now I understand the anties of His Majesty the Crown Prince. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was particularly interested in twins. And there were times when he would pass by everyone and disappear as if out of nowhere. If he was going out in secret, he would have at least brought a knight with him, but he showed no signs of doing so."

Chamberlain Dane's eyes and ears are everywhere. He had heard information that Leopold was wandering around the imperial garden and suddenly disappeared. Even with surveillance, there were more than one or two instances where he had a hard time being ostracized like a ghost.

When he thought about the location where he disappeared, he realized that it was near the mountain leading to the haunted mansion. 

'Why didn't I know?"

Lucian knew Leopold too well and played him perfectly. Isn't this something that can be understood simply by the word genius?

"I received reports that whenever the Marquess of Graham went out to visit, he was with foreign friends. I wonder if His Highness Lucian was among them?"

Even without hearing an answer, Dane was convinced. Because Harry didn't look confused, but rather confused.

"Are you planning to tell His Majesty the Emperor?"

"Oh my God!"

Dane was in despair, like a person about to collapse.

Lucian and Leopold knew each other.

"When on earth...Since when?"

"3 years ago."

"3 years. Haha... It overlaps with the period during which His Highness the Crown Prince changed."

His heart was throbbing. It was extremely painful to know that only two people had to endure the terrible truth.

"I ask again. Are you planning to tell His Majesty the Emperor?"

Lucian asked nervously. Dane's eyes wavered and he shook his head.

"... No. I won't tell him."

"Why? If they found out that I was in cahoots with Leopold, they would try to deal with me right away."

Harry flinched at the pessimistic tone, and Lucian had cold, cold eyes.

"That's why... I can't hurt His Highness any more than this."

His answer made him more angry than relieved. When did he stop abandoning him, ignoring him, and treating him like someone who doesn't exist, and now he's saying it's for him?

"Lucian."

Harry sensed Lucian's anger and grabbed his arm. Lucian took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.

"Okay, if you don't tell him, it's fine with me. We won't be meeting again after today, so you just need to keep quiet."

Dane felt a bitter taste in his mouth when he saw that Harry was not included in the watch list.

'Well, it's strange to be suspicious since he probably continued to hide the truth like His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.'

The friendship of young people who had just become adults was better than that of foolish adults..

"It's better. Let's ask what happened already. What on earth happened to Leopold?"

Lucian's nervous tone was directed only at Dane, and his eyes were filled with concern for Leopold. While he was relieved to see that he wasn't jealous of his twin brother.

He's sure their friendship wasn't that strong when they first met. 

'It would be right to at least tell the truth.'

Dane slowly opened his mouth and told about what happened at the temple. Harry and Lucian widened their eyes in shock.

"So, now I am guessing that Leopold has been affected by black magic."

"Well. Your Highness..."

Harry stumbled in shock, unable to control himself, and Lucian's clenched fists trembled.

"The person behind it... Has the background been revealed?"

"We haven't found out yet. It hasn't been 24 hours since the incident happened."

"Then when will Leopold wake up?"

"I'm sorry, but that's also unknown."

How can they be so incompetent? It's said that Crown Prince Leopold, not anyone else, was attacked and nothing has been resolved. Lucian was appalled by the incompetence of the imperial family.

"Everything is finished today, so we can start the search right away. Do not worry."

"Ha, it seems like you are naturally telling me not to worry in a situation where you don't know when the Crown Prince will wake up."

"I apologize."

There is nothing wrong with Dane. All of this was just an act of anger.

"Guide me."

"Yes?"

"Guide me to Leopold."

Dane pursed his lips and hesitated to answer.

"Currently. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is under strict surveillance and protection. You can't just bring in foreigners...."

"Since when did my family become foreigners?"

"..."

Lucian sighed, knowing that these words were not meant to ostracize him.

"I may have a sharp sword, so I'm asking you to guide me to him."

"What, is there something?!"

"I'll have to see it myself to find out. But, if it's something I can solve, I'll be happy to help."

Lucian revealed that he was a 4th circle wizard. Dane was surprised by this, but soon he began to wonder how he could solve a problem that even a 6th circle wizard could not solve.

'No. Now is not the time to be reckless.

Ruber entrusted Leopold's safety to Dane. So, if he treats it well, there will be no problem if he takes Lucian to Leopold.

'Because it was confirmed that His Highness Lucian had nothing to do with this incident in the first place.'

For a moment, Dane wondered if Lucian was behind the attack on Leopold. Of course, this also required the premise that Lucian knew that he and Leopold were twins and that he was overcome with hatred toward the imperial family.

However, the person in front of him now did not fit into any of those premises.

"I knew. However, the only person I can take is His Highness Lucian."

"I will stay here! Lucian! Please take good care of Leopold."

Lucian nodded at Harry's heavy hand.

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