Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 268

268

“This is annoying.”

The banquet began. And just like in the conference room, stalling for time continued at the banquet as well.

The Crown Prince’s absence was proof of that.

He couldn’t avoid appearing entirely, given the oath to the land, but his sinister intentions were palpable.

This was why Calypso disliked him. There wasn’t a single thing they had in common, not one.

“If you took all the elements that are the opposite of me and made them into a person, it would definitely be the Crown Prince.”

Crunch. Calypso crunched the ice in her drink fiercely.

“Ahahaha.”

Whale chuckled and replied kindly. “I see.”

“I’ve never met the Crown Prince, but I feel like I understand everything from your description.”

“Don’t even add ‘nim’ [a Korean honorific suffix] to his name. Not calling him ‘that bastard’ is the most respect we’re showing him.”

Whale wasn’t the only one with Calypso at the moment.

The number of attendees at the banquet was double that of the conference.

There were family heads and representatives, along with their retinues, and the large and small families in the capital. And, above all, there were plenty of guards.

‘Everyone is anticipating that a war might break out.’

It was that serious.

They were laughing and joking, but anyone who couldn’t sense the tension hanging in the air wouldn’t have been allowed in here.

Anyway, there were a few others standing next to Calypso.

Namely, the elephant chieftain Dana, the representative of the hippo beastmen, Ampila, and… Natasha, the leader of the snakes.

Calypso was initially surprised to see Natasha. She had sent someone else as a representative to the general assembly, but she wanted to attend the banquet in person and arrived in the evening.

The three chieftains and representatives either sympathized with Calypso’s words, gave bitter smiles, or pretended not to notice while forcing a smile.

“Everyone has a very understanding look on their faces.”

“I didn’t hear anything.”

Dana smiled with a calm face.

Calypso guessed that no matter how the Crown Prince concluded things at today’s banquet, the division of the empire would be unavoidable.

Aquasieldel, for one, had long since wanted to secede from the empire.

Dana had a peaceful expression, but Calypso knew from their earlier conversation that she had already made up her mind.

The western continent families also wanted independence.

“Sigh, I actually agree. How long are they going to keep people waiting before showing up?”

“Hmph, I agree too.”

Ampila couldn’t stand the Crown Prince’s absence and lost her temper, and Natasha elegantly waved her hand in agreement.

“…Orca Clan Head. How far has ‘that’ arrived?”

Dana asked quietly.

“It’s arrived, already.”

What she was asking about was Pierre and the troops he was leading.

Pierre had already arrived at a position where he could raid the capital if necessary.

A sense of relief appeared on the faces of those gathered.

Of course, Calypso was subtly using the power of water to prevent anyone from overhearing this conversation.

There was no need for Dana to ask indirectly.

“One thing I’m curious about…”

Calypso turned her head and looked at the end of the hall where the banquet was being held.

The emblem symbolizing the imperial family, the insignia, hung gracefully on one wall.

“I’m curious why the imperial family is turning a blind eye to the arrival of the troops, even though they know about it.”

There was a limit to hiding such a large force moving.

Moreover, the imperial family used the power of the land.

Pierre had warned that the imperial family must have sensed something unusual.

‘This is similar to……’

Calypso thought of one thing. Her eyes lowered darkly.

Regardless of what those in attendance were thinking, the banquet continued.

An hour passed, and a trumpet sounded in the banquet hall. It was a signal announcing the appearance of royalty.

The Crown Prince finally appeared in the banquet hall.

Everyone stopped talking at once and focused. The sight of everyone bowing their heads was spectacular, but.

There was one person who didn’t bow their head.

As a result, Crown Prince Cale, walking alone, made eye contact with that person.

The one who didn’t bow their head was Calypso.

The Crown Prince twisted his lips for a moment when he saw the stiff Calypso.

He turned away and walked towards the platform.

‘Cowardly bastard.’

A sneer appeared on Calypso’s lips. A perfectionist, but a perfectionist who had tasted defeat would harbor more fear than the average person.

The Crown Prince seemed to be planning to greet people first, as he moved to the center after announcing the official start of the banquet.

Even though it had already been an hour since it started.

‘Official start, my ass.’

As Calypso quietly suppressed her boiling anger, a cautious hand came up to her shoulder.

“Calypso.”

The distance between the Crown Prince and Calypso wasn’t that far. It didn’t seem like he would bring up the main topic right away.

“Whale, shall we go over to that end for a bit?”

Whale obediently followed, as if he understood her desire not to face him.

“You held back well, Calypso.”

“What else could I do if I didn’t?”

Calypso took a sip of the drink in her hand.

Wine was plentiful, but she couldn’t drink alcohol for the sake of the plan.

“I’m just hoping Ekion brings back something good soon. Then I’ll have to see that lion bastard’s face a little less.”

“Oh, shall I tell you a different story so you can forget about it for a moment?”

“What, do you have a story that can make me forget that face?”

“I do.”

Calypso nodded, but she was only half-listening to Whale, feeling sorry for him.

She was focused on when the Crown Prince would make his announcement on one hand, and when she would hear from Ekion on the other.

“I want to be your husband when this is over.”

She thought there was no way to distract her from this focus, but she was wrong.

Calypso stared at Whale with a slightly dazed expression.

“I don’t want to get married, Calypso.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Everyone is trying to take me into their family. It’s a little tiring.”

Looking closely at Whale’s face, she could see slight dark circles that hadn’t been visible before….

“It’ll get worse when this is over, right?”

She couldn’t deny it. Whale’s value was just that great.

“So, you take me.”

“What, are you talking about yourself like you’re picking up a stray pet?”

“It means I don’t mind being raised or treated like that. It also means I’m that desperate.”

“…….”

“It’s also to convey my desire to belong to you forever?”

Calypso couldn’t refuse as firmly as before.

She could feel Whale’s desperate sincerity in the words ‘I don’t want to get married’ a moment ago.

If Whale said he didn’t want to, no family would force him.

But even if Calypso stepped in and ordered them, could she stop the solicitations that came in under the table?

But increasing the number of husbands for this reason… No, then how is this different from LeVahn? It’s the same situation. LeVahn had at least lived the same life… He seemed like he would remain chaste.

Then is Whale different?

No, why do these brothers look exactly the same when they’re threatening (?) with marriage? Are they actually related by blood?

“Whale.”

It was when she had thought this far.

“Dear beastmen, everyone.”

She turned her head. The Crown Prince was standing on the platform in front of the throne before she knew it.

“Let’s talk about it later. I’ll definitely answer you.”

“Okay.”

Whale and Calypso both forgot their rational tension and focused intently.

“To show you that I cherish and respect you, I will now raise my speech.”

What? That filthy arrogant bastard is raising his speech to an unspecified number of people? A guy who feels like all the beastmen are beneath his feet, less than his toenails?

Calypso’s expression hardened sharply.

“You were probably eagerly awaiting my appearance and announcement beneath your smiling faces. I know.”

If you know, spit out the main point, you damn bastard. Calypso muttered inwardly.

“But isn’t it strange?”

The Crown Prince smiled excessively. He looked like a madman, or someone barely maintaining his elegance.

“Actually, it would be appropriate for my father, His Majesty the Emperor, to make the announcement instead of me, who has not yet inherited the throne. Has no one thought of this?”

There would be some. From the moment they faced the Crown Prince in the conference room.

Everyone must have been thinking of the Emperor, who had been fighting illness in secret.

It was an Emperor who hadn’t been seen in a long time.

“First, let me make it clear.”

The Crown Prince gave an even more beautiful smile.

“I killed the Emperor with my own hands.”

A silence like death fell over the hall.