Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 329

329.

“……!”

Just as I was about to speak, a chilling voice cut through the air. Surprised, I turned to see Isana standing there with a hardened expression. Raonhwihen, recognizing him as well, also stiffened. For a moment, sparks flew between the two men.

“The Crown Prince may have the eye to recognize his destined star, but he doesn’t seem to have the qualifications to embrace such a precious connection.”

“……What do you mean by that?”

“I mean exactly what I said. Can’t the Crown Prince see that Alisa is in pain?”

As if realizing his actions, Raonhwihen, looking embarrassed, quickly released her hand. Isana approached the now-free Alisa and carefully examined her. His eyes turned cold as he noticed the blue bruise where she had been tightly gripped.

“I’m the only one who recognizes Alisa’s worth, Raonhwihen. You should only speak such words after considering the situation at hand, Crown Prince. Anyone can talk big. Even a common street thug.”

“……I didn’t know His Majesty had a hobby of eavesdropping. I thought such behavior was reserved for dishonorable and lowly individuals.”

“I don’t call it eavesdropping when I simply overhear something. I advised you to assess the situation just a moment ago. I see you have no intention of heeding my advice, Crown Prince.”

Their intense gazes met once more. A distant murmur began to rise. Soldiers, hearing the argument, were emerging from their tents one by one.

“Your Majesty.”

The royal guard, who had been observing the situation from behind Isana, called out with concern. The Crown Prince’s attendants, who had been guarding him from a distance, also approached anxiously. The chaotic atmosphere helped them break free from their intense focus on each other. Eventually, the two men decided to back down.

“I hope there will be no more disgraceful incidents like this in the future, Crown Prince. This is the only time I will show such consideration.”

“……I will keep your advice in mind, Your Majesty. I apologize for my discourtesy. Alisa, to you as well. I’m sorry for hurting you.”

Alisa, not expecting an apology, hesitated before nodding. It would have been nice to end it with a lighthearted remark as usual, but the atmosphere between the two men was too serious for her to interject. She was also secretly pleased by Isana’s anger on her behalf, which left her speechless. His anger was so rare that it made her heart swell. Raonhwihen noticed this and wore a bitter expression.

“Ah, and while we’re on the subject, let me add one more thing.”

Isana, who was turning away with her, stopped and looked back at Raonhwihen.

“It’s not that I’m making it easy, but that you’re making it difficult, Crown Prince.”

“……!”

Raonhwihen, who had been sending a questioning look, froze. His eyes blazed coldly, but Isana simply ignored him.

“You, who see other people’s lives as easy, may not understand the meaning.”

* * *

“I saw everything. You really went at it with His Majesty. What were you thinking?”

The constant chatter followed him from behind. Raonhwihen, who had been ignoring the nagging since their eyes met, finally frowned as it stretched past thirty minutes. The content was unwelcome even when he was in a good mood, but he was in the worst possible state of mind. His patience had run out long ago. He had endured this long by treating him as if he weren’t there, but even that had its limits.

“Your Highness was too rude.”

The following words drove a wedge into his swelling anger. Raonhwihen gritted his teeth and turned around. The guards, caught in his fierce gaze, all flinched. However, only one man, the one directly facing his gaze, remained calm. Asel, the man who had been nagging him all along, even wore a welcoming expression.

“Have you finally decided to talk?”

“You seem to be mistaken about something, Asel. You’re not my aide anymore, are you?”

He growled in a low voice as a final warning. The guards, their faces pale, exchanged glances busily. Amidst them, Asel remained unfazed.

“Of course, I’m no longer Your Highness’s aide. Your Highness dismissed me directly, didn’t you? And so suddenly, overnight. Without even giving me time to prepare myself.”

“Yes, I dismissed you. So you know that this meddling is overstepping your bounds.”

“I’m not sure about that. I’m speaking as Your Highness’s friend, not as your aide.”

“……What?”

“You were the one who first called me a friend, Your Highness. You said you considered me a close friend, more than just a superior and subordinate. Can’t I even say this much between friends? Or have you been toying with me all this time?”

“…….”

The unexpected remark struck him like a hammer blow to the head. The anger that had been blazing like a volcano fizzled out. Raonhwihen blinked blankly before wearing a complicated expression.

“……But you’re going to leave me.”

The voice, reluctantly muttered, was tinged with unconcealed resentment. Asel sighed deeply.

“I knew you would say that. Yes, that’s right. I have decided on a different path than the one Your Highness recommended. But it’s just that the work and the place are changing. It doesn’t mean I’m severing my relationship with Your Highness.”

“It means the same to me.”

“No, it’s completely different. Do you only consider those who serve you by your side as friends? Then you have misunderstood the definition of a friend. No one in the world sees such a relationship as friendship. It’s just lord and vassal [a feudal arrangement where a subordinate owes service to a superior].”

“That’s…….”

“Since we’re on the subject, let’s make this clear here. Is that really what you thought? If so, I’ll just leave now. I don’t have time to chat idly with someone who isn’t a friend.”

Again, Raonhwihen couldn’t say anything. As he remained silent, Asel, who had been glaring at him, sighed again.

“Your Highness needs to be aware of more diverse perspectives. The world isn’t just divided into black and white. Not to mention human relationships. To reject and push away someone just because you can’t keep them by your side… If you continue like that, you’ll end up lonely. I’ve always wanted to say this.”

“How can I be sure that you won’t betray me?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Why?”

“Did I beg you to be my friend? You were the one who decided to consider me a friend. Then you should trust your own judgment.”

It was another unexpected answer. Raonhwihen’s eyes, which had been fixed on Asel, wavered, unable to hide his emotions. Seeing him so openly shaken, Asel clicked his tongue.

“Who in the world knows everything about someone else before becoming friends? You just look at their personality and character as you get to know them and trust them. Have I been someone who deceives others in Your Highness’s eyes?”

“Not…… really.”

“Well said. I was going to get angry if you said yes.”

A playful smile bloomed on Asel’s face. Raonhwihen was momentarily at a loss for what kind of expression to make. It was the first time he had seen him with such a relaxed face in front of him. When he was his aide, Asel tended to prioritize his duties. So, while he seemed to treat him casually, he always maintained a certain distance, aware that Raonhwihen was the Crown Prince. He had secretly felt hurt by that attitude, but now, for the first time, he felt that distance had disappeared.

“Asel, I…….”

“Anyway, Your Highness needs to learn how to trust others. And don’t be so hostile towards His Majesty Isana. You know how much he’s accommodating us. Even if we can’t repay his consideration, there’s no need to deliberately make him an enemy, is there? Well, I understand that you have a sense of inferiority towards him, being the same age and born under the same star of destiny, constantly being compared to him since childhood.”

The warm air instantly turned cold. Raonhwihen erased his stuffy mood and wore a sullen expression.

“I don’t have any inferiority complex.”

“Don’t lie. Do you think I don’t know you?”

They had been together for several years, most of which he had spent watching and assisting him. After that long, you would naturally know even the smallest habits without paying attention. Raonhwihen always tried to learn about the political situation of the Swalt Empire and delved into Isana’s activities whenever he had the chance. He would try to find and eat the same food that he had eaten, and if he read a book, he would find and read the same book. One day, he suddenly started learning swordsmanship, saying he wanted to train his body. Thanks to that, he was praised as a Crown Prince with many interests, but in reality, he had learned it after hearing rumors that Isana was talented in swordsmanship. He would never forget the triumphant expression he had when he heard that his physique was smaller than his.

Raonhwihen quietly fell silent at the successive testimonies. He had never been aware of it before, but hearing it like this, it was quite blatant. Seeing him stunned by the belated realization, Asel wore a helpless expression.

“I understand that you’re feeling anxious because your destined rival found his star first. But Lady Alisa is still very young. You’re not making a choice right now, and the path isn’t being decided here. Besides, you won’t win her heart with the way you’re acting now.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Why did you want to make me your friend? Because I was useful to you?”

“Not exactly just that…….”

“It’s the same. What woman would choose a man who says he only wants her because he needs her power?”

“…….”

Raonhwihen, who had been speechless several times today, chose silence again. His expression was calm, but inside, he was still reeling from the repeated shocks. He had been desperately clinging to her in his own way, even if the method was rough. He had never thought that it would be seen that way. Asel, reading his hidden expression, smiled bitterly.

“You already tend to be misunderstood because of your stiff attitude. Don’t rush things from the start. Besides, the stars aren’t in a good alignment these days. In times like these, even a small spark can burn down a mountain. We’re strangers here, so we need to be especially careful.”

“……You have a lot of advice today.”

“I’m a busy man. I wouldn’t have bothered to come all the way here if I didn’t care about you.”

“Does that mean you consider me a friend too?”

Asel fell silent at the question asked in a strange tone. Realizing the meaning a beat late, he shouted in an absurd tone.

“Are you kidding me right now? What else would be the reason for me to be so presumptuous in front of His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“You’ve only been talking about my thoughts, but you’ve never said anything about your own feelings.”

“That’s because it’s too obvious! Do you think I would have accepted that tiring aide position if I didn’t consider Your Highness a friend?”

“Ah.”

“‘Ah!’ is not the answer! What’s with that expression like you’re just realizing it now?”

“……I haven’t been good to you. And I didn’t believe in the stories about your ancestors.”

“You’re well aware of that. I’m a little touched to confirm that you have a conscience.”

“You’ve been too rude since earlier.”

“Friends don’t worry about things like that.”

The one who laughed first was Raonhwihen. It was as if the fact that they hadn’t exchanged a single word for a while was a lie. Seeing Asel treating him so casually, he felt something stuck in his heart being released. He had thought that such a day would never come again. Only then did he realize that he had been afraid.

The fact that he felt betrayed by Asel’s departure was just an excuse. In reality, he had known that he would leave his side someday. He had always been reluctant to take the aide position, and the Carters Imperial Family was not a suitable place to develop his talents. It was just something he had already anticipated, so there was nothing to be surprised or embarrassed about. But the reason he had tried to push him away was because he was worried that he was the only one who considered him a friend. So he chose to draw a line and reject him first. He thought it would be okay if he did that. But just thinking that way was already a wound. So at this moment, he was truly relieved.

“But I still don’t like you going to that Emperor. If you really consider me a friend, stay by my side.”

“Stop talking nonsense. The word ‘friend’ isn’t meant to be used like that. Instead of being petty and jealous, you should try to make more friends.”

“Make more friends?”

“Try to become friends with His Majesty Isana. That would be much more productive.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Why is it ridiculous? Competitiveness is also a form of interest. All that obsession you’ve shown towards His Majesty Isana, frankly, it wasn’t normal. I thought it was almost love. You two could definitely become friends.”

“……Asel. If you say one more word, I’m going to get angry.”

Raonhwihen, his face hardened, warned in a low voice. Judging that it would be dangerous to provoke him further, Asel stopped joking and quickly backed down. Then, as if waiting for that moment, Serium, who had just entered, delivered the news.

“Um, Your Highness. The Emperor wants to see you for a moment?”

“What?”

The Crown Prince’s face immediately contorted at the mention of the Emperor, who had been brought up at this unfortunate moment. Serium, who was outside and unaware of the situation inside, flinched in fear.

“A soldier just came by. The Emperor said he has something important to discuss with Your Highness. Asel, he said he wants to see you too.”

“Me too?”

Asel, who had been smiling subtly, tilted his head in bewilderment. Serium nodded.

“Could it be that they’re telling outsiders to leave now that the battle is intensifying?”

“Hmm, that could be it.”

Just looking at the overall war situation, it was clear that both sides were preparing for an all-out war. It was impossible to predict how many casualties there would be, or even who would win or lose. In times like these, the presence of a foreign VIP would be very burdensome. Raonhwihen agreed with that thought. He didn’t like the idea of having to meet again immediately after an uncomfortable argument, but the Emperor probably felt the same way. He rose to his feet with a serious expression.

“Let’s go for now.”