He Was Kind If I Stopped

“But… the Lady won’t be pleased with that. I don’t want to cause such a conflict with her. If you are doing it because of what happened earlier…”

“She dared to accuse my daughter. She seemed to have forgotten about her duty after I gave her my trust.”

Ileos’ face stiffened again.

“I think it’s because she loves you so much, Father. And she felt worried for Lorette as well….”

“I was about to change the person in charge of royal affairs anyway, even if she didn’t act that way earlier.”

Hazel’s eyes, which were a mixture of wonder and bewilderment at his unexpected words, reached Ileos’ ears.

“For what reason?”

“The problem is that Eleisha spent the money somewhat recklessly because she likes luxurious things. She always held fancy balls and bought lavish jewelleries which exceeded the budget.”

“I just didn’t want to interfere, but I actually knew about all of it. We should be vigilant to those who squander the country’s funds.”

Hazel hurriedly put her hand around the mouth to stop herself from laughing.

“I understand. Indeed, there is nothing you don’t know. You are fully aware of what is going on inside the palace as if you are looking at the palm of your hand.”

“Therefore, please take care of yourself well.”

“I’ll try my best to do my responsibility.”

Ileos smiled pleasantly at Hazel’s answer.

***

“Shh, anyone could hear you!”

A smile was shown on Hazel’s mouth even though she pretended to lower her voice quickly.

“But this is the Rose Palace. Can’t I at least congratulate you?”

Mary said with an impatient look on her face as she wanted to talk all around the palace about this right now.

“So now, you are going to take charge of the palace’s management, right? Do you also manage everything such as the royal palace’s budget?”

“Yes I will be the one to manage it as well.”

“Oh, that’s really great for you, Your Highness!”

Mary stomped her feet out of excitement.

“It’s me, Your Highness!”

Then she heard an urgent call of someone from outside. When Mary opened the door, a maid who turned pale rushed into the room.

“Your Highness, I, I…”

“What? Just say it.”

Hazel looked at the pale face of the maid and assumed it was unusual.

“T-That… Tity, it’s about Tity.”

“What’s wrong with Tity? Is she sick?”

The maid took a short breath and finally managed to speak up.

“It’s not like that… Tity escaped again.”

Hazel straightened her body and leapt up from the couch.

“What?”

***

A considerably serious voice was heard in the living room of the palace where Achilleon stayed temporarily.

“The empress seems to be in secret contact with strong and rich families in each country. It seems like a civil war is imminent if necessary.”

“That is nothing to be surprised about.”

“If we return home after finishing this treaty safely, isn’t the only thing left is the succession phase? No wonder you are being impatient now.”

“His Majesty is still healthy, that can’t be true.”

Achilleon answered flatly.

“Prince Sisef doesn’t have any idea about this, does he? Her Majesty the Queen seemed as if she was being impatient on her own.”

“It’s better if her son has less thought about this. I will have more excuses to interfere between them.”

“It is said that no one is allowed to enter the Emperor’s chambers except the family doctor, and that he has been caring for the king alone. There are rumors that His Majesty is already dead.”

Since leaving Demophos, Achilleon has been hearing about the situation of his home country through an informant implanted there for him.

The empress was becoming even more aggressive when Achilleon was sent out of the country under the very good pretext of settling a peace treaty. She was trying to make the situation in the Empire happen according to her plan while Achilleon was not present.

“It’s understandable for her to be angry when the person who she thought was going to die is coming back alive every time.”

He was sent out to die in the war, but Achilleon managed to return with a victory on his hands while staying in a good condition every time. Each time, his position within the empire surged up without her realizing that he was high up in the sky.

Every time she saw him that way, the empress started to dwell with even deeper fearness and it was shown in her eyes.

It was because he had grown from just an annoying pup to a scary beast who was difficult to deal with and became even more fearful.

The stronger the enemy became, the more intimidated and desperate the opponent would be.

The number of Achilleon’s supporters had already increased within the Empire, and the empress still tried to constantly pressure him, even though he knew that empress could barely hold him back with just her own power.

“But in this situation, I can’t act with ease because I brought her precious son along with me.”

At first, Achilleon was the only one who was sent out to attend this treaty.

However, contrary to the empress’ intention to leave Sisef with her to stay in the palace, Sisef followed her half-brother which made the empress go rampant and passed out afterwards.

“It is fortunate that Prince Sisef likes you, Your Highness.”

Count Burns said while smiling to his superior.

“Thanks to Sisef, the people of Land are finally able to let their guard down. So they can walk around without feeling worried anymore.”

“Land is a small territory, however, due to the location which is similar to a fortress makes it easier to defend itself from neighboring countries.”

The decision to sign a peace treaty with Land was due to the fact that there could be great damage to the empire during the war.

Therefore, their ultimate goal was to make an agreement as a friendly country of Land and to take various benefits that could occur in the near future.

But Achilleon couldn’t be satisfied with just that.

He wanted to have this kingdom. This small and beautiful country has rich resources and was blessed with a natural fortress.

Meow.

Their conversation was interrupted at the sudden cry of an animal.

Swish.

The subsequent flap of the wings made Count Burns rush to the window.

“What is this…”

Count Burns’ voice sounded odd after he opened the window to check the source of the sound.

“What’s going on there?”

“What …is it?”

The Count Burns’ face, which was placed at the window sill, became contorted as if he had seen something disgusting.

“What is it?”

Achilles got up firmly and then headed for the window frame, pushing Count Burns out of the way as he opened the window and checked it for himself.

“Bird…?”

A bird which had already lost its breath was placed on the window sill.

“It looks like it was attacked.”

Count Burns said as he looked at the bird. Like he said, the bird was injured all over its body, as if it had been attacked by sharp teeth and claws. Nevertheless, it was weird that the bird wasn’t eaten up after being attacked into that state.

“By looking at it, someone must’ve actually raised this bird.”

It was a beautiful bird with a mix of blue and orange feathers on its wings. Its ankle was also filled with silver rings. It meant that it actually had an owner.

“There must be a place to raise birds in the royal palace…”

Count Burns said and thought while narrowing his brows.

“I heard Lady Pais likes birds. She has a private cage and raises the bird there. Maybe the bird flew from there? But in this state…”

Poor bird seemed to have died after being preyed on by an animal with sharp claws and teeth.

Meeow.

Achilleon turned his head at the familiar sound heard nearby. There was a snow-white cat sitting on a branch and licking its body using its tongue.

The cat stopped brushing its fur and turned its head toward the gaze that had fixed toward it. The cat approached him gently after it caught Achilleon’s gaze, and sat in front of him with its tail curled up.

As Achilleon reached out his hand, the cat drew closer to him and began rubbing its nose against his hand.

“It must be a cat that woke up early and had a lot of power.”

While the cat was rubbing its mouth and cheeks on his hand, Count Burns bursted into laughter as if he was astonished at the sight of the cat sweeping Achilleon’s arms through its entire body.

“Do you know this cat?”

“Hm.”

There was a smile on Achilleon’s lips when he said it. Meanwhile, the cat repeatedly rubbed itself against his big hand. White fur was seen tangled on the sleeve of his white uniform.

“But this cat… I think it’s raised inside the royal palace.”

Count Burns said while watching the cat closely. The cat’s white fur was shiny with a red ribbon tied around its neck.

“It must have hurt its foot.”

There was something wrapped around the cat’s paw. It couldn’t be seen easily because of the thick fur, but upon closer look, he could see that its front feet were wrapped with bandages.

“Take a look at it, white fur, green eyes, pointy and curled ears…”

Count Burns said as he thought about something while stroking his chin as if he was struggling to remember something.

“…It looks like the cat you are currently looking for.”

“Is that so?”

Achilleon reached out his hand to stroke the cat’s chin gently.

“This cat must have been chased.”

The cat raised its chin happily at his touch and squinted its eyes.

“But why did it not eat the bird?”

Count Burns looked at the cat and the bird alternately, as if he was wondering for the possible reason. A poor bird and a cat who acted cute to the Crown Prince. What a really strange combination.

“Maybe it brought the bird to me so I can eat it.”

Count Burns’ expression turned to surprise when Achilleon spoke with a delightful voice.

“This cat?”

“You seem to be less ungrateful than your master.”

Achilleon reached out his hands to the cat who was still sitting on the high branch.

The cat, who previously acted cute to Achilleon while going back and forth between the window and the tree, then jumped into his arms.

Meow.

“I think the owner is looking for it. It must’ve sneaked out.”

When Count Burns spoke carefully, Achilleon swept the cat’s neck a few more times before speaking up again.

“I think so.”

As Achilleon moved his finger, the cat bit his finger in excitement and began to smack around lazily with its hind legs.

“Aren’t we supposed to find the owner?”

Count Burns asked while thinking about each of the strange events that had occurred until now as he watched Achilleon play quite well with the little animal.

“Tell its owner to come directly.”

There was a suspicious smile on Achilleon’s mouth.

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