Chapter 64
Unaware that he was drunk, Calix began striding forward. And behind him looking flustered, Ilion hurried to follow his footsteps.
He started humming a piece he’d once heard with his mother and turned down a path different from the usual.
“Huh? Your Highness! That’s not the right way!”
Unlike Calix, who was drunk, Ilion was completely sober and didn’t know where Calix was heading, so he tried to catch up to help support him, but couldn’t grab hold.
It was because Calix was protecting himself with his wind ability. Whenever Ilion saw how dramatically Calix’s skills had grown, he was impressed—and also jealous as a fellow Esper.
He wondered if elemental-type Espers just grew faster, or if Calix was simply that talented, but there was no way to know.
“This way leads to Lady Haisley’s palace, Your Highness.”
“…Yes, I know.”
“Why are you going this way?”
“I’m going to complain to my sister. Who in the world skips her younger brother’s birthday without even showing her face?”
Ilion thought Calix’s words were a bit off. What siblings went five years barely speaking? Besides, they weren’t even siblings to begin with.
Their classes were practically on opposite ends of the spectrum.
Imperial royalty and a commoner.
He had no idea why Calix was suddenly acting like this, but he didn’t try to stop him. Or rather, he wasn’t able to.
Ilion quietly followed the Crown Prince, and saw Zion entering Lea’s palace.
At that moment, Calix’s steps halted. It seemed he’d seen him, too.
“…Why is he going into my sister’s palace at this hour?”
“I’m not sure…”
He hadn’t seen it clearly, but Zion’s gait was hurried. He knew his older brother always maintained perfect posture with measured steps, and that since childhood he had learned to never behave in an undignified manner.
But as he was emboldened by the alcohol, Calix was unstoppable. If Zion had gone in, there was no reason he couldn’t, so he entered Lea’s palace without permission.
But the inside was in chaos. One of the palace staff was moving frantically, and so was Zion.
Then, the metallic scent of blood hit Calix’s nose, sobering him up instantly.
“What in the world is going on?”
Ilion, who had followed in after, muttered in shock. Even with two men over 190 centimeters tall entering the room, the bedroom was so chaotic that no one even noticed them come in.
With unshakable steps, Calix quickly entered the bedroom.
“…Kyaah!”
At that moment, Rose, realizing who he was, screamed in surprise and dropped what she was holding. From the fallen basket, a blood-soaked cloth tumbled out.
“What is this…”
The first thing Calix saw a back as pale as snow… stained with blood even darker than the wine he’d just drunk. The brown hair scattered to one side matched the color of the hair he’d always hated seeing, even from a distance.
Her hair, the same color as his most cherished fox fur, was splayed across the bed.
But more than anything else, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the small back that was dyed crimson with fresh blood.
“Your Highness—!”
At Rose’s scream, Zion noticed Calix and Ilion and spoke up, standing in front of Lea to explain.
“I apologize deeply, Your Highness, but would it be possible for you to come back later? Lady Haisley is in critical condition right now.”
Calix glared at Zion, who was blocking his way. It was strange. She was certainly the woman he never wanted to see, so why did his heart clench like this?
“Move.”
“Your Highness.”
“This isn’t your assigned post, is it?”
“…Her Majesty the Empress sent me.”
“Hah. Anyone in the palace could tell you—would the Empress really send someone just because my sister is injured?”
“……”
“If you can’t explain what’s happening, then move.”
Zion, thrown into this urgent situation only to have the Crown Prince make things even more complicated, couldn’t help but feel resentment. He knew it was disrespectful as an imperial knight…
But as an Esper, he simply couldn’t walk away from his Guide.
Calix, seeing that Zion wouldn’t move, was about to use his ability to force him aside.
He thought he wouldn’t tolerate anyone blocking his way any longer and started to raise his hand, but then—
A frail voice, barely audible unless he strained to hear it, reached his ear.
“…Cal.”
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