TOPWL 258

Yudit closed his eyes and imagined the things Khalid said one by one. He wondered if such a happy moment could ever come to him. He almost shed tears just from thinking about it, so Yudit hugged Khalid. The latter hugged him in silence.

“Let’s make a promise,” Khalid said.

“What is it?”

“If one of us dies, the survivor should keep living until the end.”

“…….”

“No matter how miserable and difficult it gets, you shouldn’t ever give up on life.”

Yudit didn’t answer, so Khalid nibbled on Yudit’s index finger.

“It’s the same for you, right?”

“Yes.”

“……Alright.”

Khalid stroked Yudit’s hair like he was proud of him.

“And I don’t want you to be sad for too long. If you meet a good person, you should date and get married.”

“……I’d like it if Khalid didn’t do that for at least a year,” Yudit grumbled. Khalid chuckled and nodded.

“Don’t worry about that. If anything goes wrong for you…I won’t marry anyone.”

“……Why?”

“I’ve already lost people. I can’t bear to lose anyone else, and losing you would be more than enough.”

Yudit belatedly remembered the omegas who were murdered after they crossed Khalid’s path.

“Then what about the North?”

“Are you going to be that serious?”

“I’m just curious.”

Khalid squinted and thought before he answered Yudit’s question.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll pick up a smart kid in ten years and raise them well.”

“Are you thinking about adoption?”

“I’m not opposed to it. Many people’s lives would visit our site shake if the Duke’s title disappeared. Yudit, what will you do?”

“I……”

***

Yudit opened his eyes, feeling as if he’d had a long, deep sleep. Sunlight streamed in through the window. Did he oversleep? Yudit tried to get up in a panic, but someone hugged him from behind and bit his earlobe.

“Don’t rush. It isn’t even eight yet.”

Yudit looked at the clock after Khalid’s words, and it pointed to seven-thirty.

“It was so bright…… I thought it was late morning.”

“Spring is coming. The nights get shorter.”

Yudit felt the weather had warmed after he heard Khalid’s words. The trees outside the window had buds as if they’d bloom soon, and the wind that once threatened to break the windows had died down. That’s right. Spring was coming.

Yudit suddenly realized Khalid’s arm was under his head.

“Did you give me an arm pillow all night?”

“It isn’t a hard task.”

“Doesn’t your arm feel numb?”

“Your head isn’t that heavy.”

Even if it was light, it would feel heavy if someone pressed on it all night. Yudit pressed down on Khalid’s arm. Khalid cleared his throat and rubbed his arm as if it were numb. Yudit giggled and got out of bed. Garen heard the noise inside and entered with water after he knocked.

“Where’s Edmond?”

Yudit asked since Edmond usually brought the morning water. Garen looked troubled for a moment and laughed awkwardly.

“An urgent matter suddenly came up, so he asked me to do it instead.”

“He isn’t sick, right?”

“It isn’t anything like that.”

“Alright.”

Bagon entered as if he’d been waiting once Yudit finished washing.

“Bagon, what’s the matter?”

“You should see this.”

Bagon handed him today’s newspaper. Yudit’s expression hardened after he read [stolen content]the first page. The front page had illustrations of Yudit’s and Khalid’s faces and traits, and articles about them followed.

[Prince Yudit’s Ugly True Face

Regarding Prince Azil’s murder, the imperial family stated they’ve identified Prince Yudit as the culprit and are investigating.

Evidence confirms Prince Yudit conspired with Duke Khalid to remove Prince Azil and even threatened the Emperor’s safety.

Prince Reginald was the first to rush to the imperial palace to protect the Emperor despite his grief over his brother’s loss. Prince Reginald gave up the final competition and rushed to the palace to guard the Emperor. The Emperor currently stays in a safe zone to protect him from external threats, and Prince Reginald manages the area.

The imperial family judged Prince Yudit’s and Duke Khalid’s actions as extremely dangerous and issued a nationwide wanted notice.

They requested citizens to report immediately to the guards if they see anyone similar to the two, and they stated rewards will be paid just for reports.]

“They’ve written a complete novel,” Khalid said as he crumpled the paper and threw it. Bagon set down five or six more newspapers. They were from different companies.

“What should we do? Should we release a rebuttal?” Bagon asked carefully. He asked because Khalid owned a newspaper company. Khalid nodded.

“We can do it. It’s just a matter of choice. We must do it if we’re going for a long game. If it ends quickly, we can just release a correction later. Yudit, what do you want to do?”

“I…… I won’t rebut it. I’ll spend that time on other matters.”

“Alright. However, it’s best if we move to a safe area. There’s a risk they’ll find us.”

“Is it close to here?”

“It’s within thirty minutes by carriage. Let’s leave right now.”

Bagon stopped Khalid as he tried to pick Yudit up.

“It’s better to use a disguise just in case.”

“Ah, right.”

Khalid pulled away from Yudit obediently. Bagon transformed Yudit into a middle-aged woman in the blink of an eye with makeup tools. Yudit stood by Bagon’s side in a robe. They looked like a middle-aged couple with a good relationship. Khalid watched them and spoke.

“I’m jealous.”

“……?”

“It’s a joke.”

Yudit looked back, and Khalid shrugged with a smile.

“I’ll head to the carriage first, so follow me.”

“Understood.”

The sound of people arguing reached them when they stepped out the door.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. Maybe a fight broke out in the dining room?”

“In the morning?”

Yudit wondered as he went down the stairs. He felt out of breath and needed Bagon’s help even though he was just walking down the high steps.

“The prince isn’t that kind of person!”

“How do you know that? You’ve never even seen him.”

“I know. I just know.”

“What do you know?”

“I read it in books. I saw how wonderful Prince Yudit is.”

“Books? Do you think everything in books is the truth?”

“And you think everything in the newspaper is the truth, you creature worse than a mule!”

“Why you……!”

Yudit wondered what the fight was about, but it was because of him. He peeked at them as things got serious. An older middle-aged woman ran out of the kitchen with a ladle.

“Why are you causing trouble this early? Do you want to drive all the guests away? Won’t you be quiet?”

“…….”

“…….”

The two looked like employees of the inn, and they shut their mouths at the words of the woman who swung her ladle with unusual skill. Yudit went outside first while it was quiet. He looked inside before the door closed and saw a thin, freckled woman glaring at the man. Yudit’s heart felt a tickle at the sight of the woman who got angry on his behalf.

Bagon spoke once Yudit got into the carriage.

“Um, Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“I like the capital. It’s convenient, there are many shops, and there are many doctors.”

Yudit blinked and wondered why he brought that up. Bagon spoke with a desperate expression.

“I know it’s a lot to ask…… but if I ever get demoted, could you just say you need me?”

“Why would you get demoted? You’ve helped me so much.”

“Well…… if I ever have to go to the countryside. You’ll have many talented people around you once you’re the Emperor, so you probably won’t need my help. I’ve earned enough money anyway, so I’m content to scribble on some papers and swing my sword once or twice at the outskirts of the capital.”

Bagon said more confusing things. He was good at languages and disguises, so he should work where he can use his skills. But Bagon’s thoughts were different.

“I’d like it if Bagon kept working by my side in the future. Do you hate that?”

Bagon’s expression became complicated when he heard Yudit’s words, and he suddenly rubbed his face with his hands.