How to Live as the Enemy Prince Chapter 67

Chapter 14. Long Time No See (4)

The phrase “Long time no see”

It wasn't particularly deferential, but it wasn't haughty either.

No matter how it was in front of Rumian, no matter how near Randell and Franz were, he wouldn’t treat Silica with more respect.

There was no one here who didn’t know the reason, so no one could blame Calian. Of course, Silica was one of them.

Silica, who was sitting on a chair pulled out by an attendant, replied, “Yeah. Long time no see.”

Silica also showed no courtesy. Calian, who did not expect much respect in the first place, paid no attention and continued eating.

“What’s going on?”

Rumian asked Silica, who was looking at Calian. His voice was dry.

Silica did not care about the hostile atmosphere. She must have already prepared herself from the moment she came to the dinner party uninvited. Silica looked at Rumian and spoke. “Your Majesty looks much better."

“Because I stopped seeing what I used to see.”

Rumian nodded and answered as if there was no need to hide it.

“But now I’m seeing it again.”

What Rumian said was so hostile that it was hard to believe he said it. Silica showed little reaction to these blatantly uncomfortable words. She nodded her head as if she was listening to someone else's story. She looked at Calian and spoke.

“I came because I was curious if the Third Prince had a good trip.”

And she showed a smiling face to Calian.

Rumian intercepted Silica's gaze towards Calian and said, “Did you really come to check that?”

"He is a troublesome child."

He was troublesome.

Calian, who had been quietly listening to the silent struggle between his father and stepmother, felt his eyebrows twitch for a moment.

He didn’t feel bad about such slander. It was difficult to gauge which was more frequent: the trouble he caused throughout his life, or those caused during the brief time when he left the palace.

'If you knew that the two brothers you tried to control both disappeared because of me, would you still be able to say that?'

While Calian was thinking this, Rumian sent a warning in a quiet but dignified voice.

“Silica. Be careful what you say about the prince.”

Silica smiled as if it was a light slip of the tongue. Calian responded by nodding slightly, like someone who had just heard a routine greeting.

“As you can see, it went well.”

“So it seems.”

“The cold I had was so severe. Outside, there wasn’t anything that could cause that much trouble.”

At the mention of Silica's poison, Rumian's face stiffened somewhat.

A moment passed during which no one could speak. Then Silica opened her mouth again.

“That’s right. Thank goodness.”

“Thank you. You really care about me.”

Calian nodded with a smile.

At Calian’s answer, Franz could be heard laughing softly. And Silica erased her smile for a moment.

Calian no longer wanted to engage in an argument, and the words asking Silica to leave rose to his throat. Therefore, Calian raised the glass of water and swallowed both the water and words together. It was Rumian who allowed Silica to come in, so Calian could not tell her to leave.

Silica, perhaps aware of Calian's feelings, opened her mouth once again, looking towards Rumian.

“By the way, Your Majesty.”

Calian gave an expression of boredom.

A sigh was heard from Randell's direction. It seemed like he was slowly reaching the limits of his patience. Of course, Silica didn't care.

"There was some astonishing news from Siegfried's land. Have you heard anything about it?"

Rumian looked at Silica without answering.

Silica put on a motherly, gentle expression and looked at Calian.

"They say something remarkable happened. The praises of the people reached even Heisha Palace. It must be truly astonishing and joyful."

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Calian inwardly chuckled. He had no idea what he was going to say to such a grand compliment. Silica’s gaze shifted back to Rumain.

"But I've heard there's another piece of information coming with it, and I'd like to inquire about that."

There was only one rumor tied to the incident in Sispanian's nest, and Silica looked at Rumain with a steely gaze, speaking words that should have remained unsaid.

"Are you truly considering Calian as the next Crown Prince? Please, do tell."

Calian narrowed his eyes.

It was exactly what Calian had expected.

‘Now there's nothing to see, Silica.’

Crown prince.

In the presence of three princes, that statement was like a taboo. Silica brought it up, and it had to be about Calian, of all people.

Rumian stared at Silica without saying a word.

What response could Rumian give to that statement?

He couldn’t say yes, he couldn’t say no, and he couldn’t even dismiss Silica out without an answer since it could be taken as an affirmation.

For now, Calian decided to steer the conversation away from this question and turned his head. But unexpectedly, from Rumian’s side, a calm response came.

“A while ago, Lord Manasil said something like that.”

'Master?'

When an unexpected name was mentioned in this conversation, Calian restrained his desire to speak and waited for Rumian's next words.

“Send the one you like the least to Camillon first. Manasil suggested that, saying he would disappear on his own. However, all of my sons are precious. That’s why I was deeply troubled.”

As Rumian said that, his eyes glanced at the princes one by one.

Soon Rumian's blue eyes gazed deeply at Silica. In a tone devoid of any emotion, Romain continued.

“You seem to be trying to relieve me of my worries now. I am grateful.”

Silica lowered her head.

There was no fan to hide her contorted face.

Calian also lowered his head.

He couldn't hold back my laughter.

‘Ah.'

May Alan Manasil’s mouth be blessed with Serenti's glory!

* * *

This was the plan Silica had come with in order to corner Rumian.

She had planned to protest if Rumian said he would make Calian the Crown Prince, questioning whether this was favoritism. If he refused to do so, she had planned to demand a promise. If Rumian postponed an answer, she had intended to inquire about the reason behind moving the Knights of Caera.

But ironically, Rumian had pressured Silica by simply saying he would make Franz the Crown Prince.

"If you have nothing more to say, please leave. Before making any final decisions."

Having spoken thus, Rumian gestured to the attendants near the door, and they opened it. There was no need for Silica to stay any longer. Silica got up from her seat and, after an unnecessary step or two, walked towards the door.

"I don't know how long your arrogance will continue, but the day will come when you regret treating me like this. I guarantee it."

Rumian had already been regretting the day he had taken Silica as his queen to gain Brissen's power after the death of his former queen, Aisha. However, he didn't convey these words and maintained his usual attitude.

Leaving Rumian behind, Silica noisily walked out.

‘It’s a relief Margrave Brissen was sent back.'

Watching Silica’s retreating figure, Calian had this thought.

If Grey had entered the capital in such a situation, it wouldn’t have been surprising if a civil war broke out immediately.

Rumian, who had sent Silica away with a phrase he had learned well from Alan Manasil, turned his gaze to Franz and spoke with a solemn tone quite different from when he was addressing Silica.

"I didn't say those words to you out of malice. I view you and the queen differently, so don't misunderstand."

He was concerned that Franz might pay attention to the story he had told Silica. Franz responded calmly.

"I know."

In response, Rumian nodded his head, his eyes seeming to survey the subdued atmosphere.

"You all must know how your uncle is."

Calian’s uncle was a reference to Rumian’s own elder brother. It seemed like everyone except Calian knew how he was doing now. The expressions on both of their faces were not very good.

Bern had no need to be concerned about how the older brother of another country's king was doing. And since the former Calian never even dreamed of becoming a king, he purposely paid no attention to how Rumian ascended to the throne or what happened to the remaining brothers. To show interest would only lead to knowing more about his own dark future.

‘I should ask Yan.’

Calian was aware that Rumian had a brother, but he wasn't leisurely enough to pay attention to how that person was living now.

"I hope none of you have to live a life like that. I hope the same events don't repeat themselves."

With those words, Rumian finished speaking and rose from his seat, leaving the room. Since they were in no mood to continue the meal, the princes also stood up.

* * *

Yan, who had been waiting outside the banquet hall, approached with a worried expression after learning that Silica had entered.

"Did you have a good dinner?"

"Yes, it was uneventful, so don't worry."

Calian smiled at Yan, seeing the relief in his expression.

A little later, Calian, the last one to arrive in Chermil, spoke.

"Let's take a walk. I need to digest."

Yan knew very well how much food Calian consumed and digested as he began to grow taller. Nevertheless, instead of showing an expression of disbelief, Yan simply said, "I understand," and walked alongside Calian.

While walking by the lake for the second time today, Calian relayed something that Rumian said earlier.

"Do you happen to know what happened to His Majesty’s brother?"

"That is..."

Yan, with a somewhat complex expression, responded.

"Originally, the princes who are pushed out of the throne leave Kyris once they turn twenty. They receive their own lands and live there. They can't raise an army, but the royal troops are sent to them. Apart from that and the rule that they can't stay in Kyris for more than five days, there aren't many restrictions."

This was about the princes who hadn't fought for the crown.

"I'm aware of that, but if His Majesty brought it up, it seems like the outcome was somewhat different this time."

"Yes, it was."

As expected, Yan opened his mouth again to continue his explanation.

"In reality, not many princes have lived their lives like that in the past. Most of them, after their sibling became king, had their names covered with Rencita leaves on the square or... "

That implied being executed or imprisoned.

It was a difficult subject to bring up, so Yan paused for a moment before continuing.

"They spend their lives in remote places."

"Remote places, you say."

"The late king suffered from an incurable disease even with the blessings of Sispanian. That's why they decided on the next crown prince early, and that person who was chosen is the current king."

"I see."

"Immediately after the Crown Prince was determined, His Highness, Prince Asnan, voiced his objection to that decision. Prince Asnan, who is His Majesty's brother, is currently living in a tower deep within the Beraka Gorge, even farther south than Siegfried's territory."

Upon hearing these words, Calian nodded quietly.

It seemed that Yan was worried about the future, but he spoke with a smile.

"Don't worry. If Your Highness cannot enter Camillon, I plan to bring you to my home."

Calian burst into laughter at Yan’s plan that he confidently laid out.

"For that to happen, Siegfried would need to become a kingdom, not just a duchy."

Unless Siegfried declared independence from Kyris and waged war, they wouldn't be able to house a prince who had been pushed out of the Crown Prince position.

"Is there anything we can't do?"

"Aren’t you saying that too nonchalantly?"

Calian eventually burst out laughing at the words, which were spoken solely with Calian in mind.

"Anyway, His Majesty must have advised you to get along well with your brothers and not to fight, spill blood, or end up dead, right?"

"Is that possible?"

After a moment of contemplation, Calian shook his head.

"Such a peaceful thing will never happen."

Getting along with those two right now.

It was a statement that would be hard to achieve even in a dream.

Calian was lost in thought for a moment.

"Your Highness..."

Yan's quiet voice called Calian.

When Calian looked at Yan, his gaze was fixed on Calian's waist.

Following Yan's gaze, Calian's eyes sharpened. There was a red light emanating from Calian's jacket pocket.

Calian knew very well what was inside.

It was the black pebble he had received from the elf Luca. He had always carried it with him in his pocket, as Sispanian had instructed, but he had never seen it glow like this before.

[Shield]

Calian tensed at the sudden situation and created a shield in front of Yan, concerned that something like an explosion might happen. Shortly after, Calian carefully reached for the gem and once again frowned.

A small flower branch that grew under a rose tree in the corner of the garden. A single red rose blooming alone on this chilly day had caught his eye.

If it had been a simple flower, he might have just thought it was unusual and moved on. He would have passed by, thinking about how late this small flower had bloomed.

But that wasn’t the case. Therefore, Calian's voice, filled with questions, came out.

"...Why?"

The rose was emitting a light of the same color as the gem. A blood red color similar to Calian's eyes.

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TN: Sorry about last week!