MBHE | Chapter 2.6

“Carpe is, of course, doing well… perhaps too healthy.”ac82455e9530a56c

“That’s good news.”73aa3737d1fa5db6

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The soft fingertips, which had never held a sword, poked Iellon’s cheek. Iellon’s slight retreat, without any significant resistance, made Edward’s smile grow.7f88bdd6126c3e19

“My father said that royalty is a lonely existence. He said they are so noble that they can’t help but be lonely.”2e744cab54e457c2

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The voice, full of undeniable pretense, made him want to burst into laughter, but he had to hold back. Iellon thought he was still far from mastering Helen’s poker face, blinking with a face mixed with suspicion and hope.e167279c4a78bfc6

“Aren’t you lonely, Your Highness?”9255078f090cf606

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The fifteen-year-old noble, who seemed 53a234e5ae to have seen a lot, 8e1d8204e1 lowered his voice and whispered 77dd8f521f in his ear. He was clearly just 343327528a getting a thrill from 93146c7b30 manipulating a powerful person.e75ac173a456305b

‘As a child of a prestigious duke, life must have seemed easy.’d2252830a4dcb60b

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His olive-colored eyes gleamed with abf4b73ed5 the thrill of bringing one e0e78a2532 of the few people above 491f6bf57e him, Iellon, down to his b350862757 feet.ff316946d35c5765

“Yes? Your Highness.”39f52d708dd9590e

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The forced low 4e733ff24a voice gave him 18103cadcb goosebumps. But it was aae309b1bb too late to 1db153c9b6 stop now. The time to f20e061e90 grab the deer 674f8fdca9 grazing in the 0ac72b3c55 snare was near.f9ef714d1fcdce39

“If Your Highness wishes to ease your loneliness, you may use me.”434f3a7a1770f429

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“The young master…?”9f975a11179b7159

“I will be the Duke of Mendez in a few years, and being close to me will never be harmful. We can be good friends.”3fee68adb8b66b2b

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The red eyes flickered 3d967f7552 with the flames of 45c1305725 the fireplace. Edward swallowed, savoring the thrill d6342bbea0 of underestimating the prince while 00e04b5de9 slowly admiring a face more bc9fa92c00 beautiful than he had imagined.c3baa392a5f712db

The silver hair, which flowed 9af97ec7c1 down as he tilted his d408f5aebe head uncertainly, was charmingly disheveled, d029c67f01 though it felt like silk fda3e74186 when touched.0948b4d9cc8fe8c7

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The fact that he had 0c0164127f made the prince, who had 674d682ddd been pressing his father earlier, 75149d625e look so fragile and delicate, f8800af2db only enhanced his pride.70c6942e6f44238d

The exhilaration of manipulating the prince was clearly visible on Edward’s face. Though pretending to be skilled, it was evident at every moment that he was merely fifteen years old.566cf5f87a01e68d

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Edward was probably 0bc7ac3e49 imitating his father. It was obvious without seeing. Having grown up f95b604cf8 watching Duke Mendez 7c8e5075ec secretly pressuring nobles 480b3a5657 in the mansion e5f8d931e4 to get what a95daf91c9 he wanted, Edward 65c8db7f8a was acting the b651fe1768 same way.11f9330c0ec87415

But who would have thought d8f3f4a2ba he would do that to a5f479ceac a prince?c3a60e8fec1b0c65

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“Since friends naturally help each other, if we become friends, I will sincerely assist Your Highness.”bd1f040f06505afa

“…Is that true?”8984ce346a218b9b

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Edward, thinking he had succeeded, moved closer. The hand that had somehow grasped his shoulder was now hot and tight. It hurt quite a bit, but Iellon didn’t bother to shake it off. It seemed like solid evidence would soon spill from those foolish lips.706d2d3fe1f4da4b

Edward thought he would be e2f7ef025a recognized by Duke Mendez for 1979b26eae coaxing the prince into his 8c42ce86e2 control, but unfortunately, he had f4bfb2128e dug his own grave.6b80726c5914f91a

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In fact, Iellon was almost excited. Should he pressure Duke Mendez for the crime of laying hands on royalty, or should he push Edward’s words to make him a firm ally?90a0af971c63d503

While pondering how to distort the sly duke’s smile, it happened.9acc1279252f2176

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“With just one word of affirmation, our Mendez family will… Ugh!”fd38ff44adc5513f

Before he could ab3a5d88d1 finish his sentence, 0cd9926144 Edward suddenly disappeared 23e3c3613a from sight. He was lying on the 4b5c45a04f floor, trembling. Standing protectively in front of 5ecd5f4388 Iellon was a back that a5941e7b47 was too small for an 1e2d498f4a adult but too big for 0200784f8c a child.53e16992b00c2177

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With jet-black hair and a e5eee34ac5 skinny body, Lucas, or rather c83e7eba66 Noah, stood with his fist 6a22de1928 raised.3b91a03b0e6e3e9b

I didn’t know why he was here or why he had hit Edward. But there was one thing Iellon knew for sure.6a64317bccc7d5fc

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“Do you know what you just blew away?”f0e33ddf2e9250e5

The opportunity to manipulate the Mendez family, which owned mines of iron, gold, and jewels. An opportunity that couldn’t be bought with any amount of money had vanished with a dirty child’s punch.c42785cb4392d58b

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The emptiness outweighed the anger. It was so absurd that he couldn’t even get mad.2a421fe605b85744

Noah, who didn’t know anything, frowned slightly and approached Iellon. Then, with clumsy hands, he patted his body, as if checking if a fallen child was hurt.7de96dcf513e6f04

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Edward, still lying on d749ca2b47 the floor, and Noah, 35fba30380 seriously examining Iellon. The fireplace, still burning f11dd2012b brightly, not knowing the 9f82819efa situation. Iellon closed his eyes tightly.d5f4ad3ea65ef839

“Cough, cough! What is this…!”4d0e993f04da1ccc

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Edward, who had 712263a2f5 probably never been f1b803fbe0 hit by anyone 1e3f70888b before, turned over, a845d06aea trembling. He placed his 72da623e28 hand on his 006cfc3ab9 swollen cheek and 2e20796d26 inhaled sharply at 650118dec3 the sight of 0d0a1eb01b the blood on e7c994d4ff his fingers.728731c65d1c4c54

“I apologize for my attendant’s rudeness. He’s exceptionally loyal.”fa488a9cde9d7023

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Iellon quickly interjected 2038b2f097 with a firm e920a30671 tone. Edward, who was still f834cfab58 lying on the floor, 5290780885 alternated between looking at 2c158f7b85 Iellon and Noah, his 4d3417069c face twisting fiercely.13c2466d40c5a18c

“How dare an attendant…!”5c7d0742bb4b161d

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“It seems even a young boy found your touch quite unpleasant. I thought you were just someone lacking a bit of etiquette, but since it’s come to this, I’ll tell Duke Mendez to put aside his affection for the young master and educate him a bit more strictly.”09d0bd86ab524fc4

There was a big difference between Edward reporting to the duke that Iellon’s attendant hit him and Iellon reporting that he was harassed.5b314b29212954a1

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Even if the cause and effect were the same, people tend to see the information they receive first as more significant. If both are shocking, it’s always advantageous to strike first.b748fbf3b1e50a4d

“How heartbroken I would be if the future Duke Mendez were to be ridiculed somewhere.”4231ea11cfd3f291

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Iellon, with his hands 3ff1f84914 behind his back and c34741a670 slightly bent waist, nodded eb1eed606e his head and smiled. Fragile and delicate? What stood before 45906a3a14 him was the 021cdf7899 top predator lurking 72a99785ef in the grass, 7f95345f72 eyeing its prey.68552eb452b91bb7

Underestimating a snake just because it crawled on the ground was Edward’s mistake. It was proof of his foolishness to even think that way in the first place.831b7cbdb9909cb3

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Upon hearing the news, Duke Mendez clenched his fist and bowed his head. Even though he didn’t openly say he was harassed, he clearly understood the overall situation.ecba9dc55f5fafca

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“…I apologize. Please don’t just overlook it because he’s young; I’ll educate him properly from now on.”e9122778b82814c8

“Yes, do so now.”a0b7ad5a2bd5824f

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If Iellon and Carpe were truly at odds, Edward’s actions would have gone unchecked. To become emperor, or even just to survive, he needed as many allies as possible.bcec7d51171475ba

He would have endured a moment’s humiliation if the Mendez family would back him. In reality, the situation was a bit different, but Iellon intended to do so.4ed91c3f2a32dc2a

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However, Iellon and Carpe were not enemies. In fact, Iellon was striving to save Carpe, making Edward’s threats meaningless from the start.714ced38e96c6638

What remained was the crime of harassing royalty. He had planned to have some fun with that, but Noah’s sudden intervention ruined everything.c2ab726de0b3438e

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But once the water e86810c2c9 was spilled, there was b75386e6fc no gathering it back. Iellon, who had already 13be212b68 resigned himself, flipped the 5eaea953da card he had from d18519ea1d the start.deaf8a19329af307

“Still, it’s fortunate that it was me. Within the empire, everyone knows the status of the Mendez family, so it would have been overlooked, but if such disgrace had been shown to nobles from other countries, it would have been an embarrassment to the Leronan Empire.”47072112780cca04

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What if your son acted presumptuously and was ridiculed while secretly dealing with other countries? The voice, full of mockery, echoed in Duke Mendez’s mind.9b1e1988fac39aeb

Iellon had suspicions but no 72a13d3a7b evidence. Knowing this, Duke Mendez straightened 2abd116f82 his slightly lowered body.84ae54b0c027c42d

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If he let himself be pushed, he didn’t know what he might lose. The duke, known as a sly fox, looked at the prince with a stern face.d179d2442478ff62

“Your Highness, even though he was rude, being struck by an attendant is a disgrace to our Mendez family. May I impose an appropriate punishment on that attendant?”867ded73602d7c87

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“Hmm, imposing a punishment on someone who stood up for his master?”a5ca386dab87d06a

“Of course, Edward will also receive a fitting punishment.”e8c941375c23b3c9

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Edward, with a 19cc264be5 large bandage on 3b51925169 his cheek, looked d4a5c7f7f3 surprised. Noah remained motionless.628b18515d89cea8

Iellon, who was d2e0f89991 still outwardly calm e088cea500 but inwardly clicked 7d39f9dfe9 his tongue, tapped 94001edd26 his toes as c842177583 if lost in d0d588901a thought.404fa9beabf1ede2

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Duke Mendez was ed6c2b857d gambling with Noah 02e197bc0c as the excuse. He was willing to admit bf1d89a34c their fault and take a e010bafb07 losing position with Iellon, but a16c7bc9f3 in return, he intended to 27ea117881 kill Noah. It was the desperate c6033b74b9 act of a sly 8faaf5fc92 fox who quickly realized 44bbd2f3d6 that Noah was more 6b172ab67c than just a regular a8c898f79c attendant to Iellon.4560605c48eea406

The power of the duke’s family, which would be nice to have but not disastrous if lost, and Noah, who would become a hero’s companion in the future. It was a game Iellon couldn’t win.d249eda025a7bd79

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Swallowing a sigh, Iellon 8b711f61da deliberately showed a hint bb2da39ede of annoyance and waved 5859ba6803 his hand dismissively.42891865e3753682

“Seeing blood after a meal isn’t pleasant, so let’s just consider this matter as if it never happened.”161bfca60fac6a55

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Duke Mendez hid his relief and nodded, as if he had no choice but to follow the prince’s opinion.72fa54c7fad0a3b7

If Iellon had f8589d7973 given up Noah, cdf7d3ad52 Edward would have 769f7466bc lost an entire 1f30c2ed49 hand and had 578a03f3f6 nothing to say.bc9a7fc17d7c73a0

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Plus-minus zero. Iellon and Duke Mendez 804ea49192 shared the same thought, 94d23d358f smiling without a hint a5e5ddb974 of joy.8b51ac7d77bcc89b

♣ ♣ ♣bfca80f4e4a3deeb

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Iellon staggered into the room prepared by the duke and approached the bed. As he dove into the plush bedding, it felt like he might just sink into it. After a while, he managed to turn over and saw the canopy adorned with small jewels. One of the blue sapphires slightly resembled Carpe’s eyes.fd171eecdf493bce

Once he thought of him, thoughts of that child flooded in. Carpe, who made him smile without needing to control his expression. Carpe, who didn’t hide his true feelings or test others. Carpe, who wasn’t selfish.9ecea02926468bb1

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Iellon missed Carpe, who allowed him to remain just someone’s older brother.d10fd408698258f1

As he hugged the pillow 72658d77dd and rolled around the wide a7400ce96d bed, Iellon suddenly stopped struggling.e8763d9ee291b17b

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The subtle power struggle with Duke Mendez had taken an unexpected turn. The outcome wasn’t particularly good, but it wasn’t terribly bad either.7bd8da09352848a0

He didn’t have solid evidence of selling minerals to other countries, and he hadn’t expected Duke Mendez to shrink back just from suspicions.a7a0157868e5daa0

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Although they had agreed to overlook things because of Noah, Edward’s arrogant actions were a significant mistake. Even if Iellon changed his mind later and decided to give up Noah to shake Edward, Duke Mendez wouldn’t be able to act recklessly.264640d17faf3c57