Chapter 436 142 - Shocking reveal (part 1)

After hurriedly eating breakfast after apologizing to Burushi about disappearing on her without any notice, Zoemi furrowed his brows seeing the empty spot next to Horeo.

"...?"

The black-haired boy looked around to see whether he simply missed Miriette talking with one of their classmates, but that was not the case.

He even glanced back towards the open door to peek into the hallway to see whether she was coming or returning to the classroom, but still, there was no trace of her.

"Good morning, lord Banemor...!"

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, a call from the side got Zoemi's attention and when he turned towards it, he saw the green-haired Senria Parats, bowing her head towards him.

It was quite odd considering that normally neither she nor her red-haired friend, young lady Helterose were trying to get his attention.

Opposite, actually.

But on that day of all days, Senria made an attempt on being nice, even though her last actual conversation with Zoemi was pretty far away from friendly.

"Good morning, miss Parats. We're you instructed to be nicer to me?"

"...!"

Basing his eyes response on their last conversation, Zoemi's smirked quite mockingly, which honestly made for a quite striking effect that made Senria blush before she even realized that the black-haired boy was mocking her.

"...he did... my brother said that the young lord Perserios notified him that you will be helping them out with barbarians, so he asked me to formally invite you to visit our territory on your way there whenever you will be traveling there."

To Zoemi's surprise, even though she became a lot more timid, Senria did have something more to say to him.

"..."

The black-haired boy furrowed his brows in consternation - although the green-haired girl did not mention any specific date, why did it sound like it was expected to happen soon...?

|Quite odd... Didn't Devios asked me about helping them with barbarians just yesterday?|

"(...maybe news travels fast...?)"

"(Maybe the one-eyed boy started spreading the information about your cooperation before asking you for it?)"

The second sentinel wondered, but the first one had quite a different opinion that didn't sound too farfetched at all.

"I already told him that I will do that whenever a chance like that happens. Pass him my thanks for confirming that he didn't change his mind despite all the pesky rumors."

"O-of course! Thank you, my lord!"

Zoemi ended up nodding and waving his hand dismissively as he moved towards his seat, sent off by the words of the bowing Senria.

"Cousin~ where is your fiancée? She is far smarter than to run away because of some rumors, did your chivalry take over once again and you advised her to stay away?"

historical

The black-haired boy snickered while passing by the gold-haired first prince and snickered loud enough for others except the two of them to hear it all.

"The problems keep on piling up and that plans of yours seem to work.. young lady Espine was called back to the Espine estate - she very well might not be my fiance the next time we will see each other."

The way Zoemi talked and the words that he used were meant to push forth the image of the compassionate and benevolent first prince who was tricked by the wile and untrustworthy villain, but then Horeo explained the situation regarding the absence of the dark-haired girl...

"...what...?"

...and made Zoemi's jaw drop as his eyes widened in disbelief.

Things weren't supposed to go that way, not at all - not so fast at least!

"Explain."

The black-haired boy leaned over the gold-haired prince and demanded in a grim voice.

"I already did, haven't I?"

Horeo looked up at him and answered raising his brow and shrugging lightheartedly as if this was none of his concerns.

"With how the things are currently, it really isn't that surprising, really. I would not want to get her involved in the possible turmoil that will happen soon enough."

"!!!"

Although Zoemi was the one who wanted to shock others, the words of the first prince shook him to the core.

"Hmph~ I see."

The black-haired boy managed to snicker and immediately sat down doing his best to make a proud and confident expression, but inside...

|Little ones, connect me to Horeo!|

...he hurriedly asked his sentinels for cooperation.

"(Done~!)"

The second sentinel cheered out as it managed to outspeed their friend this time around.

|My prince?! What in the world is going on?! Is it my fault?!|

Zoemi gasped in his thoughts while keenly listening in to any movement from the gold-haired boy behind him.

"[Pffft...! I knew you were just faking everything!]"

"!!!"

But then he was the one to flinch when Horeo responded to him cheerfully and not at all worried as Zoemi expected him to be.

"[Miriette and I have figured out that you wanted to become a scapegoat for everything that's happening, but honestly although the gesture really warms my heart, it was unnecessary.]"

The first prince added in a completely relaxed tone.

"[But it was quite hurtful when you wouldn't just talk to us normally - or use this improved communication spell of yours to share your plans with us. When did we lose your trust, my friend?]"

To bewilder Zoemi even more, Horeo sighed in a clearly fake sadness and asked.

|...alright, you got me. My plan wasn't all that complicated, but I thought it was my best option. I apologize for giving you a cold shoulder but I thought that a genuine reaction from you and Miriette would be better. And speaking about her, why is she absent? For real though.|

Zoemi frowned, kind of angry at himself for falling so easily into Horeo's trap, and returned the question without answering the one the first prince asked.

"[Playing someone evil suits you surprisingly well, but you are too kindhearted and - please don't take it as an insult, I really mean it in the best way possible - simple-minded to truly sell it. I really appreciate the effort though, because I know you were doing so for my sake. As for that cunning fox... she was called back to the Espine estate because our engagement is under reevaluation.]"

The gold-haired prince revealed, and the black-haired boy heard his breath out in relief - although he himself was as far away from relief as possible.