Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 268

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 268
“This is irritating.”
The banquet had begun. And the same delaying tactics employed in the conference room continued seamlessly into the festivities.
The Crown Prince’s complete absence was proof of this.
Having sworn the Oath of the Land, he couldn’t simply fail to appear, yet his malicious intent was palpable.
This was precisely why Calypso despised him. From beginning to end, nothing about him was right.
“If you gathered every element that’s the complete opposite of what I have and molded them into a person, I’m certain the Crown Prince would pop right out.”
Crunch. Calypso spoke while savagely chewing the ice in her drink.
“Ahahaha.”
Whale laughed warmly in response. I see.
“I’ve never met the Crown Prince, but from your explanation, I think I understand him perfectly.”
“Don’t add honorifics either. Not using them is the maximum courtesy we’re willing to show that bastard.”
Calypso wasn’t alone where she stood.
The number of attendees at the banquet was double that of the conference.
Personnel brought by the Lords and Representatives, and the various great and minor houses in the capital. And above all, there were guards aplenty.
‘Everyone’s anticipating that war might break out at any moment.’
It was a matter of that severity.
Though laughter and merriment filled the air, anyone who couldn’t sense the ominous tension hanging over this place wouldn’t have made it through the doors.
In any case, several figures stood beside Calypso.
Namely, Dana, the Elephant Beastkin leader, Amphila, the representative of the Hippopotamus Beastkin, and… Natasha, the leader of the Snakes.
Calypso had been surprised when she first saw Natasha. She’d sent someone else to represent her at the grand conference.
But she’d arrived this evening, wanting to participate in the banquet herself.
The three leaders and representative each responded to Calypso’s words with agreement, bitter smiles, or feigned laughter and ignorance.
“Everyone seems to understand, don’t they?”
“I heard nothing at all.”
Dana smiled with a composed expression.
Calypso could guess. No matter how the Crown Prince concluded tonight’s banquet, the Empire’s division was inevitable.
Aquasia alone had long since ceased wanting to belong to the Empire.
Though Dana’s face remained serene, Calypso could tell from their earlier conversation that her resolve was already set.
The Western Continent houses also desired independence.
“Sigh, truthfully I agree. Gathering all these people here—when exactly does he plan to show up?”
“Mm, I agree too.”
Amphila couldn’t contain her frustration at the Crown Prince’s absence and vented, while Natasha gracefully waved her hand in agreement.
“…Orca Family Matriarch. How far has ‘that’ progressed?”
Dana asked quietly.
“It’s already arrived.”
She was asking about Pierre and the forces he was bringing.
Pierre had already reached a position from which he could launch a surprise assault on the capital if needed.
Relief washed over the faces of those gathered.
Of course, Calypso was subtly using her water powers to ensure no one else could hear this conversation.
Dana didn’t need to press the matter further.
“There’s one thing I’m curious about…”
Calypso turned her head to gaze toward the far end of the hall where the banquet was being held.
A tapestry bearing the Imperial crest—the symbol of the Imperial Palace—hung elegantly on one wall.
“I’m curious why the Imperial Palace would stand idle despite knowing of the army’s arrival.”
When such a massive force moves, there are limits to concealment.
Moreover, the power the Imperial Palace wielded was the power of the earth itself.
Pierre had warned that the Imperial Palace likely sensed something amiss.
‘This is almost like…’
Calypso recalled something. Her eyes grew dim and dark.
Regardless of what each person present was thinking, the banquet continued.
After an hour had passed, the sound of trumpets echoed through the banquet hall—the announcement of the Imperial family’s arrival.
At last, the Crown Prince appeared in the banquet hall.
All conversation ceased at once, and everyone’s attention focused. The sight of everyone bowing their heads was magnificent.
Yet one person alone did not bend their head.
Because of this, the gaze of Prince Kail, walking alone with heavy footsteps, met theirs.
The one who did not bow was Calypso.
The Crown Prince, seeing Calypso’s stiff demeanor, twisted his lips ever so slightly.
Then he turned his back and walked toward the dais.
‘Coward.’
A sneer played at Calypso’s lips. A perfectionist—but a perfectionist who had tasted defeat would harbor far greater fear than ordinary people.
The Crown Prince seemed intent on making his rounds of greetings, for immediately after announcing the formal beginning of the banquet, he moved to the center.
Even though an hour had already passed since the start.
‘He does like his grand entrances.’
As Calypso suppressed her quietly simmering anger, a cautious hand came to rest on her shoulder.
“Calypso.”
The distance between the Crown Prince and Calypso wasn’t far. It seemed he wouldn’t broach the main topic just yet.
“Whale, shall we move to that corner for a moment?”
Her intent to avoid confrontation came through clearly, and Whale followed obediently.
“You’re holding up well, Calypso.”
“What choice do I have?”
Calypso took a sip of the drink in her hand.
Wine was abundant, but she couldn’t afford to drink for the sake of the plan.
“I wish Ekion would hurry and bring me something good. Then I wouldn’t have to look at that lion’s face so much.”
“Well then, shall I tell you a story to help you forget about it, at least for a moment?”
“Do you have a story interesting enough to make me forget that face?”
“I do.”
Calypso nodded apologetically to Whale while letting his words go in one ear and out the other.
One part of her mind was focused on when the Crown Prince would make his announcement, while the other waited for word from Ekion.
“Once this is all over, I want to become your husband too.”
I thought there was nothing that could disrupt this focus, but I was wrong.
Calypso stared at Whale with a slightly dazed expression.
“I don’t want to get married, Calypso.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Everyone is desperate to take me to their own houses. I’m getting tired of it.”
As I examined Whale’s face carefully, faint dark circles that hadn’t been visible before became slightly apparent.
“It’ll only get worse once this is over, won’t it?”
I couldn’t refute that. Whale’s value was simply too great.
“So you take me.”
“What, are you talking about yourself like you’re picking up a pet?”
“It means you can raise me however you want, treat me however you want. It also means I’m that desperate.”
“….”
“It’s also a way of expressing my desire to belong to you forever.”
Calypso couldn’t refuse as firmly as before.
Because in Whale’s words just now—”I don’t want to get married”—I felt his earnest sincerity.
If Whale said no, there would be no house forcing him into it.
But even if Calypso stepped forward and issued orders, could she prevent the subtle invitations that would come from behind the scenes?
Yet taking a husband for this reason… No, what’s different about Levai then? It’s the same situation. Levai at least lived the same life… I thought he would remain chaste. So is Whale different?
No, what kind of brothers use marriage as a form of coercion(?) in the same way? Isn’t their blood actually mixed?
No, why do brothers who coerce (?) through marriage look exactly the same? Are they actually blood-related?
“Whale.”
It was at this point in my thoughts.
“Dear Beastkin.”
I turned my head. Somehow, the Crown Prince was standing on the platform before the throne.
“Let’s talk about this later. I promise I’ll give you an answer.”
“Okay.”
Both Whale and Calypso forgot their rational tension and focused intently.
“To express that I cherish and respect you all, I shall now speak with formal language.”
What? That arrogant bastard is using formal speech toward an unspecified group? The one who regards all Beastkin as beneath his feet, worth less than his claws?
Calypso’s expression hardened sharply.
“You have all likely been eagerly awaiting my entrance and announcement beneath your smiling faces, I’m sure. I understand.”
If you understand, then spit out the main point, you damned bastard. Calypso muttered inwardly.
“But isn’t it strange?”
The Crown Prince laughed excessively. He seemed like a madman, yet also like someone barely maintaining elegance.
“In fact, it would be more appropriate for my father, His Majesty the Emperor, to make this announcement instead of me, who has not yet inherited the throne. Hasn’t anyone thought of this?”
There certainly would be. From the moment we encountered the Crown Prince in the conference room.
Everyone had surely recalled the Emperor, who was undergoing treatment in secret.
The Emperor, who hadn’t been seen in a long time.
“First, let me make this clear.”
The Crown Prince smiled even more beautifully.
“I killed the Emperor with my own hands.”
A silence as profound as death descended upon the hall.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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