I Was Hired by the Black-Minded Prince for My Life's Ransom - Chapter 63

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

Episode 63. Terribly Convenient
Yurian’s words were exquisitely measured.
“…Grant me permission, if you would.”
First Prince Nike’s mouth twisted into a crooked smile.
Yurian never simply demanded anything.
He was a man who understood that to take something, one must offer something in return.
So Nike had intended to work around the issue indirectly, rather than ask outright for Vanillin—but.
“What will you give me in exchange?”
“Exchange? What exchange!”
Bang!
Second Prince Kiton brought his fist down on the table.
“Kyle is there, isn’t he, Yurian? Is that really true?”
“Well… His Majesty ordered me to conduct an investigation in secret.”
“Father’s already granted you Investigation Authority?!”
“Since I’m directly involved in the matter, it seemed appropriate.”
Fire flickered in Kiton’s eyes.
He too had urgent need to find Fourth Prince Kyle.
‘I left the assassin alive when I was ordered to kill him.’
It was as good as admitting he was gathering secrets about his own weaknesses.
To Kiton, Kyle was a time bomb.
A catastrophic bomb that might contain far more of his compromising secrets than he could ever imagine.
He turned to Yurian with a terrible expression.
“Transfer that Investigation Authority to me.”
“It is the King’s command. I cannot defy it.”
“…Yurian. Do I look like I’m joking?”
“However, I could offer you the position of Search Commander. Should you desire it, of course.”
“…Ha!”
Kiton’s mouth twisted into a savage smile.
Teeth sharper than most showed through, radiating a wild, feral presence.
“If I’m the commander, what does that make you?”
“I would simply oversee and supervise from behind.”
“I rather like that.”
Snap.
Before Nike could lift a finger, the two men had clasped hands.
And what remained was Nike alone—the common enemy.
“Brother, what are you doing? Won’t you give me the permit?”
“…Ha ha.”
The First Prince laughed aloud.
Ah, wasn’t it beautifully done?
“I can’t exactly give it away for nothing.”
“Is there something you desire in exchange?”
“Of course there is.”
Nike’s eyes widened.
There was only one thing he would demand, and everyone in the room knew what it was.
“Give me your maidservant.”
“I will assign you a servant from the Third Prince’s household.”
“No. Not just any servant. Vanillin. I want her.”
…….
Yurian’s face broke into a brilliant smile.
A sure sign his mood had turned foul.
‘How dare he.’
‘What does he think he’s doing, this half-wit trying to reach above his station.’
Nike’s and Yurian’s gazes collided in the empty air between them.
Yet Yurian did not allow anger to show.
He knew exactly how to handle this.
“That’s impossible. Vanillin is essential to this investigation.”
“Why? Because she’s your precious personal attendant?”
“That as well, but more importantly, she’s indispensable to the inquiry. I cannot disclose the details due to confidentiality, but during my conversation with the Fourth Prince, I discovered certain irregularities that require her involvement.”
Yurian smiled thinly.
His visit to the First Prince’s household was entirely deliberate—made only after he had carefully observed the Second Prince’s movements.
The First Prince desired nothing but Vanillin, so to obtain permission to enter the Lanceslot Estate, he would have had to surrender her by any means necessary.
But then.
“That’s not quite right, is it, brother? Why not settle for just any maidservant?”
If the Second Prince existed, the equation changed entirely.
“Kiton.”
“Surely he’s essential to the investigation, yes?”
He was rough, merciless, cruel, and single-mindedly focused.
Once he’d set his sights on capturing the Fourth Prince, he could be colder than anyone alive.
“If you need staff, I can send you a hundred servants.”
……
“So let’s not be stubborn about this, shall we?”
Thud.
Kiton rose from his seat and leaned against the back of Nike’s chair at an angle.
Nike twisted his lips upward.
“Just yesterday you said you hated Yurian enough to lose your mind. Now you’ve become his lapdog.”
“Crude provocation won’t work. I follow profit, that’s all.”
Kiton leaned his face closer to Nike’s.
“Which means yesterday’s enemy can easily become today’s ally, brother.”
His voice dripped with mockery.
Nike’s blue eyes trembled faintly.
How inconvenient.
How terribly inconvenient.
If Kiton sided with Yurian, there was truly nothing he could do.
“Brother, I’m asking you as a favor. I’ll readily accept anything except Vanillin, so please—won’t you withdraw your demands?”
Yurian grasped Nike’s hand gently between both of his own, his posture all courtesy and deference.
Behind him, Kiton’s eyes gleamed with urgency, silently commanding him to yield.
If he tried to say “surrender Vanillin after the search is finished,” Yurian would refuse,
and Kiton, who despised a stalemate, would do what he always did—kill Nike if necessary to seize what he wanted.
‘A complete defeat.’
Nike wasn’t ready to die.
The time he’d endured, suffering through it all, was far too precious to waste on death.
Click.
He removed the Silver-rimmed Spectacles and set them on the table.
“Fine. Let me change the terms.”
Then, as if exhausted, he rubbed his eyes and spoke.
“One day. Just lend me Vanillin for one day.”
Blue eyes met amber eyes directly.
“If you refuse, there’s no permission. The Lanceslot Territory will be sealed forever.”
Nike raised his lips expressionlessly.
“You wouldn’t refuse this too, would you?”
* * *
“I could have refused, you know.”
Yurian looked down at me with his brow faintly drawn, which was rare for him.
We stood at the entrance to the Lanceslot Territory.
Gathered on overgrown, unmanicured ground, I laughed awkwardly.
“Surely one day isn’t such a terrible thing?”
“I suppose we’ll see.”
“…Your Highness.”
This is a bit difficult…
I’d already heard the broad strokes of what had happened in the meeting with the First and Second Princes.
Apparently they’d asked to borrow me for a day in exchange for opening the Lanceslot Territory.
— I refused. There was no reason to put you on the negotiating table.
When His Highness said that, I was honestly happy.
What was so difficult about lending out one maidservant?
It felt like he was cherishing me, and my heart fluttered at the thought.
…And so.
— I’ll go. I’m fine with it.
The matter of going to the Lanceslot Territory had nothing to do with him in the first place.
So wasn’t it a cheap trade if I could exchange my own time in return?
…Of course, Yurian’s expression had been grim ever since.
“It’s my job to begin with.”
I scratched my cheek and looked up at him carefully.
“Your Highness created the opportunity, and I seized it. Please don’t worry yourself over it.”
“I wish I could help but worry.”
“I’m afraid that ship has sailed.”
“…I see.”
Yurian exhaled a breath that was neither quite a sigh nor quite a laugh.
It was then.
A rough voice called out from a distance.
“Everyone assemble!”
It was Kiton, the Second Prince.
The man who had taken his place at the very front of the search party, surveying the knights around him.
His eyes blazed with fervent determination.
I leaned close to Yurian and whispered.
“…Is the Fourth Prince really here?”
“Does it matter so much?”
“…….”
Does it not matter? The search is ostensibly for the Fourth Prince, after all.
But Yurian simply smiled brightly, as though nothing troubled him.
“From today forward, this place is an Imperial Investigation District. Lose even a single stone or blade of grass, and it’s your head.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Pair off and search. Whether he’s alive or dead doesn’t concern me—if Kyle is found, report to me first.”
His sharp eyes swept across the assembled knights.
“Now scatter.”
The moment Kiton waved his hand, dozens of knights dispersed into the forest as one.
Among them was Leona Berk.
The woman with flame-red hair, her face cold as steel, urging her horse forward.
“Vanillin.”
Noticing my gaze, Yurian lightly covered the back of my hand.
At the lukewarm touch seeping into my skin, my heart raced of its own accord.
‘No. I can’t.’
“I’m fine, Your Highness.”
Tap.
I drew my hand away almost violently and lowered my head.
Yurian looked down at his suddenly empty hand, then at me.
“Besides, Commander Berk and I will be conducting our own search. There’s nothing to concern yourself with.”
“…I understand.”
Yurian regarded me with eyes that had grown somehow dimmer, then turned away.
“It seems I worried needlessly.”
“…….”
No. That’s not it.
I wanted to say so, but the words caught in my throat.
I averted my eyes and pressed my hand firmly against my chest where no one could see.
Crunch, crunch.
We walked on through an awkward silence.
Down a side path where prying eyes could not follow.
Toward the Lanceslot Estate, untouched yet by the search party.
Undergrowth brushed against my ankles, and ivy sprawled thickly over the ancient stone walls.
With each step, old dust rose thick into the air.
It was as though time itself had stopped here fifteen years ago.
I held my breath.
And finally.
“This is….”
“The Lanceslot Estate.”
We had arrived.

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