Let the Whales Fight, This Shrimp is Leaving! - Chapter 79

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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 79
Deyan Boislav Nemanic stared blankly, his mouth hanging open.
What was he supposed to say?
‘I still don’t know.’
Afraid that if he didn’t answer quickly, the somewhat impatient Idir Hubert would grow annoyed again, he finally admitted the truth.
“I’m not entirely sure, Your Highness.”
“Why don’t you know?”
She pressed him.
Deyan felt cold sweat trickling down his spine and shifted uncomfortably.
“This morning, you said it was a matter I should take responsibility for.”
“Yes. That’s a fair assessment. It is, but…….”
“But?”
“I have a feeling the reason might not be limited to just that.”
“Might not be?”
“So I’ve been thinking about it further, but I haven’t found a clear answer yet.”
“You haven’t found one?”
Under the barrage of follow-up questions, Deyan finally bowed his head deeply.
“I apologize.”
It was frightening.
It seemed Idir was angry again.
No, he was certain he’d made her angry.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t keep pressing him like this.
Unable to bear the tension, Deyan drained the cup he was holding in one gulp.
* * *
‘Said he’d never had a drink before,’ I thought.
‘Yet he certainly knows how.’
I watched Deyan drink one glass after another, chewing on a small piece of fruit.
Whether it was thirst, or whether he’d discovered a taste for alcohol, I couldn’t tell.
He was already on his fifth glass.
He’d pour, grip the cup with both hands, then drain it all at once.
After repeating this cycle of pouring and drinking, his face flushed crimson in moments.
‘What’s this?’
He’s drunk?
So poison doesn’t work on him, but alcohol apparently isn’t classified as poison.
“If you get drunk and cause trouble, I’ll throw you out the window.”
I issued the warning preemptively, just in case.
Deyan nodded obediently in response.
“Yes, yes. I’ll keep still.”
I watched as the usual tension in his eyes gradually softened.
Yet his grip on the cup remained white-knuckled—why was he squeezing so hard?
The thin glass seemed to be screaming for mercy.
“You’ll break the glass.”
Just as I was about to nag——
It shattered, as if on cue.
“I told you so.”
With a loud crash, the wine spilled across his trousers and the carpet.
Though shards cut his hand and embedded themselves in his palm, Deyan sat perfectly still, as if carved from stone.
I’d been reaching for the bell to summon a servant, but I paused, eyeing him with a furrowed brow.
“What are you doing?”
“Keeping still, as instructed.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Idiot.
‘Fine then.’
I set the bell back down on the table’s edge.
Let the glass embed itself in his hand if it must.
Let his trousers soak through.
Do as you please.
I replied coolly and regarded him with my head tilted, watching his reaction.
At my gaze, his shoulders stiffened, and the muscles at his neck bunched visibly.
“Am I that frightening to you?”
“Yes. The most in all the world.”
How does he answer so quickly?
Usually he responds so slowly.
My irritation bubbled up, and my words came out sharp.
“Yet you’d give me Half of Fiefdom despite being so afraid?”
“Yes! That’s exactly right.”
How is that exactly right?
“Hah.”
This man already had a foolish side to him, but drunk, he was even more insufferable to talk to.
I decided to finish my apology—the purpose of my visit—and leave, so I tipped the remaining wine into my mouth.
“I appreciate your offer. And I’m sorry for what I said so harshly earlier.”
“It’s fine!”
“I’ll have someone bring you clean clothes. Go wash up and change. As for the wound——well, it’ll heal soon anyway, won’t it?”
“Yes!”
His response suddenly became more spirited.
I stared at him pityingly—he remained rigid, his lips the only thing moving—and then stood.
“And this is advice for your own good: don’t act like such an easy mark out of guilt you shouldn’t even be carrying. You’ll lose everything if you’re not careful.”
“There’s no one who could strip me bare! Thank you so much for your concern!”
“Lower your voice.”
“My apologies.”
His loud voice had irritated me, so now he’d dropped to barely above a whisper.
‘This is infuriating.’
The absurdity of him drew an involuntary laugh from me.
What was more mortifying was that his ridiculous behavior looked—just a little—endearing.
‘Well. Fools do tend to look cute sometimes when you stare long enough.’
Not thinking much of it, I started to turn back toward my room, then hesitated.
The urge to tease him one more time was too strong to resist.
“But what if I strip you bare? What will you do then?”
“If it’s you, Your Highness, that would be acceptable. Probably.”
The addendum seemed unnecessary, but Deyan nodded obediently regardless.
His sheepish demeanor made a joke slip out of its own accord.
“You’re always just saying everything’s fine. What makes it all so acceptable?”
“Well. It’s acceptable because it’s you.”
“Do you like me?”
“Uh…….”
I’d only been joking.
Deyan’s eyes widened.
At the same moment, he clenched his fist, driving the shards deeper into his palm.
“No! The glass!”
I gasped and grabbed his wrist.
Blood dripped freely, staining the hem of my dress.
“Your dress is getting dirty.”
“Forget about that—let go of your hand. Are you insane?”
Even if his wounds healed quickly, and even if the danger of him going berserk had diminished.
“The pain is the same. Why do you keep hurting yourself like this?”
“Are you worried about me?”
Deyan looked up at me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
‘Why are you crying now?’
Irritated by his response, I gave him a sharp flick on the crown of his head.
“I’m not.”
I rang the bell, and a maid rushed in.
“Yes, Your Highness! Is there something you need……? Oh my!”
“Bring clean clothes and something to clean with. Take care of this mess too.”
“Yes, right away!”
I glanced at Deyan’s palm and added,
“Tweezers too.”
Shortly after, the maid returned with the necessary items.
Since removing the glass from his hand was the priority over the clothes, I gestured to the seat beside me, urging Deyan to sit.
When I nodded, he picked up on the cue and edged over carefully.
“Show me your hand.”
“Yes.”
He opened both palms. I could see small shards of glass embedded in what had already begun to scar over.
“Tsk. Why would you be so reckless? Can’t you control your strength?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you breaking things in someone else’s home in the first place?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll repay you later, I promise.”
“Five times over, with interest.”
“Yes.”
I spoke coldly and carefully scraped away the flesh around each shard with a small Medical Blade.
His hand flinched repeatedly—whether from pain or sensitivity, it was clear the procedure wasn’t painless.
“Hold still.”
“It hurts…….”
“Of course it does. If you don’t hold still, this blade is going to carve itself into your palm.”
“I’m sorry.”
Deyan’s response came dejectedly, and he pressed his lips firmly together.
I shot him an annoyed glance—he’d only become obedient after threats—and mercilessly extracted the glass shards.
As each shard came free, the wound sealed itself rapidly.
“Looks like that’s it.”
I cleaned his now-unblemished hand thoroughly with a damp cloth, then pressed lightly on his palm from different angles.
“Is there anything catching?”
“Doesn’t seem to be.”
“Answer clearly. Is there anything, or is there nothing?”
“Um, nothing.”
His spirit thoroughly dampened, he shook his head.
I told him to handle the remaining cleanup himself and stood up.
“If this is still a mess when I come back tomorrow, there will be consequences.”
“I’ll clean it spotlessly.”
Deyan nodded quickly.
Now that he realized his clothes were damp and uncomfortable, his gaze drifted toward the Bathroom.
“Go wash and rest.”
I showed him consideration and opened the door to leave.
The hallway was dimly lit, and a long ribbon of light stretched across it as his voice followed me from behind.
“Sleep well, Your Highness.”
“……Good night.”
I gave him the quietest of replies—barely audible—before closing the door.
“Hah.”
A sigh escaped unbidden.
The pulse I’d felt thrumming forcefully in his palm seemed to linger like a residue.
‘I thought we could have a more serious conversation.’
Instead, I’d learned something else.
Or rather, I’d made him realize something he shouldn’t have.
‘It’s an unnecessary emotion anyway.’
One I won’t accept.
It’ll be forgotten soon.
I dismissed the feelings Deyan had just awakened and returned to my room.
I prepared for bed quickly and lay down, but sleep refused to come.
My body was exhausted, but my mind was far too clear.
Those hazel eyes that had widened so in shock kept watching me through the darkness.

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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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