Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 148

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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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I Don’t Care About the Successor — Let Me Just Heal — Episode 148

Whoever these bastards are, I need to find out whether they’re actually competent or just as useless as the current emperor — because a kid who isn’t even an adult yet is being ground to dust doing their work.
Whether they’re genuinely capable or just as worthless as the reigning emperor himself.

‘If they’re emperor-tier incompetent…’

Not that I should say it out loud, but I’ve decided Ricshel doesn’t need to work himself this hard.
Whether it goes this way or that way, it’s a mess either way — so why should he sacrifice his body and youth?

‘Though I understand what drives him, of course.’

Someone has to work hard for the country, after all.
Since the emperor is useless, the rest of us just have to clean up his mess.

“Hmm…”

Lion scratched his unkempt hair.
Well, he’s not wrong, but still… doesn’t that basically mean the emperor serves no purpose?

‘No, the more I think about it, the more it pisses me off.’

The boss does a lousy job, so the employees below get chewed up.
That’s why Grandfather — even though he’s not really frail, but still.
Anyway, he’s long past the age when he should have retired, yet he never stops moving night and day just because of the emperor’s messes.
The heredity of labor — that’s what you call it!
It has to stop.

‘If I’m not careful, I’ll end up the same way.’

Already, without even realizing it, the Imperial House has dumped every single task onto House Asteri.
For now, the fallout hasn’t even reached my younger brother, the heir — but if the Second Imperial Prince turns out to be a dud…

Gulp.

Ugh, just imagining it jolted me wide awake.
In any case, I should see his face at least once.

“You seem to have woken up a bit, sir.”

Elvia smiled gently as she watched Lion’s expression shift moment by moment, bringing his clothes and luggage.

“Yeah. I’m a little worried about Ricshel.”
“I see.”

From those few words alone, Elvia understood exactly what kind of thoughts were running through Lion’s mind.
After all, the kind young master’s worry for his younger brother was hardly a new thing.
And if he worried even for her, a witch, then what more could be said?
But.

‘How adorable, these worries of his.’

Contrary to Lion’s concerns, Elvia felt not the slightest unease.
He was as meek as a lamb only in front of Lion — in truth, he was Patrick’s spitting image.
In fact, Ricshel likely wielded stronger influence than the Second Imperial Prince or any of his Underworld backers… but still.

“The young master does tend to immerse himself rather too deeply in his assigned duties, you understand.”

Elvia chose to keep up the façade.
That would certainly be more enjoyable, wouldn’t it?
Even a little lapdog stuck doing tedious work all day could use a breath of fresh air.
And perhaps the world might learn just how capable this little dog truly is.

‘Hehehehe……’

Had Lion known what was running through his mind, he would have protested vehemently that no such plan existed.
But fortunately for Ricshel, Lion knew nothing of it.
As Lion slipped on his outer coat, Elvia, who had been checking the luggage beside him, picked up the itinerary and opened her mouth with perfect composure.

“You will be staying at the Hotel for a total of four nights and five days. During that time, Young Master, you must evaluate the Hotel’s facilities coldly and objectively, from a guest’s perspective.”

It seemed that publicly, Lion’s visit to the Hotel was framed as part of business operations, which was why Elvia was briefing him.

“Also, the Family Head specifically instructed you to be careful not to sustain any injuries.”
“Ha. Grandfather really is something.”

Why would he be thinking about injuries on a hot spring getaway?
He certainly does worry a lot, doesn’t he?

‘Though, to be fair, my health has always been fragile.’

Still, such concern was rather touching.

“Don’t worry—I won’t get hurt.”

Lion waved his hand dismissively with a smile, then stuffed the Wrapped Egg into his bag as a final thought.

“Yes. And I will be standing by wherever you are.”

Elvia smiled and opened Lion’s door for him.
The door swung open.

“Safe travels, Young Master.”

The servants lined up at their posts and bowed respectfully.
The eldest son of House Asteri.
This was Lion Asteri’s first official engagement since reaching adulthood.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Of course, Lion didn’t actually believe that.

* * *

“Hotel Easter is located at the northernmost point of Asteri Territory.”

Ricshel’s face, sitting beside him in the carriage, was brimming with vitality—apparently he had slept well last night after all.

‘Good thing I brought him along.’

Otherwise, he might have been handling duties right up until this morning.

“So it’s a bit cooler than the mansion, but once you’re inside the Hotel, you won’t feel the chill.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The Hotel grounds are maintained with Temperature Control Magic throughout.”
“Ah……”

Right—in a place like this, they’d use magic to maintain comfort.
Is that why it belongs to Asteri Territory?

‘It’ll probably be easier to call a mage when we need one anyway.’

From that angle, it seemed they were doing each other quite a bit of good.
And yet…….

‘Is that all the explanation I’m getting?’

He regarded his younger brother with a look that asked for more information, but unfortunately Ricshel merely offered a satisfied smile and nodded vigorously.
No, just nodding wasn’t enough——

‘Hmm, this isn’t what I had in mind.’

Lion felt a twinge of disappointment as the conversation drifted in an unintended direction.
Well, the whole point of this trip had been Ricshel’s healing journey, after all.

‘He could’ve let himself be a bit spoiled with me.’

No one knew better than Lion how exhausting dealing with people could be.
In his work life, the most fulfilling moments came from people, and so did the most frustrating ones he’d wanted to abandon everything for.
He’d spent years swallowing his irritation, keeping it firmly in check.
Even as an adult, it had taken Lion a long time to grow accustomed to that environment.
And here was young Ricshel already facing the same thing.

‘Better to just vent honestly and air some grievances.’

This was part of why Lion had come along.
To create a space where work could be discussed openly—an adaptation of the technique used when newcomers struggled to adjust to the company, suffering in silence.
Legitimate shirking!
The method was to take them to a café under the guise of consultation, buy them not an Americano but whatever they actually wanted to drink, and quietly provide both ‘counsel’ and ‘rest’—all perfectly legitimate.
Of course, venting wasn’t the healthiest form of release, but it did give one the strength to persevere once more.
Yet the gentle younger brother seemed absorbed in his own thoughts, whether or not he understood Lion’s heart.

“I was worried you might catch a cold, but if you stay inside the hotel, you should be fine.”
“Oh, I see.”

But looking at it now, what was this?
Wasn’t it Ricshel who was worrying about him instead?

‘And I’ve been thinking about this for a while now…….’

Sometimes—and he’d noticed this more than once—Ricshel treated him like a newborn baby.
He understood the concern, but surely by now, when he stepped outside, he’d be treated as at least an ordinary person, wouldn’t he?
He knew Basic Magic and Basic Elemental Spirits——
And on top of that, his Alchemy was at a skilled level, wasn’t it?

“Is there anything in particular I should be careful about, or…….”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Even so, you don’t know what I might do——”
“You’re welcome to do whatever you wish. If anything, wouldn’t that be to the hotel’s advantage?”

Why would it be?

“Well, whenever you plan something, it’s guaranteed to succeed.”
“Come on, I’m not that—”
“The hot spring was like that for me.”
“That was just because it would be good for our family to use it——”
“And so was what happened with the sanctuary.”
“That was just…….”

It wasn’t that Patrick was worthless—it’s just that what started as pity had spiraled into something Lion couldn’t control anymore.
He wanted to make an excuse, but Ricshel’s eyes had already taken on something formidable.

‘Hmm? Don’t tell me.’

Lion found the source of his unease.
He’d wondered why the conversation had felt so strange, and now he understood.
Ricshel had already begun to see him as someone exceptional.

‘This isn’t it at all.’

Lion had no intention of managing House Asteri’s affairs or doing anything befitting a successor.
He was content simply to have a talented younger brother.

“Little brother.”
“Yes, brother.”
“I’m grateful that you think so highly of me, but I’m not nearly as remarkable as all that. You’re far more gifted than I am.”
“…….”

Ricshel shut his eyes tight and nodded slowly.
Right. He’d known this was coming.

‘For my sake.’

He was afraid that Lion might become a threat to his position.
Worried that his own standing might be shaken, he was emphasizing once more that Lion should step back—or so Ricshel interpreted it.
If that was what his brother wanted, Ricshel was willing to take on the duties of successor, and eventually those of Family Head, with gratitude in his heart.
Besides, his brother was exceptional, wasn’t he—yet physically frail.

‘If he were to overexert himself arguing with fools and fall ill…….’

Ricshel suspected he wouldn’t hesitate to sweep them all away.
No, the Family Head would likely move first.
But!
What had happened the last time his brother had hidden his brilliance for Ricshel’s sake?
An assassination attempt.

‘Brother needs to show his strength, at least to some degree.’

Fools couldn’t see the larger picture.
They couldn’t perceive his brother’s true excellence.
So there was no choice but to make it rather conspicuous.
The reason Ricshel Asteri stood out so prominently was because there was a true supporter behind him.
The eldest son, the one the House called an eccentric.
Lion Asteri.

“Yes, I understand your meaning well, brother.”

But if he spoke this aloud, how much burden would it place on his brother?

“This time I’m genuinely going to rest—there’s no need to worry. Brother, the fact that Elvia explained my itinerary is just for appearances’ sake.”
“Mm.”
“If I took official leave, it would cause too much talk. If that inconvenienced you, I apologize——.”
“No, that’s not it.”

Lion waved his hand dismissively.
He found himself feeling oddly guilty—had he just pressured a homesick boy into staying?

“Still, since you’re going on official business anyway, that’s how it is. Oh, and I just remembered—Hotel Easter is supposed to have an incredible number of facilities. Would you tell me about them?”
“Oh, I haven’t shown you those yet!”

Ricshel drew an envelope from his pocket.
Inside was…….
A letter and a beautifully rendered illustration of Hotel Easter’s facade, complete with descriptive text on fine paper.
Lion skimmed the letter first.

[To Our Valued Guest,]
—Hotel Easter is committed to providing our guests with unforgettable experiences.
—During your stay, we offer complimentary access to the finest bedding, cuisine, and entertainment.
—Our staff remains on premises at all times to minimize any inconvenience, so please do not hesitate to inquire about any amenities.
……
—We hope you’ll enjoy the finest day of your life with Easter.

Lion examined the facilities listed below.
Extraordinary restaurants and boutiques offering custom tailoring.
Ballrooms and theater facilities.
And…….

‘A hunting ground?’

The hotel apparently also maintained a section where monsters and beasts were released for the entertainment of nobility who enjoyed the hunt.

‘Now that I think about it…….’

Lion suddenly recalled playing In the World years ago.
In virtually every seasonal event held every month or two, the phrase “hosted by Hotel Easter” always appeared.

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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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