The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 25

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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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The Forsaken Crown Prince’s Ghost Bride — Episode 25

“Hey, what are you doing?”
“…Just.”
“Just?”
Looking at his naive face, Dio wiped his dry expression away.
“Lost?”
“Not exactly…”
Dio’s eyes fell on the paper Lucian was fiddling with.
“You don’t know where you’re supposed to go, do you?”
Lucian nodded. Dio, alternating his gaze between Lucian and the paper, let out a heavy sigh and tilted his head.
“I’ll show you the way. Follow me.”
“Really? Thanks!”
Dio’s eyebrows twitched. He cleared his throat unnecessarily and strode forward with long steps. When Lucian followed behind him with little shuffling steps, Dio stopped short.
“Don’t walk behind me — come to my side! Do I have to teach you everything?”
“Oh.”
Lucian hesitated at first, then moved to Dio’s side. When he broke into a grin, Dio pouted his lips.
The two boys walked side by side again for the next errand. After a brief silence, Dio spoke first.
“…You moved here recently, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. Not long ago.”
“Where do you live?”
“Um… over there.”
“If you don’t want to tell me, just say you don’t want to tell me.”
“That’s not it…”
“Why are you so hard to deal with? You got no friends?”
“…”
“…Ugh. If you make that face, people will get the wrong idea!”
“…But I really don’t have any friends.”
“Why.”
“…Just don’t.”
“…”
“…”
“Want me to be your friend?”
“Really?”
“It’d be nice to have a friend who knows Swordsmanship… or, never mind if you don’t want to!”
“No, no! I’d love to! Hehe…”
“Geez, you’d be easy prey anywhere.”
“…I’m not tasty though?”
“Who’d actually eat you? It’s just a saying. Anyway, jokes don’t land with you.”
“So… you don’t like me?”
“W-who said I don’t like you? I told you not to make that face!”
The two boys bickered back and forth, and before long laughter bloomed between them as they strolled through the Plaza. For Lucian, this was his first friend his own age.

* * *

“This is the last one!”
With Dio’s help, Lucian found the shoes at the Shoe Shop and popped the box into his Subspace Pocket.
Seeing that, Dio’s jaw dropped and he glanced around nervously. Sure enough, a few adults who’d spotted the rare Subspace Pocket were eyeing them.
“What are you staring at? Go on, get out of here!”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
Dio snorted and only after confirming that the nearby people had moved away did he look at Lucian with an exasperated expression.
“You really don’t know how the world works. Didn’t anyone teach you to be careful when you use that?”
Lucian flinched. Had he really taken it out in such a crowded place?
‘I told you to be careful! There are so many rotten people among humans!’
He recalled Kaijar, breathing fire and huffing indignantly. Seeing Lucian’s movements suddenly quicken, Dio tilted his head.
“Why the sudden change?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’ve already bought everything.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Looking at the change left from his errand, Lucian pondered for a moment, then looked at Dio.
“Thanks for helping! Let me buy you something delicious!”
“What? No, that’s okay.”
“Lia said that if you receive help, you have to repay it. So come on!”
Without even waiting for his consent, Lucian dragged him along. Dio was bewildered at first, then let out a laugh and followed after Lucian.
As Lucian, who’d taken the lead at first, got lost, Dio guided him here and there. Thanks to that, Lucian learned about a tasty snack spot.
“Mm, this is good.”
“Right? It’s really delicious!”
The two boys rested for a moment, each holding a skewer in one hand. Perhaps because they were leaning against the wall, the busy crowds moving about seemed especially noticeable.
“It seems like there are way more people here than the last time I came.”
“Right. Everyone’s trying to get to the Capital.”
“Why the Capital?”
“Why else? Today’s the Crown Prince’s birthday.”
“Birthday?”
“Since the day before yesterday there’s been festivals and all kinds of noise. Especially in the Capital — it’ll be even louder than here. Other kids said a circus troupe came and they’re going to watch it.”
He spoke about it indifferently, as if it were someone else’s business.
“What’s the date today?”
“Today? July seventeenth.”
“…”
“Why suddenly ask about the date? Huh? Why’s your face like that?”
Only then noticing Lucian’s expression, Dio was taken aback. Lucian looked both shocked and sad.
“Today’s my birthday too…”
“What? Hey! You should’ve said so earlier!”
Dio began rummaging through his pockets. When only a single folded bill came out, he felt embarrassed.
“I, I don’t have any money right now, so I can’t buy you anything…”
“No, that’s not why I wanted a gift. It’s just…”
What surprised him was that he hadn’t even realized his birthday was approaching.
For Lucian, his birthday was the most special day of the year, something he counted down toward.
It wasn’t as though people suddenly grew kinder or that his daily life changed in some dramatic way, but on that day alone, he got to eat delicious food he couldn’t taste otherwise, and he watched fireworks paint the sky from the small garden attached to the Palace.
Even last year, when summer began, he’d waited for his birthday to arrive. But this year, he hadn’t thought about it once.
If there was a reason, it was surely because he’d met Lia.
Thinking of Lia and Kaijar, his sunken spirits lifted once more. He grew curious about how they’d react when he told them it was his birthday today.
‘Will they be surprised?’
Imagining the two of them flustering about, he suddenly wanted to hurry back to the Estate.
Meanwhile, Dio, who’d been gloomy on his own, couldn’t understand the suddenly bustling Lucian.
“But doesn’t anyone in your family notice your birthday?”
“Huh? Yeah. I didn’t tell them.”
“How can you not know just because you didn’t tell them? Your family’s really too much. That older brother who came with you last time — he has plenty of money but didn’t even buy you a gift?”
Was this really something to be angry about? It was natural they wouldn’t know if he hadn’t told them, wasn’t it?
But not knowing the circumstances, Dio grew even more indignant, saying his family was too cold-hearted.
“Let’s go to my house!”
“Huh?”
“I’ll give you a gift.”
Dio took Lucian to the Weapon Shop. Bill, Dio’s father, who was attending to a customer, spotted Lucian.
“Oh? Isn’t that the little one I saw last time?”
“Dad, his birthday is today!”
“Hm? Is that so?”
“So give me my allowance for this month in the form of a gift for him instead.”
Bill blinked and looked at his son. He wondered if they’d grown close without him knowing, but then thought that it hadn’t been that many meetings anyway.
The fact that his son, who calculated his allowance meticulously, was asking to trade it for a gift meant Lucian had made quite an impression.
Bill let out a small laugh and ruffled Dio’s hair.
“Ow! My hair’s getting dirty!”
“Dio, is that how you talk to your father? Alright, so today’s your birthday?”
“Yes… oh, but you don’t have to give me anything. Really, it’s okay, it’s just that Dio…”
“How can it be okay? Your own family won’t look after you — at least I should!”
Though Dio’s words cut him off midway, Bill looked around to see what he might have to give Lucian.
“Let’s see — you said you were learning Swordsmanship before?”
“Oh, yes!”
“How long have you been training?”
“Just a few days.”
“Is that so?”
Bill eyed Lucian sideways. Then he went to the storage room and came back with a box.
“This is a Shoulder Protector. You’re young so it won’t matter much right now, but if you keep swinging a sword, your body will take a lot of strain in various places. It’s good to wear a protector from a young age. That way you won’t get injured.”
“Nice! How is it? Do you like it?”
Lucian felt shy, his lips working soundlessly. This was the first gift he’d ever received. And it was just for him.
“I don’t have anything I’ve done for you…”
“Sure you do. You bought me lots of delicious things today. If you’re really concerned about it, let’s have a match sometime! There’s no one around here who knows Swordsmanship.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely do that! Thank you, Dio!”
“Ahem, ahem! It’s not much…”
Bill watched his son warmly as he grumbled while his ears turned red. He was grateful his son had found such a good friend.
“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”
“Good. If you’re truly grateful, then you have to come to our shop next time you buy something. Since you’re this fellow’s friend, I’ll give you a special discount.”
“…Yes!”
Lucian clutched the gifts from both of them and smiled brightly.

* * *

“I have to brag about this to Lia and him!”
From making a new friend to receiving birthday gifts — he had mountains of things to tell them.
He didn’t realize, humming cheerfully as he bounded along, the shadow that loomed behind him.
That shadow reached out toward Lucian.
Tap.
“Eek!”
Lucian started and jumped. Instinctively, he gripped the Glass Marble that Kaijar had given him.
Turning around with his racing heart in his throat, he saw James, looking flustered.
“J-James?”
“I’m sorry for startling you, Lucian! I just happened to see you and without thinking…”
“Phew, you gave me quite a scare…”
Lucian relaxed and quietly slipped the Glass Marble back into his pocket.
“You’ve been to the village, I see.”
“Yeah! I had a quick errand… well, no, I had to buy something!”
Lucian was vague in the middle, but fortunately James didn’t find it suspicious.
“But why the formal speech all of a sudden?”
At Lucian’s confusion over James’s sudden change in tone, James realized his mistake.
“Ah, well, since I’m a servant, I thought it proper to speak formally even though you’re young…”
James squeezed his eyes shut under the penetrating gaze.
“…Strange?”
“Yeah, very. I like the old James better.”
He’d been meaning to switch to formal speech now that he knew Lucian was Royalty, but it seemed too late to change now.
James let out a hollow laugh and returned to his usual manner of speech.
“Alright then. I’ll stick with the old way. By the way, looks like you didn’t get lost going all the way to the village. Even though the path is simple, there’s a forest in between, and I was worried you might lose your way.”
“No way! This was my second time!”
“Really? That’s impressive.”
“Ahem! Anyway, what brings you here, James? Wasn’t it not long ago that you brought supplies?”
“Ah, about that…”
James hesitated and handed over something he’d been hiding behind his back.
It was a beautifully wrapped Gift Box. James rubbed his cheek sheepishly.
“Today seems to be your birthday, Lucian… well, I mean, I thought I’d prepare a gift just in case…”
As Lucian stared blankly at the gift, James let out a small groan.
“Don’t expect too much — I’m not that wealthy. I just thought maybe having some toys alone in the Estate would be nice…”
“No way! I’m so happy! Thank you! This is my first toy ever!”
“Y-really? Whew, what a relief…”
James let out a long breath of relief and watched Lucian rejoice.
‘I was right to come.’
Truth be told, he’d agonized over whether showing up uninvited was overstepping. But seeing such pure joy on the boy’s face, he knew his decision had been right.
“I wanted to buy you a cake too, but I didn’t have enough money… Next year I’ll buy you a delicious one.”
“Hehe, you’re coming to see me again next year?”
Lucian had spoken without much thought, but it landed differently on James.
“…Of course. Where else would I go? I should come every month for your sake.”
To be honest, after learning he was a crown prince, James had wondered if being too kind might be beneficial in the future. But looking at such an innocent child’s expression, all those petty thoughts scattered away.
“You were heading back to the Estate, right? I’ll walk you there.”
“Great!”
James kept pace beside Lucian, matching his stride. The boy really did pull at his heartstrings.
By now, his twin brother was probably celebrating his birthday in grand style at the Palace, while Lucian…
“By the way, James.”
“Yeah, what?”
“How did you know it was my birthday? I haven’t told anyone.”
James flinched and hastily scrambled for an answer.
“I, I heard it somewhere! You know how I know everything!”
“Hm…”
As Lucian stared hard at him, James felt his breath catch.
“That makes sense! You’re so reliable, James!”
But seeing Lucian accept his words without suspicion, James could finally breathe again.
Soon the two of them walked along chattering endlessly, losing all sense of time.
Seeing the Estate appear in the distance, Lucian broke into a wide smile.
“We’re almost there! I’ll be going now! Thank you so much for the gift!”
“Sure. See you next month, Your Highness.”
As Lucian ran toward the Estate with James’s gift, something strange about his conversation with James suddenly occurred to him.
“…Did I ever tell James I was a crown prince?”
During their chat, James had occasionally called him by that title. Lucian had been too engaged in conversation to notice at the time.
Tilting his head in confusion, something came to mind.
“Oh! Everyone’s been calling me the fake crown prince.”
The second most common word he’d heard after orphan was fake crown prince. James must have heard it too.
Dismissing it as unimportant, Lucian shook off the question and continued on his way.

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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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