The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 53

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

The slave is far too handsome!
053.
“You’ll help me?”
“Yeah.”
When Simon laughed easily, Camilo’s expression twisted slightly. He punched Simon’s shoulder with his fist.
“What do you want?”
“For you to become Crown Prince?”
“Don’t lie to me.”
Camilo’s face, which had been flushed with drink just moments before, was now clear and sharp. Strong liquor sobered fast against such absurdity.
“I’m serious. I’d rather support an old friend like you than that guy.”
If Lucian—or whatever his name was—became Crown Prince, it was obvious that Simon’s ambitions of holding a position in the Empire would crumble to dust.
He never let on, but Simon was certain Eloïse stood behind him.
‘Eloïse, setting a trap with her own hands, not even knowing it.’
Simon remembered the relentless gleam in Lucian’s eyes whenever they turned toward Eloïse.
Whatever bargain the two of them had struck, the man who became Crown Prince would never release Eloïse willingly.
Camilo before him was different from that man. Clever, yes, but impulsive and full of openings—easy to exploit. If he were Eloïse, he would have used Camilo without hesitation. That was Simon’s assessment.
A sharp gaze swept across Simon’s face, as if trying to see through his innermost thoughts.
“I don’t need your help. Just stay there and watch. See how I become Emperor.”
Camilo’s eyes lost their edge as he slammed the table and stood. An attendant who had been standing at a distance stepped forward, but he waved away the offer of support.
“Let me know if you change your mind!”
Simon called out playfully, but Camilo didn’t answer.
His legs still unsteady despite his sharpened mind, Camilo staggered forward.
***
“Do you remember this cipher? You made it yourself when you were young.”
At the Emperor’s words, Lucian gazed quietly at the paper on which the cipher was written.
They sat side by side on a wooden bench tucked into a corner of the Garden.
‘Just as I thought. My guess was right.’
Lucian nodded slightly. He was doing his best to play the role of Prince Valensio.
“I remember it vaguely. Not all of it, though.”
The final procedure was to decipher the cipher and solve the problem it indicated. Following the cipher’s instructions, Lucian had passed through a secret passage and reached the endpoint, where he met the Emperor.
A perfect pass.
‘Eloïse must be delighted too, yes?’
Just as Lucian’s mind naturally conjured Eloïse’s smiling face, a large hand gently stroked the back of his head. His body stiffened at the sudden touch.
The eyes looking at him were tender. His heart stirred as the Emperor’s face seemed to say: Yes, you truly are my son.
“I understand. You must be confused. You spent far more time growing up outside the Palace. To suddenly have a large family when you grew up alone—it must be overwhelming.”
The Emperor, reading the wavering in Lucian’s gaze, gently soothed his tangled heart.
“You’ll need time to adjust. Don’t worry. My family and I are ready to wait for you. As you spend more time here, you’ll grow accustomed to your place once more.”
Lucian simply nodded. He decided to bury, for now, the faint guilt of deceiving the Emperor. In any case, he was determined to fulfill his role as a prince—and as a son—with all his effort.
The two then spoke of gentler things. Mostly the Emperor recounted Valensio’s childhood while Lucian listened with pleasure.
“There are further procedures, but I shall handle them myself. We’ll discuss the details again this evening, Valensio.”
The moment the Emperor spoke his “true” name, Lucian flinched without thinking. He quickly erased the awkwardness and composed himself.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor gazed at his son, who still would not call him father, and smiled wryly.
Yes, it will be difficult at first.
***
“Lady Eloïse, were you always so restless? Couldn’t you sit quietly for a moment?”
Danae watched Eloïse with a displeased expression.
Eloïse had come to Princess Danae’s private quarters without warning and had been pacing in place with a grave face the entire time.
“Stop worrying, I’m telling you? Lord Astner is now the First Prince, and the First Prince is Lord Astner, so—”
When Eloïse’s steps still would not cease, Danae, who had been sprawled on the sofa, hurled the book she was reading down to her feet.
“Father will bestow a reward upon you. Why don’t you think about what you’d like to ask for then?”
“…….”
Eloïse, who had paid no attention to the princess’s words, finally stopped walking.
Hmm. So she does take interest in rewards, after all?
Danae narrowed her eyes and adjusted her glasses as she continued.
“As a lady, surely you’d ask to inherit your family’s title, yes? But if you ask me, Father won’t grant that wish. He’d never let you go, you see. Absolutely not.”
Danae fell back into her own musings, muttering to herself.
“Forgive me, Your Highness.”
Eloïse, who had been persistently feigning attention to the princess’s words, bowed deeply with perfect courtesy.
It was time to leave. The clock was approaching three.
Eloïse recalled the official’s words that all procedures would be complete by four at the latest.
‘I’ll go back and wait for Lucian calmly. Yes, that would be best.’
Her anxious heart began to flutter with excitement.
“I should be going now.”
“Already?”
Eloïse nodded with resolve and moved with careful steps. Her deliberately dignified gait gradually quickened.
Once she left the Library building, Eloïse dashed wildly through the Garden like someone who had forgotten all notions of grace, refinement, and propriety. Mary would have been scandalized.
Her long hair streaming behind her, Eloïse returned to the Guest Palace in a flurry and caught her breath before the firmly closed door of the Reception Room.
Has he arrived? Or perhaps he’s still on his way?
After a moment’s hesitation, Eloïse carefully opened the door.
“Lu…….”
A man with a resolute face sat on the sofa. The moment their gazes met, the man smiled radiantly.
Eloïse felt a tremor course through her entire body. Her rigid face gradually softened.
She closed the door behind her and rushed toward Lucian.
Before he could rise from his seat, Eloïse threw herself into his embrace. Startled by this sudden gesture, Lucian froze.
He heard a heart pounding loudly. Whose, he could not tell.
“I knew you’d do it.”
Her voice was bright with childlike joy. Feeling Eloïse’s entire body trembling with happiness, Lucian smiled softly.
“I haven’t said anything yet. What would you have done if I’d failed?”
At his teasing tone, Eloïse pulled back to meet his eyes with a sharp gaze.
“I can tell just by looking at your eyes.”
“Come now, that’s not possible.”
Before he could finish, she withdrew from his embrace.
“Eloïse?”
To the disappointed Lucian, Eloïse grasped the hem of her dress with both hands and offered a formal bow.
“I pay my respects to the Empire’s Little Sun.”
They had only just passed through one stage. Yet Eloïse was overwhelmed by the fact that her impossible plan was becoming reality.
Lucian, watching her, wore a brilliantly bright expression as well. The reality that he had become Prince Valensio was becoming increasingly tangible.
Above all, seeing Eloïse so happy filled his heart to overflowing.
Lucian responded playfully.
“Delighted to see you again, Lady Eloïse.”
The two sat side by side on the sofa. They had much to discuss.
Lucian laid bare everything—from waiting for someone at the Main Palace, to discovering the strange cipher in a drawer, to deciphering it, meeting the Emperor, and passing the final procedure.
“Impressive, truly. To decipher a cipher, and one created by Prince Valensio himself.”
When Eloïse expressed genuine admiration, the tips of Lucian’s ears flushed red.
“I was fortunate.”
At his modest reply, Eloïse fell silent as if lost in thought.
Then she shook her head.
“……Fortune? That was all your skill. No one is more suited to the title of Crown Prince than you.”
With her repeated praise, not only the tips of Lucian’s ears but also the bridge of his nose flushed red.
Each time Eloïse praised him, he felt something rising in his chest. It kindled in him a baseless courage that made him feel he could do anything for her sake.
“…….”
“…….”
A subtle tension formed between them as they gazed at each other for a long while.
Just as in the morning, a knock sounded.
“I’ve come to escort you.”
The voice of an imperial attendant came from outside, announcing the Emperor’s dinner.
Eloïse smiled brightly.
“Go on, Lucian. Or rather, I should call you Valensio now, should I not, Your Highness?”
Lucian, reluctant to leave Eloïse, rose with effort.
Yes, I still have work to do. I’ve only just taken my first step. I must make Eloïse’s dream come true.
Leaving Eloïse behind, he was led toward the Main Palace, where the Emperor awaited.
As he approached the Main Palace Dining Hall, he heard voices speaking softly.
His calm footsteps came to an abrupt halt at a cold voice.
“That man is not my son!”
Through the gap in the open door, the source of the voice became visible. It was the Empress.

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