The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 87

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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 slave is far too beautiful!
087.
“Who… has gone missing?”
The Emperor asked, his expression blank as though he’d been struck on the back of the head.
“…Valensio, my brother, Your Majesty.”
Camilo had arrived at the main palace in evident distress, his face a picture of dismay. The Emperor rose from his seat in disbelief.
“Missing? From where? How did this happen?”
Camilo, looking hollow and worn, continued in a trembling voice.
“We all went hunting together this morning and he disappeared. We were meant to meet at the entrance when the hunt ended, but he never appeared, even long after the appointed time.”
…….
“In desperation, I sent my knights to search, but we haven’t found a single hair of his. As you know, the Hunting Ground grows more treacherous the deeper one ventures—I fear he may have met with an accident.”
Camilo bowed his head low in shame. The Emperor’s sharp gaze turned toward his Aide.
“Deploy the Imperial Guard! Search for Valensio at once!”
“Yes, understood.”
The Aide rushed from the office. The Emperor’s legs gave way beneath him, and he staggered.
“Your Majesty!”
Camilo steadied him in alarm, though the Emperor’s thoughts were entirely fixed on the missing Valensio.
News of the 1st Prince’s disappearance spread through the Imperial Palace in moments. Every soul there failed to hide their shock at the tale of Valensio vanishing.
“How tragic.”
“Can he possibly be found in this weather?”
Someone ventured a hesitant worry. The nobles gathered there turned as one to gaze out the window.
Beyond the glass lay only darkness. Heavy rain was giving way to a roaring tempest.
In the midst of it all, someone moved frantically through the crowd of nobles.
“Felix! Have any of you seen our Felix?”
Felix’s Brother, the eldest son of a marquessate, searched through the gathered nobles for his younger brother, who had not returned from the hunt.
All regarded him with pitying eyes, but no one could say where Felix was.
***
“Your Highness Camilo, I beg your pardon, but would you sit up properly?”
The Imperial Tutor adjusted his glasses with an awkward expression.
Before him sat the Empire’s young princes, Valensio and Camilo, each at their own desk.
Born on the very same day, the two were opposites in every conceivable way—and nothing had changed since.
While Valensio sat with posture far too proper for a five-year-old, Camilo was sprawled across his desk, squirming with obvious disgust at the lesson.
“I don’t want to.”
Camilo giggled and promptly began tearing his notebook into strips to fold an airplane.
“Your Highness! You mustn’t tear the paper like that.”
“Why are you ordering me around?”
When Camilo fixed him with an angry glare, the tutor flinched.
“It is not an order, but a request. You ought to concentrate on your studies.”
“I am the great royal blood, and you are merely a noble, are you not? How dare a mere noble command royalty!”
As Camilo pointed his finger accusingly, the tutor’s face flushed crimson. It was at that moment Valensio moved to restrain his brother—
—when a knock sounded and the Emperor entered unannounced.
“Your Majesty!”
The flustered tutor quickly bowed.
“At ease, there is no need for such formality. I merely wished to see how well my sons were progressing.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. Both are remarkably bright for their age. I would venture they take after you.”
“Is that so?”
The Emperor approached with a hearty laugh and picked up Camilo’s notebook.
“Hmm…….”
The page was filled with illegible scrawls and cross-marks.
With a regretful expression, the Emperor set Camilo’s notebook down and examined Valensio’s instead.
After studying it for some time, the Emperor exclaimed in admiration.
“Valensio, you have already learned such difficult words? Truly remarkable.”
“I still have much to learn, Your Majesty.”
The dignified reply brought a smile to the faces of the Emperor, his Aide, and the tutor alike.
A large hand ruffled Valensio’s hair, and the child, still a child after all, broke into a bright smile. The delighted tutor added his voice.
“Your Highness Valensio grows by the day. What a splendid man he will become—I myself look forward to it greatly.”
Camilo watched this warm scene with a sullen face. When his eyes met Valensio’s, he abruptly turned away.
“Your Majesty! Camilo knows many words as well.”
Valensio added this, but the Emperor was engaged in conversation with the tutor about Valensio’s progress and did not hear him.
Completely petulant now, Camilo jumped to his feet and stalked away.
“Camilo!”
At Valensio’s call, he did not turn back.
The moment the lesson ended, Valensio made his way to the Empress Palace.
“Mother!”
At the sound of Valensio’s voice, the Empress, who had been taking tea in the Back Garden, slowly turned her head.
Valensio, smiling brightly, rushed toward her.
“Mother! Today in my lesson…….”
“Prince.”
Valensio flinched at the cold tone. His cheerful smile vanished at once.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Have you forgotten what I told you before?”
At the reproving words, Valensio’s spirit deflated, and he lowered his head as if he were a guilty criminal.
“You are a prince of this Empire and the eldest. Therefore, you shall not address me as mother like a child, but shall call me ‘Your Majesty, the Empress’ with proper respect. Do you understand?”
Valensio pursed his small lips, aggrieved.
A maidservant bringing dessert watched Valensio with pitying eyes. Her expression made clear the obvious truth: if Valensio was not a child, then who was?
“Answer me, Prince.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty. I was thoughtless.”
At his trembling voice, the Empress finally relaxed her stern gaze and sipped her tea.
“Continue with what you were saying, Prince.”
Valensio lifted his head to study the Empress’s expression. Finding it somewhat softened, he chattered away like a songbird.
“Today, the Emperor—that is, His Majesty—came to my lesson and praised me greatly.”
“Praise?”
“Yes! He said I know many difficult words and that my composition was excellent.”
The Empress set down her cup with a sharp clink. Startled by the sound, Valensio’s body tensed.
“What of Camilo?”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“I am asking whether Camilo received praise as well.”
The innocent expression clouded over once more.
“Camilo……”
Valensio trailed off, caught in deliberation. Should he be honest?
As Valensio hesitated, the Empress, as if reading his thoughts, pressed on with her reproach.
“Lies are wrong. Speak truthfully, Prince!”
“…His Majesty said nothing special about him. Only that I was remarkable and worthy of praise….”
Camilo was the one who had heard those discouraging words, yet why did Valensio feel as though he himself had done something wrong?
“Sigh.”
The Empress rose from her seat with a deep sigh.
“Follow me, Prince.”
“Yes? Yes, Your Majesty.”
Valensio followed the Empress into the palace, his feet moving of their own accord.
Though he walked under his own power, there seemed to be no strength in his form, as if he were being dragged somewhere against his will.
The maidservants watching from a distance shook their heads in dismay.
“Poor Your Highness Valensio.”
“I’ve never seen a mother treat her own son so harshly. Could it be…… that he’s not actually her child?”
“Mind your tongue! If His Majesty hears such words……!”
The maidservants, having spoken their fill, exchanged wary glances and dispersed to their posts.
The mother and son entered the Reception Room and waited in silence for someone to arrive.
The Empress sat at her ease on the sofa while Valensio stood before her with clasped hands, displaying perfect deference.
“You called for me, Your Majesty?”
“Hugo!”
When she turned her head, Hugo, a servant of the 1st Prince Palace and one of Valensio’s age, stood with an awkward expression. He was Valensio’s favorite attendant.
His hair was somewhat disheveled, as though he had only recently come from his duties.
As the Empress rose and retrieved a long whip from a cupboard, both children’s eyes widened in simultaneous alarm.
“Hugo, come here.”
At the Empress’s call, Hugo stepped forward, trembling with fear.
Sensing instinctively that something was gravely wrong, Valensio stepped directly in front of Hugo.
“Your Majesty! Why are you calling Hugo?”
The Empress adjusted her grip on the whip. Her face was perfectly serene, in stark contrast to the two frightened children.
Her cold gaze turned toward Valensio.
“From now on, each time the Prince commits a transgression, Hugo will be punished in his stead.”

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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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