They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 39

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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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That single statement was enough.
The three men, who had been glancing back and forth between me and the Knight Commander, flushed and retreated.
‘Lucky bastards. Safe travels.’
Having already gained sufficient information, I waved my hand with a faint smile toward the three men as they fled like cowards.
Then Heron narrowed his brows and looked at me.
“Miss Brin, don’t you think you’re receiving excessive affection from the Crown Prince?”
He spoke with an expression mixed with wariness and displeasure.
“…?”
What is he talking about now.
“Since you’re receiving his affection, conduct yourself with proper decorum.”
Ah, a warning.
I shrugged my shoulders.
Just as I was about to respond that it was none of his concern, a thought occurred to me.
“Commander, you serve the Crown Prince closely, don’t you?”
If he’s willing to reveal such personal feelings, he must be among the Crown Prince’s inner circle.
Then he would know much about him as well.
“If I wanted to make a good impression on His Highness, what would be the best approach?”
His eyes narrowed.
“Why are you suddenly asking such a thing?”
“Because you said I’m receiving excessive affection.”
I laughed with a composed expression.
“Isn’t that telling me to bring him joy?”
A brief silence fell.
“His Highness favors absolute loyalty.”
Ugh….
That’s the kind of answer a rigid Knight Commander would give.
“Then, what does he dislike?”
“Suspicion and deception.”
It was a brief answer.
“He despises most those who doubt His Highness’s intentions or attempt to deceive him.”
I laughed inwardly.
As if he wouldn’t suspect when there’s reason to suspect.
Besides, the Crown Prince himself deceives everyone.
“Then, what are His Highness’s hobbies? I’m curious what generally interests him.”
After hesitating briefly, he opened his mouth as if he didn’t consider it particularly secret.
“His Highness enjoys collecting ancient artifacts and magical tools.”
Magical tools.
Useful information.
“And….”
Heron’s voice grew lower.
“You find those who don’t fear you… interesting.”
I tilted my head.
“That would be me, then.”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he turned and spoke.
“Follow me.”
What was this about?
I followed him and asked.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll understand faster if you see it yourself.”
He led me to the Training Grounds attached to the Crown Prince’s Palace.
While most of the Imperial Palace bustled with preparations for the banquet, this place felt different.
Calm, yet not quiet.
The clash of blades colliding, the sound of feet striking the ground.
Short, sharp breaths, and battle cries.
The Crown Prince stood in the center of the Training Grounds.
His opponent was an Imperial Guard Knight.
Though the knight had a sturdy build and decent skill, his balance shattered before they’d exchanged more than a few moves.
The Crown Prince’s blade contained no wasted motion.
Short, fast, precise.
As he stepped forward with his left foot, he subtly shifted his angle to obscure his opponent’s vision, then twisted his wrist to alter the blade’s trajectory.
Just before driving the sword forward, the Crown Prince shifted his stance ever so slightly.
With the final strike that followed, the knight helplessly dropped his blade and fell to his knees.
I narrowed my eyes, tracing the flow of mana circulating through the Crown Prince’s movements.
‘On the surface, a perfect human body, yet the mana flow is subtly different.’
The Crown Prince’s blade stopped, pointing at the knight’s throat.
“That’s enough.”
The Crown Prince spoke calmly and withdrew his sword.
“Thank you for the match!”
The knight sprang to his feet and bowed respectfully to the Crown Prince.
After nodding, as he turned away indifferently, his gaze halted on me standing at the edge of the Training Grounds.
Immediately after, his expression changed.
His impassive face softened in an instant.
“Ser.”
He tossed his sword aside and walked toward me.
A stir ran through the knights.
It seemed they’d never seen the Crown Prince greet someone so openly before.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
I shifted my gaze to his sword.
“Was that just now… the swordsmanship of House of Cradian?”
In that instant, the air grew unnaturally frigid.
I felt the knights stiffen without exception, their eyes darting nervously.
The Crown Prince laughed softly.
“The swordplay and form resemble those of House Bardia, do they not? This is the original form of that technique.”
“You’re not hiding it.”
“There’s no need to. Especially not from Ser.”
His words sounded like a declaration that he would soon subjugate Bardia.
“I’m attempting to fuse it with the swordplay of House Cradian, though it remains incomplete.”
He added this casually.
“I’ll show you properly next time.”
Incomplete, he said.
Yet the movements I had just witnessed were already systematized.
Regardless of how he had obtained House Bardia’s swordplay.
I nodded.
“I look forward to it.”
He studied me for a moment, then extended his hand.
“Your arrival is fortuitous. I had a gift prepared for you.”
“A gift…?”
“Come with me to the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
Another ripple of unease spread among the surrounding knights.
During the busy preparations for the banquet, it was hardly ordinary for the Crown Prince to invite a woman into his palace under the pretense of presenting a gift.
What scheme was he plotting now?
I gazed at his extended hand for a moment, then lightly placed mine upon it.
“It won’t take long, will it?”
“Of course not.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
I had thought I explored the Crown Prince’s Palace quite thoroughly during my last visit, but today he led me to an area I had never set foot in before.
Past the first floor, up the second-floor staircase, and through a separate door to reach the third level.
Had it not been for the sacred relic I had obtained from Carterus as a precaution, I would have felt deeply uneasy following him inside.
“Come in.”
I followed him inside and surveyed the interior.
‘It appears the entire third floor is his private domain.’
Completely sealed off from the outside world, the space possessed an eerie quietness.
It felt as though the entire space held its breath.
My eyes swept across expensive paintings and ancient artifacts that filled one entire wall.
Within glass display cases lay an array of magical artifacts arranged in meticulous order.
‘So his hobby truly is collecting artifacts and magical items.’
Heron’s words came to mind.
The Crown Prince stopped before one of the display cases.
What he withdrew after opening the glass door was an earring embedded with a crimson gemstone.
“It was kept in the Imperial House’s treasure vault.”
He spoke.
“It has the function of storing mana.”
I glanced at what he held in his hand.
“Did you set this aside specially to give to me?”
“Yes.”
He smiled gently as he spoke.
“You may need it when you’re with me. My mana cultivation method has the characteristic of drawing in all surrounding mana.”
It was a gift wrapped in thoughtful consideration.
But its meaning was unmistakable.
He was certain that I would choose to stand by his side.
“With this, you won’t be inconvenienced.”
He approached me slowly and tilted his head toward mine.
“Your ears aren’t pierced. Is there a particular reason?”
“No, nothing special.”
At my answer, the Crown Prince gently rubbed my earlobe between his thumb and forefinger.
I disliked how he touched me without asking permission, but I held back and let it be.
“Then…”
Cold metal touched my earlobe, then pierced through the flesh.
A brief sting quickly transformed into a burning sensation.
I felt my mana flowing into the jewel hanging from my ear.
He wiped away a drop of blood that had formed on my earlobe with his thumb.
And without hesitation, he brought his finger to his lips.
His tongue deliberately traced the crimson mark with deliberate slowness.

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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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