Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 106

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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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Kale was certainly sitting with impeccable posture. Even the way he ate cookies looked aristocratic.
Crunch. Crunch.
Despite minimizing the sound to maintain proper etiquette, the crackling of the breaking cookie was clearly audible.

-Does the cookie taste good, human?

Kale could hear Raon swallowing saliva repeatedly.

“Your Highness, did you have something to say?”
“Ah, no.”

The whimpering 4th Prince Pen hastily averted his gaze from Kale.

Crown Prince Albert Crossman of the Roan Kingdom had introduced Kale as ‘a capable and well-mannered individual.’

‘Kale Heniatus is someone I believe will become a treasure of the kingdom.’

However, as someone serving his older sister, the star of the Breck Kingdom, Pen thought Kale was insufficient.

When he first met Kale, he had seemed like merely a decent-looking nobleman. The Heniatus Territory’s Lord’s Castle and City Wall were under construction, making everything look chaotic and unappealing.

‘But what is this?’

Pen immediately sensed that the relationship between Rosalind and Kale differed from his expectations. Rosalind and Kale appeared equal.

“Sniff, Sister.”

At this realization, Pen felt a lump in his throat.

“Sister, why are you going through such hardship? Sniff.”
“Pen, there’s no sister here to comfort you when you cry.”

Rosalind spoke with a smile and a gentle voice, yet her words were harsh.

“Pen, why did you come?”
“I wanted to see you, Sister. You were our kingdom’s pride.”

Beautiful, intelligent, magnificent. In the Breck Royal Family, where nothing particularly outstanding existed, Rosalind had always been a figure who commanded attention. Even her older brother, the current Crown Prince, worked diligently, but he was merely a conscientious man.

Pen didn’t like that. The one who deserved the golden crown was his sister with crimson hair and crimson eyes. She alone was worthy.

“But then suddenly she brings these strange people and destroys everything! What if she just leaves like that?”

At the mention of destroying everything, Rosalind paused and looked at Kale. He regarded her with a subtle smile, his demeanor unusually distant today.
Though she hadn’t told Kale, it was Rosalind and Choi Han who had obliterated one of the Royal Palace’s structures.

“Ugh, sister, I missed you every single day. But if you’re stuck in this desolate countryside with nothing but rocks!”

For reference, Pen and Kale were the same age.
This whining fool was eighteen years old. Kale found that somewhat shocking. What surprised him more was that this member of the Royal Family, for whom duty and obligation were paramount, would carry on like this.

‘Why did the Crown Prince say this guy was serious and decent?’

Kale questioned Albert Crossman’s judgment of character. Meanwhile, Pen continued his relentless prattling.

“Sister, I handled all the aftermath of the Grand Duke’s House that you destroyed. Everything’s been cleaned up nicely, and I even had your palace restored. Don’t worry about finances. I managed my allocated budget and the supply office well.”

Oh. So he does have some capability after all.
Pen’s face looked perfectly fine now that he’d stopped his pathetic whimpering.

“Sister, there are still many who wait for you.”

It was true. Many awaited her radiant magnificence.

“Are you asking me to sit on a throne I don’t even want? And do you want to trample on your brother’s dreams?”

Rosalind’s expression turned completely cold.
Her younger brother, the First Prince and current Crown Prince. He had never desired the throne. He was a pure-hearted soul who had only ever told Rosalind that he wished to help her build a “good nation” together.
Hearing those words, she had concluded that the First Prince was more suited to be king than herself. Thus, both Father and Mother respected the wishes of Rosalind and the First Prince.

“…That’s not it. I didn’t mean it like that! But still.”

Pen stammered, unable to properly finish his sentence. Kale observed this and thought to himself.

‘He’s just a child.’

Pen’s following words confirmed my suspicion. The Fourth Prince and youngest of six siblings stared at Rosalind and raised his voice again.

“So what are you doing in this backwater, sister? You said becoming a Mage was your dream? Then why not become a Grand Mage at least? How does it make sense for someone who was once a Crown Prince to languish as a mere Mage in such a small fiefdom? It’s not like you’re becoming a Tower Master, and you’re satisfied being a territorial Mage?”

She was the sister who had left, saying she would visit the Wipper Kingdom Magic Tower. Pen could not accept her current state.
He stared directly into his sister’s crimson eyes. Rosalind’s gaze sank deeper.

Then, the siblings heard an indifferent voice.

“Who can say whether she will become a Tower Master or not?”

Rosalind turned her head slowly. Her eyes, which had been fixed on Pen, now fell upon a man who appeared remarkably composed.

Kale spoke with the calm of one recounting everyday events.

“I believe she will be more than capable. As a Crown Prince, you may not know, but the Rosalind I know will certainly achieve it.”

Rosalind as a Mage. She was emerging as a future Tower Master. Soon she would reach the highest rank of Mage. It was my own thought, but I believed that if the Breck Royal Family and the Roan Kingdom were to unite, only she could lead those Mages.

‘Of course, our safety comes first.’

I was at least confident about my party’s abilities. I continued speaking.

“Rosalind will grow in any circumstance.”

I looked at the Fourth Prince Pen. Our gazes met. Pen’s shoulders flinched slightly. The Crown Prince of the Empire. This was how I felt when facing that man.

A sensation of myself becoming smaller without my knowledge.

“Do you not trust Rosalind?”

In that questioning gaze, belief was evident.
For a moment, Pen was at a loss for words. I regarded this whining, petulant youngest prince with quiet attention.

“You do trust her, don’t you?”

A soft smile played at the corners of my mouth as I posed the measured question.

“…Of course, of course I trust her.”

It was a predetermined answer. Pen trusted his sister more than anyone else.
Kale smiled. It was certainly polite, yet Pen felt as though he were being placed beneath him. Pen’s eyes narrowed. Without realizing it, he clenched his fists and cried out, trying to escape the fear that felt like pressure.

“How dare a nobleman’s son without even a title question me about my sister, gah!”

Splash.
A torrent of water poured down over Pen’s head. The water orb in Rosalind’s hand burst above Pen’s head. Rosalind spoke kindly to her brother, who appeared dazed by the sudden deluge.

“It seems I need to have a conversation with you after all this time. Pen, get up.”
“Sister, what did I do wrong, sud—cough!”

Splash.
The moment Pen turned to face Rosalind, an even larger torrent of water crashed down upon him. He coughed, having swallowed some of the water. Unlike the small water orb from before, he was completely drenched as if he’d been capsized by a wave.

—I don’t like it. That whiner doesn’t know how great our mage Rosalind is, and he dares to mock our household and look down on weak humans!

Kale heard Raon’s voice echoing in his mind and offered an awkward smile.

—To snap him out of it, I used very cold water! I did well!

Rosalind looked at Kale. Kale shrugged his shoulders. It was a water bomb on an entirely different scale from her small water orb.
Pen, unaware that his sister had done this as well, coughed and stared at Rosalind.

“Cough, hack. Sister, even so, this is too much!”
“Pen, be quiet.”

At her cold gaze, Pen fell silent. Rosalind turned her attention toward Kale. Following her gaze, Pen felt an inexplicable atmosphere emanating from Kale and instinctively looked away.

“Young Master Kale, might I borrow the Training Ground?”

At the mention of the Training Ground, Pen’s face went pale. What was she planning to do?

“I’d like to have a sparring match and a conversation with my brother after all this time.”

Kale naturally answered Rosalind, who smiled kindly.

“It’s a conversation between siblings, so I’ll clear it out entirely. I hope you both have a thoroughly enjoyable conversation.”

Rosalind let out a small laugh. Given Kale’s nature, he clearly did not view her brother favorably.

I felt the same way.

Rosalind rose from her seat, her expression cool and composed. But a sound interrupted her movement.

Knock, knock, knock.
Along with the sound of knocking came Hans’s voice.

“Young Master, a Mage from the video communication department has arrived. They say there’s been contact from the Crown Prince.”

My gaze met Rosalind’s. She glanced at Pen and nodded.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a Mage entered carrying video communication equipment. Hans followed behind. Both of them were taken aback. Pen looked absolutely dreadful.

“Ah, um… shall I connect?”
“Yes, please connect.”

Rosalind waved her hand as she spoke. In an instant, Pen was spared from looking like a drowned rat through drying magic. The Territory’s Mage was startled by her casting skill and hastily established the video connection.
Crown Prince Albert’s face appeared on the screen.

“Thanks to Crown Prince Albert, I was able to meet my sister safely.”
-That’s fortunate.

I acknowledged his words.
Pen looked dignified and presentable now.

“It seems he’ll stay for a few days before departing.”
-I see.

As Albert continued the conversation, he noticed me standing behind Pen. My expression watching Pen appeared ordinary, but as someone of similar standing, Albert detected displeasure in my gaze and demeanor.

Our eyes met.

‘What dignified prince are you talking about?’

That was the look in my eyes. It was the look of someone asking where such an unruly colt had come from. Albert turned away from that gaze.

‘It seems to be quite a mess.’

Alberu realized that Pen was not the right person to discuss the alliance with. He trusted Kale’s judgment far more than Pen’s.

-I hope you have a pleasant journey within the Roan Kingdom.
“Thank you.”

The video communication ended. Rosalind immediately spoke to Pen.

“Change into your training clothes and go to the Training Ground.”
“Ugh….”

Pen frowned but obeyed Rosalind’s command.

“I’ll see you later, Your Highness.”

He flinched at Kale’s gentle words. Pen was aware of his own rudeness, at least to some degree. As Kale looked at him with a smile, a chill ran down Pen’s spine.

“Since the fiefdom has nothing but stone, the Training Ground floor is also made of stone, I hear. It’s quite hard and sturdy, which is wonderful, haha.”

Pen turned away from Kale’s seemingly good-natured smile. Then he saw his sister wearing a cold smile. Pen understood.

‘They’re similar!’

They were similar, which is why they spent time together. Pen realized this from the smiles of Kale and Rosalind surrounding him. He wanted to escape from Kale, who exerted even more pressure than the Crown Prince.
Pen ignored everything Kale said and hurriedly left the reception room.

Only then did Rosalind approach Kale.

“Actually, this seems like a matter I should discuss with my eldest brother rather than Pen.”

She mentioned the alliance. She appeared deeply troubled. To meet the Crown Prince of the Breck Kingdom, she would need to take action herself. Yet she was the one who had abandoned everything, saying she didn’t need her royal status.
Rosalind couldn’t help but worry. Would it be alright for her to return to the kingdom?

“Rosalind.”

Kale immediately understood her concerns. He wanted Rosalind to take action herself. That way, the chances of everything proceeding smoothly along with security would be much higher.

“Do you really need to sacrifice something precious whenever you pursue a dream?”

Rosalind gazed at Kale. His usual composure was unshakeable, yet sometimes that very composure made him seem distant and difficult to approach. Today, his presence felt particularly challenging to contend with.
But just now, as if to say “when was it ever difficult?”—she could sense the sincerity of his heart beneath that calm exterior.

“As a Mage, you may visit your family.”

Herself as a Mage, not as a princess. Rosalind felt reassured by Kale’s words. Then Raon dispelled his invisibility and appeared.

“That’s right! You’re quite remarkable as a Mage! I’m going to tell everyone you’re amazing!”

A smile bloomed at the corners of Rosalind’s lips.

“I’ll come back.”
“Of course you will. You have to come home!”

At the Black Dragon’s words, Rosalind let out a small laugh and looked at Kale. He spoke to her without emotion.

“It would be even better if you brought back souvenirs when you return.”

Souvenirs upon return. Rosalind burst into genuine laughter. She recalled something Choi Han had once said.

‘I have a home, but I cannot go there. Yet now I have found another home of my own. That feeling of escaping the sense of drifting through time alone is… truly difficult to put into words.’

But now Rosalind thought she understood that feeling. A home where people believed in her abilities.

“Of course. I’ll bring back plenty of souvenirs and return to our home.”

For the first time, the word “home” came from her lips. Kale Heniatus didn’t know this. He was simply relieved that the alliance seemed like it would go smoothly.

A week later, Rosalind departed for the Breck Kingdom with Pen, whose face had turned ashen and whose spirit seemed vacant. Kale gave orders to his companions.

“Let’s return.”

Harris Village in the Dark Forest. He intended to spend the time there until spring of next year.
Kale answered Raon’s silly question.

“Human, does it snow here in winter?”
“Probably.”
“Then when spring comes, do many flowers bloom in the forest?”
“Probably.”

As Kale had promised, Raon witnessed snow falling in winter and flowers blooming in early spring.

* * *

Nineteen years old. Time had slipped away, and Kale had aged another year without realizing it.

“Young Master, it’s time to wake up now.”

Ron, the servant, woke Kale. Kale remained curled up beneath the blankets, his face hidden from view. Above him, the considerably larger On and Hong pressed down repeatedly with their front paws.

“Human, you’ve been sleeping for thirteen hours! Are you hibernating? You’re not a bear! Spring has already ended—surely you can stop sleeping now!”

The Black Dragon Raon, who appeared to be about ten centimeters larger, pestered Kale. Rolling across the bed with his eyes still closed, Kale spoke.

“Hah, time really does fly.”

It was already late spring.
Ten Finger Mountain. I had to go there, where the last power of the ancient age awaited.

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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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