Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 163

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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 Crown Prince’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

He asked for a reason first.
At that, the Crown Prince could see Kale Heniatus leaning against the bed, gesturing for him to come closer. Though the sight was exasperating, the man was a patient after all, so he reluctantly approached.

Kale bent toward the Crown Prince and whispered.

“Sir Lex has agreed to accompany us.”

Lex?
For a moment, the Crown Prince couldn’t recall who that person was. Then he caught sight of Kale’s crimson hair, and the name Lex came to mind.

Crown Prince Alberu stared at Kale.

“You madman.”

A curse finally escaped the Crown Prince’s lips. The Dark Elf Kora beside him hesitated, but upon seeing Kale’s escort knights remain composed, he regained his composure.

“Why?”

When the Crown Prince asked once more, Kale opened his mouth.

“Basic information about Sir Lex has likely already spread throughout the Capital, at least among the nobility.”

Alberu nodded. Even he, as a member of the Diplomatic Delegation, had received information about the knight named Lex. Crown Prince Alberu recalled the contents of that report.

A knight from the Slums.

“…Surely not?”

At the Crown Prince’s gaze, Kale answered.

“One who fled the Alchemy Tower and knows the truth.”
“…I’ll need to keep him alive.”

Kale Heniatus met Alberu’s gaze directed toward him.

“I saved him.”

Kale observed Alberu as he fell into thought, his expression unhurried and composed.

Alberu knew nothing of the divine essence.
However, he grasped the general flow of everything else.

The Saint and Saint Maiden.
And the unorthodox Alchemist who had not entered the Alchemy Tower.

Through them, Alberu had gleaned roughly what Kale intended to accomplish with the Alchemy Tower and the Imperial Palace. Thus, he immediately understood the value that Sir Lex held in this matter.

The Crown Prince’s lips parted.

“What does that person’s existence have to do with you stepping forward? You hate standing out, don’t you?”

The Kale that Alberu knew did not enjoy stepping into the spotlight and receiving acclaim.
Kale readily acknowledged this.

“I dislike stepping forward.”

Once one stepped forward and drew attention, constraints multiplied and one became acutely aware of others’ gazes. No matter how indifferent to others’ opinions Kale might be, since I desired to live as a quiet, unremarkable person, receiving attention was something best minimized.

But this time was different.
Kale answered Alberu, who gazed upon me.

“However, it is acceptable. Soon, I intend to place heroes in those positions—heroes so magnificent that my name will scarcely cross anyone’s mind.”

Hah.
Alberu wiped the corner of his eyes.

“So you intend to make Lex a hero as well.”

Kale smiled.

“The Imperial Palace and nobility have lost the people’s trust. Must there not be those to fill their vacant positions?”

The Crown Prince did not deny it. Rather, he affirmed the question.

“A knight from the Slums. And one who attacks and fights to illuminate the truth in darkness.”

The Crown Prince’s gaze became similar to Kale’s.

“Excellent. Very excellent indeed.”

He was satisfied with the current situation.
As long as Lex remained uncaptured, considerable gains would come rolling in.

‘There’s no way I would have let that bastard be caught.’

Kale must have handled Lex perfectly as well. The Crown Prince opened his mouth.

“The more you receive commendations and gain popularity, the more it benefits me.”

Even now, the Empire’s treatment of the Roan Kingdom’s Diplomatic Delegation had risen considerably.

The collapse of a palace pillar.
The appearance of only attending to high-ranking nobles while failing to properly care for lower and middle-ranking nobles and low-ranking officials of the Diplomatic Delegation.
Furthermore, even news of an assassination attempt on the Sub-Tower Master of the Alchemy Tower.

The Empire did not suppress the stories about Kale.

If the information would spread regardless of any gag order, it was better for the Empire that the matter with the least impact be known most widely.
Thanks to that, tales of Kale’s virtue spread as if on wings.

Though a foreign noble, he was the one who prevented the magical bomb terror in the Roan Kingdom, and in an Empire lacking good news since the war with the Wipper Kingdom, this incident was joyous news that prevented tragedy.

Crown Prince Alberu rose from his seat. He had much to do.

“Rest well.”
“Yes.”

Kale nodded and lay back on the bed. The Crown Prince clicked his tongue at the sight, but as he opened the bedroom door and stepped out, his face was filled with concern and remorse toward Kale.

“How is he?”

When the Diplomat Daltaro posed his question, the Crown Prince glanced at the Imperial Official beside Daltaro before shaking his head. Yet the words that spilled from his lips contradicted his gesture.

“Prince Kale Heniatus seems fine.”

But those words, so at odds with his actions and expression, struck Daltaro far more painfully. He considered entering Kale’s bedroom to inquire after his well-being.
Yet someone turned him away from that impulse.

“He expended such tremendous power yesterday—let us allow him proper rest.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And are we not ourselves in disarray?”
“…That is true.”

Daltaro answered with a grave expression.

The Crown Prince had stopped by Kale’s chambers only briefly on his way to meet the Crown Prince, who bore responsibility for this incident. Thus, Daltaro, the head of the Diplomatic Delegation, had accompanied him.

“Let us depart.”

At the Crown Prince’s words, Daltaro and the others turned their steps away from Kale’s bedroom.

* * *

At that very moment, Kale lay sprawled upon his bed, chewing cookies that Raon had brought. Choi Han, who had spent the long night at his side, approached and whispered.

“Bilos asked if he might see you.”
“Bring him.”

At Kale’s command, Choi Han moved once more.
And hours later, under the pretext of bringing precious tea for Kale’s recovery, Bilos, the illegitimate son of the Flynn Merchant Guild, was able to enter the Imperial Palace.

He sat in the chair beside Kale’s bed, continuously dabbing the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.

Despite the depths of winter, beads of perspiration glistened upon Bilos’s round face. To him came Kale’s voice.

“Thank you.”
“Young Master!”

Bilos finally raised his voice as he called out to Kale.

“Why?”

At Kale’s composed response, Bilos pressed his lips firmly together.

Bilos had surrendered his hideout to Lex. Or rather, he had locked Lex away in his hideout.

Recalling that chaotic moment from early dawn, Bilos’s gaze shifted toward Choi Han. When their eyes met, Choi Han offered a benevolent smile.

Yet the words Choi Han had spoken while discreetly evacuating everyone and confining Lex to the hideout refused to fade from Bilos’s mind.

Lex had wanted to be with his family and organization members.
However, Bilos had deemed it impossible. Since the identities of the Slums organization members remained unclear, they could be temporarily sheltered in the countless burrows and labyrinthine secret passages scattered throughout the Slums—places the Empire knew little of. But Lex, whose identity the Imperial Palace had clearly ascertained, needed a space protected from magic.

Bilos’s hideout was a place where defensive barriers against all magic operated—a sanctuary his great-uncle Odeus, an underworld merchant of the Northwestern Region of Roan Kingdom, had prepared in advance for emergencies whenever he visited the Empire.

Bilos recalled the words Choi Han had spoken while confining Lex within it.

‘You’re a dangerous bomb. When you explode, it won’t be just you who dies—everyone connected to this matter will perish. So stay still, silent as a dead mouse.’

He had never expected such words from Choi Han, whom he had believed to be virtuous and taciturn.

‘You may not care if those around you are hurt for the greater good, but my family—barely obtained—comes first.’

Nor had he known Choi Han harbored such thoughts.

As far as Bilos knew, Choi Han had no family. Rather, he had no blood relatives.

‘If family means so much to someone like Choi Han….’

Kale, who had been observing Choi Han, turned to Bilos—who was staring at him with piercing intensity—and asked bluntly.

“What are you staring at?”
“…Nothing, sir.”

Bilos pushed aside his wandering thoughts and withdrew a magical pouch from his breast.

“These are the items you requested.”

Kale gestured toward the table, and Bilos placed the magical pouch upon it. At that moment, Kale asked him something.

“Do you know much about the Caro Kingdom?”
“Pardon?”

Why the Caro Kingdom all of a sudden?
Bilos had expected to discuss other matters with Kale today. He was, after all, a merchant by trade. He understood the significance of what had transpired last night and what Kale had accomplished since.

That was precisely why he had intended to report on his own role in that dangerous affair.

“Sir, I believe I should report on the events that occurred at dawn first.”
“Never mind.”
“Sir?”
“I’m sure you handled it well enough.”

Bilos fell silent.

On the way to the Imperial Palace. Inside the carriage, he gathered and verified information spreading throughout the Capital, in addition to what he had heard from Choi Han.

The Sun Palace. He had never seen it in person, but he had heard it possessed an extraordinarily magnificent and vast hall. The pillars of that palace had nearly collapsed, and the roof had almost caved in.

The person before him had stopped it all alone.
And he had heard that Kale had coughed up blood and barely made it back to his residence with support.

Today, Bilos found Kale’s pale complexion particularly striking. Kale posed a question to him.

“Bilos, why do you think I entrusted this to you?”

The answer to such a calm question was already determined.
Bilos opened his mouth.

“Because you find me trustworthy, sir.”
“Of course.”

Bilos swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape.
He no longer broke into a cold sweat. His heart had found peace.

“Sir, when you mention the Caro Kingdom, are you referring to the auction house?”

Kale nodded at Bilos’s immediate understanding. This was a matter he had already discussed with the Crown Prince.

Of the two items retrieved from the Secret Chamber, the Kingdom itself lacked the means to dispose of them.

“I wish to participate in the Secret Auction House’s VIP auction.”
“…The nearest one is the New Year commemorative auction in February. Is this the one you’re referring to?”
“Yes.”

The Caro Kingdom.
A nation far more renowned for its auction houses than for the desert where the Dark Elves dwelled.

Among the legitimate auctions held in the Caro Kingdom—a realm that had developed in peculiar and extraordinary ways—the VIP auction stood as the most secretive yet simultaneously the most public.

Even “The Birth of a Hero” had mentioned this auction when describing the Caro Kingdom.

“Bilos, is it possible?”

The VIP auction.
There was a reason I deliberately refrained from presenting myself or the Crown Prince’s name at that auction.

The two items extracted from the cavern beneath the secret table originally had owners. Even I could not fathom why they had been inside the Pope’s coffin.
However, “officially,” it remained known that these two items were still in the possession of their original owners.

“Yes, it is possible. Are you planning to participate in the auction?”
“No.”

Bilos’s brow furrowed.
If I wasn’t participating in the auction, why bother at all?

I did not answer Bilos’s unspoken question and instead issued him another directive.

“Can you send invitations to two people?”
“Invitations?”
“Yes. Invitations to participate in the February New Year commemorative auction.”
“…Understood. Should I handle it discreetly?”
“Yes. Without revealing who we are.”
“Very well.”

I offered Bilos one final word.

“You can take the transaction fee.”
“…That’s quite a substantial deal.”
“Indeed.”

Bilos nodded and rose from his seat.

“I’ll see you next year. Should I visit your fiefdom in February?”
“No.”

I told Bilos where we would meet next time as he prepared to leave.

“Gyre Territory.”
“…Understood. Will you be staying there from the new year onwards?”

Despite the sudden mention of Gyre Territory, Bilos asked calmly. I shook my head.

“I can’t say for certain. I’m thinking I’ll probably go to Gyre from the North.”
“The North?”
“Yes.”

Bilos didn’t ask further. He understood that I would spend time in either the Northwestern or Northeastern Region of the Roan Kingdom before heading to Gyre Territory in February.

But the North I spoke of was not that place.

After that, Vice-Captain Hilsman saw Bilos out, and Choi Han, who had been in the bedroom, asked me a question.

“Kale Heniatus, does that mean we’re postponing the matter with Prince Antonio until February?”
“We have to. I’ll be spending more time in the Empire than expected.”

I would be staying in the Empire longer than originally planned.
The plan to obtain leverage against Prince Antonio in Gyre Territory had to be pushed back.

I shrugged at Choi Han, who seemed worried about the disrupted plans.

“What can we do? Besides, the new year is coming soon. Wouldn’t it be nice to spend the new year at home with family?”

Ah.
Choi Han let out a small exclamation of realization. I continued speaking while patting Raon’s round head, who had appeared at some point.

“I said I’d go to the territory in January, so I have to go.”

I had told my father, Count Derth, that I would spend the new year at the territory, and I had said the same to On and Hong. A promise made must be kept, so there was no way around it.

“Isn’t that right?”
“That’s correct. Your words are right, Kale.”

Choi Han nodded with a gentle smile. Watching him, I mentioned the upcoming schedule to the two dragons and the one person.

“I’ll spend the new year at the territory for a while, then head north as planned.”
“Human, are you going to see the whales?”
“Yes.”

Witira had been consistently discussing matters related to maritime trade contracts. After confirming the Tiger Tribe’s settlement in the new year, I intended to travel north to meet the Whale Tribe.

‘Of course, that’s not the end of it.’

I picked up the magical pouch that Bilos had placed and handed it to Erhafen and Raon. Erhafen, who had been looking at me with concern, accepted the pouch and asked.

“Are these alchemical materials?”
“Yes.”

At my answer, the Black Dragon’s eyes widened in excitement as he cried out.

“Now I can make the pillars of fire!”

The pouch was filled with the materials the Empire had used to create the pillars of fire.
Erhafen chuckled and replied.

“Of course. Little one, this magnificent being can create anything with the right materials.”

Seeing the ancient dragon looking somewhat tired, I added one more task to complete when we head north.
Raon looked at Erhafen with sparkling eyes and asked.

“When do we get to try this out?”

The Gold Dragon hesitated.
A pillar of flame improved upon what the Empire had created. While practical experimentation on its effects was necessary, its power was too unpredictable to use carelessly.
So he could not bring himself to answer.
The Black Dragon and Erhafen exchanged glances.

Then, between the two dragons, a single person’s indifferent voice rang out.
It was Kale Heniatus.

“Probably early next year?”
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”

Both dragons turned to look at Kale Heniatus.
He continued speaking with perfect composure.

“It’s cold, so a fire would be nice and warm.”

The Gold Dragon Erhafen’s face twisted oddly.
Warm? As if it were merely that level—he of all people should know best that it was far beyond such a thing.

Then Raon’s voice came through.

“Let’s show the whales too!”
“Sure.”

Sigh.
I ignored Erhafen’s exasperation and lay down on the bed.
In winter, warmth was supreme, and nothing beat being nestled under blankets.

* * *

But days later, I found myself on a platform where a cold wind whipped fiercely.
An official’s voice echoed through a magical amplifier.

“The Empire hereby bestows a medal upon Prince Kale Heniatus, who has demonstrated such noble and selfless sacrifice!”

Good delivery.
Kale Heniatus observed the scene before me with a brief note of appreciation.
Before me stood the Emperor himself, the pinnacle of the Empire, greeting me with a benevolent smile.
And behind me, the plaza before the Imperial Palace was filled with people whose eyes were fixed upon me.

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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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