Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 213

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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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Crown Prince Adin’s calm voice reached my ears.

“That’s right. After victory, you need proper rest. Very proper rest.”

Kale Heniatus’s expression grew subtly uncomfortable.

Very proper rest.
To anyone else, it might have sounded warm coming from this affable Crown Prince, but to Kale, this two-faced man’s words sounded like he was telling him to rest in eternal peace.

The kind-hearted appearance of Crown Prince Adin.
Even as Kale glanced at that facade, he observed the others around him.
Behind the Crown Prince stood a few of his escort knights, and beyond them, the bewildered expressions of the Caro Kingdom delegation were unmistakable.

‘The Crown Prince’s presence here wasn’t planned.’

It was a natural thought.
If the one leading the reinforcement troops was Crown Prince Adin, the Caro Kingdom would naturally have informed the Crown Prince of the Roan Kingdom about this fact.

Kale watched quietly as Crown Prince Adin stepped closer to me. The Crown Prince drew near and spoke in a hushed tone.

“I thought you’d rest after victory, but I’m surprised you accepted this request.”

I thought you’d rest after victory, but I never expected you to come directly to the Caro Kingdom.
The Crown Prince spoke playfully as if gauging the Caro Kingdom’s reaction, and Kale responded with equal nonchalance.

“I didn’t expect Your Highness to be here either.”

Why are you here?
What are you scheming, and what are you trying to interfere with?
These were Kale’s true thoughts.

Then, a figure appeared at the teleportation platform.

“Oh, there you are!”

Though Kale had never seen this person before, he could instantly discern their identity from their appearance alone.
Valentino. The Crown Prince of the Caro Kingdom and—

“I heard you were in your office, so why are you here?”

An old friend of Crown Prince Adin.
Valentino patted Crown Prince Adin’s shoulder and spoke warmly. Despite their considerable difference in rank—Crown Prince and Crown Prince—the two showed no awkwardness between them.

“I came to see our empire’s hero.”

The Crown Prince smiled good-naturedly while gesturing toward Kale Heniatus, and Valentino was already extending his hand toward him.

“Pleased to meet you. Thank you for coming to help our Caro Kingdom. I was on my way to welcome you, but this friend beat me to it.”

Crown Prince Valentino was famous for not being particular about formalities. That’s why he could readily offer a handshake to a foreign commander.

“The pleasure is mine.”

Kale Heniatus grasped the extended hand without hesitation and offered appropriate courtesy. Valentino’s lips curved into a knowing smile at the sight.

“I like that about you. A character without excessive formality.”
“Indeed.”

Kale Heniatus released his hand while accepting the comment flatly, and Valentino studied him quite sharply in return.
Kale Heniatus was aware of that gaze but pretended not to notice. Instead, something else occupied his curiosity.

‘Does Crown Prince Valentino truly trust the empire and the Crown Prince as friends?’

I had learned the rough alliance structure from Clophe, that somewhat eccentric fellow. The Caro Kingdom was not included in it.

The Northern 3 Nations, Dark, and the Mogur Empire.
The Caro Kingdom did not know of their relationships. Had they known, they would never have sought help from the empire.

‘But whether the Caro Kingdom knows the empire’s darker side remains to be seen.’

The empire, which had enslaved countless people and forced them into experiments at the Alchemy Tower.
Did the Caro Kingdom not know of the empire’s ugly underbelly?

‘Well, time will tell.’

I didn’t dwell on it deeply. Soon enough, one pillar of the Caro Kingdom’s power would be shaken.

“Come now, rather than lingering here, why don’t you show us to our quarters?”
“Your Highness, that task should be handled by—”
“No need.”

Crown Prince Valentino waved off the Caro Kingdom official’s words and stepped forward to guide us himself. As I observed this excessive courtesy, Crown Prince Adin’s voice reached Kale Heniatus.

“I’ve seen your face now, and I’ve seen our Kale as well. I suppose it’s time I took my leave.”
“But you mentioned staying through the military conference this evening?”

Crown Prince Valentino, who had been conversing with the official, turned to Crown Prince Adin with a regretful expression. Adin replied as though he too felt the reluctance.

“I’m afraid I can’t leave the Empire unattended for too long. Besides, with Duke Hooten here, surely that’s sufficient?”
“I suppose so, but…”

Crown Prince Adin patted Valentino’s shoulder.

“I do hope you emerge victorious. This is my heartfelt wish to you not as a Crown Prince, but as a friend.”
“…Thank you.”

Valentino’s gratitude was genuine.

“Duke Hooten, soldiers, the Imperial Knights, even mages from the Empire. I know how much thought you’ve put into this. I’m certain you’ll win.”
“That’s what I like to hear! Now that’s a true friend!”

The people of Caro Kingdom and the unsuspecting people of Roan Kingdom gazed warmly at the friendship shared between the two nations’ heirs.
Yet one person.

Kale Heniatus’s expression grew subtly bitter without anyone noticing.

‘Something feels off.’

Crown Prince Adin was acting strange.
Why was he being so unusually kind?

An uneasy chill crept down my spine—my instincts were screaming. And not only that: a Sword Master like Duke Hooten, the Knights, mages? The Empire had essentially surrendered nearly all of its core military strength, save for the Alchemy Tower.
The Empire was giving far too much to Caro Kingdom.

True friendship would be a beautiful story, but.
Crown Prince Adin would never do such a thing, would he?
The Crown Prince benefited only if the Indomitable Alliance won.

-…Weak human. But that Crown Prince’s smile irritates me.

See? Even our Raon sensed it uncannily.
Kale Heniatus regarded Crown Prince Adin with even greater suspicion. That was when it happened.

Crown Prince Adin’s gaze turned toward Kale Heniatus.

“It’s been a while. I’m glad to see you.”
“I feel the same, Your Highness.”

The people of the Roan Kingdom, knowing nothing, smiled at the warm atmosphere between Kale Heniatus and the Crown Prince. Kale Heniatus, who appeared close to the Empire’s Crown Prince, looked reassuringly dependable.
And soon they smiled even more brightly.

“Are you the youngest Sword Master of the Roan Kingdom?”

The Crown Prince approached Choi Han, the pride and new hero of the Roan Kingdom, with warm familiarity first.
The Knights Order and Mage Battalion of the Roan Kingdom felt an inexplicable sense of pride at the Crown Prince’s expression, tinged with admiration.

But one person.
Kale Heniatus suppressed the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise.

‘Look at that.’

The Crown Prince’s gaze was directed at Choi Han and Merry. But rather than Merry, who had bowed her head deeply, he spoke to Choi Han.

“I didn’t know the escort knight I saw last time was such a strong person.”

Then he extended his hand to Choi Han.
It was not easy for the Crown Prince to do this to someone without title or position.
But Choi Han is a Sword Master. Outwardly, the youngest Sword Master on the Continent.

“The birth of the youngest Sword Master. May I shake your hand?”

The Crown Prince regarded Choi Han gently with an unassuming demeanor.
Kale Heniatus watched the Crown Prince’s expression and inwardly scoffed.

‘Was the real reason for coming here to scout the enemy’s military strength?’

Choi Han and Merry.
Did he want to confirm their existence with his own eyes?
Kale Heniatus could now definitively sense that the Crown Prince was feeling anxious.

And who could blame him?
The Empire and the Roan Kingdom were currently on excellent terms on the surface. They shared the pain of magical bomb terrorism, and moreover, Kale Heniatus had even received a medal from the Empire.

Yet things had begun to unravel starting from the territory where Kale Heniatus resided.
Kale Heniatus could easily imagine how much irritation lay hidden beneath the Crown Prince’s mask—a mask worn by someone who desired to control everything.

Since the situation was rather amusing, Kale Heniatus gazed at the Crown Prince with considerable composure. Yet strangely, his cheek itched.
His left cheek itched.

-Human, human! Choi Han is looking at the human!

Hm?
Kale Heniatus turned his head.
And there was Choi Han, staring blankly at me. Along with the Crown Prince’s still-empty hand.

Kale Heniatus recalled the words he had firmly instructed Choi Han and Merry before coming to the Caro Kingdom.

‘Don’t act. If you need to act, report to me first.’

A master of terrible acting and someone who would innocently spill everything.
Kale Heniatus reflected on what he had said and looked at Choi Han again.

‘Surely not?’

Kale Heniatus gave a slight nod.
Then Choi Han, with an expressionless face, politely grasped Crown Prince Adin’s hand and greeted him.

‘This guy!’

Kale Heniatus felt a refreshing sense of satisfaction wash over him for the first time in a while.
Choi Han truly was a good man.

“Ha, haha-”

Crown Prince Adin’s hearty laughter echoed through the hall.

“My, my—you’re quite the loyal subordinate to Commander Kale Heniatus.”

He laughed as if genuinely amused, patting Choi Han on the shoulder. It was a gesture that, strictly speaking, might have breached protocol. Kale Heniatus smoothly interjected, steering the conversation with practiced grace.

“He’s still unfamiliar with noble etiquette, so I’ve been offering guidance. I’m grateful you’ve taken it in good spirits, Your Highness.”
“Well, this much is nothing. If he weren’t of noble birth, he might not understand. To reach such heights in swordsmanship at his age—that’s impossible if one’s attention is divided elsewhere. Wouldn’t you agree, Choi Han?”

Hmm.
Kale Heniatus marveled inwardly at the Crown Prince’s intelligence network—he already knew Choi Han’s name.

‘Who within the Roan Royal Family serves the Empire?’

A chill swept across Kale Heniatus’s eyes.
Then Choi Han spoke, responding to the Crown Prince’s words.

“That’s correct. To protect and forge our history—our, um, our legacy—we must sharpen our blades diligently.”

Our legacy. Pride gleamed in the eyes of the Roan Kingdom’s people.
The black robe stirred as I watched Choi Han’s back.
Our “legacy.” The character that followed would be “legend.” Only Merry understood, her fists clenching tight.

Because it came from the heart, Choi Han’s acting showed no strain.

“Hahaha, indeed. A truly righteous youth. And that Necromancer behind him as well. They all have the makings of heroes. Why does the Empire lack such people?”
“True enough. It’s a shame the Caro Kingdom doesn’t have them either.”

The two heirs exchanged chuckles as their conversation wound down.

“Well then, let’s be off.”

Crown Prince Adin, accompanied by his escort knights, returned to the Empire via the teleportation circle that Rowan’s group had descended from.

* * *

Not long after, Kale Heniatus attended a military conference of the Caro Kingdom.

Few people occupied the small round table.

Crown Prince Valentino of the Caro Kingdom, Duke Hooten of the Empire.
Some of these figures were familiar to Kale Heniatus’s eyes, while others were not.
The Grand General of the Caro Kingdom. He was the supreme commander of this war.
And one more person.
The High Priest of the Sun God Cult of the Caro Kingdom. He was also present, representing the alliance of religious orders.

However, he showed no hostility toward Kale Heniatus or Merry. When their eyes met, he simply offered a gentle, priestly smile.

Kale Heniatus recalled the words of Crown Prince Valentino.

‘The religious orders within the kingdom have agreed to help as well. They won’t cause trouble for your subordinates. They said they would do the same, and we’ve made sure to warn them firmly.’

Kale Heniatus was satisfied with the Caro Kingdom’s considerate attitude. With so much at stake in this war, it seemed the religious orders possessed at least some sense of discretion.

Few people sat at the small round table, but quite a number were stationed behind it.
They were all escorts for each leader, and behind Kale Heniatus stood Merry, Choi Han, and Vice-Captain Hilsman.

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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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