Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 45

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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 path to boarding the carriage with the Crown Prince. He wanted a performance, naturally. Of course, the carriage Kale Heniatus rode in was the Crown Prince’s carriage, hastily brought from the Royal Court.

“Prince Kale, board first. Today, I truly admire you.”

The moment other people came into view near the carriage, the Crown Prince’s expression transformed from its previous sullenness into one of boundless benevolence.

“I cannot possibly do so. How could I board before Your Highness, the shining star in every citizen’s heart?”

-…Human, are you feeling alright?

Kale Heniatus dismissed the Black Dragon’s remark without a second thought. The Crown Prince patted his shoulder, speaking as he did. Tap, tap. The force behind those pats was quite considerable.

“Not at all. This is merely my expression of respect.”
“Then, this humble one shall board first.”

Crown Prince Alberu remained at the scene of the terror attack even after the other royals had departed, directing the knights in cleanup efforts and prioritizing Kale Heniatus. The image of these two figures was as striking as a painting, while simultaneously radiating a magnanimity as vast as the ocean.
Their presence left the deepest impression on everyone who witnessed it that day.

As Kale Heniatus climbed into the Crown Prince’s carriage, he subtly shifted his gaze to the side.
Near the carriage stood the noble scions, and beyond them, the common citizens. Kale Heniatus offered a slight nod to Eric, Gilbert, Amir, and Taylor, then bestowed a benevolent smile upon Neo Tolls, who was staring blankly at him.
In that instant, Neo flinched, and Benion Sten’s expression grew peculiar. But that was not all. The great nobles were watching Kale Heniatus intently.

‘How does that ruffian possess such power? No, how does he conduct himself in such a manner?’

Though he caught glimpses of such questioning in their eyes, Kale Heniatus ignored them and stared directly at Neo Tolls, who flinched and turned away.

‘I can dispose of one crude villain without much trouble.’

With that thought, Kale Heniatus boarded the carriage and immediately wiped the benevolent smile from his face. Crown Prince Alberu followed him inside and promptly commanded his attendant.

“Ensure the lady is treated with the utmost courtesy.”

He was naturally referring to Rosalind. The carriage door slowly closed, and through the narrowing gap, Kale Heniatus and Rosalind’s eyes met. Her smile was reassuring.
Click. The carriage door shut, and Kale Heniatus leaned back against the seat.

‘Indeed, the Royal Court’s carriages are in a different class. Where do they even source leather like this?’

Sitting comfortably in the seat with an expressionless face, I could see the Crown Prince, whose benevolent smile had likewise vanished, replaced by an equally blank countenance.

“Do you require treatment?”

I answered the Crown Prince’s question in an indifferent tone.

“My body is healthy, but wouldn’t it be appropriate to receive the finest medical care and treatment from a Priest? I would prefer to remain bedridden for about three to four days.”
“Ha.”

The Crown Prince let out a laugh like an exclamation. Then he nodded.

“Yes. That’s good. A noble scion who stepped forward to protect everyone falls ill. And the Royal Palace provides premium care for his recovery. Excellent.”

Perhaps because he recognized we were of the same ilk, the Crown Prince abandoned all pretense and cut straight to the point.

“Lord Kale Heniatus, are you connected to them?”

Them. He meant those who had appeared in the Plaza today. I met the gaze of Crown Prince Alberu. The Black Dragon would be following me by now, cloaked in invisibility atop the carriage.
That’s what the Black Dragon had said.

-Why didn’t that Crown Prince intervene even when other humans died? He has the power to do so.

The Crown Prince concealed his strength. Even when one of his attendants died and a young knight lost his limbs, he did not step forward. He merely feigned weakness and remained hidden.

‘I thought he was a good person despite manipulating others.’

He was not.

Because of this, I answered comfortably. A bright smile played at the corners of my lips.

“Your Highness, why would I trouble myself with such tedious matters?”
“Indeed.”

The Crown Prince immediately agreed. Someone who hid behind the guise of a reckless fool would never do such a thing. And the fact that I had stepped forward this time—at least to Crown Prince Alberu’s eyes—appeared to be entirely unavoidable.

“The Royal Court may attempt unnecessary investigations into your affairs.”
“Your Highness will prevent that, won’t you?”
“Why ask the obvious?”

He would shield them. Crown Prince Albert drew back the curtain. Beyond the carriage window, countless citizens of the kingdom came into view. He spoke with a benevolent smile.

“We’ll continue our conversation when I visit you to inquire about your health.”

The Crown Prince visiting a noble’s son to check on his condition. And the conversation he wished to have. There was much to discuss. I recalled Rosalind, ancient power, compensation, and other matters as I spoke.

“Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
“If it is a conversation with Your Highness, the star of this nation, then I, Kale Heniatus, am available at any time.”

The corners of his benevolent smile tightened slightly.

“I dislike my actions in this matter being exaggerated.”
“We’ll package it appropriately. As long as the blame doesn’t reach the Royal Court.”

The Crown Prince continued, speaking as if tossing the words aside. His tone was unpolished but sincere.

“In any case, thank you. Thanks to you, fewer people were injured.”

Crown Prince Albert was a human difficult to judge as good or evil. Or rather, it was uncertain whether he was even human. But I didn’t concern myself with such matters. Instead, I said what I needed to say.

“Yes, I expect compensation.”
“Ha.”

The Crown Prince shook his head side to side. But he didn’t tell me not to expect compensation. It was a promise that he would provide generously.

Thus I entered the Royal Palace once more, and received treatment of an entirely different caliber than before. The finest room in the Separate Palace—that magnificent facility boasting the highest amenities reserved for visiting royalty from foreign nations—was given to me.

‘Choi Han and his group stayed here as well.’

I lay back on a luxurious bed that put the one in my mansion to shame, its plush comfort incomparable, and ate grapes one by one.
Then another resident of the Separate Palace came to visit me.

“Young Master Kale.”

It was Rosalind. And of course, she hadn’t come alone.

“Kale.”

Choi Han had come with them. Behind him stood the cats and Rak with ashen faces. But when Kale Heniatus saw the person at the very end, his expression crumpled.

“Y-young master!”

It was Hans, the vice-butler. His face looked ready to burst into tears. Hans, Choi Han, and Rak had been able to enter the Royal Palace as Kale Heniatus’s attendants and guards. Kale Heniatus reached out toward Hans, who seemed about to rush forward.

“Stop.”

At those words, Hans froze, and Kale Heniatus rose from the bed and spoke to the others.

“Come in.”

He spoke as naturally as if he were the master of this palace.

Kale Heniatus spoke with Hans first. After confirming Kale Heniatus’s condition—as if Hans had never looked on the verge of tears—he reported as he normally would.

“I’ve contacted the household. I thought it best to move faster than the Royal Court, so I sent word through a mage via communication crystal. It cost quite a bit, I’m afraid.”
“Well done.”
“And.”

Hans glanced briefly at Rosalind.

‘As expected.’

The corner of my mouth lifted slightly. Hans was a promising butler candidate. He possessed far more information about the noble scions than I did. Surely such a capable man would have gathered other intelligence as well.

“Continue.”

With my permission, Hans reported.

“I’ve instructed the mansion staff to keep silent about Rosalind.”
“Well done.”
“Well done.”

Both Rosalind and I praised Hans. Since we hadn’t yet coordinated our story, it was far more convenient for Rosalind and me if everyone simply kept quiet.

“Um, young master.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve made my report, but I think I’ll need to contact the household again by communication crystal later. Otherwise, the head of the family might come here himself.”

Count Derth, being his father, would certainly be capable of handling it. I pondered how to resolve this without affecting Basen’s position as heir, then gave a vague nod. Hans rose from his seat at my gesture. He was perceptive.
Rosalind, Choi Han, and Rak—he needed to leave so I could speak with them.

“Then I shall meet with the administrator of this Separate Palace and have a word with them.”
“Very well.”

Hans left the room, and only then did the Black Dragon reveal itself. The Black Dragon approached my bed and began devouring the fruits placed upon it, all while delivering its report.

“There are no recording devices or audio equipment in here.”

Right—it seemed unnecessary, yet I had ordered it anyway. Good thinking. I surveyed the room I was occupying.

A space where foreign royalty resided. Would they plant recording devices in such a place? That would be an outright declaration of war, not cooperation. That’s why the invisible battle for recordings and surveillance typically unfolds not in their quarters, but during shared meals.

In other words, I could say anything within these walls. Yet Rosalind still cast a sound-blocking spell.

“Safety is always preferable, isn’t it?”
“That quality of yours is truly admirable, Rosalind.”

I acknowledged her words while turning my gaze to Choi Han. He had been keeping his head down since earlier. Watching him, I sensed it immediately.
He had failed to kill Redica.

“Speak.”

Choi Han lifted his head.

“The mage appeared at the location you specified. I attempted to kill him, but his subordinates intervened.”
“You were prepared to die.”
“…Yes.”

The Secret Organization inexplicably cherished Redica.

“So you let him escape?”
“…Yes.”

Choi Han continued while keeping his head bowed.

“I was able to sever his left arm from the shoulder.”

Hm?

“I was afraid he might return to retrieve his arm and reattach it, so I burned it. His left eye was likely damaged as well.”

…Wasn’t that a fatal wound for a mage? Casting magic required both hands for proper mana balance, so this would be a significant blow. I regarded Choi Han with a troubled expression.
Choi Han stood with his fists clenched, his head bowed.

“I should have killed him. I apologize.”
“No, there’s nothing to apologize for. You did well.”

I looked at Rak, On, and Hong, who were sitting beside Choi Han. Unlike usual, On and Hong remained rigid in Rak’s arms, keeping their distance from the Black Dragon. Rak gazed at me with an almost desperate look in his eyes.

‘Did he lose control?’

I turned to Choi Han and asked.

“What about his subordinates?”
“I thought it best to kill them, so I disposed of them cleanly.”

The red cat Hong nuzzled against his sister On’s body. Choi Han had cleanly melted them away with his black aura, leaving no trace of them in the world. Hong had never known that aura could dissolve people like that.

“Clean is better if there’s to be no loose talk. You didn’t destroy the building or the surrounding area, did you?”

I was concerned that Choi Han might have lost control and destroyed the building or the area. Harris Village and the Blue Werewolf Tribe incident were his trauma. I worried that witnessing someone from the organization that caused this trauma might trigger him to lose his mind and attack.

‘If he loses control, I might have to handle the aftermath.’

Since Choi Han was staying at my mansion, I was quite reluctant about that cleanup.

“Yes, of course. I made sure to minimize damage to the building and surrounding terrain, just as you instructed.”

The cats recalled what Choi Han had said while killing the subordinates.

‘All the people precious to me died or nearly died because of you. Today as well!’

The building remained intact, but Choi Han’s method of melting them alive was quite terrifying. He hadn’t lost control. But that was precisely what made it terrifying. On and Hong eventually approached the Black Dragon and found peace of mind at his side. After all, the Black Dragon was the kindest, cutest, and strongest one here.
I watched the cats head toward the bed before speaking to Choi Han.

“Well done. You worked hard.”

Choi Han looked at Kale upon hearing those words. Kale, however, addressed not just Choi Han but everyone present.

“You all accomplished something remarkable today. Everyone survived because of you. Rosalind, you worked hard as well.”

The tension in Choi Han’s clenched fist eased slightly. Rosalind observed Rak and Choi Han, then the cats with their tails swishing contentedly, before her gaze finally settled on Kale. A peculiar sense of kinship enveloped her.
It was then that the Black Dragon spoke tersely.

“You worked hard too.”

At those words, Kale chuckled softly and nodded.

“Indeed. I worked hard. So I deserve a reward.”

And the time to discuss that reward’s first terms arrived soon enough.

“You may go.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”

After dismissing the Priest, who had merely idled away time without administering treatment, Crown Prince Alberu faced Kale. Kale’s face bore an expression of genuine gratitude at the Crown Prince’s visit. In that moment, the door clicked shut, and Alberu spoke.

“That expression gives me chills.”
“Thank you.”

Kale returned to his usual composed demeanor. Alberu, finding that far more comfortable, casually settled into the chair beside Kale’s bed, maintaining the pretense of a patient visit.

“We’ve established that you’re currently convalescing. At the Plaza, you rose again despite the strain of maintaining order as a nobleman.”

Alberu smiled wryly and continued.

“Since you revealed possessing ancient power at that very moment, we’ve characterized it as a rather weak defensive ancient power to match. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“Mm.”

Kale responded with a thoughtful expression.

“A young nobleman of weak power who stepped forward for the kingdom. I like it.”
“Indeed.”

Since Kale had already demonstrated his power, it was better to be known as ‘not particularly strong.’ And weakness was, in fact, the truth.

“By tomorrow, my administrator will have your steward deliver reports about the rumors concerning you and the current situation. Do review them.”

Crown Prince Albert’s demeanor toward me was decidedly different from how he treated Choi Han. There was not a shred of warmth in his expression—rather, he seemed considerably displeased. A man he’d rather not face, yet one he must meet with for business. That was precisely his stance. Exactly what I desired.

I met the Crown Prince’s gaze as he stared at me intently. At my composed bearing, he furrowed his brow in thought before finally speaking.

“…But then again.”

His tone wavered with hesitation, yet something expectant flickered beneath it. Such behavior was rare from the Crown Prince, so I waited quietly.
In that moment, the Black Dragon, who had been sleeping beneath the bed, stirred awake and spoke into my mind.

-Now I’m certain. That human is not human.

And then the Crown Prince posed his question.

“…You are human, aren’t you?”

What was this now? The fastball came at me from an unexpected angle. I suddenly wished I could feign illness.

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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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