Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 542

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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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“I never expected you to bring such a distinguished guest on such short notice.”

Fredo spoke the words while observing Kale Heniatus.
Kale Heniatus shrugged and gestured toward Alberu.

“Our Crown Prince can be rather impatient himself, but Bob here is equally quick to act.”

For a moment, Alberu’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but Kale Heniatus ignored it with a smile. Fredo observed both Kale Heniatus and the man called Bob with keen interest before speaking.

“This distinguished gentleman also appears to hold no insignificant position.”
“Indeed.”

Kale Heniatus nodded without hesitation and continued.

“He lacks only a title. Bob here has grown up like the Crown Prince’s twin brother since childhood.”
“I see.”
“It’s only natural that the Duke wouldn’t know.”

Kale Heniatus looked toward Alberu, and as if responding to that gaze, Alberu spoke.

“I have lived as the shadow of the Crown Prince.”

It was not a lie.
As Alberu of the Dark Elf Quarter.
That existence was indeed like the shadow of Crown Prince Alberu.

‘Impressive.’

And Choi Han silently turned away from Kale Heniatus and Alberu, who delivered their falsehoods without the slightest change in expression.

Fredo looked at the man whose face was hidden behind a mask from the nose upward and opened his mouth.

“…So you are the one overseeing the Information Department, I presume.”

He addressed Bob with formal speech.
Part of it was because Bob was the Crown Prince’s representative, but there was also a wariness that arose from the very existence of this “Bob.”
Fredo recalled the words Bob had used to introduce himself.

‘It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Bob, attending as a representative of Crown Prince Albert and the head of the Information Department.’

Among those words, the phrase ‘head of the Information Department’ etched itself with particular clarity into Fredo’s mind.

‘A man standing at the center of information.’

Fredo’s gaze upon Bob sharpened with concealed intensity.

Information was often a requirement more vital than diplomacy, administration, or military might.
Yet the fact that someone so young held such a critical position meant this man possessed considerable ability.

Fredo judged Albert Crossman to be both capable and ruthlessly pragmatic, and any man chosen by such a person could hardly be incompetent.

‘A retainer who grew up alongside the Crown Prince from childhood, studying together?’

The epithet of ‘the Crown Prince’s shadow’ was equally striking.
Was this not a man who lurked in darkness to protect Roan, to forge Roan into a great power?

Moreover, his fraternal bond with Kale Heniatus was astonishing.

‘Crown Prince Albert Crossman and Kale Heniatus are sworn brothers, after all.’

Perhaps the three of them—Bob, this man hidden from the world—had sworn brotherhood together?

Albert Crossman, who stands at the forefront in matters both domestic and foreign.
And Kale Heniatus, who confronts dangers spreading across Roan and the Western Continent.
Finally, Bob, who accomplishes countless tasks without revealing himself, unknown to the world.

‘That Bob is a Dark Elf is surprising, though.’

Perhaps it was precisely because of this that Roan Kingdom had been able to forge ties with the Dark Elves.

‘Remarkable. Truly remarkable.’

Fredo drew his tension to its peak.
This was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
Fredo rose from where he sat upon the bed and stepped down onto the floor.

“It would be improper to receive someone of such importance in this state.”
“The setting and appearance matter little. What matters is the substance of our discussion.”

Alberu spoke with measured courtesy, yet his words carried an unmistakable pressure directed at Fredo.

Provide the Roan Kingdom with proper compensation.
Alberu made this expectation abundantly clear without hesitation.

A thin smile spread across Fredo’s face.
The corners of his mouth curved upward.

“Solena.”
“Yes?”
“Ask the butler to bring our guest some warm tea.”
“Yes.”

Solena carefully withdrew from the bedroom.
Yet her eyes lingered on Fredo with concern as she departed. Noticing her gaze, Fredo gave a reassuring nod—a silent signal that there was nothing to worry about.

The door clicked shut, and Kale immediately rose to his feet.
The door closed, and Kale Heniatus immediately stood up.

“There’s no reason for me to remain while kingdom representatives conduct their negotiations.”
“The Kingdom representatives are having a conversation among themselves, so there’s no point in me being there.”

He had sensed it for a while now—Kale was treating the Endable Kingdom as a legitimate kingdom.
From what I’ve been sensing for a while now, Kale Heniatus has been officially recognizing the Endable Kingdom as a legitimate kingdom.

Fredo, who knew how difficult it was to be recognized, felt a strange emotion stirred by Kale’s such attitude.

With his back turned to Fredo, he placed a hand on Kale’s shoulder and spoke affectionately.
He turned his back to Fredo and placed his hand on Kale’s shoulder, speaking affectionately.

“Okay. Let our little brother go rest.”

Phew.
Kale could see the eyes behind Alberu’s mask curve wickedly.

I had no real reason to be here.
After all, someone far more expert than I on matters concerning the Roan Kingdom had come in person.

I recalled the conversation I’d had with the Crown Prince through a communication device days ago.

‘I want to go see for myself.’
‘…Sigh.’
‘Don’t sigh. There’s something I want to see. Let me go.’
‘In that appearance?’
‘No. In disguise. Wait for me.’
‘Hmph.’

The communication had ended with my sigh.
I reached over and patted the Crown Prince’s shoulder directly. When else could I afford to be this presumptuous?

“Right.”

Pat. Pat.
My hand strikes his shoulder with surprising force.

“You do your job well too. You came as the representative of the Roan Kingdom, so you’d better do it right, wouldn’t you?”
“Haha. Your encouragement gives me strength, little brother. Don’t worry.”

I swallowed the sigh that nearly escaped at Alberu’s glib response and stepped forward past the passage.
And before I fully crossed through, I turned back and spoke to Choi Han.

“Guard it well.”
“Understood.”

Choi Han immediately moved to the seat where I had been sitting.
It was positioned in front of the passage that led underground.

“Mm.”

Duke Fredo let out a low murmur.
My gaze turned toward Duke Fredo, and our eyes met.

“Duke Fredo. From now on, we’ll manage that entrance from our side.”
“…Remarkable.”
“What’s remarkable about it? You already know, don’t you?”

A smile played at the corners of Kale Heniatus’s lips.

“That there’s a price you need to offer me. Think carefully about what that price should be, considering the current situation.”

Duke Fredo heard Kale Heniatus’s soft voice reach his ears.

“Think hard about what I want.”

With those words, Kale Heniatus left the bedroom without hesitation.
Whoosh—
The Mirror Passage door closed behind him. It was Kale Heniatus’s way of signaling that he would no longer participate in this matter.

Duke Fredo gazed quietly at the closed passage, then turned his attention toward the Underground Passage entrance where Choi Han was stationed.
He was beginning to grasp what Kale Heniatus wanted.
That was when it happened.

Tap. Tap.
A light tapping sound echoed against the table.

“Duke Fredo.”

Turning his gaze toward the source of the sound, Duke Fredo saw Bob, the Information Department chief, smiling at him.

“Shall we have a frank discussion then?”

Crown Prince Alberu wore a bright smile, but his eyes remained cold and unsmiling.
Duke Fredo straightened his posture. What demanded his attention now was the words of the Crown Prince’s representative from the Roan Kingdom before him.

“Indeed.”

Soon, the discussion between Duke Fredo and Crown Prince Alberu began.

Choi Han sat in his chair, staring at the closed Mirror Passage. His reflection appeared in it, but his thoughts extended beyond what could be seen.

“Raon.”
“Yes! Human, why?”

A secret space nestled between Fredo’s Bedroom and Nar’s Bedroom.
In the chamber positioned midway along the Mirror Passage, I stroked Raon’s head as I spoke.

“Choi Han will be guarding the entrance to that Underground Passage for a while.”
“Right! I agreed to go with him and take turns in between! Didn’t you tell me to do that?”
“Yes, yes. But here’s the thing.”

Raon watched the corners of my mouth lift as I continued stroking his head.
It was the expression I wore whenever I was scheming something.

“While Choi Han is on guard, go invisible and explore the Underground Chamber.”
“You mean where that White Star portrait was?”
“Yes.”
“Secretly?”

My gaze turned toward Raon.

“Yeah. Secretly. And copy all the information there. You can photograph everything with the video storage device.”

Raon nodded.

“Got it!”
“Good, good.”

I was certain that Fredo was currently deliberating whether he should offer me information about White Star as compensation.

‘Then that would be unfortunate for him.’

But I had no intention of accepting any compensation.

Stopping White Star was the objective.
Regardless of whether it benefited everyone, it held tangible advantages for Fredo as well.

‘So naturally, I should simply hand over the information about White Star.’

Kale Heniatus’s group fights in their stead, yet they refuse to provide information that could aid that very battle, and instead demand compensation for it?
Such a calculation did not exist in Kale Heniatus’s mind.

However, Fredo interpreted Kale Heniatus’s gesture as a request for information about the White Star, and would offer that intelligence as compensation for the destruction of the Black Castle and the facility that transforms the White Star into a demon.

‘I should refuse.’

And I would ask for something else instead.
A smile played at the corners of my lips.

“Human! It looks strange when you smile like that!”

At Raon’s words, I let my smile fade slightly.

“That’s better!”

I sighed at those words and made my way to my—no, Nar’s bedroom.

‘The White Star, who bears a resemblance to Kim Rok-soo…’

Yet my footsteps carried the weight of deep contemplation.

“Raon. Have you contacted Priestess Cage?”

This evening, I had arranged a video call with Priestess Cage, who had been excommunicated from the Death God Sect.
But just moments ago, a message arrived from Priestess Cage through the video communication device.

‘Young Master! I don’t think I can make the video call today! I’m so sorry! Something urgent came up!’

After that message, she had been unreachable.

“Human! Priestess Cage keeps not answering! She must be busy!”

At Raon’s continued response, my eyes grew even darker.

*Whoosh.*
The Mirror Passage opened, and as I stepped into Nar’s Bedroom, I gazed out the window.

Time had progressed past the middle of September.
October would arrive soon.
And if we waited just a bit longer, November would be upon us.

“Something feels off about this.”

I stood by the window, lost in thought.
The White Star’s appearance resembled Kim Rok-soo’s.
And the White Star’s life, cursed by the God of Death.

“They’re similar.”

For some reason, I felt that Kim Rok-soo’s life resembled mine in many ways.
The pattern was the same—whenever something precious appeared, it eventually vanished.

“There’s something there.”

My eyes gleamed with a cold light, yet tension lingered within them.

* * *

Alberu stepped into Nar’s Bedroom through the Mirror Passage, and his mouth fell open without thinking.

“Oh my?”
“You came, hyung?”

A twelve-year-old boy sprawled across the sofa waved his hand lazily at Alberu.

“The Crown Prince has arrived!”

Beside him, a young dragon also sprawled out, patting his round belly—plump from eating well—and beamed brightly at Alberu.

“Lord Raon, I am Bob.”
“Oh, that’s right! Nice to meet you, Bob!”
“Yes.”

Heh.
Alberu turned his gaze away from the irreverent laughter that grated on his ears.
The twelve-year-old was wearing a smile so impudent it would be an understatement to call it cheeky. Alberu looked down at Kale Heniatus and spoke.

“Your posture is quite impressive.”
“Why? Are you going to treat me well?”
“Enough.”

Alberu let out a hollow laugh.

‘He said I could speak casually, and he’s really making full use of it.’

Just then, Raon flapped his wings and took flight.

“Choi Han will be bored alone! I’ll keep him company!”

With those words, Raon flew back through the secret passage to Fredo’s Bedroom.
Since this was open infiltration rather than a covert operation, there was no need for invisibility.
Of course, the cookie box given by White Star hung from Raon’s front paws as he departed.

“Hey.”
“What?”
“That’s disrespectful.”
“…Didn’t you tell me to stay in character?”

Pfft.
Alberu let out a deflating laugh at the sight of Kale Heniatus subtly gauging his reaction, then tapped the recumbent young prince’s feet.

“What?”

To the question posed by eyes filled with annoyance at being tapped on the feet, Alberu answered plainly.

“Let’s go out.”
“…Outside?”
“Yes.”
“Do we have to?”

Kale Heniatus’s face overflowed with reluctance. Then Alberu’s calm voice reached his ears. Whether due to Raon’s magic or not, his voice, lower than usual, sounded particularly composed.

“Yes. I want to go out for a bit.”

Beyond the window. Alberu’s eyes gazing upon the Endable Kingdom were complex.
Even hidden behind the mask, the expression he wore was revealed through his eyes alone—layered with many emotions.

“Hmm.”

I had risen at some point and was now leaning back against the sofa, observing Alberu. At my gaze, he asked me a question.

“What? Don’t you want to leave?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“About what?”

I spoke with a serious expression.

“If I go out, I’ll need to buy something to eat and drink, won’t I?”
“…Huh?”

Whether Alberu made a bewildered sound or not, I continued deliberating. I had no money from the Endable Kingdom.
I had no money from the Endable Kingdom.

Suddenly, I recalled the pocket money I had received from Count Derth on my first day as Kale. It had been quite surprising and delightful at the time.
It had been quite surprising and delightful at the time.
I pondered seriously, my expression distant with nostalgia.

Nar would need to ask Duke Fredo for pocket money too, wouldn’t he? At twelve years old in human terms?

“Brother, how much should I ask for as pocket money?”
“…Huh?”
“Hmm. How much does a typical twelve-year-old usually get? Would it be fine if I asked for as much as On receives?”
“…Why? Why would Duke Fredo give you pocket money?”
“Because I’m his son, aren’t I?”
“…I, I suppose so?”

Alberu stared at me with a dumbfounded expression.
Regardless, I headed toward the bedroom door.

“Wait here. I’m going to go squeeze some pocket money out of Duke Fredo.”

Click!
The door opened and closed.
I had truly gone off to see Duke Fredo.

“…Hah!”

Not just receiving allowance—he’s extorting it?
Left alone, Alberu let out an exasperated sigh that reached no one’s ears.
And moments later.

“Hey! Hyung!”

Kale Heniatus burst into the room with a startled expression.
Bang!
He shut the door hastily, unable to conceal his astonishment.
Then he thrust a bundle of bills toward Alberu.

“Duke Fredo’s allowance is no joke! He gave me a ton of money! Let’s go out!”

Alberu could see the young prince clutching the bundle of bills in both hands, his expression happier than ever before.

“…Good heavens. And I have to call such a fellow my brother….”

Kale Heniatus approached Alberu, who was watching in disbelief.
He looked up at Alberu and whispered close to his ear.

“I also found out about a restaurant from Solena. We should check that place out too. And I need to buy food for Raon and Choi Han.”
“…Hey, you—”

Did you come here to play? Why are you so excited?
Alberu, about to say something, heard Kale Heniatus’s next whisper.

“The facility where the White Star becomes a Demon. I should investigate that place too.”

Alberu’s mouth fell silent. He looked down at Kale Heniatus, who now wore Nar’s appearance, and the corners of his lips curved upward.

“That’s a good plan, brother.”
“Right? Hyung, once we spend all the money, let’s ask Duke Fredo for more.”

Alberu was left speechless again, but Kale Heniatus, oblivious, carefully placed the bundle of bills into a small spatial pocket.

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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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