Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 543

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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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Chapter 118. Welcome Home.

Alberu gazed quietly at the landscape beyond the 2nd Layer terrace.
Though a half-mask concealed the bridge of his nose, his eyes lay bare to the Dark Elf Quarter, taking in the vista of Endable Kingdom’s Zone 1.

“Bob hyung. Aren’t you going to eat?”

At the sound of that voice, Alberu slowly turned his head.
A young boy clad in a drab gray hooded cloak was watching him.
The hood pulled so far down that only Alberu, seated directly across from him, could make out his features clearly—everyone else’s view remained obscured.

Alberu held the boy’s gaze for a moment before turning his eyes back to the landscape beyond the terrace.
His lips parted slowly.

“I find myself drawn to it repeatedly.”
“Why?”
“In a sense… this place holds considerable meaning for me.”

Then, an unwavering voice pierced straight into Alberu’s heart.

“Why? Because of the Dark Elves?”

There was no deceiving this one.
Alberu realized that concealing his true thoughts from the boy before him—Kale—was nearly impossible.

‘Which only means he knows far too many of my secrets.’

Sharing something that could not be revealed to others sometimes brought solace and comfort, yet at other times it felt mortifying, as though every hidden thought lay exposed.

Both sensations bloomed within Alberu’s heart now.
His lips opened.

“You could say that, yes.”

Just as Kale had suggested, it was the existence of the Dark Elves that drew his gaze to this place so persistently.

“Isn’t it?”

To Kale’s calm question, Alberu nodded slowly.

“It’s nice.”

He added further.

“Better than I expected.”

The landscape of the Endable Kingdom was more beautiful than what he had imagined and anticipated.
Though sunlight from above only illuminated the center, the entire Capital was not dark—whether due to various magical devices or other means.

This restaurant, which Solena had recommended and Kale had brought Alberu to, had only two floors, so the view from the 2nd Layer terrace was not high enough to show everything about Endable.

‘But because of that, I can see the faces of those who live here so clearly.’

Because it was not a high vantage point, the expressions and emotions of those living here reached Alberu far more intimately.

In that moment, his eyes captured the vibrant smile of a fruit vendor.

“Brother, it’s similar, isn’t it? Here and Roan.”
“…Yes, it is.”

A glance.
Kale, who had placed a piece of steak in his mouth and swallowed, briefly turned his gaze toward Alberu at the strangely listless tone.
His face looked somewhat hollow and weary.

And just as Kale suspected, Alberu was growing a bit tired.

‘So it exists on the Eastern Continent. A place where those of dark-attribute races can live freely.’

For some reason, Alberu’s mouth tasted bitter.
He felt joy and gladness, yet somehow the aftertaste was acrid and pungent.

That was when it happened.
Kale’s indifferent voice reached him.

“Once everything is resolved, wouldn’t it be good for you to visit here when you feel suffocated from work, brother?”

What?
Alberu’s gaze shifted toward Kale.
In that moment, I could see Kale pointing at me with his fork.

“In that form of yours.”

Kale broke into a grin.
Alberu observed him quietly for a long moment, then turned his attention back to the view beyond the restaurant window and nodded.

“True. Coming here whenever I feel suffocated would be nice.”

Then.

“That does sound rather appealing.”

Alberu let out an involuntary, deflating laugh.

The Eastern Continent.
Even if he were to become the king of the Western Continent soon, few here would know of him.
And none would recognize him in this Dark Elf Quarter form.

Here, he could move about freely in this guise without drawing the slightest suspicion.
Perhaps one day he could even discard the mask entirely.

‘In fact, walking around in human form in this kingdom might be what draws attention instead.’

Alberu had slipped away from Duke Fredo’s Mansion and adopted his Dark Elf Quarter appearance from the main street onward.
Some had glanced at him, but their eyes lingered only on his mask.

Yet even those gazes faded quickly.

‘Half-breeds are common here, as are those bearing scars. Many wear masks like mine.’

My appearance was nothing remarkable in this place.
How extraordinary that felt—my heart had stirred the entire walk.

I envisioned myself removing the mask and wandering this land freely.

“That future does sound entertaining.”

And.

‘I hope a similar scene takes shape in Roan as well.’

Even if I myself had no place in that landscape, I wished for a path where those like me could walk freely.
In the Roan Kingdom too.

A fresh smile graced Alberu’s lips.
He turned his head while wearing that smile.

“….”

And the moment he saw Kale Heniatus, that smile vanished.
His brow furrowed as his eyes took in the sight of Kale Heniatus eating with remarkable composure.

“You… seem to have gained weight?”

At Alberu’s casual remark, Kale Heniatus lifted his head slightly.
Kale Heniatus tilted his head to one side and opened his mouth.

“Hmm. It does seem that way?”

Since I’m currently in Nar’s form, it’s hard to say for certain, but over these past few days, Nar’s cheeks have become noticeably fuller.
Surely when I return to my original form, I’ll weigh more than before.

“…I have nothing to say.”

Alberu shook his head in resignation.

“Brother.”

Then, Kale Heniatus glanced around before leaning toward Alberu.

“…What?”

Alberu tensed in turn, leaning toward Kale Heniatus in his hooded Nar form.
Kale Heniatus whispered.

“That white thing, you know? That white thing.”

Alberu immediately understood what “that white thing” referred to.
It had to be the White Star.
Alberu quickly grasped Kale’s intention—he couldn’t say “White Star” aloud here, outside their safe space.

“Why would he—?”

Even as Alberu asked, his heart began to race.

Beneath Zone 1 existed a facility designed to transform the White Star into a demonic being.
When he’d first learned of it, he’d realized the White Star was no ordinary madman.

He was genuinely, thoroughly insane.

‘And in a moment, we decided to infiltrate that facility meant to turn that lunatic into a demon.’

Was Kale about to discuss that very matter?
Alberu felt tension coil through his body instinctively.
Then, slowly, Kale’s lips parted.

“You know, that white guy. The food he gave me was actually pretty delicious.”
“What?”

Alberu’s mouth twisted.
Apparently oblivious to his reaction, Kale turned his attention back to the food and continued.

“The cookies were even tastier than yours, hyung.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah.”

Alberu felt a wave of deflation and absurdity wash over him.
Yet strangely enough.

“Hmm. That bothers me.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind. Keep eating.”

Alberu told Kale to keep eating and crossed his arms.
He recalled Raon flying toward Choi Han with a cookie box.
The White Star had given him that cookie box too, hadn’t he?
Alberu felt oddly as though he had lost to the White Star.

“No. I’ve finished everything.”

Screech.
Alberu watched as Kale pushed back his chair and rose from his seat.
The unfamiliar nobleman-like Kale looked down at him from above and spoke.

“Shall we go, hyung?”

Creak.
Alberu also stood from his seat.

“Sounds good.”

* * *

“Your Grace. I’ve prepared your usual tea.”
“Thank you.”

Butler Melrndo carefully set the teacup on the table where Duke Fredo sat, observing his complexion.
Noticing that gaze, Duke Fredo offered a gentle smile as if to reassure him.

“Why are you staring so intently?”
“It’s nothing, sir.”

Melrndo paused briefly, then glanced once toward Choi Han before continuing.

“You simply appear quite exhausted.”
“I’m fine.”

With those words, Duke Fredo pressed his lips firmly shut.
The butler understood from that gesture that he would not tolerate further questions.
He carefully withdrew from Duke Fredo and approached Choi Han.

“I heard you prefer fruit beverages to tea, so I’ve prepared some.”

Two glasses of fruit juice were placed beside Choi Han and Raon.

“Thank you.”
“Thanks, Butler!”

The Butler bowed his head and promptly left Duke Fredo’s bedroom.
Click, thud!
Choi Han opened his mouth as he watched the closed door.

“There shouldn’t be anything tiring about this, should there?”

Duke Fredo’s gaze turned toward Choi Han.
Choi Han met that gaze calmly and spoke.

“I simply cannot understand the thoughts of the Roan Kingdom, nor can I understand Kale Heniatus’s intentions.”

Choi Han had observed the conversation between Alberu and Duke Fredo.
Of course, Duke Fredo believed Alberu was merely a proxy, but since Choi Han knew Alberu’s true identity, the weight of those words carried far greater significance.

He continued speaking as he watched Duke Fredo still gazing at him.

“The Roan Kingdom made truly substantial concessions.”

Smirk.
Duke Fredo’s lips curved upward as his mouth opened.

“That’s precisely what seems odd to me.”
“What?”

Duke Fredo acknowledged that many concessions had been made, yet he called it strange. Just as Choi Han’s brow began to furrow, Duke Fredo spoke.

“To be precise, the transaction with the Roan Kingdom was one where you give one and receive one in return. Of course, from the Roan Kingdom’s perspective, engaging in such an equal transaction with the Endable Kingdom itself might constitute substantial concessions.”

Duke Fredo hesitated briefly before speaking.
Even as he did, he observed Choi Han.
The most transparent one, Kale Heniatus’s closest loyal subordinate.
Duke Fredo revealed his own thoughts to discern Choi Han’s true intentions.

“What seems odd to me is the thinking of Crown Prince Alberu Crossman.”

As a result of the conversation just moments before, the Roan Kingdom had not suffered any particular losses.
However.

“The Crown Prince himself has shown me, and the future Endable, such considerable thoughtfulness.”

Alberu’s consideration, conveyed through his proxy Bob, had unsettled Fredo’s heart.
Fredo recalled the words Bob, Alberu’s proxy, had spoken.

‘Well then, I believe we can settle the inter-kingdom trade in this manner.’

As the conversation drew to a close.

‘Then I shall convey the message that the Crown Prince himself has instructed me to deliver personally.’
‘…The Crown Prince himself, personally?’
‘Indeed.’
‘What is it?’
‘His Highness says that should Duke Fredo wish to rule as a righteous king and build up Endable, he will not hesitate to offer “personal counsel” that could prove beneficial in matters such as the kingdom’s independence, administrative systems, and the formation of connections with the kingdoms of the Western Continent.’

Fredo had been genuinely astonished at those words.
So when he opened his mouth to respond, Bob spoke first.

‘Of course, provided that Duke Fredo desires it.’
‘…So you’re saying he would offer counsel and engage in dialogue?’
‘Indeed. Whenever you wish, without reservation.’

Albert Crossman.
The man who was building Roan into a great power and would claim the throne of its king was offering to counsel Fredo freely.

‘Though only as the Crown Prince himself “personally,” not as Roan itself.’

Bob had drawn a line, clarifying the boundaries once more, yet even this had astonished Fredo.

To lead a kingdom.
And to do so as a Vampire, a race toward which people harbored prejudice, leading a newly founded kingdom no less.
It was a matter fraught with countless concerns that could not be resolved by mere military strength or funds alone.

Yet the administrator and statesman currently regarded as the most capable would offer personal counsel in such matters?

Above all, for Fredo, who was becoming a king for the first time, it was an invaluable gift.

‘May I ask why you’re offering such kindness?’
‘Well, I’m not entirely sure myself.’

Bob shook his head with a refreshing smile.
Fredo could not press further about Albert Crossman’s true intentions—the smile and tone carried a gentleness that nonetheless drew a clear, unmistakable line.

Fredo emerged from his thoughts and returned to the present, turning to Choi Han.

“Why does the Crown Prince favor Endable?”

Because it was the Eastern Continent rather than the Western Continent?
Or because it was a kingdom he could leverage with leverage?
Yet that favor carried the weight of genuine goodwill.

A soft exhale escaped.
In that moment, Fredo heard the faint sound of air leaving Choi Han’s lips.

“Why do you agonize over kindness?”
“…I stand in a position where I must suspect everything.”

Fredo bore the weight of so many responsibilities.

Moreover, the Endable Kingdom would inevitably face countless precarious moments.
Thus he had to doubt and guard against even the smallest things.
Alberu’s inexplicable kindness felt to Fredo like yet another source of worry and exhaustion.

Fredo continued, observing Choi Han’s silence.

“You know something, but you have no intention of telling me.”
“…I have no reason to help you.”
“How cold.”

Choi Han ignored Fredo’s words and turned his gaze away, picking up cookie crumbs that Raon had scattered.
Even as he did, his eyes grew slightly distant.

‘…Albert Crossman.’

Perhaps after Kale, Choi Han was the person who came to know his secrets best.
He could understand Alberu’s goodwill toward Endable through Bob’s appearance.
Because of this, Choi Han wanted to help Alberu even more than before.

‘I need to teach him swordsmanship.’

* * *

“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“Why do I suddenly feel a chill on the back of my neck? Is someone cursing me?”

Kale regarded Alberu, who was rubbing the nape of his neck, with a displeased expression.
Meeting that gaze, Alberu quietly averted his eyes from Kale.

“Ahem. But why did we come to District 2?”

Below Zone 1.
Kale and Alberu, who had planned to go to the facility that would transform the White Star into a demon, were currently in the upper layer of Zone 1—District 2.

A smirk spread across his face.
Alberu saw the corners of Kale’s mouth rising.

“Our spy happens to be here.”

Wearing the Young Prince’s face, Kale bore the weary smile of an adult worn down by the world.

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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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