Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 96

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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 21. A Premonition

One month.
For exactly that duration, I had been idling away my time. From my perspective, it was leisure, but others saw it quite differently.

“Is he bored now?”

Raon observed me intently. I sat vacantly gazing out the window, consuming seasonal summer fruits. The Black Dragon’s expression was grave.

There was no helping it.
For two hours now, I had been leaning against a rocking chair, staring endlessly out the window while consuming nothing but fruit. I spoke not a word, my brow remained unfurrowed.
After plucking and eating grapes one by one—tap, tap—I had ceased even that, now merely keeping my eyes open in a vacant daze.

“This is strange. Very strange indeed.”

Hong, now a somewhat larger kitten, swished his tail beside Raon while observing me as well.
However, the two of them were sprawled upon the bed, and since I sat by the distant window, my voice did not reach them.

“He wakes later and later. He eats less and less. He sleeps earlier and earlier. He moves less and less.”

Raon recited his observations gravely, his expression growing increasingly distorted.

“And he’s sleeping again!”

A grape slipped from my hand and fell to the floor. I had surrendered to sleep once more, my body settled against the rocking chair.
Raon glanced at the clock. The current time was 6 PM. I had been sleeping far more than I was awake throughout the day.

The Black Dragon’s pupils trembled.
Increased sleep, decreased eating, no movement! This was—!

“…Is he ill!”

Hong’s expression grew equally grave. The kitten’s ears perked up sharply.

“He cannot be ill!”

To Raon and Hong’s eyes, my complexion appeared to have grown pallid over the past month. Of course, unlike others whose faces darkened in the summer sun, I had simply avoided sunlight, making my complexion appear relatively pale by comparison.

“…That doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Only the silver cat On shook her head side to side, letting her siblings’ discussion wash over her. From her perspective, Kale simply seemed to find everything troublesome.

“No! I read a book that the Mage Rosalind gave me not long ago!”

Raon, who had mastered every language on the Continent, was now looking at the fairy tales Rosalind brought him.

“There was even a story about a prince cursed to sleep all day!”
“My goodness!”

Hong gasped in shock. Raon continued urgently, keeping his voice low out of consideration for the sleeping Kale.

“Of course, I checked yesterday to see if he was cursed or poisoned. Fortunately, he wasn’t. If that’s the case, it’s likely an illness.”

My goodness. On was impressed by Raon actually investigating it. Regardless, Raon pressed on.

“And since coming to Harris Village in the Dark Forest, it’s gotten worse. This could be some inexplicable effect emanating from the Dark Forest itself.”

Currently, Kale’s group had arrived at Harris Village.
Of course, upon arriving at Harris Village—where he didn’t have to worry about the eyes of Count Derth and the family’s estate managers—Kale was now fully enjoying his leisurely lifestyle.

There were other people in Harris Village besides Kale’s group. However, most of them were craftsmen simply finishing up restoration work after establishing the cemetery and clearing away the damaged buildings.
Kale, who stayed inside the house, rarely encountered them.

The house where Kale currently stayed was a small two-story mansion that had been under construction since his last visit to the Dark Forest.

‘Father. This matter with Harris Village is something I brought up, so I’d like to see the process directly.’

‘…Kale, the villa you mentioned is still far off.’
‘There aren’t many houses for the craftsmen to stay in. One two-story mansion among them would suffice. And I think it would be best for Ron’s recovery to be done quietly in the countryside.’
‘Very well, I understand your feelings.’

After obtaining permission from Count Derth, Kale flew to Harris Village in high spirits.

The Black Dragon Raon, completely unaware of this, was deep in thought. Just then, the sound of knocking came from the door of Kale’s second-floor room.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Young master!”

It was Vice-Captain Hans’s voice.
At that voice, On and Hong and the Cats stretched lazily. The Black Dragon spread its wings wide before folding them again.

Click.

“Phew.”

The door opened along with Hans’s sigh. Then the Vice-Captain flinched.

“Good to see you, Hans.”
“Good to see you too, Vice-Captain.”
“Vice-Captain, I’m hungry.”

Hans’s face crumpled as he heard the Black Dragon, the Cat Hong, and On speak in succession. His cheeks twitched and his nostrils flared.

“…I think my heart is going to stop.”

Hans clutched at his chest, crying out in distress.
He had learned about On, Hong, and Raon the moment he arrived at Harris Village. He had been shocked at the time, but quickly overcome it.

“Sigh.”

Kale, who had dozed off and just woken up, let out a sigh the moment his eyes opened at this sight. Hans, seeing Kale like that, cried out with a face that looked ready to weep.

“Such lovely and gracious beings exist! I feel I made the right choice in serving you, young master!”

What nonsense. Kale dismissed the rambling lightly. Hans took care of those children—averaging seven years old—with far more devotion than he did Kale. It seemed that every meal, Hans visited that room not for Kale’s sake, but for theirs.

“Vice-Captain! What’s for dinner?”
“Oh my, young master Raon. It’s the tender beef steak you so love, along with sweet vanilla ice cream that young master Rosalind and Vicross have made together.”

Oh.
Just the things those seven-year-olds loved.
Kale slowly pushed himself up from his chair at the sight.

“Ugh.”

A groan escaped from Kale’s lips.

‘Should I have done some stretching?’

I’d been stuck in that rocking chair for so long that my body felt stiff and sluggish. But I could endure this minor discomfort for the sake of my leisurely lifestyle.

I glanced at the serious expressions of Raon and Hong without much thought, then spoke to Hans.

“Is everyone here?”
“Yes. It seems training ended early today.”

I nodded at his words and descended to the first floor.
The dining hall located on one side of the first floor. A long dining table stood there.

“Young master.”
“Ron, you look completely recovered now?”
“Indeed. Here is your lemonade.”

Hmm. I regarded the lemonade placed at my seat with an odd expression. Ron had adapted remarkably well to using his right arm alone.
I drank the lemonade I’d grown accustomed to but had momentarily forgotten about.

That was when it happened.
Bang! A plate was set down on the dining table with a harsh sound. Vicross opened his mouth with a fierce glint in his eyes.

“Did you wash up first?”

I flinched. Then I realized I had showered and looked around the dining table from my seat at the head.

This is rather serious.
Eleven Wolf Tribe Children including Rak. Vice-Captain Hilsman. These twelve looked terrible. They were all grimy and drenched in sweat.

“Ha ha, chef. Please understand! We just finished training and have no strength, so I don’t know where to start eating.”

Hilsman made his excuse with a hearty laugh and looked at me. I nodded at his gaze.

“Don’t mind me. Eat.”

The moment those words left my lips, Hilsman and the Wolf Tribe Children began their meal. Choi Han watched this scene with satisfaction.
At that sight, I asked something I’d always been curious about.

“Do you remember what I said about not overexerting yourself?”

The Wolf Tribe Children and Hilsman were currently entering the Dark Forest every day for training. They flinched at Kale’s words and looked toward Choi Han.
The Vice-Captain’s fork trembled slightly at its tip, held in his characteristically elegant posture.

“Yes. We are proceeding without overexertion, step by step.”

Choi Han answered gently. With a kind smile added to his words, Kale found himself naturally accepting them. And he chose not to inquire further.
Though the Wolf Tribe Children regarded Choi Han as a hellish training instructor, they voluntarily sought him out every morning nonetheless.

‘In truth, at this point it’s less like children and more—’

Less like the Knights Order, more like a vanguard assault unit. Kale drained his lemonade and swept away the unnecessary thoughts.

“Young Master Kale, are we staying here until winter then?”

Kale nodded at Rosalind’s question.

“Likely so. When spring arrives, I plan to return to my fiefdom. If you need anything for your research, feel free to move about freely. Just let me know what materials you require.”
“Yes. Thank you, Young Master.”
“Think nothing of it.”

Rosalind was currently conducting magical research and experiments in the newly constructed basement of the two-story mansion. As she possessed the future of becoming the next Tower Master, Kale provided her with maximum support.

‘The more connections I cultivate for later, the better.’

Networking was a powerful principle indeed.
After finishing his meal, Kale entered his room and reclined in the rocking chair once more.

“Ahhh.”

A contented sigh escaped him. Watching the sunset fade beyond the window, I wished I could live like this for seventy more years.
Raon and Hong whispered to each other upon seeing this.

“Is that a sigh from being terribly bored?”
“Seems like it. Looks like he wants to go traveling.”

On shook her head, then opened her mouth after spotting something glimmering in the corner of the room.

“The communication crystal is shining!”

Hm?
Kale Heniatus was puzzled. A communication crystal? A fiefdom?
On’s voice followed.

“It’s red!”

Kale Heniatus’s face twisted.
He had set contacts to display in red when they were likely to bring troublesome matters—a very high probability. And there was only one person assigned to that setting.

Albert Crossman. The Crown Prince.

“Oh! It’s the Crown Prince! I’ll connect the communication right away!”

Raon suddenly became very animated and flew toward the communication crystal.

There was no need for him to be so eager.
Kale Heniatus sighed at Raon’s sudden bustle, then turned the rocking chair that had been positioned toward the window to face the communication crystal.

“Connecting.”

As Raon finished speaking, a blue light swirled around the communication crystal. A small screen appeared above it.
The Crown Prince’s face came into view. Crown Prince Alberu wore a radiant smile.

—Our kingdom’s treasure, Prince Kale.

What is this?

“Why are you doing this?”
—Why? Between us.
Why are things like this between us?

Only then, when Kale recited “Your Highness the Crown Prince, the star of the kingdom,” did Kale finally understand Crown Prince Albert’s heart.

“Well, we’re getting along pretty well, aren’t we?”

Despite his words, Kale Heniatus’s expression clearly revealed his reluctant feelings. However, Alberu still wore a gentle smile.

-That’s right. Since you two are on such good terms.

Something felt off.
Kale was overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of unease. That blissful month—a repetitive cycle of sleeping and eating that had unfolded identically each day—flashed past like a scene from a film.
…It couldn’t be, right?

-I was hoping you might do me a favor.
“That’s difficult. I’m in a very exhausted state right now.”

Alberu naturally dismissed that transparent lie and continued with what he needed to say.

-If I don’t, I’ll be deposed from the Crown Prince position and face death.

Kale froze.
The conclusion was somewhat—considerably extreme.

The Crown Prince was steadily drawing mages to his side and growing stronger himself. A talented individual was developing to protect the Roan Kingdom.
And Kale was the one assisting him for the sake of a safe kingdom and his own sweet home.

Kale observed the Crown Prince’s face. Only then did I notice eyes filled with worry, contrasting sharply with his bright smile. His eyes hadn’t looked like this even when Kale discovered his true identity.
Kale straightened his posture, pulling his back away from the rocking chair.

“Let me hear it then. What is it?”

A chill ran down Kale’s spine. It was the sensation of trouble—something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Just beyond the video communication orb’s field of view, the Black Dragon Raon and the red cat Hong were huddled together, watching with gleaming eyes.

The Crown Prince’s mouth opened.

-Dark Elves.

As expected.
I knew that word would come up.
Kale closed his eyes. As darkness fell, his carefree lifestyle waved goodbye and faded into the distance.

Crown Prince Albert, a Dark Elf quarter-blood, continued speaking.

-Could you visit the Dark Elf Village for 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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