Chapter 49
“Did you really go to see His Majesty looking like this all this time? Truly disgraceful.”
“His Highness the Second Prince always dressed neatly when greeting His Majesty! It’s only because we lacked the means…”
When Nell cut in with a flushed face, Klein sneered even more blatantly.
“If you didn’t have the means, then you should have gone out and bought something. I suppose your servant was just lazy.”
Nell closed her mouth. She couldn’t bring herself to say that they couldn’t even afford the money to buy fabric.
Suddenly, she glanced at Klein’s outfit.
A perfectly tailored black velvet uniform, blindingly ornate yet elegantly embroidered with gold.
It was likely a custom-made piece created by the most famous designer in the Imperial Capital, crafted solely for him. Three of his ten fingers wore brilliant gemstone rings.
The trinkets Killian had recently received from the nobility were considered rare in the Meyerde Palace but were as common as dust in Klein’s Aexion Palace.
That’s how vast the wealth gap was between the two princes. It wasn’t a difference that could be bridged by a few days of the Emperor’s affection toward Killian.
When she looked up, she noticed Killian’s gaze was also fixed on Klein’s clothes. Klein noticed this and chuckled again.
“Take a good look. The riches you’ll never have in your entire life are hanging on my body. If you get on your knees and beg nicely, I might even lend you an outfit…”
Killian stared at him with a cold, humorless expression before turning his head away again.
Just as Klein was about to grin in satisfaction, confirming his victory—
“Um, Your Highness the Second Prince…”
From beyond the open door, a guardsman hesitantly called for Killian. He was usually stationed outside.
“What is it?” Killian asked.
“Well… a gift has arrived from House Luperne.”
“…From House Luperne?”
Both Killian and Klein looked puzzled as they turned to the guard.
“What kind of item is it that you had to report it in person? We would’ve seen it eventually.”
“It’s just… it’s not a normal item…”
Despite Klein’s scolding, the guard remained steadfast.
“It’s all prepared. Let’s go together,” Killian said, stepping past the guard and walking down the hallway.
Nell, Klein, and the guard quickly followed after him.
The four of them left the Meyerde Palace almost simultaneously.
“What kind of gift can’t be carried in by hand…?”
Nell nudged the guard’s side and asked.
Before them stood two beautiful white horses and two wagons, seemingly brought by them. A servant dressed in garments bearing the Luperne crest stood politely in front.
The wagons were covered with plain white cloth, also marked with the Luperne crest.
The wagons themselves looked ordinary. The white horses were decent but nothing like the prized breeds Klein owned.
Klein approached and narrowed his eyes at the wagons.
“So the gift is inside these wagons?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The Duke of Luperne instructed us to deliver the entire wagons to you.”
At the servant’s response, Klein scoffed loudly.
“Ha! Of course—it must be that haughty family mocking this brat.”
“Your Highness…”
“A gift in a wagon—never heard of such nonsense. Maybe they’re sending him grain, worried he might starve. Killian wouldn’t know how to enjoy fine cuisine anyway…”
“We were forced to load the wagons because the gifts were too numerous and heavy,” the servant replied stiffly.
“They said it’s a belated birthday present for Your Highness’s eleventh birthday.”
“…What?”
Ignoring the stunned Klein, the servant pulled off the cloth to reveal the contents to Killian.
Klein, standing in front, let out a shocked gasp. From within the wagon, a dazzling golden glow burst forth.
“What… is this?” Killian asked, tilting his head.
The servant bowed once before answering.
“The wagons are filled entirely with gold bars.”
“What?”
“Excuse me?”
Both Klein and Nell spoke in disbelief. But the servant did not amend his answer.
“This is high-purity gold from Mount Leannes. The Young Duchess says you may enjoy it piece by piece or use it however you like.”
Killian’s eyes widened. He stepped forward and picked up a gold bar.
Judging by the weight and the shine, the servant had told the truth.
He recalled Calista Luperne—the girl who had almost been arrested on the day the golden statue was destroyed. He remembered the moment she smiled at Harper but also held a wary glint in her eyes.
She didn’t want to owe anyone.
But this was excessive, far beyond mere repayment. Was she trying to bury him in gold?
“…Please thank the Young Duchess,” Killian said to the coachman.
Even if it buried him, he wasn’t about to refuse something useful.
If it meant not having to see Klein flaunt his wealth anymore, this gift was already priceless.
“Wha…”
Nell gasped in amazement. Klein, standing beside her, was fuming in disbelief.
“Th-this is absurd! Wagons full of gold bars? That amount of gold… all at once, so recklessly…”
As Klein glared at the servant in frustration, he turned his head—only to meet Killian’s gaze.
“Do you… like the gift, brother?” Killian asked.
Klein tilted his head. There was something unusually polite about Killian’s tone and expression.
He narrowed his eyes, staring into Killian’s green ones, which looked wide and innocent like a child’s.
Klein’s thoughts turned.
Could this foolish boy be offering him the gold to curry favor?
He had barely spoken to Killian before and knew little about him.
Perhaps he was too young to understand the value of such immense wealth.
Earlier, when the magical barrier had suddenly appeared, it had startled him—but maybe that was just an accident, not a threat.
A strange glint flickered in Klein’s reddish-brown eyes, and a sly smile tugged at his lips.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to coax this fool and swindle the gift from him.
Just as he was about to flash a friendly smile and respond—
“If you bow your head and ask nicely, I might let you borrow a little.”
Killian’s cold voice whispered in his ear.
It was a voice only Klein could hear.
“Y-you little…”
“I’m sorry. If it’s not to your liking, I’ll keep it myself,” Killian added, returning to his earlier polite tone.
Klein looked into Killian’s eyes again. Killian didn’t avert his gaze.
They were the same eyes as before, the same shape and color—but now they felt icy cold.
He wasn’t innocent.
Klein gritted his teeth.
His little brother, not even twelve yet, was already a cunning and ruthless beast.
A predator that could bite at any moment.
Meanwhile…
Smack!
The Empress slammed her palm on the glass table.
The woman once praised for having the Empire’s most benevolent smile now had a hideously twisted expression.
“Your Majesty, please calm yourself,” said Marquess Luceic, waiting in the reception room.
“You want me to calm down after hearing that story?” she snapped, showing no courtesy to her own brother.
“His Majesty has ordered Klein to pay formal respects with that lowborn brat. And the other day, he gave him the treasured sword of the Valuna royal family!”
“Well, compared to what the First Prince received…”
“Isn’t it absurd that such a comparison is even possible? My son is the next Emperor! Your nephew!”
Her eyes glinted with venom as she now seemed to take out her rage on the Marquess.
“That’s not all. His Majesty said he would host a birthday banquet for him—introduce him officially to the nobility.”
“He’s simply glad that the child recovered…”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
The Empress’s voice sank low.
“Killian’s health… his growing closeness with the nobles… and…”
Her lips trembled, as if she couldn’t bear to say the last part.
“His magic, his martial skills—things Klein doesn’t have…”
“Your Majesty, the First Prince is more than capable.”
“Of course he is! He’s my son! Who cares about that boy’s magic!”
She growled at every word her brother said.
“He was supposed to be used for Klein. That’s why he was born.”
“Shhh! Lower your voice!”
The Marquess whispered in shock, but the Empress shook her head, indicating no one was nearby.
“…Nothing has changed. The plan remains the same. The hunting festival is just around the corner.”
She murmured as if her brother’s stunned expression didn’t exist. A twisted smile curled her lips.
“I don’t care who gets involved before then. No matter how annoying they are—what can they even do? A few letters, a few gifts, all of it just passing…”
Bang!
“Your Majesty!”
Before she could finish, her maid burst through the door.
The Empress glared furiously, but the maid didn’t back down.
“I-I’m sorry! But I must report this!”
“What is it!”
“A gift from House Luperne…”
The maid swallowed hard.
“House Luperne sent the Second Prince gold.”
“Gold?”
The Empress furrowed her brows.
“You mean jewelry made of gold?”
“Forgive me… It was two large wagons filled with gold bars, drawn by white horses. They called it a belated birthday gift…”
“What…?”
She collapsed onto the sofa, her face now past shock and into disbelief. The maid trembled but continued the report—knowing worse punishment awaited if she failed.
“Eyeballing it… it’s approximately 600 ferns in weight…”
The Empress clenched her fist. Her nails dug into her palm so deeply, blood began to seep out.
“Are you saying that child… now has more personal wealth than Klein?”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty…”
The maid bowed her head.
“His Majesty, upon hearing the news, ordered a stable built beside Meyerde Palace… to house the white horses.”
Crash!
The Empress slammed the table again.
This time, the teacups rattled and toppled.
Lol Calista 😂