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  TLS : Shenks

  "Tia sent this?"

  A box full of desserts was delivered to Poirak Palace.

  "……all of this?"

  Perez asked with a puzzled look when he opened the lid of the box.

  Delivered were at least 30 servings of cakes and desserts.

  It’s a Caramel Avenue cake! It’s gotten quite popular these days.

  Perez’s ears turned red at Caitlyn’s explanation.

  That may be all he looked on the outside, but Perez was really delighted.

  It’s a little sad that you don’t visit the Palace often but Tia thought of me too.

  "What would you fancy eating, Your Highness?"

  Caitlyn delightedly prepared to serve it on a plate.

  Perez gazed into the box.

  What would Tia eat?

  What kind of cake does she like most.

  I thoroughly looked with my eyes and saw a chocolate cake topped with white cream.

  "Perhaps that one."

  Chocolate and cream.

  Everything that Tia likes is on that cake.1

  He recalled Tia’s happy face when he ate the cake to his heart’s content, a smile blossomed on Perez’s face.

  "This one."

  When Caitlyn moved the cake Perez pointed onto a small plate, an attendant arrived at Poirak Palace.

  "There was an order for you to come to patronage, Your Highness the Second Prince."

  "……Right now?"

  "Yes, Your Highness."

  Perez gazed at the cake box with eyes dripping with regret.1

  The attendant saw Perez’s sad figure and said.

  "We have refreshments in the Central Palace, but you can bring those if you wa-"

  "No."

  Perez adamantly refused.

  "I’ll go now."

  I am not planning to share Tia’s gift with anyone, not even to the Emperor.4

  "Kylus."

  "Yes, Your Highness. I will watch over it with pleasure."

  Kylus assuredly smiled as if he understood Perez’s heart.

  Perez nodded once at Kylus and proceeded to follow behind the attendant.

  At the Central Palace, there was a large greenhouse.

  It was primarily intended to protect the exotic plants which cannot grow well under the Capital’s climate.

  And because of its optimal temperature, it was often used as a place to gather and have tea time.

  Perez stopped his step when he saw who was inside the greenhouse.

  The one drinking tea while leisurely admiring the flowers was not the Emperor.

  It was Empress Rabini.

  I glanced at the servant and opened the greenhouse door with a smile as if it was the correct place where I was ordered to go.

  Perez footsteps resonated inside the greenhouse.

  "I see you have arrived."

  Empress Rabini who was admiring the petals, directed her gaze upwards and greeted Perez.

  "Come here and sit down."

  Her smiling face was convincingly sincere.

  But he just stared at the Empress with his somber, calm eyes.

  "Didn’t I tell you to have a seat?"

  The Empress repeated with a brighter smile and a sweeter voice.

  Perez, instead of answering, pulled out the chair the Empress pointed and sat himself down.

  Rabini smiled contentedly and placed the tea in front of Perez herself.

  Meanwhile, Perez looked upon the flower Rabini was admiring a while ago.

  Mallepishan. [1]

  It was highly poisonous. The more yellow it bloomed the more toxic it is.

  But the flower’s appearance is captivatingly beautiful.

  The flower petals dancing with the wind resembled the Empress’ dazzling looks of blonde hair.

  Cringgg.1

  A monotonous sound accompanied the filling of Perez’s teacup.

  It was a clear, and transparent yellow.

  "You must be wondering why I summoned you here, right?"

  Instead of answering, Perez leaned his back on the chair.

  His relaxed countenance made Rabini’s long eyelashes flutter.

  But her flowery smile only darkened.

  "I apologize for neglecting you all this time Your Highness. So the reason I called you here is no other than……"

  The Empress stopped what she was about to say.

  She glanced upon the teacup in front of Perez.

  "Why are you not drinking, Your Highness?"

  It was indirect but she certainly is pressuring him.

  Hurry and drink the tea before you.

  The Empress’ smile commanded to do so.

  But Perez refused to yield.

  He did not even touch the teacup and faced the Empress with indifference.

  "This is not your average tea. I purposely prepared special herbs for the Prince…… Is it not to your liking?"

  If you happen to hear Rabini’s voice, Perez will seem like an ungrateful man to the Empress.

  Not that Perez would care anyways.

  His red eyes stared at the tea that was clear, and vivid yellow

  And slowly parted his mouth.

  "I am fine. I’m tired of grass now"3

  Perez pushed the saucer with the teacup in front of the Empress.

  "Please have my share too."

  "……What a pity."

  What.

  Perez breathed heavily as old rage rises within him.

  A rusty knife isn’t threatening at all.

  It is time to sharpen ourselves with determination.

  But his resolve was shaken by the Empress’ next words.

  "The reason I called Your Highness here is for you to call me "Mother" in the future."12

  Mother

  As soon as the word came out of the Empress’s mouth, Perez depicted himself slitting her throat.

  First stab Astana, enough for him to be covered by cuts all over his body and make him gravel on his feet and kill Rabini right in front of my eyes.3

  His mind was filled with images of his dying mother in the Detached Palace cursing the Emperor with her last breath.

  The dry tears that worried about him, who was left alone, seemed to be still wetting his hands.

  Perez glared at Empress Rabini.

  The only thing that could possibly seethe his anger is to see those mother and son covered in blood.

  The Empress smiled more pleasantly when she saw the spark in his eyes for a moment.

  "I have already talked with the emperor about this. I may not be your birth mother, but I will treat you like my own son."

  Gruuuk

  Perez grasped the steel chair’s armrest.

  "You are still at the age where you need your mother’s help. The Emperor was so proud of you. So, after much thought, I came up with the perfect education for the prince."

  The Empress said with her beautifully arching eyes.

  "Please attend the Academy, Your Highness"

  If I stay here any longer, I will definitely.

  Takk.

  Perez had no plans to listen anymore and stands abruptly from his seat.

  "Your Highness!"

  The Empress was startled and raised her voice with a frown.

  "What do you mean by this, Your Highness! I am not done speaking yet!"

  "I am sorry"

  Perez looked down at the sitting Empress with cold eyes and spoke

  "I have nothing more to learn"

  Perez left the greenhouse after saying those words

  The Empress said something more but Perez did not care.

  Since Perez knew how to use Aura, there were no knights of the Empress who dared apprehend him.

  He returned to Poirak Palace, Caitlyn and Kylus looked at him with concern in their eyes.

  Perez’s face was distorted.

  No one was able to approach him and ask why.

  Kylus stamped his feet repeatedly.

  He better screaming and breaking things, it wouldn’t be so heartbreaking to watch.

  The way he sat with his head down and a face that didn’t even shed tears seemed so small today.

  Apparently, he came back after receiving a call, but this is the first time they saw Perez in such a crestfallen state that they don’t know what to do.

  Right then, Caitlyn who was observing Perez started to move.

  It was nothing impressive

  She placed the chocolate cake and a warm cup of milk in front of Perez.

  Perez looked at the cake, at the sound of a ’Cling’.

  His long, black eyelashes fluttered

  The slice of cake on the table felt like it was pricking his conscience.

  His boiling rage was slowly seething

  The pounding of his heart gradually subsided.

  The hand that wanted to unsheathe his sword stopped.

  Instead, he picked up his fork with now calm hands.

  As Tia did, he scarfed down a large piece of cake.

  The sweetness of the cream blended harmoniously with the bread in his mouth.

  Without saying anything.

  Peres was back to usual after eating the piece of cake, playing with his hands and mouth.

  "Sweet."

  Peres murmured, rubbing the white cream around his mouth with his thumb.

  ***

  I visited Pellet’s office when I heard that Violet had finished researching the Lira Coal Mine.

  Violet offered me a well-organized, thick report.

  "The Lencanta family has a total debt of about 7,000 gold. 600 of them are immediate debts, so we’re looking at the auction starting price around that time."

  600 gold is quite a lot of money in a typical aristocratic family.

  It’s understandable trying to dispose of a coal mine.

  "The remaining coal reserves in the Lira mine are expected to be very small. And after a separate inquiry, the people of Angenas went around here a few months ago."

  "Did you find out exactly who it was?"

  "This is Croyton Angenas at the top of the Durak."

  Violet confidently reported.

  "Did you go there secretly?"

  "I came quietly and without notice, but I didn’t have a deal with the top of Angenas, and I didn’t like Lira’s inn, so I knocked on the Lord’s gate in the middle of the night to get a room."

  Gosh, you went to the secret investigation and complained about the bed.2

  I shook my head.

  "What about the iron rumor?"

  "The expert who accompanied Durak said it was quite likely that iron was buried near it."

  Of course, there will be.

  Although it is only a small amount, the seeds will dry out after only 3 months.

  "So, the winning bid will be…… Between 1300 and 1500 gold."

  I nodded.

  However, the Lira coal mine will win 2000 gold as I said.

  But of course, Violet’s prediction was also reasonable.

  I know the future and Violet doesn’t.

  "

  "Just in case, let’s make sure we have enough budget of 2,100 gold."+

  "Yes, I understand."

  And with that, we ended the topic.

  Clerivan who had been keeping his mouth shut during the whole conversation with Violet finally opened his mouth.

  "You may have to prepare a little more than that."

  "Why do you think so?"

  "Lombardy will be participating in the bid for Lira Mine in this auction."

  3

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  [1] ’Mellepishan’ - Flower name that doesn’t exist in RL.