I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

022. Fiancé (1)

Callios felt deeply wronged by the current situation.

In his understanding, credit should go to those who deserve it. The same applied to the Orc Champion. He had barely managed to hold on, while it was Yuren who had actually captured him. Of course, he had spread the rumor that they had captured him together, hoping to improve Yuren’s reputation even a little.

But this was the reward for his efforts.

“Ugh…”

The ‘sparring’ was more intense than usual. His wounds from the Champion had not yet fully healed, but being beaten all over his body made him feel nauseous. Anyone with half a brain could see that this was a personal vendetta.

He felt wronged and wronged again. But there was an even greater emotion than that.

‘You still can’t even touch a hair?’

It was the despair of an overwhelming difference in skill.

Yuren’s condition was far from normal, no matter how you looked at it.

Having just finished the sparring, he was panting with a pale complexion.

An incomprehensible move used against the champion.

They said it was because of the recoil, and although he was full of internal injuries, he thought he could at least land a hit this time, but his skills were still lacking, and he couldn’t even graze him.

Yuren wiped his mouth.

Kallios could see blood staining the back of his hand.

He was going mad with curiosity about how such swordsmanship was possible in that state.

At that moment, Yuren spoke.

“Your Highness, your mouth brings trouble. Your mouth.”

“…It was a favor.”

“Who asked you to bestow it? Ugh, my stomach.”

With that, he even gagged.

Seeing him like that, a needless sense of guilt surged up.

Of course, it was only for a moment.

“Come on, let’s go again.”

“Hmm…?”

What did he mean by that?

Not understanding immediately, he asked again, and Yuren declared with fierce eyes.

“We have to spar. I haven’t beaten you enough… I mean, the training isn’t over yet.”

Kallios despaired.

* * *

The Founding Festival is just around the corner.

In other words, it’s a time when all sorts of important figures from home and abroad flock to the capital, causing a commotion, and the Crown Prince’s workload increases tenfold.

As such, classes will naturally be impossible, and I intended to use this opportunity to temper my rebellious nature.

But what is this?

Some ridiculous rumor has spread, causing my sister to collapse.

That alone made my blood boil, but now, thanks to that damned rumor, there are nobles who want to entrust their children’s education to Pharos, which is annoying me.

Do these b*stards think Pharos is some kind of tutoring house?

Whatever their obsession with education is, they are looking down on a great family.

I wanted to cause a ruckus myself, but my condition being what it is, I had to settle for punishing the Crown Prince, the root cause.

Still, I asked the nobles to keep things in check, so there shouldn’t be any more noise about this.

I let out a deep sigh.

Right after finishing the sparring, I asked the Crown Prince about something I still didn’t understand.

“So, what is this tragic genius or whatever?”

“I don’t know either. Sir Drenor hasn’t told me anything.”

“Why is that old man like that?”

“I don’t know. But it’s an unusual case. Do you know? Sir Drenor has praised someone else’s sword only twice. The first time was me.”

Of course.

He is the only Sword Master in the empire at this point.

Reaching the level of a master means having extraordinary talent and intelligence from birth, so he can instinctively recognize profound mysteries that others cannot see.

The swordsmanship that Sir Drenor witnessed from me is a technique created by the future Grand Master Crown Prince.

How could its value be low?

I understand that my swordsmanship looks unique and impressive.

However, the way it is evaluated is the problem.

“A tragic genius, they say. It’s making my skin crawl.”

“Well… The nobles of the capital have their own analysis. Would you like to hear it?”

“Go ahead.”

“They interpret ‘tragic genius’ as ‘if not for Pharos, he would have been the next Imperial Knight Commander.'”

“……”

“Well, some even whisper about a terminal illness. Is that the case?”

“My lifespan is indeed shortening because of Your Highness.”

Whatever it is, I know it’s nonsense.

Imperial Knight Commander?

I wouldn’t take it even if offered.

Why would I take such a field job when Pharos, who grows just fine on his own, is being raised by the Crown Prince?

Above all, terminal illness?

Once I build my body, becoming a Sword Master is certain.

If I reach the Master level, mana prevents the aging of the body and greatly extends lifespan.

At a certain point, the body even reverses to its prime condition.

So how could I be terminally ill?

‘Should I explain?’

I thought for a moment…

‘…Forget it. Let them think what they want.’

It’s ridiculous to run around denying everything.

After all, aren’t humans creatures who believe what they see?

If I show them that I’m perfectly fine, they’ll know this is all nonsense.

‘For now, I should just focus on recuperating.’

That was what I was thinking.

Thud, thud, thud!!!

The light and urgent footsteps tickled my eardrums.

Immediately, I reached my arm back,

Smack!

“Pharos! You finally came!”

Aria’s excited voice rang out.

When I looked behind me, there was Aria, smiling brightly.

“Princess, if you run around like that, your clothes will get dirty.”

“It’s fine! A princess always has new clothes when she wakes up!”

This naive little girl must think that laundry fairies wash her clothes overnight.

Well, what can I do, I need to do something about that burdensome gaze first.

“Yes, yes, I brought it, so please stop staring.”

I took out a well-packaged cheeseburger from my backpack.

It was a recipe improved upon after returning from the subjugation.

Aria’s cheeks flushed red.

“Oh, oh…!”

Tears welled up in her eyes, showing how much she had missed this taste.

Well, wasn’t she the little one whose identity was defined by the food she enjoyed the most?

“It should be better than before. Please, try it.”

“Got it! An improved cheeseburger… Aria’s heart is pounding, she can’t stand it!”

She lifted the cheeseburger high and made a fuss.

At that moment, the prince spoke up.

“Isn’t there one for me?”

“No, there isn’t.”

“Why not?”

Because it’s obvious you’d pester me to make one.

I still can’t forget how this man barged into the women’s barracks at night to kidnap Hannah.

If a pig-like man who ate five burgers a day knew this taste, how much would he torment me?

“That’s disappointing.”

The prince’s eyebrows drooped.

I really want to smack him.

“Uh…”

Aria glanced back and forth between me and the prince, trying to read the room.

His pupils were trembling as if an earthquake had struck.

‘Ah.’

Was he hesitating to give it to her?

There was no need for that.

“Please, Your Highness. The Crown Prince is fine.”

Despite the words, the Crown Prince’s gaze was still unsettling.

His eyes were piercing enough to skewer the cheeseburger in Aria’s hand.

Eventually, Aria surrendered to that gaze.

“O-okay, let His Highness have it…”

Usually, that’s how it goes.

If one had any sense, they would see Aria’s trembling hands, her tearful expression, or the desperate look in her eyes as she glanced at the burger, and think, ‘Ah, that child is so considerate, trying to yield.’

And then they would say, ‘It’s okay, you eat it.’

But what kind of person was the Crown Prince?

From birth, he had been revered by all, always surrounded by an environment of adulation.

To give him advice, one would have to punch him in the face.

Such concessions? They were too natural to be considered admirable.

“Oh! Are you giving it to me?”

“Y-yes…”

I had no time to intervene.

The Crown Prince snatched the burger.

Aria’s lips trembled and pouted.

I let out a hollow laugh and then asked.

“Your Highness, are you really okay?”

Aria laughed while sobbing.

“I-I’m fine. Brother, you need to eat a lot because your work has failed…! And sharing delicious food makes you happy! Ah, since I’m the Cheeseburger Princess, I have a duty to let more people know about this taste and contribute to making a happy world…!”

Her sobbing was not convincing at all.

And even in the midst of it, Aria was glancing at the Crown Prince unwrapping the burger.

Adding an “Ah, ah…” to her words made her look quite pitiful.

Regardless.

“Enjoy your meal!”

The Crown Prince bit into the burger with a bright face.

And his eyes widened.

“This, this taste…!”

Soon, he began devouring the burger hastily.

A foreseen conclusion.

But I have no intention of making it as he wants.

As I turned my head away, the Crown Prince’s attention shifted to Aria.

“It’s really delicious! The strong stimulation on the tongue makes the taste clear, and the harmony of the bursting juice and cheese…!”

“Uh-huh…”

“To think such a taste exists… How can this be…!”

“Hee-ing…”

Aria’s face turned as red as a tomato.

It also puffed up as if she was about to cry.

As the crown prince described the taste, Aria’s face grew increasingly resentful by the second.

Yet, the crown prince was all smiles.

How unsightly it was to snatch a child’s food, claim it was delicious, and then explain the taste to the one he took it from.

Is that something a person who wants to befriend Aria would do?

I shook my head.

‘Oh, that idiot…’

There’s no way he’ll get close to her.

* * *

In the end, I made a new cheeseburger for Aria.

I couldn’t cook it in the palace, so I brought her to my house.

I can’t tell you how much trouble I had calming her down the whole way here.

When she finally got to eat the warm cheeseburger, she understood when I said it was a blessing in disguise.

“It’s d-delicious…! As expected, Pharos is truly the hero of cheeseburgers!!!”

Aria, who ate the cheeseburger with tears in her eyes, lay down satisfied.

I wondered when she planned to return to the palace, and just then, my sister appeared to check on me.

“Young master, you should go in and rest. I will take care of the princess.”

Because of the rumors spread by that crown prince, my sister found out about my condition and has been fussing over me like this.

Do you know?

There is no need to get angry or create an atmosphere of intimidation to oppress someone.

Some people can force the other person’s will just by speaking softly, and that was exactly what my sister did.

Still, I felt sorry for pushing Aria onto her, so I tried to speak softly.

“But sister, you must be busy too. How can I ask you to take on such a task? I don’t intend to engage in any rough play, so I will take care of it.”

“No.”

My sister immediately countered.

A rare firm attitude.

It was a moment when even curiosity welled up.

“Isn’t it almost time for your meal with the young lady? You should show a healthy appearance, even if just a little.”

I heard something strange.

“It is not gentlemanly to cause worry to your fiancée, young master.”

Suddenly, my body froze.

‘Did I hear that wrong?’

I thought and tried to gather my thoughts, but…

“Cecilia, what is an engagement?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It is a term for a relationship promised to marry.”

“What is marriage!”

“…It is a wedding. Your Highness, the young master is someone who has promised to marry a woman.”

…Ah, I didn’t hear it wrong.

Three days had passed.

It was the day of the meal.

During that time, I was able to recall something I had forgotten.

I, Yuren Pharos, was destined to become the master of a great house.

Naturally, as a noble, I had the duty to produce an heir, and for that reason, I was engaged.

Yes, I had forgotten about that.

To make excuses, the engagement was annulled when I was imprisoned, and since then, I was in an environment where it was difficult to take care of myself.

Anyway, that’s not important. The key point is that my betrothed is a person who gives me a headache.

“Young master! The lady has arrived!”

“Could you tell me it’s a lie?”

“Uh, it’s true.”

Emma, who no longer flinched at the sight of me, confirmed it.

I closed my eyes gently and steadied my mind.

Only then could I find my composure.

I left the room and headed towards the mansion hall.

Only then did I see it.

“…Greetings, young master.”

There was a woman.

Short, water-colored hair that didn’t even reach her shoulders, sharp features that suited the word ‘handsome’ more than ‘pretty’, blue eyes, and red lips.

And, a mage’s robe with the emblem of the Magic Tower engraved on it.

Someone once said that this woman is like an ice sculpture crafted by a master artisan.

Yes, just by looking at her appearance, one might think so.

In fact, even at this very moment, there was not a hint of kindness in her expression.

But I know.

‘She’s just a crazy woman. This one.’

I really hate this woman.

Reason? It’s very clear.

“…I greet Wizard Beatrice.”

Beatrice von Gilfur.

The eldest daughter of Baron Gilfur and the most brilliant wizard of this era.

Such a woman spoke to me.

“Pharos, let me ask you something first.”

“Yes.”

“Did you slap Rebecca because of me?”

An absurd question.

But, thanks to dealing with the crown prince, I’m used to it.

Someone might have vaguely noticed.

Yes, that’s right.

This woman, who was once called one of the harbingers of the golden age alongside the crown prince.

Born with a talent bestowed by the heavens, she destroyed herself by clinging to a mere commoner girl.

“Will you answer me?”

…The next candidate for the Tower Master and my fiancé.

End

ⓒ papapa.

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