Chapter 56: The Smile Behind the Mask

“If that bastard disappeared, I thought I’d get to spend more time with you. I even entertained cowardly thoughts of winning your heart while you were vulnerable. I thought perhaps you would come to see me more often, lean on me more, depend on me more. I won’t deny that I was happy indulging in those foolish dreams.”

“…Your Highness.”

“And yet you made a fool of me in an instant.”

His voice was calm, devoid of any obvious emotion. It was too gentle to be called cold, yet too cold to be called gentle.

After letting out a short sigh as if steadying himself, he continued.

“I don’t even know how to describe what I’m feeling right now. All I know is that if I continue this conversation any longer, I won’t be able to show you a pleasant side of myself. So you should leave now.”

Before Kebel could even think of a response, Beryl rose from his seat.

Kebel silently followed his retreating figure with his eyes. Yet, as though he still had something left unsaid, Beryl stopped after a few steps and looked back.

The moment their gazes met, Kebel inhaled sharply.

“Kebel.”

Hearing his name instead of his full title should have sounded intimate.

Instead, it felt frightening.

A strange tension tightened around them, and Kebel unconsciously clenched his fingers.

“There must be a reason why you’re being this stubborn about going.”

“……”

“But even knowing that, I wish you would think—just once—about how it feels for me to want to stop you.”

With those final words, he left the reception room.

Only then did Kebel release the breath he had been holding.

Beryl had always appeared strong-willed and unyielding. Kebel had never imagined he could be hurt this deeply.

“You did the right thing. You did… This is for both of us.”

Pressing his clasped hands against his forehead, Kebel tried to convince himself.

****

A few days after parting ways with Beryl, approval finally arrived from the Imperial Palace.

Having spent so long debating the matter, Kebel wasted no time preparing for departure.

Just in case Osh returned while he was away, he left a letter with the Duke.

Yet why did he feel so uneasy?

For some reason, he had the strange feeling that the letter would never reach Osh.

Looking back one last time with lingering regret, Kebel climbed into the waiting carriage.

So he was really leaving.

As familiar scenery slipped past the carriage window, a bittersweet ache settled in his chest.

****

A week had already passed since Kebel arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace in the Kingdom of Beal.

Life here was not nearly as unpleasant as he had expected.

Though he remained cautious every moment, well aware that people’s attitudes could change in an instant, the hospitality he received was surprisingly generous.

“It already feels like summer…”

Leaning against the trunk of an ancient tree, Kebel sat down beneath its shade.

The May sunlight was warmer than expected.

Sunbeams carried on the breeze wrapped gently around his body.

As the leaves rustled overhead, his neatly combed brown hair fluttered in the wind.

At moments like this, he could almost imagine Osh appearing from somewhere to smooth down his disheveled hair.

Habit was a frightening thing.

Without realizing it, Kebel glanced around before letting out a quiet laugh.

A dull ache settled in his chest.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he began organizing the clues he had gathered so far.

The Kingdom of Beal openly disliked divine power, yet they could not openly persecute it due to the Empire’s influence.

However, a group that worshipped darkness undeniably existed within the kingdom.

Someone among them undoubtedly possessed considerable influence.

The fact that Kebel could not even identify them suggested they were far more powerful than he initially thought.

Possibly royalty.

Or someone very close to them.

His eyes began to ache.

Pressing his fingers against them, Kebel stood up.

Only to sense someone’s presence behind him.

It was Kapu, the fiancé of Prince Cinnamon, the kingdom’s second prince.

“K-Kapu? When did you get here?”

“Just now. You looked so absorbed in your book that I kept waiting for the right moment to interrupt.”

“Ah…”

Feeling awkward, Kebel rubbed the back of his neck.

Then he remembered the book in his hands and hurriedly tucked it under his arm.

Unfortunately, Kapu had already seen it.

“Are you interested in our kingdom’s history?”

“Well, since I’ve come all this way, I wanted to learn more about the country.”

Kebel answered casually, hiding his unease.

The book he had been reading was forbidden.

It explored the origins of Beal’s hostility toward divine power in far greater depth than officially permitted.

Getting caught with it would only create trouble.

Naturally, he kept it hidden behind him.

Kapu simply nodded.

“Would you like a game of chess?”

“Sure.”

Kebel agreed with a small nod.

He wasn’t particularly skilled at chess.

It was merely one of the accomplishments expected of a noble.

Moving to a nearby table, he took a seat.

Kapu raised a hand.

Immediately, a servant appeared and set up a chessboard before them.

“It looked like you were reading something related to religion.”

As he moved one of his pieces, Kapu asked casually.

Kebel felt a jolt of alarm but calmly moved one of his own pieces.

“I was simply browsing books because I was bored.”

His short answer clearly signaled he did not wish to discuss the topic further.

Understanding the hint, Kapu did not press.

Silence settled between them once more.

After several turns, Kebel spoke.

“I heard there’s a large festival in the village outside the palace three days from now.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Kapu smiled.

“It’s called the Full Moon Festival. Most countries celebrate it during cooler seasons, but we hold ours when the trees are lush and green.”

“A festival sounds exciting.”

“It may seem modest compared to the Charlois Empire, but there’s plenty to see in Beal. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

Pride shone clearly on his face.

Then he glanced at the board and murmured softly,

“Oh dear. Stalemate.”

****

Located within a triangular landlocked region, the Kingdom of Beal had no access to the sea.

Unlike the Charlois Empire, where water was abundant, Beal valued every drop.

While seafood was a staple in the Empire, meals in Beal centered around vegetables and bread, with meat appearing only at dinner.

The cuisine emphasized natural flavors.

Spices were used sparingly, creating meals that felt almost monastic in their simplicity.

****

At lunchtime, as usual, Kapu enthusiastically filled a plate and handed it to Kebel.

The salad consisted of unusual greens mixed with fruit.

Though he appreciated the gesture, Kebel wondered if such attention was really necessary.

Glancing toward Cinnamon, he noticed the prince’s expression stiffen exactly as expected.

Apparently, he didn’t appreciate seeing his fiancé fuss over another man.

Caught in an awkward situation, Kebel hesitated.

Kapu noticed and subtly signaled Cinnamon with his eyes.

Only then did Cinnamon lower his gaze and return to his meal, looking oddly like a scolded puppy.

The tension faded.

Still, Kebel felt as though he were sitting on a bed of nails.

He speared a leaf with his fork and placed it into his mouth.

The grassy flavor wasn’t particularly appealing.

Compared to the stronger flavors he preferred, it felt rather bland.

Still, when he saw Kapu watching him expectantly, Kebel smiled and nodded.

Only then did Kapu smile back.

“I heard you’ll be attending the festival.”

“Yes.”

“I won’t be able to accompany you the entire day due to my schedule,” Cinnamon said, setting down his fork.

“But we can’t leave an honored guest unattended. My fiancé, Kapu, will accompany you.”

Cinnamon was enormous.

At least 190 centimeters tall, broad enough to resemble a bear sitting at the table.

His appearance was surprisingly gentle and round-faced.

His personality, however, was prickly enough to remind Kebel of Beryl.

And he was hopelessly devoted to Kapu.

Kebel nodded.

Just as he was finishing his meal, Kapu spoke.

“I’m already excited about attending the festival with Kebel.”

“Don’t get so excited that you end up bothering our guest.”

“As if I’d do that…”

Kapu pouted.

Watching him fondly, Cinnamon smiled with unmistakable affection.

Kebel quietly looked away and finished his meal.

People often say you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.

Today, more than ever, Kebel missed Osh.

Was he eating properly?

Was he injured?

The loneliness gnawed at him.

Absentmindedly poking at his vegetables, he was pulled from his thoughts when Kapu spoke.

“Does the food not suit your taste?”

“No, it’s delicious.”

Kebel set down his fork and wiped his lips with a napkin.

Seeing his polite smile, Kapu smiled in return.

The freckles beneath his eyes shifted with the movement.

Kapu had the kind of smile that instantly put people at ease.

Perhaps that was why so many people naturally gathered around him.

He was kind.

Courteous.

Friendly to everyone.

And yet…

Kebel could not shake the feeling that something lurked beneath that pleasant exterior.

He couldn’t explain it.

Just an instinct.

A faint sense of unease.

Something about Kapu felt… wrong.

Suppressing the discomfort, Kebel lifted his glass and took a drink of water.

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