TOPWL 05

Chapter 05 …

For someone as notoriously cautious as Basure to press the matter this strongly, there had to be more to it than just a birthday. Judite mentally checked his schedule for a moment. It was a Wednesday, which meant he had no other plans outside of his usual lesson with Basure.

“Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable for your family to have me crash a private party?”

“Uncomfortable? Not in the slightest. We would be deeply honored if you could join us, Your Highness.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Judite asked in a low voice.

“I’d prefer not to draw any attention, so would it be alright if I rode in the same carriage as you after our lesson?”

Hearing what was practically an acceptance, Basure’s face lit up instantly.

“Of course! Absolutely.”

Basure smiled brightly at Judite’s agreement. The two exchanged a few brief words about the upcoming competition before parting ways.

“One, two, three, four… I can borrow one more.”

Regardless of status, the imperial library allowed a maximum of five books per person at a time. Judite wasn’t sure if others got special treatment to borrow more, but he had never used his royal standing to pull favors for extra books; he’d rather just stay and read until the library closed. Even if he tried to push his rank, it was doubtful the strict librarian would ever yield anyway.

Since four of his choices were volumes on Herut, Judite headed toward the shelves to find a book about hosting banquets for his final pick. Darkness had fallen by now, making the titles barely legible under the dim wall lamps.

“Ah, there it is.”

The book he wanted sat well above his head. He stood on tiptoe and reached out, but it remained agonizingly just out of reach. Just as he was about to give up and grab a stool, a massive shadow fell over him from behind.

“You’re an Imperial Prince, yet you wander around without a single guard.”

The low voice echoing right behind him made the back of his neck freeze up instantly. Turning around in a flash to take a defensive stance, goosebumps broke out all over Judite’s body. Lit by the faint lamplight, Khalid looked almost monstrous.

“I thought… you had left, Duke.”

“Ah. I had a book I needed to find.”

Earlier, while standing in front of Viscount Basure, Khalid had at least maintained formal speech, but now he was speaking completely informally. Unlike the polite mask he had worn before, his current smile carried an unmistakably dangerous edge. Instinctively, Judite reached for the dagger he always kept on his person—only to realize he had left it back in his room because of his earlier audience with the Emperor.

The salve Khalid had applied still sat clumped on Judite’s neck. Yet Khalid was a man who wouldn’t hesitate to snap that very neck in an instant if the mood struck him, ointment or no ointment.

“…….”

Judite swallowed hard, looking up at him. With a faint smirk playing on his lips, Khalid reached his hand out toward Judite. Unable to bear the crushing tension, Judite squeezed his eyes shut tight.

“Is this the book you were looking for?”

At the unexpected question, Judite slowly opened his eyes. Held in the Duke’s hand was a book titled Everything About Banquets. It was indeed the exact book Judite had been reaching for. How on earth had he known without being told?

“Yes, it is. But how did you…?”

“I happened to consult that very book myself back when I had a banquet to prepare for.”

Judite brushed his fingers over the cover, staring at Khalid. Did a man like him ever actually have a time where he struggled to figure out how to host a party? He felt like the kind of person who’d be born into the world and immediately greet everyone with a casual, ‘Nice to meet you.’ With anyone else, it would have been a fascinating topic to chat about, but Judite, desperate to escape the situation, shut the conversation down.

“I see. Well then, I’ll be taking my leave.”

“You’re quite fond of him, aren’t you?”

“Whatever do you mean…?”

Judite feigned ignorance, even though he knew full well what Khalid was talking about.

“Viscount Basure.”

“…….”

“You like him, don’t you?”

“That’s an absurd misunderstanding. As you well know, he’s married and has a child.”

It was the very phrase Judite had constantly repeated to himself ever since he first developed feelings for Basure.

Master Basure was married long ago. He adores his child, and he loves his wife.

“Is that so? Then I suppose my consideration was entirely misplaced.”

“…Your consideration?”

“Indeed. I felt a bit mischievous earlier, so I stepped out to give the two of you some privacy.”

“…….”

Even while saying so, Khalid clearly didn’t believe a word Judite said. Judite bit his lip, averting his gaze.

“Making a face like that only makes me want to tease you more.”

They had barely interacted, yet Khalid acted so overly familiar. It was deeply uncomfortable and unpleasant, but Judite felt utterly suffocated having to hide his annoyance.

“Shall I tell you something interesting?”

“…….”

“Basure is my man.”

Judite’s hand, which had been quietly packing his books away while pretending not to care, froze. A look of satisfaction crossed Khalid’s face as he continued.

“And he’s also the very person who lacked the courage to save you, so he begged me to kill you quickly instead.”

At those words, the color drained completely from Judite’s face.

“So? Do you still like Basure now?”

Khalid crossed his arms, looking down at Judite with a smirk. Khalid’s words were almost certainly true—he wasn’t the type to bother telling lies just to tease someone.

Judite glared up at Khalid, who was watching him with an amused look, curious to see how he would react. But Judite had no intention of giving him the reaction he wanted.

“Is there something wrong with that?”

Judite shot back sharply, glaring right into his eyes. Khalid’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, like a predator suddenly nipped at by its prey.

Judite didn’t feel betrayed by Basure. The man had simply made the best choice available to him. But Khalid—Khalid was the absolute worst. He had carelessly tossed out words capable of destroying a relationship purely for the sake of a cruel joke.

“Most people live in whatever way benefits them most.”

“…….”

“Is it so wrong for me to care for the one person who treated me like a human being, even when I was of no benefit to him?”

He hadn’t expected such a fierce response. Judite’s words struck a strange, unexpected chord deep within Khalid’s chest. Judite looked desperate—like a man who, if stripped of that last piece of affection, would have nothing left in the world to love. Khalid stared at him in silence for a moment before finally speaking.

“Right. My joke crossed the line.”

“…?”

“You have my apology.”

Taken aback by how quick and smooth the apology was, Judite blinked in surprise. He had expected Khalid to throw out another taunt or fly into a rage, but the Duke offered a surprisingly polite apology instead.

“If I tease you any further, I feel like I might step over a line I shouldn’t cross. Even herbivores bare their teeth when protecting their young, after all.”

“…I’m glad you realize that.”

Conversing with Khalid was utterly draining. Judite wanted nothing more than to get away as fast as possible.

“If you’ll excuse me then—”

“As a gesture of apology, how about I give you a gift?”

“No, thank you.”

Judite cut him off with a firm refusal. Khalid let out a dry, incredulous laugh.

“You don’t even know what I’m offering yet.”

It didn’t matter; he didn’t want it. He had claimed he was willing to become a puppet Emperor just to survive, but every conversation with this man felt like it was shaving years off his lifespan. Just as he tried to rush back to his room, Khalid beat him to the punch.

“Count Craven’s estate is hosting a banquet in three days. What do you say? Will you come as my partner?”

“…….”

Judite bit his lip. It was an offer he couldn’t carelessly refuse. Count Craven’s family had struck a ruby mine on their private land a year ago, catapulting them into the ranks of the ultra-wealthy practically overnight. Originally vavasours, they had climbed the social ladder to full countship by offering a portion of the mine to the Imperial Crown.

Since then, as if attempting to buy up a lacking social network with raw wealth, they hosted lavish parties almost every other day—so much so that even Judite, who rarely attended banquets, knew their name. For nobles tired of standard galas, they hosted unique events like masquerade balls, and Judite had actually been hoping to find a way to attend one.

“Your silence tells me it’s a pretty tempting offer.”

“…….”

The man’s face was full of playful mischief, as if asking, Right? Judite found him so insufferable he could hardly stand it. He wanted to reject the offer outright and tell him he had no need for such petty favors, but it infuriated him that he couldn’t afford to do so.

“If you bring me as your partner, the other princes will view it as a provocation.”

This was the very reason he hadn’t easily accepted Basure’s invitation either—it was dangerous. Hearing Judite’s concern, Khalid let out a dry snort.

“Do you really think I can’t handle a few cute tantrums from the princes?”

“…….”

While other nobles walked on eggshells around the princes, Khalid casually dismissed their wrath as nothing more than ‘cute tantrums.’ Judite was left completely speechless. It was absurd, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but envy it—having the kind of power that allowed one to speak like that.

Then I might as well use him. Whether the offer was a joke or a genuine favor, he would use every bit of it as a stepping stone to climb his way up.