TOPWL 32

“Take a break this time.”

Back in the banquet hall, Yudit once again picked up a chair.

“I can’t do that.”

Despite their words, Selena and Yasin were flushed and panting.

“You don’t have to help with everything. The reason I called you both today was to get your advice on the interior decorations, not to make you carry things. If this continues, I won’t be able to ask for your help in the future.”

At Yudit’s firm words, Selena and Yasin hesitated before nodding.

“Go rest in the parlor. I’ll be back soon.”

”…Understood. But, Your Highness, you have to come back quickly.”

”…Alright.”

Left alone, Yudit started down the stairs, carrying the chair—only to find an unwelcome shadow cast before him.

“I was wondering which rat had been scurrying around since morning.”

So he had been quiet lately, only to show up in a place like this.

“It’s been a while, brother.”

“Who are you calling ‘brother’?”

“My apologies, Your Highness.”

As expected of Hiore, even the word “brother” was enough to set him off. Hiore smirked, one corner of his mouth curling up as he eyed Yudit holding the old chair.

“Well, carrying around a worn-out chair does suit you, but watching a wretch like you struggle to become emperor is downright repulsive.”

Hiore stepped toward Yudit, making no effort to suppress his Alpha aura. The oppressive force suffocated Yudit as if he had been plunged underwater. A suffocating fear gripped him, as though he were about to die.

“Ugh… hngh…”

His eyes, unable to focus properly, welled up with tears. Hiore, pleased with the terrified expression on Yudit’s face, smiled in satisfaction.

“When you first manifested, I thought you might turn out to be a beta. Looking back, I can’t tell you how relieved I am.”

Hiore tapped Yudit’s cheek lightly. While he took his time mocking him, Yudit could do nothing.

“I would’ve been quite disappointed if I didn’t get to see this expression. Don’t you think?”

“Hah… hngh…”

Hiore effortlessly took the chair from Yudit’s hands.

“I heard you’ve been asking about the envoys’ backgrounds?”

“Ugh…”

What he said was true. Yudit had met with the official in charge of court receptions to ask about the envoys—their preferences, their dislikes. But the official had refused. He’d said it wouldn’t be right to disclose such information to just one prince. Yudit had failed to convince him and had returned empty-handed. He no longer even wondered how Hiore found out.

There were too many listening ears in the palace.

“Why do you keep… asking about things?”

With a burst of irritation, Hiore threw the chair.

Crash!

The chair tumbled down the stairs and shattered into pieces. Hiore stepped closer, his gray eyes sweeping over Yudit.

“What do you think you can possibly do?”

“Ugh…”

“There’s nothing you can do. So stop getting in the way and stay put.”

Hiore grabbed Yudit by his slender neck.

“If you want to live even one day longer.”

Then, with a rough shove, he let go. At the same time, the oppressive Alpha aura vanished. Yudit lost his balance and collapsed onto the steps behind him. Thankfully, he had been descending—otherwise, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Hiore pushed him down.

Even though physical harm and murder among the princes were technically forbidden, that rule only applied to Asil. If Yudit were to get injured or even die, the emperor wouldn’t so much as bat an eye. If anything, he might even be pleased, seeing it as an excuse to get rid of Reginald or Hiore.

It was only because both of them understood this that they didn’t take things too far with Yudit.

Hiore spat at Yudit before walking off down the hallway.

Yudit, drained of strength, remained seated on the stairs for a while. Fortunately, he wasn’t injured—though the chair had been completely destroyed. He sighed as he looked at the shattered pieces. Cleaning up would take some time.

Turning his head to the side, he spoke.

”…You can come out now.”

A figure flinched from behind the wall.

Within seconds, Selena and Yasin emerged, still holding the chairs they had brought. They must have followed behind and witnessed everything.

Yasin stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Selena, however, hesitated for only a moment before rushing to Yudit’s side.

“Your Highness, are you hurt? What do we do…”

“I’m fine. I went through all the trouble of inviting you to the palace, only to make you work and witness something disgraceful.”

Yudit smiled apologetically. At that, tears welled up in Selena’s eyes.

Soon, thick droplets rolled down her cheeks.

“How can you say that…?”

Yudit patted Selena as she sobbed. Selena took out a handkerchief from her pocket.

He thought she was going to wipe her own tears, but instead, she wiped the back of his hand. Only then did Yudit realize that Hiore’s spit had landed there. Even after wiping it away, Selena continued rubbing the spot for a long while.

When her eyes moved to Yudit’s neck, tears welled up in them again. The handprint must have been clearly visible. It was a familiar sight to Yudit, but not to them. And it was better that they never got used to things like this.

“I’m sorry.”

“Your Highness has nothing to apologize for.”

“Y-yes! You should report this!”

At Yasin’s words, Selena hesitated. Unlike her, who understood the complicated relationships between the princes, Yasin was ignorant of such things. His words were spoken in naive sincerity. Yudit gave a bitter smile.

“I can’t report it.”

“Why… why not?”

“Because compared to them, I don’t have enough power.”

“Then… is that why Your Highness is participating in the competition? To gain power?”

Yudit paused to think before nodding.

“You could say that.”

He dusted off his clothes and stood up.

“At least one thing I was supposed to carry is gone now. I’ll take these. The two of you don’t need to carry anything.”

Without giving them a chance to protest, Yudit grabbed the two chairs they had been holding, one in each arm, and started walking ahead. Yasin stood still, watching Yudit’s retreating figure for a long time.

…

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

At Selena’s voice, Yudit woke up. Turning around, he saw Selena and Yasin looking at him with worried expressions. Only then did he remember—he had been on his way to fetch some water but had fallen asleep standing there. He had meant to just lean against the wall for a moment, but exhaustion had overtaken him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Did you not sleep again last night?” Selena asked, concern evident on her face.

With the banquet only a week away, Yudit had barely slept. Over the past three days, he had only gotten about eight hours of rest in total. Despite Selena and the others helping in every way they could, most of the physical labor still fell on Yudit due to the tight budget.

“I can still manage for now.”

“You shouldn’t push yourself like this! If you collapse, it’ll be serious. Please, just get some rest, even if it’s just a little.”

“I’ll finish this first, then go home and rest.”

“No, you should go right now. You don’t look well at all.”

Selena’s firm tone left no room for argument.

Lately, he had been endlessly busy—handling banquet preparations from dawn, spending the afternoons at Yasin’s house for language exchange, and working on budget revisions late into the night. If there was any time left, he would read up on banquet-related topics until dawn.

He wanted to say, I’ll get plenty of rest once this is over.

But strangely, no sound came out when he tried to speak. At the same time, his strength drained from his body. Yudit wavered, leaning against the wall for support.

“Your Highness?”

Selena’s voice sounded muffled, as if he were underwater. She was looking at him with deep concern. Though his vision was blurry, he could tell. Yudit raised a hand, trying to reassure her, but he lost his balance.

As his knees buckled, his vision went black.

”…Your Highness! Your Highness!”

…

A sharp scent filled his nose. Without even opening his eyes, Yudit could tell he was at Yasin’s house. Slowly, he blinked his eyes open.

Selena was staring at him, her face streaked with tears. Though not as openly emotional, Yasin also looked deeply concerned.

“Selena, stop crying. I’m fine.”

“B-but it was terrifying! You collapsed completely forward!”

Yudit glanced at the clock. About thirty minutes had passed since he had last checked the time.

Knowing how much they must have worried during those thirty minutes, he felt guilty.