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nIt was unintentional, a mistake to meet someone’s gaze, they say when someone looks at you, a person involuntarily turns to look at the same person staring at them.

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nMaybe because I tried to look at him from afar for a while, but I know I shouldn’t stare for too long.

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nPerhaps because of his familiar figure.

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n…I don’t really know.

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n“Lian…?”

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nA name that leaked out of Erita’s lips as she saw him.

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nHe couldn’t hide his presence properly at Erita’s appearance, which he never expected to meet.

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nNormally, I would have smiled brightly and said, “It’s a coincidence.”

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n‘…It’s a shame.’

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nBut now it wasn’t possible.

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nAfter a few seconds of hiding his regret, Callion looked around for a moment as if he were looking for someone.

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nHowever, he couldn’t find it, and Erita soon stopped as if she had given up.

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n“Did I see it wrong?”

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nHe was puzzled and wanted to be in front of her right away, but his throbbing side dissuaded him.

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nIf I show up bleeding, she’d be worried, that’s just how she was.

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nEven though she didn’t know me well, I could already picture her worrying about me.

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nMaybe she’d try to stop the bleeding with a handkerchief while looking anxiously at me, like she did before.

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nHowever, I didn’t know when the disguise magic would end if I went out in a bad state.

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nIt wasn’t exactly the situation I wanted.

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n“…Callian, pull yourself together.” Callian convinced himself.

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nCallian struggled to contain his rushing impulses. His throbbing headache got a little worse.

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nA burning sensation rose from the side stabbed by the dagger.

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n‘…That stupid bastard. You poisoned me.’

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nHe didn’t bleed much, but given that he was dizzy, the sword that pierced his side must have been poisoned.

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nI wondered why they sent people who were less violent than usual.

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nMy brother usually shows off a friendly facade in the eyes of others, but he does such mean things behind, it was funny knowing his true nature.

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nI guess this pathetic thing was hereditary. I saw his resemblance to the Empress.

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nCallian’s blurring vision was driven away by pressing a little harder on his side, which he had been pressing to stop the bleeding.

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nFeeling the pain of his ripped flesh had long been accustomed to, so the pain didn’t give him any hesitation.

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nHe frowned to see the face he saw through his blurry vision.

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nHe was more mature than the first time I saw him, but he was still talkative and friendly.

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nCallian looked at the face he wanted to see and exhaled slowly.

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n“It certainly looked like Sir Lian,”

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nShe looked around the alley where there was no sign of anything, and finally, with a whisper to herself, she clenched her finger as usual.

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nHer body was surrounded by white light and disappeared in no time.

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nCallian was the only one left in a deserted alley.

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nWhen the figure who was looking for him disappeared, only silence remained.

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nMore regrettable than the painful side, Callian clenched his fist a little harder.

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nAfter taking a breath for a while, he took a closer look at where Erita was standing and left silently.

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nAll that was left where he stood was only two drops of blood.

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n

nꕥ

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nBaron, who remained in the office where the owner had left, looked out the window frowning.

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n“Why the hell are you leaving without saying a word?”

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nHe looked around, complaining to his master, who had left the seat with only a few words and handed over the documents.

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n“You look after it yourself?”

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nPeople would think I’m not an aide, but a prick. Wait, was that the same thing?

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nDespite his constant murmuring, he faithfully did what his master had entrusted to him.

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nAnd he was now dealing with the rest.

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nEven if he complained so much, he couldn’t help but be honest unlike his mouth.

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nAnd it was then…

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nIt was a feeling that I couldn’t normally feel. I was used to the wave felt from someone’s magic.

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n“This…”

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nAt the same time, a man came in through the window.

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nBaron jumped up from his seat at the appearance of the person who he had been swearing to a while ago.

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n“Your highness?”

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nBaron, who had been puzzled by Callian’s seemingly clumsy appearance than usual, quickly found the reason for it.

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nBaron’s expression turned red with astonishment when he discovered that Callian’s hand, which was holding his side, was stained red.

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nAs he approached quickly and scolded Callian, he was greeted with a rush of heat.

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n“How could you come here in that state?! Doctor, the doctor…!”

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n“Never mind the doctor, I’d like some disinfectant and bandages, please…”

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n“But…”

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n“It’s not a deep stab, so I just need to take a simple treatment.”

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nBaron, who bit his lips at Callian’s firm words, quickly took out the medicine and tools he needed.

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nIt was a familiar scene on the battlefield, but he was a little reassured that he had come to the capital, and it felt pathetic.

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n“…First, let’s disinfect and then use healing magic.”

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nHe didn’t say anything, but at the face that clearly showed what he was thinking inside, Callian responded with a smirk.

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n“Isn’t healing magic for wizards? If you’re going to dig up my wounds, you’d better stop.”

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nThat low-pitched smile, which seemed more poisonous than usual, irritated Baron.

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n“Are you laughing now? I’m serious. Why on earth would you go out alone without an escort? You insisted that you didn’t need it so much, but now you’re hurt!”

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nBaron moved quickly, trying to appease his impatience.

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nWith his busy hands he lifted Callian’s robe, revealing his side, with blood dripping from the wounded part.

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nHowever, for an ordinary wound, the skin near the area where he was stabbed was not bright red, but purple.

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nA shadow fell on Baron’s face when he saw it

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n“…It’s poisoned.”

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nCallian, who was leaning on the sofa, smiled coldly with a pale face.

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n“Yeah. It seems like they’ve made up their mind this time around, so the poison is pretty strong.”

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nIf I hadn’t been resistant to poison, I would have been in a lot of trouble.

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nThe tone of Callian, looking down at his side blankly, was expressionless.

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n“I’m a substitute!”

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nBaron raised his voice, disregarding what he had been silenced until now. It was a word that came out of frustration.

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n“Stop. If you don’t want to tell everyone around noisily just because something happened, keep your voice down.”

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nBaron bit his mouth at Callian’s low voice.

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nHowever, in his trembling fist, it was seen that he still could not control his anger.

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nHe knew better than anyone that the first prince and his master were in a confrontational relationship.

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nAmong the history of the Empire that has lasted for hundreds of years, there were not many times when the succession to the throne was more peaceful than expected.

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nFor the Emperor, who ruled the mighty empire, was quite a coveted gladiator, and the imperial family did not let go of its prey easily.

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nBut thinking that the era of the person I serve would also be recorded like that, I had no choice but to become a savage.

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nAfter some basic treatment had been completed, the wounds that had even been bandaged were still oozing with blood.

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n“First of all, I did a simple treatment, but you still need to get proper treatment.”

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n“That’s how much trouble I’ve had. I’ll just have to take a good rest and I’ll get better.”

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nCallian responded slowly, taking off all his blood-soaked shirts and picking up a new shirt that was set aside.

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nEvery time he moved his arm, he would be in pain, but just looking at his face, it was calm.

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n‘It’s not that it’s not painful at all, but that’s how much I’ve gotten used to the pain.’ Callian thought.

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nBaron, who was looking at the white bandage that was already starting to turn red, could not hide his frustration and opened his mouth.

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n“…Why don’t you do the same every time, Your Majesty?”

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nCallian paused for a moment at those words.

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nThe question was why they did not send an assassin and just tried to poison him.

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nUnlike them, who risked their lives in various ways, Callian did not directly aim for their lives.

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nWhen I was young, my master didn’t know when an assassin would come, so he only had a light sleep on the battlefield.

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nThey threatened Callian’s life even on the battlefield that crossed the line of fire day by day.

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nPerhaps they had driven him to the battlefield and he was not satisfied, but Callian was greeted by an assassin once a week.

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nWhen thrown into battle, Callian was only fifteen.

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nSince then, it has already been four years since he couldn’t let go of his worries even among his allies, aside from the enemy.

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nWhen I thought of that time, a cold sensation still dominated my body.

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n“If it were now, wouldn’t your Highness do it?”

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nThe current Callian was not a young prince who had to be pushed by his limbs with no power.

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nThe forces that Callian had built were ready to firmly support him, and there were even more reliable allies than anyone else.

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nIt has already been four years since I couldn’t rest even in the field.

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nNevertheless, he held his breath and concealed his power.

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nBaron also knew better than anyone else that holding his breath now was for their plan.

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nThe fact that it was my master’s choice, and that Callian does not regret that choice.

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n“Well, I can send an assassin right now.”

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n“…”

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n“It would take about a month to kill mice and birds without their knowledge.”

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nCallian, who barely wore his shirt, responded with a nonchalant look.

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nIf Callian really wants to kill them, he would be able to finish them all in a month, as he says.

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nIt’s easier than you think to just kill without worrying about the consequences.

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n“But such a peaceful ending is not what I want. You know that best, Baron.”

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n“…”

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nBaron looked at Callian with a cold face, and lowered his gaze.

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nIt was a cold anger that filled the spot after the expression of indifference disappeared a while ago.

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nAt that moment, Baron blamed himself for being impatient.

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nIt was Callian who hated the Empress and the Emperor more than anyone else.

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n“I’m sorry, I made a mistake.”

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nAt Baron’s apology, Callian nodded without much reply.

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nBut Baron knew that it was a sign of trust.

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nThere was one more thing that greedy people cherish as much as their lives.

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n‘Money and fame.’

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nFor the sake of power that encompasses it, they took even the lives of people with ease.

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nHe even reached out for dirty tricks to maintain his power.

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n“Death is too light for them. And I have no intention of being merciful.”

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nCallian’s blue eyes, blinking slowly, gleamed as he smirked.

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nThere was not even a hint of warmth in those eyes.

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