48 The Other Side Of The Dream (1)🔴

Volume 3 – name

1

It was a stifling afternoon.

The season was always this way. Around this time of year, the entire Kingdom of Kemened was beset by the most severe heat, and there was nowhere to escape it.

So there would be more servants in Asilah Palace than anywhere else.

Razil de La Ranadia, the First Prince of Kemened, was in the back garden enthusiastically admiring the flowers that were in full bloom as a cool breeze blew across his face.

This time was no different than usual.

If there was anything that was a little different it was,

“Hedel.”

There was one more being next to him who was avoiding the heat.

“Nyowww”~

The white cat he named Hedel let out a languid reply like the hot wind.

He had always found cats to be lazy and useless creatures, not good for anything other than being pretty, but still, it was worth keeping by his side. He had no time to be bored even when he was alone as long as he was leisurely watching it, regardless of it not being a human.

Up until now, the only thing that allowed him to endure constantly changing from one palace to another was his pet cat Hedel.

But Hedel has changed.

It started after the youngest brother began staying in the palace.

Hedel had begun to regard his little brother’s lap as his home, and Razil found it very excessive¹.

“Hedel!”

As Razil raised his voice, Hedel raised his chin as though something was wrong.

“Oh……”

His youngest brother turned his head.

He sometimes wondered if that blindfold was too big and cumbersome for that small face.

His little brother’s hand which had been stroking Hedel until now was awkwardly diverted to his lap instead.

“I’m sorry.

“What?”

Razil, who was newly recovered from his very long hashish addiction, couldn’t remember much of the past. The drug had eaten away more ferociously at his mind than his body. Razil didn’t even remember that he had a gentle, quiet, younger brother.

For him, who believed that the prettiest, quietest, creature in the world was a cat, the existence of his little brother came as quite a surprise.

“You’ve been holding Hedel for too long……”

“It’s because he’s warm.”

Even after he said it, Razil was surprised to hear him speak so bluntly.

Hashish hurt his voice and throat. He wasn’t even thirty years old, but he now spoke in a raspy voice like an old man.

Razil cleared his throat and then added,

“Cats have unusually high body temperatures, if you hold it for too long at this time of year, you’ll get a rash.”

“Oh……is that so?”

“Asilah is a hot place, so people often get many different kinds of skin conditions. Just watch out when it’s hot.”

“Alright.”

His little brother replied with a shy smile.

Razil still thought that the blindfold was too much. It would look much better if it were smaller and lighter.

“That,”

“Yes?”

“Can’t you take it off?”

His youngest brother fumbled with the blindfold.

“No, not this.”

“Then at least change it. It’s too hot. You should change it to something smaller and lighter.”

“No……I like this one.”

The expression on Radan’s face caused him to stop and think. Seeing his small face filled with worry, he felt he’d said something wrong.

“It’s fine, I’ll stop.”

Razil spoke casually, feigning indifference.

He was such a beautiful creature that it would be best to let him be. The same for the cat as well. It was pointless to try to use force to touch it.

“Alright.”

The youngest brother nodded his head willingly.

Something fresh like a cool breeze passed between the two brothers. The two silently looked at the profusion of flowers, the water in the waterway, which had shrunk due to the season, and the occasional clouds that flowed by one or two at a time.

He wondered what use all the flowers were to his little brother who couldn’t see, but this was still the place he was most fond of patronizing at Asilah Palace.

He said he liked the smell of flowers and trees.

And he said it was good because this was the place where Razil brought Hedel.

So to Razil this wasn’t so bad either. His youngest brother would not open his mouth unless Razil spoke to him first. To Razil, who hated cumbersome things, his little brother became someone he felt even more at ease around than a servant or a Chamberlain.

“By the way,”

“Yes?”

Razil felt his throat go dry.

The doctor said that his throat muscles were so damaged that he would feel pain if he talked too much.

He didn’t have to speak much inside the palace where everyone was of a lower rank. If it hadn’t been for his youngest brother, he would have lived a sensitized and jittery life without speaking.

“When are you leaving?”

“Ah, as soon as the coronation ceremony is over……,”

As he was in the middle of speaking, his little brother suddenly stopped talking and turned his head.

Razil also looked behind in that direction. His younger brother was blind but he had highly sensitive ears, and he had a knack for distinguishing people by the sound of their steps.

“Your Majesty!”

His little brother jumped up and fumbled ahead.

“Tsk tsk.”

Razil clicked his tongue without realizing it. Now that Radan was more accustomed to the terrain of the garden, he would try to move about with a servant’s assistance. But it was easy to fall down like that.

“Stay still. Someone help you.”

However, it was faster for the First Prince of Ibeden to come running than for him to call a servant.

“Radan.”

The Crown Prine managed to help his little brother just before he fell.

He was getting used to it too. Razil had witnessed the same scene several times already.

“Your Majesty.”

His younger brother forgot his shyness and smiled broadly. The Crown Prince’s eyes deepened as he looked down at him.

Razil was uncomfortable with those eyes. His eyes were like shackles. It was a pity that his little brother couldn’t see such a thing.

If so, he would not have been so happy when the Prince of Ibeden said he was taking him to the Ibeden Empire as a hostage.

“I told you not to run. I’ll come to you even if you stay still.”

“But,”

In an instant, his little brother put on an expression that seemed to say that he would be sad to wait.

“When I’m with you I’m so happy I can’t think of anything else.”

The Crown Prince of Ibeden must have been thinking the same thing. Because he bit his lips weakly and swallowed a sigh.

“More than this and it will be difficult.”

“What?”

The Crown Prince of Ibeden ran his fingers through his little brother’s hair.

“It’s difficult to hear that you have no thoughts about it at all.”

“… …”

The youngest brother tilted his head, not knowing what he was talking about.

As the Crown Prince of Ibeden continued looking at him, his eyes grew deeper as though he were having difficulties or going mad, while the Guardian Knights of Ibeden and Razil, who had to keep watching the two, also experienced difficulties.

It was a difficult afternoon in many ways.

It was difficult because of the realities of the Crown Prince of Ibedon staying at Asilah Palace, and having to deal with the post-war situation.

The war was finished.

Victory in the Seven Years’ War belonged to the Ibeden Empire.

As soon as the Unknown Assassin disappeared from the battlefield, the victory turned sharply, and with the Battle of Cythern, Ibeden obtained the surrender of the five countries.

And the names of three of the Kingdoms disappeared from the continent forever.

The Crown Prince divided the territory of the three countries into twelve and bestowed them on the Guardian Knights. Other nobles in the Empire had complained about this unconventional treatment, however, they couldn’t refute the fact that the Guardian Knights had made the biggest contribution to the Seven Years’ War.

Moreover, within the Ibeden Empire, there were no aristocratic powers left to keep the Crown Prince in check. Even if they were dissatisfied, it was no longer possible to show it in public.

The Crown Prince who was originally thought of as flawless became even more untouchable after the victory in the Seven Years’ War.

That’s why there was no noticeable opposition to the crown prince’s decision to keep the kingdom of Kemened around.

It was just incomprehensible.

Geographically, Kemened was closest to the Empire. So it was the place with the best access to receive the most advantages as a subject of the Empire.

The Crown Prince cleared up all the other interferences because he had already made a decision.

So the halved kingdom, where all the other Royals and Nobles were killed, survived.

First Prince Razil remained as Regent, and Second Prince Laud became King Alsanu IV and inherited the throne.

And instead of becoming the Third Prince, Radan became a hostage and went to Ibeden.

It is said that Kemended survived, but in reality, it was no different from Ibeden’s subordinate state. The post-war negotiations were as much of a humiliation as they should have been, however, no one objected.

There was also no one left who could. The post-war negotiations were started with only First Prince Razil, and the new Lord Chamberlain, Count Pelson, who preceded it, but who was as far from the royal family as a monkey and a dog in terms of genealogy.

It was closer to the truth to say that they were listening hard to the negotiation letter being read aloud that had been written by the Crown Prince’s secretary, and which had been unilaterally dictated by the Ibeden Empire.

In any case, the negotiation documents were stamped with the royal seal.

Despite the numerous issues to be discussed before and after the war, the most elaborate and painstaking issue written about was the Third Prince and his status as a hostage, The details even listed what kind of presents, how many, and the manner in which they should be sent from the Royal Family to the Third Prince’s on his birthday.

There were matters concerning the guarantee of the rights of succession to the Third Prince, and the celebration of the baptism ceremony which had already passed. And in addition to that, there were many other things to commemorate the end of the war which were all focused on the Third Prince, such as the Arc of Triumph which was to be built on the Western border and was to be named after the Third Prince.

Those obsessive details were doubtlessly intended to imprint the existence of the Third Prince on the countless people who had not even known he existed.

In any case, it was all so much that it was embarrassing.

Even Count Pelson thought, “When arranging my own daughter’s marriage, I lost my hair while filling out the dowry details, but it was nothing compared with this!” that is what he would like to have said. The Lord Chamberlain did say, “If he were going to do this, he should propose marriage outright.”

Nevertheless, all matters of the negotiation documents were carried out steadily.

The Crown Prince of Ibeden remained in Asilah Palace until the Third Prince, who became a hostage, was ready, and proceeded with the post-war negotiations with the other countries at the same time.

Ironically, the Crown Prince of the Ibeden Empire became the busiest and most important person there.

Though the Host and the Guest had changed, in front of the Crown Prince, who was as carefree as though he were in his own home, everyone became quiet like their mouths were full of honey.

However, there was an upside, none of the neighboring countries dared make any noise.

Kemened had lost its military and had little chance of self-reliance. Although the Kingdom of Kemened was not large, it was geographically located with an abundance of resources and was a place that anyone could covet if the opportunity arose.

Thanks to the Prince of Ibedon staying, his troops were stationed together with him as well, so no others had an opportunity to covet Kemended.

Busy yet serene days followed.

As the pain and bereavement of losing a foot gradually began to ease, Razil began to recover from his hashish addiction very quickly.

The damage to his body was irreversible but there was no longer a reason to live a life where he couldn’t even urinate anymore.

Whether the victorious Ibeden or a defeated Kenemed, there were still many more good days ahead.

“We set the date for the coronation to three days from now”, said the Crown Prince of Ibeden. Razil, as Regent, nodded in agreement.

The Second Prince, Laud, wasn’t a person who was good enough to become a king but there was no alternative. With his foot cut off, Razil could not rule as king. He would have to put in a lot of effort until Laud could truly rule.

“They say it’s enough time to honor Al Riksha. Count Pelson said that there was a seven-day purification ceremony, but it was not stipulated by Royal Law so he decided to omit it. Are there any other matters to be adjusted?

“Al Riksha is enough.”

Razil did not want to stir up any unnecessary conflicts.

Religious customs that had lost their meaning were no reason to go against the Crown Prince’s temper.

“Then three days from now, I hope it hurries up.”

Prince Leshak grabbed the Third Prince and kissed him on the forehead.

“We will be able to leave immediately after the coronation ceremony.”

Razil was no longer surprised to see such a sight. It made him feel uncomfortable.

It made him feel as though he saved his own life by selling his naive little brother. It was the same with that petty negotiating treaty and calling Radan a ‘hostage’.

His sense of guilt doubled when his naive youngest brother accepted becoming a hostage.

It was heartbreaking,

That the Kingdom had no power to protect the innocent little Prince.

It was a common belief that the Crown Prince of the Empire, who sometimes looked at his youngest brother with eyes that flash dangerously, would not allow Radan to remain ‘just be a hostage’, however, it would be impossible to take issue with it at this juncture.

Post-war negotiations with the Empire were null and void unless the Third Prince was retained by the Empire. In other words, it meant that the Third Prince was the linchpin to the negotiations.

To be more explicit, it also meant that there would be no Ranadia Royal Family without the Third Prince.

Razil hesitated and asked.

As Regent, he could say nothing, but as an older brother, he had to say something.

“When you go to the Empire, where will Radan stay?”

Prince Leshak replied in such a way as to tell him not to worry about useless things.

“He will be staying in a separate room in the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

“Although he is a hostage, the fact that Kemened’s first royal successor is living in a place other than a Palace,”

The Crown Prince cut off Razil’s words.

“It’s in the Palace of the Crown Prince.”

“It’s a separate room.”

“As soon as the renovation of the Elk Palace is completed, we will hand over ownership of it to him. I don’t think there’s anything against etiquette about that.”

“That,”

Razil was quiet for a moment.

As far as he knows, Elk Palace shares a garden with the Crown Prince’s Palace and has been used as the residence of the Crown Princess for generations.

So it made him feel really uncomfortable. Rather, as the Lord Chamberlain had said, he wanted to ask him why he did not formally propose.

Of course, that was only on the premise that his innocent little brother understands what sodomy is.

However, there was no imperial law about the concubine of the same sex in the Ibeden Empire yet. He’d never heard of such a precedent!

“In that case…why don’t you wait to go to the Empire until after his residence is fully prepared?”

The words were also cut off without mercy.

“I didn’t say his ‘residence‘. His residence will be a separate room in the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

“Then why do you pay for it to be renovated?”

“I can’t give him a shabby place.”

“So if you’re not going to use it as his residence,”

“His residence is in a separate room. How many times do I have to say it?!”

“… …”

Razil gave up the nonsensical conversation.

Rather, it would be more comfortable to hope that the imperial code against same-sex concubines will be established in the empire as soon as possible.

After talking, the Crown Prince extended an arm to his youngest brother.

“Shall we take a walk? It’s been a long time since it was a bit cooler.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

His youngest brother took the Crown Prince’s arm very familiarly.

His blind younger brother did not seem to have any inconvenience when dealing with the Crown Prince. It had to mean that he was accustomed to his movements.

The Crown Prince turned his back on Razil without saying goodbye.

Now that he saw this scene, it seemed that the purpose of coming here from the beginning was to take a walk. While he was here, he gave him the date of the coronation.

Razil felt the sorrow of having a weak country and the resentment of the eldest brother at the same time.

So he wanted to be a little ill-tempered.

“Radan.”

Razil’s voice as he called for his youngest brother to intervene between the two, who had just moved toward the garden.

If you’re reading this anywhere other than FoolishtranslationsS.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.

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