Turning-Chapter 815
“Why can’t you think of the easiest solution? That brilliant father of yours exists for situations like this.”
“...Huh?”
Kiole’s face went slack with shock.
He genuinely hadn’t even considered it.
“Just go and tell him. Problem solved. Why are you doing nothing when you have a fast, clean fix?”
“This situation...! But what if I contact Father and the Crown Prince’s name somehow comes up...?!”
“Unless you act ridiculously suspicious, I doubt he’ll ask. You said no one’s noticed His Highness is missing yet, right?”
“W-Well, yeah... and it’s true that Father hasn’t been checking in on the Glorious Palace directly these days... But still, I’m an adult... contacting my family over something like this would make me look like a child...! What would he and the others think of me?!”
Th𝗲 most uptodate novels are published on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.
The same guy who acted like a brat more than anyone else and never shut up about his noble blood was worried about that now? It was beyond ridiculous.
“What would they think? They’ll think it’s just business as usual. Too much change in a person is suspicious anyway.”
“What?!”
“You forgot already? After losing our duel, you tried to pressure me through your house name to get me kicked out. You used your family just fine for that. Why not now?”
Yuder had hoped to hear what the difference was, but Kiole didn’t give a proper answer.
“That—That was a long time ago! Why are you bringing that up again?! That’s so petty!”
Just a few more words and he looked ready to burst into tears and run out.
‘And this is the supposed mastermind everyone’s whispering about? Everyone’s lost their damn minds.’
Yuder decided to dial it back a little.
Not that it took much. He just needed to say a few things that sounded serious enough to sway Kiole.
“Kiole. The Cavalry has confirmed that the so-called Sage you call a fraud is here in this city right now. What do you think would happen if he just so happened to run into the Crown Prince?”
“No! That mustn’t happen—ever!”
“If word got out that the Crown Prince was abducted to the South and handed over to House Hern, that would be a nightmare. But if it’s you alone protecting him, it’s much better even in the worst-case scenario. And if you’re in contact with us, it’ll be easier to manage.”
“Ugh...”
“If you prefer staying safe and quiet inside Hern territory, I don’t care. If it were me, the moment I found him hiding in my carriage, I’d have kicked him out and sent him straight back. But if this is your idea of loyalty, who am I to stop you?”
“Y-You’re talking about His Highness’s rear end! How dare you—!”
“Figure out what’s most advantageous for you. Who’s better to cooperate with. Imagine the worst that could happen if you stay in Hern’s house dithering around.”
“......”
“And one more thing—don’t forget you swore to help me, no matter where you are.”
At that, Yuder looked down at Kiole’s now completely twisted face and asked,
“So? What do you plan to do?”
“You really are a devil.”
Kiole grit his teeth and replied.
“I’ll contact you again in about a week! After I get the hell out of that tyrant Hern’s grip! And I’ll capture those frauds myself too, so just wait!”
‘He thinks he’s going to catch the Sage? What a dreamer. If he’s smart, he’ll just pray he doesn’t run into them and get brainwashed.’
Yuder turned his gaze away from the barking Kiole.
“Sure, go ahead. Do whatever you want. I’m leaving.”
“......”
“What? Got more to say?”
For some reason, Kiole was biting his lip, looking far more hesitant than usual. Finally, he spoke.
“...The... the Cavalry...”
“......”
“You said earlier you know about the Sage’s mind control. That you might even know how to break it.”
They had some intel, yes—but they hadn’t fully broken it yet. Still, Yuder decided to hear him out. Kiole looked more desperate than before.
“So?”
“When someone’s brainwashed... they start talking or acting weird, right? I-I mean, you know that already, obviously!”
“What’s your point?”
“...Aside from everything else, His Highness... doesn’t just distrust me anymore. He’s—he’s under a really strange misunderstanding. Honestly, if it weren’t for that, I never would’ve brought him here in the first place.”
So the Crown Prince, currently brainwashed, had been using some kind of personal leverage to force Kiole into cooperation?
‘So this idiot didn’t just roll over the moment he noticed the prince had run off. Good to know.’
Still. Following your lord’s orders no matter what kind of madness they’re planning? That was for knights like Nathan Zuckerman. Someone like Kiole, who feared nothing more than getting scolded by his father, clearly wouldn’t suffer that kind of burden willingly.
“So, um, maybe... if you could give me a way to break the brainwashing... or even just, you know, help me clear up this misunderstanding...”
“You can’t do it.”
“That’s why I’m asking if someone else can! Just tell me how!”
Kiole’s voice rose into a shout.
“Y-You’re planning to use me anyway, right?! It wouldn’t help if I got completely ruined!”
Yuder was mildly surprised. That was possibly the most persuasive thing Kiole had ever said.
“If I keep hearing stuff like that from him, I’m seriously going to lose all my honor and die in disgrace!”
Now he was curious—just what had Kachien said to get under his skin this badly?
“What kind of misunderstanding is it?”
“Don’t ask!”
“How can I help if I don’t know? Never ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) mind then.”
As Yuder turned to leave, Kiole desperately grabbed his sleeve.
“No! Don’t go! I mean, you can go, just say that one thing before you do! I don’t need anything else!”
“I don’t like the way you’re asking. So, no.”
“What?!”
“If you want help, explain clearly and respectfully what the misunderstanding is. Then ask politely. That’s your only option.”
Yuder’s face was blank and cold as he lowered his eyes. Dressed in formal wear, he looked several times more obnoxious than usual.
Kiole sincerely wanted to challenge Yuder to a duel on the spot. But his desire cooled halfway through as he remembered Yuder’s terrifying abilities—and the way Imperial Guard knights had been swatted aside like insects.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
As his clenched fists trembled, Kiole recalled all the things Prince Kachien had said:
“I look forward to the day your Duke and the others find out you prefer men.”
“Who could it be, I wonder? You’re proud—so surely it’s not someone below noble rank. But if it is, all the more fun.”
“If you don’t want to be exposed, follow my orders. Your weakness is mine now.”
“You wouldn’t dare harm me, would you? I’m the strongest piece your family has placed. Don’t be stupid.”
It had been a hellish time. No matter how many times he denied being interested in men, it didn’t matter. Trying to keep Kachien hidden inside Hern’s mansion had been a nightmare. And now, after a few strange encounters, Princess Mayra clearly thought Kiole was half-crazed.
He didn’t want to endure that shame again. And besides—he was not into men.
And who was ultimately to blame for this misunderstanding? Yuder, of course. If he hadn’t constantly dragged Kiole around and summoned him at all hours, if it hadn’t caught the Crown Prince’s attention, none of this would’ve happened.
Therefore, Yuder owed him.
“This... This is all your fault!”
“You’re saying it’s my fault people think you’re into men?”
“Yes!”
Yuder didn’t even blink. Arms crossed, he tilted his head slightly and said,
“Alright. Now I’m curious. Bow your head when you ask.”
“You—!”
Kiole nearly passed out from sheer rage.
“If you’re not going to ask, forget it.”
In the end, Kiole—nearly in tears—managed to mutter out a vague explanation of the misunderstanding, and stammered out the first syllable of something resembling “please.”
He didn’t exactly bow, but swallowed his pride in a way that resembled it, and Yuder decided that was good enough for now.
‘Come to think of it... he’s not entirely wrong to blame me.’
A misunderstanding about liking men? That, whatever. But using it as leverage to control someone? That was classic Kachien. Yuder was reminded that the former Emperor hadn’t just manipulated the weaknesses of countless nobles for fun—it had been a methodical game. Even Yuder himself, as Yudrain Aile, hadn’t been exempt.
Back then, under Kachien’s command, Yuder had assassinated the former Cavalry Commander—a secret act of loyalty. But that secret had remained in Kachien’s hands forever—a weapon to keep Yuder in line.
Yuder hadn’t thought much of it then. But Kachien had. He brought it up whenever he doubted Yuder, subtle reminders of the secret they shared.
Eventually, it had even become the first charge written on Yuder’s execution order.
‘Some people change after I came back. But others... no matter what they experience, their nature and fate stay the same. Prince Kachien is definitely the latter.’
A faint, cold smile flickered on Yuder’s lips—and vanished.
‘Still... if the misunderstanding is really just that, wouldn’t getting engaged or dating someone fix it? Why’s this guy so stupid?’
Kachien was weaponizing the rumor so effectively only because Kiole had zero idea how to respond. Saying nothing made people assume it was true—who wouldn’t?
Kiole seemed like the kind of person who completely froze when cornered. In many ways, the fact that he’d survived this long was a miracle.
Yuder was just about to tell him that when—
From beyond the wind-shielded barrier, faint footsteps and voices reached them.
“...The Duke has arrived!”
“Where is Lord Diarca?!”
‘Great. The father who’s late to his son’s funeral has finally shown up.’
Kiole heard it too, and his face went pale. Yuder sighed lightly and gestured with his eyes.
“Let’s go. We’ll talk more after you get out of House Hern.”
“Ugh...”
“I’ll leave first. Wait a bit, then come out.”
“Then I’ll look rude!”
Why did that matter? Kiole di Diarca was already a rude brat by default.
