Episode 132: Spread the Word (IX)
“Thank you, Sir Paras.”
“You’re welcome.”
Paras believed that the temple could be restored at any time, as long as the real saint was alive and well.
“With Sir Paras’s help, rumors will grow like a snowball with just a whisper. But I’m afraid that Tersia will become the source of rumors and draw the attention of the temple…”
The worried Esther let out a thin sigh, blurring the end of her words.
“It’s okay. It’s not even a false rumor. I would rather this fact come out sooner rather than later.”
“That’s right. Father probably wouldn’t bother to hide the fact that rumors came from Tersia.”
Stroking Esther’s hair, Dennis assured her and told her not to worry.
The truth would come out someday anyway.
Even if the temple knew Esther’s identity and demanded that she be returned, Dennis was confident that they would not give up.
“We will protect you.”
“Don’t you trust your brothers?”
Dennis and Judy simultaneously placed their hands on Esther’s shoulders.
A bright smile that couldn’t be hidden appeared on her face at their trustworthy and cute appearances.
“Trust us.”
Trust someone
‘You have no idea what a big change this is in my life.’
Esther gladly faced and held the hands of her brothers, who said they would protect her.
“Ah, since Jerome sings well, it would be a good idea to make and spread songs.”
Dennis suggested, recalling a method he had once read in a novel.
Rumors that went from mouth to mouth would spread faster than with the feet.
Furthermore, singing could maximize the effect.
“Then how about this?”
Saying that he had a sudden flash of inspiration, Judy started humming a bizarre melody.
He was so tone-deaf that as soon as he started singing, Esther, Dennis and Paras laughed awkwardly and covered their ears.
“Hey, why are you all covering your ears? Esther… are you going to be like this too?”
“Ah… My ears itched for a second. Hehe.”
Esther, who had been teasing Judy, quickly removed her hands from her ears and smiled at Judy to cheer him up.
Immediately relieved by the smile, Judy began to hum excitedly again.
Unfortunately… Esther didn’t have the confidence to keep listening to it, so she quickly sorted things out.
“Then let’s go get Jerome.”
With that, Esther left the room first. Judy’s grumbling could be heard from behind, which made Dennis and Esther giggle.
‘I’m not afraid anymore.’
‘There are precious people who will always be by my side.’
Resolute, Esther confidently walked forward, holding her small hands tightly.
Tak, tak…
The sound of Khalid’s heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway of the palace.
He was in the Imperial Palace to deliver the medicine bottle he had received from Rabienne.
Khalid, with a stiff expression, was led straight to Damon’s room.
“He’s waiting inside.”
Passing the knight guarding the door, he slowly entered the room full of drapes.
“Welcome.”
Damon sat on the bed in disarray, not fully dressed.
Khalid bowed his head to him and glanced around the room.
All the drapes hung here and there were red, so it was too much for the eyes.
“You must have brought something.”
“Yes. She told me to deliver this.”
Receiving Damon’s gesture, Khalid went right in front of the bed and handed over the wooden box he was carrying.
Click.
Damon lifted the lid without hesitation, revealing the vial wrapped in a soft cloth.
“Hoo. This is it.”
“Do you know what it is?”
Having been curious about the identity of the liquid ever since he received it from Rabienne, Khalid hurriedly asked with eagerness.
“I know.”
Damon grinned and held the vial up to the light.
There was only one medicine he asked from Rabienne.
A colorless, odorless poison.
Damon carefully observed the vial that had finally come into his hand and put it back in the box.
“Tell her I will put it to good use.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Khalid’s role was just to deliver medicine, so he left Damon’s room like he was being kicked out.
‘What is it?’
Unable to shake off the feeling of discomfort after delivering it with his own hand, Khalid sighed in thought.
Then, perhaps he had made a wrong turn, he went quite far. The moment he thought he should turn back…
“Sir Khalid?”
An unfamiliar voice called him.
Khalid looked back in surprise and was startled to see the crown prince.
‘How does he know my name?’
Despite being stunned by this realization, he hurriedly lowered his head towards Noah, who was walking up to him.
“Paladin Khalid meets His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I am very curious about why the paladin who is supposed to serve the saint is walking around the palace alone at this time.”
Noah’s black eyes scanned Khalid up and down.
He was on his way to the holy flower storage and he didn’t expect to meet Khalid here. Doubt filled his eyes.
“I came on an errand for the saint.”
“To whom?”
“…….”
“Could it be Damon?”
Noah frowned as he stared at Damon’s palace, which was not far from this place.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Khalid thought for a while as to whether he should hide it, and affirmed after recalling he had not received such an order.
“The saint and Brother Damon.”
Noah’s voice fell.
As he spoke, his eyes grew cold at the thought that Rabienne was plotting something else.
“Sir Khalid, I advise you.”
Almost flinching in the sharp atmosphere, Khalid swallowed his saliva.
He heard that he became the crown prince shortly after his recovery, but he did not look soft at all.
“No matter what your master tells you, don’t think of doing anything wrong to Esther. If you touch even one strand of her hair, that will be the last day you breathe.”
“All of a sudden, what…”
Having no intention of giving a kind explanation to the perplexed Khalid, Noah indifferently uttered.
“You still have a chance this time. Please make a different choice.”
“What opportunity are you talking about?”
“Well. You can think about it. I can’t spoon feed you, can I?”
Right then, the imperial secretary who had followed Noah approached with a nervous expression and delivered the news.
“Your Highness, I just got a call from Prince Damon about having tea together. He said he would like to see you right now.”
“Brother? The timing is amazing. Isn’t that right, Sir Khalid?”
When a bright smile appeared on the previously expressionless face, Noah looked like a completely different person.
“Is there anything you can tell me?”
Khalid was taken aback by the change, and he contemplated if he should talk about the vial he had transported.
Ultimately, he kept his mouth shut, as for some reason, petty jealousy rose up against Noah, who seemed to know Esther well.
“I won’t do anything to hurt Esther. She is a precious person to me too.”
“I hope you will keep thinking so.”
Noah didn’t say any more, quickly turning away from Khalid.
Looking at the back of the crown prince as he headed to another palace, Khalid gently bit his lips.
“What’s their relationship?”
He didn’t know that the crown prince and Esther were friends. The relationship also seemed pretty close.
She became the daughter of a grand duke, and now she was with the crown prince.
He could only sigh as his friend seemed to be becoming more and more out of reach.
“I really don’t know what it is.”
Recently, Khalid had been confused about everything.
The most critical thing was that his trust in Rabienne, the saint he should believe and follow, had been shattered.
Completely lost in his work and his feelings, Khalid trudged back to the temple.
After parting with Khalid, Noah headed straight to Damon’s palace.
“You have to be careful.”
“I know. There must be a reason for my brother to call me.”
Damon had never invited Noah first or called him to his palace.
To think that he suddenly asked to have tea together. No matter how he thought about it, it was suspicious.
“Brother Damon.”
Noah called Damon by name as he opened the door and went inside.
“You’re here? I thought I’ll have to wait a little longer.”
Damon, who had been reclining deeply on the sofa, stretched himself and pointed to Noah the seat across from him.
Noah walked over and sat on the sofa, crossing his long legs.
“What’s this all of a sudden?”
“Since the crown prince selection, it’s been tense between us. I want to get along with you again.”
Noah smirked at the words that should have never come out of Damon’s mouth.
He didn’t know what his scheme was, but he decided to match the rhythm for now.
“That sounds nice. I don’t have any memories of us ever getting along, but we can try to do so from now on.”
Damon ignored Noah’s words and pushed a steaming cup of coffee in front of him.
“This is freshly brewed coffee. Let’s talk slowly while drinking.”
“Coffee?”
Noah stared at the cup in front of him.
It was a very luxurious cup. The blue and white colors were well-balanced and there was a bird carving.
However, the timing… It was right after Khalid had ran an errand for the temple.
There were some doubts.
“It’s coffee brewed with high-quality beans that I had a hard time finding. It will taste very good.”
“Is that so?”
Noah tilted his head, grabbed the cup by the white handle, and lifted it up. Holding it close to his nose, he smiled as he took in the scent.
“Hmm. It smells very good, Brother.”
“Yes. Go ahead and drink it.”
“But what should I do?”
Damon’s smile grew wider as Noah looked like he was going to drink coffee right away. However, in the next moment, those expectations were shattered.
Noah, who was about to put his lips on the cup, turned and pushed it in front of Damon.
“My brother’s drink looks more delicious. Let’s swap. Is it okay?”
Taken aback by Noah’s suggestion, Damon hardened.
He couldn’t hide his agitation, his eyebrows twitched and his lips trembled.
“…Mine is not coffee. Don’t you only drink coffee?”
“I didn’t know you knew my taste. But my taste has changed lately.”
Damon tried to protect his cup of herbal tea, but Noah’s hand moved faster.
Looking at the teacup that had already moved away from him, Damon’s complexion began to turn white.
“Brother, your face suddenly doesn’t look good. Are you okay?”
“Of course.”
Contrary to his answer, Damon was flustered.
Crossing his legs and watching him leisurely, Noah asked,
“You said they’re good beans. Why don’t you drink?”
“Haha, I don’t like coffee. I thought of you and prepared coffee, but turns out your tastes have changed. I will ask for another cup of tea.”
Seeing Damon adamantly refusing to even touch the coffee cup, Noah became convinced that he had done something to the coffee he was trying to give him.
Moistening his lips with the herbal tea, Noah asked, his eyes folding as he made a wily grin.
“It’s a bit strange. Brother, did you put drugs in the coffee you offered me?”
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