I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

014. Appointment Ceremony (2)

Yuren Pharos is a notorious scoundrel known not only in the capital but throughout the entire empire.

It was a different story from the mischief of immature and arrogant noble children.

They are merely ‘fools’.

But Yuren is a ‘scoundrel’.

What exactly is the difference?

Many could answer if asked.

Yuren did not discriminate in unleashing his scoundrel nature.

Whether the opponent was an old man, a child, a woman, or even a noble, he wreaked havoc without hesitation.

That was the reason.

Even now, as he completed his appointment ceremony as the prince’s mentor and stepped into the central political arena of Pharos for the first time in 300 years, no one dared to speak to him.

Even though he was by the side of the half-witted third princess instead of the prince, no one dared to whisper.

Yuren Pharos.

The young master of a great family and the first Pharos to enter politics in 300 years. Given his scoundrel nature, no one wanted to get involved with him and risk getting burned.

Thus, Yuren was a beehive that no one could easily approach or provoke.

This strange situation arose because of that background.

The quick-witted nobles thought.

Perhaps Pharos cherished the third princess.

“Oh, it’s sweet.”

“My, my cotton candy…!”

Aria whimpered.

Yuren took the cotton candy from her and placed it back in her mouth.

Aria’s expression slowly softened.

Yuren spoke.

“This kind of food is really for kids, isn’t it? As an adult, I find the taste… lacking.”

“Then give it back! This is the cotton candy that Aria brought…”

“Yes, yes, go ahead.”

Aria finally got her cotton candy back and glared at Yuren.

Then she took a bite of the cotton candy, her cheeks turning a bright red.

They looked like a pair of close siblings.

That created a sense of alienation among the nobles.

Yuren Paros being kind to others?

And kind to a child, no less!

This was something that could not happen within the bounds of common sense.

Yet the scene before their eyes continued.

It led to the conclusion that ‘Paros is paying attention to the third princess.’

So what should they do?

Should they immediately intervene in the scene and congratulate their relationship?

Should they treat the third princess with familiarity?

No.

That was the kind of thinking that only those ignorant of central politics would have.

They needed to observe more and understand what kind of person Yuren was.

They considered the possibility that he had suppressed his personality to rise to the position of Grand Duke.

However, there were certainly those who could not even think like that.

Country bumpkins ignorant of central politics.

Yet filled with ambition to step into central politics.

One of them stepped forward.

And it was while Yuren was speaking.

“Your Highness, instead of this, shall we go eat some meat…?”

“I greet the young master of Pharos.”

Baron Gillan.

He was the owner of the Gillan Trading Company, who had just tried to approach Aria, aiming to enter the central political scene through his connection with the royal family.

Aria shrank back.

Yuren slowly looked at Baron Gillan.

And then, he showed a demeanor all too familiar to the nobles.

“Hey.”

“…Yes?”

“Hey, do you know me?”

Baron Gillan’s smile froze.

The nobles erased the possibility of ‘Yuren having matured’ from their minds.

They were just shocked and worried.

How should they avoid this walking beehive?

Regardless, Yuren continued speaking.

“Can’t you hear me? Do you know me or not?”

“Well…”

“No, but this is ridiculous. If you saw the appointment ceremony just now, you should know. Who are you to act friendly with me? I’m talking with Her Highness. This is royal business. Do you have no sense of hierarchy?”

Every word was out of line.

No manners, no respect.

Nevertheless, no one could pinch it.

A mere baron running a local guild, a founding family of the thousand-year empire.

The weight class is different.

Above all, this is an ‘action with justification.’

Isn’t it?

Though she is called a half-wit, Aria is a princess.

Pharos is a family more devoted to the royal family than anyone else.

Even though Pharos was conversing with a member of the royal family, Gilan, who abruptly interrupted, was rude.

An absurd response to absurdity was somewhat accepted in noble society.

Of course, no one was as blatant as Yuren.

“I, I am Baron Gilan, who governs the Ogers region…”

“So what?”

“I, I wish to maintain a good relationship with the princess…”

“Hey.”

Baron Gilan tried to ease the atmosphere somehow.

But Yuren’s attitude remained consistently delinquent.

No, it was hostile.

“Who are you to talk about having a good relationship with the princess?”

It was chilling.

Among the nobles present, some who had been hit by him before recognized that expression.

Speaking so calmly, Yuren was the type to throw a punch.

“Alright, I’ll ask you once more. I don’t like repeating myself… but today is a good day, so I’ll make an exception.”

The atmosphere turned icy.

Someone trembled, predicting the imminent fight.

But was that too much worry?

Or was it because, as Yuren said, today was a good day?

“I was talking with the princess.”

He was more moderate than expected.

“Who do you think you are, talking to me like we’re friends? Interrupting me?”

That was the end of it.

Baron Gillan had no more reason to approach Yuren, nor any logic to refute him.

“Sorry…”

“Get lost. I don’t want to talk anymore.”

And so, the clueless country bumpkin sank.

Two things became certain.

Baron Gillan would never again reach into central politics.

And Princess Aria Ortaire became a person worth dealing with more than before.

Such a flow emerged in an instant.

And there were those who watched all this from afar.

“That, that crazy b*stard…!”

Princess Erilda ground her teeth at Yuren’s actions.

Those around her wore worried expressions.

They knew that this act would make people reassess the value of the third princess.

They knew it would cause another political turmoil.

“Your Highness… Yuren Pharos is indeed…”

“Well, what can we do? It’s not a problem to that extent.”

Kallios answered calmly.

His expression was slightly subdued.

It wasn’t that he disliked Yuren.

It was different from that.

Such a level of impudence in behavior?

There might be some gossip, but it was just a minor incident that couldn’t tarnish his position as the crown prince.

It was the same for Yuren himself.

The name Pharos wasn’t so flimsy that it could be ruined by mere rumors.

After all, he held the position of a swordsmanship instructor.

For both Kallios and Yuren.

Yuren’s personal flaws were a risk that Kallios could mitigate if he just raised his guard.

There was one problem.

Political turmoil.

But that problem wouldn’t surface immediately.

And it was something that would become a headache even without Yuren’s involvement.

That was the problem.

Yuren’s actions didn’t cause any substantial harm, but they did show Aria to Kallios.

Kallios couldn’t stop thinking about Yuren’s actions, which forced him to look at Aria, and the ulterior motives behind them.

‘You…’

What are you trying to say?

The more he thought about it, the more it seemed that way.

It wasn’t a particularly good feeling.

* * *

The banquet ended late at night.

However, Kallios’s night was far from over.

He had returned to the Palace of Dawn and was facing Yuren.

Yuren had already returned to his indifferent expression.

So, Kallios asked.

“Why did you do it?”

“What are you referring to?”

“What are you trying to say?”

Kallios’s demeanor had become subdued.

It was different from before.

Yuren, who had awakened him from his infatuation with Rebecca, was undoubtedly justified.

That day, he had merely given an obvious answer.

However, Kallios thought that ignoring Aria was a matter of political choice.

He couldn’t shake the thought that Yuren was infringing upon that. That was the reason for his demeanor.

However, Yuren was not affected by such an expression at all.

Instead, he stared straight into Kallios’ eyes.

It shook Kallios’ confidence.

‘Those eyes…’

They were the eyes from that time.

Eyes that seemed to be looking at something he had missed, as if admonishing him.

The experience that had been settled sought to find something in those eyes.

But it was impossible.

Because Kallios did not know mind-reading or anything of the sort.

The silence did not last long.

Yuren opened his mouth.

“The 3rd Princess is also a member of the royal family. She was alone, so I kept her company. Do I need any more reason than that?”

It was a sound argument.

But Kallios knew.

The reason Yuren used such rhetoric was because he wanted him to think for himself.

However,

“…You respected her as a Pharos. Is that the reason?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me ask you.”

This time, Kallios also had something to say.

Thus, the argument ensued.

“That will only deepen the conflict surrounding the Third Princess. You have made a future trouble even bigger.”

“Couldn’t Her Highness resolve that herself?”

“No. Half of her bloodline is that of a dancer. No one would desire her status.”

“Then, in that situation, couldn’t she at least make a wise choice?”

“No, she will not be given any choice.”

That was the reason for the indifference.

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If everyone knew she was a kite with a broken string, the conflict would end at a manageable level.

Aria’s marriage contract would no longer be a problem for the state.

This indifference was Callios’s mercy.

It was the moment he was about to say so.

“Then, Your Highness.”

Yuren stood up, hands clasped behind his back.

He looked down at him with deeply sunken eyes.

And then,

“The Third Princess cannot decide anything for herself. She cannot hold any status. You have affirmed that, Your Highness.”

He stabbed Callios.

“Then how is the Third Princess different from the common people outside the palace?”

“…!”

“If she is not a ruler to be wary of, but a victim to be swept away by the tides, what is she isolated for, Your Highness?”

Callios could not answer.

The words that came to mind were not satisfactory.

Even at that moment, Yuren’s words continued.

“Your Highness, the position of being above all others means you must see everything in the world. Yet, your gaze does not reach every corner of the world. Why is that?”

Kallios’s fist clenched.

He could no longer look Yuren straight in the eye.

As Yuren’s words were completed, the unspoken words surfaced.

I don’t want to hear it.

Such a thought suddenly arose,

“He will be unhappy no matter what. Under your sky, he will be more miserable than anyone else. But, Your Highness.”

Yuren continued his words with a cruelty that was almost suffocating.

“You will be at ease. If there is no conflict on the outside, one less chaos in dealing with people. That is surely a conflict that Your Highness can resolve… even if the process is merely bothersome. Ah, isn’t the best strategy to block the cause?”

He was speaking.

“I will ask.”

He was pinching.

“Whom are you choosing to ignore the Third Princess for?”

All the logic he had built was merely an excuse born of selfishness.

“Your Highness, who must see everything in the world, why do you only look at what is convenient?”

What he saw was not Aria, but the political dangers surrounding her.

“In my view, yes. Did you not turn a blind eye to the tears of those closest to you in exchange for comfort?”

What he had missed was the regret he had postponed to the future.

Callios’s teeth parted.

But the answer that surged up to his throat was all an excuse.

He knew it himself, so he clenched his teeth.

At that moment, Yuren turned around.

“The choice is yours, Your Highness. Just remember.”

He left a single remark.

“If you choose comfort, you must not regret this when you face the Third Princess in the future. Until the moment you die.”

Thud―

Even after the door closed, Callios could not lift his head for a long time.

At the end of all the chaos was…

‘…Regret?’

It was merely the shame that had worn the mask of justice until then.

End

ⓒ papapa.

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