Pride and Sanctimony

Chapter 6

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Tex quickly picked up the handkerchief from the ground, which was the main perpetrator of this entire mess. Then he grabbed the Prince, still dazed from the slap on the cheek, and started dragging him along.

Their entire group, who witnessed this happen, also rushed to get into the carriage together, still dragging the Prince with him like he’d just been pulled from a hypnosis trip. Tex ended up yelling at the coachman to go before they were all even securely inside.

[Tex] “Go!”

[Coachman] “To the social club?”

[Tex] “Of course not. Head for the Imperial Palace! The Palace!”

He shouted at the coachman, even repeating himself for emphasis as the coachman asked for their destination.

Normally, they were supposed to be going to the all-male social club that was their usual spot once their work at the Academy was finished. But after seeing the Prince, confused after being slapped by one of the ladies at the Academy, taking him there would be bad, considering it was a den for gossip.

An awkward silence fell over everyone, except for Lexus, still somewhat dazed. They all looked at each other, filled with hesitation. They had no idea what to say right now. The Prince had never been slapped like this before.

Tex was the first to eventually overcome this silence.

[Tex] “I think it might be a little swollen.”

It wasn’t very swollen, but there was still a little reddened mark on his face. He wasn’t the one who hit him, but Tex still looked at Lexus with an expression full of anxiety.

That was a little understandable, though. He was looking upon the Prince with a reddened cheek from a slap, unable to even stop it from happening like he was supposed to.

[Arthur] “Does it hurt, Lexus?”

Understanding that too, Arthur asked.

[Lexus] “Um, it doesn’t hurt.”

[Ruth] “I think we should probably put some ice on it.”

Ruth also spoke up, suddenly feeling the pressure to say something.

[Lexus] “It’s fine. It’s not a big deal.”

[Tex] “But you had it coming. You were kind of harsh.”

Lexus’ response to the situation was a little muted, so Tex, being pushed by that, decided to poke some fun at him.

[Lexus] “…….I’ll admit that.”

But Lexus simply affirmed it with a quiet voice. It was not lost on him that what he said was very scathing.

[Tex] “People are going to run with this one. What are you going to do now?”

And this time, it wouldn’t be a simple story of some light gossip. This was a case of assault and contempt against a member of the Imperial family. It didn’t feel great, but things were uncomfortable considering the crime was committed due to how big his mouth was.

[Lexus] “I’ll have to deal with it.”

Lexus leaned against the seat of the carriage, crossing his legs.

[Tex] “Yeah. You’ll have to figure this one out on your own.”

[Lexus] “Fine, you’re free to leave.”

[Ruth] “You’ll let us go?”

[Arthur] “If we’re speaking honestly, we weren’t involved in this.”

[Ruth] “I really don’t want to be scolded by the Empress.”

And so Arthur and Ruth made their exit.

This whole situation was too absurd. It was one that they should have been able to prevent by sacrificing their bodies to protect the Prince like they were supposed to, but they never expected such a devastating thing to happen. Not to mention how fast it happened—there was zero time to react.

[Lexus] “What will you do?”

Lexus turned to Tex.

[Tex] “I’m not super keen on getting scolded by your mother either, so I’ll get going.”

[Lexus] “You’ll get in trouble eventually, regardless, Tex.”

[Tex] “But the aim is to put off my punishment for as long as possible.”

And like that, Tex pulled himself from the carriage, disappearing like he was running away.

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Just after their Prince was assaulted, his three ‘loyal’ friends did not wish to enter the Imperial Palace and ended up getting off the carriage right in the middle—running to catch a public carriage home instead.

Lexus probably would have done the same, but the second someone else was guilty of that kind of act, this was something he was sure to remember. He entered the Palace, the memory of what happened today pressing down on his mind, filing it away so he could get revenge someday.

And as soon as he entered the drawing room, Lexus immediately frowned at the person he saw.

[???] “Oh, well look who it is. You don’t look like our proud Prince.”

This place was the drawing room attached to the bedroom, not the reception room meant for taking guests. And yet this person was drinking tea both elegantly and casually; a man with silver hair and blue eyes, emanating a cold aura.

There were few people who would dare to enter the Prince’s palace and sit within his parlor without permission from the Prince himself.

One of those people was Lexus’ elder brother; Axion de Beltane Abyssid. Unlike Lexus, who was smooth and bright, his older brother had a cooler energy to him.

[Lexus] “Don’t speak so sarcastically, Crown Prince.”

[Axion] “Sarcastic? My, your situation must have gone terribly sour.”

[Lexus] “And you’re here to make it even worse?”

[Axion] “I gather you probably already know why I’m here.”

[Lexus] “News travels fast.”

It seemed like his brother was trying to say something, but Lexus was also really irritated right now. He had just been slapped in the face and now that he’d returned to the Imperial Palace, his family heard the news first.

[Axion] “It can’t be helped. People love to talk about you, Prince.”

[Lexus] “So you’re here to nag.”

[Axion] “I’m not nagging. Just some well-intentioned advice given out of love.”

[Lexus] “In other words, nagging. And I don’t need that kind of love.”

Axion clasped his hands together in his lap, holding them as he smiled softly.

[Axion] “You’re not as cute as you used to be, little brother.”

Then, Axion clapped his hands, smiling wider this time.

[Lexus] “I’ve never been cute.”

[Axion] “That’s not true. You have no idea how adorable you were just after you were born.”

[Lexus] “I don’t want to know.”

He always treated him like a child with no end in sight. They didn’t have that big of an age difference, so Lexus was always frustrated by how his brother would put on that kind of attitude like he was so much older.

[Axion] “Whenever you made eye contact with me, you’d give off this lovely little smile. How did you end up turning into such a black-hearted man?”

[Lexus] “And why exactly did you come to visit your not-so-cute younger brother?”

[Axion] “Mother wished to see you.”

[Lexus] “…..I see. Where is she?”

[Axion] “She’s taking a walk in the gardens.”

[Lexus] “……Why are you following me?”

Noticing Axion getting up to follow after him, Lexus turned to him.

[Axion] “If mother scolds you, shouldn’t I be there to protect you?”

Axion was a sly speaker.

He just wanted to watch Lexus get yelled at. Or, if he was really in hot water, then he’d take the chance to crack the whip a second time.

Outside in the gardens, the Empress was taking a walk with a few noble women by her side—her close confidants. Next to her was Lexus’ younger sister, Elizabeth. 

His little sister just turned fifteen this year, and she was following along with the Empress and the other noblewomen, pretending to be mature. She was a lovely little Princess with blonde hair and blue eyes, having just turned into a young lady.

[Lexus] “Mother. You called me.”

[Empress] “Axion. Lexus. Are you here?”

[Axion] “Yes.”

[Lexus] “I’ve returned home, Mother. Hello, Duchess Langbell.”

[Duchess Langbell] “As always, His Highnesses, the Crown Prince and Prince are both very handsome today.”

[Lexus] “Just as you are still lovely, Duchess Langbell.”

Duchess Langbell was Tex’s mother.

And because his mother was the closest aide of the Empress, he ended up running away early for fear that his mother would be at the Imperial Palace, prepared to yell at him for failing to properly protect the Prince.

Thinking about that, Lexus thought it was a shame he couldn’t bring him here.

[Duchess Langbell] “Such overflowing praise. But did Tex not come with you?”

[Lexus] “He said he wished to return home early today.”

[Duchess Langbell] “I thought he’d come here together with you. I suppose his lecture will have to wait until later.”

It was a pity he couldn’t see it happen, but he decided to be satisfied knowing the terrible trouble that was heading Tex’s way once the Duchess returned home.

But obviously that didn’t undo the bitterness he felt that he ran away in the first place. Duchess Langbell’s incoming punishment was a matter entirely separate from his bruised feelings.

[Duchess Langbell] “I’m so envious. You have two beautiful and good sons, and even a lovely young Princess, Your Majesty.”

[Empress] “But I heard one of them made a mistake today.”

[Duchess Langbell] “When one is young, one can afford to make small mistakes here and there.”

[Elizabeth] “Right! I heard you were slapped today!”

That was when his cute sister suddenly decided to shout out a word that wasn’t cute at all. And she seemed all too thrilled to do so. The face hidden behind her oversized bonnet looked grumpy and in need of something fun.

[Lexus] “Looks like my lovely sister is here, too.”

[Elizabeth] “Are you trying to say you didn’t notice me before?”

[Lexus] “I thought it was my imagination. You’re so tiny, I can barely see you. When are you planning on getting any bigger, little lady?”

[Elizabeth] “What? What did you just say? I dare you to say it again.”

A fire lit up behind Princess Elizabeth’s eyes as she clenched her fist.

If they had only been in the presence of family, she would not have hesitated to kick her brother in the leg, or maybe even throw a fist if she could. But right now, there were other noblewomen around, so she looked like she was trying to hold it in.

[Lexus] “Ah, the poor little lady is not only so small she cannot be seen well, but she can’t hear well, either.”

Elizabeth trembled, turning her head away but then she quickly changed her mind, diverting attention back to him again.

[Elizabeth] “So how did you get slapped?”

[Lexus] “Haha, my sister is too cute.”

Lexus quickly covered Elizabeth’s mouth, giving an awkward smile. The little Princess pushed and punched Lexus with both her fist and elbows, but he held on with an ever constant smile.

[Duchess Langbell] “Well, I must be on my way now.”

No matter how close one was with the Imperial family, it was a private affair for them, so it would be wise to excuse oneself quickly and quietly.

[Empress] “Thank you. We will talk again tomorrow.”

[Duchess Langbell] “Then tomorrow, Your Majesty.”

[Axion] “I will escort you, Mother.”

The noblewomen quickly escaped, and Axion volunteered to escort their mother, the Empress, as they walked.

Lexus looked down at the little Princess with a very deliberate expression. Although she was fifteen years old, she had a terrible complex about being short, so Lexus very much enjoyed making fun of her.

[Lexus] “My adorable little sister, would you like to walk with me?”

[Elizabeth] “No! I want to go with Axion.”

Though Lexus was a beloved Prince to others, to his sister, he was nothing more than a petty and mean older brother. Princess Elizabeth reached out and grabbed Axion’s free hand, sticking her tongue out to Lexus.

[Elizabeth] “Anyway, how’d you get slapped?”

[Lexus] “Can you stop mentioning that, sister?”

[Elizabeth] “I’m just curious who would slap a Prince.”

[Lexus] “Haha, how would I know.”

[Elizabeth] “I’m really curious about them. Can I go to the Academy to see them?”

Lexus laughed bitterly at his sister, who only ever said mean things.

For Elizabeth, her second older brother was someone who always acted relaxed and laid back, and lived just to tease and make fun of her. So when she noticed how he couldn’t even answer this question properly, her blue eyes sparkled with elation.

She was so excited by his awkward and embarrassed laugh that she wanted to tease him more.

[Axion] “Stop teasing him, Eliza.”

[Elizabeth] “But I’m really curious.”

[Axion] “I think Mother has something she wishes to say, so let’s be quiet, Eliza.”

Her first brother was caring, but had a more intense presence in comparison to her other easy-going second brother. It was probably because he was the Crown Prince, and thus carried a dignity that could not be ignored.

At Axion’s soft tone, Elizabeth pouted out her lips, but eventually calmly replied with a yes.

She couldn’t make fun of Lexus, but she was looking forward to seeing him get in trouble. That was why she purposefully went out on a walk with her mother and her aides today. And it was definitely worth the effort.

Unfortunately, there was no longer any sign of the slap left on her brother’s pale cheek, but it was still fun to tease him.

[Empress] “How is it that every story of the Imperial family always seems to start with you?”

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