Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma - Chapter 33.2
The crown prince, not actually expecting an answer from me, let his words hang in the air.
Acteon, who hadn’t been given permission to speak, shifted his gaze at the mention of Brondearn.
Oblivious to this, the crown prince acted as if I were waiting in anticipation for his next words and magnanimously offered to become my patron.
“Unlike your blood relative, I’ve heard you never needed another noble’s help. But now, both your rank and your circumstances are about to change.”
“…Forgive me, Your Highness, but what do you mean by that?”
“I mean that I will sponsor you myself.”
If I made my displeasure too obvious, I could easily bring trouble down on myself.
I barely managed to hold the frown forming between my brows in check.
“Forgive my presumption, but I have learned from school just how great an honor it is to receive Your Highness’s patronage. However, compared to those already at your side, my abilities are woefully lacking.”
“…Do you remember what I said earlier?”
Ah, damn it.
Is this man, who doesn’t even seem fifty yet, already losing his mind?
“You said that excessive modesty can offend your superiors.”
“Take that as your answer, then. So what should I say now?”
“But…”
The more shamelessly he pressed, the more I wanted to curse.
Desperately trying to avoid getting caught up in the crown prince’s threats, I thought up several excuses.
At my hesitation, the crown prince, as if annoyed, took a cigar and put it to his lips. Accepting a light from his attendant, he said,
“If you lack confidence, why not demonstrate your abilities before everyone gathered here?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s almost unheard of, isn’t it? The Garden of Oaths defined your S-Class manifestation as a third awakening. A new possibility has emerged for Manifesters.”
Oh, please.
Please don’t let this be what I think it is.
“It’s unprecedented, so all of Valmoth has been abuzz with talk of you. And you’re not even a Transcendent, but a Guide. Oregon, how many S-Class Guides are there on the continent right now?”
“There are three in total, Your Highness.”
“Compared to the eleven Transcendents, including Acteon Brondearn who manifested this time, there are far fewer Guides. Naturally, I’m curious about the extent of your capabilities.”
With that ominous preface, the crown prince turned his attention not to me, but to Acteon.
“You know, don’t you?”
Up until now, he’d treated Acteon like he was invisible.
His intention to secure the rare S-Class Guide for himself was all too clear.
Not satisfied with making me his protégé and using my power, his greed leaked through every word. Eventually, he meant to wield Hyacine, who would awaken as a high-ranking Transcendent, as well.
Acteon didn’t respond immediately, but finally affirmed, as if worried they’d find his silence disrespectful.
“Yes. I have experienced it myself.”
“So you were the first in Valmoth to be stabilized by an S-Class Guide. How was it?”
When it came to my abilities, Acteon’s answer was more serious than before.
“…It was astonishing. I cannot describe it in any other way.”
Judging by his expression and reaction, I almost felt my face heat up just hearing it aloud.
If only this weren’t a scene of outright abuse of power.
“So, according to him…”
The crown prince’s interest shifted back to me.
His hesitation was rarely a good sign.
“Oregon, can the bracelets be removed here?”
“It is possible, Your Highness. I anticipated you might require it and prepared in advance.”
“Very diligent of you.”
With that, the crown prince blew out a cloud of cigar smoke.
“Let’s see the power of you both, right here. That way we can see what our future forces might look like, don’t you agree?”
This time, I couldn’t even keep my expression in check.
“Release the bracelets.”
He was making a spectacle of us for his own amusement and curiosity.
No further right to refuse was granted.
No matter how superhuman our abilities, in front of these people, we weren’t even considered human.
Their casual, oppressive exercise of power made me feel sick to my stomach.
The man called Oregon stepped forward, holding a small wooden plaque.
It looked something like a piece of bark, with a tiny jewel set in the center.
When he brought it to the bracelet, there was a click, and with a strange sense of release, the control stone bracelet came off.
Rubbing the spot where the burn scar remained, my expression emptied of any trace of humor, the crown prince gave another disgusting smile and ordered once more.
“Now, show us what you can do.”
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