Negotiations and Nuisances

“What brings you all the way here?”

I asked since I was going to see his face at the palace anyway; why the sudden urgent visit? In response, Elliot pulled out a box. What is this? The box was small and luxurious—it didn’t look like it contained snacks. Dylan simply shrugged.

“A bribe.”

“What?”

“I should call it a gift, but the purpose is a bribe nonetheless.”

“Uh…”

In times like this, aren’t you supposed to call it a gift even if it is a bribe?

Inside the box was a brooch. Featuring a brilliantly cut blue-violet gemstone as the centerpiece with delicate surrounding ornaments, it didn’t look like something an eleven-year-old would buy.

“I matched it to your eye color. I hope it suits you. It would be even better if you wore it to the banquet.”

“What does this mean?”

“I told you. It’s a bribe.”

Elliot chewed on a cookie and furrowed his brows.

“I hate ginger cookies. If you let yourself be fooled by the clumsy sweetness, the aftertaste is terrible.”

Well, I agreed with that. Ginger cookies—which were far from my taste—never made it onto my snack tray, but looking at the timing, it seemed they were aimed at Elliot. Is this… some kind of jealousy plot against the youngest’s guest? There’s a paper-thin line between affection and restriction. The excuse that “it’s because I cherish you” is only plausible on the surface. If this was real, I’d have to set a warning.

“My mother prepared it. She felt she needed to stay on your good side.”

“On my good side? You’re a Dylan.”

Edwill was doing well, but Dylan was an equally prestigious family. They already owned several mines and were famous for their business acumen—succeeding in everything they touched.

“Yeah. I’m a Dylan. But my family’s success wasn’t gained through high pride. It’s because we have the ability to read the flow and seize opportunities. So, isn’t it only natural to try and gain your favor and want to flaunt our friendship?”

Is this kid really eleven? Is he a possessor too, or maybe a regressor?

“I don’t think I have that much influence. I’m just a ten-year-old kid.”

“Do you really think that? It’s famous that everyone in Edwill dotes on you. The concubine most loved by His Majesty called you to the palace, and Prince Erkel keeps you behind every time. Even the Crown Prince cherishes you, don’t they? Above all… a truly ordinary ten-year-old doesn’t admit they’re just a kid, Llewellyn.”

Everything he said was correct. My mouth went dry. Oh, damn it. I needed Erkel. I wanted to ask if Elliot Dylan was originally this kind of character.

“It’s just because of the large age gap between my brothers and me. And Lady Annette was close with my father. No, wait—the Crown Prince cherishes me? What are you talking about? He just…”

“He ‘just’ introduced a swordsmanship master to you. Sir Spellman, I mean.”

To be called “just” a swordsmanship master, Edward Spellman’s name carried far too much weight.

“I’m also seven years apart from my brother, but I don’t get called an ‘Angel’ like you do.”

“Where on earth did you hear that?”

“I have my ways.”

Elliot was composed, while I was burning up inside. One could think of him as just a mature kid, but then there was the case of Erkel and myself. What were the odds that this guy also knew the ‘Original Story’?

After a brief battle of nerves, I raised my hands. I decided to drop the act of being a clueless ten-year-old.

“Fine, Elliot. I get what you’re saying. But why go out of your way to talk to me like this? Wouldn’t it be less burdensome for kids to get close by starting with, say, bringing over a favorite snack?”

“This is a better way to get your attention.”

I’d rather there be an adult inside him—that would be less creepy. If this was truly an eleven-year-old, that was even more terrifying.

“And once you have my attention?”

“Then I can attempt to negotiate.”

Tap, tap.

The finger tapping the table stopped. Elliot willingly placed me in the superior position and chose to be the subordinate. If I brought Dylan to my side; if I refused; the keywords for negotiation… my mind raced.

“There’s no need to think so complexly. Like you said, we’re still young.”

Who would imbue our actions with such heavy meaning? He finally found a chocolate cookie among the ginger ones.

“Fine. Tell me the details.”

Erkel and Elliot guessed that the salon was intended to bring Erkel into the spotlight and to keep Annette’s eyes on me through him. And just as they suspected, several small gatherings were held even before the banquet that would mark the official opening of the salon.

Though the children of families selected by strict criteria gathered, they were still kids; thanks to that, the sound of children’s laughter echoed through the palace. Some held the back of their necks wondering what was happening to the Imperial Palace, but generally, it was welcomed. It was an event approved by the Emperor and led by Annette. There was no need to get on their bad side.

Those invited to the gatherings were those who hadn’t gone to the Academy yet but weren’t too young, naturally narrowing down to Erkel’s age group. While this would surely irritate the older princes and the princess, Annette bypassed it with a plausible excuse: the salon would eventually gather people by age anyway, so wasn’t it right to give the younger kids a period to adjust first? Honestly, even if that was forced, no one would have dared to nitpick.

As a result, Erkel became far too busy to have meetings like before. Annette willingly handed a handful of power to Erkel, and Rowena was grateful to her. If these gatherings of ten-year-olds continued, the next protagonist would be the 5th Prince, Lucas. It was a choice that cost Annette nothing; she could take credit for it and wouldn’t have to put in the effort to establish it from scratch later.

As Erkel’s playmates, Elliot, Lewis, Aiden, and I became busy as well. We didn’t strictly need to be there, but there was no reason to be absent either. As if regular lessons weren’t enough, schedules were packed one after another, eventually forcing me to postpone my swordsmanship practice. Edward Spellman was displeased, saying that my body was finally ready to be taught and that my hard-earned stamina would crumble again, but I persuaded him by promising to exercise consistently at home, and he reluctantly agreed.

It’s not like I wanted to skip the lessons. I’d rather be exercising. Playing along and keeping up the moods of kids who were more childish than Lewis and mentally weaker than Aiden was not something one could do with ordinary mental strength. Moreover, I was in a rush because I felt I needed to attain a certain level of skill before the age when the story truly begins to roll into the mud.

“Where are you going?”

I tried to slip away quietly, but Elliot caught me red-handed. Since our negotiation, he had become significantly more friendly.

Pathetically enough, I—who had become wary of any man’s friendliness—consulted Erkel, but the conclusion was: “Elliot is fine.” Erkel said it was true that he played the role of Llewellyn’s supporter and friend in the original story, and that being clever was part of his original setting. Above all, what relieved me was Erkel’s comment that Elliot’s importance in the original wasn’t that large. That meant his role among the candidates obsessed with Llewellyn wasn’t significant.

Elliot Dylan didn’t have the inhuman looks of the Crown Prince, but he was handsome; his family wasn’t quite on the level of a Grand Duke, but they were on par with Edwill. These were conditions enough for Erkel to have briefly set him as a character who harbored feelings for Llewellyn. But if his importance was small and his role was just a friend, then fine.

Even if he were to fall for Llewellyn Edwill’s dazzling face, he wouldn’t be the type to lose his head and jump into a blood-spattered arena against formidable opponents like the Crown Prince. A guy as calculating as him at only eleven wouldn’t lose his reason to emotion. As for the Crown Prince… well, that’s just how the story had to progress in the original, so there was no helping it. Even that guy chooses power over love in the end.

“Just catching my breath.”

“Sneaking off alone, how stingy.”

Even if the kids seemed purely noisy, they must have heard things from their parents. Edwill and Dylan were targets they needed to get close to, and thanks to that, Elliot and I were hounded, unable to even leave Erkel’s side. At least when Erkel was there, the center of attention shifted to the Prince.

“If the two of us disappear, it’ll be too noticeable.”

“Even if you slip away alone, it’s incredibly obvious.”

True enough.

Elliot and I shared a silent understanding, glancing at Erkel, then at Rooster and Chloe, then at each other. Shall we bolt together? Sure.

“Elliot!”

The moment we were about to slip out, a high, cheerful voice—like rolling glass beads—rang out, and Elliot clutched his forehead. He even muttered a small, quick curse. Helena, the precious daughter of Marquis Swartton, was head-over-heels for Elliot, who was tall for his age and quite handsome.

Since Helena had spotted him, it would be impossible for Elliot to sneak away. I chose the latter between friendship and freedom without hesitation. Since I had no doubt Elliot would have made the same choice in the reverse situation, I felt no guilt.

“Hi, Helena. That dress looks great on you today.”

“Thanks, Llewellyn. Your tie is really cool too.”

Helena squirmed, perhaps embarrassed by the praise in front of Elliot, whom she liked. The hem of her voluminous dress swayed with her movements. With her healthy flushed cheeks, sparkling eyes, and lovely pink hair, Helena was certainly cute. One should be happy to receive such passionate interest from such a lovely lady, but Elliot, his face turning pale, grabbed my hand and whispered, “Please…”

The lovely Helena talked a bit too much. Elliot, who couldn’t just ignore her and had to respond, was in for a rather exhausting time.

Still, at least you’re getting attention from a girl, man. I have to deal with the interest of men when I didn’t even want it.