The Count Family's Young Master
Chapter 20 - Exit (1)

"Sorry to interrupt, young master."

Valias turned to the servant who was talking to him.

She had just come out of her room after going through her morning activity with Alister and a young male servant walking up to her.

"Yes?"

"Miss mage from the palace gets a message that the crown prince wants to see you."

Valias' eyebrows shot up.

"Crown prince?"

"Yes, young master. The mage lady also said that the crown prince is looking forward to your presence as soon as possible."

What's up, anyway?

Valias wondered but after he thought about it again, he had nothing else to do. So he better go.

"Alisters. I'm gonna go."

"I'll tell Mr. Count."

Actually Valias forgot that he still had to tell Valias' family. He had long been used to living alone. Valias nodded.

"Or will the young master deliver it himself?"

Alister showed me a smile.

Valias. There's no harm in seeing Hadden. He agreed and followed Alister's direction to Hadden's office.

Alister knocked on the door. "Good morning, Mr. Count. Young master Valias wants to see you."

"Come in." from outside Valias and Alister could hear the tone of Hadden's spirit. Alister opened the door. Hadden was already standing up from his chair. He was alone in the room.

"Is there anything you can do, Valias?"

"August, dad. The crown prince asked me to go to the palace."

"..Crown prince?" hadden's face hardened.

"Does he want to interrogate you again?"

Valias is worried that Hadden's thoughts will lead to something he isn't. "No, dad. The crown prince would not do such a thing. Crown Prince Frey would just want to talk to me."

Valias himself couldn't be so sure.

But there's not going to be anything bad, is there?

Valias felt Hadden's gaze attached to him.

"..I don't want to limit you, Valias. But you can't not worry." Hadden delayed his words.

"How are you going to get there? When's? Do you have to prepare a train for you?"

"No. I'm leaving now. After dad allowed it. Princess Azna gave the palace mage here. That mage will take me to the palace."

Hadden still attached his eyes to Valias. He seemed to be drowning in his mind.

"...Alright. You can go. Our territory has no mages. So I can't let you bring one. But I will prepare ten Bardev knights for you."

"...Yea?"

Valias.

A ten? Valias felt it was too much.

"..I don't need to prepare anything. I'll go alone. I don't think I'll be long."

"No. I'm worried, Valias. You've never been out of Bardev County. You've never been out of home–"

Hadden fell silent. Or maybe already. Hadden knew nothing about Valias before a year ago. Hadden felt his neck choked.

Valias was still busy with his own thoughts. I feel uncomfortable when I have to go out with that many people. Himself is enough. After all, as Abimala, Valias was used to traveling alone. It's nothing. Hadden doesn't know that.

Valias thought to convince Hadden even if he had to beg. "Dad. I promise I'll be fine. I'll be back once the crown prince's business is over."

Valias doesn't feel like he can just reject Frey's call. He himself was quite curious about the purpose for which the crown prince should have him.

Hadden listened to his eldest son make a promise. Hadden cursed himself who had not yet hired a mage for his territory. Finding a mage is not easy. Most of them chose to work for the palace.

"..Alright. You can go. But if you don't come back until this day is over" Hadden said forcefully.

"Dad will bring Bardev's knights to break down the palace."

Gosh darn.

Valias felt his shoulders shudder at Hadden's words that seemed to no longer change his mind.

"..I-i understand. I'll be back as soon as I can. Thank you dad."

Hearing Valias call him father and thank him, Hadden felt his shoulders relax. "Hm. Careful."

"Surely."

Valias bowed briefly and Alister let Valias out of the room.

Alister went to the servant who had spoken to Valias and brought the mage to meet Valias at the gate of the mansion.

"Good morning, young master."

"Hm. Morning time. We can leave now."

The female mage nodded. Then a circle of light appeared around Valias. The circle rose to the top of Valias' head. Feeling the glare he immediately closed his eyes. The moment he opened his eyes again, the scene before him had already changed.

"Hey. Valias Bardev."

In front of him, Frey Nardeen was sitting cross-legged with a servant standing next to her. The servant was a man who looked the same age as Valias. Then there was the black-haired knight wearing a protective layer and a sword on his waist.

"Morning, your honor." Valias is calm.

"Ha. Y'all see. Isn't he an interesting guy?" Frey stood up and grinned.

Valias began to wonder why he kept hearing that phrase from Frey and Wistar. But Valias guessed maybe his behavior was a bit different from most people.

How else. I'm not from here.

Frey approached Valias and wrapped his hands around the man's shoulders. Valias are shorter and their shoulders are narrower. Frey does that easily. "I need entertainment, so I asked you to come here. I didn't expect you'd actually come. I'm moved."

"...."

Valias is astonished by Frey's behavior but decides to answer as he sees fit.

"You called me here. So of course I'm coming."

"Haha. You're gonna be a fun friend. Come onl. I'll take you for a walk."

Valias followed Frey's steps, still clutching his shoulder. He looked around and wondered where he had just been moved. But after walking a few steps, they climbed the stairs. Then Valias could see the palace buildings.

"Do you know where you are?"

"..The palace?"

"Haha. The coordinates used by the mage in Bardev are the underground coordinates. Before you can get out of here, there will be guards watching you. No one would be able to infiltrate so easily." Frey explained, as if so happy to tease his guest.

"Oh.." Valias doesn't know what to answer.

"You know? Since my father died, I have to take care of everything. Well, actually from the beginning I was used to taking care of my father's work anyway. But now all the decisions are in my hands. I'm king Hayden, you know?"

"..Yeah.."

"If you had told us how to deal with the poison, my father wouldn't have died so soon."

"..Hm.."

Valias hears Frey's words and begins to think about the previous events.

It's the 12th day since the time of the attack.

"But it's okay. Whether my father lives or not, I will still be made king. Oi. How about you work for me?"

Valias was shocked by the words of the crown prince who kept talking. They're still walking. And Frey still holds his shoulder.

"I need help with this kingdom of ours. I need reliable people to maintain the peace of the kingdom. You will have your own power and territory. You can also get out of the Bardev family and start your own noble status. You don't want to?"

Valias silently did not answer.

Valias doesn't need that at all. He only wants to continue his life if he has to play the role of Valias Bardev. Of course Valias doesn't need any of that.

But Valias has read the story. He knew some secrets and events were about to happen.

"Young master Valias?"

Frey lowered his head checking Valias' expression. The person he was talking to did not respond.

"..No, your highness. Maybe I can help you. But I don't need power like you mentioned."

"Ho." Frey couldn't help but be surprised. "You're using 'me', now?"

The crown prince grinned.

"alright. I liked. Let's be friends from now on. I hear you hate nobles because of your past? Are you gonna stay away from me?"

Frey smiled obliquely even though he knew Valias wouldn't be able to see that.

"..No, your highness. I'm sure we can be good friends."

"Huh." Frey laughed sarcastically. "You're right. We're gonna be good friends."

Frey increasingly pulled Valias' body towards him. "You can be so brave to face me. You're not afraid I'm punishing you?"

Frey waited for the response of the red-haired young man beside her.

"If you decide to do that, then I won't be able to do anything."

"...."

Once again Frey is made at a loss for words by Valias' words.

He removed his hand from Valias' shoulder and covered his mouth. Valias who noticed Frey drifting away from him took a vision to the silver-haired crown prince.

Frey's shoulders are shaking. His face was covered with his bangs. Shortly thereafter a puckish sound came out from Frey Nardeen's lips.

"I really like you, Valias Bardev! Alrighty.. I don't know to what extent your knowledge of the leadership of such a large region as Hayden Kingdom is. But let's talk a little."

Frey grinned and started walking again. Valias is stepping on his thin legs. The servant and knight Frey had naturally followed where their master had gone.

"This kingdom, the nobles and the leaders of our region, each have a secret, you know?"

Valias did not respond.

Valias certainly knows this. War breaks out, but Hayden's kingdom is unable to win due to the lack of dedicated figures to win.

"Even my father, spent his time having fun without caring about the people, and I'm the one who's been doing the king's work all along."

Valias knows that too.

Chalis Nardeen was supposed to have died on the eve of the palace's birthday celebration.

And crown prince Frey Nardeen is also supposed to be dead.

But I saved him.

Because if not, useful figures will be increasingly lacking.

"I remember your weird waitress. Alister, isn't it? He says you spend your time reading books." Frey turned his body towards Valias.

"Book whatever you read. Don't tell me, book by the hand?" Frey smiled in anguish.

"..I read a lot of things."

Valias Bardev has read a lot of books. Valias hasn't read that many books.

Frey showed off her slanted smile.

"And what are you reading?"

Valias let silence between them. Slowly he began to unpack the things he had already thought of.

"Hayden will break, your majesty."

Frey rolled his eyes.

He wasn't sure if what the frail red-haired man said earlier was the same as what he thought he heard.

"What do you have to say?"

"As you said. Your father, King Chalis Nardeen did not play his kingly role for Hayden well."

Frey stopped walking. The two of them stood facing each other in the middle of the palace grounds.

"The noble leader of the territory has many secrets, right?"

"..You.. Who are you really?"

Frey Nardeen let her eyes cling to the black eyes of the young man in front of her.

"Valias Bardev, your honor."

Valias too, let the golden-eyed man look at him so closely as if to watch and judge his movements.

But he has prepared himself. He could face that gaze calmly.

"I'll help you."

"..What can you do."

"I'll tell you what I know. I'm sure the future king Hayden can get things done well."

Valias gives Frey a warm smile.

In the story he read Frey is described as an intelligent and determined young man. Valias just had to help him a little and the silver-haired young man would automatically do the rest.

After all he was a crown prince character in a fictional story.

Elsewhere, Frey had not expected to see such a smile from someone. The only person who had such a smile was his little sister, Azna Nardeen.

But now, the frail man gave that warm smile to her.

Frey let his eyes be fixed on the tyrannical face that had that smile. The wind rustled and the red hair tied to the black ribbon swayed to the rhythm of the wind.

"Ah."

Should I cut my hair?

Valias was still unfamiliar with his long hair. The air here is not hot like in Indonesia. He didn't sweat much so he didn't feel sultry. It was just that, with her long hair carried away by the wind and touching her lips and almost getting into her eyes made her annoyed.

"Your highness?"

Frey saw the smile disappear and was replaced with the flat face he used to see.

"E-Ekhem." Frey turned his face away.

"Y-Have you done it then. What are you gonna tell me?"

Valias smirked a little.

"First,"

Valias has thought of everything. He did not know when he would return to be Abimala, or wake up from a dream, or die.

But he'll spend his time here. He will do what he can to look after his family now.

"You have a brother you don't know, your majesty."