How to Live as the Enemy Prince

Calin walked out of the dining hall while coughing softly.

At that sound, Yan, who was following him, flinched. Although Yan may not be the brightest person, he knew that those coughs weren’t because of a cold.

“I have waited until today, as I promised. If tomorrow’s tea contains poison, I will not be your servant anymore.”

“Will you resolve this situation yourself?” 

“Yes, your highness,” 

If Yan tried to resolve the situation, Duke Siegfried would have to put down his violin bow and get an actual bow. But it wasn’t something to worry about, because he knew Slayman was someone who could handle it. 

“How reliable,” 

“I’m not joking your highness,” 

“I know, and I wasn’t lying either,” 

Calian said those words and he meant it. He then stepped into the dining hall.

Randell, who was already in the dining hall and eating, stared at Calian for a long time because Calian was much paler than yesterday. Of course, Calian knew why Randell was staring at him, but he started eating without any word.

Calian got himself some salad and after he was done eating, put down his fork. Randell also got up at the same time. Calian spoke.

“I will see you at dinner.”

These days, Calian seems to talk to Randell, at least once a day. 

It started with the talk about roses, the next day about how he couldn’t sleep due to the storm, the day after about how he missed the bird-songs so dearly. 

Randell only said ‘I see’ to Calian. Calian thought that Raven, when taught words, could speak more fluently than Randell.

But today was a bit different.

“Take care of health,”

Finally.

Calian lowered his head and smiled.

All the others in the dining hall doubted their ears. Randell’s servants, Yan, and the maids and servants in the dining hall, too.

“I’m alright,” Calian was the only one who could act casually. 

Without speaking more, Randelll went outside, and Calian also exited the dining hall to start his day.

Afternoon came, and Yan, who had a careful eye on Calian’s quickly paling face, asked in a calm voice, 

“The meeting with the nobles is now underway, you must go eat dinner in an hour. What shall I do?”

A dinner party was due to happen after the meeting with royals took place. Yan was worried about Calian going to the dinner party, but Yan already knew Calian’s answer.

When Yan was told to wait until Tuesday, he knew that Calian was waiting for this moment.

“Of course, I’m going,” .

“Please rest. I will call the maids,” Yan agreed despite the many complicated thoughts running through his head. 

“No. Wait a second.”

Calian held on to Yan and he rolled up his sleeves to reveal a knife. He gave it to Yan and pointed towards the safe.

“I want you to take care of this knife, along with the antidote and the data on Silica – take it all,” 

“What do you mean?”

“There might be an inspection of my room taking place so leave it with Teacher first. If it’s found, it won’t turn out pretty.”

Inspect the room? What would make for an inspection?

Yan’s face showed how perplexed he was, and Calian gave Yan two envelopes. When Yan received them, Calian spoke again.

“Give one to the Mage Association and one to the Teacher. Make sure you go to the association first  then to Teacher.” 

Since Calian gave a sealed envelope to Yan – it was because he wanted to hide the contents from Yan.

Something wasn’t feeling so well.

“You’re not going to tell me what it is. Right?”

Calian smiled casually and nodded. 

“Well, you won’t be drinking that tea anymore and you won’t be going to the banquet hall with a knife so for now, I’ll do as you say…”

“Yeah don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything,” 

Yan didn’t know if he could believe that smile, 

“The last time you smiled like that and said you’d take care of it, Franz stabbed you in the hand with a knife,” 

“It won't be like that,” Calian’s smile was a little darker than it had been at that time.

It wasn’t like the time with Franz at all, it was much more than that. Well, for now, Yan moved as Callian asked him to and started gathering anything that might raise questions if the room were to be investigated. 

Finally, as Yan exited the safe and it's doors closed behind him, he said, 

“I can go to the feast alone. Go right after you’re done with preparations for dinner.”

“…Yes, your highness,”

Yan, having responded, took the things Calian told him to. He then looked at Calian for a moment and then went out, calling the maids.

Yan, after helping with preparing for dinner, left the palace to run the errance for him and Calian opened the safe once again. He then retrieved something; something hidden deep inside the safe.

Calian picked up what looked like a sugar cube. He had received this from White Eagle when he had gone to the Secretia spy base. He then stroked his chest to calm himself down. He put it inside his pocket and went out.

It was poison – poison that Calian prepared for Silica.

—

The knight guarding the entrance to the banquet hall said, 

“Your highness, The meeting has been extended and the dinner has been delayed. As such, His Majesty has not yet arrived,” 

It seemed that Rumein had accepted his request to delay the nobles meeting by 10 minutes.

“It’s alright, I'll just go in and wait,”

“Yes, your highness,” The knight made a formal bow and opened the door to the banquet hall for him. 

Calian’s lips rose slightly as the scent of Ranieri flowers that could be smelt even before the sight of the banquet hall could enter his eyes. 

Silica was sitting alone in the large banquet hall. 

The only people who did not attend the Nobles Meeting and at the same time were invited to the feast were Silica and Calian. Since this was a feast that started right after the Meeting ended, it would start late if the meeting ended late.

That was how Calian got some time to speak with Silica– all by himself.

A servant approached and put down a cup of coffee. Calian said.

“Please give us some space before the others come.”

“Yes your highness,” The servant nodded and everyone else left.

Silica stared at the sight of everyone leaving since she did not know what was happening and, like a habit, picked up her fan. 

Calian, seeing that, shook his head.

“Shall we put down our masks?” 

At those words, Silica froze for a second. Then, she nodded and put down her fan on the table.

“Let’s do that then,” (Informal)

Both Calian and Silica were staring at each other. Although they both seemed calm, they actually weren’t. An impounding silence blasted throughout the room. The second hand of the clock ticking away inside the ballroom sounded like thunder.

Silica spoke first.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” (Informal)

It was like that last time as well. Calian frowned slightly and held the coffee cup in his hands.

“I said, to put down our masks-” 

Calian’s red eyes moved away from Silica and now looked at the coffee in front of her. 

“-But it did not mean we should do away with our respect.”

In an instant, Silica's eyes turned sharp.