How To Train the Wolf King – Accidentally Spending the Night Together and Triggering the Death Flag,

Chapter 27: The Secret Thoughts of His Majesty the Wolf (2)

Margaery grabbed Julius’s arm, who was staring in surprise, and restrained him tightly. She whispered in his ear as he was pulled down.

“Don’t you forget?! What happened that night is a secret to both of us! It’s a secret, you know?!”

Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days Walkthro...

“Huh? No, wait. I’m not going to talk about that. So calm down.”

“How can I calm down when I’m being dragged into this? If we leave it to Yuri-sama, who knows what he’ll say to whom.”

“Do you have zero trust in me? It’s okay, it’s okay.”

“But!”

“Besides, that.”

Julius interrupted Margaery’s continued protests. He looked puzzled at her questioning expression and continued with a slightly reddened face.

“…It’s hitting my arm.”

“….”

——A few seconds later, with a red cheek from the shape of her hand, Julius coughed.

“Uh, so, let me tell you about when I met her.”

(He hit brother…)

(He hit him…)

Flora and Serge both internally commented. By the way, the culprit who left a handprint, Margaery, turned her back with a red face and indignation.

After coughing again, Julius slowly blinked his long eyes and began to speak.

“On the night of the graduation ceremony at the academy, I happened to have a chance to talk to her alone. We didn’t talk for long, and I didn’t hear much. But her words saved me. That was the beginning.”

“…Huh?”

Margaery was the one who made a foolish voice.

If they weren’t going to talk about the “secret,” she thought they would just make up some random story to change the subject, but the atmosphere was different.

Rather, the quiet voice and gaze that resonated deeply conveyed the truth of what was just said.

(My words saved Yuri-sama…?)

Ignoring Margaery’s surprise, Flora and Serge pouted dissatisfied.

“It would be nice if you could tell us a little more in detail.”

“His Highness is right. We want to know specifically what kind of exchange you had.”

“As if I would easily tell you. It’s our precious memory. By the way, it’s useless to ask Margaery. She has no awareness of having won me over.”

Saying that, Julius turned his back with a “pfft”. His beautiful profile seemed to be seriously cherishing the events of that night.

(What happened between His Majesty and me that night?)

After enjoying champagne at the party, Margaery’s memory was completely lost. All she remembered about Julius was the shock of accidentally hitting a death flag and ending up in bed with him, and the surprise of his fluffy ears and tail style.

(…If I ask, will he tell me?)

She secretly glanced at Julius’ profile as he skillfully dealt with Serge and the others who persisted.

She wanted to know. She wanted to ask. What did she say, and what did he think?

But if she found out, she had a feeling she couldn’t turn back.

It was because she was drunk. She didn’t remember. That’s why that night was dismissed as a “drunken mistake.”

However, if she knew what they talked about on that day and what he said, something would change inside her. It would change everything.

At that time, she wondered how she should face Julius.

Margaery was filled with a slight sense of unease. Flora looked at her, blinking her eyes.

“Shall we talk a little, just the two of us?”

Shortly after finishing their meal, Julius invited Serge, who was surprised but readily agreed. 

Glancing at Margaery, she made a fist and nodded in encouragement. With her support, they walked along the Mirror Pond with Serge.

They walked through the greenery, smelling the scent of trees, soil, and clear water. The only sounds were the faint rustling of leaves and the footsteps of the two of them.

With each step, Serge’s presence grew larger. At the same time, Julius’s heart began to beat faster and faster.

What should he say to his younger brother? 

He let out a faint sigh to release his tension. However, he couldn’t stop thinking about his recent bitter failure.

He was the legitimate heir to the throne, a child of the queen loved by everyone and with high popularity. On the other hand, he was the despised child who had usurped the throne from his beloved younger brother.

He had always felt guilty towards his half-brother Serge. If only he wasn’t there. If only he wasn’t born with the power of the Wolf King. Serge’s mother wouldn’t have broken down, and Serge would have become the rightful king of this country.

…He thought he was hated. He thought it was only natural to be hated. He convinced himself that he was hated, resented, and even wanted to be killed.

Therefore, Margaery’s remark hit him hard and pierced deep into his heart.

[Why do you think that way? Serge-sama has never said anything like that even once.]

She was right.

He never tried to see things from his half-brother’s perspective. He never tried to understand his true intentions. 

He had simply closed his heart and mind, believing that cutting him off and driving him away was the only option.

He had continued to turn his back on Serge.

“…”

They were about to complete half a lap around the pond. However, the first words didn’t come out smoothly.

Just as he began to feel anxious, he sensed a sigh of relief behind him.

“This is really a pleasant place. The scenery is beautiful, and the air is delicious.”

The speaker was, needless to say, Serge. When Julius turned around, Serge was squinting his eyes and looking at the lake.

Julius was disappointed by his relaxed attitude. He was the only one who was nervous. Apparently, his younger brother was simply enjoying a post-meal stroll.

Suddenly, Julius relaxed his shoulders and chuckled.

“Yes, that’s right. Is this your first time coming to this place?”

“I think so. I’ve heard about the mirror-like pond, but I’ve never been here before. Have you been here before, brother?”

“A few times. The forest is a good place to think. It’s quiet, and you can be alone without being disturbed by anyone.”

“Hehe, that’s a response befitting of my brother.”

Serge chuckled and shook his shoulders. His laughter caused his soft blonde hair to sway slightly. He had the same thin and glossy blonde hair as the tragic queen who had broken her heart and body, once known as the fairy princess, and had been ill since Julius appeared.

However, his sky-blue eyes reflected Julius straight ahead.

“Brother, I always thought you hated me.”

“…What?”

Julius widened his almond-shaped eyes.

The world fell silent. Only Serge’s voice echoed in their world.

“When my brother was in pain…when my mother, uncle, and those around us blamed you, I couldn’t do anything. Not just at that time, but even now, I haven’t been able to help my brother in any way. I thought my brother was disappointed in me for that.”

And so, Serge smiled softly.

“That’s why I was happy today. I was able to talk to my brother. We drank and ate the same things, and I was able to hear about his important feelings for someone special. It was like we were back to those days…like we were real brothers again.”

“Serge…”

Julius held his breath. He felt like he saw a glimmer of tears in Serge’s eyes.

Distant memories——gentle scenes of the past——brushed his heart. The time when Serge was young and Julius had not yet been officially named as the next king.

The five-year age difference between the brothers made Serge a perfect playmate. The young prince Serge somehow became attached to Julius and sneaked into the northern palace where Julius was staying, stealing glances from the queen’s eyes.

Without any constraints or bargaining, just peaceful days of playing with his young brother. Those days would never come back. That’s what Julius thought.

He finally realized that his brother had the same feelings as him.

A feeling of the mist in front of him clearing away gently… No, it was surely Julius’ heart that had been cloudy. She was like the first star in the night sky that shaded the light.

Julius suddenly smiled and shrugged his shoulders, causing his black hair to sway.

“It’s the same for me. I thought you hated me too.”

“Brother?”

“Yeah. I’m the thorn in his side, the usurper who took what was supposed to be yours. And I’m also the one who deeply hurt your mother. With all of that piled up, it’s only natural to be hated, right?”

“Well, as for me…”

“I see. I understand now… No, actually, I realized it a long time ago. I just couldn’t acknowledge it.”

He didn’t want to be resented—He wanted to be resented. He believed it was his atonement for destroying the world of his younger brother who had admired him.

“Sorry.” Serge’s lips tightened as he smiled wryly at Julius. After smiling at his brother who looked like he was about to cry, Julius tightened his expression.

“I’m starting to feel the limits of ruling this country alone. There are ministers and lords who still despise me and wish for you to become king. The rift will eventually tear the country apart and cause great chaos. I need your help. I need your assistance, Serge.”

With his red eyes fixed on Serge, Julius faced him as a king. Serge gasped and knelt down, placing his hand on his chest.

After taking a deep breath, Serge answered sincerely and directly.

“I, Serge Lui Legrand, will be your loyal subject forever. As a brother who shares your blood, I vow to dedicate myself to supporting you.”

“…I see.”

As if drawn in, Julius also knelt down. He met Serge’s surprised gaze and softened his almond-shaped eyes.

“Serge, my brother. I’m counting on you.”

“Yes…!”

After a long detour, their hands finally joined together.