Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: The Appointment Ceremony (2)

Yuren Pharos is notorious across not only the capital but the entire empire.

However, his infamy differs from that of ordinary unruly aristocratic brats.

The latter are merely “immature,” but Yuren is a “rascal.”

What’s the difference, you ask?

Many would be able to tell you.

Yuren’s misbehavior spared no one.

Whether it was an elder, a child, a woman, or even another noble, he displayed equal disregard for anyone in his path.

That’s why, despite having just completed his appointment as the Crown Prince’s mentor, stepping into the political scene for the first time in 300 years, no one dared speak to him.

And why, despite standing next to the half-wit 3rd princess instead of the Crown Prince, no one whispered about it.

Yuren Pharos—young master of the illustrious Pharos family and the first of his line to re-enter politics in 300 years.

Anyone who involved themselves with him was likely to be burned by his notorious temperament.

As a result, Yuren was seen as a hornet’s nest, and no one dared to poke it.

In the midst of this, quick-thinking nobles began to speculate: perhaps Pharos favored the 3rd princess.

“This is too sweet.”

“Wah, my cotton candy…!”

Aria whimpered, and Yuren gently fed her a piece of the cotton candy.

Her expression quickly softened.

Yuren spoke,

“This must be food for children. It’s much too sweet for an adult like me.”

“Then give it back! That’s the cotton candy Aria brought…!”

“Yes, yes, take it.”

Only then did Aria take the cotton candy back and glare at Yuren.

She bit into it again, her cheeks turning rosy.

They looked like a pair of close siblings, and that struck the nobles as strange.

Yuren Pharos, being kind to someone else? Especially a child?

This was unthinkable.

Yet, the scene before their eyes persisted.

This led to the conclusion that “Pharos must have a special interest in the 3rd princess.”

What should they do then?

Should they rush in to congratulate them on their relationship?

Should they try to get closer to the 3rd princess?

No, that would be the strategy of amateurs unfamiliar with the central political landscape.

Waiting, observing, and understanding Yuren’s true intentions was wiser.

It was possible he was only suppressing his temperament because of his new position.

However, not everyone had such foresight.

Some, ambitious and eager to enter central politics, lacked that awareness.

One such individual stepped forward—while Yuren was still speaking.

“Princess, instead of sweets, how about we have some meat…?”

“I greet the young master of Pharos.”

Baron Gilan.

He was the head of the Gilan Merchant Guild, a man desperate to forge ties with the royal family and enter the political scene.

Aria flinched.

Yuren slowly turned to look at Baron Gilan and revealed a face the nobles were all too familiar with.

“Hey.”

“…Yes?”

“Hey, do you know who I am?”

Baron Gilan’s smile froze.

At that moment, any possibility that Yuren might have “grown up” vanished from the nobles’ minds.

They were left with nothing but shock and concern, wondering how to avoid the walking hornet’s nest.

But Yuren continued.

“Didn’t you hear me? Do you know who I am?”

“Well…”

“Seriously? You were just at my appointment ceremony, so you should know. Who do you think you are, coming up to me like we’re friends while I’m talking to the princess? You’re interrupting a royal conversation. Have you no sense of rank?”

Each word was inappropriate, lacking in respect, and devoid of courtesy.

Yet, no one could criticize him for it.

After all, what was a mere baron of a merchant guild compared to the Pharos family, a founding house of the thousand-year empire?

Moreover, Yuren’s behavior had justification.

Wasn’t Aria, even if half-witted, still a princess?

And wasn’t Pharos a family more loyal to the imperial house than any other?

So, by interrupting a conversation between a royal and a Pharos, Gilan was the one lacking courtesy.

Handling rudeness with rudeness was not unheard of in noble society—though none would ever be as blatant as Yuren.

“I am Baron Gilan of the Ogers region, and—”

“And so what?”

“I… I was hoping to foster a good relationship with the princess…”

“Hey.”

Baron Gilan tried to salvage the situation, but Yuren’s tone remained unfriendly, even hostile.

“Who are you to speak of having a good relationship with the princess?”

The atmosphere turned cold.

Some of the nobles present, especially those who had been struck by Yuren before, recognized his expression.

He had that same calm look he wore before throwing a punch.

“Alright, let me ask again. I don’t like repeating myself, but today’s a special day, so I’ll make an exception.”

The tension in the air was palpable.

Some even shivered, anticipating a brawl about to break out.

But maybe they were worried for nothing, or maybe it really was a “special day,” just as Yuren said.

“I was in the middle of a conversation with the princess.”

Yuren’s tone remained unexpectedly mild.

“So, who are you to interrupt and act like we’re friends?”

That was the end of it.

Baron Gilan had no grounds left to continue, nor any logic to counter Yuren.

“I… apologize.”

“Get lost. I don’t want to talk anymore.”

And with that, the ignorant provincial noble was crushed.

Two things became clear at that moment.

One: Baron Gilan would never set foot in central politics again.

Two: Princess Aria Ortaire had suddenly become someone worth paying more attention to.

The ripple effect was immediate, and far away, certain people were watching closely.

“That madman…!”

Princess Erilda ground her teeth in frustration at Yuren’s antics.

Those around her looked concerned, knowing that people would now start reassessing the 3rd princess’s worth, sparking political unrest.

“Your Highness… Yuren Pharos is…”

“Well, what can we do? It’s not a real issue.”

Crown Prince Callios’s reply was calm, though his expression had slightly darkened.

His displeasure wasn’t with Yuren’s behavior—it was something else.

Yuren’s antics?

Sure, they might cause a bit of gossip, but they posed no real threat to his claim to the throne.

The same went for Yuren.

As a swordsmanship mentor, his conduct mattered little as long as Callios’s skill improved.

The real issue, if there was one, was the political turmoil Yuren’s actions had just stirred.

But that problem would rear its head regardless of Yuren’s involvement.

And that was the problem.

Yuren’s behavior hadn’t caused any tangible harm, but it had succeeded in drawing Callios’s attention to Aria.

Callios couldn’t stop thinking about Yuren’s intentions behind deliberately making him see Aria.

‘What is it you want to say…?’

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became.

It didn’t make him feel good.

The banquet ended late at night.

However, Callios’s night was far from over.

He returned to the Dawn Palace and faced Yuren again.

Yuren had returned to his usual indifferent expression.

So, Callios asked.

“Why did you do that?”

“What do you mean?”

“What are you trying to say?”

Callios’s demeanor had grown somber.

It was different from before.

Yuren had been perfectly justified when he had awakened Callios from his infatuation with Rebecca.

That day, he had only given the most obvious answer.

But Callios believed that ignoring Aria was a matter of political choice.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Yuren had overstepped by interfering in this.

That was the reason for his current mood.

However, Yuren seemed completely unaffected by Callios’s mood.

Instead, he looked directly into Callios’s eyes.

It shook Callios’s conviction.

‘Those eyes…’

Those were the same eyes from before.

As if he were looking for something Callios had missed, or lecturing him.

Callios’s past experience urged him to find something in those eyes.

But he couldn’t.

Callios wasn’t capable of reading minds, after all.

The silence didn’t last long.

Yuren spoke.

“The Third Princess is also a member of the royal family. She was alone, so I kept her company. Do I need more reason than that?”

It was a reasonable explanation.

But Callios knew.

Yuren used such words because he wanted Callios to think for himself.

However,

“…You acted out of respect for her as a Pharos noble? Is that it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then let me ask you this.”

This time, Callios had something to say as well.

Thus, the argument began.

“Your actions will only deepen the conflicts surrounding the Third Princess. You’ve made a future problem even worse.”

“Could Her Highness not resolve it herself someday?”

“No, she won’t. Half of her blood comes from a dancer. No one will want to recognize her status.”

“Even so, can’t she make the wisest choice within those circumstances?”

“No, no choice will be given to her.”

That was the reason for his indifference.

If everyone knew that she was a puppet without strings, the conflict would at least end within manageable limits.

Aria’s marriage contract would no longer be a national issue.

This indifference was Callios’s mercy.

Just as he was about to say this,

“In that case, Your Highness,”

Yuren stood up, clasping his hands behind his back as he spoke.

He looked down at Callios with deeply sunken eyes.

Then,

“You are saying that the Third Princess cannot decide anything for herself. That she cannot hold any status. Is that what you’re affirming?”

Yuren struck a nerve.

“In that case, how is the Third Princess any different from the commoners outside the palace?”

“…!”

“If Her Highness is not someone Your Highness needs to be wary of as a ruler, but rather someone destined to be swept up in the tides of misfortune, then why is she left isolated like this?”

Callios couldn’t answer.

The words that came to mind were all unsatisfactory.

Even as he hesitated, Yuren continued.

“Your Highness, the one who stands at the top must, in other words, see everything beneath them. But your gaze is not reaching all parts of the realm. Why is that?”

Callios clenched his fist.

He could no longer look Yuren in the eye.

The more Yuren’s argument came together, the more certain words began to surface in Callios’s mind.

He didn’t want to hear them.

The thought suddenly surged within him, but,

“She is bound to be unfortunate, no matter what. Under your sky, Your Highness, she will be more miserable than anyone. But still,”

Yuren delivered the next words with brutal precision, like cutting off a lifeline.

“You will be comfortable. If there is no visible conflict, then one less complication to manage. Even if it’s a dispute that Your Highness could easily resolve… though you may find the process tedious.”

Yuren was stating his case.

“Let me ask you this.”

He pressed further.

“Who benefits from your decision to ignore the Third Princess?”

All the reasoning Callios had built was nothing more than excuses crafted by selfishness.

“Your Highness, who must see everything, why do you only look at what’s convenient for you?”

What Callios had seen wasn’t Aria herself, but the political danger surrounding her.

“It seems to me that Your Highness has ignored the tears of the closest subject in exchange for comfort, hasn’t he?”

What Callios had overlooked was the regret he had deferred to the future.

Callios’s lips parted.

But the answer rising up his throat was nothing but excuses.

Knowing this, he clenched his teeth.

At that moment, Yuren turned his back.

“The choice is yours, Your Highness. But, remember this.”

He left with one final word.

“If you choose comfort, Your Highness, you must face the Third Princess later without regret. Even in your dying moments.”

Thud—

Even after the door closed, Callios couldn’t lift his head for a long time.

At the end of all this confusion was…

‘…Regret?’

What had been wearing the mask of justice until then was nothing more than shame.

———