Chapter 102 Chapter 102 - Exasperated Third Prince (1/2)
CHAPTER 102
EXASPERATED THIRD PRINCE
Annel was a Prince, a revered person even in the most dominating Dynasty of the Eastern Continent, yet now he stood dressed as a normal commoner with makeup covering his facial features. Next to him stood his younger sister, Evelyn, who was doing her hardest yet again not to burst out laughing.
”... are you sure you want to do this?” she asked with an odd expression.
”I have to do this!” Annel exclaimed more so to convince himself than to reply to her question. ”He's crossed the line!”
”He only made a few women cry...”
”Few?! He made every woman west of Flaggen Chapel cry! That's hundreds of people, Eve!”
”... khm, yeah, my bad. You should definitely dress up as a commoner and bait him. Wouldn't it be more appropriate if I went? He seems to go after women, after all.”
”I can't risk it,” Annel said, shaking his head. ”Who knows what he does to them? You're too precious to be a bait.”
”Ah... whatever. Have fun, I suppose.”
”Fun? I'm not doing this to have fun!”
”Yeah, sure, whatever...”
Evelyn turned around and left, leaving Annel standing alone just outside the royal compound's walls. He watched streams of people moving left and right, all of whom would kneel before him any time of the day if he dressed and looked as per usual. Yet, now, they all ignored him as though he was an ant. It was truly a new experience for him.
He moved toward the southern part of the city where residences of mostly middle-class people were built. There, a notorious web of alleyways was the flame of rumors as of recently, named 'Kingdom of King of Beggars'. Apparently, that's what beggar himself requested they call the place.
Though Annel found it amusing, he couldn't bring himself to smile; it was fine for now, but what if he moved further north and started harassing Ladies of Marquises and Dukes? Wouldn't that spiral the city into a civil war? It certainly would! Those vixens, after all, have such short fuse even Annel doesn't dare look at them wrongly.
It took him nearly an hour of walking to get to the fabled alleyways. They were quite ordinary, cutting in-between houses built out of limestone and courtyards filled with greenery and flowers of all colors. Occasionally he'd spot a stray animal or two, but, after walking around for nearly half an hour, he was yet to run into any beggar, let alone the beggar.
Feeling slightly annoyed and tired, he took a deep breath and sat down onto the street. Unlike his older brothers, Annel wasn't hellbent on always maintaining proper decorum; he sometimes ate with his hands, drank directly from the fountain, climbed the trees like a monkey and tended to do whatever tickled his fancy: such as dressing as a complete commoner to track down a beggar and his dog.
”Eh? What are you doing, sitting there? Are you contemplating life?” a voice jolted Annel from his thoughts, causing him to look up toward the alley's entrance. There, standing with his arms on his hips, was a man dressed in shabby clothes, with disheveled hair and beard covering his entire face save for the black eyes. And, right next to the man's leg, was a dog of silver fur and ocean-blue eyes. It's them! He immediately concluded, a strange shine glinting in his eyes. ”Can I join you? I love contemplating life.”
”Hah! I finally caught you, you damned beggar!” Annel exclaimed, rising onto his feet and pointing his finger at the beggar.
”Eh? You were looking for me?”
”Of course!”
”Oh, I didn't know I'd already gotten so famous,” the beggar chuckled, suddenly scratching his nose as though embarrassed. ”I'm flattered, really, but I don't do autographs.”
”Eh?”
”We can share a meal, if you want, or talk about life,” the beggar continued. ”That should be enough for you, right?”
”W-what are you talking about?! I'm not your fan!” Annel exclaimed, feeling his cheeks growing warmer.
”Ah? You're not?! Ah, my bad, my bad. Geez, this is embarrassing. I always just jump to conclusions... I'm sorry...”
”As-as long as you understand it! I'm actually the Third Prince of Divine Dynasty, Annel En'gar, and I'm here to arrest you!” suddenly, there was silence; when Annel looked at beggar's expression yet again, he saw an odd one... with eyes filled with a solitary feeling: pity. ”W-what are you looking at me like that for?!”
”Aii... brother... dear... dear brother. Just how far down have you fallen to pretend to be a Prince?” the beggar said, shaking his head; as though to emphasize the true sadness of the situation, even the damned dog shook his head. ”I mean, I thought I had it bad, but you, you brother... I'm sorry. I'm honestly broke myself; but, if I ever do come across some riches, I'll give them all to you. You obviously need them.”
”W-what... what...” Annel felt defeated. It was one thing for the beggar to think he was fan, but a completely another for him to make fun of Annel. W-wait, my face! Annel realize. It's makeup! A handkerchief suddenly appeared in Annel's hand, spurring a strange glint in beggar's eyes which Annel missed. He quickly reached for his face and wiped it clean, revealing his rather handsome appearance. ”See? I'm really a Prince!”
”... wow, you even wear makeup,” the beggar suddenly took a step back as though terrified. ”Uh, it's, uh, it's your choice, so do whatever you want with your life. All the power to you, brother--uh, sister? Whatever, I'm fucking out.”
”No, wait, please! Just wait a second!! I'm really here to arrest you!!”
”... why would you arrest me?”
”What do you mean why?!”
”I'm completely innocent of any crime whatsoever.” the beggar said with a straightforward expression.
”There are literally hundreds of reports against you!!” Annel was staring to slowly lose it.
”What do you mean? That's heresy!! False accusations!! I damn them all to hell! How dare they tarnish my great name?! Humph, lowly bastards! Here I am, feeding stray dogs and offering strangers wisdom of life whenever I can, and they accuse me of crimes! Who?! Tell me their names!”
”...”
”...”
”... woof?”
”Sigh...” Annel sighed weakly, realizing the stories he'd heard weren't exaggerated at all. The beggar truly was... shameless. Shameless beyond reason. ”Can... can we just stop this?”