Fish Don't Know About Water - Chapter 15

Responsibility. Responsibility. Viett repeated the word blankly. The reality he had momentarily forgotten because of the keepsake slowly came back to him. The absurd situation where the younger sibling had to clean up the older brother’s scandal.

He looked down at Phenelity with a newfound gaze. How could she act as if she had completely forgotten what happened last night?

The Crown Prince tried to commit adultery with her, yet she came to his younger brother saying, ‘We’re getting married soon’ with such composure.

“You…”

“Yes?”

“A-are you really thinking of m-marrying me?”

After pondering for a moment, Viett blurted out a question that only a fool would ask. He regretted it as soon as he spoke. Whether she answered positively or negatively, he felt it would only ruin his mood.

“Who knows? We’ll see.”

Phenelity grinned mischievously and laughed.

If she liked it, she liked it; if she didn’t, she didn’t. What was with that ambiguous attitude? Viett stared at her in bewilderment.

“Commander, there’s a message from the Minister of Magic.”

At that moment, his adjutant approached and whispered. The adjutant’s gaze shifted to Phenelity Cochrun, who was laughing. He gave her a cautious nod, his face full of curiosity. Countless questions about the scandal’s protagonist tickled his throat.

“Well then, goodbye!”

But Phenelity ignored the adjutant’s curiosity and quickly left. She fluttered away like a butterfly, leaving the visibly pale Viett behind.

Talking with that woman makes me feel like an idiot too. Viett sighed as he glared at her retreating figure.

“I’ll take it to a repairman.”

The adjutant reached out cautiously upon noticing the broken necklace chain.

“No, I-I’ll handle it myself.”

Viett shook his head and stuffed the watch into his uniform pocket. Then he trudged towards his quarters. He could feel the persistent gaze of the adjutant trailing behind him, clearly wanting to ask about the previous night’s events.

Last night, the adjutant stayed with Viett until he bought cookies at a bakery. He knew nothing of Viett’s actions afterward.

However, the adjutant knew that Minute had stayed in Costonia and that his superior would never seduce a woman.

“Um… Commander, I have a question.”

The adjutant finally spoke, unable to contain himself any longer. He asked his question before Viett could give permission.

“The ‘prince’ mentioned in the novel ‘Pepe.’ Was that really you, Commander?”

Viett continued walking silently. Revealing the truth to the adjutant wouldn’t change anything. The royal family had already made him the scapegoat. They were now close to the officers’ quarters.

“Don’t let anyone near the quarters.”

Viett stepped into his quarters, closing the door behind him, leaving the startled adjutant outside. He walked to the room at the end of the second-floor hallway, where an old wooden desk stood in the center.

“Viett?”

A familiar voice came from the slightly open desk drawer.

Viett drew the curtains and checked under the desk for any bugging devices. Once he confirmed there were none, he opened the drawer and took out a lamp-shaped desk clock. A fast winding sound came from inside the clock.

“Viett. It’s me, Hinler Heinz.”

Amid the noise, he heard the voice of Minister Hinler Heinz. Viett adjusted the crown to set the hour, minute, and second hands to the communication code. Once connected, the winding noise stopped abruptly. He placed the desk clock on the table and smiled faintly.

“H-Hinler.”

“It’s good to hear your voice after so long.”

Minister Hinler Heinz responded warmly.

“How’s your injury?”

“I-It’s fine now.”

“That’s a relief. By the way, I received information that Easton is monitoring this communication code. Dispose of the clock after this conversation.”

Viett shook the desk clock lightly. This was the third time he had changed the clock for communication with Minister Hinler since the war began. While Minister Hinler insisted that Easton’s spies were attempting to eavesdrop, Viett had a different suspicion.

“Are you sure it’s really Easton monitoring this code?”

“You’re still doubting your father.”

Hinler sighed through the clock.

“Do you still believe the king is spying on you?”

“My father firmly believes I’m conspiring with ‘Aisad.'”

“Aisad… I’ve heard of it. A secret organization plotting to usurp the throne, right?”

The king had long claimed that Viett was in league with Aisad. But contrary to the king’s suspicions, Viett had no interest in the throne.

He had witnessed countless relatives being brutally purged, all threats to Minute’s succession. To the king, Viett was no different from those relatives.

Yet, the king hadn’t executed Viett. It wasn’t out of thin paternal affection. Viett was left alone because he was a stuttering fool and, above all, not fit to be king.

“My father is c-clearly losing his mind. He despised me for not being a threat to my b-brother’s succession… and n-now he’s suspicious of m-me…”

“The king’s paranoia must be worsening. Don’t pay attention to his baseless accusations.”

Hinler replied with undisguised contempt.

“I’ll provide you with a new code soon.”

“Understood.”

Viett stared blankly at the desk and asked in a somber voice.

“Hinler, do you also doubt m-me?”

“Doubt you? About what?”

“Do you think I really tried to s-spend the night with the L-Little Lady?”

“Of course not.”

Hinler’s low chuckle came through the clock. His voice was gentle, like a father reassuring his child.

“You’re not the type to visit a lady’s room at night to confess your love.”

Hinler added with a laugh.

“Though it was a bit surprising that you gave the Little Lady a box of cookies. Have your romance skills improved?”

The continuous jokes somewhat relieved him. Viett relaxed his tense expression and sighed in relief.

Hinler Heinz. The man who had taken care of Viett tenderly after his mother passed away and when he was left neglected by the king. Sometimes, he felt more like a father than the king himself. He didn’t want to disappoint such a person.

“I o-owed th-that woman something.”

As Viett relaxed and grumbled, Hinler responded with a laugh.

— You mean the wax doll.

Viett twisted his lips silently. He took the necklace chain from his uniform pocket and tossed it onto the desk. He thought he could finally rid himself of some guilt, but now the damned necklace chain was giving him trouble.

— I read the novel as well. Fortunately, the Little Lady seems to have softened her heart towards Your Highness thanks to last night’s apology.

“What do you mean, fortunately?”

Viett raised his voice involuntarily.

— Calm down. Since you’ll be getting married soon anyway, it’s better to clear any ill feelings between you two.

How could he tell me to calm down while saying something like that? Viett growled, bringing the desk clock close to his mouth.

“I-I have no intention of becoming a… a character in that damned novel… or m-marrying that woman.”

— Do you know that your reputation has significantly improved since appearing in the novel?

Minister Hinler began to persuade him calmly.

— Many people have been deeply impressed by the friendly side of Your Highness shown in the novel.

Viett recalled the times he had been under Phenelity’s care. The memories of smoking cigarettes while enduring her nagging were vivid. He couldn’t understand which part of that made him seem friendly.

He imagined the recent incident being revealed in tomorrow’s novel. A foolish prince who couldn’t do anything but stand there like a child after breaking Phenelity’s treasure. It would be a miracle if he didn’t get criticized instead of gaining any friendliness.

— It might be because the Little Lady viewed Your Highness positively. Readers tend to empathize with the narrator’s thoughts.

“To th-that woman’s eyes, I must have just been an a-arrogant prince.”

— An arrogant prince doesn’t bring a box of cookies at night to apologize for his mistake.

Hinler retorted with a laugh. Viett wore a bewildered expression.

“I see how low the p-public’s expectations of m-me were. To be i-impressed by something so trivial.”