How the Sidekick Prince Lives Again Chapter 141

Published at 12th of July 2023 11:48:54 AM

‘This mother isn’t just saying empty words. Go to Renato if anything happens to me. Do you understand?’

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‘But will hyung-nim help me……? His Majesty the Empress would dislike that……’

Despite Ludmilla’s request, Trudy could not readily obey. Liking Renato and relying on him were two different things. Renato in the child’s eyes was a fragile person who could easily crumble if handled wrongly.

Though still a child, Trudy could instinctively feel the turbulent air current flowing through the Imperial Palace. He could also sense people’s absurd attitude toward Renato.

Perhaps due to that, for Trudy, Renato was more of an existence he had to protect than an adult he could trust and rely on. He felt even more so after hearing from Ludmilla why Renato was disdained by people and hated by the Empress.

Trudy habitually told Ludmilla that when he succeeded Tristan as Emperor, he would punish all those who harassed his hyung-nim and never let anyone harass him again.

Whenever that happened, Ludmilla would insist that he couldn’t say those words carelessly and that he needed to mind the others, but Trudy did not doubt that he would become the next Emperor. It was because the nobles, palace doctors, and everyone else he met said so.

If Tristan had not had an accident a few years ago, Trudy would have become Crown Prince by now without much obstruction. It was natural since, albeit young, he was the only direct imperial family member apart from Renato and a precious Alpha.

In addition, before Tristan collapsed, the noble faction led by Marquis Medus was not as strong as now, either. Growing up in that environment, the child was confident.

However, Tristan was bedridden due to his injury’s aftereffects, and to make matters worse, Ludmilla also collapsed from a rare disease, making Trudy’s position rapidly shrink. Not only his political position but his life was also at stake like a lantern in the winds.

‘It’s okay. Your hyung-nim may look weak, but he is actually an incredibly strong person. He can do anything if he puts his mind to it…… So he will definitely help you. Trust him.’

Ludmilla tenderly comforted Trudy who was afraid. And she once again showed faith in Renato. Not long after that, she passed away.

Unable to endure the death of his loved one, Tristan passed out on the third day of the funeral. Renato didn’t show up at all. Ultimately, Trudy defended Ludmilla’s coffin almost alone throughout his funeral.

Mother, you were wrong.

Waiting for Renato as he never came, Trudy said to Ludmilla who had fallen into a deep sleep, never to wake up again. On the first day of the funeral, he waited without any disappointment. He did the same the next day. But when four days passed, his resignation gradually took hold. Trudy thought Renato would not come.

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‘I’m, sorry. I was too late. I should have come sooner……’

However, on the last day of the funeral, Renato appeared ahead of the ritual. He offered flowers to Ludmilla’s coffin and apologized to Trudy. Trudy couldn’t see Renato’s expression clearly as he was wearing a veil, but he could tell that Renato was crying just like him.

‘The fact that hyung-nim came like this…… Hic.’

Turning to Renato who apologized to him, Trudy shook his head to assure him and tearfully said. It would be a lie to say he didn’t have a grudge toward Renato at all, but he was glad that Renato came, even if it was late.

‘I’m sorry I left you alone, Trudy.’

Renato gently wiped Trudy’s cheeks as he cried profusely. Then, in a trembling voice, he pleaded for forgiveness.

‘I’m too shameless to ask this of you, but will you forgive me?’

For a moment, Trudy couldn’t understand why Renato was acting like a sinner and begging him for forgiveness. He was certainly sad when Renato did not appear during the funeral. But those feelings had melted away when Renato attended the ritual. Because he knew Renato had taken great courage to come all the way here.

‘Hyung, hyung-nim won’t leave me, right? Please don’t leave me. Don’t leave me like how mother did…… Ugh, hic.’

After a brief confusion by Renato’s words asking for forgiveness, Trudy clung to him, expressing the anxiety he had to endure alone for the past few days. Now he could only trust Renato.

‘I won’t. I will not leave.’

‘R, really? Hic, really?’

‘Yes, I promise. I will always be by your side.’

Astonished by Trudy’s actions, Renato quickly embraced the child gently. And he promised several times in a weeping voice.

‘I will protect you, Trudy.’

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After that day, Renato changed. They couldn’t see each other often because of Blanche, but Trudy heard from Max about who Renato met and what he did.

Mother, you were right.

Realizing that Renato was really acting for him, Trudy belatedly agreed with Ludmilla. She was right. Renato was an adult he could fully trust and rely on.

Still, he was very surprised when hearing that Renato would marry Khalid. Renato denied it, but Trudy knew that Renato decided to get married because of the child. With that, a heavy pang of guilt weighed on the child’s heart.

That was why he was hostile to Khalid. People seemed to think Trudy acted so because he had lost his precious hyung-nim, but it wasn’t the truth.

Of course, that could also be counted as a reason. But the biggest reason was that he thought Renato would have a loveless marriage because of him. His guilt toward Renato was expressed as animosity toward Khalid.

Fortunately, Khalid and Renato’s relationship was good enough to make him jealous. Feeling the scent of Khalid’s pheromone strongly lingering on Renato’s body, Trudy pouted his lips. The scent reminiscent of a winter forest made a sense of repulsion soar up in him.

“Hyung-nimm……”

Resisting the urge to coat Renato with his pheromone, Trudy snuggled into Renato’s embrace. Leaving pheromones onto another’s body was only permitted between parents and children, lovers or companions. He was Renato’s younger brother, so he couldn’t do such a thing.

“Your Imperial Highness, we have arrived at the Imperial Palace.”

“Hing……”

When Trudy depressedly rested his face on Renato’s shoulder, the carriage stopped with a voice signaling they had arrived at the Imperial Palace. The child whined as the time he had hoped not to come had finally come.

“Renato.”

As Renato patted the whimpering Trudy on the back to comfort him, the carriage door opened. Trudy, snuggling in his hyung-nim’s embrace like a baby koala, frowned when Khalid naturally called Renato.

From some point on, Khalid was calling Renato by his name. It was a sign that the two had become closer. Still, what comforted Trudy was that Renato had not yet called Khalid by name.

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“Prime Minister Elaine has come to meet us on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor. Marquis Medus is also with him.”

“The Marquis?”

“Yes, so……”

Khalid’s gaze turned to Trudy in Renato’s arms. That alone was enough to understand what Khalid was trying to say.

“I’ll go out first, hyung-nim.”

Trudy came down from Renato’s arms, accepting that the time he could be with Renato was over.

Tap tap, Trudy roughly straightened his wrinkled clothes and laboriously showed a mature face. It was different when he was only with Renato, but he didn’t want to appear childish in front of Khalid.

“I will help you.”

“You don’t have to……!”

The carriage Renato and Trudy were riding was still quite high for a child to climb up and down alone. Khalid quickly held Trudy up before the child could refuse. Then he gently dropped the child off.

“Iing……!”

Trudy, whose pride was momentarily hurt, puffed his cheeks like a frog with a scowl. But then, he dropped his head and let out a long sigh. In any case, he had to say thanks for the help.

“Thank you…… for your help.”

“It’s nothing.”

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When Trudy thanked him, Khalid smiled softly and stroked his round head. Unlike the child’s hostility, he was quite fond of Trudy.

“Please come down carefully.”

Having withdrawn his hand from Trudy, Khalid reached out to Renato this time. He always escorted Renato as he got on and off the carriage.

“……Tsk.”

Arranging his hair that turned messy because of Khalid, Trudy glanced at the man escorting Renato. He didn’t want to admit it, but as a result of watching until now, Khalid was a good companion for Renato.

Recently, there were also some moments when he suspected that Renato truly liked Khalid. So he was more jealous.

Were I a bit older, were I not a child who needs hyung-nim’s help, hyung-nim wouldn’t have to depend on the grand prince.

These days, Trudy disliked the fact that he was a child. He wanted to become an adult as soon as possible to protect Renato rather than be protected by him, but that day felt so far away. Above all, when he became an adult, Renato would become an even bigger adult. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t beat the time difference.

Trudy pouted his lower lip, watching Renato link his arm with Khalid. Envy and jealousy toward Khalid rose up. However, he couldn’t help but be dissatisfied to see Renato, who was apologetic and sorrowful toward him just a moment ago, talk to Khalid with a more relaxed face.

I can’t help it.

Trudy let out a small sigh and quickly walked toward the two. The child knew he could no longer act immaturely. He couldn’t grumble at the two who worked hard for him forever. Now was the time to become a little more mature.

“Come here, Trudy.”

Renato reached out his other arm toward Trudy as the child came closer. It would be good not to act friendly in front of Marquis Medus if possible, but with Prime Minister Elaine and others, holding hands would be okay.

“Uhmm……”

Trudy briefly pondered, then suppressed the desire to hold Renato’s hand and clutched Khalid’s hand.

Chapter end