Transmigrated as the ill 2nd Prince (BL)

Chapter 15: Cleared (Rewritten)

Hello readers. I just wanted to let you know that several of the chapters I've been working on have incorrect grammar. Please bear with me.

Oh, and I'd like to remind you that the update will be slow. I'm a little preoccupied with my schoolwork. .·'¯'(>▂<)'¯'·.

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As soon as I finished my pancakes, I set down my utensils.

"Dad... Brother," I called, catching their attention. Both had finished eating as well, and now that we were finally on good terms, I could tell them what I’d been meaning to say. It was time to talk about Riku.

"It's about Riku," I began.

"Riku? That kid you brought to the palace?" brother asked, his expression suddenly serious. Father, though calm, leaned back slightly, waiting for me to continue.

"Yeah," I nodded. "I was thinking… Could Riku stay here as my personal knight?" I took a bite of the pudding the maids had served, enjoying the sweetness as I awaited their response.

The servants nearby, aware of Riku’s presence, exchanged glances. Brother looked stunned, but father simply sipped his coffee, appearing unfazed.

"Hiroka, that’s—" brother started to object, but father raised a hand, stopping him mid-sentence.

"Sure, that’d be great," father said casually.

"Father?!" brother stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Calm down, Haru," father said with a faint smile. "I’d already decided to assign that boy as Hiroka’s knight. I want him to protect Hiroka and accompany him, even at school."

Both brother and I were caught off guard. So, father had made this decision all along. I thought convincing him would take effort, but it seemed I had underestimated him.

"Wait… The kid who’ll be with Hiroka at school—it's him?" Haru's confusion deepened. Even Alfred, our butler standing at a respectful distance, looked surprised. And from the corner of my eye, I saw Allea, seated quietly behind me, cover her mouth in shock.

Father hummed in confirmation, a sound that meant his mind was made up.

‘I guess that’s one less thing to worry about,’ I thought.

"But Father, why him?" Haru asked.

Father set down his empty coffee cup with a soft clink. "He’s interesting. Most kids his age are intimidated by me. But that boy? He didn’t even flinch. You noticed it too, didn’t you?"

My brother fell silent at Father’s words, as if reflecting on his encounters with Riku. Finally, he gave a reluctant nod.

Father smiled, satisfied. "That boy is skilled, I can tell. He’ll prove useful to Hiroka."

Then, turning to brother, Father added, "Haru, you’ll be Riku’s instructor from now on. Train him. You’re not only a master swordsman, but also the captain of the Callisto Knights. Help him refine his skills."

This revelation startled me—Haru was the captain of the Callisto Knights? The original Hiroka hadn’t mentioned this, and it was absent from the novel too.

Haru sighed, though there was a playful smirk on his face. "Fine. If it’s for Hiroka, I’ll do it. But I’ll push him hard," he said, a mischievous glint in his eye that made me feel a little bad for Riku. Haru was clearly planning something, and I knew he wouldn’t go easy on him.

Father shook his head and gave a small laugh. "Just don’t overdo it."

Haru’s smirk deepened, making me break into a nervous sweat.

Father stood, smoothing his coat. "I’ll leave now. I have business to attend to." Alfred promptly opened the door for him and followed him out.

With Father gone, Haru also rose from his seat. "I should get back to training," he said, but then he paused, glancing at me awkwardly. "See you later, Hiro." With that, he left, a spring in his step.

As the door closed behind him, I turned back to my pudding, realizing I still had some left. Smiling to myself, I picked up my fork and resumed eating.

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Riku’s POV

The guest room in the palace was far more luxurious than anything I’d experienced.

Three hours ago, the maids had brought me food—real food, not the scraps I was used to scavenging in the slums. Every bite had been a revelation, a taste I thought I’d never experience again.

I hadn’t eaten like that in years. Living without shelter or food had left my body frail, but now I felt a strange warmth spreading through me, not just from the food, but from the kindness the prince had shown me.

Still, I knew this couldn’t last.

‘How much longer until they tell me to leave?’ I wondered as I sat on the edge of the bed, gazing out the window at the beautiful garden outside.

The flowers seemed almost unreal, like something out of a dream. I tried to hold on to this moment, knowing it might be my last glimpse of such beauty.

A knock on the door broke my thoughts. It opened, and Allea, the prince’s maid, entered with a bundle of clothes in her hands.

"Sir Riku," she greeted with a smile. "His Highness asked me to bring these for you."

I blinked in surprise. Why would the prince give me new clothes?

"Oh, and this is for you as well." She handed me a small pouch. I opened it, and my eyes widened, inside were gold coins. Enough to buy a house.

"You can take your time getting dressed," she added, still smiling. "When you're ready, call me, and we’ll leave the palace."

I stared at the clothes in my hands, unsure of what to feel.

‘So… I’ll be leaving after all,’ I thought, a bittersweet pang in my chest.

As Allea exited the room, closing the door softly behind her, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. It was time to get dressed. My time here was over, and soon, I’d return to the only life I knew, a life in the streets.

Still, this brief kindness was something I’d never forget. And maybe, just maybe, I could hold on to a small spark of hope.