Ikemen ni Tenseishita kedo, Cheat ha Dekimasenshita

98 I Don’t Know What The Illegitimate Prince Thinking About

In the deserted waiting room, I found myself with my back against the wall and a dagger pointed at my throat. So, it went without saying that my heart felt as if it was trying to jump out of my chest. That was how loud my chest was thumping. And the very reason why this was happening was the cold glare Frederick was aiming at me.

“I’ll ask some questions here, and you’ll answer me truthfully. Who are you? What are you doing here? Spit everything. Now.”

“I-I’m Theodore. Theodore Goldberg. The eldest son of Marquis Goldberg….”

The moment I said that, I felt a prickling pain in my head.

“Stop lying to me. You better spit the truth or else.”

“I’m telling the truth!!! Since everyone just suddenly forgot about me due to the scheme of the demon king, this might sound like nonsense to you, but I really am Theodore Goldberg, YOUR BEST FRIEND!”

“My… friend?”

Frederick’s grip on the knife’s handle loosened, but he had yet to retract his knife from my throat.

“Yes. I’m your best friend, Theodore.”

“Stop lying to me. My best friend is Duke. I don’t even know you. If you keep doing this, I’ll have no choice but to dispose of you with my own hand.”

Once again, the grip he had on the handle of his knife tightened, and my heart sank.

Dammit. Although I had considered this possibility before, it still didn’t prepare me for the reality. That bastard had also taken my best friend from me.

Currently, I was completely cornered without a way out. When I realized this, my limbs wouldn’t stop trembling and I became thirsty. Furthermore, I have felt dizzy since a while ago thanks to this headache. On top of that, there was this annoying buzz in my ears.

Dammit all!!! I had thought that I was shameless enough, but it turns out that my heart is extremely delicate.

“Listen to me. That Duke is the true demon king. All of these strange events are a part of his scheme. Try to think about it properly! At this rate, all of us are going to be screwed over by the demon king!”

I vented all of my frustration in desperation, trying to tell him to remember it properly even if I knew that he couldn’t do it. I honestly really wanted to scream, but I knew that I shouldn’t do that for my own safety. But, really, I felt as if my heart was about to break already.

Please spare me from this bull*sh*it already.

“… The demon king is you. I heard Duke shout that name while pointing at you. Others might have not realized it since you escaped and changed your attire immediately though.”

“If I really am the demon king, the first thing I’d do is snatch that knife from your hand and escape from the royal palace after killing you.”

The real demon king, the one who snatched my place, would definitely be delighted by that development I’d bet. Fortunately, Frederick seemed to be taking my words into consideration for he stared at me for a while. Perhaps he was pondering whether to trust me or not.

“So… you’re claiming to be my best friend.”

“I did say that.”

“Then, have you met my mother?”

“Never. You’ve never even talked about your mother, and I’ve never asked about her because you’re obviously avoiding that topic. I respect your wishes, so I am content to wait for you to tell me about her in your own time.”

The person herself had never appeared in public, and I had never even heard any rumors about her. I just knew that Frederick’s mother was somewhere in the royal castle. Although some people did say that she had died already since there was literally no rumor about her, the truth still remained a mystery.

I couldn’t confirm that rumor either since Frederick had never told me anything about her.

“What is the name of the girl I love?”

“EH?! You have someone like that?! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I can act as your matchmaker then!”

Man, that information was a bolt in the blue! This rascal had never mentioned to me that he was eyeing someone before. I meant, he only ever had this dumbfounded expression on his face every time he saw me with Muriel. So, I had no idea that a girl had stolen his heart.

“Your reaction is overlapping with Duke’s reaction.”

Because that bas*tard had replaced my place in Frederick’s memory. However, considering the situation, I wouldn’t tell him that. I had to endure it for now. Anyhow, I didn’t think that that kind of guy could replicate my speech and conduct.

… Wait a minute?

A thought flashed through my mind.

Could it be that everyone was under the impression that I was the demon king? Eh? Didn’t that mean that no one had actually forgotten about me?

No, no, no. Let’s think about this more carefully. Muriel had indeed said that Chester was our father’s eldest son, so this meant that my existence was erased from everyone’s memories. Still, there was a contradiction with Elliot’s words just now.

“Uhm, excuse me, but do you remember the first thing I said to you during Elliot’s fifth years old birthday party? When I called out to you since you seem like a loner. Back then you said that it’s better if I don’t talk to you to drive me away from you.”

Frederick’s eyebrows furrowed at my words.

“At that time, I told you that I was just making an excuse for a while, so just talk with me for the time being.”

“… If your claim is true, then how are you going to explain yourself? You did say that everyone has already forgotten about you after all.”

“And that’s exactly the problem. I don’t know how. You’re smart, right? Can you lend me that wisdom of yours? It has always been my weakness since the old days after all. You’re different from a dunce like me. You should be able to cook up some sort of plan with your intelligence. Please, I beg you. Help.”

“Shouldn’t you be wary that I might lead you to a trap instead of helping?”

“I don’t think you’re going to do that. After all, you’re still a good guy.”

However, Frederick suddenly smiled a self-mocking smile, making me wonder what was currently going through his mind right then.

“A good guy… is it? I understand. I’ll think of a way to get you out of this predicament. You owe me one.”

“Really?! I mean, you’re really going to save me? Well, I owe you one I guess. No, I’ll owe you as much as you want.”

Frederick’s eyebrow twisted and he frowned.

“You, really, I hope you’ll stop spouting something like that in the future. You may be used by others in the future if you keep on saying something like that.”

Heh, this guy is a good guy after all, and nothing can convince me otherwise. How can he not be when he actually gives such a warning to me when I’m currently regarded as the demon king?

“I only ever say something like this to you and no other,” I said, causing his eyes to be blown wide open as he dropped his knife whether in shock or in surprise I didn’t know.

Anyhow, I retrieved the fallen knife from the floor. It was still a dangerous good after all.

“… Good grief, where in the world did you learn such a pick-up line from?”

“Sorry, but I am not interested in chasing after men. My love is for Muriel,” I instinctively retorted, causing his expression to stiffen before he was staring dagger at me again.

“AHAHAHA! I see. You’re right, so that’s it. Hahahaha… suppose that… all your claims are true… it really is a good thing.”

After that, he laughed merrily. Just as I was wondering what happened to him, his expression turned dead serious denoting that he was pondering about something.

Oi, I really have no idea what you are thinking about right now, so explanation please. With words.

Alas, Frederick completely ignored my pleading gaze, and said, “The truth is, I can still hardly believe your claim. You being my best friend, Muriel being your fiancee, and you being the eldest son of Lord Goldberg seems to be… preposterous. However, I know for sure that you aren’t the demon king, Demon King-san.”

“If you really think so, please stop calling me demon king already!” I retorted heatedly, causing Frederick to chuckle happily.

Ha~h, this guy has been acting like a drunkard since a while ago. What in the world happened to him I wonder?

“Well, you haven’t told me your name after all. What choice do I have here, Demon King-san?”

“I’ve told you my name, right? It’s Theodore. Theodore Goldberg. Stop calling me Demon King alrea~dy!” I whined.

“Theodore… Theodore, huh? Good grief. I completely don’t remember that name at all.”

Dammit, I’m really pissed off now.

“Anyway, seeing that you’re not a noble, calling you Theodore from now on might cause a problem. So, let’s call you Theo. From now on, you’ll be known as Theo, not Theodore.”

“Wait a minute. I’m really confused here. My mother did call me ‘Theo’ every once in a while, but I’m Theodore.”

Hearing that, Frederick heaved a deep, dee~p sigh, as if he was facing an utter dunderhead.

“Listen carefully. You’re currently known as the demon king, so we can’t use your real name. The reason why I give you that nickname is to prevent someone from discovering your identity, understand?”

Still, despite his explanation, I really had no idea what this guy was trying to say here.

“Theo, you will act as my attendant from now on. You have to work for me to prevent the others from discovering your identity as the demon king. Is that clear?”

…

“EH?!”

His attendant?! What in the world are you thinking about, Frederick?! Don’t decide this matter on your own convenience! This idiot!!!