# Chapter 46
“There was no doubt that that man was Ekyan. He was wearing a mask that completely covered his head, and yet, he knew it was his old friend.
Ekian was much younger than him, but he was wise, lively, and easy to talk to, which made him always keep him close and trust him.
“…His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Finally, a voice came from behind the mask.
Alteon let out a long sigh. That was indeed the voice of his long-missed friend.
“It's been a really long time.”
Ekian bowed slowly in respect.
“How have you been during this period?”
His voice carried a calm and aristocratic tone.
Without realizing it, Alteon hugged Ekian tightly.
“Huh, really… it's you. “You really are.”
“The Imperial Palace guards were very guarded. “I wanted to visit you earlier, but I couldn’t get in until the day of the party.”
Those were honest words. Perhaps other places could be entered, but the Imperial Palace was not an easy place to reach.
However, the day of the concert was a completely different story. Due to the huge number of servants accompanying the nobles, it was not easy to notice the presence of strangers wandering inside the palace.
Of course, there was heavy security and careful verification of those entering and exiting, but that too was little problem, especially if the Crown Prince, Alteon, had prepared things in advance from within.
“I'm grateful you're still alive.”
Alteon said as he patted Ekyan on the back, overwhelmed with emotion.
Although Ekian did not show it, he was feeling a tidal wave of emotions. For the first time in five years, he reveals his identity to someone from his past. It was like regaining his long-forgotten place.
To make matters more complicated, during those years, he discovered that Alteon was in fact his half-brother.
He was about to sincerely express his feelings to him when Alteon's voice interrupted him, carrying a sudden realization.
“So, in the end, it was all true.”
Alteon spoke in a low voice.
“What? If it's true, then what...”
“I'm talking about that rumor... that you got a young woman with a promising future pregnant with your child, and then ran away without taking any responsibility.”
Alteon turned away from Ekian, who had been hugging him tightly moments before, and shook his head in worry and confusion.
“Honestly, I thought something was wrong. “I thought maybe Duke Mews was making excuses and claiming to sense your energy just to delay the announcement of your death.”
In fact, Alteon's hunch was accurate. He looked at Ekian, who looked shocked, then clicked his tongue in displeasure.
“I would have believed you were dead, but I didn't expect you to act so irresponsibly… You've become just trash over these years, haven't you? “He is no longer the Ekyan Miwose I used to know.”
Then he sighed deeply, looking at him as if he was dealing with an intractable problem.
“You told me you came for an urgent and confidential matter... Did you come to ask for money, perhaps?”
His attitude was exactly that of an old friend dealing with a playboy who had lost all his principles. In that moment, all the emotions Ekian felt were shattered.
“I'm not sure how much you need, but if you're going to use it for something bad...”
“Not so.”
Ekian was finally forced to respond seriously.
“It's not what you think.”
“So, have you turned to one of those low-level shady religions… or do you need me to l you something?”
“Neither this nor that.”
Ekian let out a deep sigh.
“The reason I remained hidden all this time and then appeared here today… is because I came to warn you, Your Highness the Crown Prince, of the danger that will face you today.”
“Hmm?”
Alteon furrowed his eyebrows, tilting his head curiously.
"Today? At my birthday party?"
"Yes."
Ekian nodded seriously.
“After the ceremony speech ends, one of the bodyguards will attack you. I don’t know his name, but I’m sure he’s the knight who’s supposed to be standing behind you on the right.”
“Is there evidence?”
“…Ekyan, this is an exaggerated joke.”
Alteon answered slowly.
“Sir Sikan is a loyal man of the Imperial Family. His Majesty bestowed it on me personally...”
“Isn't it true that your reactions have been slower lately?”
Alteon paused at Ekian's pointed question.
“Your swordsmanship isn't what it used to be, is it? I bet your vision will be more blurry today, and your response will be slower.”
“...You...”
“You are gradually being poisoned.”
Alteon bit his lip as Ekian continued speaking.
"After the ceremony is over, secretly send a sample of your blood to a doctor outside the palace to examine it and make an antidote for you. Don't trust palace doctors."
Alteon remained silent, staring at Ekian, who continued seriously.
“Wear light armor under your party robes, and watch your right carefully. When the attack starts, dodge it immediately. If you stay alert, even if your reflexes are weaker, you will be able to dodge it.”
"If you listen to me, you have nothing to lose. If nothing happens, it will just be a hallucination of an old friend."
“Anyway, just be careful.”
Ekian said softly, making Alteon slowly lower his head. He fell into a long silence before finally asking in a low voice:
“…Is it His Majesty the Emperor?”
His tone suggested that he had somewhat expected this, but he deliberately ignored the fact so as not to face it. Since Ekian knew this, he remained silent.
The knight that the Emperor personally bestowed on him, and the royal physician that he appointed himf—if neither of them could be trusted, it only meant one thing: the Emperor himf was behind the matter.
“I discovered this while working in secret, while managing the Information Syndicate.”
Ekian said, his voice full of bitterness.
“Please be careful, Your Highness.”
“Ekian...”
“I'll go now.”
Ekian had no intention of telling Alteon about his true identity yet. Or rather, he saw no reason to do so.
“Even if I told him that I was his half-brother, it would only complicate things more.”
In fact, Ekian had not yet made up his mind.
Although he was a prince, he chose not to have any connection with the imperial family. Although he was raised as the son of the Duchy of Meos, he decided to stay away from it as well.
He wanted to live as an outsider, as someone who had nothing to do with these things at all. He does not want to be a burden to anyone, nor to be the cause of anyone's suffering.
But it all starts to unravel when Judith shows up.
Yes, only because of that woman.
As soon as she became Ekian Meuse's wife on paper, he began to want to stay by her side in a normal way, wherever she was.
He wanted to protect the family she sought to protect, and take care of her loved ones with her.
Therefore, he began to turn to the past that he had tried to bury, and hatred began to take root in his heart towards those who forced him to move away.
“I can't stay long.”
Ekian looked at Alteon, his voice holding a bit of hesitation.
“Your Highness, you have to go soon, right? You are the star of this party.”
“...That's right. The party will start soon.”
But even so, Alteon couldn't look away from Ekian.
“Ekian, is there no way I can contact you?”
“I will contact you when the time comes.”
"But when will that be? When will I see you again?"
“It's hard to say.”
“So, I have one last request.”
Alteon took a step forward, his voice laced with a faint hope.
“…I want to see your face. Can’t you take off the mask just once?”
Ekian sighed softly, then slowly raised his hand and removed the mask.
He had been expecting this from the moment he decided to come. If Alteon didn't trust him, it was clear that he would have to reveal his face.
When he removed his mask, his brilliant blonde hair and glowing red eyes were revealed beneath the night sky.
Originally, his hair was black, but he dyed it back to its previous golden color especially for the occasion. There were expensive dyes in the empire, so obtaining them was not difficult.
“You...”
Alteon muttered in a trembling voice.
“You've grown into a very handsome young man... I was wondering if you were wearing the mask because you became ugly after your teenage years, but apparently that's not the reason.”
Ekian smiled and ran his fingers through his hair.
Then, his eyes caught something.
Although the party had not started yet, he saw Judith standing alone on the far balcony.
(He saw the love captured even among the stars) 😹😹