Even If You Tear Me Apart - Chapter 12
The chapters are split like this so that the TL can update more consistently over time (✿ ＞◡❛)
More than that, Ezekiel was even glad to become a servant of the gods. By nature, he preferred quietly reading books and training himself.
He thought the grand and complicated matters of meeting people and ruling the empire were far better suited to Étienne, who was cheerful and good-natured.
Whether Étienne understood Ezekiel’s feelings or not was uncertain.
“So, which one do you like?”
“I’m not sure. As of now… perhaps Sitarux…”
“Are you serious?”
“Haha. I also like Irud, god of the earth and cycles.”
Étienne frowned, but Ezekiel simply smiled gently. He actually preferred the conservative and strict temples. Following established rules brought him comfort.
But Étienne clearly wasn’t happy about it.
“If you’re going to choose anyway, pick Elixir. How great is that? Huh? Alcohol and love! The god of temptation!”
“So the rumors about Your Highness acquiring a taste for alcohol lately were true. For the future of Murenas, I shall remove Elixir’s temple from the list of candidates.”
“Oh my, seems there’s a spy in my palace. Where did you get such up-to-date information?”
Ezekiel shrugged. It wasn’t exactly a secret in the capital that Étienne, now of age, had taken a liking to sparkling wine. But he answered playfully on purpose.
“Lady Felicia of the Arbois Duchy is said to be collecting sparkling wines made from green grapes. How could I not know?”
Étienne’s face completely twisted.
Ducal Lady Felicia Arbois.
Commonly known as Felicia, Étienne’s fiancée. The ducal lady who would become Crown Princess once he was appointed Crown Prince.
She was a beautiful woman with dazzling blonde hair, but Étienne didn’t particularly like her. Her personality, he claimed, was peculiar and overly finicky.
To Ezekiel, she simply seemed like someone born with a temperament befitting the eldest daughter of a ducal house.
Of course… she and Étienne were certainly a poor match.
“Whether that woman collects wine made from green grapes or cider, what do I care?”
“Please don’t say that. It’s rather harsh to speak that way about a young lady who collects fine wine because she wants to share it with her fiancé.”
“Then why don’t you marry her?”
“Oh dear.”
Ezekiel smiled as he sipped his tea.
“If I could, I’d gladly do so for you.”
“You little— Ezekiel! You’re doing this on purpose!”
Étienne, flustered, tickled Ezekiel’s side.
For the sake of the attendants who were holding their breath in fear that even a teacup might break, Ezekiel surrendered early. Étienne fumed for a moment, then burst out laughing.
“So, why did you call me? If it’s about morning sparring, we can always do that tomorrow.”
The fact that he had gone out of his way to call Ezekiel to a midday tea suggested he had another reason.
Just then, as he was popping a pastry into his mouth, Étienne snapped his fingers.
“Oh right, I wanted to ask if you’d come with me on summer vacation.”
“Summer vacation?”
Ezekiel widened his eyes.
Though Étienne had not yet been appointed Crown Prince, he had been involved in imperial affairs for some time now.
Because of that, the Emperor granted the still-youthful prince a long vacation each summer, and this time, Étienne seemed to want to bring Ezekiel along.
“But… we’re not supposed to go out together, are we?”
By principle, members of the imperial family never traveled together.
If Étienne were to be assassinated, the other must survive to continue the imperial line.
So whatever Étienne did on vacation should have had nothing to do with Ezekiel.
But Étienne just shrugged.
“I told Father I wanted to spend time with you before you’re offered to the temple, and he gave permission.”
“Truly?”
That was a bit surprising.
When Ezekiel opened his eyes wide, Étienne grinned and said teasingly,
“Would I lie about that?” Then, he added in a quiet whisper, “The truth is… Father told me to spend my vacation with Lady Arbois.”
Ah.
A smile spread across Ezekiel’s face in understanding.
So Étienne Murenas had roped his innocent younger brother into this just to avoid spending a holiday alone with his disliked fiancée.
Well, it wasn’t a big problem. Ezekiel didn’t dislike Lady Arbois, and a final vacation with his brother was welcome to him as well.
“Very well, then.”
He shouldn’t have agreed so easily.
