Chapter 59 - Facing the Truth

🟠 Chapter 58:

🟧 Elnar POV:

He lied right in front of them.

I don't know whether they believed his words or not, but hearing that lie was enough to make me walk out of the room. He still isn't ready to face the truth—yet he will see it himself soon. I'll show Elithius the truth he keeps running from.

I wasn't angry at him for hiding the truth.

My anger was aimed at the traitor, the one who continues to control Elithius without even speaking.

I went to the inner courtyard where I found Ryo, Takeru, and Haizen sitting together. I had seen them earlier watching through the window just like I was, but they too gave up watching any further.

I walked toward them, and when they noticed me, they welcomed me.

"Prince Elnar, welcome. Prince Elithius finally woke up—that's good news."

"That's true… but he hasn't awakened from his delusion yet. He's still nothing more than a toy in the hands of the one who brought him to this state."

Takeru asked if I had found any evidence pointing to the traitor.

"So? Did you find anything proving who the traitor is?"

"No, not yet. But I do have someone in mind. Someone I don't get along with."

Haizen raised an eyebrow, surprised that I had bad relationships with anyone in the palace.

"Strange… a prince having bad relationships in his own palace?"

Ryo instantly understood who I meant.

"You're talking about the one who gets along really well with your brother."

"Exactly. Who else? I still lack solid proof, but that won't be a problem. I already told the king and the royal entourage about Number Five, and that I'm still interrogating him."

Number Five will be my lead to the traitor.

Tomorrow, I will force the traitor's hand toward him.

---

🟧 Elithius POV:

A new morning came.

Sunlight shone through my window. I got up and changed clothes. Tomorrow is the Elite Exam… and despite the country's miserable situation, it hasn't been postponed.

And me? I'm not even prepared.

Not mentally… and definitely not academically.

Failing won't change much anyway.

I went for breakfast. My father and brother were already sitting there. When I entered, my father greeted me warmly:

"My son, you're here. Come, sit."

He had completely changed since yesterday—as if trying to break the ice that had built up between us for years.

While I started eating, Elnar asked:

"I know you went through a lot… but you studied all year, right?"

Honestly, even before my life collapsed into chaos, I wasn't exactly the hard-working type.

This is my final academic year, and unlike the earlier years that had semester exams, the last year is judged solely by the final exam—the Elite Exam.

The academy offers specializations: economics, politics, sciences…

And I chose political studies, just like my brother before me.

I answered as vaguely as possible:

"I'll manage somehow."

After breakfast I went to check on the two fools who got involved for the sake of money.

When I opened the room door, I saw Haizen doing push-ups, while Takeru lay on the bed inventing a new form of laziness. A plate of sweets was balanced on Haizen's back—every time he pushed up, Takeru stuck his face in to take a bite.

I yelled angrily:

"What are you two doing!?"

"Ooh, the foolish prince came to see us. Didn't expect that."

"You still call me foolish even inside the palace!? How dare you!?"

"Being in the palace doesn't change the fact that you're foolish."

What disrespectful idiots…

They'll never change.

I asked about Takeru's absurd eating method.

"What are you even doing? Why not eat normally?"

"As you can see, my arm is injured. It needs rest."

"What kind of stupid excuse is that? You HAVE another arm!"

They're truly bizarre.

I looked around for the third person who should be here—Number Five—but he wasn't. So I asked:

"Where is Number Five? Did they put him in another room?"

Haizen stopped and turned toward me.

"Your brother took him somewhere. A place he called 'the interrogation room.'"

Elnar took him?

Did he not get enough information?

That room… is for torture.

I wasn't even sure how much Number Five actually knew—if he revealed everything, then every plan I built with Prime Minister Orfin would collapse completely.

I had to find Orfin and warn him.

But before I could leave, Takeru grabbed my shoulder. I didn't have time for his nonsense.

"Let me go! If you want more sweets, ask someone else!"

"You idiot, that's not it… Listen. I don't know what's going on in your head right now, but don't let trust turn you into a toy in other people's hands. Even if they're the closest people to you—if all the evidence points toward them, you have the right to doubt."

Those words…

Could it be…?

"You—do you maybe know—"

He cut me off:

"Go already, prince. It's obvious something's bothering you."

I ran out searching for Orfin.

When I finally saw him heading toward the hall, I rushed to him:

"Prime Minister Orfin, wait! I need to talk to you."

He turned to me with a warm smile.

"My prince, what is it? Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Yes, something important. Let's move to a corner… somewhere no one can hear."

He followed me away from guards and anyone else. He seemed confused.

"Why so secretive? Is this… something private?"

"Yes. It's about our plan—to bring down the Numbers gang."

His eyes widened.

"What happened, Prince Elithius? Go on, I'm listening."

"Number Five… Elnar took him to the interrogation room. He wants to extract everything from him—by force."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I heard it from the two who brought me here. And Number Five wasn't with them."

Orfin touched his chin thoughtfully.

I told him:

"We must get him out before he says anything."

But for some reason… he smiled.

Not shocked.

Not worried.

Smiling.

Then the smile vanished instantly.

"Don't worry, my prince. I'll handle it."

"Alright… I'll leave it to you."

I still couldn't let go of my trust in Orfin.

He was the closest person to me… but was there even a plan anymore?

Or am I just completely blind?

After speaking with him, I returned to my room to study. The exam was tomorrow… nothing more I could do.

---

Hours passed.

Just before sunset, I stepped out to breathe a little. Studying all day didn't help—I still didn't feel prepared.

While walking, I saw Elnar approaching. He smiled.

"What a coincidence—I was just coming to you."

"What do you want?"

"Nothing much. I just came to tell you something. I informed Orfin as well that I'm interrogating Number Five."

…What?

Why would he tell Orfin specifically?

Their relationship is horrible. Why would he update him?

He said "as well," meaning he knew I told him earlier.

My heart began pounding.

Elnar continued:

"Not just Orfin. I told the royal entourage—and Father too.

Listen… this is usually a rest period in the palace. How about I take you somewhere special?"

He was playing with my mind.

He knew exactly what was happening inside me.

I tried lying my way out:

"I'm sorry… I'm busy studying."

"Stop lying. You just left your room to relax.

I've been sending guards to monitor when you would come out."

He was… watching me?

I didn't know what to say.

I couldn't even tell him to stop meddling—it would only make things worse.

I gave up.

"Fine… where are we going?"

He smiled, placing his arm around my shoulder.

"You'll see once we arrive."

We walked until we reached a door leading to the palace's food storage. I asked:

"Why are we here?"

"You'll see."

He opened the door.

Inside were the two idiots—Takeru and Haizen—eating from the palace's supplies. Takeru munching on hidden pastries, Haizen chewing on bananas.

"What are they doing here!? If they stay a week, everything is here will vanish!"

Takeru waved dismissively.

"Calm down, little prince. Your brother brought us here."

I turned to Elnar.

He nodded.

"Yes, I brought them."

"But why?"

"So they witness the truth with us… and you as well.

I wanted to bring Ryo too, but he's too big to fit here.

Very few people know this—but this place is directly connected to the interrogation room."

I didn't know that.

This shocked me.

Now I understood.

He knew that someone would try to free Number Five.

We all walked to one of the supply crates. Elnar opened it—it turned out to be attached to the wall, revealing hidden openings that allowed us to see the interrogation room.

"Everyone, take your positions.

We're about to witness the truth."

Everyone already suspected that Orfin and I were keeping a secret.

And when everything ends… I'll take responsibility.

I peered through the opening.

Number Five was tied to a chair, his body covered for torture.

We watched for a while.

Then—

Minister Orfin entered the room.

He whispered to Number Five.

I almost ran to him, ready to warn him that he'd been exposed, but Elnar held my arm tightly.

"Wait. It's not over yet."

I didn't understand what more he wanted.

Orfin was the one they were targeting.

What else—

Takeru leaned closer.

"Let's see what the person closest to you will do."

They wanted to see MORE?

I didn't understand.

Or maybe… I didn't want to understand.

Short whispers passed between Orfin and Number Five.

Then the moment came.

The moment I refused to ever imagine.

Orfin didn't rescue Number Five.

He killed him.