Chapter 214: 213 Because My Heart Is Big

"No… don't…"

On a large mahogany bed shrouded by golden velvet curtains, a muffled, resistant mutter arose; the young prince, freckled across his face, snapped his eyes open, kicked off the blanket covering him, and sat bolt upright.

"No! Not! No!!"

Seeing the familiar, opulently decorated bedroom, smelling the faint incense lit by his maid before sleep, Joshua in his silk nightgown let out a long breath, slowly leaning back against the headboard as the crackling of burning logs filled the fireplace.

It was just a dream…

After resting against the headboard and calming his racing heartbeat, the freckled prince, his nightgown soaked through with cold sweat, rubbed his eyes, wearily rolled out of bed, stepped onto the pure white wool rug, and walked toward the armchair opposite the fireplace, plopping down into it with a dazed stare at the flickering flames.

Even if it was just a dream, this recurring dream was too real—as if there truly existed another version of himself who had lived through an unimaginably tragic future.

First, the kingdom lost its resistance against the Krook Kingdom, surrendering two counties; then neighboring states seized the chance to invade, the capital fell, rebellions erupted, his mother was deposed, his father died of illness, his sister was murdered, and the entire kingdom teetered on the brink of ruin.

Though he survived, lacking talent, he could do nothing to turn the tide—only selling everything he could to barely preserve the royal family from total annihilation, drowning himself daily in endless regret and self-blame, drowning his sorrows in alcohol…

No! It won't happen! These are all dreams! All lies! It's those damn rebels trying to haunt me with nightmares!

Snatching a biography from the low table beside him, he hurled it violently into the fireplace; on his weary face, a flush of hot anger surfaced.

It's all the damn Cleanup Bureau's fault!

Especially that bastard who got lucky and inherited the Duke of Lionheart's title!

According to the agreement with the royal family, these branch offices must assign personnel to prioritize the safety of all royal houses—but the damn Virgin Branch takes royal funding and does nothing! They can't even guarantee my safety, and worse, they tolerate that bastard beating me!

After touching his face, repeatedly bruised from past strikes, the freckled prince clenched his fists, teeth grinding.

When I inherit the throne in a few years, I'll make them…

…

"Tap. Tap-tap."

Just as the freckled prince was silently vowing revenge, a soft knock came from outside the door.

"Your Highness."

His personal maid asked softly from beyond the door:

"Have you rested?"

Taking a deep breath and calming his fury, Joshua replied:

"What is it?"

"Two guests wish to visit you. They carry Cleanup Bureau credentials and say they've come to resolve the issue you mentioned earlier."

Two Cleanup Bureau people… the earlier issue?

Hearing the maid's report, Joshua's heart lurched—he remembered the brutal male-female double assault a few days ago, nearly falling off his chair.

"Were those two… a man and a woman? Was the man black-haired, wearing an old coat, looking a bit thin?"

"No, both are men."

Noticing the prince's voice trembled slightly, the maid—who knew what had happened two days prior—quickly added:

"Your Highness, I checked carefully. These two visitors are not the same as the ones from two days ago—their faces and builds don't match."

Good, not them, good, not them…

The hellish experience of being beaten while being treated—passing out from pain, waking up in pain—had left deep psychological scars on Joshua; hearing it wasn't those two disrespectful bastards again, he exhaled sharply and ordered:

"Have them wait in the reception room. I'll change clothes and come."

"Yes."

Once the maid's footsteps faded, Joshua—dark circles under his eyes—rose from beside the fireplace, changed out of his sweat-soaked nightgown, and immediately walked toward the reception room.

Though the Virgin Branch of the Cleanup Bureau is despicable, this nightmare has left me unable to sleep for days—I can't endure even one more day!

Tormented by nightmares, Joshua strode to the reception room door, waved off the maid who came to open it, and impatiently pushed the door open himself; seeing two unfamiliar men—one tall, one short—on the sofa, he nodded in satisfaction, then tilted his head slightly and asked:

"Can you solve my nightmares?"

"Yes."

Leon, wearing the face of "Little Baggins," nodded and stood up:

"Prince Joshua, may I ask you…"

"Impolite!"

Seeing this Cleanup Bureau man had again failed to bow to him, the freckled prince's old habit resurfaced—he recalled another man who'd likewise refused to bow—and his eyes turned icy as he snapped:

"Who gave you permission to call me by name? And your Virgin Branch's gross negligence endangered my safety—why haven't you even… even… ah?"

Shocked as the man's face twisted grotesquely, finally revealing the black-haired, black-eyed "demon" he could never forget, Joshua shuddered violently and turned to flee without hesitation.

Unfortunately, in both reaction speed and physical ability, the freckled prince was far too weak.

He had barely turned his body, hadn't even taken a step, when someone grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him back by sheer brute force.

"Relax—I won't hit you this time. I just need your help."

After flexing his restless right hand, Leon suppressed the urge to slap him again, and called out over the maid's screams:

"Tell me—does your royal family have a direct line to the Cleanup Bureau's headquarters?"

…

Since the Cleanup Bureau's headquarters was so secretive—even Senior Jerry, a Level Two Crisis Handler, didn't know how to find it—Leon naturally turned his attention to the royal family.

The reason? After his and Emma's previous male-female double assault on Joshua, the headquarters received the king's complaint letter the same day, and the director immediately issued a reprimand demanding they be punished.

So the royal family must have a direct contact method to the headquarters—and it's fast.

Realizing this, fearing the inquiry might change, Leon immediately pulled Senior Jerry along for a second visit to the freckled prince, planning to use the royal channel to report Waterbearer Director's scheme to headquarters.

Only… it seemed the prince was not at all cooperative.

"Y-you let go of me!"

After closing his eyes and trembling for a moment, but feeling no slap land on his face, Joshua—facing Leon without being beaten for the first time—retrieved a sliver of lost courage, forcing his neck stiff as he warned:

"This time is different! Don't try to trick me with excuses like 'I'll help you break free from control'! If you dare hit me again, I'll make you…"

"Enough. I already said I won't hit you."

Seeing the freckled prince suddenly puff up, Leon—eager to report to headquarters and crush Waterbearer Director—had no patience for games, and snapped:

"I have urgent news to deliver to headquarters. I need to use your royal channel. Take me there now!"

"…."

So… this bastard actually needs my help now?

Hearing Leon's words, the freckled prince froze for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up; his previously weary face now brimmed with energy.

"Let go!"

Snatching his collar back from Leon's grip, Joshua finally stood on his feet, straightening his crumpled collar as he sneered:

"You want me to help you? You're utterly…"

Catching Leon's narrowed eyes and his right hand instinctively rising, the freckled prince—who'd learned from two beatings—swallowed the words "delusional" whole.

"Helping you use the royal channel to contact the Cleanup Bureau isn't entirely impossible."

After adjusting his phrasing with sober caution, Joshua crossed his arms, looked up at Leon—who towered over him—and ordered with haughty pride:

"But first, you must apologize, bow to me, and then…"

"I'm sorry. I was wrong before."

Before Joshua could finish, Leon—eager to resolve the Waterbearer Director issue—cut him off with a hollow apology, then narrowed his eyes and warned:

"Prince Joshua, know when to stop."

Know when to stop? Do you think I'm stupid?

Hearing Leon's warning, the freckled prince couldn't help but sneer.

Finally, I have him in my grip—if I don't crush him completely now, I may never get another chance.

"I haven't finished speaking."

Watching Leon, for the first time, beg before him out of need, Joshua felt a wave of exquisite satisfaction, then commanded with supreme arrogance:

◆c〇

"If you want my help, you must kneel and kiss my feet, then slap yourself five times—minimum five…"

"Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!"

I told you to know when to stop.

Raising his hand, Leon delivered five sharp slaps left and right to the insolent little brother-in-law, then watched Joshua collapse to the floor, dazed; Leon sneered:

"Five slaps, as you demanded. Did you receive my apology?"

"…."

Is this how you beg for help?

Feeling the familiar pain on his face, Joshua's eyes instantly cleared—he was relieved he'd only gotten to "five" before being knocked down; if he'd said "ten," given this bastard's style, the slaps would've multiplied tenfold…

Hmm… wait? Brother-in-law?

Suddenly realizing something strange had appeared in his mind, the fallen freckled prince stared blankly, trying to recall.

No! I'm an only child—I don't even have a sister. Where did… wait… I do have… a sister… Veronica?!

…

"Hmm?"

Just as the freckled prince in the palace suddenly recovered his lost memories, an old man with narrow eyes and downturned mouth and eyebrows raised one eyebrow in surprise.

【Lost Past】 unlocked? Did Nathan suddenly change his mind? Or…

As he thought this, the old man lowered his gaze toward the vacant seat of the Virgin Director, toward the position of a woman with brilliant red hair—and received from her an unnaturally bright smile.

"…."

So that's how it is…

After seeing the smile on the Red-haired woman's face, the Aquarius Director's eyes instantly filled with understanding.

She had planned to take advantage of Olivia's interrogation to leave the Virgo Branch, while sending Nathan to retrieve the photos—and she was almost certain the Red-haired woman had the same idea.

She likely sent Virgo Branch's Cleaners to locate the rebels' hideout while I was here for the interrogation, and found a way to break Phoebe's ability.

Hmph, she's thinking exactly as I did.

After slightly shaking her head, the Aquarius Director deliberately withdrew her gaze, lowering her eyes and sitting silently at her director's seat, expressionless as she pondered.

The Cleaners' headquarters is built inside a hollowed-out asteroid, over seventy thousand kilometers straight from the surface; even if I realized something was wrong, I couldn't get back in time—she picked a perfect moment.

Hmm… I hope Nathan evacuates in time, or I'm in trouble.

…

Well done!

Sensing the change in memory, the Red-haired woman glanced at the Aquarius Director across from her, whose expression was one of clear surprise—and silently gave Li Ang a resounding mental thumbs-up.

She had given little Li Ang two weeks, but less than three days had passed and he'd already resolved the Princess's issue, completing one-third of the mission—his undercover operation must be going extremely well.

Moreover, lifting this memory ability would surely alert the future Prince Joshua; given Li Ang's cautious nature, he wouldn't act unless he'd identified the Prince's identity—or confirmed he lacked the power to capture him.

Now that the memory ability was gone, the future Prince Joshua may already have been captured; even if not, he must have uncovered something substantial—Li Ang's operation is likely nearing its end.

More importantly, from the start to finish of the undercover mission, it took only two days—such a short time meant little Li Ang couldn't have done much; at last, she didn't have to worry he'd become the rebel leader himself~

'Olivia?'

Sensing her joy, a faint psychic ripple suddenly emanated from the Leo Branch's seat beside her.

Watching her best friend smile, Leo Branch's Director, Beverly, slipped a small pastry into her mouth and quietly probed with her thoughts:

'Your branch ranked last in the year-end review, and your Director scolded you so harshly—how can you still be smiling?'