Chapter 616: Because My Heart Is Big

"N-no… don't…"

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

"No! Not! Not!!!"

Seeing the opulent, familiar chambers around him, smelling the faint incense lit by his maid before sleep, Joshua, clad in silk pajamas, 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 for a while and calming his racing heartbeat, the freckled prince, whose pajamas were soaked through with cold sweat, rubbed his eyes, wearily rolled off the 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 only 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 defense against the Krook Kingdom, surrendering two counties; then neighboring nations 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 not turn the tide—he sold everything he could, barely preserving the royal family from total annihilation, drowning each day in endless regret and self-loathing, drinking to forget.

No! It won't happen! All of this is a dream! All of it's fake! 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 burning anger surfaced.

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

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

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 let that bastard beat me!

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

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

…

"Tap. Tap-tap."

As the freckled prince silently vowed revenge, a soft knock came from outside the door.

"Your Highness."

His personal maid asked quietly from beyond the door:

"Have you rested?"

Taking a deep breath to calm 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 prior, nearly falling off his chair.

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

"No, both are men."

Noticing the prince's voice trembled slightly, the maid—who knew what had happened two days ago—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.

The hellish experience of being beaten while being treated—passing out from pain, waking up to more 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 pajamas, 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 another day!

Tormented by nightmares, Joshua hurried 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, then stood up:

"Prince Joshua, may I ask you…"

"No manners!"

Seeing this Cleanup Bureau man had again failed to bow to him, Joshua's old habit resurfaced—he recalled another man who'd also 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 has 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 reflex and physical ability, the freckled prince was far too weak.

He had barely turned his body when a hand seized the collar of his shirt and yanked him back with 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 scream:

"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 demanded reprimand for the two of them.

So the royal family must have a direct contact method to the headquarters—and it must be fast!

Realizing this, Leon, fearing the inquiry might change, 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.

"Let go of me!"

After closing his eyes and trembling for a moment without feeling a slap, 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 promises of helping me escape 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. He 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 slightly, then his eyes suddenly lit up; his previously weary demeanor vanished, replaced by sudden vigor.

"Let go!"

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

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

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

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

Adjusting his tone with cold logic, Joshua crossed his arms, looked up at the much taller Leon, 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 grasp. 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, groveling before him out of need, Joshua felt a wave of exquisite satisfaction, then commanded with supreme arrogance:

"If you want my help, you must kneel and kiss my feet! Then slap yourself five times—"

"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 fool, then watched as Joshua collapsed on 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 prince on the floor stared blankly, trying to recall.

That's not right! I'm an only child—I don't even have a sister! Where did… wait… I do have… a sister… Veronica?!

…

"Hmm?"

As the freckled prince in the palace suddenly regained his lost memories, an old man with narrow eyes and downturned mouth and eyebrows raised an 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 seat below the Virgin Director's empty chair, where a woman with brilliant red hair sat; he received from her an unnaturally bright smile.

"… "

So that's how it is…

Seeing the red-haired director's smile, Waterbearer Director's eyes filled with sudden understanding.

I planned to take advantage of Olivia's inquiry to leave the Virgin Branch, sending Nathan to retrieve the photos—she likely had the same plan.

I suspect that while I was here for the interrogation, they sent Cleaners from the Virgin Division to locate the rebels' hideout and find a way to disable Phoebe's ability.

Hmph, we're thinking along the same lines.

After a slight shake of her head, the Aquarius Director quietly withdrew her gaze, lowering her eyes as she sat silently in her director's seat, expressionless, lost in thought.

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

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

…

Well done!

Having sensed the change in memory, the Red-haired Director gazed at the Aquarius Director across from her, whose eyes were filled with surprise, and silently gave Li Ang a resounding mental thumbs-up.

I gave Little Li Ang two weeks, but it's barely been three days and he's already resolved the Princess's issue, completing one-third of the mission. His undercover operation must be going extremely smoothly.

Also, lifting this memory ability will surely alert the future Prince Joshua. Given Li Ang's cautious nature, he wouldn't act rashly unless he'd identified the Prince's identity—or confirmed he couldn't capture him.

Now that the memory ability has been lifted, the future Prince Joshua may already have been captured. Even if he wasn't, there must be plenty of leads. Li Ang's operation is likely nearing its end.

More importantly, from the start to the end of the undercover mission, it took barely two days. In such a short time, Little Li Ang couldn't have done much—I finally don't have to worry he'll end up becoming the rebel leader.

'Olivia?'

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

Watching her best friend smile, Lion Division's Director Beverly, while secretly stuffing a small pastry into her mouth, inquired mentally with curiosity:

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

(End of Chapter)