AYM~14

~Chapter 14~

With a serious expression, Kaire stared down at the desk. Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at Pico with a cold gaze.

“Gasp… did I just say something stupid?”

“…Have you lost your mind?”

“Oh, I’ve been holding it in, but I guess I couldn’t anymore, Your Highness. I’m sorry.”

Kaire narrowed his eyes and continued.

“So ever since you drank that potion, you’ve been viewing that mage favorably.”

“Well… that’s because she’s a good person.”

“Again with defending her! Since when did you become so trusting of her? And what exactly has she done to earn that trust? She called me a fake grand duke, demanded I not treat her like a subordinate, spoke to me so casually, and on top of that—she’s quite greedy about money, isn’t she?”

‘That’s only because Your Highness acted in ways that made her respond like that…’

Pico could have refuted every single point, but Kaire looked unusually agitated, so he chose his words carefully.

“…So Your Highness thinks she added something else to the potion for that reason?”

“That’s right.”

“But Your Highness doesn’t even think highly of her. That would mean she only added it for me… so wouldn’t that mean the mage is trying to win over me, not you?”

“Ridiculous!”

Kaire shouted, abruptly standing from his chair.

His eyes were visibly unsettled.

‘Trying to win over me… there’s no way that could be it.’

Upon entering the Eastern Palace, the servants bowed respectfully.

“Welcome, Princess Angel.”

“Is Your Highness Kaire in his study?”

“Oh, he just left with Pico.”

Angel, her red hair neatly tied up, shot a sharp glance at her attendant.

The maid, intimidated by her gaze, stepped forward cautiously.

“W-we heard that His Highness brought a puppy to the palace today…”

“Yes. That is correct. It’s a dog named Caro. His Highness took it out with him.”

Angel had initially dismissed the rumor as nonsense.

Kaire keeping a dog?

It sounded absurd.

But after hearing from a maid that he might be keeping it out of loneliness, she had come to confirm it herself.

“…So it’s true he brought a dog?”

“Yes, Princess Angel.”

An older servant chuckled softly upon seeing her widened eyes.

Angel blinked a few times, then suddenly turned around and left without another word—quite different from how politely she usually treated the staff when she was with Kaire.

“Kanna, prepare things a dog might like.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Riding horseback toward the forest were Kaire and Pico.

Pico had strapped a sling across his body—something typically used for carrying infants—and placed Caro inside it, holding him in front.

As they went deeper into the western forest behind the palace, the air grew quiet.

The western forest, located behind the western palace wing, was known as “Kaire’s Forest.” It was strictly controlled, with no unauthorized entry allowed.

The decree had been issued by the former emperor for the safety of his youngest son, who had always been deeply drawn to hunting.

The emperor understood why Kaire constantly tried to leave the palace. He was a perceptive child—and believed Kaire would one day lead Astum.

Thus, only those accompanying Kaire were allowed inside the forest.

“This forest really feels like a blessed land. Since only His Highness hunts here, it’s almost untouched, right?”

“Untouched?”

At Kaire’s low voice, Pico nodded casually.

“Well, yes. Only Your Highness hunts here. Animals are part of the ecosystem too, so isn’t that… damage to nature?”

“…Pico.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Should I damage you instead?”

The look in Kaire’s eyes suggested he could do it right then and there.

Pico laughed awkwardly, waving his hands.

“Ahh, this forest is actually very well preserved thanks to Your Highness! I may not know much, but magical plants are disappearing everywhere these days. Many species are nearly extinct because people harvest them all.”

“……”

“In this forest, those rare plants are probably still thriving. All thanks to Your Highness. Absolutely.”

Avoiding his gaze, Pico gently patted Caro’s head.

As they went deeper, they found several tree stumps scattered around a clearing where large trees had been cut down.

Kaire dismounted and gestured.

“Bring the potion.”

“Yes, as you ordered.”

“Put the dog down and drink it.”

“Why?”

“Let’s see if dogs can communicate with other dogs.”

Muttering, Pico set Caro down.

The puppy wagged its tail excitedly and began exploring the ground.

Pico drank the potion in one gulp.

In an instant, he transformed into a tiny Chihuahua.

“Yip!”

His high-pitched voice echoed as Caro immediately ran over.

The large golden retriever barked excitedly, while the tiny Chihuahua stamped its paws and yipped back.

Caro’s tail wagged even faster.

“They seem to be communicating…”

Watching them, Kaire concluded they were indeed talking to each other.

After a while, Pico returned to human form—completely unclothed—and it had already been thirty minutes.

He didn’t even seem embarrassed anymore, quickly getting up and walking over.

“Your Highness, I really think that mage is incredible. I turned into a proper dog, and my body is completely fine now. How is that possible?”

Pico stretched his arms dramatically, then quickly grabbed his clothes.

Kaire frowned.

“You’re showing off unnecessarily.”

“What? My… dignity was quite impressive, wasn’t it?”

Kaire ignored him.

“So, did you understand the dog?”

“Yes. It’s not very clear yet since it’s still a puppy, but I can roughly communicate.”

Kaire nodded faintly and looked at Caro.

Now the only task left was raising it well.

Night fell.

Kaire stared out the dark window while Pico, exhausted from the day’s training, had fallen asleep at a nearby desk.

Kaire walked over and struck Pico’s arm.

Thud.

“Gah!”

Pico jolted awake, rubbing his forehead in pain.

“Get up. We’re leaving.”

“You really have terrible manners, Your Highness…”

“You should stop sleeping like that. Lie down properly.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll have a pit dug in the garden for you.”

“…So you mean bury me.”

Pico muttered under his breath.

Kaire narrowed his eyes.

“I can hear your thoughts, even if you don’t say them.”

Pico turned pale.

“I will stay by your side until the day I die, Your Highness.”

“Hmm. I think you’ll be gone by tomorrow.”

“My head is perfectly fine now! In fact, I’ve never been clearer! I’ll serve you even more diligently starting tomorrow!”

Kaire turned away.

“We’re going to Loftis.”