Chapter 7
Oh no.
Prim’s mouth fell open. The fact that he could see only red was a secret known only to Marian, his nanny, and Rein.
But here, she was Primavel, an obscure painter. There was no way a mere painter could know his secret.
Her face turned pale, and a cold sweat trickled down her spine. Her hands trembled at Rein’s fierce gaze.
Prim rolled her eyes to avoid his sharp stare and racked her brain.
“Calm down. Think. Think, think!”
But no plausible excuse came to mind. Foolishly, she just opened her mouth, then forced an awkward smile.
“W-well, the place I lived was famous for mind-reading… Uh, it’s called Radika! Radika! It’s a really tiny country, and that’s my hometown. The people there are so famous for mind-reading. You see, if you hold someone’s hand, you can read their thoughts….”
“……”
His icy eyes pierced her. Of course, it didn’t work.
“Actually, I, um… it’s not like I meant to say it. It was just… such a dire situation, you know? So, I just… blurted it out. You won’t believe me, but I really didn’t know… It was a total coincidence, really…”
Her rambling excuse revealed her panic. Her voice grew quieter.
“Hey.”
Prim, still mumbling, slowly lifted her head. Rein waved his hand dismissively, signaling her to stop.
Like a dog receiving a cue, Prim shut her mouth.
“Enough. No need for ridiculous excuses. I don’t know how it got out, but Marian must have said something. She tends to talk too much.”
“Marian…?”
“……”
Oh no.
“Ah, yes! Of course! Marian told me. Haha.”
Her laugh was painfully awkward. Rein looked at her, clearly displeased. Prim forced a smile, averting his gaze.
It seemed Rein thought Prim’s excuse was meant to protect Marian. Prim exhaled in relief.
“Prince, let’s go now.”
She stood first, trying to look confident, though it was fleeting.
“Ah…”
Finally, her legs gave way slightly as the tension eased. Rein glanced at her. Embarrassed, Prim tried to appear casual as she picked up the lantern.
“Let’s return before it gets darker. Shall I at least hold your hand?”
“You…”
Rein frowned at her insistence. No matter how cheerful Prim tried to be, he sighed softly under his breath.
“Don’t interfere next time.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t interfere.”
He repeated it with emphasis. He meant to help, but…
Prim pouted in frustration. Her lips stuck out like a child’s, making Rein frown.
“I’m saying this because I can handle it without you. Understand?”
It was the kind of tone used to make a child promise never to do something reckless. Prim quietly nodded.
They finally emerged from the dark forest. Voices urgently calling Rein grew nearer.
Everyone working at Belles Palace was searching for Rein. They couldn’t imagine he’d gone into the forest, so their voices echoed only near the palace.
Marian appeared, running in place far off.
Prim waved her lantern and called Marian’s name. Marian ran swiftly toward them.
“Lord Reinces! Do you know how worried I was?”
Marian looked on the verge of tears. Her worry quickly turned into scolding.
“Where did you get hurt like this? Why did you go out? What if Prim hadn’t been there? Don’t you know you need a lantern to return?”
Her endless scolding was filled with affection. Rein listened quietly, seemingly aware of his fault.
“And you, why are you in such a state?”
Marian’s scolding turned toward Prim. Prim lied that she had slipped in the forest. Though Marian didn’t believe her, it gave her an excuse to shift the topic to treating injuries.
They finally returned to Rein’s room. Marian immediately rolled up her sleeves, ready to treat him, but seeing his injuries would surely make her faint.
Prim managed to get Marian out and sat in front of Rein.
Dayf’s attacks had been clever, aiming for places that weren’t obvious. But rolling in the underbrush while fighting him had left faint scratches on Rein’s face.
Prim tried to apply ointment to his face with her finger.
“Move.”
He snapped sharply and pushed her hand away. Prim stubbornly replied:
“No.”
“What?”
“You’d just treat it roughly again.”
Rein frowned. Prim was right—he had no sense of necessity to treat his injuries, especially on his face.
He hated his face. As a child, people with pale faces would murmur about him.
‘What a shame. Such a beautiful person…’
‘I understand the emperor’s reluctance to kill him.’
‘Truly, it would be a waste to kill him.’
The empire adored his face. Rein’s entire existence was defined by it.
“The wound needs treatment, Prince.”
Prim spoke cautiously.
“I’ll check it properly.”
“You said to get lost…”
“Ah, my nose!”
Suddenly, she grabbed her nose, muffling a small groan.
“My nose! It hurts so much!”
“Are you joking?”
Rein let out a hollow laugh, seeing her awkward tone—it was clearly an act.
She had taken the blow for him and wanted him to overlook it.
“Who even are you…”
It was a ridiculous thought, yet strangely, her heart moved. Prim recalled Dayf’s words:
‘Wow, that’s quite an improvement. No one else has ever risked their body to take a hit for me. Huh? Or maybe they were all blinded before?’
It was true. Prim was the first to physically shield him from continuous violence and abuse.
Rein’s face relaxed slightly. Noticing it, Prim quickly applied the ointment to his face. He didn’t push her hand away this time, but he still looked displeased.
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“……”
He didn’t answer. Prim frowned slightly and bit her lip as if she might cry.
“…I’m sorry.”
She apologized sincerely. Rein couldn’t understand her words.
“And one more time, if I may.”
She spotted a wound on his nape and leaned closer.
Rein, startled by her proximity, took a shallow breath. Her careful hands applied the ointment, wary of causing him pain.
A long scar ran along his neck, likely from a fall on a stone. She sighed softly at the sight.
Then he jerked back abruptly. Prim blinked in surprise.
“Step aside.”
He snatched the ointment from her hand.
“Go.”
“But it’s not over yet…”
“Focus on your face.”
His harsh, crooked tone made Prim frown. She answered tersely.
“I’ll take care of my face. But you first, Prince. Your hands are injured too. Give me the ointment.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Should I call Marian?”
Prim nodded toward the door. Rein’s expression turned menacing.
If she called, it would mean death. She returned the ointment and stepped back.
‘He must’ve kicked my stomach.’
If it had hit badly, it would’ve been fatal.
Prim carefully lifted his shirt, revealing a body covered in scars. Her eyes widened.
“Dayf did all this?”
“……”
She accidentally spoke casually. Prim quickly corrected herself.
“No, I mean, did Dayf—?”
“No.”
He interrupted her, shaking his head firmly. Then he said something shocking:
“I did it.”
His face remained utterly emotionless.
‘It will be dyed in blood.’
Rein had tried to avoid that prophecy, hiding to prevent killing anyone and avoiding contact. He blamed everything on himself.
But after the day Dayf made him feel pure bloodlust for the first time, he began to see red.
Disbelieving the prophecy, he inflicted wounds on himself to deny it.
‘No. This color isn’t blood. I won’t grow as the prophecy says. I won’t grow like they said.’
‘I… I…’
‘Will I really grow that way?’
After struggling with self-loathing, he accepted the red—because of her.
Prim’s heart sank.
“Lord Reinces…”
She said his name without realizing. Rein frowned and tugged at her sleeve.
“You’re growing as the prophecy said. How does that feel? Afraid now?”
He snatched the ointment from her hand.
“Now, go.”
His cold words stabbed her chest, yet she couldn’t hate him. It was all because of her.
‘The beast I created…’
A black-and-white world, with unknown beauties and withered roses.
Prim wanted to help him find his color, to show him how beautifully vibrant the world was.
“Lord Reinces.”
She grasped his hand. Their hands met. Rein’s dull gray eyes touched hers, and he frowned slightly.
“Let me help you.”
Seeing Prim’s unwavering gaze, his stiff expression softened.
Rein didn’t avoid her eyes but still looked annoyed. They stared at each other silently for a while.
“…What can you do?”
He finally spoke, his voice weary.
“Just because I couldn’t see color, some madman’s words became a prophecy. I was abandoned here. No matter the chaos, nothing improved. Even if I stayed hidden, I am a disaster to the empire. What can you do for someone like me?”
His tone was resigned, filled with scorn toward himself.
Prim’s expression was serious as she said:
“I’ll show you what I can do for you, Prince. I can. So… please, trust me just once.”
Rein found her resolute black eyes unsettling. His heart pounded. It was both unpleasant and strangely stirring.
Why did she insist on coming so close?
A bloodied face, torn dress, messy hair, her reckless words revealing his secret… and yet…
The embrace that shielded him without hesitation.
He felt… strange.
“Lord Reinces.”
Prim called him again. Rein blinked several times, seemingly lost in thought.
“…If the prophecy is right?”
“……”
“If it’s right, you’ll die first. You won’t leave my side.”
He finally spoke, slightly softened, with a hint of hope.
Prim smiled resolutely.
“Don’t worry. That future won’t happen!”
Her brave response, full of confidence, made her eyes shine.
Yet her stubbornness no longer annoyed him. Rein decided to believe this fraudster’s words.
He nodded slowly.
“You trust me? Really, I can help?”
Prim’s face lit up with joy. She let out a cry of happiness.
Rein quietly observed her.
‘What could make her so happy… and…’
A prickling sensation.
‘What is this pain I feel in my eyes?’
He blinked. Something blurry seemed to appear.
The pricking pain worsened, and he frowned slightly.
But before he could identify the cause, the sensation vanished.
