He helped me down from the carriage, and Se-non walked ahead.
But strangely, the number of guards and attendants visible in my field of view was extremely small.
What was more, every single one of them lowered their heads the moment they saw me, as if deliberately avoiding eye contact.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has given a special order to deepen his bond with you, Lord Ryu-an. He said as few people as possible should appear before you. Something about people being absent allowing you two to rely on each other?”
“Is that so?”
“In Arnoan Palace, you won’t be seeing many servants. Minor tasks will all be handled through me, your direct attendant.”
So, in other words: don’t even think about using the servants to escape.
Wasn’t that what Se-non was really saying?
The realization sent a chill down my spine.
The Arnoan Palace was also exquisite on the inside.
Each and every stone decorating the walls was carved with delicate, beautiful patterns, and the furniture placed throughout seemed to emphasize both practicality and elegance.
There was no obvious gold or jewels, but that only made the artistry stand out more, making it impossible to look away.
Among them, what caught my attention most were the paintings hanging on the walls.
They depicted various themes: spirits playing, royal parties, festivals of the common people, and diverse seasonal landscapes.
The technique didn’t seem particularly extraordinary, but the warm, radiant colors had a charm that drew in the viewer’s heart.
In the Eastern Empire, paintings were often drawn in monochrome ink, so this was a refreshing shock.
I stopped to admire them, and Se-non nodded as if he understood.
“Those are the works of the Fourth Prince.”
“The Fourth Prince… you mean His Highness the Crown Prince’s twin?”
I had heard he was not a Neutrin, and that his personality was the complete opposite of the Crown Prince.
However, he possessed immense magical power and an extraordinary intellect, and was rumored to be a genius of magic.
Politically and magically, he did not step into the front lines but instead supported the Crown Prince as his left hand, which made him even more caution-worthy.
“Until a few years ago, he was very active in magical research and painted many works like these. Even His Highness the Crown Prince, who has excellent aesthetic sense, acknowledged his talent.”
“Wow…”
“You’ll notice there are paintings by the Fourth Prince all over Arnoan Palace. Though lately he’s been obsessed with farming and hasn’t picked up a brush in a long time.”
“…What?”
“Excuse me? Farming? He’s doing farm work?”
“Yes. Why?”
“N-no, it’s nothing.”
A prince of the empire… farming?
And not just any prince—the Crown Prince’s left hand, a man even offered a position as imperial court mage… farming?
I imagined it: a prince in elegant military uniform wearing a straw hat, planting rice seedlings.
Are all members of the royal family just eccentric like this?
“This is the room you will be staying in, Lord Ryu-an.”
After walking for so long through winding corridors on the second floor that I was almost lost, Se-non stopped in front of an ornate door.
The moment the door opened, I let out an involuntary gasp.
“Wow!”
The vast room was decorated in the same color theme as the palace: white base with blue accents.
It depicted scenes of countless stars and a beautiful unicorn galloping forward, giving the room a dreamlike atmosphere.
The bed, wardrobe, and desk were all made of the highest-quality materials.
It was so luxurious that I almost felt unworthy of using it.
Se-non smiled as he looked at my surprised expression.
“Do you like it?”
It wasn’t even a matter of liking it—it was far too good.
“Is it really okay for me to use a room like this?”
“This was chosen personally by His Highness the Crown Prince. Please use it without 부담—well, with appropriate 부담.”
How generous of him. I could almost faint from honor.
But rather than joy, unease welled up inside me.
What was the Crown Prince, who supposedly disliked me, thinking by giving me such a room?
Was this like giving premium feed to a cow before slaughter?
“Please convey my gratitude. I feel I’ve received something far beyond my station.”
“Of course. I’ll prepare your formal clothes and then assist you with your bath. Please wait a moment.”
“…What did you say?”
“You said I would assist you with your bath.”
“Y-you’re going to assist me?”
“I am your direct attendant.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll do it myself! I can manage on my own.”
Se-non shook his head vigorously at my panicked reaction, looking completely unimpressed.
But for me, this was something I had to refuse at all costs.
Bath assistance? I’d rather jump back onto a moving carriage.
“I didn’t expect such a strong reaction. Are you perhaps embarrassed around me?”
“What kind of relationship do you think we have?”
“A very close one that requires full dedication.”
“If you’re uncomfortable, should I call another servant?”
“No. No one needs to assist me. I’ve always done it myself.”
“…I see.”
“There are scars I don’t want others to see. And I’m just not used to this kind of service. Please understand this once.”
I persuaded him with all my strength.
Se-non studied me as if trying to read through me, then nodded.
“I see. If that’s the case, I understand. Do as you wish. But hurry and finish. I’ll be waiting.”
After bowing slightly, he left the room.
The moment the door closed, I pressed my ear against it.
He hadn’t left immediately—he was still lingering outside.
Go away already.
Only after a long moment did I hear his footsteps receding.
I let out a long sigh and collapsed onto the floor.
That was close. I was worried he’d insist on doing it no matter what.
I quickly inspected the room.
Under the bed, inside the wardrobe, drawers, even the bath itself—I checked every corner. Fortunately, there were no traps. Even the water in the basin was free of poison.
After thoroughly checking, I examined the walls.
To avoid alerting Se-non by tapping, I traced everything by hand.
There were two possible hidden passages where someone could be hiding.
After some thought, I left one open and discreetly blocked the other with furniture.
Good. The training I did to find traps is finally useful here.
After finishing the inspection, I finally entered the bath.
Steam was already rising, meaning someone had prepared the water.
After double-checking that no one was there, I neatly folded my clothes and stepped into the tub.
I felt like I had exhausted myself just dealing with Se-non alone.
And this was only the beginning.
If meeting the Crown Prince would be harder than this, I couldn’t help but worry.
Please, at least let him not be another Se-non.
After praying earnestly, I quickly changed and came out.
As if waiting, Se-non immediately entered with clothes in hand.
“Do I… have to wear this?”
“Is there a problem?”
It was a formal outfit: white fabric embroidered with gold thread so intricate it looked almost alive.
The problem was that it was excessively ornate.
It looked like something meant for a ballroom—frills everywhere, and was that gold thread even real gold?
“This is too flashy. The colors too.”
“No. You must wear this. You are beautiful, but you must be even more beautiful. If you were born like this, you should make use of it.”
“….”
“Trust my judgment. It will suit you perfectly.”
What choice did I even have?
As he said, the outfit was undeniably made for Ryu-an’s body.
It fit perfectly, as if tailored after exact measurements. When did he even check that?
“Now, let’s—”
“Not yet.”
Se-non’s eyes sparkled.
“You still need accessories. And shoes. And perhaps makeup before meeting His Highness.”
“…But I already—”
“Wait a moment. I’ll make you beautiful.”
Before I knew it, he had brought out various items and started dressing me up.
Strange colored powders and inks were mixed and applied to my face. He paused repeatedly, examined me, and nodded in satisfaction.
Eventually, he finished by placing a bracelet on my wrist, looking genuinely pleased.
It was the happiest I had ever seen him.
“Ahh, I’m so glad I became your direct attendant. A beautiful model makes the work worthwhile.”
The “direct attendant” was the master here, not the servant.
I wanted to beg the Crown Prince to change him immediately.
I couldn’t even bring myself to look in a mirror. If it suits me… then fine.
Maybe it would be better if the Crown Prince saw me like this and softened.
“Now, please follow me. I will guide you to the dining hall.”
Se-non led me through the grand hall on the first floor.
After passing through several doors, we arrived at yet another large hall with a very long table.
The table was covered with so much food that it looked like it might collapse.
Despite studying to adapt to Arbesque imperial cuisine, there were far more dishes here than I had ever learned about. Some I didn’t even know how to eat.
My empty stomach began demanding food urgently.
Ah, it looks delicious. Just one bite… surely just one bite wouldn’t hurt?
“Lord Ryu-an, stop staring. You look like you’re about to jump onto the plates.”
At Se-non’s words, I snapped back to reality.
I had apparently been leaning forward like I was about to pounce on the food.
“I’m just hungry. I’ve been in a carriage all day.”
“You looked like a tiger just now. If I were the food, I’d be trembling.”
Well, what else was I supposed to do? Hunger does that to people.
While I stared at the food, trying to suppress my appetite—
“A shame. My little brother seems more interested in the food than me. How disappointing.”
“…!”
I froze.
A man in a dazzling military uniform was walking into the dining hall.
