“I see,” the Crown Prince said.
“I thought as much. The easiest method—for both you and me—would have been poison. What a pity.”
“If I intended to be poisoned, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place, Your Highness. I came here to live, not to die.”
“That’s not for you to decide. I expected you to swap the cup or pull some trick, but you’re bolder than I thought. I assumed you’d be a timid young noble. You look harmless enough. No wonder Se-non’s first comment about you was, ‘He’s pretty.’”
Damn you, Se-non!
I shot him a glare, but he only shrugged shamelessly.
“By the way,” the Crown Prince continued in a weary tone, “that outfit you’re wearing—did Se-non make it?”
When I confirmed it, the Crown Prince shook his head.
“This is going to be troublesome from now on when it comes to clothing.”
“Pardon?”
“That guy is obsessed with appearances. He checks everything—clothes, hairstyle, shoes, accessories. The problem is how extravagant it is, and how long it takes to prepare.”
“What?”
“When there’s a royal ball or banquet, I sometimes feel like running out of the palace instead of attending. And you—since you’re good-looking—he’s going to go even more overboard with you.”
“I’m offended, Your Highness. I merely wanted you to be the most admired person at any banquet. The most beautiful among all attendees. Do you not understand my loyalty?”
“You know it’s just your doll-dressing hobby, right?”
“So what if it is? I enjoy satisfying my artistic passion, and Your Highness becomes the protagonist. It benefits both of us, doesn’t it?”
…Yeah. I can already see how my future is going to be.
As their argument dragged on, I turned my attention to the food on the table.
My stomach growled. This was truly a “painting of food”—untouchable. I was starving, yet couldn’t eat.
Perhaps sensing my suffering, Se-non stopped arguing and changed the subject.
“Your Highness, perhaps we should begin the meal. It seems His Highness is quite hungry.”
“Alright. Bring clean utensils this time. I don’t want the servants suffering because of repeated incidents.”
“Yes.”
Se-non placed clean cutlery before me, and the Crown Prince smiled.
“Eat as much as you like. There’s no poison in the food. We don’t play tricks with the food farmers worked so hard to produce.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
I meant it sincerely.
The food was exquisite—almost heavenly. I ate freely, and the Crown Prince and Se-non occasionally commented, but nothing important enough to interrupt my focus.
After finishing dessert—pineapple—I set down my fork.
“May divine blessings be upon the farmers who worked for this meal. Thank you for the food.”
Ah… I’m full. It’s been a long time since I ate this much without restraint.
But when I looked up, both of them were staring at me in disbelief.
“…How did you eat all that?”
“I feel like I just witnessed the mysteries of the human body.”
Huh?
I just ate normally.
When I looked back at the table, only empty plates remained.
“Am I… doing something wrong?”
“No, not at all. I just realized appetite and body size might not be proportional,” the Crown Prince said with a sigh.
I didn’t understand what that meant, but Se-non only nodded.
The Crown Prince stood up.
“Let’s end things here for today. It’s getting late.”
“You still have work to do, don’t you?”
“Stop worrying about my work and focus on your duty as his attendant. If you keep being insolent, I won’t be lenient with either of you. Bring a candle.”
“Yes, as you command.”
Se-non giggled and handed him a candle.
Just as the Crown Prince reached for it—
“Ah! It’s hot!”
“Oh, my apologies.”
Se-non stepped back innocently.
The Crown Prince glared at him.
“You held it too close. Are you trying to burn me alive?”
“My apologies, Your Highness.”
“It’s fine. Be more careful next time.”
The Crown Prince left with the candle.
Se-non lit a new one after he was gone.
“You should return to your room. You’ll catch a cold.”
“Se-non, wait.”
I took the candle from him.
Ignoring his confusion, I held my hand close to the flame.
Se-non tried to stop me, but I blocked him.
“As I thought…”
“…Pardon? What is it?”
“Nothing.”
To me, it wasn’t hot.
Only warm.
Just warm.
* * *
It was almost time for sleep when I returned to my room.
Though I wasn’t fond of being a night person, I had no choice.
After changing into sleepwear, Se-non prepared a basin of warm water and a towel.
At the end of the day, a direct attendant was supposed to wash and massage the master’s hands and feet. How meticulous.
“You don’t have to go this far,” I said.
“It is protocol. A direct attendant exists for this purpose.”
“You keep emphasizing ‘direct attendant’ lately.”
“Have I been exposed? I quite like you, so please give me your foot first.”
He began massaging my feet.
Surprisingly skilled—he accurately pressed pressure points.
“Did you learn this somewhere?”
“No. I taught myself. I studied books as a child to get my father’s attention.”
“And did he like it?”
“No. He never paid attention to me. It was all pointless.”
I couldn’t respond.
“You’re really beautiful, you know,” he suddenly said.
“Not really. I wished I had a more muscular build.”
“A beauty shouldn’t say that. If I told people you were actually a woman, no one would doubt it.”
“Don’t joke like that.”
I sighed.
“And Crown Prince… how was he?”
“Very handsome.”
Se-non chuckled.
“You said he seemed different from what you expected?”
“Yeah. I thought he’d be cold or strict, but he seemed… lively.”
But I couldn’t let my guard down.
People like that are often the most dangerous.
“Why didn’t you mention what happened in the forest? You could have punished Se-non.”
“It wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“Why not?”
“I’ll explain tomorrow. Let me ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Did you notice anything strange during dinner with His Highness?”
“Strange looks?”
“I felt… a chill.”
I had felt sharp gazes more than once during the meal—like I was being evaluated, not watched.
Se-non shrugged.
“I’m not sure. Sometimes servants come and go unnoticed. Shall I investigate?”
“No, it’s fine. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.”
I handed him the empty cup.
* * *
Late at night, when most of Arnoan Palace was asleep…
A hidden wall-like door opened.
Masked men in black entered the room.
Assassins.
“One, two, three…”
They moved silently, confirming positions.
They saw “1” already inside—the advance operative.
The others took positions: one near the bath, one at the door.
“2” approached the bed.
The target lay motionless.
Without hesitation, he drove his dagger down.
A wet, tearing sound echoed.
Too easy.
But when he lifted the candle—
“Blonde…? That’s not him?”
Inside the bed was a muscular man, not the delicate blond boy they were told about.
“Too late.”
The disguised “1” grabbed him.
“Argh!”
His arm snapped violently.
“W-what are you—”
“You’re too late.”
Blood dripped from the stolen dagger as it pierced his thigh.
“Damn it!”
The one at the bath rushed in—but tripped over a hidden wire and fell hard.
The one at the door charged next—but I dodged and slammed my head into his stomach.
Combat ends with timing.
I twisted his arm and kicked him away.
Then I threw sleep powder into the final attacker’s face.
“…!”
While he staggered, I slammed him to the ground.
BOOM.
At that moment—
“Sir, what is happening?!”
Se-non burst into the room.
Perfect timing.
I threw a stolen sword at him.
He dodged effortlessly.
“…What is this?”
“I’m sorry! Wrong throw!”
Se-non sighed.
“So what’s going on?”
“Can’t you see?”
He looked around.
“I see. You’re quite popular.”
“Want some? I can share.”
“Watch your back.”
“—!”
Another attacker rushed in.
I blocked his sword with my arm and headbutted him, then disarmed and kicked him away.
All assassins neutralized.
But not the real threat.
Se-non.
I blocked his sudden strike with my sword.
Clang!
“Hmm.”
“What do you think?”
“You anticipated my attack?”
“I’m just annoyed you’re too fast.”
“I should’ve grazed you.”
He smiled sweetly.
“You’re really unpleasant.”
“I take that as a compliment.”
“I think you should check your expression. It looks disgusted.”
“I’m honest.”
“You really are a problem.”
“Are you gay?”
“Of course not.”
“…That was a joke.”
But it didn’t sound like one.
And the situation was getting worse.
