Episode 46
“You’re really so sudden.”
I silently stared at Argen.
“……Because you’ve been pretending to want that toy even though you’re not interested in it, and you came here on purpose but acted like you were lost.”
Argen tilted his smooth chin at an angle.
“How old are you? You’re pretty sharp.”
“I’m eight…….”
“Huh? Weren’t you six……?”
What is he talking about! I wanted to snap at him, but I held it in because Theo was asleep.
“Ah, sorry. You’re just so tiny, I misunderstood.”
“$%$#^@!”
“Your height, your hands and feet are all so small…….”
“@#!$@%!”
“……Got it. I’ve learned today that someone can say such intense words just with their mouth movements. Sorry for the personal attack. My bad.”
Phew. I took a deep breath and barely calmed myself down. Hold it in, just hold it in.
“Seeing your reaction, I’m glad I came to find you.”
His cat-like eyes curved gently.
“What even are you? How did you know I was here?”
“Hmm, I just had to ask where the Wintervalt family’s carriage went.”
“……So how did you know I live with the Duke of Wintervalt……?”
“Ah…… that.”
The prince smiled innocently.
“I love running around. I’m good at catching frogs, splashing in the lake, and even sneaking naps in the library.”
Suddenly bragging about his achievements?
“When i snoop around enough…… I end up learning things. Like how you’re the kid who helped return the Duke of Wintervalt’s lost item and decided to stay with them.”
So basically, he eavesdropped on the adults’ conversation.
‘What even is this kid……?’
Perfectly upright posture. Yet clothes that were old and messy, not quite matching his demeanor.
There was a habitual smile on his lips, but strangely, no emotion could be felt from his subdued red eyes.
‘A jelly prince who doesn’t match front to back, suspicious…….’
With a resigned tone, I opened my mouth.
“So why did you come looking for me……?”
Argen was silent for a moment. Then he spoke.
“My item…….”
“Huh?”
“You took my item.”
His tone was calm, without any malice. My shoulders suddenly went limp.
“Wow. You show up out of nowhere and call me a thief?”
“Really?”
Sliiide—
His body leaned toward me.
“Are you sure you didn’t take anything?”
Argen fixed his gaze on me and subtly twisted his body, reaching behind my back.
In the moment I let my guard down, he snatched away my turtle backpack.
“What are you—!”
Ziiip.
He unzipped it and without hesitation pulled out a small handkerchief.
Inside, colorful jelly pieces were neatly wrapped.
“See?”
My gaze subtly shifted away.
“Hoho……. Picking up something that was thrown away……. Is that a problem?”
“Picking something from the trash doesn’t count as finding it. Haven’t you read Chapter 3 of Proper Heart and Wise Life, Volume 1?”
“What?”
The prince let out a short sigh and kindly explained the contents of Chapter 3 from Pro. Hea. Wise. Life, Volume 1.
I stuck out my lips and slowly backed away. It was the perfect posture to secretly cover the slightly heavy pocket.
‘So he came back thinking I might’ve picked up that jelly.’
Can a little prince be this thorough?
The truth is, I didn’t pick it up for nothing.
‘……I heard eating it causes drowsiness, so I gathered them just in case. I thought maybe it could be an excuse to meet again.’
Honestly, I’d been half in doubt until now.
But the jelly prince’s reaction confirmed it. If he had nothing to hide, why would he come back for it?
‘There really must be something about those jellies.’
“Hey, that jelly…….”
“Then I’ll be going now.”
At that moment, Arzen stood up.
“I’d appreciate it if you kept today a secret. Even if you told someone, adults don’t believe kids without evidence anyway.”
“Huh? Where are you going?”
Rather than his request, I was more concerned that Argen was leaving. Before I knew it, I grabbed the hem of his clothes.
“…….”
Argen frowned.
‘Ack……. Maybe he doesn’t like being touched without permission?’
He looked at me like he was seeing a dirty stain, so I quickly let go.
Argen replied plainly.
“I snuck out while the coachmen were drunk and asleep, so I have to return. If I don’t go now, it’ll cause a bigger commotion.”
“…….”
“If sir Blaine asks, just say my servants came to pick me up, okay?”
I quietly stared at the cold, guarded prince.
“Okay. Got it. Then…… could you do me one favor?”
“……You want something in return for keeping the secret?”
“Well, you could say that.”
I held out my hand flatly.
“Could you just give me your hand for a moment?”
“Sorry, I don’t have any money.”
“No, I meant your hand…….”
Then a deep wrinkle formed between the prince’s brows.
“Why would you…… need something like that?”
Because even after such a long conversation, there was nothing striking me like before!
‘When I first saw him, my head was exploding.’
Now, everything was strangely calm. It almost felt like earlier had been a dream.
That meant maybe more direct contact was needed.
‘Just once.’
Just once, let me touch you. You uptight, finicky prince.
Let my memories come rushing back!
‘Preferably fingers interlocked!’
Maybe he felt my blazing will, because Argen reached out his hand like he was possessed.
When his hand was 30cm away.
20cm, 10cm…….
5cm…….
Gulp.
‘Huh?’
Then a soft laugh rang out, and the hand that was about to touch me quickly withdrew.
“Sorry, but I don’t like holding hands with anyone.”
“……?”
“It’s such a childish thing to do.”
What’s he saying, this nine-year-old kid.
Ignoring my dazed expression, Argen flung open the carriage door.
“Next time, I’ll pay you. So keep my secret.”
Leaving that arrogant remark behind, the prince vanished into a winding alley.
“Huh.”
He ran away. My memory recovery potion…….
A spring breeze blew in through the open door and swirled around the room. Sleeping Theo suddenly shivered.
At that moment, the prince I thought had disappeared returned like a lie.
“…….”
Our eyes met through the gap in the door.
Just as I was about to ask why he came back—
Clack.
The outside view vanished.
‘What…….’
Did he just…….
‘Did he come back just to politely close the carriage door?’
“Huhhhhh.”
For some reason, my whole body felt drained.
“What even is he…….”
Flap flap flap.
My arms and legs flailed aimlessly through the air.
***
Meanwhile, in a dark alley—
“Ah, how adorable.”
The mage hummed a tune as he walked.
As he removed the ring from his finger, his appearance changed. His green eyes remained the same, but his black hair turned pink.
He also took out the ID of a replicated low-ranking mage and ground it into powder. It was a disguise based on the identity of a real mage in the Tower, so even if he were tracked, it wouldn’t matter.
“My truly adorable daughter.”
Was it a memory from when they lived together in the Tower when se was a child?
The way her eyes widened and froze at his touch—they were so round and lovely.
‘She seems to be getting more and more skilled in using her power…….’
At this rate, she’ll grow up well and safely.
Then, soon enough, he too would be able to reveal himself to the world again.
‘By the way, that bastard better perform well at the summit…….’
The man’s lips curled into a wicked smile.
‘I even sent a tampered mana meter—if he fails, I won’t forgive him.’
A piece of evidence meant to expose the secret of the divine beast.
It was a small magical tool that indicated the mana concentration at a location, along with the coordinates of the North.
Normally, mana meters were protected with anti-tamper magic. So falsifying them was extremely difficult.
But for someone who once reigned at the top of the Tower, it was a different story.
‘I also warned him that the smart daughter might interfere with the plan, so he should keep a close eye on her.’
Failure was not an option.
Wintervalt would slowly collapse, and amid the chaos, the well-raised child would safely return to his arms.
‘And then, with the divine beast cornering Kalec, he’ll be forced to order the child to fix it!’
If he could absorb the divine beast’s power through the child……!
If he could obtain a complete “Druid”……!
“Then all this suffering will have been worth it.”
Everything was going according to plan!
The man hummed as he disappeared into the distance.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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