Chapter 48
It was a familiar face.
‘Arellin.’
Aaron stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face Arellin.
“…”
“…”
The silence lengthened.
‘Why is she doing that?’
An afterthought question.
Arellin’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Aaron. But they didn’t get a chance to greet each other, and there was silence.
They weren’t the most social of people to begin with, so it was impossible for them to have a pleasant conversation.
‘Ignore him.’
Arellin ignored Aaron and turned her attention away.
Aaron looked at her and realized he hadn’t picked the right time to ignore her.
‘Should I keep going, or should I leave?’
But I’m too bothered.
I’m too bothered to pass!
You stare.
‘How can I ignore that?’
Eventually, Aaron gave up trying to get past and crouched down next to Arellin. The scent of spring was in the air.
“?”
Arellin shot her a questioning glance. Aaron was equally dubious.
After a moment’s hesitation, Aaron asked.
“…Are you sick?”
“…?”
The rose-stone eyes facing Aaron widened.
“Words.”
“?”
“You can.”
“…”
Arellin blinked, her voice devoid of emotion. Her long lashes fluttered like butterflies.
“I’ve never heard your voice before.”
Aaron fell silent again.
Not knowing what to say, and feeling his cheeks heat up for some reason, Aaron clamped his mouth shut.
‘What?’
She asked, confused.
“Aaron?”
Arellin cocked her head. She still didn’t understand what all the fuss was about.
“Isn’t it Aaron who’s sick?”
He should have said no.
“Aaron, are you sick?”
“I’m not sick.”
“I’m not sick either.”
“…”
There was a hint of mischief in her voice. Aaron looked at Arellin with a hint of resentment.
Arellin smiled wryly. It was the brightest smile he’d ever seen.
It was impossible to be angry with her when she smiled like that.
“You were worried about me? That’s sweet.”
He should be angry.
At the rude stroking of his hair, at the teasing remarks.
But for some reason, he didn’t feel angry.
Maybe it’s because she’s unusually small for her age, or maybe it’s because she has soft eyes like spring.
“Then why are you doing this?”
“Oh.”
Arellin’s expression darkened instantly.
“The twins…”
“Oh.”
Even without a full explanation, Aaron understood the meaning of that one word.
The lesser demons of Sperom were a scourge fair to all.
“Can I help you?”
“How?!”
Aaron stammered, looking up at Arellin, who was looking at him in surprise.
“The twins… quickly lose interest if they’re not interested, so if they target them…”
“Interesting.”
Aaron nodded.
“That’s good!”
Arellin’s eyes lit up, her face suddenly frowning in amusement.
“But, what happens if I don’t get interested?”
“?”
Aaron tilted his head.
That was something he hadn’t thought about.
***
Operation Friend Shield was creaky from the start.
Her plan was this.
‘I’ll make other friends and use them as an excuse to avoid Pession’s workouts!’
‘Not even Pession can stop me from socializing!’
It was a perfect plan with such lofty aspirations!
As soon as she arrived at the collection meeting, she realized.
“Oh, right.”
He was so jealous now.
Getting a friend was going to be a challenge from the start.
All she needed was a little jealousy?
“Arelliriririn!”
“Allerilin!”
She has been captured by Sperom the Lesser Demon, the worst villain in the Collective.
She managed to escape before she was captured and her soul was stolen, but she was at a loss as to how to overcome this obstacle when she met Aaron.
‘Aaron is…’
A perfect fit as a friend.
But there was one problem.
She thought to herself, “This guy would prioritize the Crown Prince over me.
In fiction and in real life, Aaron, who was destined to be the Crown Prince’s guardian knight, had the same attitude.
How high-minded of him, and how she tried to drive his favorite mistress, Chloé, mad!
‘Grimm’s rice cake!’
Still, why not try?
“Aaron, do you want to be friends with me?”
“Friends?”
“I don’t have any friends, so I’m here to make some.”
“…”
Aaron stiffens as if he’s broken. He turns to her, unsure of what to do.
Pity? Not bad.
“I’m not asking for much, I just want you to play with me sometimes.”
“…”
“Very occasionally.”
“…”
“Just once, if it’s too much for you.”
He was expressionless and aloof, looking like a suave cold man who couldn’t be approached easily, but she could read Aaron’s expression that he’d had a few conversations.
Aaron was torn.
“You don’t like me?”
Aaron blushed with embarrassment.
She think if she push him a little harder, he’ll come around. As she approach him, he backs away, blushing even more.
“Do it, mate.”
“Wow!”
Great, I’ve got a friend!
“Thanks!”
She won’t be able to use it often, but she have a hidden card! Aaron’s cheeks reddened even more as he clasped his hands together and waved happily.
Why is he blushing so much?
Is it hot in the palace?
“Aaron, are you sick?”
She was just about to reach out and touch Aaron’s forehead.
“Huh!”
A familiar voice assaulted her ears.
Pession looked from her to Aaron and back again, startled.
“Arellin.”
“Huh?”
“Why are you… with Aaron?”
“Because we’re supposed to be friends from today.”
“…”
Pession’s expression crumpled strangely.
***
The Lesser Demons of Sperom.
The twins, Ciel and Noel, suddenly questioned the sight before them.
“Ciel, what is going on here?”
“Noel, I don’t know.”
As twins of Sperom, they had never seen anything like this in their lives, having been sheltered from the world by the overflowing wealth of the Sperom family.
“Arellin, why don’t you give up when you have something nice to say?”
“Pession, why don’t you give up?”
When Arellin appeared at the collection meeting for the first time in a long time, she saw the twins and ran away.
After searching for her, they returned to find a strange sight greeting them.
Arellin and Pession were fighting over Aaron.
“Arellin, why don’t you leave Aaron and come with me?”
“Pession, why don’t you give up Aaron and come sit next to me?”
Pession and Arellin jostle for position with Aaron in the middle. And Aaron is stuck in the middle, looking embarrassed.
To the untrained eye, it looked like they were fighting over Aaron, but the conversation proved otherwise.
“What does Arellin like about Aaron?”
“He’s nice.”
“Does Arellin like all nice people?”
“Aaron is handsome.”
“More handsome than me?!”
“Aaron is more my type.”
Pession stood tall, looking shocked.
The twins looked confused.
“Weren’t you two fighting?”
“Your highness is going to cry.”
“But when did they get so close?
Confusion gripped the two of them, who had been under intense surveillance ever since they had been caught sneaking into Halbern Manor.
All the while, the fight between Arellin and Pession continued.
“Arellin.”
“Why?”
“You like Aaron better than me?!”
“Yes.”
“Why?!”
“You don’t know that?”
Peshion grunted.
“Aaron.”
Sparks flew at Aaron, who finally stood still.
“Come here. Sit here.”
“…”
“That’s an order from the Crown Prince.”
A cheeky order.
Pession had never sounded like this before. The twins chewed on their popcorn, thrilled at the sight.
The backlash came from Arellin.
“What are you doing to Aaron?!”
“What did I do?”
“Don’t be mean to Aaron.”
“It’s okay, he’s my friend too.”
“He’s my friend too!”
“He’s been friends with me longer!”
A childish fight ensues between the two.
“Both of you stop…”
Finally, Aaron had enough and stood up.
“Aaron, stay still!”
“Aaron, stay still!”
But it didn’t work.
The twins burst in as Aaron stood still, watching Arellin and Pession glare at each other.
“Electric charge.”
“Arellirin.”
“Aaron and Your Highness.”
“Are you three in a love triangle?!”
“What?!”
Pession and Arellin exclaimed, turning to the twins, their golden eyes sparkling.
But before they had a chance to explain, the twins pounced on them.
“We want in!”
“We want in!”
“Let’s have a pentacle!”
The jockeying for position quickly turned rowdy.
“But whose fight is it?”
“Isn’t it Aaron?”
“Aaron! I want my place!”
“That’s not right…”
Aaron suffered again.
