This is unbelievable.
Yuriel, who was kneeling beside Dehan’s bed after his treatment, had a face as if the world had collapsed, and clasped his hands together.
How could this happen? The Prince of the Empire, causing such chaos to a child like this. If it had been serious, Dehan would be dead by now. Yuriel covered his face with his trembling hands.
“Are you crying?”
Arthur, who had come in, asked. Yuriel sniffed and shook his head.
“No, I… I’m not crying.”
“It seems like you might cry soon.”
Arthur said with a smirk while wringing out a wet towel and placing it on Dehan’s forehead. He could feel Dehan’s breathing slowly stabilizing.
“Don’t worry. The doctor said, didn’t he? It wasn’t a deep wound, and it’s not fatal, so after resting for a few days, he’ll regain his senses.”
“A-although, even so!”
Yuriel suddenly raised his head and shouted.
“He must have been terribly shocked. It’s… this is the first time something like this has happened…”
“Right. It’s not every day you get stabbed in the stomatch.”
“Sir Arthur!”
“Did I sound sarcastic?”
Arthur shrugged and sat next to Yuriel.
“Didn’t you say Benita had a weak personality? I figured he’d be unbothered by Dehan or our legion members, but he reacted differently than I expected. If that’s his idea of being weak, he might as well burn the whole castle down.”
Yuriel shook his head.
“It’s not a lie. The Prince’s introverted personality was… well, the rumors about it were well-known…”
“Yet he caused such a ruckus?”
Arthur’s frown deepened.
Arthur, who had heard everything from the 1st Legion’s demons, was honestly quite angry. They had all been underestimated, and Dehan was turned into a half-dead state as an example.
Not only that, but he even insulted the Demon King. If he had been sane, or even had a little bit of common sense, he would never have done that. The reason the damn prince was out of his mind was simple.
“He looked down on us.”
He must have been certain that, no matter how much of a scene he caused, the Count’s family wouldn’t intervene.
A faint smirk tugged at Arthur’s lips.
So, a mere human dared to bare his fangs at them. His fists clenched instinctively.
“What should we do with this crazy guy…”
“Are you going to kill him?”
Yuriel’s reflexive question left Arthur a bit stunned.
“Do I really look like a ruthless person, or a demon?”
“Yes, you do.”
“……….”
Arthur let out an exasperated laugh, brushing his hair back.
He wouldn’t kill him. If he killed the prince just because he was angry, everything they had worked for to blend into human society would have been in vain.
But that didn’t mean he was going to let him off lightly. He wondered if he should start by breaking something first… That was when Arthur’s eyes glinted.
“Is Dehan awake?”
“Lady Shekina!”
Shekina entered the room, and Arthur greeted her with a bright smile, as if he had never worn a grim expression. Shekina smoothly embraced him.
“What’s this? He’s still not awake?”
Shekina squinted her eyes as she looked at Dehan.
“What’s this? Lying down like this for such a small wound? This is nothing.”
“D-Dehan is only 5 years old…”
“I’m 3.”
“………”
Yuriel had no reply to that.
He quietly clasped his hands and closed his mouth, and Shekina, ignoring him, looked down at Dehan.
Dehan’s face was pale, and with the cold sweat on his forehead, it seemed like his fever was quite high.
Of course, it’s not like Shekina has never thought about giving Dehan a good beating. But if anyone’s going to hit him, it’ll be her—not someone else.
Shekina took the hot towel and gave it to Arthur before clicking her tongue.
“Leave the prince alone. I’ll take care of it.”
Arthur tilted his head.
“What are you planning to do?”
“First, I’m going to make him pay.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said I’m going to make him pay.”
Arthur looked at Yuriel. Yuriel, with his eyes filled with uncertainty, alternated his gaze between Shekina and Dehan.
“I’ll get revenge for you, so don’t worry too much! Just trust me!”
“………”
“I won’t kill him! But I will make him pay!”
Are we just going to leave her like that?
Doesn’t seem like a good idea. I’ll keep an eye on her.
Exchanging a silent conversation through their gazes, Yuriel and Arthur deliberately avoided meeting Shekina’s eyes.
***
“Your Highness! What on earth made you do such a thing!”
Ferda scolded as he held his forehead in frustration. He was so angry that his head felt like it was burning. He stomped his feet, tilting his chin up.
“Say something, at least!”
Benita, who had been gnawing at his lips, finally spat out his words under Ferda’s urging.
“They started it!”
Benita clenched his fist tightly.
“They mocked and ignored me. They were just knights from the Count’s house…! How dare they!”
Ferda rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath.
They should never have come here. Shekina Daimon or whatever, they should have postponed it. They should have waited until the prince grew up and came to his senses.
But these thoughts were too late to matter now.
Ferda took another deep breath and approached Benita.
“Your Highness, do you truly not understand why they behaved like that?”
“………”
“They’re so arrogant because they are sure that the imperial family won’t take any proper action against them!”
“What… What do you mean…?”
Benita’s face turned pale.
He didn’t think what he did was entirely right, but he didn’t think it was wrong either. He believed he had acted justly. He had only punished those who disrespected and ignored him, the prince.
But now, what was being said? Were they saying that no matter what they did, the imperial family would not do anything? Benita’s eyes wavered.
“They threatened me! And you want me to just let it go? I’m the prince! They’re just knights from the Count’s house!”
“They’re not just knights!”
Ferda’s voice rose.
“The Count of the North is dealing with monsters! If they use this incident as an excuse to let monsters pass through, what do you think will happen? What if they demand independence now? Why are you only seeing one side of the situation?”
“Th-that’s…”
Benita hadn’t thought that far. He never imagined that a family under the empire might openly oppose the imperial family. That’s when Benita realized the magnitude of his mistake.
“You must apologize.”
Taking advantage of the silence, Ferda spoke. Benita’s face crumpled in frustration.
“To that Dehan or whatever his name is? He’s just a commoner! How could I apologize to someone like him?”
You fool.
Ferda knelt before Benita.
“Are you really willing to disgrace the entire imperial family just because of your pathetic pride?”
“That…”
“Tell me, why did you and I come all the way here?”
Benita gritted his teeth but eventually answered.
“…To form a friendly relationship with Shekina Daimon.”
“And the child you injured was Shekina Daimon’s subordinate.”
“………”
Benita squeezed his eyes shut.
If he didn’t apologize now, the Count’s house would certainly lodge a complaint with the imperial family. Ferda’s warning about the independence or the monsters passing through, while uncertain, was not the point. The point was that his mother would be incredibly angry.
The heavy choice was clear when compared: disappointing a terrifying mother or bowing to a commoner…
“…I will apologize.”
“Yes. You must do so.”
Ferda finally exhaled a sigh of relief, as if reassured. But at the same time, he felt uneasy. He couldn’t be sure if an apology would really resolve the situation.
For now, they needed to wait until the next day, monitor the child’s condition, and plan the timing… As Ferda’s mind raced, a knock suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
– Knock knock
A servant’s voice called out from beyond the door.
“The youngest young lady has come to visit. Should I let her in?”
The youngest young lady referred to Shekina Daimon.
Ferda and Benita exchanged looks. They stood up reflexively.
“Your Highness, you absolutely cannot make another mistake this time!”
“I… I understand…”
Swallowing dryly and calming themselves, they instructed the servant to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, the cute child Benita had seen earlier walked in.
“Hello! I’m Shekina.”
Shekina Daimon.
A child with many secrets and an ambiguous nature.
Ferda, trying to gauge Shekina’s intentions, watched her carefully. But Shekina spoke first.
“Your Highness.”
Shekina grinned and extended her hand.
“Would you like to go watch the monsters with me?”
