MAS 15

chapter 15

“What… what did you just do?”

I asked, eyes wide in disbelief.

But almost immediately, the flames that had swallowed Ciderion’s pupils began to shrink rapidly.

He had returned his overly activated elemental power to its normal state.

It didn’t seem like it was entirely Ciderion’s intention—he looked at his own hands with a flustered expression.

“Hyung?!”

The young boy helped his older brother, who had fallen on his own. People began whispering.

Well, it was understandable. He had fallen flat on his own with nothing around—anyone would find that odd.

‘Seems like I’m the only one who knows Ciderion is the culprit.’

I, too, was still a little dazed by what had just happened.

‘Ciderion… actually helped me…’

Could it be that this guy really has some potential for redemption?

You little…!

I opened my mouth, ready to say something in my excitement.

But an even faster voice beat me to it.

“What’s going on here?”

The youthful voice carried a hint of shock.

I turned and saw a boy with golden hair, standing there with a calm yet intense gaze.

Ah.

I’ve seen this boy before.

He was the one who had been clinging close to the emperor during the earlier speech.

I clenched my fist.

‘No doubt about it… this must be the male lead of the story.’

Khalak Safrid Asaken.

The crown prince of the Asaken Empire and the male protagonist of the original work, “She Doesn’t Show Her True Feelings.”

Though he was naturally attuned to water magic, his body wasn’t built to endure elemental power.

As a result, he had always suffered.

Ultimately, it had made the emperor extremely wary of the Asitrian Duke family.

But Khalak eventually meets the heroine, the only savior capable of alleviating his pain. Through her, he gradually falls in love.

Given that he was destined to have a short life, it’s no wonder his heart would go to the one who saved him.

‘So… he’s the male lead, huh?’

Maybe because he’s still young…

He doesn’t seem to show any of the frailness I read about in the novel.

“Greetings to the Little Sun of the Empire.”

Those causing the commotion, those watching—everyone froze and bowed respectfully.

“The greetings are sufficient. But what is the matter?”

Truly, royal blood is unmistakable.

Despite his young age, the crown prince’s red eyes calmly assessed the situation.

The man who had been pushed by Ciderion breathed a sigh of relief as if he had met a savior.

“Your Highness!”

‘I heard the crown prince is fourteen.’

Since he’s a year older than Ciderion, that seems accurate.

The man began to plead his case to the crown prince.

Yet the prince’s gaze wasn’t on him—it was fixed on Ciderion.

“You’re aware, right? About that fiend… no, the duke’s rumor. Not only was my sibling’s cup broken, but I suddenly fell! He must have used his power! And it was inside the royal banquet hall!”

His expression was filled with such grief that anyone hearing him for the first time might have believed his act.

‘Not bad. He noticed.’

Honestly, I thought he wouldn’t realize it, but he seemed to have caught on that Ciderion had used his power.

At the mention of using power, the crown prince’s brow twitched. Naturally.

‘Using powers inside the palace is strictly forbidden.’

But there was no proof Ciderion had actually used his abilities.

Besides, the man’s own actions could be considered the same.

“So, Your Highness…”

“Is that true?”

Khalak looked at me—or rather, at Ciderion.

Normally, one would answer cautiously in such a situation, but our Ciderion wasn’t about to think normally.

“Does it even matter?”

Speaking casually to royalty—the crown prince, no less.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

But technically, it wasn’t illegal.

The duke’s lineage comes from royalty, so in a sense, Ciderion was still considered royal.

Of course, things were different when addressing the crown prince directly.

Fortunately, Khalak didn’t seem particularly bothered by Ciderion’s attitude.

With a complex expression, he approached Ciderion.

“It is important. At least, here it is.”

Ciderion chuckled softly.

But his eyes didn’t smile.

Then, in an instant, his bright yellow eyes turned completely red.

The air thickened around him, and an ominous sense surged.

‘Oh no! This is really going to cause trouble.’

“W-wait a moment!”

I had no choice but to intervene.

In situations like this, it was necessary to deflect some of the blame.

“He used his power first!”

The man shouted in a panic.

“W-what are you saying?!”

“He used his power to scare me! And that kid tried to pour juice on me first!”

Before I could finish, another shout came from behind.

“When did I!”

“WHEN?!” I had seen everything just moments ago, you little brat!

Just as I opened my mouth to put the arrogant little one in his place…

“Ah, actually, I think it was our fault.”

His older brother spoke first.

What?

Why now?

The sudden change in attitude left the onlookers looking puzzled.

Even his younger brother was surprised.

“Hyung! What are you—Ah!”

Stepping on his younger brother’s foot, the man smiled innocently.

Khalak, representing the crowd, asked.

“…What is this?”

“Well, you know… sometimes you think something is a big deal at first, but later realize it’s really not so bad.”

The man rambled, but listening closely…

‘Huh… he actually knows how to think properly?’

But why the sudden change?

Earlier, he had been trying his best to give us trouble.

Khalak also looked surprised by the sudden shift, but he sighed and spoke.

“If it is true what you say, Mr. Flizen, then it would be improper of me to argue. In the future, please refrain from causing disturbances at royal banquets.”

With words far beyond his years, Khalak dominated the room and ended the incident.

“I ask the duke to do the same.”

Even to a younger child, he addressed him properly as “duke.”

Compared to Ciderion, it was almost unfair.

Because of his extraordinary etiquette, even I found myself adopting manners I didn’t usually have.

‘This… must be the power of manners.’

“And the young lady… you seem unfamiliar.”

Khalak’s gaze turned to me belatedly.

“Oh, I—”

“You don’t recognize this face? The emperor personally introduced you.”

Ciderion cut me off.

Silence fell.

‘Did he eat something weird today or what?’

Strangely, today he seemed more emotional than usual.

But I wouldn’t jump to conclusions about redemption just yet.

It was my first time seeing Ciderion interact with other nobles, and this was a place where the emperor, whom he bore a grudge against, was present.

Amidst the stifling silence, Khalak suddenly exclaimed, as if realizing something.

“Are you… from Baron Aysel’s family?”

“Yes, I am.”

So that’s what he was thinking.

Khalak looked genuinely apologetic.

For someone so eloquent, he suddenly stammered, his voice small.

“I-I’m sorry…”

Though brief, I thought he was mature. No sign of childishness, despite being the crown prince.

But age is hard to fully disguise.

‘Maybe because they’re young. He and Ciderion both have their cute sides.’

Even if sometimes frightening.

I answered before Khalak could feel more apologetic.

“It’s fine. It’s understandable that Your Highness wouldn’t recognize me.”

Though the emperor had introduced me, I doubt even he would remember me personally.

How do I know? It was in the novel.

He literally drew my name like a dart.

I thought that method was extremely careless, yet Khalak grabbed my hand tightly.

Then, apologizing nervously, he said:

“I still apologize… for committing such a grave breach of etiquette. As a sign of my apology—”

Thwack!

The sound echoed as Khalak’s hand holding mine was pushed back.

“This got boring. Let’s go.”

Ciderion snatched my hand and started pulling me along.

“Uh, w-wait?”

Can I just go along like this…?

I turned anxiously, and the onlookers were staring blankly.

It must have been shocking, but Khalak’s expression was the most remarkable.

Having grown as crown prince, he had likely never been openly ignored like this before.

Hmm.

‘I hope we don’t get arrested for insulting royalty…’

Who knows.

At least, I straightened up to avoid falling again and glanced down at the hand holding mine.

Surprisingly… it’s warm.

Fortunately, Khalak didn’t report us for insulting royalty.

Probably because of his naturally kind nature.

I sipped sweet cocoa and thought:

‘Never attending a banquet again.’

Next time, someone might actually get hurt.

“Yes. Definitely.”

“Lady, did something happen at the banquet?”

Mary asked after noticing I had been downcast since returning.

“Just… life feels so exhausting sometimes.”

“Ehh? Pft, ah, sorry.”

Seeing my glare, Mary quickly apologized.

“What happened?”

How could I explain?

The fragile trust I had built with Ciderion over snacks seemed completely shattered in a single day.

Since returning from the banquet, he wouldn’t talk to me and ignored everything I said.

Ah, though he always tended to ignore me anyway.

‘It got worse.’

Just like when we first met.

“Why? Did something happen with the master?”

Mary casually asked, and I opened my eyes wide in surprise.

“What? How did you know?”

Mary gave a rare elder-like smile and shrugged.