Chapter 63
“If only that prince, who clouds your judgment, weren’t here… would your soul finally turn back to me?”
Jade slowly reached out his hand. There was no need to burn him—he intended to take the prince’s life quietly, peacefully. The prince would meet death as if he were asleep, undisturbed.
“Once I eliminate Noxia Dekan’s lover… will you, trapped within that shell, return to me…?”
If he had been certain of that, he would have willingly taken this young descendant’s life. Yet Jade dared not hope, and so he hesitated until the end.
Even if the prince were gone, Noxia Dekan would not come to him.
Neither the shell with its chocolate-colored hair and green eyes nor the king’s soul trapped inside were ignoring Jade because they were distracted by Elenon Hermeon.
If the prince disappeared, she would simply seek another lover. Even if she didn’t, she would continue to reject him. Even if it meant living alone for her entire life, she would never return to him.
Even if it meant dying, yes, even if she ended her life right before him as a blatant defiance, she would never again fall into his arms.
She had already made it clear that her feelings had changed from the past. It was only Jade—foolish and selfish—who could not bring himself to accept it.
“Mm…”
Elenon Hermeon stirred in his sleep. He muttered something incomprehensible, then turned onto his side.
Jade watched him intently. With a look that had grown cold, he withdrew his hand, which had hovered near the prince’s neck, and stepped back.
The being who had appeared from the darkness vanished back into it, leaving no trace of its presence, as if it had never been there at all.
The prince, moments away from death, slept soundly, unaware of it all.
The seasons changed. Summer had come, hot and lively, when short sleeves were preferable to flowing spring clothes.
School had begun its vacation, and people scheduled outings in the evening, when a cool breeze was preferable to the blazing midday sun.
The two lovers, who secretly met every weekend, stayed indoors during the day instead of taking walks. In the second prince’s villa on the outskirts of the capital, the boy and girl enjoyed a cozy date.
With the windows wide open to catch the breeze, they lounged on soft sofas, sipping drinks with ice and eating sweet snacks. The hours passed in a dreamy tranquility.
Now almost completely comfortable with each other, they exchanged silly jokes, teased one another, and shared snacks directly from one’s mouth to the other’s.
The academy student, with newfound freedom for the vacation, and the leisurely weekend aide spent their sweet Saturdays together. So familiar and natural that counting how many times they had done so was meaningless.
All the fears that had once held them back from starting their relationship now seemed pointless, as the boy and girl enjoyed a lovely romance.
Officially, their relationship remained a secret, but it was not stifling or frustrating. In fact, it added a manageable sense of tension, which they could appreciate.
It was a love fully soaked in innocent pink, possible only for eighteen-year-olds experiencing first love, not hardened adults. They tasted heaven in their own little world.
“Noxia, try this too. It has dried cranberries in it. Do you like cranberries?”
“Yes, I do. I’ll try it.”
Noxia, who had been nibbling on chocolate and walnut cookies moments before, swallowed the contents and opened her mouth naturally. Elenon fed her the snack with a casual grace.
She chewed the cookie with a crunch. Elenon watched her lips move like a rabbit, then suddenly leaned forward and planted a kiss on her mouth.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
Noxia froze mid-bite, her face flushed. Elenon grinned.
“Just… you look so cute when you eat.”
He murmured this, cupping her cheek and kissing her again—longer and deeper than before.
“You’re so cute even when you eat… how can I not fall for you? You have far too many points to fall in love with.”
Elenon smiled. Noxia, her face a deep red, glared at him, then suddenly threw her arms around him, pressing her lips to his.
Their tongues, breaths, and the sweetness of the snacks intertwined messily. They explored each other, lost in the moment.
When they finally broke away, panting, Elenon leaned back against the sofa’s armrest while Noxia hovered over him, hands on either side of his head.
“Mm, this position is too dangerous…”
Elenon muttered, heart racing as if it might burst through his chest.
“So? A little danger is fine, isn’t it?”
Noxia whispered mischievously, then kissed him again before he could reply. He groaned beneath her.
“Hah…”
She bit his lips gently, making him shiver. Like a cat, she flicked her tongue across his mouth. Elenon looked on the verge of tears.
“N-Noxia, wait. Let’s stop here.”
“…Tch.”
Noxia pouted at his steel-like patience and straightened up. They sat side by side on the sofa again.
“You always draw the line so strictly. Were you a monk in a past life?”
“One of us has to remain rational. You charge at me like a runaway foal every time—what choice do I have?”
“Foal? That’s too mean.”
“What’s wrong with a foal? They’re cute and clever animals.”
“So you’re saying I’m like an animal?”
“No, I mean you’re just that cute. And according to recent research, humans are technically just another species of animal…”
“Alright, alright, you talk too much.”
“Mm.”
Noxia playfully complained, placing a cookie in his mouth. The boy reluctantly chewed and swallowed it.
“You know very few people in this country can treat royalty like this, right? You’ve really earned a rare honor, Noxia.”
“Yes, yes. I don’t even know how to handle this honor.”
Elenon shook his head; Noxia snorted. They spent the time teasing each other lightly over trivial matters, turning it into playful fun.
When their friendly banter wore them out, they sank into quiet rest.
Even in silence, they were comfortable, leaning on each other, lost in thought but peaceful.
Elenon habitually twirled Noxia’s hair around his fingers, while she rested her head on his shoulder, faintly thinking about forgotten household chores at home.
Then Elenon spoke. Twisting her hair absentmindedly, he finally found the courage to speak his mind.
“Noxia.”
“Yes?”
“I want to ask you something. Don’t feel pressured—just hear me out.”
“Starting so dramatically makes it even more stressful. What is it?”
“What if I invited you to the palace, and arranged a meeting with my family?”
“What?”
Noxia instinctively straightened, eyes wide, staring at him. Elenon hurriedly added:
“O-of course, if you don’t want to, it’s fine! That was just a suggestion, a proposal. I’m not forcing you—if you’re uncomfortable, absolutely not…”
Elenon babbled. Seeing his face red as a ripe tomato, Noxia managed to steady herself.
“It’s okay, Your Highness. I’m just a little surprised. I never expected you to say that.”
She tried to remain calm and honest. It was true she hadn’t expected it. Saying she was “a little” surprised might be an understatement.
“I… didn’t realize you had thought that far. It’s not trivial. For any couple, meeting a partner’s parents is significant.”
Of course, the fact that his parents were the king and queen of the country made it even more shocking and intimidating. Even if Elenon had been from a normal family, the proposal would have been overwhelming.
Having grown up properly in an orphanage, Noxia never felt deprived, but she knew her orphan status could be awkward for others.
In the past, she hadn’t felt awkward—she had been in the orphanage since infancy, all her friends were from the same place, and teachers had cared for her dearly.
As she grew older and went to school, she realized she didn’t belong to the category of a “normal” family as defined by society.
Other children outside the orphanage had parents—sometimes only one parent, or step-parents, but broadly similar.
Only then did Noxia recognize: Ah, I’m different. The place I grew up isn’t a typical family.
Luckily, she had never met anyone cruel enough to mock or belittle her for it.
Yet even without malice, people could hurt others through curiosity or misunderstanding, and those wounds still counted.
Whenever it happened, Noxia chose to brush it off lightly and forget. It was less burdensome than dwelling on every painful moment.
Now, grown up, she faced her lover, worried that her past wounds might resurface through his family.
“I’m used to prejudice and harmless remarks, so I can brush those off… but his family? Not just anyone—the king and queen of this country.”
Even more than their high status, she feared the possibility they might dislike her.
She had come to care for Elenon far more than she expected, wanting recognition from those around him.
Had their relationship ended casually, this desire—and fear—wouldn’t exist.
“I’m scared they might dislike me.”
As a precious prince and beloved son, any partner might never be enough for his parents.
Yet disapproval was different from outright hatred. Noxia did not want to be hated.
