Chapter 39
The Crown Prince’s Palace.
There had been a subtle tension in the Crown Prince’s palace for over four days now, ever since its master had left.
“So.”
Every morning, a certain man visited the palace.
“His Highness hasn’t returned yet?”
It was all because of this man.
The head of the Royal Academy and the Crown Prince’s instructor.
Pasello Gratate Haflagen.
The head of the prestigious educator family, Haflagen, and the Crown Prince Pession’s instructor in etiquette.
“N-No, Your Excellency, His Highness still hasn’t returned…”
The sharp gleam in Pasello’s eyes behind his glasses made the palace staff avert their gazes.
“Hmm. Absent for five days now.”
A dark aura radiated from Sir Pasello, who was once called the ‘professor from hell’ at a certain academy.
The palace servants flinched and desperately pretended not to notice.
“I must see Her Majesty the Empress.”
He had been requesting an audience for several days now.
They had tolerated the Crown Prince’s unprecedented stubbornness because it was his first real defiance, but there had to be limits, didn’t there?
Today, it would be settled once and for all.
Halbern or whoever else, Sir Pasello was ready to storm in and drag the prince out himself when—
“Sir Pasello, Her Majesty the Empress is requesting your presence.”
“She is… requesting me?”
“She said now that Lady Arellin has awakened, there’s no need for you to restrain yourself any longer.”
“…!”
“She also said she entrusts the aftermath to you.”
Sir Pasello’s eyes gleamed as he clenched both fists tightly.
“I shall obey Her Majesty’s command.”
Pession was dragged away.
“I’ll be back! Wait for me, Arellin!”
It happened early in the morning.
A terrifying man from the palace came without saying a word and whisked Pession away.
He had managed to stay at the Halbern residence for five days, but the moment he saw that man, the blood drained from Pession’s face.
‘That was scary…’
“Who was that guy?”
“He’s the head of the Royal Academy and currently responsible for the Crown Prince’s education. But don’t worry, my lady, you’re unlikely to encounter him.”
“Ah, I see.”
She silently prayed for Pession’s soul.
“His Highness will be fine. He might not look it, but Sir Pasello is a devoted educator.”
“Really?”
“He’ll just suffer a bit.”
“…”
Was that really a good thing?
While silently wondering about Pession’s future, she felt Mehen’s gaze carefully scanning her.
Even though the priests, healers, and doctors had all said she was fine, was he still that worried?
She gave a small smile, and only then did Mehen’s expression ease.
“I was very worried.”
His voice was flat, but the sincerity in his words lingered deeply.
Though he seemed awkward showing emotion, Mehen’s eyes were filled with tender affection.
“Mehen.”
The emotion in his gaze was painfully unfamiliar and yet something she had always longed for, making her chest tighten.
“Hold me.”
“You’re acting like such a child.”
“Because Mehen is my mom.”
No one else could make her act like this, but with Mehen, her heart softened every time.
Wasn’t it okay to be a bit greedy like this? She was still a child, after all.
Wasn’t it okay to ask for this much? Wouldn’t he accept this much?
Such selfish thoughts.
“Don’t act like a baby.”
Maybe it was because she had always been forced to suppress herself. Her mother had been strict with her.
“How have you managed to hold in such childishness all this time?”
“But still…”
“But still?”
“Everyone liked it when I acted grown-up.”
She buried her face into Mehen’s chest and rubbed against it. The scent of old, dried wood felt warm and comforting.
“I was scared they’d find me annoying if I cried, made a fuss, or was stubborn.”
“…”
“I was scared they’d stop looking at me.”
Mehen couldn’t say anything. He silently brushed her hair back with one hand. His clenched jaw was tight with emotion.
“…My lady.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Arell.”
“Mm.”
Mehen’s mood darkened. The worn-out handsome man’s pained gaze was oddly touching.
His long lashes trembled.
“…I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Just… everything.”
Bathed in the morning light, his pale green eyes shimmered like gold, filled with anguish as he looked at her.
“For leaving you alone, making you feel lonely, not realizing how you felt, making you upset—just everything.”
His long, slender fingers hesitated, then gently held her hand.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Seeing Mehen drowned in guilt made her feel strange.
“You don’t have to look like that. It’s really okay.”
She couldn’t say exactly when, but it really was okay now.
“You’re not going to do it again, right?”
“No.”
Mehen bit his lip and added softly.
“Because I’m… your mother.”
…Wow.
Her jaw dropped involuntarily.
Was this really the Mehen she knew?
The man who was always so prickly and sensitive was now too embarrassed to meet her eyes, yet still stubbornly calling himself “mom,” and it moved her in a way she couldn’t explain.
Wow. What was she supposed to do with this feeling?
“Mom—!”
“Ugh.”
She threw herself into Mehen’s arms. Though overwhelmed, he still hugged her tightly. He couldn’t hide how red his ears had become.
“But, about earlier…”
“Hm?”
“When His Highness was there and you said I was like a mother to you…”
“Oh, that? I just said that so you wouldn’t be in an awkward position.”
“Awkward?”
“You have your social status to maintain, too.”
Mehen raised an eyebrow.
“Where did you even learn to talk like that?”
“Here and there?”
Mehen looked doubtful, but she just smiled, having nothing else to say.
“It was our first time going out together, and it ended so badly, didn’t it?”
“Mm.”
“But I still had fun.”
At those words, Mehen’s stiff expression softened. She used to think he was hard to read and scary…
“You’ll take me again, right?”
“If that’s what you want, anytime.”
He was too easy now.
“Weren’t you scared being locked up alone?”
“It was hectic, but I was fine.”
“Did anything else happen?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you see something? Anything strange occur?”
Mehen asked cautiously, his tone probing, like he was reluctant but felt he had to ask.
‘Did someone tell him to ask?’
Suddenly, a man’s face popped into her mind.
A man who felt even more dangerous than all the hostile energy she had sensed from every direction.
‘I knew it.’
She felt she shouldn’t talk about it.
“I don’t remember anything.”
Mehen’s eyes narrowed as he watched her smile.
“Really. I remember nothing.”
“I see…”
Though clearly unconvinced, Mehen didn’t push further.
“That’s a relief.”
“Is it, though?”
“You should eat breakfast now.”
“Okay!”
While Mehen went to get breakfast, she looked down at the back of her hand.
‘Okay, but where did the emblem go, and what is this thing glowing on my hand instead?’
A glowing mark in the shape of a falling star shimmered softly.
“It doesn’t seem like anyone else can see it…”
If someone had seen it, they would have asked about it, surely.
She scratched her hand. It didn’t go away—only left her skin red. It felt like she had unknowingly picked up something troublesome. What a headache.
“That creepy guy’s doing, I bet.”
She shivered at the memory of those golden eyes watching her silently.
“Just what was that guy…?”
No matter how much she wondered, she couldn’t figure out his identity.
After all, there was no such character in the novel.
But more than that, there was something else worrying her now.
“Will Pession… be okay?”
Pession got scolded. A lot.
“But Sir Pasello, Her Majesty the Empress said it was fine—”
“Her Majesty may be tolerant, but as the one tasked with teaching etiquette and discipline to the Crown Prince, I cannot be.”
Not even a drop of “Mom Card” worked.
Pession felt wronged.
He hadn’t even had a proper conversation with the newly-awakened Arellin!
He just wanted to stay by her side longer!
“Sir Pasello, perhaps the scolding could stop here…”
Seeing Pession’s increasingly gloomy face, Griam tried to intervene.
“Lord Griam, it is your duty to rein in His Highness’s indulgences when necessary.”
“….”
He lost instantly.
‘I’m sorry, Your Highness. I guess this is as far as I go.’
‘Griam! Come back!’
Despite the prince and Griam having far superior ranks and status, before the title of “Crown Prince’s Instructor,” they both wilted.
“Where are you going? You must hear this as well.”
“Ah… yes, of course.”
The lecture began.
“That should be enough. I trust both of you have understood.”
The two, spiritually drained, blankly nodded.
‘It’s finally over, right?’
Sir Pasello declared,
“Then, to make up for the five-day absence, lessons will be doubled for the next week.”
“…?!”
Sir Pasello, you cruel man!
Did he even have a heart?
