CHAPTER 13
At the memory, Ares’s insides boiled again.
‘Calling me a thunder-naked brat in front of the princess—so humiliating!’
He never wanted to be mocked in front of her.
He hated seeming weak to that girl. It made him furious.
He’d rather bite his tongue than be ignored by the princess.
“Look at me.”
Even though she didn’t say a word, he wanted to keep shouting.
“Look at me. Look at me properly!”
He would make her see him, no matter what.
Even when the princess barely stood up, that single thought drove him nearly mad with anxiety.
He knew he had to apologize, but it felt like losing for the first time, and the bitterness made him want to cry.
And in the end…
‘I completely lost… to a baby way younger than me.’
More than his wounded pride, it was the regret—over what he’d done—that was truly painful.
As he remembered the girl in the Ferzen Palace who had smiled at him, Ares rubbed the area around his heart.
‘…Ah. I miss her.’
Even now. Right this second.
Meanwhile, Phobos was dumbfounded watching his usually stubborn younger brother.
‘Is this really our dragon-butt of a little brother? No way—he must just be depressed because he thinks he’s in trouble.’
It was pitiful, sure…
But as the head of the family, Phobos decided to speak with dignity.
“Ares. Lord Erebus has graciously decided to forgive us.”
“Okay.”
“But to take responsibility, you’re being sent to serve as a page to Sir Minte Epikus.”
“Got it.”
“You’ll be working way har— Hey, why are you agreeing so easily?!”
Phobos nearly choked.
‘This little punk never goes along with anything this easily!’
Seeing Phobos’s suspicious face, Ares frowned but calmly replied,
“I know I really messed up.”
“Uh—”
“So I’ll learn from Sir Epikus, protect Sion, and behave.”
“Well… yeah, that’s right, but…”
Phobos was growing more and more baffled.
He poked Ares’s cheek a few times, trying to check if this was really his brother.
Ares growled in annoyance—yep, definitely his little brother.
“Hey, do you even know what kind of person Sir Epikus is?”
“He’s your crush, right?”
“No—! I mean, yes, but wait. Is it that obvious?!”
“Uh-huh…”
“Ughhh!”
Ares looked up at his shrieking brother, unimpressed.
‘You talk about her all the time. How could I not know?’
Just as Ares had often said he wanted to see Princess Elysion, Phobos had gone on endlessly about Minte.
Ares even knew about the 100-ish failed confession attempts.
Phobos clutched his head in shame and yelled,
“Enough! That’s not the point! Who the heck is Sion?!”
“Oh. Princess Elysion said I could call her that.”
“…What?”
“We’re friends now.”
At this declaration, Phobos grabbed Ares by both shoulders.
Clearly, his little brother had just done something unthinkable.
“…You do know what ‘friend’ means, right? It’s not like… servant or underling or anything?”
“Of course I know! I mean she’s different from the dumb idiots around here!”
“Good, good—wait, when did she say you could call her that?! I don’t remember that at all.”
“It was when you were having a serious talk with Her Highness and I dropped by to visit.”
“You just barged in without telling me again?! Do you even know how to request an audience—?”
“Do you request an audience when you go see Lord Erebus?”
“Uh… no.”
Phobos flinched in embarrassment.
Erebus usually let it slide, but officially, one had to request an audience.
Phobos felt a wave of shame crash over him at his little brother’s innocent question.
‘No wonder the Epikus sisters looked so cold when I left…’
What kind of role model was he?! A so-called high noble with no manners!
He talked rough from too much battlefield experience, and he dropped in without protocol, all casual-like.
“Ugh… aghhh…”
Phobos silently wept bitter tears of blood for the umpteenth time.
It hit him—this whole mess? Entirely his fault.
A few days after my magnificent nosebleed episode—
Ares came to live in Ferzen Palace.
As Minte’s squire and as my vassal.
Lethe explained that it was a “punishment,” but I didn’t really get it.
‘How is that different from just being a playmate? Isn’t it basically the same thing, living together in the palace?’
When I tilted my head in confusion, Lethe smiled sweetly.
But the smile carried an eerie chill.
“Hehe. You’ll come to understand what kind of punishment it is… in due time.”
“Umm…”
“Becoming the squire of our march’s lunatic—I mean, of Minte—is a punishment in and of itself.”
“….”
“What else could it be if not punishment? Fufufu.”
“….”
Did that noble lady almost just curse? Out loud?
Anyway, when the day finally came for Ares to arrive, I began to understand that he wasn’t just a “playmate.”
‘No dragon, no grand entrance. He didn’t even bring the duke’s servants.’
Even his belongings were quite modest.
But the way he looked at me—those eyes burned with determination.
“Sion!”
“Uh…”
There it was again. That same look from Talos.
Like he wanted to chain me down so I couldn’t leave.
‘I must be crazy. Why do I keep comparing that kid to that maniac?’
Soon, Ares came right up to me in Lethe’s arms.
His face lit up so brightly.
“I’m here!”
“Oh… Ares. Welcome.”
“Thanks! But… aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Hmm?”
Ares frowned like a grumpy old man.
I heard Lethe sigh in resignation behind me, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
‘He just came back a little while ago, and he expects me to act overjoyed?’
Tch. What a cute brat.
Without thinking, I patted Ares’s head.
His face turned beet red.
“Wha—! I’m not a kid or anything!”
“Mhm. I missed you too.”
“…Ahem. Well… you can pat me a little more then.”
He cleared his throat and lifted his head slightly, making it easier for me to keep patting him.
Shameless and cocky little thing.
But somehow… not annoying.
‘Kids, honestly… But why is it suddenly so cold?’
The sun was warm, but I felt a chill crawling up my back. Strange.
Just then, a low male voice sounded behind Lethe and me.
“…Sion? Were you referring to Elysion?”
When had the Demon King arrived?
His voice had no inflection, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
Yet even before the Demon King, Ares remained fearless.
“Your greatness, Lord Erebus! Thank you for forgiving my insolent behavior!”
“Enough. This name, Sion—what is it?”
Ares’s eyes sparkled with pride as he replied.
“Her Highness granted me permission to use it as a nickname!”
“…Heh.”
The Demon King’s face was unreadable.
But what was that faint wrinkle between his brows?
‘No way… Is he jealous?’
Stunned, I glanced between Ares and the Demon King.
Ares stood upright and formal.
But his chin was raised like he absolutely intended to keep calling me “Sion.”
The Demon King stared coldly at the boy.
‘Come on, he’s the Demon King! Is he really getting upset over a nickname?’
With an exasperated sigh, the Demon King muttered,
“Your brother raised you far too freely.”
“Yes, sir!”
“….”
Lethe facepalmed. Minte’s lips twitched.
The Demon King nodded at Minte.
“Sir Epikus. I leave this child’s education to you.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Don’t go easy on him. Make him into someone useful.”
Then the Demon King slowly turned toward me.
As if hoping—if I wanted it—that I’d ask him to pick me up.
A father, afraid his daughter might get hurt. Wanting her love.
It reminded me of my late parents… and I reached out my hand to him.
The Demon King picked me up with a joyful smile.
“Mm, hey…”
“Yes? What is it, Elysion?”
“Ares… don’t… suffer too much…”
“……”
