Chapter 65
Royal Fath Academy.
The Crown Prince was leaning against a tree, reading a book.
“Jo, I like you. Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“…….”
Of all times.
When he looked up, he saw a female student he had passed by a few times before.
Wasn’t she too young to be talking about harboring feelings or not?
‘Is it because arranged marriages are trending lately?’
He looked at the girl’s flushed cheeks as if observing a research subject.
Which family’s young lady was she? Was she from a Count’s family?… Ah, she was the second daughter. Her family situation was quite complicated.
‘I heard the family head has five illegitimate children.’
All were born in brothels, apparently.
It was a wonder the family head hadn’t been stabbed to death by the Countess.
‘Since the Countess’s original status was that of a Baron’s daughter, perhaps she endures it, thinking it’s the price for her social climb?’
Kasmahan looked at the Count’s daughter impassively.
Having seen such parents, it was strange that she believed in love.
Moreover, thinking coldly, it was questionable why she held affection for the Crown Prince.
‘Didn’t she, more than anyone, acutely understand the outcome of a marriage with a status gap?’
It wasn’t that he would be unfaithful, but royalty are neither good partners for romance nor marriage.
‘Does she aspire to be Empress?’
Behind the Count’s daughter, he saw two other female students who seemed disappointed at missing their timing.
Kasmahan received the letter.
The Count’s daughter’s expression noticeably brightened.
“Thank you for accepting it…! If Your Highness’s feelings are the same as mine… Please do as it says in the last sentence of the letter.”
Coincidentally, and quite aptly, the book the Crown Prince was reading happened to be about humans.
Unlike the Empire’s current trend of deifying humans, it was a book stating that humans are merely one type of animal.
「People like to pretend to be noble, so their raw motives aren’t easily revealed.
However, humans are also animals who desire their sexual, appetitive, and sleep desires to be fulfilled.
Particularly, women are instinctively drawn to men of the highest status, or those possessing such characteristics. Wealth and power, broad shoulders, a deep voice, and tall stature are examples of such characteristics.」
It was once a banned book.
He understood why it was banned after reading it.
It evaluated men from a primarily female perspective using many criteria; the nobility, the former privileged class, must have found it offensive.
‘Class is fixed, and appearance is innate.’
On the other hand, Kasmahan had no particular thoughts while reading the book.
Whether women evaluated him or not was outside his concern.
He was just a little curious.
‘So this is how I am perceived as the Crown Prince.’
The Count’s daughter was four years older than the Crown Prince. It was hard to believe she found him attractive as a member of the opposite sex.
If he hadn’t been the Crown Prince, it was highly likely the Count’s daughter wouldn’t have fallen for him.
If he accepted once, it was obvious troublesome matters would keep arising.
As he considered tearing the letter for a definite rejection, he made eye contact with Prince Blake.
In that moment, a strange impulse arose.
He looked at the Prince while fiddling with the edge of the letter.
“Thank you.”
“…Your Highness?”
He looked at the Count’s daughter.
Smiling at her was easy.
“It must have been difficult to muster the courage to express your feelings. I’ll read it before bed.”
Blake was a master on his level.
Even from a distance, he must have heard it clearly. The Prince was displeased with the Crown Prince.
The Count’s daughter blushed bright red and ran away as if fleeing.
The Prince wore a cold expression as the Count’s daughter hurried past him.
Kasmahan leisurely tucked the letter inside his coat.
And as expected,
“Are you insane?”
Blake took the bait.
“…Why the hostility?”
“My sister… Ha, anyway, given that marriage discussions are ongoing with the Archibiaclipse Ducal household, what kind of attitude is this now?”
The Crown Prince stood up with an impassive face.
“Then, should I, like you, say something harsh to a confessing girl and make her cry for three days and nights?”
“What?”
Blake let out a dumbfounded, scoffing laugh.
“I was just being polite.”
“Polite?”
The Prince was speechless.
He didn’t know where to start criticizing, but as the Crown Prince had said ‘hostility,’ it was indeed an ambiguous situation to dispute.
Because strictly speaking, it was ambiguous to say ‘marriage discussions were ongoing.’
It was also true that there had been an incident where he said something harsh to a confessing girl and made her cry for three days and nights.
‘Is he angry because of Adel?’
He didn’t know.
The Prince was already irritated by the Crown Prince. To the point he didn’t know why he disliked him so much.
“Sometimes, I hate those eyes of yours.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
People began gathering around.
Students, drawn by the sight of the Prince and Crown Prince arguing, buzzed with whispers.
The Crown Prince stared at Blake with his characteristically calm black eyes.
‘Yes, those eyes.’
Those eyes whose thoughts were utterly unfathomable.
Acting magnanimously, handling him like a throwing-a-tantrum child, saying “Yeah, you’re right.”?
Blake, initially laughing in disbelief, slowly hardened his expression.
He was an Archibiaclipse.
As the next successor, he couldn’t tolerate the royal family getting above their station.
Blake erected a barrier. In response, a flow of different energy, circular in form, enveloped the Crown Prince and Kasmahan.
Those outside could no longer hear their conversation.
“Crown Prince. Have you forgotten the Archibiaclipse principle?”
There was a pact made between the first Emperor and the Archibiaclipse Ducal house during the founding of the nation.
The Crown Prince stared back at Blake.
“That sounds like you’re saying you’ll tattle to the Duke like a child?”
“What? You crazy bastard.”
An insult flew out immediately.
The Crown Prince turned his head away briefly, as if annoyed by the lowbrow opponent.
The Prince seemed provoked.
“Right, I was already irritated… Fine, let’s talk without the pact. One thing’s clear now. I can’t give my sister to a bastard like you.”
“Your empty talk of treason is tiresome now.”
The Crown Prince swept back his silver hair with a bored expression.
The Prince could only laugh, finding it so absurd.
“Where did the kid who acted like an obedient dog in front of the Duke go?”
“To refute logically, even if you report this situation, His Grace will just confirm the facts with me. Think carefully. Will His Grace believe you, or believe me?”
The Crown Prince spoke with the same languid, calm face.
Blake was flabbergasted.
Was the Crown Prince always like this?
Unlike the Crown Prince’s fluid, water-like gaze, Blake’s red eyes were hot like fire.
The reason the Prince was speechless was that, even upon thinking, it seemed the Duke would trust the Crown Prince more.
Since the barrier was up, there were no witnesses.
“Sorry, but even if I block the marriage, you, a Prince, cannot marry Adel.”
“…I’ll kill you.”
It was a horrific insult.
“Sister? Be honest, Prince. You’re not even related by blood. If the ‘Child of Prophecy’ is dismissed, there wouldn’t even be a procedural issue, so why deny it?”
“You crazy bastard. Are you trying to paint me as the jealous one now?”
The Crown Prince lowered his gaze briefly.
Kasmahan spoke softly.
“The ‘Child of Prophecy’ also has parents.”
“……!”
“You know who those parents are, don’t you?”
“…Stop it.”
The Crown Prince tilted his head and continued.
“Pity. We’re the same age. If it weren’t for your inferiority complex, we could have been ‘friends.’ We’re quite compatible, after all.”
Finally, Blake threw his glove at the Crown Prince’s cheek.
It was the way nobles declared a duel.
A real sword fight that would not stop until one of them died, or one surrendered and knelt before the other.
“I’ll kill you.”
Although it was just a glove, thrown infused with energy, it cut the Crown Prince’s cheek.
Blood welled up.
The Crown Prince, who could have dodged but took the hit, wiped the blood with the back of his hand.
The Crown Prince looked at Blake.
Blake realized that when he was extremely angry, he反而 became calmer.
Was he angry because of Adel, or because of his pride?
That wasn’t important right now.
He needed to clearly implant the hierarchy into this arrogant Crown Prince’s head.
Who was above, and who was below.
‘Daring to provoke an Archibiaclipse, for a member of the royal family?’
That gaze was the gaze of a beast revealing its hidden fangs. It needed to be broken.
Whether it was the Duke or the Emperor, they had raised a beast.
Well.
‘He’s the Crown Prince; it’s impossible for him to lack ambition.’
Had he been living quietly all this time, biding his time?
He had been thinking he wanted to see Kasmahan kneel anyway.
Blake was exceptionally strong.
He had nothing to fear.
“Everyone will testify that you threw the glove at me first.”
The Crown Prince’s gaze was lowered.
It was as Kasmahan said.
Although they couldn’t hear the conversation due to the barrier, the students understood the situation from Blake’s action of throwing the glove.
“This is unbelievable…!”
“The Ducal house and the Royal family…!”
Even in a real sword duel, no one could predict who would win.
Because both Blake and the Crown Prince were absolutely strong in their own ways.
Like the combination of a spear that pierces everything and a shield that blocks everything.
An unrealistic, illogical fight from the start. A duel one could never normally see.
“Are you scared, Crown Prince?”
“Not a chance.”
Kasmahan smiled ambiguously.
The academy was in an uproar.
“Young Lady, please have some cake while you do that.”
“We have both strawberry cake and chocolate cake!”
I looked up from my book. The book was enormous, enough to cover my entire face.
Seeing the desserts piling up on the rose garden table, I felt a moment of happiness.
“Thank you.”
When I grinned, the maids shrieked, “Kyaa-!”
It had already been two months since I became the Young Lady. Unknowingly, I seemed to have gotten used to the cheers of the ‘Young Lady’s devotees.’
“I’ll feed you!”
“No! I will, I will!”
Everyone wanted to offer me cake(?), so I opened my mouth.
Ah, nom nom.
Anyone can eat. Anyone could enjoy eating cake made with such care.
But the ‘Young Lady’s devotees’ seemed to think differently, praising even the way I ate.
“Young Lady has a natural talent for eating!”
“A talent that makes you want to eat just by watching! Ah, you were born in the wrong era.”
“Ah, she’s just too cute-! What should we do when she fills her cheeks like a squirrel-!”
Nom nom.
‘It’s delicious.’
Eating cake gave me more energy to read.
But just then.
“Adel! It’s a huge – mess!”
Madeline came running.
Mikael started to be on guard but, recognizing my friend, removed his hand from his sword hilt.
Madeline, panting heavily, placed both hands on my table.
“What’s wrong, Madeline?”
Was it another kidnapping?
I also became serious, widening my eyes.
I thought I needed to go rescue someone immediately if they were in danger.
But I heard an unexpected piece of news.
“His Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Blake had a huge fight! Blood was gushing out!”
