Chapter 67
“……Adel.”
“Why is my little sister here?”
Adel, sniffling, glanced between the Crown Prince and the Duke.
‘Blood. So much blood.’
The Crown Prince’s expression softened as he looked at Adel.
Just like the gentle demeanor that the “Prophetic Child” remembered.
Blake couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
“Ah—what a crazy bastard.”
Adel flinched at her brother’s curse.
The watching audience realized that Adel was indeed the rumored princess and the “Prophetic Child.”
“No way… really…?”
“She’s even cuter than I imagined.”
“Is this person really going to save humanity?”
Amid the murmuring crowd, Adel stood in the center.
Having only met the heads of noble families as outsiders, Adel had no immunity to peers her own age.
When the Duke praised her from behind, it had been one thing—but this moment made her face burn even more.
Biting her lip, the “Prophetic Child” found herself suddenly at a crossroads.
Her brother Blake, her friend Kan—both were similarly injured.
‘Who should I approach first…?’
Crown Prince Kasmahan seemed to have already guessed the confusion in Adel’s eyes and remained silent.
He gave a subtle look to the judge who had been quietly observing Adel.
Blake lowered his sword first.
“By mutual agreement of the two participants, I declare this match a draw…!”
The judge declared tactfully.
Adel held back her tears.
It was frustrating.
Though both had faces that seemed fine, blood was dripping from them. How painful it must be.
“Adel, come here. I’ll explain everything.”
“…Little sister, come here, alright?”
Adel’s eyes darted like a startled rabbit, shifting from the Crown Prince to Blake repeatedly.
The question every child hates:
‘Do you like Mom or Dad more?’
That question had just been asked—this time between family and friend.
To someone, it might be life’s hardest question. Adel was so confused that her vision seemed to spin.
The watching audience widened their eyes.
‘What is this… the atmosphere for round two?’
It actually seemed more intense than the first duel where they risked their lives with swords.
Casmahan’s face showed gentle concern for Adel, while Duke Blake appeared angrier.
Caught in the middle, Adel blinked in surprise.
“Are they reconciling…?”
Adel had sometimes seen two boys fight in the orphanage.
Still, everyone was kind and eventually reconciled, shaking hands.
She hated seeing her friend and brother at odds.
Blake furrowed his brow at the “Prophetic Child’s” question but replied obediently for now.
“I’ll reconcile. If you come to me.”
Blake lifted his chin and spoke.
It felt strangely exhilarating.
If Adel approached the Crown Prince first—
‘Just thinking about it feels… disgusting.’
It felt like she would be taken away.
Adel had always been blindly devoted to him. She had followed her brother everywhere because she liked having a family figure like him.
He often found it bothersome.
Just like he occasionally called her a “dog,” treating her like a little pet.
Yet, seeing what he had taken for granted—the fact that she might go to the Crown Prince—felt… different.
“……”
Adel looked at the Crown Prince.
He was calm.
Like a stone sinking quietly into an unknown lake—still, subtle.
Adel chose Blake.
“……!”
Blake saw the “Prophetic Child” approaching him.
In that moment, the joy he felt—
It was like what he might feel if he had made the Crown Prince kneel.
No, even better.
Blake looked at the Crown Prince confidently, as if he had won, while the Crown Prince silently wiped the blood.
“Brother. Hold hands and reconcile with Kan.”
“Hands? Ah, fine.”
“It hurts. Let’s go get treated, quickly.”
The small, gentle voice was directed only at him.
Despite being so small and looking up at him, she dared to worry about the Duke.
It was absurd, yet he didn’t mind.
Though she wasn’t actually in pain, seeing her eyes glistened with tears made him want to tease her.
“It hurts. Really hurts.”
“…Ugh…! Let’s go, brother.”
Adel stamped her feet.
Blake obediently followed her.
The Crown Prince descended calmly from the duel arena, followed immediately by his aides.
He waved them away with a hand and moved.
Madeleen, who had been guiding Adel, hesitated for a moment before following the Crown Prince.
‘Yes, this is my little sister.’
Blake stroked Adel’s bloodied hair.
“Your Highness! Crown Prince! Are you alright?”
Madeleen had a kind personality.
Perhaps because she was Adel’s closest friend, their temperaments were similar.
Casmahan understood her genuine concern. But—
“Were you speaking to me just now?”
Casmahan asked coldly.
Madeleen stepped back at a sight of the Crown Prince’s expression she had never seen before.
She had only ever met him for matters concerning Adel. This face was new.
Though she was a commoner, she had worked with Adel and the Crown Prince on Black Market matters and thought they were close.
Yet the Crown Prince’s expression was icy. Sitting on the infirmary bed, he spoke to the awkward Madeleen standing before him.
Even as people desperately attended to him, tending to his injuries.
“I… I was just worried… I was worried Adel might be worried.”
“Just because you are Adel’s friend doesn’t mean you can casually talk to me as if you’re close.”
“…I’m sorry, Your Highness. I… I didn’t know… I’m sorry.”
Madeleen paled and repeatedly bowed.
Casmahan fiddled with his ear, then closed his eyes as if signaling her to leave.
Madeleen, realizing the firm boundary, stepped back gloomily.
Her intentions were genuinely good.
‘As expected…’
Casmahan thought with eyes closed.
He had actually known Adel would choose Blake.
He had intentionally orchestrated this situation to see the reaction of Adel choosing Blake right in front of him.
‘Seeing Adel in front of me…’
What a feeling. This filthy feeling.
‘Taken away.’
He had never considered her his own, yet he felt that way.
[She might propose to Kan first.]
After telling me that so easily…
Even though she said she didn’t want to marry, and would find another way…
[I don’t want Kan to die.]
[Kan is my friend.]
Adel’s voice buzzed in his ears. She had bled a lot.
It was a little dizzying.
‘Perhaps it’s because she’s family.’
Can a friend not beat family?
Blake and Kasmahan were almost identically injured. That was intentional.
So Adel wouldn’t choose based on who was more injured.
Alcibiades, who had survived the “curse of the gods,” was exaggerating with this much injury. Adel saw through the lie, but let it slide.
After all, the “Prophetic Child” was straightforward. She didn’t seem capable of hatred or even suspicion.
“Simple-minded, really…”
He laughed at the absurdity.
Even though he expected it, it was ridiculous not having Adel by his side.
“Why did the two fight?”
<Because you’re too cute.>
The water spirit answered.
Adel widened her eyes.
‘I’m too cute!’
She pouted, thinking it was her fault.
Children often assume that any fight between parents is their own fault.
“How can I stop being cute?”
<Impossible for life.>
What?
The water spirit circled around the shocked “Prophetic Child.”
Even the spirit found Adel whispering to herself cute.
Though it seemed secret, Blake behind the curtain heard everything.
Of course, the Crown Prince couldn’t hear the spirit, so he thought Adel was just muttering to herself.
Blake snorted and drew back the curtain. Adel jumped up, startled.
“All done? Hah… wrapped in bandages.”
“Wrapped in bandages? For you, brother?”
Alcibiades made huge donations to the Royal Fest Academy every year.
Naturally, there was a private room for the Duke.
A place for naps or occasional use. Sitting beside Adel on the bed, the Duke feigned pain.
Though he didn’t really know pain, he said in a deadpan tone, “It hurts,” and Adel was fooled.
“What should I do? What should I do?”
“You… when the Duke got hurt before, you said you gave him ‘Ho,’ right?”
“…?”
Adel’s eyes went wide.
Nodding.
“Try ‘Ho.’ It should make it better.”
Adel realized the water spirit had disappeared.
Making a “Ho” sound wasn’t difficult.
‘Just put your heart into it.’
She clasped her hands, said “Ho Ho,” and sprinkled it on Blake’s arm.
“Adel’s hands are gentle. Heal all the pain.”
“…….”
Adel looked up at Blake expectantly.
Blake, merely taking it in, was momentarily startled.
‘How exactly should the Duke respond for her to act like this?’
“……Why are you looking at me like that?”
“How’s that?”
“What?”
“Still hurts?”
Should he protect her innocence?
Like when adults nod to a child asking, “Do the White Snow Fairies exist?”
After all, she had just said she’d hold the Crown Prince’s hand and reconcile—there was nothing he couldn’t allow.
Blake looked at Adel with a strange expression.
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“Wow!”
“…Thanks to you.”
“I hate being hurt.”
Earlier, her head had blood from his touch, but Blake was somewhat satisfied.
“……Can I hug you once?”
“Okay.”
One “Ho” wouldn’t make the pain disappear.
Her wound hadn’t fully healed, and fabric brushing it still stung.
But Blake silently hugged the “Prophetic Child.”
“What did you do today?”
“The maids fed me cake. Read books. But brother, I’m out of breath.”
“Do you like cake?”
“Yes.”
“…What’s your favorite?”
“Chocolate.”
He marveled at having this pointless conversation.
He wasn’t talkative, famous for being reserved.
He never felt the need for small talk to maintain relationships.
Yet, the tiny voice murmuring in his arms was cute, so he kept asking.
“……Study hard?”
“I do. I read a lot.”
“Archery?”
“I can hit the target! But brother, I’m out of breath!”
Adel struggled so much he let go.
“Phewah.”
She gasped.
Damn brat.
“Cute.”
The truth slipped out unconsciously.
