Chapter 21
I Will Become the Tyrant’s Tutor
“Your Highness will not change.”
However, Rain’s hand froze midair at the unexpected words.
Prim, still unable to fully wipe the tears from her eyes, spoke with a resolute expression.
“Even if you see the red rose, Your Highness will not change. Nothing will be different.”
“…….”
“I told you before, but I’m fine. My existence proves that the prophecy was wrong.”
“…….”
“You haven’t done anything to me all this time. So even if you see the rose, you won’t be affected. That prophecy was wrong.”
Prim looked Rain in the eyes, speaking seriously.
“If you want, you can check it with me. I’ll be by your side.”
Going to see the red rose together… it was absurd.
“……How can you be so sure?”
Rain’s Adam’s apple bobbed as if he were holding something back.
“What if I end up killing the empire—or rather, you… Growing up exactly like the prophecy said… I don’t even know myself… How can you suggest checking together… as if it’s nothing…?”
“Your Highness.”
Prim called him quietly. His fragmented words stopped abruptly. Rain’s eyes trembled.
“Even if that happens, I’ll stop it over and over again by your side.”
Prim smiled brightly, as she always did.
“You know me, right? I’m persistent.”
A tear lingered at the corner of her eye.
Rain clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly.
Not even his parents—or rather, even he himself—was not someone to fear. The future in which he might destroy the empire gaped open, ready to devour him.
Yet on her face, there was no trace of fear or terror. Her eyes, resembling the night that Rain disliked, were still clear. In fact, they almost seemed to shine like stars.
If he could gain certainty through her, then…
“……I don’t want to check inside this palace.”
Could he allow himself to hold hope?
“It’s not that I don’t want to check… but not here, in this palace.”
“…….”
Even as he spoke, fear still lingered in Rain’s eyes.
Even if he might remain unaffected by the rose, his unease could not be easily calmed.
“Then we’ll prepare another place. Somewhere no one goes, just the two of us.”
“…….”
“Would that be alright?”
Rain slowly nodded.
If he could regain confidence in himself… then even amidst the stigma from others, he might find some direction.
If that were possible, Prim could ask for nothing more.
“Yes. Then I’ll stay by your side.”
Saying so, Prim smiled gently. Her natural smile eased Rain’s heart as well.
He could not understand why her smiling face made his heart flutter.
Just as she said, perhaps the future he imagined would never come true.
A sprout of something like sunlight began to awaken in Rain’s heart.
“Do you want me to tell you where the roses are?”
Rije asked, surprised. Prim nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why all of a sudden? Don’t tell me you want to use it as proof to… me?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
Despite Prim’s denial, Rije looked at her skeptically. Prim offered a casual excuse.
“Well… it’s like a date.”
“A date?”
Rije’s eyes widened.
“Oh my, oh my. Prim too, finally!”
Rije playfully hit Prim’s arm, causing her to cry out from the force.
“Of course I have to tell you. Ah, but it might be a bit hard to find. The temple is abandoned and very old. It’s hidden among the trees, so once inside the forest, you have to walk. First, you take a carriage out…”
Rije even drew a simple map for easier understanding. Prim nodded.
“Thank you.”
After a brief thanks, Prim disappeared, her red hair flowing behind her. As Rije turned to return, he paused.
“……Wait a moment.”
He might have marked it incorrectly. Was it the left, or was it the right?
“……I’m confused.”
Hesitating over whether to go back and correct it, Rije shrugged casually.
“Well, it should be fine.”
As they approached the temple, the scent of roses grew stronger. Some people even used it as a compass, so there was no real need to correct it.
Rije resumed his steps.
Prim studied the map carefully. The distance was quite far.
‘How long will it take to go back and forth?’
As she calculated the time, she turned a corner—and there was Rain.
“You’re late.”
“W-What! I almost got scared…!”
Startled, Prim nearly crumpled the paper but looked up to see him.
‘Was he always this tall…?’
At sixteen, growth spurts were normal. But Rain seemed to get taller every day.
‘He’s already this tall—how much taller will he get?’
As Prim pondered, Rain noticed the paper in her hand.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, this? It’s the location of the roses.”
“You got it that easily?”
“I just said I was looking for a nice date spot, so they told me without much trouble.”
“…….”
Prim smoothed out the crumpled paper with her hand. Yet there was no reply from him. She looked up.
“……Hurry up.”
However, Rain turned his head sharply, hiding his expression.
“O-Okay, let’s g-go together!”
Prim hurried to follow behind him.
Prim nudged Gillian’s side with her elbow, raising her eyebrows. Gillian glanced around, flustered.
“You’re going out with the prince? If anyone finds out…”
“Gillian can keep it a secret. Besides, any rumors would be false. Look at me—I’m fine. My hands are fine, and I can even count the freckles on your face.”
“D-Don’t count them…”
Gillian was exasperated. Going out with the prince was unexpected.
Prim, frustrated, took a step closer to Gillian. He rolled his eyes slightly to glance at Prim’s back—meeting Rain’s gaze.
“…….”
Gillian lowered his eyes obediently at Rain’s stern look.
Prim lowered the corners of her eyes, looking a bit sorrowful.
“Do you not trust me? Even after seeing me perfectly fine?”
“It’s not that, but…”
“Gillian.”
Prim sighed deeply.
“I told you—being proper and reserved made you appealing to Sera, but if you’re too shy or passive, it’s unattractive.”
“Sera?”
Hearing the mention of unrequited love, Gillian’s eyes widened.
“Being reserved isn’t the same as being passive.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. Other servants approach the prince gradually, but you’re trembling.”
“…….”
It made sense. Gillian nodded seriously.
“Alright. I’ll remember that.”
“And keep it in your heart too.”
“I will.”
“Now, take me. Don’t tell anyone.”
It was easy to trick naive Gillian.
Prim proudly opened the carriage door. Rain looked at her in disbelief.
“Not getting in?”
“Typical of you…”
“Are you going to call me a trickster again?”
“…….”
Prim pouted.
Rain muttered quietly to himself, almost like talking to no one.
“No.”
“……Yes?”
“Nothing.”
Rain passed by her indifferently. Prim stared after him, confused.
“Prim, aren’t you getting in?”
Snapped out of her daze by Gillian’s urging, Prim jumped into the carriage.
All the way, Rain crossed his legs and looked out the window. Unlike his expressionless demeanor, Prim fidgeted nervously with her fingers.
“…….”
She watched him closely. She wasn’t afraid that he might suddenly attack her after seeing the rose.
It was just… she could not even imagine what he was feeling.
Then Rain, looking out the window, turned his head and met Prim’s eyes.
“Why do you keep staring?”
“Uh….”
Rain asked calmly. Prim froze, unsure of how to answer. She fumbled, then smiled awkwardly.
“Because Your Highness is beautiful.”
“…….”
Rain said nothing.
Had she said too much? She couldn’t voice her full thoughts. In the awkward silence, Rain slowly spoke.
“……You like beautiful things, don’t you?”
Prim quickly tried to agree but hesitated.
“Well, yes… but even if you weren’t handsome, I would still like you.”
“…….”
“Somehow… I can’t take my eyes off you. I think about you constantly. I want you to smile at me, and I want to talk with you.”
“…….”
Perhaps because he was like a character in a story she wrote, but her words about liking him even if he weren’t handsome were sincere.
“From that, I guess Your Highness’s face doesn’t really matter.”
“…….”
Rain made a peculiar expression at her words. His mouth moved several times before closing firmly.
“……Me too.”
“Eh?”
“……Are my ears bad?”
Rain muttered gruffly.
Prim frowned. She wanted him to say it once more. But Rain turned his head sharply.
“If you didn’t hear, forget it.”
Leaning against the window, Rain covered his mouth and looked out again.
‘Really, how can our beast be so… cute?’
Prim muttered to herself.
His face seemed a little red, but his large hand covering his mouth and the dim carriage made it invisible to her.
Amid the quiet, the carriage continued moving forward.
