Chapter 14
Eden’s cloak fluttered.
The thick black smoke filling the office instantly vanished.
“…Your Highness, Prince Vylon.”
Eden and Marco bowed deeply, but Vylon waved his hand.
“No need for that, Sir. You’re the great archmage — what’s the point of bowing to me?”
He smiled like an innocent boy.
Even so, Eden kept a straight face.
“What brings you here, Your Highness?”
“Oh, nothing special. I was just bored. You know I’m useless and have nothing better to do.”
Vylon de Mesio Atlanta —
The son of the Emperor’s third wife, a prince of royal blood, but one with no special powers, forgotten and ignored.
The only person recognized by Acares as a true psychopath.
Vylon hummed a tune and sat down on the couch, tapping a magic device on the table.
“Sir Eden, is His Highness Acares busy these days?”
“He carries many burdens, Your Highness.”
“Ha, right. He should’ve just died comfortably on the battlefield. Don’t you think?”
Marco gasped at the insult, but Eden didn’t react.
“I must’ve misheard you, sir.”
‘He’s starting again,’ Eden thought.
Vylon hadn’t always been like this.
It went back ten years — to the day of Acares’s coronation as crown prince.
“Everyone, I can read minds.”
Mind-reading — a rare ability that appeared in the royal bloodline once every few generations.
Usually, such powers were kept secret and used to catch spies or traitors.
But Acares had declared it openly in front of the nobles.
Why? Because of Vylon.
“Why do I dislike Vylon? Because every time he looks at me, he thinks —
‘If that guy disappeared, I could take his place. I want to rip those perfect eyes out so people finally see me.’”
Vylon was praised as kind and gentle.
The Emperor often scolded Acares for treating him coldly.
Even Eden once wondered why — until Acares explained.
Behind that smiling face hid a dagger.
Acares had pretended not to notice for years — but after revealing his ability, Vylon stopped hiding his hatred.
Vylon looked around the room and asked,
“Sir Eden, where is my dear brother now?”
‘Ah, so that’s what he came for,’ Eden thought.
He must have heard that Acares had visited the capital.
“His Highness is on a top-secret mission.”
Top-secret, huh?” Vylon smirked.
“That’s strange. The army hasn’t moved. So he went alone, then?”
“…”
“Ah, never mind. I shouldn’t pry. My apologies.”
He stood up and headed for the door — but paused.
“Oh, and tell my brother that Lady Rosetta misses him dearly. She’s just like she was before she turned wicked.”
***
Later —
Lick, lick—
Something warm and wet brushed Bella’s cheek.
‘Mm… so warm…’
She stirred and groaned.
“Ow… it hurts…”
Her whole body ached as if bruised.
‘How long was I asleep?’
She tried to recall —
She’d used the Orasion spell, brought the cows back, a giant wolf had appeared,
and then she’d fallen asleep in Acares’s arms…
His scent of vanilla still lingered vividly.
‘Ugh, Bella Isis, you idiot. How could you just fall into a man’s arms like that?’
Still, maybe that accident had helped her somehow…
Lick, lick—
Again, that warm, wet feeling.
Bella opened her eyes — and saw a pink tongue right in front of her.
“Eeeek!”
“My lady, you’re awake!”
Lia burst through the door.
“L-Lia?”
“Oh heavens! That damned wolf—there you are!”
She threw down her basin of water and charged at the bed.
Her tall figure cast a huge shadow over Bella.
“Waaah!”
“Kyahhh!”
“Awooowoo!”
Screams, shouts, and howls filled the room.
The wolf dove under the blanket to escape Lia’s murderous glare.
“Lia! Calm down!” Bella cried.
Lia froze, then stepped back and bowed.
“I’m sorry, my lady. Please… kill me.”
“Kill you? What are you saying?”
Bella sighed.
‘She’s just like Acares…’
Lia, Acares’s familiar, shared many of his traits — including her extreme personality.
Bella glanced at the lump under her blanket.
“By the way… what is this wolf?”
“Oh, that damned wolf?” Lia frowned.
“He’s the youngest prince of the Kingdom of Loire.”
“Ha… what?”
“Lo. I. Re. King. Dom. Prince.” Lia enunciated clearly.
Bella blinked.
Then the wolf poked its head out, gazing at her with big, sad black eyes.
The same wolf that had appeared in the forest.
“This… is the same giant wolf from the day I collapsed?”
“Yes, my lady,” Lia confirmed.
Bella stared, wide-eyed.
“You’re… the prince of Loire?”
“Arf!” the wolf barked and rubbed his nose against her stomach.
His soft fur brushed her thin nightgown.
“This is insane…”
She’d heard rumors of humans who could transform into animals — but never thought one would end up hiding under her blanket.
And not just anyone — a prince!
“Bella!”
A deep voice thundered as Acares entered.
“Acares?”
“Are you hurt?”
“N-no, I’m fine…”
He stopped right in front of her bed, and she finally saw his face — with three claw marks across it.
“Acares… you’re hurt?”
“Yeah. Some milk-smelling cub dared scratch my beautiful face…”
Then his eyes fell on the wolf under the blanket.
In that instant, Bella saw it — the calm before a deadly storm in his gaze.
“A-Acares?”
“That filthy Loire mutt… how dare you—”
He grabbed the blanket, fury blazing in his eyes.
‘No, wait!’ Bella panicked.
If he pulled that blanket off, her rolled-up nightgown would be exposed!
Rather than let that happen, she acted on instinct — grabbing his arm and yanking him toward her.
“Be—Be—Bel—”
Before he could finish, Acares toppled forward — landing right on top of Bella.
