Chapter 14
No Way for This Kind of Secondary Male Lead
“Here, take this.”
Lou handed me a magic stone first thing in the morning. I frowned in confusion; there was no explanation, but I took it anyway.
The stone was a strange mix of gray and black, and as soon as I held it, an odd energy coursed through me.
I shot Lou a wary glance, worried it might be cursed. He raised his hand reassuringly—he held a stone identical to mine.
“What is this?”
“A magic stone that weakens your presence.”
“Why…?”
“We’re going to sneak into your brother’s room.”
Huh? I blinked, confused by the sudden explanation. Lou ground his teeth and stared at Young Master Odin’s room at the end of the hall.
“You know how annoying it is when someone barges in without knocking. My brother has sharp hearing, so we need this magic for a perfect stealth entry.”
“Why am I going along to be punished too?”
“Because you suffered it too.”
I stared at him, incredulous. Knowing Lou, he probably just wanted me along for the fun of it.
Holding the magic stone, I considered slipping away quietly like a shadow. But Lou’s sharp gaze kept me in line, so I followed him.
We approached Odin’s room with careful, cautious steps. Standing silently in front of the door, we exchanged a brief eye contact.
‘Shall we go in?’ Lou’s signal came, and I nodded lightly. Whether the door opened or not, I had a plan to slip out before Odin noticed me.
Lou glanced at the door again and, without any hesitation, flung it open. Bang! The sound jolted my ears.
Why even bring the magic stone…?
I looked at him in disbelief. Lou simply put a finger to his lips.
No way… I was supposed to be quiet, but he had already made all the noise.
He then pointed straight ahead. Following his finger, I saw Odin glaring murderously at a man whose collar he was gripping.
Wait… gripping someone’s collar?
I rubbed my eyes. Twice. Yet the man still looked untouched by Odin’s lethal aura.
His hair… was pink. Cherry blossom pink. My first time seeing such hair since becoming Lily.
Odd, but somehow it looked natural.
Even while being held by the collar, the pink-haired man was grinning. His smile was so pure it felt like flowers were blooming right beside him.
I noticed Odin’s own hair tips shimmered pink, too. Slowly, the color spread up to the crown.
The pink-haired man finally spoke.
“Ahaha! Calm down. Think of it as couple hair dye!”
“I’ll tear you in half, you little brat!”
Odin’s fierce words shocked me. The refined young master I’d always known—was this really him speaking?
I realized Odin had been hiding his temper all along.
Despite Odin’s murderous intent, the man smiled calmly. Then, slowly, his green eyes met mine. I flinched instinctively.
The cheerful man’s gaze was icy cold now. He didn’t look away.
Time seemed to stretch.
“Has the Duke’s maid not learned basic manners?”
His tone was heavy, contrasting sharply with his earlier lightheartedness. Odin seemed startled as well, releasing the man’s collar and glancing at me.
The magic stone must have revealed me just then.
The atmosphere around the man changed instantly. Just one glance turned him into a sharp, intimidating figure.
I bowed quickly. Lou mirrored me, speaking up.
“I apologize on behalf of my personal maid.”
Immediately, I felt the encounter had started off on the wrong foot.
“It’s an honor to meet His Highness, the First Prince.”
I stayed bowed, astonished. That was the prince?
For the first time in my life, I felt true pressure from someone’s presence. My hands trembled, clutching my skirts tightly.
Having only known the Duke’s staff as kind, seeing the full weight of rank made my body shiver.
Then came laughter.
“Ahaha! That expression is priceless!”
Confused, I raised my head. The prince was smiling his signature eye-smile, clapping as if thoroughly entertained.
…What is even happening?
I let go of my skirts and glanced at Lou, who was quietly stifling laughter behind his hand.
“Stop playing such tricks, you two.”
“Sorry! Didn’t expect you’d be so scared~ You okay?”
Odin scolded him lightly. Even knowing it was a joke, I was still frozen in place from the earlier intimidation.
“Whoa, completely frozen. Was I really that scary?”
“Your face is scary enough.”
“Me…?”
The prince tilted his head, glancing at a mirror on the wall.
“Completely harmless-looking?”
He muttered to himself, studying his reflection. Odin looked at him wearily and then turned to me, concerned.
“Lily, are you alright? Want some warm tea?”
“No…”
I couldn’t take my eyes off Odin, though. The pink hue that had only reached the tips now enveloped all of his hair.
Odin blinked at me, puzzled. Then, realizing something, he hastily nudged the prince aside and checked his reflection in the mirror.
“…”
“Told you, Odin looks great in pink!”
“Shut up…”
The prince complimented him, and Odin buried his face in his hand. Lou chimed in too.
“Much better than dull red. You should keep it that way forever.”
Odin, caught between them, sighed deeply, giving up on being angry. Returning to his usual calm demeanor, he asked:
“How long does the effect last?”
“24 hours.”
“Good. It should wear off before the ball…”
He glanced at me.
“Lily, sorry… could you tell Deriksha not to come find me today?”
“Huh?”
“She might be startled.”
I nodded absentmindedly. A personal maid not needed at her master’s side—this was basically a paid day off.
Deriksha would be jealous, but I had other things on my mind.
“Lou seems smaller… has he stopped growing?”
“He’s still growing steadily.”
“Grow quickly! Soon Able will catch up.”
I couldn’t focus on my thoughts thanks to the prince and Lou’s banter. I laughed at the prince’s teasing words.
The earlier tension and intimidation were completely forgotten.
“By the way, why are you here?”
“I tried to sneak in to prank my brother, but Chris got in first. I’m devastated.”
Lou answered honestly.
I worried Odin might lump us together, but he simply chuckled and said nothing. He just fetched another cup of tea and placed it on the table.
“Good timing. I had a lot to say.”
“Important?”
“Nope. Chris says he has something to say.”
From their conversation, I gathered the prince’s name was Chris. He seemed to casually joke even in front of the person himself.
Chris seemed unconcerned, happily eating sweets.
“Master, I’ll stay outside.”
I spoke up first, since Lou didn’t tell me to leave.
Lou blinked, sitting in his chair.
“Why?”
“Uh… because you three need to talk.”
“Want some sweets?”
The prince offered me some as well. I accepted, tasting rich coffee-flavored confection. Somehow, it felt even more delicious thanks to my resigned mood.
“How did your hair end up like that?”
Lou asked Odin while munching on sweets. Odin touched his forehead.
“Chris gave me a dye magic stone as a graduation gift.”
“They have things like that?”
“Yeah! I used it too!”
Chris handed me another sweet, answering for him. His hair wasn’t naturally pink either.
“Don’t play this prank on anyone else.”
“I already did it to my sister.”
“To the Crown Princess?”
“Yep!” Chris nodded innocently, handing me another sweet.
“Her reaction?”
“Tried rainbow hair… almost got disowned!”
Lou exclaimed.
Making the future emperor’s hair rainbow-colored… Thank goodness he wasn’t the crown prince.
