The moment Xenos placed his hand over hers on the ground and their eyes met, Selina's heart began to race once more.
‘He claims he’s only ever lived on the battlefield… a true war fiend… So how can he act and speak like such a seasoned flirt?’
“I want to marry you as quickly as possible… Just looking at you makes me greedy.”
Before she even realized how it had happened, Xenos had moved his hand to her waist, and her head was resting against his rock-hard chest.
“Do you… know the truth of what happened that day? If you want to, tell me everything now.”
Held in his arms, Selina nodded and began to speak.
“That was the first time I went to the imperial palace with my mother.”
The insects in the grass chirped louder, their rhythm rising in harmony with her words.
“No matter how often Erik and I met, becoming close to him was never easy. I hated going to the palace regularly, but I had no choice. My father considered our ties to the imperial family to be of utmost importance. That day, because I refused so stubbornly, my mother came along for the first time.”
Twelve years ago. Long before Xenos became the Duke of Yustia.
Christa had achieved countless heroic feats in the war, yet the Emperor never granted his only surviving sister any title.
Because no title was bestowed upon her, she remained simply “Princess Christa” as the reigns changed, despite having sacrificed her blood and soul for the country.
Princess Christa. And the commoner knight she had married.
When their child was born bearing the full measure of Christa's power, the Emperor tightened his grasp around them.
Claiming he would protect the young heir since he was still a child, the Emperor brought Xenos to the imperial palace.
Then, he employed mages to determine the extent of Xenos's power.
“No matter how I examine him with magic, I cannot determine the nature of his strength. I can sense it residing within his body, yet it has no form.”
“Magic cannot detect the Dragon Power. It is fundamentally different in origin. If you would only allow us to take the heir to the Magic Tower to study him…”
“It is clear that his wounds heal far faster than normal. We beat him for three days and three nights, yet it left not a single mark.”
“And no matter how severe the blows were, he never uttered a single groan.”
From beyond the palace, Philip tried desperately to get Xenos back, but his adversary was the Emperor himself.
No matter that Philip was Princess Christa's husband and the Commander of the Helwa Knights, his influence reached its absolute limit there.
Being a skilled knight and a great commander only mattered within the military ranks fighting the war. In the capital, among the noble families who controlled imperial politics, his strength held no weight.
And so, Xenos lived in the imperial palace for four years—until he reached the age of seven and was taken to the battlefield for the first time.
In the beginning, no one cared whether he was fed, nor did anyone provide proper clothing for him. Yet Xenos possessed a strange power that drew people to him.
“He is Princess Christa's son… Shouldn't we look after him a little?”
With such murmurs, the palace servants began helping him in secret.
Clothes that did not fit were passed along by someone, and another would mend and resize them.
Others would slip him bread or soup, even if it was only servants' fare.
“When he bows silently to say thank you… he is so sweet.”
Thus, the number of people quietly helping him behind the Emperor's back grew.
Yet no matter what they did, he could never match the state of Erik, who was meticulously groomed with the finest the empire had to offer.
The greatest difference between them was their hair.
Xenos's hair had grown so long that it covered his beautiful eyes and clear forehead. After two years of that life, it had nearly become routine for him… until the incident occurred.
“I didn't know a place like this existed.”
“Do you like it?”
“They told me friends don't use those words.”
“Who said that?”
“Our nanny.”
The palace servants often compared the Crown Prince and Xenos behind their backs, so Xenos recognized Erik right away.
“Your nanny is stupid, then. You should speak to me with respect.”
“Then I’ll speak respectfully… and not be your friend anymore.”
‘Wait… who is that little girl?’
Beside Erik stood a little girl Xenos had never seen before.
She had a small face, dark brown hair, and bright brown eyes.
Dressed in a yellow dress, she looked like a fluffy little chick. In her hand, she held a wide-brimmed yellow hat that matched her dress.
“No, you've been my friend since before you were even born, and that's why you're allowed into the palace. You have to be my friend.”
“Friends don't speak formally. I promise we won't be friends ever again… and I'll use formal speech as much as you like.”
Selina said this in a tone that made it clear she would not back down, drawing a sigh from Erik.
“My father told me I must be your friend. I have no choice. I'll be your friend, so drop the formalities.”
“Yes, you should obey His Majesty's words. Then let's be friends again.”
Watching Selina smile shyly at Erik, Xenos could not keep his distance and stepped toward them, driven by curiosity.
“Does someone live in this lake?”
“No one lives in it.”
“Then what is that? Is it a fairy?”
“What? A fairy? What kind of fairy… Ah…”
Even Erik knew of Xenos's existence. The cousin who was the exact same age as him.
The boy who was said to possess a power that Erik himself did not have.
He had always been curious about him, but the servants had constantly warned him never to go near him.
“If you go near him, it will cause a disaster.”
“You will certainly get hurt, please don't.”
“If Their Imperial Majesties find out, you will be severely punished.”
And now, the person he had not been allowed to even see from afar had suddenly appeared before him.
‘You’ve walked right into my hands today… I’m not letting you off easy.’
“Selina, just head back for today.”
“No, Mother told me to stay here until she returns.”
“Fine, then go walk around the lake. I want to talk to him.”
“Who is he?”
“Oh… someone you don't need to know.”
Selina disliked Erik's attitude, but having no other choice, she pulled the wide-brimmed hat firmly onto her head and walked off to circle the lake.
“You, come here.”
When Erik called to him, Xenos hesitated for a moment before stepping closer.
“You know who I am, right?”
Xenos gave a silent nod.
“If you know who I am, why aren't you greeting me properly? I am the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince! You must greet me with complete respect.”
Xenos stared quietly at Erik, then muttered shyly,
“I don't know how.”
“What? Speak louder!”
“I don't know a polite greeting.”
“Your voice is far too weak… Regardless, since you didn't greet me, you must be punished. Come here.”
Because it was a time when Xenos was neither well-fed nor trained, he felt himself being dragged along when Erik grabbed him by the collar.
‘Huh? This kid is terribly weak. So what's supposed to be dangerous about him?’
Seeing how easily Xenos was being pulled, Erik grew overly excited and dragged him along recklessly, only to trip and send both of them tumbling into the lake.
At the resounding splash, Selina came running toward the sound in panic.
Fortunately, Erik managed to clamber back onto land, panting after his clumsy swimming.
“Erik! Are you alright?”
“I… I am the Crown Prince! I told you to say Your Royal Highness… Hah… The… the Crown Prince doesn't die from something like this…”
Shivering as he spoke, Erik suddenly remembered something and looked back toward the lake.
‘What's going on? Why isn't he coming up? Did he sink to the bottom of the lake?’
When there was no sign of Xenos struggling to survive, panic began to set in.
“Where is that boy?”
“I don't know. I'm not going back in there! It's deep and terrifying!”
Seeing Erik shirk all responsibility, Selina took off her pretty hat and tossed it aside, crying out,
“How can we just leave someone to die?! You can swim, but he can't, so he's drowning! You have to save him!”
When Selina moved to leap into the water, Erik desperately grabbed her.
“No! If you die, I'll be in even bigger trouble! Don't!”
“He's dying! He's really going to die!”
At that moment, the hem of Selina's dress tore in Erik's tight grip, revealing a long ribbon dangling like a rope.
She gasped,
“This is it!”
A sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
