The Prince Who Sensed My Gaze
“So, what brings you to the infirmary, Your Highness?”
“Me? I came to nap because I'm tired. Didn't the previous nurse tell you I drop by often?”
“I heard about that. But...”
After finishing the story about the Crown Prince, I brewed some coffee and cocoa.
“You don't look all that tired, though.”
According to Priya, the prince comes here to nap quietly, but that didn't seem to fit—he'd started the conversation himself, and his face didn't look weary at all. Good color in his cheeks, eyes sparkling; he seemed in fine shape.
“Guess chatting woke me up. Ah, thanks.”
The prince blew gently on the cocoa I handed him and sipped it demurely. I stared at him intently through my clairvoyance.
Something was nagging at me, but I'd check that later.
“If my being here bothers you, should I step out?”
“Nah, I sleep fine no matter who's around. Just feeling extra clear-headed today, that's all.”
Even he seemed surprised by it.
“No need to mind me. Just do your job.”
“Got it. Let me know if you need anything.”
I said that, but I kept observing him through clairvoyance. The prince sat on the bed, leaning against the window frame, gazing outside. Watching him, his looks really did mirror the emperor's—delicate features straight out of the imperial mold. But the imperial family were all big and burly. The Crown Prince alone was over 190 cm tall. Yet this prince was a bit shorter than me, which seemed small even accounting for him not being an adult yet. Imperial bloodline or not, that was petite.
Age-wise, probably middle-school level? Arcanum Academy usually starts at fourteen, so that tracked.
“Hmm... Am I the only one?”
“What's up? Cold? Want me to turn up the heat?”
Suddenly, the prince hugged his arms like he was chilly.
“Not cold, exactly... More like chills. Feels like someone's sneaking peeks at me.”
Whoops.
I flinched, shoulders twitching.
“Probably just my imagination...”
Sorry. Not your imagination.
I just sat there smiling, but inside I was sweating bullets, racking my brain for an excuse.
“Probably my fault.”
“You? Weren't you just sitting at your desk working?”
“Yeah, but as you can see, I always keep my eyes closed like this.”
I pointed to my shut eyes.
“Now that you mention it... Did you hurt them?”
“Nah, it's ascetic training. Some priests at the temple do it too.”
“Ah, I've seen that. Something about not being swayed by appearances, seeing the truth... right?”
“Huh? How do you know that, Your Highness?”
Surprisingly, the prince knew about the temple priests' ascetic practices. Hardly anyone does it there. Especially the verse he quoted—it was from a gospel only a select few in the temple could access.
Not even royalty should know it offhand. How did he?
“Did the Crown Prince tell you?”
Only other royal who might know was the Crown Prince, who'd heard it from his ascetic brother back then. Maybe a few maids or the prince's attendants.
“Nah, nothing to do with my brother. I heard it from a priest I knew when I visited the temple once.”
He waved it off. But had he ever visited the temple? I wouldn't know every visitor, but a prince? The saintess would have been informed.
“Anyway, what do you mean it's your fault?”
“Well, with my eyes closed, you'd think I can't see, right? But I get by just fine.”
“True... You don't seem blind.”
He peered at my face.
“That's thanks to my clairvoyance. Can't see with my own eyes, but I borrow the Goddess's gaze to keep tabs on the infirmary.”
“Clairvoyance? Ah, that explains it.”
His face lit up in understanding. He didn't seem fazed that I was constantly monitoring the infirmary with it.
“Thought you'd mind, but you're cool with it?”
“Why would I? You're the school nurse—gotta check on patients in the beds, even if there aren't any now. No reason to get upset over that.”
“Hmm...”
He said it so matter-of-factly. Well, suited me fine. Now I could ogle him guilt-free.
“You've got sharp senses, though. Most people wouldn't notice clairvoyance on them.”
“Didn't think of clairvoyance. Just felt watched.”
This wasn't like magic-based clairvoyance, which leaves a mana trace anyone sensitive could detect. Mine was pure overhead Goddess-view, as natural as sunlight. No one should sense it.
“Anyway, if that's it, no worries. Tension's easing, sleep's coming. Like I said, ignore me and do your thing.”
“Sure.”
He pulled up the blanket and lay down. Still self-conscious about the clairvoyance, he tucked it over his head completely.
“Oh, right—before you sleep, could I get your name, Your Highness?”
“My name? Wait, you don't know it?”
He poked his flustered face out from the blanket, shocked I'd not know.
“I've been holed up in the temple till coming here. Kinda out of the loop on outside news.”
“Even so... Whatever. Claude. Claude Astrian. Got it now?”
“Yep, I'll jot that down carefully.”
I smirked and noted the name: Claude Astrian. Not one I recognized from the imperial family names the Crown Prince mentioned. First time hearing it.
“Anyway, I'll sleep straight through, so head out at quitting time. I've got a key.”
“Got it.”
He pulled out the infirmary key like it was nothing. Royals got perks at Arcanum, sure, but this seemed excessive. Not my problem, though. Priya said he napped here often, just let him be.
I'd stick to my work.
“Sleep well, Your Highness.”
I smiled and bowed lightly.
“Yeah...”
He scratched his cheek awkwardly, then yanked the blanket back over his head. Soon, steady breathing came from under it.
Sweet dreams. Good enough.
A few hours later.
The evening sunset had faded outside the window, moonlight now sneaking in softly. And Prince Claude awoke.
“...She really left without a goodbye, huh.”
The chair where the school nurse had sat was predictably empty. Infirmary lights off, that nagging watched feeling gone. Past quitting time—she'd headed home.
“Nyah!”
Claude stretched hugely as he rose from bed.
Feels way too refreshing.
A five-hour nap should feel good, sure, but this was next-level. He hadn't felt this clear in ages.
Head's sharp, body's light.
Truth was, Claude didn't visit the infirmary just to slack. He bore the blood of the Astrian Empire's emperor—and like all imperial kin, demon power coursed through his veins.
That power let his small frame overpower imperial knights in raw strength. Gave him mighty magic resistance to shrug off most spells. Even keen senses for the unseen.
All gifts from his ancestors' blood.
But gifts that were also curses. Without holy power purification, it rampaged, harming others and himself.
Claude had denser demon blood than most royals, so his condition worsened fast without regular cleansing.
Nothing compared to the imperial priests.
Thus, he hit the infirmary near-daily. Arcanum's nurse wielded holy power, purifying his demon force just by being there.
The temp was good, but not this good.
Claude got off the bed and sat at the nurse's desk. As expected, her things still hummed with potent holy power residue.
This feels just like...
Suddenly, a memory surfaced: twin sisters always welcoming the Crown Prince on his secret temple visits. Only they had holy power this strong. The elder sister wasn't just any priestess—she was the saintess.
“...No way.”
But that was fantasy. The nurse couldn't be her. Hair color didn't match, and a saintess vanishing from the temple would've triggered imperial alerts.
Only the saintess could calm a fully demon-possessed royal rampage.
Plus, she was at yesterday's prayer rite.
The temple revered the saintess as sacred. Forcing her to work at Arcanum? Blasphemy—could spark a holy war.
Whatever, works for me.
Anyway, Claude felt great. The temp nurse's purifications beat imperial priests but were rote. This? Body light as air, mind crystal clear—best since enrolling.
Back to dorms for more sleep?
Condition this prime, he'd sleep like a rock with legs stretched out.
Ah, gotta fix my clothes first.
Heading for the door, Claude paused at his reflection in the window. Tossing in sleep had rumpled his outfit everywhere.
He shrugged off his outer layer to straighten up. Bathed in moonlight, Claude's shadow curved with an oddly soft, feminine outline.