Would This Be Insufficient for Your Highness...?

It was shortly after we'd finished the morning porridge.

"Mmm~ mmhmm~" Era was humming a little tune while washing the dishes. Her voice carried that same playful lilt.

'What on earth has her so excited?' She looked even happier than last night. Her steps seemed bouncy, and the way she handled the dishes looked lighter, almost cheerful.

'Is that really the same girl who was swinging that bat around yesterday?'

I was staring at her in a daze when—

Knock. Knock knock.

The sound of someone at the door made me freeze solid.

"......!"

Era's expression stiffened for a split second before relaxing into relief.

"...It's Uncle Damil."

'!'

My mind raced. A villager. An outsider. A third party.

'This is my chance.'

If I shouted, this pathetic little kidnapping would be over. Help me! I've been kidnapped! I am the Seventh Prince of this empire!

'...Perfect.' I ran a quick simulation in my head. 'Just one word to the villager that I'm the prince and it's game over... Even if I don't say anything, the moment they see me tied up, anyone would report it, and then—'

"Your Highness."

Swish—

"...!"

Era was suddenly right in front of me. Her small hand clamped firmly over my mouth.

"...Mmph!"

"Just a moment, okay?" Her face still wore that usual airy smile, but there was real strength in her grip.

"Mmph... mmph...!!" I tried to force sound through her fingers, but her small hand sealed my mouth tighter than I expected.

"Uncle Damil is a good man."

"...!?"

"But if he sees Your Highness... he'll probably be really shocked, so..." Era giggled. "So please stay quiet~ It's a promise, okay?"

She slid her finger to her own lips in a clear shh gesture, index finger resting on those pink lips while she stared straight at me.

"...!"

'I know you're doing that on purpose.'

The slight pressure made her lip part just a little. '...Why am I even noticing something like this right now?'

"..."

I tried to look away, but—swish!

"...!"

Era kept her hand on my face and gently pulled my gaze back to hers.

"Your Highness~"

"......"

"Promise~?"

"......!"

When I finally gave a small nod, she removed her hand with a satisfied expression.

"Hihi. Thank you."

'No, wait—this isn't what I wanted.'

But I had nodded. It was true.

'...Damn it.'

Era promptly dragged me behind the so-called closet—which was really just an old screen—and hid me behind it as best she could.

"Stay right here~"

'Is this really enough to hide me?'

"...What if I actually shout?"

"You won't."

"...Why not?"

"Because Your Highness is a good person!"

"...Hah."

This was ridiculous. Knock knock— I was about to say more when the knocking came again.

"Yes~ Coming~"

Swish— As Era moved toward the door, her tone completely changed.

'...?'

It wasn't the giggly voice she used with me, nor the soft one right after waking up. This was clearer, more precise, with a slight polite distance.

—Creak.

The sound of the door opening came from beyond the screen.

"Era~ I had some bread left over today."

"Oh my! Thank you so much, Uncle!"

"Sorry for always bringing just this."

"Not at all! I really love bread!"

Her voice was bright, but the tone was subtly more refined. I peeked through the narrow gap in the screen.

Bow— Era was accepting the bread with both hands in a polite, respectful gesture, back slightly bent.

'...Oh. So she has that side to her too.'

This must be how she acted in front of the villagers.

"...You're looking healthier these days."

"Am I?"

"Did something good happen?"

My ears perked up sharply behind the screen at those words.

'...What is she going to say?'

There was no way she'd tell the truth—

"...Hihi. It's a secret~"

Era laughed it off with perfect innocence.

"Hmm..." Uncle Damil studied her for a moment.

"Never mind."

His eyes seemed to catch something, but he didn't press further.

"...Right. Make sure you eat well."

"Yes!"

"Then I'll be going—"

"..."

Hesitation— Damil turned to leave but paused again.

"...Era."

"Yes?"

"...Don't push yourself too hard."

"......!"

Era froze for a fraction of a second. Less than a second, really. But that tiny pause felt strangely long.

"...Yes!"

...She smiled brightly again. Just like always.

"Thank you for worrying about me, Uncle!"

"...Yeah."

Creak— Thud— Damil gave a short nod, closed the door, and left.

A brief silence followed.

Peek... peek... Era seemed to be checking out the window to make sure he was far enough away.

'Now that I think about it...'

Why hadn't I shouted?

'It was clearly an opportunity.'

'The perfect chance to escape this house and return to the imperial palace.'

'Promise with Era or not, that's none of my business...! So why...'

'Above all... this girl is a kidnapper. I have no reason to worry about her or feel any sympathy—'

"Phew... Thank goodness..."

Having confirmed a satisfactory outcome, she let out a sigh of relief and turned.

"Your Highness~"

Swish. She approached and pulled the screen aside.

"You can come out now~"

I stepped out from behind the screen and looked at her.

"Look at this! Bread! It's bread!"

She held it up with both hands. Proudly.

"...Era."

"Yes?"

"...You speak differently to the villagers."

"Huh?"

"Your tone. It's different."

Era paused for a moment.

"...Is it?"

"Yes."

"......"

She stood there holding the bread, thinking, then—

"Hihi."

That pointless little laugh again.

"I only do it for Your Highness."

"...?"

"I only use this voice with you~"

As confidently as ever.

"...What are you even talking about?"

"Well... it's only natural to use a different voice, isn't it?"

"Because I like you... hehe..."

"......!"

She said it so naturally. So effortlessly.

"You..."

"Yes?"

Era tilted her head.

"...You don't say things like that to just anyone."

"Oh~? Did I seem like that kind of girl~?"

"No...! That's not what I meant...!"

"If not, then... are you jealous?!"

"Hah..."

I should just stop talking.

"Oh, right!"

Era suddenly acted like she'd remembered something and rummaged around.

"Your Highness, eat this!"

She held out the bread she'd just received.

"...What about you?"

"I have porridge~"

"...We just ate porridge together."

"Yes, so I'm fine!"

I looked at the bread. It was bread, but it was tiny. Only a little larger than a palm, and so thin it barely qualified as a meal.

'She got this happy over something this small?'

'And then immediately gave it to me?'

...When I thought about it, this was a small rural village on the empire's border. The villagers' lives probably weren't all that different from Era's.

'The part about Uncle Damil having leftovers... was probably a lie.'

"...Half."

"Huh?"

"Cut it in half."

My words made Era freeze.

"...Um, Your Highness should eat it all. I'm really—"

"Cut it."

There was force in my voice this time. A slightly commanding tone—one I hadn't used in this life until now.

"...Yes."

She glanced at me, then slowly tore the bread in half.

Slap— She set one half in front of me and the other in front of herself.

...But then—!

"...Hey."

"...Yes?"

"The piece in front of me is bigger."

"...!"

Era looked embarrassed, like she'd been caught.

"...No it's not?"

"...Are you blind?"

"Switch them."

"No matter how you look at it... it's exactly half?"

"I said switch them..."

I spoke through slightly gritted teeth. This kid could be strangely stubborn about the weirdest things.

"...Okaaay..."

Her voice grew a little gloomy as she adjusted it.

"...Instead of switching, I'll just divide it again!"

She took the tiniest pinch from my piece and moved it to hers.

"Hmm..."

This time they were almost equal. Almost.

But looking closely...

"...Still a tiny bit different."

I still had slightly more.

"......!"

"...Forget it. Let's just eat."

I had a feeling that no matter how many times we divided it, mine would end up bigger anyway.

"Sigh..."

I gave up and moved to bring the bread to my mouth—

—Tug. The rope pulled taut.

'...Ah.'

My hands were still bound. I could hold the bread, but lifting it all the way to my mouth was awkward. I had to wedge it between my wrists and lean forward. It was surprisingly difficult.

"...Hi."

Era was staring intently ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠again.

"...Your Highness."

"...What."

"Should I cut it for you?"

"No."

"Should I feed you?"

"I said no."

But in the end, Era tore off a small piece of her own bread and came to my side.

"...Ah."

"......"

"Ah~"

I glared at her silently for a moment.

"Hehe... Why~?"

She simply held the bread piece with a smile, waiting patiently.

"......"

"Ah~"

Eventually I gave in and opened my mouth.

"Ah."

Tap. She placed the bread on my tongue.

'It'll obviously just taste like flour.'

I chewed with a dissatisfied expression, but—

'...Huh?'

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bread.

"...It's good?"

It was surprisingly tasty. Coarse, yes, but it had a pleasant aroma and a faint sweetness. Different from the refined bread of my previous life, yet somehow more satisfying in its own way.

"It's good, right~!"

"...Uncle Damil's baking is excellent."

"Yes~ He's the best in the village!"

Era said it proudly.

"He always saves the leftovers for me."

"...Always?"

"Yes!"

She tore off a small piece of her own bread and popped it into her mouth.

"Chew chew... Gulp!"

She chewed slowly, and her expression—

It was so radiantly happy that I fell silent.

"......"

She closed her eyes slightly over that tiny piece of bread, chewing slowly and carefully, as if savoring every bit. One single piece of bread like that.

'...Ah.'

It came back to me. She'd said her special meal every three days was tree-bark porridge. Which meant bread was something she ate only every few days.

"...Era."

"Yes?"

"...Do you eat bread often?"

"Yes~?"

She paused mid-chew.

"......Um. Sometimes."

"...When is sometimes?"

"When Uncle Damil gives me the leftover bread."

"...How often?"

"...About once a month?"

"......"

The bread in my mouth suddenly felt much heavier.

"...Era."

"Yes?"

"...Eat all the bread yourself."

"Huh?"

She looked at me in surprise.

"...Why? Does it not taste good?"

"No."

"Then why—"

"You eat it."

"Your Highness should eat it."

"I told you to eat it..."

"...!"

Era paused, then—

"...Half each."

"...What?"

"Your Highness and me. Half each."

She divided the bread again and placed half in front of me.

"You said earlier that we should eat half each, remember?"

"...Era."

"Yes?"

"...You only get to eat it once every two months."

"Yes!"

"So why give it to me?"

She looked at me for a moment, then smiled like a fool.

"Delicious things are better when shared!"

"...That's not the point."

"And it's even better when shared with someone you like!"

Swish. She brought the piece of bread to my lips again, wearing that usual smile...

But now that smile looked a little different.

Same day, midday. While Era was briefly out in the yard, I stayed in the room alone, turning over Uncle Damil's words in my mind.

"...Don't push yourself too hard."

That single phrase let me imagine what Era's daily life in the village was like. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Bread once every two months. Thin porridge every day. Tree bark every three days. Yet she'd shared half of it with me.

"Food I wouldn't even glance at once I escape..."

"...Yet she called it the most precious thing she has..."

And she'd given half to me.

"......Hah."

I sighed and stared at the ceiling.

'I'm pathetic for feeling sympathy after being kidnapped.'

But I couldn't stop thinking about it.

...Because it was pitiful.

At that moment—

Creak— The door opened.

"Your Highness~"

Swish— Era came in, holding something in her hands.

"...What is it?"

"Hihi..."

It was a wildflower.

"I'll give this to you!"

"...A flower?"

"Yes! It bloomed in the yard!"

She held it out proudly. A small purple bloom. A single wildflower.

"...Why?"

"I thought it would look pretty next to Your Highness."

There was no vase in this house.

"...Where should I put it?"

"Um... just a second...?"

After thinking for a moment, she casually stuck the flower into the mouth of a jar.

"...Done!"

She looked satisfied.

"..."

In this completely barren room, a single small flower.

...It was a ridiculous sight, but I didn't feel like complaining.

...It wasn't bad.

Then Era sat down beside me.

"Your Highness~"

"...What?"

"Do you have any favorite things?"

"...Out of nowhere?"

"Well... it would be good to know, right?"

"...Why?"

"So I can take care of you."

Said with complete confidence.

"Hoo..." I let out a long sigh.

"...Era."

It was probably time to speak coldly. Era's head was full of flowers. If I said something harsh, maybe she'd lose interest and let me go.

"Yes?"

"...Is there anything you can actually do for me?"

"Uh..."

"..."

"..."

No answer came for a while.

"..."

...Maybe that had been too harsh?

Just as I was thinking that—

"Ah~!"

"I do~"

Her voice was completely undeterred.

"...Like what?"

Era began counting on her fingers.

"...First, wildflowers."

"That's not—"

"And porridge."

"......"

"And half a bread."

"......"

"And sleeping together."

"...Hey."

"And my heart."

Era smiled brightly.

"...With all this,"

"......?"

"Would it be... insufficient for Your Highness?"

It was the first time.

The first time Era had asked something with even a hint of uncertainty in her voice. Her face still wore that bright smile, but her eyes were genuinely waiting for an answer. Beneath that sunny expression, it felt like there might be tears waiting.

"That is..."

I couldn't answer carelessly.

...It didn't seem like she wanted a lie.

"..."

I looked at Era. The jar with the wildflower. The bread crumbs cut in half. The tree-bark porridge.

"......"

"...Your Highness?"

I turned my gaze away.

"...I don't know."

"Huh?"

"Whether it's insufficient or not. I don't know yet."

Era looked surprised for a moment... then slowly smiled.

"...It's okay."

"...What is?"

"Because you said you don't know."

I looked at her.

"...Why is that okay?"

"You didn't say it was insufficient."

Era laughed. "Hehe."

With a satisfied expression.

"Your Highness."

"...What?"

"Isn't that almost the same as saying it's good?"

"...Nonsense."

"Just say you like me once~"

"...No."

"Hihi..."

"...Seriously."

Whenever I saw that smile... I couldn't find the words.

At the same time.

Imperial Capital Lumen. Central hall of the imperial palace.

Five figures knelt on the marble floor. All of them were knights from the escort unit. Their armor was caked with mud, and several looked pale and exhausted, as if they'd run for days without rest.

Emperor Asteron V. The seventy-year-old ruler slowly rose, one hand braced on the throne's armrest. His long white beard flowed down his chest, and platinum star veins glowed faintly across the back of his hand.

The leader of the escort unit pressed his forehead to the floor.

"...F-forgive me, Your Majesty."

"I did not ask for an apology."

"......!"

"I asked whether the Seventh Prince."

"......"

"Has disappeared."

All the knights trembled as one.

"......Yes. During the territory inspection. At the campsite. Without a single trace..."

"Without a single trace."

The emperor repeated the words, tasting them.

"A prince of the empire."

"......"

"During a territory inspection."

"......"

"Vanished without a trace."

The air in the hall grew heavy. The ministers standing beside the throne held their breath.

"..."

The emperor slowly raised his hand. Platinum light flowed faintly from the back of it. As star energy scattered into the air, every candle in the hall flickered at once.

"...Search parties."

"Yes!"

"Double their number."

"......!"

"Mobilize the Maryeokche as well."

One minister hesitated.

"...Your Majesty, the Maryeokche is the organization tasked with hunting Black Star Vein users. Using them to search for the prince would—"

"Mobilize them."

"......Yes."

The minister bowed his head quietly.

"..."

The emperor lowered his hand. The holy energy subsided. The candles soon steadied.

"......"

Yet even after the matter was concluded, the emperor remained standing in silence for a long time. The ministers waited for further words, but none came. Instead, for the briefest moment, his gaze drifted to the wall behind the throne.

Portraits of past imperial family members hung there. Among them was the youngest one—Leon as a child.

The emperor's eyes lingered on that portrait.

"......"

An unreadable expression. Was it worry? Anxiety? Relief? Or something else?

"Your Majesty?" a minister asked cautiously.

"..."

The emperor finally looked away.

"...And inform the knight order and guards responsible for the prince that their families will also be held accountable for this incident."

"...Yes."

No one objected. It was the expected punishment. In fact, they were fortunate it wasn't worse.

"However, if the prince is found quickly, I will forgive the offense."

"...That is all for today."

"......Yes."

With those words, the ministers withdrew. As the emperor returned to his throne, he muttered softly—too softly for anyone to hear.

"...Leon."

"......?"

The nearest attendant lifted his head slightly, but the emperor said nothing more.

At the same time, in the eastern corridor of the imperial palace.

"...What?"

The hem of a turquoise dress whipped violently. A tall figure strode rapidly down the hallway. Platinum hair. Twenty-three years old. Straight posture, sword at her waist, steps full of authority—Second Princess Serina Asteron. Leon's older sister.

"Leon... has disappeared?"

"...Yes, Your Highness."

The maid following her panted out the report.

"The escort unit confirmed the prince's absence at the campsite early yesterday morning and—"

"They confirmed it yesterday but only reported it today."

"......!"

"A whole day late."

Serina's voice was calm. Everyone knew that calm was not the same as composure. Her footsteps quickened.

"Where is the unit commander?"

"Currently in the central hall with His Majesty—"

"I will see this myself."

"......Pardon?"

They had reached the window at the end of the corridor. The imperial garden stretched outside, bathed in the soft glow of platinum star veins.

"..."

Serina stared at the light quietly.

'Leon used to play here all the time when he was little.'

They had trained with swords together in that garden too. He always lost to the First Prince, but he would always stand up again.

"......"

Serina bit the corner of her lip.

"...Prepare."

"...Prepare what?"

"My sword. My armor. And five escorts."

"......!"

"Your Highness?"

"I will go myself."

"......!?"

The maid's face hardened.

"This is not a task for Your Highness! The knight order should handle the search—"

"The knight order waited an entire day before reporting the disappearance."

"......"

"You expect me to trust them again?"

Power entered Serina's voice.

"...We leave today."

"......Yes."

Serina began walking once more.

"......"

"Your Highness?"

"...Leon."

Serina ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whispered softly.

"...What are you doing out there?"

And far away, in the remote border village of Esh.

In the old, worn room.

"Your Highness~"

"......"

"You've started to come around now, right~?"

"...You should stop that already."

"I don't want to~"

"...Hey."

The two of them continued their usual bickering, completely unaware of the storm brewing in the distance.