The Crown Prince's Interest
"What kind of person is Kael Lotus, exactly?"
Lucas Deverlu had grown intrigued by this man named Kael Lotus.
The lady he himself was interested in, Maria Frendis—she was showing interest in Kael Lotus.
It was as if that attention had trickled down to Kael like stairs leading downward.
"Your Highness, Kael Lotus is the eldest son of the Lotus family."
"I know that much. He's known as a mangnani, and I also know he scored the highest in the swordsmanship aptitude test at the Academy. What I'm curious about is his true nature."
There were too many odd things about him to count.
The Lotus family's loyalty was beyond question. They were the empire's shield, always ranking in the top five among noble houses for unwavering devotion since the founding of the empire.
The only issue was that the family's heir was a mangnani...
"Your Highness, I humbly report that we have no information."
"Not even a whisper from the imperial side?"
"I will investigate."
"No, never mind. If I'm curious, I can just meet him myself."
He tilted his wine glass, picturing Kael Lotus in his mind.
That signature gray hair. And those red eyes. The rebellious style of sweeping his bangs back over his forehead.
Arrogant, selfish, lacking delicacy, hurling straight balls at everyone around him.
Yet surprisingly, he'd never caused any major incidents so far. Except for exposing Professor Temiri...
"I need to ask what he wants and how much he knows. Tomorrow's the weekend, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Send an invitation. Even a mangnani from the Lotus family wouldn't ignore my summons."
Lucas Deverlu swallowed his wine, looking forward to meeting Kael.
"I... I wanted you to accept my apology. For suspecting you last time. For arbitrarily interfering, saying Professor Temiri couldn't be that kind of person. I'm sorry for all of it."
Maria Frendis suddenly bowed her head to me.
Honestly, I was a bit taken aback. I figured she'd say something like...
—"I knew Professor Temiri was a kingdom spy. But there was no need for such a violent approach. We could have at least talked it out."
...because that's the kind of character she was.
And in the original story, that's exactly what she said.
After Kael dealt with Professor Temiri, she grieved over losing someone she'd been close to and blamed Kael for a while.
Only much later did she apologize.
—"No, you're right. Looking back, I should have tried talking first. You're correct, Maria. I was too hasty."
That was original Kael Lotus's response.
'Fucking pushover...'
But perhaps because Maria and Professor Temiri's friendship hadn't deepened yet, she was acting remarkably sensibly by my standards.
She bowed before me. Admitting she'd interfered. That she'd ruined everything.
She was apologizing with genuine sincerity.
"Got it."
"You... accept my apology?"
"Nah? I didn't say I accepted it."
"...What should I do to make you forgive me..."
"Don't delude yourself. An apology is just self-satisfaction. Since when did apologies become currency to exchange? If it were an apple to eat, I'd take it—they're tasty. But apologies aren't the point. They're emotions, not a tangible form."
"Um... if it's money you want..."
"Goddamn it. Listen up, Maria. What's more important than your apology is realizing how idiotic your actions were. Improve yourself. Make sure it doesn't happen again. Show me with actions, not words. Got it? Cut the emotional bullshit."
"...Yes."
"The kingdom is gunning for the empire. The empire's in danger right now. So let me make a demand of you. Don't let Crown Prince Lucas get all googly-eyed over you. He's interested in you. Haidel? Keep your distance from him too. And any other guys who approach you from now on—distance yourself from all of them."
"Pardon? What do you mean..."
"Didn't you hear me? You're the one in the most danger right now. Lucas, Haidel, and later the hero's descendant Eibon Ragnarok. None of them have time to get distracted by a girl."
Of course, she wouldn't fully grasp it.
What I was doing was just planting seeds of doubt in her heart.
Foolish male leads would come after her soon enough. When they did, she'd recall my words today and start doubting herself.
She'd gradually realize what happens when key empire figures get fixated on one woman.
"I don't understand. Why... why do I have to do that? They're all just being kind to me..."
"You'll get it when the time comes. Just don't fuck up important shit while giggling with those guys later."
I left her with a few words of advice.
That alone would sow plenty of confusion in Maria. And above all, I hadn't said anything wrong.
"Be smart about it. Don't go blabbing anywhere and keep a low profile."
With that, I decided to head out.
But then Maria Frendis grabbed my arm.
"What're you doing?"
"Just one question. You said... I won't find true love. What did that mean?"
"Oh, that from the ball?"
"You know something about me, don't you? How much do you know?"
Asking about her curse meant she wanted to live, at least.
To explain per the original: she eventually realizes true love.
The curse lifts successfully, and the story ends on a fake "happy ending."
Why fake? Because it only lifts after she flees to an island. And the answer wasn't romantic love—it was friendship with everyone. Not man-woman romance, but the bonds, memories, experiences, and emotions shared with friends as a whole.
Maria confronts the Dark Spirit Curse, declares the answer, and the spirit vanishes with the curse.
But I didn't see why Maria needed to figure it out.
Wouldn't it be better if she just quietly withered away, doing nothing?
"I don't know much. Just about your curse. The Dark Spirit? That's all—just its prank. Don't expect anything from me."
I waved her off and left.
The spot where Kael Lotus had departed.
Maria Frendis stared blankly at the empty space for a long while.
She mulled over her conversation with Kael, lost in thought.
—"Don't let Crown Prince Lucas get all googly-eyed over you. He's interested in you. Haidel? Keep your distance from him too. And any other guys who approach you from now on—distance yourself from all of them."
The first thing she couldn't understand was why Kael had warned her to beware of men approaching her.
The empire was in danger, the kingdom targeting it? Then she could help as an ally—so why be cold to these kind people?
'Could Kael possibly like me...?'
For a moment, she considered it, but dismissed it as impossible.
'No way. There's Elia.'
She'd seen them flirting at the ball.
Above all, Kael knew something. He'd skimmed over the "curse" today, but he clearly knew more.
He just had reasons not to tell her.
Whatever those reasons, if he liked her, he'd have shared more.
So there was only one possibility.
"Is the empire really in danger...?"
If Kael was hiding his true self for unknown reasons, quietly acting for the empire's sake—and if that was his sole goal...
Maybe he was struggling alone, turning his back on everyone for the empire.
Even if it meant being called a mangnani, driving the crown prince away from others, committing lèse-majesté, hunting spies solo and exposing himself to danger, his reputation plummeting daily...
And to Maria, that was a truly horrific, tragic story...
'No, that can't be.'
She shook her head, banishing the thought.
"Young master. A letter of utmost priority has arrived."
"A letter?"
After my daily schedule ended and I returned to the dorm, the maids called me over.
Thrusting a neatly packaged envelope at me...
"It's from Crown Prince His Highness."
"The crown prince? Lucas Deverlu?"
I snatched the envelope and tore it open.
Inside bore Crown Prince Lucas Deverlu's mana signature, with a brief message.
Kael Lotus,
I'm thinking of inviting one representative from each Academy department for a chat. I'd appreciate it if you'd join as the Arts Department's rep. We've never spoken before, so it'd be a good chance to introduce ourselves—please come this weekend.
— Lucas Deverlu, Crown Prince
An invitation to tea time.
But...
"Decline it."
"Pardon?"
"But... this is from Crown Prince His Highness..."
"I've got prior plans this weekend."
Go see the original story's reverse harem assholes acting like dicks, or get magic attribute lessons from Professor Rapel Strahct?
At that crossroads, anyone would pick the same, right?
Besides, the lesson with the professor was the prior commitment—no need to even think twice.