The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away

At first, he wasn’t certain. But when he heard that the Crown Prince had only two aides, Leslun realized who it must be.

Robin—he was Kailos’s close friend and his only aide.

In the early part of the story, Robin mounted the execution platform of his own accord, exiting the narrative. It had been the result of sacrificing himself to give Kailos another chance.

‘The situation is taking a strangely coincidental turn.’

In the original work, Viscount Vincent became headmaster. Kailos, focusing on running the academy first, had backed the viscount, not realizing it would become a double-edged sword.

For Vincent, the academy was nothing more than a tool to turn into a miniature political arena. In truth, he lacked even the ability to properly manage it.

In the end, Vincent not only failed to provide opportunities for the students to flourish, but also allowed the academy to be run according to the whims of those with high political power. Ultimately, the academy destroyed itself.

Since it was a national project spearheaded personally by Kailos from the beginning, its downfall dealt a critical blow to his influence.

‘If there’s a better way…’

It would be for Baron Kelly to become headmaster.

But in order to put her in that position, incoming students still had to be secured. If there was a way to catch both rabbits at once, the situation could be overturned.

The question was—could he intervene? That was the greatest problem.

Leslun had carried out his duties with all sincerity, unaware that his superior was destined to be the villain.

But now… Now that he knew who Crown Prince Kailos truly was, he hesitated even more.

To make matters worse, Baron Kelly was someone who, later, would become a loyal confidant and strategist of the protagonist.

“Leslun.”

Leslun raised his head at the sound of his name. He tensed at Kailos’s narrowed gaze.

Whenever the Crown Prince looked at him like that, it was always because he was about to say something unexpected.

“I intend to give Robin half a day. In that time, I’ll have him come up with a method. And you, Leslun—how much time shall I give you?”

Was this truly a question, or an order to read the room and answer correctly?

Leslun glanced at Robin. Robin muttered something like, “Here we go again,” and suddenly walked toward him.

As Robin came closer, the smaller-framed Leslun had to look up at him. Robin studied him with eyes full of deliberation, then, all at once, took Leslun’s hand.

Not only that—he laced their fingers together. Kailos’s eyes narrowed further.

Leslun had no idea what was happening. Unable to react, he let Robin hold his hand, shifting his eyes back and forth between Robin and Kailos.

Regardless, Robin looked back at Kailos.

“We’re practically one and the same, so we’ll do this together.”

Kailos glanced between Leslun’s dazed expression and Robin’s uncharacteristic actions, before speaking.

“Have you lost your mind?”

To anyone watching, it would look like he was introducing a lover.

Should I say it plainly—that as long as I live, I will never approve?

With that thought, Kailos furrowed his brow deeply. At the same time, Blue, who had been sprawled out purring, also furrowed its brow like a person, glaring at Robin.

Thanks to the cat batting at them with its front paws, the tightly clasped hands finally separated.

It could have been dismissed as a simple joke—but Kailos alone noticed that Robin never put on a fresh pair of gloves afterward.

***

“So there really was something between them.”

From the closeness of their atmosphere, Leslun felt there must have been a long past between the two, one he didn’t know about.

“Surely Robin isn’t the Crown Prince’s first love, is he?”

There had been a short note in the original work that Kailos’s first love had been cruelly removed by the hand of a political rival, but no details beyond that. No description of who it was.

All Leslun knew was that losing such a precious person had turned Kailos into someone who hid anything he loved or valued all the more thoroughly.

There was no hint they were the same person—but no statement that they weren’t, either.

‘I just hope this doesn’t end up being another excuse to torment me.’

Leslun had thought he would be stuck more often with the Crown Prince, but instead he found himself spending far more time with Aide Robin.

One reason was that they lodged in the same residence.

The aides’ quarters, reserved for the Crown Prince’s direct staff, stood side by side with the Crown Prince’s palace, separated only by a wall. Its interior was as lavish as any guest chamber for nobles.