The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away - Chapter 15.1
“But wouldn’t problems arise if the classes were to mix?”
Kailos said it lightly, but the nuance behind his words was anything but light.
Even if he hadn’t said it outright, the meaning was clear: nobles might look down on commoners and try to suppress them, or commoners, in turn, might harbor distrust and wariness toward nobles—such tensions could lead to conflict.
Leslun, who had been reaching out to stroke Blue, froze. How could he not understand what the Crown Prince meant? He could understand well enough—he had experienced it himself.
“Baron Kelly will take care of that matter. And if Your Highness the Crown Prince were to personally attend the entrance ceremony, it would be even better.”
Leslun quickly blurted out the words, then scooped Blue into his arms and darted over to where Robin was. It was too burdensome to continue sitting side by side with the Crown Prince.
Kailos raised his brows in incredulity, then slowly curved his lips into a faint smile, as if some idea had occurred to him—one that would let him see Leslun’s flustered expression all the more clearly.
Leslun, however, knew only half the situation. By standing behind Robin, he had unwittingly placed himself where he would have to face the Crown Prince’s gaze directly.
“Come here, Blue.”
Kailos crooked his finger, coaxing as though luring a child. He even slid the plate of cookies, those same ones he had fed to Leslun, closer, trying to tempt Blue with them.
But Blue’s reaction was the amusing part. The creature tilted its head to the side and resolutely turned its gaze away.
It didn’t look at Kailos at all. Kailos furrowed his brows.
Oh, really? —his expression seemed to say. Leslun subtly shifted to shield Blue. Of course, it wasn’t as though that would actually keep Blue out of sight, but it was his own small effort.
“I recall we used to get along just fine…”
Kailos muttered toward the uncooperative Blue.
“Not that fine…”
Robin quietly murmured, then quickly shut his mouth when he felt the weight of Kailos’s sharp glance. Normally, Robin was not shy about voicing his opinions, but the Crown Prince’s eyes were far too chilling this time.
Still, Blue didn’t move. Instead, it burrowed even deeper into Leslun’s arms and hid its face.
Seeing that, Kailos narrowed his eyes at Leslun.
“I was under the impression it had no master yet. Was I mistaken?”
“That’s not the case.”
Robin quickly stepped in, trying to smooth over the situation. Of everyone there, the one most uncomfortable was Leslun.
He gave Blue’s side a light shake, urging it to go on, but it was useless. The sharpness of the Crown Prince’s gaze felt as though it might pierce right through him.
At last, Leslun changed tactics. He returned to his previous seat. He tried to sit as far away as possible—but no matter what, it was still beside Kailos.
“As I thought, you chose me.”
Kailos slowly brushed his forefinger against Blue’s paw. It was impossible to tell whether those words were meant for Blue or for Leslun.
***
Once the conversation wound down, Kailos pointed at Blue.
“Now, go about your duty.”
With the command to look after Blue, Leslun gave a polite bow and withdrew. His steps were noiseless, but there was a restless haste in the way he moved.
Watching Leslun retreat almost as if fleeing, Kailos’s expression shifted. He pulled out a handkerchief, briefly wiped the tip of his nose and his lips, then let out a long breath.
Soon after, he extended his hand, and Robin respectfully presented the documents he had prepared.
Kailos flipped through them, his eyes cold as ice. Between the neatly organized lines of text, a short statement drew his gaze and held it.
“An abandoned infant found in the forest, taken in and adopted by a nearby couple.”
It was on the coldest day of winter. The baby, rescued on the brink of frostbite, had been raised by them ever since. Perhaps because of that, he had been sickly since childhood.
“A poor farming couple taking in a frail, sickly child and raising him with love. Sounds like something out of a fairy tale.”
Although more documents remained, Kailos didn’t turn the page. Instead, his brow creased deeply as he stared at that single line.
“No blood ties at all, and yet they even risked their lives…”
He muttered under his breath, then snapped the file shut. The furrow in his brow did not ease.
“Does Leslun not know of this?”
“No, he seems to know everything.”
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