The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away

His tone was leisurely, but the nuance was sharp.

He knew what had happened at dawn.

Leslun tapped the bundle of papers on the desk, searching for words. He had no intention of lying, but neither did he intend to speak of the conversation he had shared with the Crown Prince.

That left only one option.

“I am merely distinguishing between public and private matters.”

“So, inside you’re delighted to death, but outwardly you’re acting composed?”

Robin rested his chin on his hand and looked straight at Leslun. His whole posture made clear just how interested he was in Leslun’s answer.

At this point, it seemed honesty was permitted. Perhaps because of Robin’s disheveled appearance, so different from his usual upright manner, Leslun hesitated, retraced his feelings, and then opened his mouth.

“It’s true. It’s not that I’m especially pleased.”

“Not pleased?”

Robin lifted his face from his hand as he asked. He wondered for a moment if Leslun was saying that just to avoid embarrassment in front of him, but his expression wasn’t that of someone lying.

“His Highness gave me the rules I must observe within the Academy.”

When the aide Robin was present, or when they had to secretly call each other inside the Academy, they had even set a code phrase for such moments.

He also told him whom to keep watch on, and whom to avoid. Many overlapped between the two, but still.

“Truly?”

“Yes.”

That he had summoned someone in the middle of the night only to say such things? Robin could not accept it.

Still, even if he couldn’t believe it, he had no grounds to press further. Leslun likewise said no more and remained still. On the contrary, once the conversation with Robin was over, he applied himself to his work with even more vigor.

“This won’t do. Come with me.”

But Robin stopped Leslun from continuing. He even slammed the desk and stood up, sending a few sheets of paper fluttering into the air.

As Leslun hastily picked up the fallen sheets while following Robin out, his eyes landed on one document—and he could not look away.

“What are you doing?”

“Come on.”

At Robin’s urging, Leslun placed the document on top of the pile and followed after him. When he closed the door, one of the clumsily stacked sheets slipped and fell.

Reading the title at the top, Leslun picked it up.

“Invitation List for the Academy Completion Ceremony.”

He had nearly forgotten, but was glad to have found it this way. Leslun hurried after Robin and handed him the list.

***

‘So that’s why my predecessor said such a thing.’

Following the aide Robin, Leslun entered the room where the Crown Prince was. As soon as he lifted his head at the sense of eyes on him, he met the Crown Prince’s gaze.

Kailos was visibly delighted to see Leslun, even after only a few hours’ absence.

“A good morning indeed.”

Whether he had actually slept or not, there were dark shadows beneath Kailos’s eyes. But his smile shone as brightly as the morning sun.

And that wasn’t all. The Crown Prince, who couldn’t keep the corners of his lips still, seemed truly unwilling to distinguish between public and private. One could tell just by how he ignored Robin entirely and looked only at Leslun.

To anyone else, it would seem as if something had happened between them. When in fact—nothing of the sort had.

Feeling embarrassed, Leslun eventually turned his head away first.

“Leslun, is your master over there?”

It was a rather plausible remark, but the problem was that it really meant, Look at me quickly.

“That is the proper conduct.”

After pointing out to his master that Leslun was behaving properly, Robin let out a heavy sigh.

“Your Highness…”

“Don’t interfere when you know nothing.”

“Why do you say I know nothing?”

“You don’t. You know nothing of what has happened between us, so don’t speak.”

Kailos cut him off first, preempting further words as if to say he already knew. But Robin did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward, blocking Leslun from the Crown Prince’s view.

Realizing Robin’s air was unusual, the smile faded from Kailos’s face as well.

“What is it?”

“This is the list of those to be invited to the banquet prior to the completion ceremony.”

When the list was handed over, Kailos lowered his gaze halfway and scanned the names.

“Their countries of origin are quite varied.”

It was the result of what Baron Kelly had arranged.

Because the composition of the Academy’s students had not been limited to within the Empire, the completion ceremony, set to take place before the entrance ceremony, would likewise be filled with foreign envoys.