The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away

Leslun took a small medicine bottle from his breast pocket.

It was the ointment that the Crown Prince had left behind at dawn, telling him to apply it to his wound.

He had brought it along by chance, but never expected to use it like this.

He wasn’t sure if a medicine meant for his own wound would work on a bird, but Leslun carefully applied it to the injured area and wrapped the feathers with his handkerchief, gently supporting it.

The bird stirred slightly.

Its tiny beak moved faintly, proof that it was still alive.

“Your Highness, please take care of it.”

Leslun held the bird back out to Prince Cassian.

“Please make sure this bird recovers safely and flies again.”

Cassian just looked at him, wide-eyed and flustered.

“You want me to take care of it?”

“You said that everywhere Your Highness goes, there is conflict. In that case, please protect this bird well. And when it fully recovers…”

Leslun said calmly,

“Then life will also have bloomed at Your Highness’s side.”

Cassian lifted his head and, for the first time, looked straight into Leslun’s face.

“What’s your name?”

“Leslun.”

“All right. Then I’ll name the bird Leslun.”

Leslun was briefly taken aback, but soon realized that Cassian was naming the bird after him.

“Couldn’t you give it another name?”

“Then how about just ‘Lun’?”

He felt as though he had once had a similar conversation with someone, somewhere…

Cassian carefully cradled the bird, took a few steps, and then turned back to look at Leslun.

“You won’t tell anyone, will you?”

“Of course not.”

Leslun bowed his head.

Thus, an unspoken promise was formed between the two of them.

Soon after, Prince Cassian turned and headed back toward the Imperial Palace.

Not long after, he could hear the hurried, alarmed voices of people.

It seemed they had been searching for the prince who had suddenly disappeared.

“I’m glad I spoke to him while he was alone.”

Muttering as though it were nothing, Leslun resumed his walk toward the Academy.

A moment later, soft, light footsteps echoed down the otherwise quiet path.

It was Blue.

Walking with poised, measured steps, as though tailored to the setting, Blue quietly sat down at the spot where Leslun and Cassian had been.

Its tail curled lightly around its paws, and both ears were folded slightly to the sides.

The reason those searching for Cassian had lost their way was entirely Blue’s doing.

Its clear, calm eyes surveyed the surroundings one last time before quietly heading in the direction Leslun had gone.

***

“So we finally met.”

Prince Tarensiu spoke as he entered the lecture hall.

Leslun’s hand, which had been turning a page, froze. He raised his head slightly, scanning the room.

The students who had always treated him as if he were a ghost were now openly staring at him and whispering among themselves.

The mere appearance of Prince Tarensiu was enough to draw attention, but for him to approach Leslun first and speak to him — that was the kind of thing that could send ripples through the Academy.

“Good day.”

Leslun greeted him carefully, and Tarensiu immediately dropped into the seat beside him.

Then he threw out a single comment.

“Annoying.”

Leslun blinked, not quite sure what he meant.

“Too wordy.”

Leslun hesitated.

“Too wordy.”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

“Wordy.”

“Sorry…”

“Wordy.”

The third time.

As the exchange repeated, Leslun tried to figure out what Tarensiu meant.

This wasn’t just pointless nitpicking.

“Pleased… to meet you.”

“…”

Leslun kept it as short as possible. At that, Tarensiu didn’t reply. He simply turned to a book and began flipping through the pages.

But the way he did it made it clear he wasn’t reading. His gaze was vacant, his fingers only going through the motions of turning pages.

Leslun sensed that something was bothering him, but couldn’t find the words to ask. He just pretended to read his own book.

‘Is that it, then?’

Leslun lowered his head and opened his textbook again. He was glad he had brought it in advance according to the lesson plan. Otherwise, he would have been left staring blankly into space beside Tarensiu.

“I live in the Imperial Palace.”

The words came out of nowhere. Leslun, unsure how to respond, only gave a small nod.

“Ah… I see.”

He replied shortly, though his thoughts were already running.

He had heard before that the Academy dorms weren’t bad, but someone like Prince Tarensiu would never have been sent to live there.