The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away

The very fact that he was staying here, not in the dormitories, did not mean it was simply because he was a prince.

It meant that someone had deliberately arranged for him to stay outside the dorms so they could keep him close and watch him.

Outwardly, it was out of courtesy.

In truth, it was surveillance.

Kailos was more than capable of such a thing.

“I ride a carriage here.”

Prince Tarensiu added carelessly. His tone wasn’t exaggerated, yet something about the meaning behind those words struck Leslun in an odd way.

Tarensiu was a prince and drew attention wherever he went. Perhaps that was why he rode in a carriage—to hide himself.

He was the kind of person who could only conceal his presence if he was behind carriage curtains.

When Tarensiu fell silent again, Leslun could no longer bring himself to speak.

If he said something, he felt he might get an unexpected response.

Perhaps it was because he had secretly met with Prince Cassian on the way here, but he suddenly felt guilty.

Leslun awkwardly rubbed his left hand. His fingers paused at the faint cut along the side of his palm.

It was a wound he had gotten at dawn, and now, thanks to the ointment, only a faint mark remained. It was proof of just how high-quality the medicine Kailos had given him was.

Then, another short sentence fell.

“You are a good person.”

Leslun blinked again. Tarensiu always spoke so abruptly that his words needed extra interpretation.

He tried to work out what exactly he meant, but eventually gave up trying to understand. Just then, the sound of commotion reached his ears.

Leslun instinctively lifted his head.

It was the same atmosphere as when Prince Tarensiu had first appeared. When a figure as legendary as him, whispered about since the beginning of term, had finally shown up, the entire classroom had been thrown into a stir.

And now, that same current was flowing again.

Who could it be this time?

Only the person themselves knew which class they would attend.

Of course, if they had told each other the way Leslun reported things to Kailos, he would know, but short of that, one only found out once they walked into class.

Soon, someone appeared.

Even though they entered the classroom without making a single sound, their presence alone seized the entire room.

To call them beautiful would not be enough.

Their hair, the pale green of spring leaves, fell in waves, and their delicate face held jewel-like eyes. Their posture was flawless, and the family crest embroidered into the hem of their skirt showed she was no ordinary noblewoman.

The classroom fell into a silence that felt as though time had stopped.

It was Lady Miroi.

She had not shown herself at the entrance ceremony, nor even at the commemorative party.

‘So, she’s attending this class.’

Leslun murmured inwardly, lowering his gaze, only for his conversation with Kailos at dawn to resurface.

He had said it was all right to associate with Prince Tarensiu and Lady Miroi.

Seeing this situation now, it felt almost eerily well-timed. Had he anticipated this?

Meanwhile, Lady Miroi stood still for a moment, scanning the room. Her gaze was calm — not searching for a particular person, but rather selecting a suitable place to sit, the eyes of someone making a judgment.

Wherever her eyes fell, students straightened up nervously or subtly shifted aside, signaling her that she was welcome.

Everyone clearly wanted to sit near her, but pretended to be “considerate” by leaving the choice to her.

Among them, one gesture stood out as especially dramatic.

Cal Byweiner.

He waved in the air with exaggerated familiarity, even going so far as to shove aside the classmate seated next to him and dust off the seat to make a space for her.

The sight was almost comical, yet he himself seemed utterly serious. Lady Miroi glanced in his direction briefly, then walked the other way.

Her footsteps were nearly silent, her movements elegant.

While everyone else was busy letting out murmurs of admiration, the only ones who showed no reaction were Prince Tarensiu and Leslun.

Prince Tarensiu’s reaction was perhaps understandable—as royalty, he had already seen countless beautiful people.

He had even come with the nickname of a “rogue,” so it seemed he had no intention of putting on any act here.

Leslun’s reason was slightly different. It was not his first time seeing Lady Miroi, and that morning he had already met someone else of elegance and dignity.

And there was one more person, though Kailos often sat in a lazy manner, his presence always carried a certain refinement no matter the moment.