The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away

When I followed Prince Cassian to his room, Blue came in. It stayed there for quite a long time before coming out. I never thought that time would become such a source of controversy.

“What is the problem with that?”

“You must have guessed it when the necklace was put on. The Empress has enough power to meddle with the familiar. She may not kill it, but she can make things very troublesome.”

Robin kept speaking sharply, and Kailos could no longer pretend to ignore it.

“This rumor is the same. It is clear that the Empress is behind it. She must have deliberately caused the familiar to keep going to the Prince.”

Leslun tried to interrupt, insisting that was not the case. But Kailos spoke first.

“In any case, the Prince’s familiar will not settle in just one place. So there is no need to waste energy worrying about it.”

Leslun turned his head, meeting Kailos’s eyes. Kailos knew he was involved.

‘If I had not followed the Prince, Blue would not have gone to the Prince’s room.’

“What does it matter where Blue goes?”

Kailos spoke lightly, trying to lift the dark mood surrounding Leslun. However, Leslun still looked regretful.

Kailos tilted Leslun’s chin up and spoke in a firm, certain voice while locking eyes with him.

“Instead of just keeping your head down, why don’t we choose the better course?”

Leslun swallowed and slowly nodded.

The Crown Prince’s words always made him look forward.

“More importantly,”

Kailos turned back to Robin and asked,

“What about the Kingdom of Vancor?”

Leslun’s heart pounded again. The mere sound of that name made tension crawl into his chest.

“Yes. There was apparently a disturbance in the kingdom, but we have not yet learned what it was. It seems they are deliberately keeping quiet.”

“In that case, do not try too hard to find out. Just observe for now.”

“Understood.”

The meeting seemed to be over, but Kailos turned his head and called out to Leslun.

“Leslun.”

He quietly raised his head.

Kailos smiled faintly and spoke in a light tone, as though trying to change the mood.

“Did you know that familiars have an amusing trick apart from their abilities?”

Leslun tilted his head slightly.

“They grant one wish. They can grant what the Emperor desires, or sometimes the familiar chooses to grant something on its own. Or so they say.”

Kailos’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“If I become Emperor, I wonder what wish I should make.”

***

Only after darkness had fully descended did Leslun’s duties finally end.

On his way back to his residence, he heard footsteps behind him and assumed it was Robin.

When he turned without much thought, it was not Robin but the Crown Prince. Leslun blinked in surprise. The Crown Prince smiled, as if he had expected that reaction.

“I came out for a walk.”

“Did you?”

“Lead the way.”

Leslun hesitated for a moment, then obediently began walking. It was impossible to ignore the Crown Prince’s presence that followed closely behind him.

“You seemed to have a lot on your mind earlier.”

Kailos’s question was not denied. Leslun already assumed that Kailos had noticed.

“What is troubling you so much?”

“I think… I may have caused the rumor.”

“Ah.”

The corners of Kailos’s mouth slowly lowered. Whatever emotion had been there seemed to cool little by little. After a short breath, he spoke.

“So it is still on your mind. Well, that makes sense.”

Kailos neither gave a careless consolation nor sharply rebuked him. His words reflected the cold rationality that had witnessed the fierce struggles of the Imperial Court, yet there was also a sense of effort to understand Leslun’s feelings.

A breeze passed between them.

“Even if that rumor had never spread, Blue is a being that can go anywhere.”

I know. Until its true master is decided, it can travel freely.

“It stayed in my palace for too long. Was it because it thought I was fit to be Emperor?”

“That…”

Leslun could not finish the sentence. Objectively speaking, Kailos was the most suitable person for the throne.

His sharp intellect, decisive judgment, and unerring insight at crucial moments made him so.

The problem was that he had ultimately taken the throne by force. Such an act of usurpation had stirred resentment and had eventually dragged him down from the throne.

“Blue being by my side… yes, it makes me curious as well.”

Kailos tilted his head. His profile was strangely serene.

“This is as good a chance as any to find out.”

At those words, Leslun instinctively straightened his back, as though ready to carry out a command at once.

“Bring Cassian to me at dawn tomorrow.”