The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away - Chapter 97.2
As her footsteps faded, silence once again settled over the classroom.
Leslun, who was in the middle of packing his books, turned to face Tarensiu.
“I cannot answer, even if you ask what is going on.”
Prince Tarensiu said nothing. In a way, Leslun had spoken without being asked, but he did not seem to mind much. After all, this was not something a foreign crown prince should interfere with.
Tarensiu quietly rose to his feet.
Then, it happened.
A sharp tapping sound struck the windowpane from outside. When he approached and slowly opened the window, a large hawk—much larger than usual—landed on the sill.
Silber.
[You must return.]
The crown prince, who was borrowing his younger brother’s name, closed his eyes.
“I thought I still had time…”
His voice was soft and faint, as if murmured to himself.
***
Stopping by the library before returning to the palace had been an impulsive decision.
He needed to organize his thoughts before evening came, and he also wanted to find a few books for his assignments.
Leslun looked around between the bookshelves. Soon, he spotted the back of a librarian organizing books and approached with a familiar smile.
He had visited the library often enough to get acquainted with the librarian—a man in his later years who said he had worked there all his life. Leslun remembered him for his quiet, gentle air.
“I came to return a book.”
Leslun smiled as he spoke, but his voice trailed off. It was only when he got closer that he realized this was not the librarian he knew. The man’s hair was the same silver color, but the familiar warmth was gone.
When the man turned around, his face revealed a stranger’s sharp gaze framed by the wrinkles around his eyes. The clothes were familiar, which only made Leslun’s expression stiffen further.
The man’s face slowly relaxed, and he bowed politely toward Leslun.
“I’m new here.”
His rough, husky voice sounded unusually loud.
“May I ask what happened to the previous librarian?”
Leslun felt a pang of regret for not having had a proper chance to say goodbye.
The man looked at him for a moment. Because of his long lips, even a slight upward curve made it look like he was smiling faintly.
“He quit.”
“So suddenly?”
“Yes. I was told it was unexpected, and they had to find a replacement in a hurry.”
Leslun’s brows knit together. The librarian he knew did not seem like someone who would leave so abruptly.
“Was he ill, perhaps?”
He muttered as if wondering whether there had been some urgent reason to quit.
“Did he leave anything behind? Maybe some personal belongings?”
“Well, let’s see. Ah, there were a few personal items left when I was sorting through the records.”
“Really?”
Leslun asked eagerly, and the librarian nodded. With his slightly stooped back and hands clasped behind him, he took the book Leslun was holding.
He set the book down on the return desk, then turned back toward Leslun.
“Please, follow me.”
The librarian started walking ahead. His presence alone gave off a completely different feeling from the previous librarian’s, though Leslun couldn’t tell whether it was simply because the man was unfamiliar.
Maybe he was overthinking it, but a strange chill ran down his spine.
‘Don’t let your imagination run wild.’
Just because he was fond of the previous librarian didn’t mean he should be suspicious of an innocent person. Leslun shook his head lightly and followed.
As they walked between the tables, Leslun gradually realized that they were heading in an unfamiliar direction. It wasn’t too strange, though. Perhaps the librarian’s personal area was located that way.
“You must have been close to him.”
“Ah… yes. We saw each other often, so I suppose we grew close.”
“Then you must be quite disappointed.”
Something in the man’s husky tone made Leslun stop walking without meaning to.
“This way, please.”
The librarian pointed toward a door behind a row of bookshelves. When he opened it, only darkness was visible beyond.
He waited, as if expecting Leslun to step inside. If he wanted to receive the belongings, he had no choice but to go in—but the uneasy feeling still wouldn’t leave him.
Just as Leslun decided to go in despite the unease, he missed the glint that flashed in the librarian’s eyes.
As the man began to lift his hand toward Leslun—
A sudden hand grabbed Leslun’s arm from behind, pulling him back.
Chapter 98.1
The one who grabbed Leslun was Prince Tarensiu.
Leslun instinctively turned around to protest, but when he saw the prince standing there, silent and cold-eyed, his words died in his throat.
“I was looking for you.”
At those words, Leslun calmed his startled heart and turned fully toward him.
“You were looking for me?”
“Yes.”
Leslun found it odd. They had attended the same class, and both had left the classroom last. What reason could there be for the prince to seek him out so soon after?
“Let’s go outside.”
Whatever it was, Prince Tarensiu’s tone sounded unusually hurried.
“Please wait a moment.”
Leslun turned to the librarian after asking for the prince’s patience.
“I’ll come back another time.”
The librarian only gave a small nod, adding no further comment. His eyes were dimly lowered, and since he was short, even that slight bow made his face difficult to see.
Leslun left the library with Prince Tarensiu. The two of them stepped out of the quiet library and into the corridor where students were passing by.
By now, Leslun had grown accustomed to the stares that followed him. It was not ordinary, after all, for the Crown Prince’s aide to be attending the academy.
He himself was rarely mentioned in the rumors, but the attention toward the Crown Prince grew more intense by the day. Naturally, his thoughts drifted to Kailos, and his steps slowed.
Leslun called out to the prince walking ahead of him.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere we can be alone.”
Judging by how he didn’t specify a location, it seemed he didn’t have one in mind yet.
“Is this something others shouldn’t know about?”
“No. But I’d rather they didn’t hear. It’s something that wouldn’t matter if they did, but it’s better if they didn’t.”
What did he mean by that?
In any case, since Prince Tarensiu had expressed what kind of situation he wanted, Leslun walked beside him, matching his pace.
“In that case, it might be best to talk while walking.”
Leslun spoke casually, pretending not to notice the prince’s gaze.
“The more you wish to hide a conversation, the more natural it is to have it in passing.”
If no place suited their purpose, then it was best to create one in motion.
Prince Tarensiu’s steps slowed.
“I don’t have much time.”
Leslun immediately understood.
It seemed the king was searching for his missing crown prince. Knowing how dependent the king was on him, Leslun didn’t need to ask why the prince had to return.
“I wanted to stay with you a little longer…”
Normally, even when he spoke briefly, his words were clear and firm. But today, his sentences trailed off awkwardly.
“There are things I wanted to say…”
Prince Tarensiu continued to leave his sentences unfinished. Perhaps he was conflicted. Leslun glanced sideways at him and was startled.
The prince’s face was stiff—not with anger, but with a tension that seemed to harden his expression.
“Not now. I don’t like it right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll say it when I’m myself again.”
“So, what does that—”
Leslun stopped himself mid-question as he remembered the prince’s situation—coming here under his younger brother’s name.
“Include me too.”
“…”
Leslun prided himself on understanding Tarensiu’s speech, even when it came out abrupt or inconsiderate. But this time, he truly couldn’t decipher it.
“Where did you even learn to say something like that?”
It wasn’t the dignified speech of royalty, but more like a child’s sulky demand.
“Crown Prince.”
Leslun frowned.
A few hours later, he finally understood what Prince Tarensiu meant when he said to include him. But even knowing it now, there was nothing Leslun could do—because his conversation with the Crown Prince had already ended.
***
Late at night, Miroi arrived at the academy dressed in dark clothing. Except for the guards who must have been watching from unseen places, her actions were far too reckless for a noblewoman.
She looked around at the academy, so different from the daytime, her eyes uncertain as she made her way to the meeting spot. Even though she knew Leslun would be waiting, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being alone.
She only had one building left to pass when a hand suddenly reached out from the shadows and covered her mouth.
Her eyes widened, but the person quickly removed their hand and pressed a finger to their lips.
As the clouds drifted away from the moon, his face became visible, and a wave of relief swept across Miroi’s features.
Once he saw that she had calmed down, Leslun lowered his hand.
“What happened?”
Instead of answering immediately, Leslun first glanced around to check their surroundings.
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