MTM 124

“Zed… I told you not to do that…”

“Ugh… But why are suddenly hitting someone like that…?”

Under Harto’s fierce punishment, Zed curled up exaggeratedly and complained.

“I’m really hurt. This is definitely going to bruise.”

“R-really? What should I do… Does it hurt a lot? Can I take a look…?”

Zed grimaced and feigned pain; Harto, immediately grew restless and began checking his condition. Zed smirked and gave Isadora a knowing glance.

“…….”

It was a face brimming with mischief. She stared at an expression she had never seen before, not even during their academy days or when he was the Seventh Prince, Ares Carseon.

She thought he had changed when they first reunited here, but now it felt different from back then.

‘…He’s found his match.’

Isadora finally felt relieved. She thought he seemed to have found true peace.

“But I feel wronged… I really did hit you gently.”

“That’s because you haven’t been on the receiving end. A human’s elbow can be sharp enough to use as a weapon if you put your mind to it.”

“Huh, you… really?!”

Harto was genuinely convinced by Zed’s sophistry. He rolled up his sleeve and ran his hand over his elbow, checking just how sharp it was. Far from sharp, it was a rounded, pale pink elbow.

“So remember this well. One wrong move and I’m dead, Harto.”

“Uh… I’m… sorry…”

Harto’s eyes quickly reddened. He was sorry and embarrassed. He looked like he might burst into tears if he teased him any further, but Zed was in a good mood.

The two of them looked exactly like playful children. Especially Harto’s voice sounded like the chirping of a small warbler chattering on a tree branch. Even knowing his true nature was a black slime, the Harto reflected in Isadora’s eyes was pure innocence.

Even without the white falcon she’d seen earlier, Harto’s very existence felt like the greatest fortune imaginable.

“If it’s alright with you both, I’ll stop by the annex for a moment after lunch.”

At that moment, Robert approached Isadora from behind and spoke softly. Only then did their childish yet sweet conversation pause.

“Um… well…”

Harto looked slightly troubled, but Zed quickly wrapped his arm around his waist and waved his hand.

“Yes! Let’s go, Harto.”

“Ugh… I’ll… see you later…”

Led away by Zed, Harto walked with his head bowed. He was reluctant to leave and wore a slightly gloomy expression.

“I feel like it wasn’t them who interrupted us, but us who interrupted them.”

“You’re right.”

Isadora and Robert watched the receding figures of the two before quietly closing the door.

***

After lunch, Harto and Zed stepped out into the small courtyard of the mansion and sat side by side on a bench. It was a sunny spot, bathed in warm sunlight with a cool breeze blowing.

Clink.

A clear sound rang out from Harto’s wrist as he raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. It was the bracelet Reina had newly crafted for him. This time, it had been specially modified to allow the spirit stone to be swapped out. The spirit stone attached to the bracelet emitted a dim glow.

As he quietly watched that light, he remembered a scene from his memory. It was hazy and indistinct.

Crack-!

The sound of something shattering and exploding, the pungent smell of blood stinging his nostrils. And within that chaos, Zed’s silhouette…

For some reason, that day remained only as fragmented flashes, impossible to recall clearly.

But something important had been there. Harto strained to recall the memory, then unconsciously licked his parched lips.

‘Back then, it was definitely… delicious…’

“Harto? Are you still hungry?”

“Huh? Ah, no…!”

Zed chuckled and asked when he saw him licking his lips. Startled, Harto denied it. He deliberately changed the subject.

“That was really lucky earlier. We almost got caught.”

Harto sighed in relief when Zed mentioned the visit to Robert’s room.

“Yes, you’re right…”

Though he said that, Zed’s thoughts were slightly different. He suspected Isadora had probably figured out the situation by observing Harto’s transparent reaction.

The reason for the early morning raid on Robert’s room was Isadora’s birthday.

Zed, who had gone down to the dining room with Harto for breakfast as usual, had to stop in his tracks upon hearing the butler’s wails coming from the kitchen.

‘Ah, the young lady’s birthday… just passed by…!’

Yesterday had been Isadora’s birthday. But everyone in the mansion had been so consumed with managing the crisis that had raged for nearly two weeks that no one had noticed the date pass. Only this morning did they realize it. The butler of the Grenhardt mansion wept bitterly, as if he had committed some unforgivable crime. The elderly butler blamed himself. He had never let the young lady’s birthday pass unnoticed before.

In the end, they decided to throw a late surprise party for Isadora. The ones who took the lead were the butler and Reina. Reina, who felt grateful to Isadora, acted more actively than anyone else. She wanted to repay a debt of gratitude before leaving for Hippora Village.

Harto felt the same way. For Harto, who had never even celebrated his own birthday, let alone attending anyone’s party, the idea of a surprise party was exciting. Allen and Leon seemed a bit surprised, but since it was the anniversary of a comrade with whom they had shared a life-and-death experience, they gladly agreed to help.

Only Zed looked displeased. He knew Isadora didn’t place much importance on her birthday, and she’d dislike a noisy event like a surprise party even more. Considering her personality, which he’d observed since their academy days, it was an obvious assumption. That’s why Zed had suggested they just congratulate her instead.

Keeping it a secret was a hassle too. More than anything, he resented having his alone time with Harto taken away.

“But Harto.”

“Hm?”

“I know Isadora well… She’s probably already figured it out.”

When Zed honestly revealed his thoughts, Harto narrowed his eyes and looked at him.

“But that’s all… just your own speculation, Zed…”

“Well, maybe. But you saw earlier? Robert didn’t seem particularly curious either. He probably thinks the same as me.”

“Isn’t that because Lady Isadora was there?”

“No, I know. Isadora is very perceptive.”

“……”

The more Zed answered, the more Harto’s shoulders slumped.

“Ugh… Zed’s right. I don’t know anything.”

Finally, Harto pouted, his downturned lips displayed his sulky mood. Zed found even that expression on Harto’s face so adorable he felt the urge to bite it.

Just as he thought maybe he’d gone a bit too far and reached out to comfort Harto,

“I’m leaving.”

“What? Where are you going?”

“…You don’t need to know.”

Harto turned away without even looking back at him. Startled, Zed immediately followed.

“Where are you going? Huh? Harto, let’s go together.”

Zed refused to give up, he persistently followed him, and Harto finally couldn’t take it anymore. He abruptly stopped and shouted.

“I’m going to see Prince Damien!”

“Damien? Why Damien?”

The moment Damien’s name left Harto’s mouth, the look in Zed’s eyes turned icy.

Prince Damien had been safely rescued from the underground dungeon and was currently recovering at the Grenhardt residence. It seemed it would take a long time to purge the poison accumulated in his body, meaning he would likely need to convalesce for a while.

“I was just wondering how he’s doing.”

It wasn’t empty words; he genuinely worried about Damien.

“He’s doing well. I checked on him myself last night.”

“Really? Is he sleeping well?”

“Seemed like it.”

“That’s a relief… You know, we had dinner together two days ago. He looked a bit more filled out than before and was smiling a lot.”

Harto smiled as he thought of Damien regaining his health after the pitiful state he was in. It was a relief.

“I was cute too.”

“……?”

“Especially when I was 11. No one in the imperial palace was as cute as me.”

Harto’s thought process froze momentarily at Zed’s sudden self-praise. He couldn’t fathom why a conversation inquiring about Prince Damien’s well-being had abruptly veered into Zed boasting about his own youthful beauty.

“Oh…. I see.”

Harto could only muster a hollow response for now.

“I was also the most handsome among the princes.”

“…….”

Zed continued to tout his superiority for quite some time afterward, but Harto moved on, he was barely listening. The problem was, Harto didn’t know where Prince Damien’s room was.

He reached the central hall of the mansion, and looked up at the high staircase with a blank expression.

“Zed, where is Prince Damien’s room?”

“Hmm.”

“……”

Just as expected. Zed had no intention of speaking up. Harto had anticipated this, but he still felt it was unfair. From preparing for the birthday party event to finding Prince Damien’s room, Zed was picking fights over every little thing.

‘This is awful. The Zed I knew was always so kind…. Why is he being so spiteful lately…?’

Recalling the affectionate Zed of the past, Harto felt like crying, but he figured crying over something like this would just make him the target of more teasing. So he decided to stand tall.

“Zed.”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to stop me from meeting Prince Damien?”

“Yes.”

At that matter-of-fact reply, Harto glared at Zed, then clenched both fists and trembled.

“Then, I won’t sleep tonight.”

“What?”

“I won’t sleep with you tonight!”

I won’t sleep with you tonight! I won’t sleep with you tonight!

Harto’s shout reverberated through the air.