Ingrid's face was beyond tired.
No, not just tired. Exhausted.
She trudged through the corridors of the Wing of Honor, shoulders slumped, dark circles under her eyes.
I've spent the week looking after Cassian as best I could.
He was too restless. Always finding ways to keep busy. Always moving. Always inventing new dangerous games or pulling strange objects from the Shoreless Sea.
I haven't even had time to sleep properly.
That's when she ran into Patrice in the hallway.
The impeccable butler stopped upon seeing her, his eyes widening slightly.
"Miss Ingrid! What a joy to see you!"
Ingrid blinked, surprised by his enthusiasm.
"Uh… good morning, Mr. Patrice."
"You're still here!" he said with a genuine smile. "It was truly a good choice to hire you for this position. The other maids never lasted more than a few days."
Oh. So I'm just the least bad of the bunch.
Still, the compliment warmed Ingrid's heart. She'd considered quitting several times this week, but now…
Maybe I can hold on a bit longer.
"It can't have been easy," Patrice continued, his expression turning serious. "Especially during the banquet celebrating the kingdom's anniversary."
Ingrid shuddered at the memory.
"The atmosphere at that banquet was… really something."
Indeed, it had been Cassian's first public appearance. The king had seized the opportunity to present him as the treasure of Haverloch.
The reactions were mixed.
It was the first time nobles and dignitaries had seen Cassian. And he hadn't made a great impression.
He'd literally devoured everything on the tables, acting more like a starving child than a "treasure of the kingdom."
Then he'd gotten into a spat with a noble's child.
And pulled a magical war weapon from the Shoreless Sea.
Thankfully, he'd been stopped quickly before things escalated.
Patrice nodded.
"But it had the merit of temporarily silencing those who still doubted the king's words. You know, normally, a human's mana circuits don't develop until early adolescence."
"I already know that," Ingrid said wearily.
"Of course. But that's exactly what shocked everyone at the banquet. Everyone knows the earlier mana circuits appear, the easier it is for someone to use mana. Those people are also more sensitive to it."
He paused, adjusting his glasses.
"But the craziest part is that Cassian was able to summon that magical weapon when, technically, mana circuits at his age aren't developed enough for such a feat."
Ingrid sighed.
"I don't even pretend to understand how Cassian works anymore."
Patrice patted her shoulder gently.
"Keep up the good work, Miss Ingrid."
He started to walk away, but Ingrid stopped him.
"Wait. It's rare to see you in this part of the palace. Why are you here?"
Patrice turned back.
"I'm here for Cassian. The king wishes to see him."
---
Two months later
Cassian leaned on a balcony railing, gazing at the misty landscape stretching before him.
Beside him sat the Fourth Prince Armand.
He was a twelve-year-old boy, thin and pale, with a long bowl-cut that fell over his forehead. He wore simple but high-quality clothes and held a thick book in his hands.
He read silently, deliberately ignoring Cassian.
"It's been hard finding playmates lately," Cassian said suddenly, sighing. "Ingrid's on vacation for a bit, and everyone's avoiding me."
Armand didn't respond, continuing to read.
Cassian glanced at the book.
"You're really boring, reading that book all the time."
Armand slowly turned a page.
"Plus, it's nice out today!"
Armand finally looked up from his book and eyed the foggy, almost gloomy weather.
"Your idea of 'nice weather' is completely skewed."
Cassian frowned.
The fog's beautiful. It gives a mysterious vibe.
Armand sighed, closing his book but keeping a finger between the pages to mark his place.
"My parents forced me to befriend you. So we're stuck spending time together. I'd like to keep reading, but you interrupt me every two minutes."
Cassian didn't like the remark.
"Well, maybe if you weren't so boring, I wouldn't need to interrupt you!"
"Unlike you," Armand said calmly, "I have responsibilities."
Cassian openly scoffed.
"You just spend your time trying to act like an adult. And not only do you do it badly, you're getting more boring by the day."
Armand stiffened, his cheeks flushing slightly.
He fully closed his book and turned to Cassian, about to retort.
"Listen, I—"
"My dear brothers!"
A loud, jovial voice cut through their argument.
The Second Prince Eric appeared suddenly, grinning widely, arms spread as if he'd just arrived at a party.
"I'm so happy to see you two getting along so well!"
Armand opened his mouth to protest, but Eric continued without giving him a chance.
"I overheard your conversation. Cassian, you're looking for something fun to do, right?"
Cassian tilted his head, curious.
Eric approached, crouching slightly to meet Cassian's eye level.
"All over the world, ugly, nasty, evil monsters are causing chaos. Right now, some vile creatures are terrorizing the people."
His eyes gleamed.
"If you want, I can take you out to slay those monsters and save the people. What do you say?"
Cassian pretended to think, rubbing his chin.
Then his face lit up with a wide grin.
"You thought of me?"
"Of course!" Eric replied, patting his head.
"Good riddance," Armand muttered, reopening his book.
In Eric's mind, his thoughts were far different from his cheerful expression.
Since Cassian's first public appearance, I've done everything to eliminate him.
He'd learned it was Cassian who controlled the beast rumored to have saved the king. The Manticore. That terrifying creature.
Plus, Cassian was far too mysterious. He was too big a variable, too unpredictable.
I've tried everything to get rid of him.
He'd sent assassins. Again and again.
But in the end, every assassin he sent never returned.
Yet no one in the palace showed any sign of noticing assassins.
No bodies. No traces. No questions.
As if they'd simply… evaporated.
What happened to them?
Eric's gaze suddenly met the Manticore's.
The creature lay lazily in a corner of the balcony, watching silently.
It yawned, revealing rows of massive fangs.
A chill ran down Eric's spine.
What if it's that thing?
The Manticore stared at him with glowing, unblinking eyes.
Does it know?
Eric quickly looked away, his smile never faltering.
"So, Cassian! What do you say? Want to go on an adventure with your big brother?"
Cassian nodded vigorously.
"Yes! Yes! When do we leave?"
"Now."
"Perfect!"
Armand watched the exchange with suspicion but said nothing.
Not my problem.
He returned to his book.