Cain, you crazy bastard! How could you go and tell him what I said in the fitting room right away!
I hurled Mitche at imaginary Cain’s face and stuck him there like a dart.
To think that my two closest friends are a blabbermouth tattletale and a guy who knows I like him but abuses his power as naturally as breathing.
With tears streaming down at our friendship that was thinner than Professor Bardi’s few remaining hairs, I began desperately protesting.
But the problem was that I was either too stupid or too hasty, because my words just got more and more messed up.
“Cesare, our merchant guild doesn’t need your help or anything! We have tons of money!”
“My help ‘or anything’?”
“No, what I mean is…! Ah, that’s right! If I wanted to be helpful to the merchant guild, would I have befriended you in the first place?! I would’ve latched onto Senior Cedric!”
Realizing what I’d said at the sight of Cesare’s face hardening into stone in an instant, I clutched my forehead with an “oh crap.”
I’m screwed. This bastard holds grudges like crazy.
Gulp. I swallowed dry saliva without realizing it. Beyond the strange silence, Cesare’s stiff lips slowly curved up as he smiled at me.
If snakes could smile, it would look like that, Mitche…
“That’s right, Lionel. I know very well that you’re different from those other fly bastards…”
As I swallowed more dry saliva, I hugged Mitche tightly to my chest. I must have hugged him too hard because Mitche’s little limbs flailed, pounding against my chest, but was that really important right now?
“I know it very well, so don’t worry, my cute Rye. Of course, ‘inferior as I am to the Imperial Family.'”
Cesare smiled broadly as he swept his hair back handsomely. It was such a beautiful sight, like a male peacock spreading its wings wide, that you could hear the gulps of passing female students.
Crack! I hugged him so hard that the sound of bones breaking came from Mitche’s body. However, my mental state—trembling and sobbing—had long since turned completely white with all thoughts stopped.
“Still, I’m a little hurt, you know? How many years have I spent with you, and yet you say you would’ve latched onto Senior Cedric.”
Cesare gradually approached, closing the distance.
“It seems like you’ve been getting closer to Senior Cedric lately—is that just my imagination?”
“Getting closer?! I really have absolutely no interest in the Imperial Family! You know I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Yes, I know. My cute Rye. But if you get closer to them, it’ll hurt my heart too much as your best friend. So let’s keep our distance.”
At Cesare’s regretful voice, I quickly raised my head to protest. But what I immediately saw were only those eerie pupils sparkling in crimson. And my consciousness scattering in all directions.
‘Crazy… this garbage bastard… he’s using magic again…’
Without even a chance to resist, at the same moment a crimson curtain fell, all the strength drained from my legs.
“Lionel. From now on, if you run into Cedric, run away. 10 meters. Don’t even come close within a 10-meter radius of him.”
As the question ‘Why?’ arose, a small voice echoed in my head.
—Cedric is dangerous, you know. He’s the Crown Prince. That Jayden guy who hangs around with him is unpleasant too. Nothing good comes from getting tangled up with them, kid.
“…Yeah. That’s true. You’re right about that…”
Though my eyes were vacant, as I nodded my head vigorously, Cesare’s hands gripped both my cheeks to stop me. Then he tapped the mole under my eye.
“You listen so well, our cute Rye. I want to take you home and raise you.”
“Really…? Hehe. I want to… listen to what you say…”
Hehe, my lips curved up without my realizing it.
“Then forget what I just said about Cedric and let’s meet at dinner. I should make a good impression on our Rye’s aunt.”
As Cesare’s low bass settled by my ear, my consciousness sank heavily down below.
* * *
Cesare, who had been attaching a jingling black spinel ornament, raised his head with displeasure. In the mirror before him, his own figure was reflected, dressed sharply in the navy academy uniform.
Though anyone would see it as a handsome and attractive appearance, Cesare ran his hand through his black hair as if somehow dissatisfied.
Would it have been better if it were the silver of the Imperial Family that he resembled from his maternal side?
If at least Cesare had resembled that noble color, would he not have felt these explosive emotions with his blood boiling so hot at Lionel’s stupid provocation?
‘You had no intention of befriending me in the first place? You would’ve latched onto Cedric?’
He already knew that what Lionel blurted out wasn’t meant as grounds to compare Cesare and Cedric.
‘He’s the type to just blurt things out recklessly without thinking, so he probably said something he didn’t even mean, but…’
Since using Addiction, various ripples had been occurring in his relationship with Lionel, who seemed to be on the verge of crossing the line ambiguously.
However, even for Cesare, who prided himself on being perceptive about all matters, the standard of what “line” Lionel was crossing was far too vague.
To see it as offering him blind love, Lionel was cautious enough to find him other partners, and to call it challenging his authority, he was far too stupid.
Yet what was certain was just one thing—that he was being swayed by Lionel—and for Cesare, that was extremely irritating.
In truth, now he was stuck to him because of Addiction, but the fact that past Lionel had latched onto him to use the power of the Yanox Ducal House didn’t anger him at all.
That had plausibility, rather. It might have been even more off-putting if he’d latched on without reason. Moreover, watching Lionel move like a dog to earn the title of Yanox’s limb had been quite admirable and cute.
However, the moment Cedric’s name came out of Lionel’s mouth, an intense emotion impossible to describe in words had flowed through him.
—Crack.
A small scratch appeared on the black gem from the flow of mana emanating from Cesare.
‘Did I perhaps underestimate the emotion called love too much?’
It was actually Cesare, who had cast Addiction, who felt impatient at Lionel’s unpredictable words and actions.
He’d used Addiction to easily control the Mellans Merchant Guild’s funds, but for him to get this angry was putting the cart before the horse.
‘I need to be able to use Lionel more easily. I have to make him fall head over heels so he won’t utter a single objection to me. So he can’t have any foolish thoughts. Otherwise, Lionel will…’
Cesare himself knew better than anyone what the side effects of the ancient artifact Addiction were.
As if shaking off the thought, Cesare lightly shook his head and channeled mana into the cracked gem. The gem that had small cracks was instantly restored and changed to look brand new.
‘If you make a good impression on your partner’s family… that’s a plus factor, right?’
Hoping that his relationship with Lionel would soon become perfect and smooth again like that, Cesare attached the gem to his cape’s collar.
* * *
Dinner banquet time held in the lavishly decorated cafeteria. The faculty and parents busily crossed between tables exchanging greetings and enjoying their meals pleasantly.
Since I didn’t have many professors I was close with, even if Cesare did, our table cozily enjoyed our meal just among ourselves.
“I wondered who Lionel took after to be so popular, but seeing Countess Cicero’s face, I understand immediately.”
Aunt smiled shyly and bowed her head slightly to Cesare as if grateful.
As expected, inviting Cesare for Aunt’s sake was a good choice.
Clearly, jealous stares flew from all directions, wondering why a noble from commoner origins with nothing to her name was sitting with Yanox.
Because several noble ladies had even approached Aunt, greeting her as if they were close.
“It would have been even better if Count Cicero had come too, but since the merchant guild business is keeping him busy, it can’t be helped. Ah, let me pour you some wine instead, Madam.”
As Cesare stood gracefully to pour wine into Aunt’s glass, the attention of various people focused here.
The Young Duke of Yanox showing courtesy to our aunt clearly demonstrated that he respected us. Aunt also seemed pleased with Cesare, who led the conversation comfortably on his own even without her having to speak.
And me? I was completely head over heels, staring at Cesare passionately.
‘My goodness. He’s even nice to my aunt. Where can you find such a perfect man?’
I was barely restraining myself from wanting to whisper in Aunt’s ear right away, ‘I want to marry that garbage bastard! Aunt, book the wedding venue for me!’
When my eyes met with Cesare’s as he poured the wine, the bastard playfully winked one eye. Oh, Mitche. Cesare Yanox must actually be a fox!
I squealed internally while patting Mitche’s back hard. Perhaps because being hit on the back hurt, Mitche had a somehow haggard face, but still gave me a pleased smile.
“Yanox. Mellans. Is there a seat here?”
“Professor Mahoff?!”
Professor Mahoff took a seat next to me with his plate. Inwardly, I prayed he’d get lost. Because I was worried he might tell Aunt about how he always picked on me.
“Even if you told me not to sit, I’d sit anyway. I absolutely hate sitting at the other tables. Ah, you’re Countess Cicero. Hello.”
After finishing his greeting really simply, he immediately started eating. Aunt was a bit flustered at first but then burst into a grin, perhaps finding his peculiarity amusing. Cesare, who was quite familiar with Professor Mahoff, spoke to him.
“Professor, you seem a bit busy.”
“A friend of mine is coming as a Homecoming guest. I ended up being the one to greet him.”
“Oh, Professor Mahoff has friends too?”
At my highly offensive joke, Cesare held back his laughter and Aunt hit my shoulder. Then Professor Mahoff suddenly put down his spoon and stared at me intently.
“Mellans.”
“Hey, it was just a joke. Why are you getting serious?”
As I tried to gloss over it cheekily, he asked me in a serious voice.
“Do you know why the Age of Prosperity fell?”
