“Kyuwoot…! Krr… Mmm…!”
I had been imitating a dog to my heart’s content when I heard a cold voice and instantly lowered my volume. I hadn’t even heard the sound of the door opening because I was making noise.
“Who’s crying so cutely from this morning? Lionel? Is that you?”
I couldn’t easily turn around. Even without turning around, I could feel something like tremendous murderous intent from my entire back.
“Mellans? Wait. By any chance, from the Mellans merchant guild?”
Cedric frowned with a somehow unconvinced voice. But I had no time to care about him because of Cesare who would be behind me.
‘For now,’ I had been caught by the person I like imitating a Pomeranian acting cute in front of the guy he hates most. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s a background that looks like I’m having a friendly breakfast together with Cedric.
The embarrassment and guilt inside me, along with the rationality of ‘So what! It’s not even my fault?’ were violently clashing.
“Cesare Yanox. The student council room is off-limits except to authorized personnel. And I told them not to let anyone in.”
“You heard that, Lionel? Off-limits except to authorized personnel, they say you can’t come in here. Come out.”
At the footsteps striding from behind and the coldly sunken voice, I turned my stiff neck. I saw him with his mouth smiling but his eyes absolutely not smiling.
Cain had definitely gone to Cesare, who would be doing his morning meditation, and annoyingly asked for help. On top of that, the opponent was Cedric, whom Cesare hated most. The guy whose peaceful time had been interrupted looked extremely displeased even at a glance.
‘You can’t spit on a smiling face!’
This is a universal rule. Instinctively sensing danger, I greeted him cheerfully with the brightest smile I could muster.
“Cesare! Wh-what brings you here…!”
“The unauthorized personnel refers to you, Yanox. Junior Lionel has business with me, so I ask that you leave.”
At Cedric’s words, Cesare wiped the smile from his lips and spoke sharply.
“Is making him imitate a dog the business? The student council is truly worthless.”
“Aha. Now I see that you two are deliberately bullying Junior Lionel! That’s why he couldn’t easily tell me. The prestige of the Yanox ducal family is still impressive after all. Bullying in school… you should be ashamed.”
At the growing misunderstanding, Cesare and Cedric’s gazes clashed so intensely that large sparks seemed to fly. Worried that a real fire might break out between them, I tried to ease their conflict by speaking in a deliberately bright voice.
“S-Senior Cedric misunderstood a bit! You didn’t need to come! I was about to leave soon! It’s nothing!”
“Then we should clear up the misunderstanding. Making him bark like a dog? I wonder who’s exercising bullying in school.”
“Me, bullying in school? Ha! That’s the least funny joke I’ve heard recently. Junior Yanox has the worst sense of humor too.”
I don’t know why the male leads in romance fantasies have such twisted personalities like people who leave 1-star reviews on delivery apps for no reason.
I’ve never seen the heartwarming sight of ‘Oh, it was a misunderstanding.’ ‘Yes, it was a misunderstanding.’ ‘Oh my, I was rude.’ ‘Hahaha. No, we were rude.’
In the tense atmosphere where someone might pounce at any moment, I quickly held out the cookie tin to Cesare.
“No! Neither of you are bullying! Cesare, look at this. Senior Cedric gave me really delicious cookies. He praised my name saying it’s cool and even had a special meal delivered. He treated me really well!”
The more I spoke, the more subtly Cesare’s face contorted. Argh, let’s change targets.
This time I urgently protested to Cedric.
“I really barked well, didn’t I? Cain and I always play like this. Cesare came because he was worried about me. We’re best friends! If you grab any junior and ask, they’ll all know. That I’m Cesare’s shadow!”
This time Cedric’s expression subtly contorted.
No. I really thought I couldn’t explain better than this, but I have no idea why their faces are getting shittier.
I felt extremely guilty that I was gradually ruining those handsome faces. Although there’s no change in the fact that they’re still handsome even like that….
Rather than the conflict easing, when I was deflated in the chilled atmosphere, Cesare placed his hand on top of my sitting head and ruffled my bangs.
“You really require a lot of attention.”
Unlike his blunt tone, my face heated up at the soft touch tousling my hair. This was reflexive regardless of my will. Like drooling when seeing delicious food, having fallen for Addiction, I could no longer react indifferently to contact with Cesare.
“Now that I know Junior Lionel is from the Mellans merchant guild, I definitely can’t just let this go.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
In an instant, Cesare’s eyes, which had been stroking me, flashed sharply toward Cedric. I looked at Cedric gloomily, feeling deep regret at the stopped touch.
If only that guy weren’t here, he’d stroke me more… No, not that, Lionel, snap out of it! Do you want to antagonize the real male lead crown prince?!
“Yanox. You should know better what I’m talking about. So, is your father doing well? I keep forgetting that the imperial family sends their regards.”
I felt Cesare’s body stiffen slightly at close range. Cesare would think I wouldn’t know, but I knew very well what he was talking about.
Friendship wasn’t important to Cesare. He was just trying to grab onto the Mellans line now that the ducal family’s financial power was gradually decreasing. Cedric clearly thought the same.
The fact that there was no sincerity between us left a bit of a bitter taste, but honestly, what was even more bitter was the pitiful sight of Cesare glaring at him without being able to retort.
Honestly, even without the artifact’s influence, Cesare was also just a high school student, so I couldn’t help but feel pity. I didn’t know much about Cesare’s family affairs, but recalling what I read in the book, he was currently quite anxious about the ducal family whose position was gradually narrowing.
The fact that he quickly received the title of young duke rather than simply being the Yanox heir was also because he tried to somehow handle what he could do. Because there were more things he couldn’t do with just the heir’s status.
At an age where my specialty is merely imitating small dogs. Thinking about that suddenly made Cedric look even more detestable.
‘No. The crown prince is worse than he looks! Why poke someone’s sore spot! Does our kid have no pride?! We don’t have money! Who’s crushing our kid’s spirit!’
When I couldn’t stand it anymore and jumped up, Cesare grabbed my hand and pulled me as if telling me not to step forward.
“Thank you for your concern, but both my father and I have enough power to protect my people.”
Wait. My people?! Did he just say my people?! That’s me, right, Cesare?! My face heated up again and I was left speechless.
“If you continue to arbitrarily take Lionel away like your dogs using student council authority… or make him bark, I won’t stand still either.”
That’s what you’re saying for me, right, mini Cesare?! Cesare is holding my hand and protecting me right now, right?!
At Cesare’s powerful appearance, I quickly asked the mini Cesare living in my heart repeatedly. The still mini Cesare winked one eye at me as if agreeing.
Ahhh. That’s right. I can die happy now.
No! You can’t die, Lionel! Do you have many lives? Do you have two lives? Don’t get ahead of yourself!
‘Ah! I almost went to the guillotine while spacing out!’
After having all kinds of thoughts in a short time and finally gathering my wits, Cesare tried to pull me out of the student council room.
Thud, the cookie tin I was holding fell onto the sofa. When I hesitated to properly set it up before leaving, Cesare’s hand pulled even harder.
“Uh, this…”
“Throw it away.”
“Junior Lionel!”
“Lionel!”
When Cedric called my name, Cesare also raised his voice and called my name. According to etiquette, I should answer Cedric first since he was higher in status and grade, but my instinct chose Cesare without hesitation.
“Yes?!”
“……!”
Cesare hesitated for a moment, probably surprised that I answered so quickly and loudly. But he soon returned to his usual perfect and cool appearance and gently patted my shoulder.
“…Since Senior Cedric is calling you, greet him properly, finish your business and come. I hate rude people. You know?”
“Yeah yeah. I know, I know.”
I nodded my head vigorously without thinking. Since Cesare said he hates rude people, I didn’t want to be hated. Is this also the artifact’s influence?
I immediately turned around and politely bowed as courteously as I could.
“The breakfast was excellent, Senior Cedric. Thank you for the invitation, but I have class so I need to leave first, so please understand. I also hope you’ll clear up the misunderstanding about Astol. Then I hope you have a good day and I’ll take my leave.”
It was extremely excessive etiquette for greeting an academy senior. But because Cesare told me to do so. Because he said that was good, my body moved that way. Regardless of my will, I love him.
After finishing my greeting, I gave the bewildered-looking Cedric a harmless smile—heh—meaning to take good care of me and Cain, then immediately scurried to Cesare’s side.
“Was that okay?”
“You did well. Pretty good for someone who got average marks in last year’s etiquette class?”
“Cesare Yanox. I do well when I try!”
When I got excited and showed off at his praise, Cesare seemed to feel a bit better too and opened the student council room door for me with a recovered expression.
“Don’t whine here and there like a dog without an owner, Lionel. Don’t accept snacks from strangers either. Phew, what did you get on your mouth again.”
Cesare’s gloved finger smoothly traced the crumbs on my lips while glancing at Cedric.
Though it’s cold leather, the place his finger passed is hot.
“Nngh…”
“Really a dog that requires a lot of attention.”
Leaving Cedric behind like that, we exited the student council room and quietly headed to the lecture hall for first period. I was walking down the hallway absentmindedly touching the lips he’d wiped when he suddenly asked.
“By the way, don’t you know school etiquette? That you have to answer in order of grade level? Why did you answer me first? That’s grounds for demerits. And the other party is the crown prince at that.”
At the strange question asked suddenly and sharply, I ended up answering honestly in confusion.
“N-no. I don’t want to be hated by you more than by His Highness the Crown Prince…. I only heard your voice…. Hehe.”
“Ha!”
At Cesare’s incredulous snort, I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, thinking I’d answered too stupidly again. Then he asked me unexpectedly before opening the lecture hall door.
“It’s Saturday tomorrow, what are you doing in the morning?”
“Huh?”
“Lionel. It’s not like you haven’t eaten special cuisine, so why do you lose your mind over such things and whine and giggle? You’re making me lose face.”
At his suddenly irritated appearance, I just blinked my eyes, not knowing what he meant.
* * *
– Thud.
<What did he say?>
– Thud.
<He grabbed my arm and said he has enough power to protect his people. Totally cool. Didn’t lose any energy even in front of the crown prince, how can a person be so perfect?>
– Thud.
<I was the one who asked him to come, you mutt?>
– Thud.
<Thaank you. Academy bully.>
– Thud.
<What did Senior Cedric say? That your special talent is awesome? Did you show him the groomed Yorkshire terrier too?>
– Thud.
<Dunno lol Just left the senior there. Cesare will take care of it.>
– Thud.
<You’re marked by the student council and imperial family now too lol>
“Pfft.”
It was quite a serious statement, but I let out a small laugh seeing the crude drawing Cain made at the bottom of the note of someone crushed under the student council emblem.
The crushed character clearly had (X X) eyes with a dot below one of them, so it was obviously me, but it even had dog ears and a tail drawn on it.
<But there’s big news. Tomorrow I’m having breakfast with Cesar>
“Mellans, freeze! Bring that note and come to the front.”
“Huk!”
