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Chapter 12
Meanwhile, in the Northern Rune Knights…
“I miss the captain.”
They were chatting idly as they shoveled snow, just like always.
“Yeah, where did he suddenly disappear to?”
“He probably went to the palace. He is a prince, you know.”
“Is that so?”
Just then, one of the knights on guard came over, almost in tears.
He was a big, broad-shouldered man with short hair.
In his hand was a huge stuffed rabbit.
On the rabbit’s paw, the name “Merida” was embroidered.
“I don’t miss the captain at all.”
“What, are you sulking again?”
“He said our Merida got fatter than last year!”
Hmm.
The knights who were shoveling snow gathered around at that.
“She did get fatter.”
“Yeah, totally.”
And so, they ended up debating for three whole hours about how Merida managed to gain weight.
Not a single person questioned whether a stuffed doll could gain weight in the first place.
Peter Milo was a talented student who graduated the academy with excellent grades.
Upon graduation, he was immediately appointed as an imperial aide—
And not just any aide, but the direct aide to the Third Prince!
An incredible honor for someone so young.
Entering the palace amidst cheers from his family and friends, the first thing he did was go to meet the Third Prince.
But the one waiting for him wasn’t the prince—it was a palace attendant.
‘Greetings! I am Peter Milo, the aide who will be serving His Highness the Third Prince starting today!’
The stiff and disciplined Peter greeted him, but the attendant replied expressionlessly,
‘His Highness the Third Prince is not here right now. And you most likely won’t have much chance to see him in the future either.’
‘…Pardon?’
‘He has been away from the palace for a long time, and he prefers to do everything on his own.’
The attendant was telling the truth.
While the other princes’ aides were constantly busy running around, Peter truly had nothing to do.
The Third Prince never issued orders, never used his allocated budget.
He wasn’t even around to meet.
All Peter heard were terrifying rumors surrounding him.
That he single-handedly exterminated monsters in the North… that he was brutally merciless…
He never attended festivals or events either.
For a very simple reason:
It was bothersome.
Only a handful of attendants even knew what he looked like.
Because of that, Peter spent every day wasting time at his desk.
‘I want to work…’
Today was no different.
Even after the Third Prince returned from the North, Peter didn’t even get the chance to greet him before he was reassigned to the Magic Department.
And still, the prince never called for his aide.
Peter unfolded a blank sheet of paper and started doodling.
‘I drew a butterfly yesterday… so today maybe I’ll draw a bird…’
The only thing improving with time was his drawing skill.
Then—
Knock knock.
A knock sounded.
“What is it?”
Peter replied gloomily.
Then, he heard something completely unexpected.
“His Highness the Third Prince is calling for you. Right now!”
“…Sorry?”
So early in the morning?!
Peter asked back in disbelief.
The attendant couldn’t wait and burst into his office.
“Hurry up and come out! He said it’s urgent!”
Peter shot to his feet.
He stood up so fast that his legs wobbled and he banged his thigh against the desk, but he didn’t even feel pain.
His Highness… wants me?!
Finally… my first real duty…!
Beaming, Peter dashed off, following the attendant.
“Pay your respects. This is His Highness, the Third Prince.”
So this is… the Third Prince?
Peter stared blankly at the man before him.
Standing under the sunlight, the tall man looked dazzling.
With a face so gentle he almost seemed angelic, he looked down at Peter.
He was nothing like the terrifying rumors.
Ahem. Unable to watch anymore, the attendant cleared his throat.
Peter snapped out of it and hurriedly bowed.
He was panting hard from running.
“Y-Your… huff… Highness… Third… huff Prince…! I… huff… Peter Milo…!”
“Good, Huff Milo. I called you because there’s something I need investigated.”
“Anything… huff… please tell me!”
Edwin nodded slightly toward the attendant.
The quick-witted attendant left them alone.
“Look into the Hartwin Viscount family. How bad their situation is, and in what way.”
Hartwin Viscount family? A small, insignificant house Peter had never heard of.
Still catching his breath, Peter asked,
“Do you mean… financially?”
“Yes. And, if possible, find out their sources of income too.”
Why was the Third Prince curious about a minor noble house?
But a true aide never questioned orders.
With a determined look, Peter replied,
“I’ll report back within a week!”
“No.”
Edwin answered calmly.
“By the time I return from my trip.”
Peter’s eyes spun.
What? Was this… a test of his competence as an aide?
That only made him want to do even better.
Edwin added,
“Huff Milo, I care about results.”
“…Meaning, you don’t care what methods I use.”
The sharp Peter understood immediately.
Just then, a carriage stopped in front of Peter.
Anyone could tell it belonged to the Imperial Palace.
Edwin tilted his head slightly, as if asking why Peter was still standing there.
‘You mean… I can ride this…?’
This was the highest treatment one could receive as an aide.
Overwhelmed, Peter climbed aboard and left the prince’s palace.
‘I’ll investigate every last detail, even the tiniest speck!’
The relentless persistence that even his professors once dreaded burned bright once more.
Dana had to leave early in the morning for a business trip.
She packed thick clothes into her bag and went downstairs.
Dana looked quietly around.
The maids hadn’t arrived for work yet, and her family was definitely still asleep.
No doubt they’d spent the night drinking in the dining room after hopping between parties and gambling dens.
Dana took a small cloth pouch from her bag.
Inside was a crystal orb, clearly expensive at a glance.
It looked like an ordinary glass bead, but it was a recording device powered by magic stones.
Thanks to Edwin, she’d been able to obtain it easily.
Following his instructions, she held the top and bottom of the orb and twisted it in opposite directions.
Click.
Recording began.
‘They have to mention the unfair contract somehow.’
Dana wanted both her family and Viscount Hembern punished.
But even if she reported them, her family might claim they were threatened by Hembern and try to wash their hands of it.
So she needed proof that they knew about the contract.
That was why she borrowed the recording orb.
To provoke them and secure testimony.
She hid the artifact deep inside the cabinet.
It was the place where the Viscountess kept the precious decorative dishware she valued so dearly.
Dana carefully checked the surroundings one last time.
Then, just as she turned around—
“What are you doing?”
A sharp voice cut through the air.
“….”
Dana froze, shocked stiff.
Her whole body turned cold; sweat trickled down her back.
The voice belonged to Jamie.
He leaned against the wall, rubbing his forehead.
He seemed thirsty from a hangover.
Dana pretended to be calm.
“What do you mean, what am I doing? I’m getting ready for work.”
“Here?”
“Is it weird to drink water before work?”
“Then what did I just see?”
“See… what?”
Her heart thumped painfully again.
Dana frowned as if annoyed.
Jamie pointed at her travel bag.
“Don’t tell me you’re running away? Because you don’t want to pay the debt?”
“…So what you ‘saw’ was my bag?”
“Yeah. You can’t fool these eyes!”
Her tension almost burst out as a relieved sigh, but she held it in.
Jamie’s bloodshot eyes widened.
Dana looked at him like he was pathetic.
“I’m leaving on a business trip to the North starting today.”
“Oh.”
Jamie’s expression immediately relaxed.
He was always simple like that.
He got worked up easily and cheered up just as easily.
“Well, yeah. There’s no way you’d abandon your family.”
Ignoring him, Dana walked past.
She gave a crooked smile.
Why was he so confident she’d never run away?
Her family had always treated her carelessly.
Like she was trapped in a cage.
As if they knew she’d never escape.
‘Come to think of it… why did I just let them treat me like that?’
That question surfaced in her mind again.
If she didn’t listen to them…
If she didn’t devote herself to them…
It felt like something terrible would happen.
Even though she knew she was being treated unfairly, she stayed silent.
‘So why… did my heart suddenly change?’
Dana tilted her head.
Lost in thought, she opened the mansion door.
And her eyes widened.
“…Edwin?”
