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CHAPTER 44……
Dad was smiling, but his eyes were cold.
“That reckless young master was some help, but Prince Alcyone is still the problem.”
“It’s not just because of Calion!”
I waved both hands, worried the blame might bounce in that direction.
Right — it wasn’t just about bad blood with the Holy Kingdom anymore.
The attitude the young nobles showed toward Andvari was also a warning sign.
“From what I saw, the kids already seemed to hate him just because he was human.”
“It’s a growing problem lately.”
Dad fed me a bite of cake as he replied.
“We can’t tell a human’s nationality just by their appearance — whether they’re from Archidalia, Halcyon, or the southern Iliod.”
“Mm…”
“But it’s easy for the human kingdoms to unite and attack demonkind.”
“…”
“It’s the eternal problem of Tartarus.”
I nodded slowly as I chewed my cake.
So just looking different can so easily become the seed of hatred.
Ah, and how am I supposed to win over Lady Nestor and those kids…
Noticing my gloomy face, Dad gently stroked my cheek.
“Worried because of how the children reacted?”
“Ah, um… yes. A little.”
“You’re not afraid yet because you’re still young. Before their coming-of-age ceremony, children’s perspectives are narrow.”
Dad thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Don’t worry too much. There’s an easy way to deal with it.”
“Deal with it? What kind of way?”
Surely he didn’t mean execution — they’re just kids.
Dad gave me a warm smile, as if to say I was worrying over nothing.
“Mistakes made by someone only a few years old can be overlooked once.”
“Ah…”
“But their parents might need to be… handled appropriately.”
“…”
Was it my imagination, or could I feel dark energy roiling behind him?
I closed my eyes as I ate a bite of black forest cake.
May they all rest in peace.
As the Great Saintess’s prayer, it’s guaranteed to be effective.
That night, at Persen Palace.
Calion found Ares out in the garden.
Ares had been punished for picking a fight with Calion first.
So as soon as they got back to the palace, he’d run a few laps around the training ground and was now wiping off sweat with a towel.
Calion looked at him disapprovingly, then spoke.
“…Hey, Ismenios.”
“What is it, prince?”
“You think I’m going to thank you?”
“What?”
Ares looked incredulous.
Should I just beat him up for real this time?
If he could crack that blue-eyed skull, a few more laps around the training ground would be worth it.
No, hold it in. Hold it in this time!
When he’d backed down once, Sion’s smile had been so bright.
Brighter than even the rose she’d placed in his hair during the birthday festival.
And that smile was meant for Ares alone.
Damn it. I’ll really hold back.
Ares ground his teeth but forced his temper down.
“Ha. You think I did it to hear you say thanks?”
“You little…”
“Hey, I told you. Blue-eyes. I don’t like you.”
“…”
“I hate the way you and Sion whisper like you have secrets just between you two!”
“…I don’t like you either.”
Calion muttered in bitter resignation.
Seeing Ares hanging around with the Ismenios brothers had made it clear.
Seeing the demon nobles gather around him made it clear.
He’s the complete opposite of me.
He had everything Calion didn’t — a secure position, loving siblings, the admiration of those around him.
Just seeing him was enough to make Calion feel deprived, like looking into a mirror that showed what he could never have.
And worse…
The only demon who had helped him here was this guy.
Ares’s “voice” might carry hostility, but it lacked the crude hatred others showed.
It was simply a strong, burning “voice,” like a blazing flame.
If only he were trash…
Then Calion could have hated him without guilt.
Swallowing his miserable feelings, Calion declared,
“I’m going to survive here no matter what.”
“…”
“And I won’t accept help from you like today, groveling like a coward.”
“Hmph. Dream big, why don’t you.”
Ares glared at him, grinding his teeth.
Cowardly? Give me a break.
The whole time he was being insulted, the guy’s expression never even changed — what’s cowardly about that?
“Hey, blue-eyes. Then stop deliberately going for draws from now on.”
“…”
“You can tell where my attacks are coming from and dodge them. If you lie about that again, I won’t let it slide.”
“…Fine. I’ll go all out too.”
Calion smirked and pulled out a necklace, silently holding it out to Ares.
“What’s this?”
“My treasure.”
“And what am I supposed to do with it? Sell it?”
“Are you stupid…? Press it to a wound and it’ll heal right away.”
Calion nodded toward the bandage on Ares’s arm.
The sword Ares had summoned hadn’t been a real one.
But when Calion decided to strike him a few times with intent, it had left wounds.
“Hurry up and use it on that ugly wound, you pest.”
“…Huh.”
“This way, you don’t owe me anything.”
“Oh, sure. Whatever you say, Your Highness Alcyone.”
Even as he teased, Ares pressed the necklace to his arm.
A bluish light shimmered, and the wound began to disappear.
Ares’s eyes widened in surprise.
Oh… it’s like a Halcyon talisman.
He stared at it in fascination, then froze for a moment.
Weird. I’ve felt this aura before…
Ares had never once in his life experienced “divine healing.”
But somehow, seeing this light made him think of Sion.
It didn’t make sense logically, but still.
Frowning, Ares slowly handed the necklace back.
“Blue-eyes. Where’d you get this?”
“…”
“Sion gave it to you?”
As Calion put the necklace back on, he clicked his tongue inwardly.
Damn, this guy’s annoyingly perceptive.
Of course, he could have brushed it off with a lie.
Said it was a parting gift from his family or something.
But just this once, he wanted to subtly show off to Ares — the guy who had everything.
Bet you don’t have something like this.
“…It’s from someone precious to me.”
He didn’t say who.
But the ominous suspicion and jealousy already had Ares’s brow twisted into a scowl.
“I really don’t like you, after all.”
Calion just shrugged and turned away.
He would survive here, no matter what.
And with that resolve came a new task.
He would have to request a private audience with Erebos.
Erebos’s attitude toward people showed a sharp divide between “my people” and “not my people.”
His daughter. Phobos.
A few nobles with whom he maintained a polite distance.
Everyone else — he ruled over them as the terrifying Demon King.
“To seek an audience with me first… what is it, Prince Alcyone?”
Now, in the audience chamber, he regarded the boy kneeling on one knee with icy coldness.
“Lord Erebos, I have an urgent request.”
“A request?”
Erebos simply stared at the young prince with no expression.
This boy was from the same kingdom as the vermin who had caused his wife’s death.
It wasn’t the boy’s fault, but that didn’t mean he could forgive him.
“I regret that you had to come here at such a young age.”
“…”
“But I will not show mercy to a human of Halcyon.”
“I understand your words, Lord Erebos. However—”
Calion’s bright blue eyes gleamed.
His habit of quietly observing people hadn’t changed.
Since the birthday festival, he had been watching the atmosphere here closely.
“If this continues, trouble is bound to arise.”
“Hm…”
“It’s hard to distinguish humans from the Holy Kingdom, so the demons are sharpening their hostility against all humans.”
“…”
“That would make things difficult for foreign merchants as well. Wasn’t it the same for the envoys at the birthday festival?”
“I’d heard you were still young, but you’re perceptive.”
At that, Calion only bowed his head.
Being perceptive wasn’t enough.
At this rate, he would forever remain a burden to Sion.
And I’ll fall behind Ismenios.
That demon boy who had everything Calion did not.
