Melmond had not left the front of the minister’s residence since morning, constantly watching the soldiers. After pacing back and forth so many times that his shoes were nearly worn out, he finally spotted a big guy in shabby clothes coming out of the palace.
“Abel!”
When Melmond called out loudly, Abel stopped and looked around.
“Here, over here!”
As Melmond’s voice rang out again, Abel approached, his face lighting up.
“You came all the way here just to see me...”
“Never mind that, come with me.”
Melmond grabbed Abel by the arm and pulled him toward a more secluded spot, out of earshot. Only after they arrived at the library where Melmond worked did he speak again.
“What did Count Truyde say? Did you end up staying by the prince’s side? So now you’re officially the prince’s Regas?”
“...”
“Why aren’t you answering? Is it not true?”
Abel hesitated, lowering his head and avoiding Melmond’s eyes.
“There were too many questions. I was thinking about how to answer.”
“There were only three.”
Melmond asked again, this time one by one.
“Are you staying here?”
“Yes.”
“Wow! So they officially recognized you as a Regas?”
“Well, no. They said I’m too plain to be a Regas.”
Abel chuckled and scratched his head, but Melmond’s face twisted in anger.
“Plain? Damn it, then how did someone as ‘plain’ as you do what all those fancy Regas couldn’t?”
He snapped at Abel, who was still laughing awkwardly.
“You just stood there and laughed like that?”
Abel scratched his head again.
“The other party is a duke.”
“That’s true. Still, because of you, the prince has changed. Damn it. Anyway, it’s a relief you’re still by his side.”
“Yes.”
Abel, who had answered quietly, added as if speaking to himself:
“That’s what matters most. It doesn’t matter what happens to me.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Abel laughed and said, “Oh, nothing,” but Melmond frowned, clearly still angry, and cursed Truyde under his breath.
Abel watched him quietly, then glanced around the library. The place, built long ago, was in disrepair from years of neglect. Still, the shelves on both floors were filled with old books—though most were more like forgotten decorations than anything else.
“Mr. Melmond.”
“Yeah?”
Melmond, still frowning, looked up and paused at Abel’s expression. His face, as he looked around, carried such a strange weight that for a moment he didn’t seem like an idiot at all. Melmond had seen that look before, and cleared his throat uneasily, still unable to get used to it.
“What is it? Do you want to say something?”
Abel’s downcast green eyes met his. Abel was not a handsome man, but his eyes were something else. Even though they were just plain green, there was a warmth to them that made people want to keep looking. Even now, when they held a strange, shadowed glint.
“I heard there are writings left behind by seniors from our sect here.”
“That’s what they say.”
Melmond replied reluctantly, but then nodded.
“But honestly, they’re as good as nonexistent. I’ve been here for over ten years and never found a trace.”
“Have you searched everything?”
“Yes. Every book. I’ve gone through the contents of them all.”
Though he hadn’t told his master, Abel had been searching for years. He even checked between the pages of each book, just in case something was hidden there. But there were no notes or messages—nothing at all. It really seemed they did not exist.
“Then... could you look at the surface instead of the content this time?”
“Are you saying I didn’t search properly?”
Abel bowed his head, as if apologizing.
“No, I didn’t mean that. I just hope you could search again.”
Melmond finally asked what he’d been wondering:
“Why? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Instead of answering, Abel stared into space for a moment and then said something seemingly unrelated.
“A black potion. I want to know what it is.”
Melmond wanted to ask, Why bring that up now? But seeing Abel so deep in thought, he held his tongue. Something definitely felt off. With a sigh, Melmond gave in.
“Alright, fine. Let’s look again. This time we’ll check the outside thoroughly, just like you asked.”
****
Anyone could tell the prince was in a foul mood. Though he no longer bared his claws and fangs as before, his eyes alone warned off anyone who approached. He leaned against the wall, head down, silently watching the books.
Today was not like other days. Abel, who usually arrived early, had not come—summoned by a high-ranking official. In his place, unfamiliar people had shown up. They were mostly palace administrators, teachers who would now oversee the prince’s education, and a new record keeper.
Ever since the incident in the forest, the prince had been sitting quietly on his bed, ignoring even Ashler and the maid, Serene, when they entered. But this morning, he had not allowed even them into his room.
Ashler looked up and glared at the stranger, clearly displeased. And when Abel finally arrived, his voice carried a blend of reprimand and something else—something closer to relief. There was, of course, only one person he would dare to scold like that.
“I received a message that you had already left the Minister’s Palace. So why are you only arriving now?”
When Ashler asked, Abel, panting from running, finally responded.
“Pant... Mel... pant, I... haa, haa... went to the ministry... haa... and came back.”
What? Ashler wanted to grab him by the collar and tell him to speak properly, but there was no time for that now. He quickly whispered while grabbing the bedroom doorknob.
“The prince is in a bad mood.”
Thump. As Abel stepped inside, listening to the warning, the prince jumped up and rushed over.
Then, with a swoosh, he tightly hugged Abel’s legs and buried his face in them. Ashler would never forget Abel’s expression in that moment. While smiling gently and stroking the prince’s black hair with his large hand, his eyes suddenly sank, strangely heavy. But he quickly masked it with a forced laugh.
“Euhaha—Prince, did you worry about me? Oh, I have nowhere to go if I’m not by your side. Don’t worry, even if I’m a little late. I will always come back to you.”
Saying this, he embraced the prince tightly. It was no different from his usual manner, but suddenly a loud commotion erupted outside the door.
“Oh my, put the prince down this instant!”
Startled, Abel turned to see one of the newcomers step forward, wearing a stern expression.
“How dare you lay hands on a member of the royal family. Even if you’re a Regas, that behavior is unacceptable... Huh!”
The person froze and hastily stepped back, face drained. Though he turned his head away as if in fear, everyone knew—he had met the prince’s gaze. And those who already recognized that eerie stare instinctively averted their eyes.
Only one person didn’t. The newly arrived young record keeper had also stepped back but kept his eyes on Abel. When their eyes met—Abel’s curious, questioning—he softly addressed the prince, as if regaining his composure.
“Your Highness, these people will begin teaching you various subjects starting today.”
The prince turned his blank expression toward Abel. Abel smiled at him, knelt, and gently set him down.
“To become a great king someday, you must learn many things. So...”
He tried to let go, but the prince tightly wrapped his small arms around Abel’s neck, burying his face there as if refusing to be parted. After a moment of silence, Abel looked up at the one who had caused the earlier outburst.
“He’ll adapt, little by little. But he only started speaking yesterday. Please give him some time.”
His final words were directed at the record keeper. The young man remained expressionless, while the stern one coughed and replied, “Understood.”
Abel hugged the prince again and turned toward Ashler.
“Let’s go to the forest now, Sir Knight.”
The raccoon he had promised didn’t show—it was nearly sunset. Abel apologized and sat down at the entrance of the field where they often came. He placed the prince on his lap, pointed out herbs among the grasses, and gave him some snacks.
He showed the ants gathering around the crumbs on the ground. Abel laughed as he watched one carrying a piece far larger than itself.
“This ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ little guy’s clever. He knows what’s too big for him, so he doesn’t even try. He picks what he can carry first. I once watched ants all day. It took them the whole day, but they brought back all the food—little by little, without leaving anything behind.”
Without realizing, Abel gently stroked the prince’s head.
“I think people are the same. If you change little by little, then before you know it, everything changes. Even if it’s something you dislike... if it’s something that must be done.”
His voice faded, and silence fell. The prince didn’t react—but Abel knew he understood. The prince was intelligent. Not just because of the difficult books he read—he always seemed to understand, even if he didn’t respond.
So, surely, he understood why Abel told this story. Still, the prince sat stubbornly with folded arms, his gaze fixed on the ants. Normally, he would’ve looked up. But now, he only watched them working. Even so, Abel kept speaking.
“As long as I’m alive, I’ll be by your side, Prince. You can always see me. So please, open your heart to others—bit by bit. They all wish to help you, Your Highness.”
“......”
“I’ll do everything with you. If you have to study difficult subjects, I’ll learn with you. If you take etiquette lessons, I’ll take them too. Will you do it with me?”
He asked quietly, but there was no answer. Abel gave a sad smile and looked into the distance. A small sigh escaped as he spoke, almost to himself.
“Truthfully, Prince, I don’t wish for you to grow into a great king who changes the kingdom.”
If anyone else had heard, they would’ve called it blasphemy. But Abel continued softly.
“You’re smart and wise. If you study, you’ll become a great king remembered in history. But... I just want you to be happy. Even if it means picking fruits in the forest instead of chasing glory in the palace. It’s fine to spend the day doing nothing, just lying in the grass. If that brings you peace, I hope you keep living that way. I hope you live a life that truly makes you happy, Your Highness.”
A pause. Abel, staring at nothing, flinched slightly as a small hand grasped his arm. When he looked up, the prince was watching him. Abel smiled out of habit, composed himself, and added:
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I forgot your position and spoke carelessly.”
He stroked the prince’s head with his large hand and spoke in a heavy voice.
“I may not be clever, but I know you’ll lead this country. If it’s inevitable, then you must face it—and find joy within it. Even if some wish to use you, don’t be ashamed to accept the reality. You’re still young. It’s okay to go along with what can’t be helped. So please, don’t turn away from what you must do, even if it’s unpleasant. If you try, and keep trying, eventually you’ll find your path—and reach the happiness you seek, just like those ants carrying their prize little by little, until they have it all.”
The prince closed his eyes again, showing no response, but Abel continued stroking his hair. Even if the prince ignored his words, Abel didn’t mind. He had to say them—even if he didn’t want to.