The words Abel said were indeed true. Sometimes, the record keeper’s gaze felt like surveillance. Especially during meals, his piercing stare was hard to ignore. Since breakfast was usually eaten in the lodging, the two of them shared the same room, but the record keeper always ended up eating late because he was observing Abel.
So, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) one of his roles seemed to be to confirm whether Abel finished his meal. Abel suspected this because whenever they ate together, he would feel his energy drain and drowsiness creep in.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
At the record keeper’s blunt question, Abel looked up from the steaming soup. The record keeper, seated across from him, returned his gaze with sharp intensity.
“Even if you don’t have an appetite, please eat. These dishes were specially prepared for the Prince’s Regas. Eating properly is also one of the Prince’s Regas’ duties.”
Abel nodded and put a spoonful of soup into his mouth. The strong taste, full of spices that made his nose tingle, filled his senses. Still, he swallowed it without grimacing. He ate a few more spoonfuls when a question came up.
“By the way, how does the Prince call you?”
Abel paused, spoon frozen mid-air, and looked up. The record keeper shrugged, as if it were just a passing thought.
“His Highness always follows you around, and I heard he often talks to you. So, I was just curious if he has a nickname or something he calls you.”
The young voice of the prince calling him ‘Eppel’ echoed in Abel’s mind, but he slowly shook his head.
“There isn’t.”
“Really?”
The tone was sharp—unlike the casual curiosity before. His scrutinizing gaze now brimmed with suspicion, as if he were testing for a lie. Abel nodded stiffly.
“Yes, it’s true.”
****
Nod, nod.
Abel, seated beside the prince during a lesson, began to doze off as usual, his head bobbing. The teacher had stepped out, so he escaped scolding for the moment—but it was obvious he’d be in trouble for not doing the homework assigned in the teacher’s absence.
Fortunately, someone was there to help.
Shake, shake.
A small hand, mid-writing, reached over and grabbed Abel’s arm. But with his mouth half open, Abel inhaled deeply and didn’t wake. The prince turned his head, confirmed they were alone, and shook Abel’s arm again, this time calling him.
“Eppel. Eppel.”
Surprisingly, Abel opened his eyes as if struck by lightning.
“Oh! Oh, Your Highness, did you call me?”
Nod, nod.
Abel rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to snap awake, and gave a sheepish smile.
“Hehe, it seems I dozed off again. Oh, wait. The teacher... Ah, he’s not back. Wow― what a relief. Thanks to you, Your Highness, I’m saved. I really wonder what I’d do without you. Haha―”
The prince was delighted by those words. He tightened his grip on Abel’s arm. He felt important to Abel. His heart thumped in his chest, but he didn’t know how to express it. Lately, Abel had been sleeping more, and their time together had lessened. But being praised like this felt good.
Even when Abel fell into a deep sleep, he would awaken as if by magic when called ‘Eppel.’ Only the prince could do that. That’s why he didn’t want anyone else to witness Abel reacting to his voice.
No—he didn’t want to show Abel to anyone else at all. He longed to go into the forest and be alone with him. But a small fear barely held the prince back. He feared disappointing Abel. The scariest thought was seeing Abel stop smiling.
Because his voice, when speaking about his future in the forest, sounded so deeply sad. That was why the prince couldn’t bear to make him sadder—even if he sometimes wanted to lash out at those who approached Abel. The prince was young, but he understood. Just like the man in the forest had said—he had no power to protect anything yet.
Thud.
With the sound of the door, the teacher returned, record keeper in tow. The moment he entered, he made Abel pale by announcing he would check the homework. Abel hung his head, ready for scolding—but instead heard praise.
“Hmm, for once you’ve answered everything correctly.”
Huh? Startled, Abel looked up and saw the answers really had been written. Only then did he glance at the prince and realize why. The prince had answered for him while he slept. Abel smiled in gratitude and secretly gave a thumbs-up.
The prince is the best! His thoughts were almost audible, and the prince clasped his hands, shy from the unspoken praise. He looked like a bashful child, glowing with pride. Abel struggled to fight off the sleepiness creeping back in. He could feel the record keeper’s gaze drilling into his back.
Under that cold stare, Abel discreetly stabbed his thigh with a sharp pin hidden in his hand. His skin was already bruised and battered from dozens of stabs throughout the day, but he didn’t hesitate. The pain slightly cleared his head.
“Has it already been ten days and there’s no reaction, aside from occasional napping?”
The new attendant asked after the record keeper delivered his report. Though the new attendant spoke, Truyde and Norhox, who were also in the room, were just as curious.
“Yes. Just in case, I increased the dosage a little. But aside from sleeping in class, he’s perfectly fine and still accompanies the prince.”
Immediately, a chilling voice burst from the attendant’s lips.
“Hah! I thought it was just the build, but he really is a bear. Enduring drowsiness even after upping the dose—have you ever seen such a monster?”
He shook his head awkwardly and looked at Truyde, who wore a puzzled expression.
“What should we do? If he doesn’t respond to the medicine, should we raise the dosage...”
He trailed off, glancing briefly at the record keeper.
“If it nears the lethal threshold, he could die from poisoning before planned.”
Truyde remained silent, lost in thought. But it was Norhox who replied casually.
“Increase it more.”
“Pardon?” The new attendant turned in surprise, his lips twisting.
“What’s the problem if we send that guy to his death a little faster anyway?”
“That sounds like confirmation it’s ready. Is that correct?”
When Truyde intervened, Norhox’s laughter deepened.
“It was so easy to find someone similar—bear-like guys are a dime a dozen. Some even understand words. We can prepare it in no time.”
Norhox looked to the record keeper, and, as if anticipating the signal, the record keeper handed over the data he had gathered on Abel. Norhox accepted it and added a remark to Truyde.
“I’ve heard the prince’s obsession is serious. Best to remove the bear fellow quickly, before he realizes he’s in danger and says something odd to the prince. Hmph, probably too much of a fool to even notice.”
Truyde did not agree with Norhox’s final comment but nodded at his other points.
“Attendant. Increase the dosage.”
After issuing the order, Truyde also smiled.
“And proceed as planned.”
****
The next morning, the prince’s bedroom was unusually quiet. The new aide who came to him delivered troubling news.
“Abel is unable to get up—he’s sick. Would you like to go see him together?”
At last, the prince stirred and went to Abel’s bedside himself.
But no matter how many times he pushed people aside and called his name, Abel did not open his eyes. Fear gripped the prince’s small heart.
Why won’t he wake up? The prince placed both hands on Abel’s stomach.
“I got sick because I didn’t put a pillow above my stomach.”
Remembering what Abel had once said at night, the prince patted his stomach with his tiny hand. He did so warmly, over and over, but Abel only slept. With nothing else to do, the prince sat frozen like a doll. Some time later, someone gently touched him.
“If you keep sitting here like this, Abel will be sad when he wakes up. Your Highness, shouldn’t we try to make Abel happy when he wakes?”
Abel opened his eyes in the dead of night. His unusually pale face looked even more ghostly under the soft glow of a single lamp. He raised his heavy head and stood up, glancing around. Fortunately, the record keeper wasn’t there—but someone else was watching from a distance.
It was the maid Serene, who hadn’t been seen in a while due to the palace’s administrative changes.
“Huh? What’s going on here?”
Abel’s eyes widened in surprise. Serene turned her gaze away and murmured softly.
𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
“Just... I heard you were sick.”
“Wow, did you take care of me? Thank you, Serene.”
Abel bowed his head and smiled weakly. Serene turned her face even further away, her cheeks flushed. But Abel didn’t catch her expression, as another thought came to mind.
“Um... I’m sorry, but how long was I asleep?”
The prince must have been worried. Even if it was late, he thought he should at least go stand at the door of the prince’s bedroom... But despite the urgency, his body would not move properly. He barely managed to sit up, but a tight pain in his chest and dizzy spells made it hard to breathe.
Still, he had to go. Just as he tried to push himself up, Serene’s quiet reply reached him.
“You’ve been asleep for three days.”
Abel froze, mid-motion. Serene saw his shock and considered explaining that everything would be alright—but quickly closed her mouth. She remembered the record keeper’s warning:
“This is medicine to cure his illness. But you must never tell anyone. Understand?”
Ever since the new administrator arrived, Serene had been removed from kitchen duties. Still, she paid special attention to the food brought to Abel. He was younger than her, but always greeted her with a warm smile. She couldn’t help but care.
By watching over Abel more closely, she eventually discovered the record keeper secretly adding a bluish liquid to his meals. Even when caught, he spoke as if it were nothing.
“Abel has been too close to the prince. That’s why his health is failing. You’ve sensed it too, haven’t you? The prince emits a strange energy—it harms those around him. Abel has been exposed every day. He’ll collapse soon. This is medicine that will help him recover, at least a little. But don’t tell Abel. He won’t believe it. He cares about the prince too much.”
Serene had nodded.
And she believed it. Why wouldn’t she?
The prince’s eyes could send a chill through anyone. It wasn’t so hard to imagine that a poison might be leaking from him, slowly knocking people down.