Chapter 38
If this had been the young Kanter from her previous life, he might have lunged at anyone who insulted his father.
But the Kanter before her now was calmer than anyone else, keeping his anger under control.
He had even referred to the man directly as Duke Cartes.
It was a very different reaction from the boy she remembered.
"I realized it because Count Heyrun treated me kindly. Father never loved me. He hated me instead...."
His sorrowful tone left even Riena's mouth feeling dry.
"But I won't hate Father. Instead, I'm going to become the happiest person in the world. That's the best revenge!"
Anyone could tell those were words Count Heyrun had taught him.
"That seems like a wise way to think."
Melance's tone was indifferent.
But for him, it was a genuinely warm compliment.
Stupid brat. Look at what you're doing! How are you ever supposed to measure up to the Grand Duke's heir like this? You're not taller than him, you're not smarter than him! I can't stand looking at you. Get out!
In one corner of an attic where not even a single ray of sunlight entered, Kanter had prayed day and night.
Please make my stupid head smarter and let me grow taller...! Please... please...!
He pressed his small white hands together until they grew sweaty.
He prayed while locked in the attic.
He prayed after being beaten and abandoned.
To the sun.
To the moon.
To the Goddess.
To the Great Mage.
He prayed to every being he could think of.
But when Kanter turned fourteen, he finally realized something.
Back then, he shouldn't have prayed for his father to love him.
He should have prayed for his father to die.
Knock, knock.
The door opened slightly, and Kanter slipped inside with a cheerful voice.
"I greet Your Highness the Crown Princess~!"
His complexion had grown even brighter over the past few days, and his smile was unmistakably that of an ordinary child.
"I greet Your Highness the Crown Princess."
Melance entered after him.
Unlike Kanter, his voice was calm and tired.
"You came together?"
This was the first time the two young lords had ever arrived together.
Normally, Melance either came early or deliberately took his time just to avoid running into Kanter.
"We had no choice because of the matter concerning the Duke Cartes title."
The words no choice were drenched in his true feelings and exhaustion.
Melance was the sort who never tired even under enormous workloads.
Yet today, he genuinely looked worn out.
"You still haven't found him?"
"It hasn't been easy."
They had searched every corner of the Cartes territory, yet hadn't found even the slightest trace.
It was almost as though Duke Cartes had used black magic.
No way... right?
Riena anxiously looked at Melance.
Their eyes met as though by agreement.
Then his lips moved silently.
Black magic?
They had strengthened security around the Cartes territory long ago in case the Duke tried to flee.
Yet tracking him was still this difficult.
It was suspicious no matter how one looked at it.
Riena's golden eyes hurriedly turned toward Kanter.
Fortunately, he was busy swinging his feet in the air while struggling through his reading practice.
Only after confirming that Kanter was occupied did she look back at Melance.
"?"
Kanter, who had been focused on studying, lifted his head and looked at them.
He tilted his small head, his pretty blond hair swaying softly.
"Um... Your Highness? Young Lord Melance?"
Both of them flinched at the same time.
"The lesson... started already?"
"Uh, um... do you want cookies? No, cocoa?"
His fresh green eyes sparkled as he gave a small nod.
"Could I have the chocolate nutritional drink instead?"
"Of course~ Romi? Two chocolate nutritional drinks and two cups of cocoa. And cookies too, please."
"Yes!"
The moment Romi took the order and left the room, a large shadow fell across the floor.
"I greet Your Highness the Crown Princess!"
His dark blue uniform was so neatly pressed that its edges looked sharp.
The scabbard at his waist bore the engraved emblem of the Imperial Knights.
Despite the imposing uniform, Ruth wore a gentle, lovable smile.
"Did your training go well?"
"Yes! Thanks to Your Highness, it went very well!"
"Thanks to me for what? I already ordered you a chocolate nutritional drink."
Only then did Riena relax comfortably against her chair.
"Young Lord Ruth, you're here too?"
Romi returned and placed a silver tray neatly on the table, greeting him brightly.
Ruth smiled just as warmly.
"You came at the perfect time! The cookies just came out of the oven."
Among the golden-brown cookies sat a pink rabbit-shaped one.
"Wow...."
With a small exclamation, Kanter's tiny fingers reached toward the pink rabbit.
Melance snatched it first.
Then, with a twitch of his lips, he deliberately placed it in Riena's hand.
It was a smile of victory.
But the other two boys glanced at Melance with decidedly unfriendly expressions.
They couldn't exactly complain openly.
Romi quietly watched the scene and bit her lip.
Ahh, they're so cute...!
She could barely hold back her delighted smile.
But what happened next completely shattered her expectations.
"Melance, you eat it."
The pink rabbit cookie went straight back toward him.
Melance flinched as he stared at the cookie that had somehow returned.
"Isn't that Your Highness's favorite cookie?"
"It is, but you keep giving me this one every time. So I thought maybe Melance actually wants to eat it. Here."
What was she talking about?
He looked like he wanted it?
