“Save me.”

I turned around. There stood the Hero Duke, dark circles under his eyes, holding a dessert tray like it was his lifeline.

“A sword is better than ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) a pen. At least, for me it is.”

He mumbled nonsense as he staggered forward like a zombie. Watching him, I couldn’t help but form one very reasonable suspicion.

Hmm.

Could it be... the male lead had actually died from overwork?

A dark alley.

A figure wrapped head to toe in a black robe appeared. In his hand was a magical device for detecting mana.

His sharp gaze locked onto a few children browsing stalls nearby.

In an instant, he moved.

“Hello, young ladies.”

It was a gentleman’s polite greeting. With exaggerated, theatrical movements, he made the girls stiffen in fear.

“Wh-who are you?”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

The moment he thrust the device forward, the girls screamed.

“It’s a kidnapper! A kidnapper!”

Tsk. Should’ve gagged them first.

From his other hand came the rustle of paper.

It was only a moment, but thankfully, the magic device activated.

Mana presence?

‘XXXXXD—!’

Bzzz! Better luck next time!

With that ridiculous sound, a blue mark floated up above the blood-red magic stone.

‘Tch. Wrong answer.’

Seeing knights rushing from afar, he quickly disappeared.

He vanished into a maze of tangled alleys.

Just then, a dagger came flying.

“I thought you’d be as slow as a mud worm.”

Guess not...

A low mutter followed.

‘What the hell? That guy...’

Creak, creak.

Looking toward the dagger’s direction, he first saw a cart piled high with books.

Pushing it was a boy wearing gloves on both hands.

His polished glasses gleamed. His neatly arranged black hair gave the impression that not even a single pin could slip out of place.

The boy approached with sharp eyes and pushed up his glasses.

“Hey.”

Unfortunately, he used his middle finger.

“Tch, another meddler...”

“I just said ‘hey,’ didn’t I? Why are you backing away? And your clothes are sloppy.”

He had this habit of adjusting his glasses with every phrase he spoke.

The strange thing was...

‘It’s just him pushing up his glasses...’

So why does it feel so irritating?

After lifting his glasses to his heart’s content, the boy muttered, “No helping it,” and turned toward his cart. Sticking out from between the stacks of books was a shining sword.

‘Now!’

The mage threw what he’d been holding with all his strength. The boy dodged, and in that gap, the mage bolted away.

“...”

The boy stared blankly at what hit the wall and slid down. A bread roll, stuffed with strawberry cream.

“Ugh. Too sweet.”

He pulled out disinfectant spray, misting it all around before tossing it aside.

Because strawberry cream was one of the things he hated most.

The alley soon fell silent.

“Why does everyone always run away?”

The boy muttered stiffly.

He only wanted to politely ask for directions, yet people always fled. And now? Even bread attacks.

Ipsun was full of strange people.

His glasses gleamed as he once again pulled the heavy cart forward.

“Anyway... I’m curious how much monster knowledge my new sibling, Rubian, has.”

If she turned out filthy or boring, he’d show no mercy.

Early education was important. As an older brother, he would teach her strictly.

In fact, one cart of books might not even be enough.

“But... which alley was this again?”

Hmm. Back to the start...

Thus continued Liam Jebert’s long, long walk home.

Yaaawn. I stretched like a cat and opened my eyes.

I had just woken up from a nap, buried in crisp sheets after eating some snacks.

Maybe it was because this was a resort, but I felt like a lazy sloth.

“Huh?”

Something felt off. The atmosphere in the villa was strangely restless.

I quickly ran out into the hall and grabbed the first servant I saw.

“What’s going on?”

“Well...”

The maid leaned close and whispered secretively:

“His Highness the Prince has arrived.”

“Eh?”

So suddenly?

I blinked, dumbfounded by the news. They’d said it would take several more days for the Emperor and the imperial family to arrive.

A thought struck me, and I asked:

“It’s not the 4th Prince, is it?”

“How did you know?”

Of course, I immediately thought of the blond boy I’d met in the capital—Licht Bamilon.

He came all the way to the North alone? He really loved doing things his own way...

“And he came with Young Master Liam.”

“Huh?”

What in the world was going on?

I couldn’t hold back my curiosity and rushed off.

“Oh wait—”

I almost forgot to check my clothes. Couldn’t go out in pajamas.

I hurried back to my room, checked carefully in the mirror, then ran to the lobby. By then, it was already crowded with people.

I crouched down on the staircase landing, peeking through the railing to watch the scene.

The first voice I heard was Dad’s, full of exasperation.

“You’re telling me you were wandering around alleys and His Highness picked you up...?”

“Yes...”

“Unbelievable.”

One hand pressed against his forehead. From Dad’s broad back, I could feel his sheer disbelief.

Rattle, screech. The sound of wheels echoed, then stopped.

‘Gasp. A mountain of books.’

I frowned, already tired just looking at it.

‘That’s Liam Jebert.’

As expected of Jebert blood, he was tall for his age. Straight black hair neatly kept, and light violet eyes.

Behind the transparent lenses of his glasses, his sharp gaze gave off an aura of nervous intensity.

‘He... kinda looks like Dad.’

If Void was the mild version, this boy was definitely the spicy one.

He finally let go of the towering cart of books and took off his gloves.

“It’s been a while, Father. Your shirt button... is undone.”

Liam adjusted his glasses with both index fingers, fixing his eyes on Dad’s loose button.

Dad sighed heavily.

“Liam, how long have you even been in Ipsun? And what about your escort knights?”

“Well... things just happened. Anyway, your button’s undone.”

“That doesn’t explain anything. You can’t just push up your glasses with a smart face and think that’s enough.”

“But... buttons are meant to be fastened.”

“I left it undone on purpose. It’s stifling.”

Liam’s cold, icy expression cracked slightly.

“...Buttons exist to be buttoned.”

Dad ignored him, rubbing his temple like his head was splitting.

“What about Rose? Don’t tell me she’s here in Ipsun too.”

“Mother should still be on her way. I rode ahead with Sir Beth. It was terrible, you know—I couldn’t even read properly while traveling.”

“I told you not to read on horseback.”

“And what’s the point of riding a horse if you don’t read?”

His tone made it sound as if Dad had said something absurd.

Like a modern person asking, what’s the point of riding the subway if you don’t look at your phone?

‘Is this... the ultimate clash between spear and shield?’

I squished my cheek against the railing, watching the father-and-son duel with interest.

The adult surrendered first.

“Fine, enough. Leon, send a messenger to the southern gate. Check if Rose’s carriage has passed through.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Leon quickly disappeared. Liam gave a small smile in his direction, clearly pleased with the knight’s perfect appearance.

“So then.”

Dad’s gaze shifted past Liam.

“And Your Highness? Please don’t tell me you came here alone too.”

Licht, already letting servants take his coat and sword, smiled.

“Sorry to disappoint, Duke.”

“...”

“But when I heard the Green Festival would be held here in the North, I just couldn’t resist.”

Dad let out another heavy sigh.

‘Oh no... what if Dad’s hair turns gray from all this stress?’

Clutching the railing, I looked down at his handsome back with pity.

Raising teenagers was hard... Stay strong, Dad.

“...”

“...”

As I quietly reached out, brushing the air as if to comfort him, a pair of turquoise eyes locked directly onto mine without hesitation.

“Hello, Rubian. What are you doing up there?”

His gentle voice rang out, and instantly, every gaze in the lobby turned toward me.