Huff... so embarrassing.

“Ruby? That’s dangerous. Come down here.”

Dad reached out his hand, and I carefully got up and stepped down the stairs.

“It’s been a while.”

Licht deliberately walked to the bottom of the stairs and held out his hand. His other hand was tucked neatly behind his back, like a very polite escort.

“Blondie, why are you here...?”

I just stared blankly, not even thinking of taking his hand. Licht smoothly withdrew it and smiled, squinting one eye.

“Yes, my hair is golden. But I also have another name—Licht Bamilon.”

“...Uh-huh.”

Of course I knew that...

“We never did a proper introduction before. I’m Licht Bamilon.”

His soft golden hair caught the sunlight from the window, shining brightly.

He seemed taller, his face even more beautiful than when we met before... I pushed away the useless thought and gave a clumsy greeting.

“Hello, I’m Rubian—”

But then I accidentally glanced behind him.

There was Dad, raising his eyebrows and watching me closely.

“...o-of House Jebert.”

At last, smiles of satisfaction spread across Dad’s face and the servants’ faces.

Licht scratched his brow, muttering,

“Why so formal all of a sudden...”

Just then, a bespectacled face appeared between us.

“Hm. So you’re Rubian.”

The eldest son of the house tilted his head and looked me over.

‘Whoa, he’s tall. And...’

So strict-looking!

His sharp eyes scanned me up and down like an inspection. ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Instinctively, I stood at attention.

‘But no need to be scared!’

I caught my reflection in his clear glasses—shirt buttoned to the collar, not a wrinkle out of place, hairpins set symmetrically on both sides.

“Hel... hello?”

I greeted cautiously. Liam Jebert narrowed his eyes and lifted his chin. Then, suddenly, he clapped his hands once.

“Perfect.”

He turned to Dad.

“Father, at last, the dignity of House Jebert that was buried in the mud is being restored.”

“Don’t forget you’re also a Jebert, Liam.”

But Liam ignored him. He grabbed my hand firmly.

“I like you. Come with me.”

Then he tugged me straight toward the mountain of books.

“Let’s go study.”

“Wahhh!”

The sudden pull made me stumble. Liam quickly released my hand, startled.

“Liam, Rubian is not Void. You can’t treat her roughly.”

Dad clicked his tongue and rubbed my wrist gently.

“...What...”

Liam stared at my slightly reddened skin and his own hand, disbelief written on his face.

“Is the youngest... not human?”

That was all he managed to say with a serious expression. Then he leaned his chin on his hand and began circling me in the lobby.

Uh-oh, this routine looked dangerous.

“Yes... I’ve heard there are races like that. The fairy tribe from the Eosia Forest—”

“Ugh! What are you talking about!”

I yanked a book from his cart and threw it at him.

Honestly, with talk like that, who would believe he wasn’t Void’s brother?!

“Monster Encyclopedia, Volume 3? You’ve got good taste.”

“Sorry, big brother! I’m busy!”

I grabbed Licht’s hand instead. His cold hand flinched in surprise.

No way I’m getting trapped with a bookworm!

“I already organized the library for you, so go read to your heart’s content!”

It was a good thing I’d prepared ahead, knowing Liam might come to Ipsun.

“By the way, just follow the heart stickers on the floor and you’ll reach the library with no problem—even if you have no sense of direction!”

I proudly pointed at the heart stickers plastered all over the floor. Liam tilted his head with a strange expression.

“...What is this sudden kindness?”

He mumbled blankly, not even noticing his glasses slipping down.

Behind him, Dad sighed and ruffled Liam’s hair.

“Enough. Go unpack and greet your grandfather.”

“....”

Liam lowered his chin slightly.

Had Father always been this... gentle?

His expression was reluctant, but he didn’t push away the large hand. Of course, he still couldn’t take his eyes off Dad’s shirt.

“Father... are you sure about that undone button?”

“...”

Oh dear. Spear versus shield again.

“Let’s go, Licht!”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

I had to escape. Otherwise, I’d be trapped in the study with that fussy bookworm boss!

I’d thought it was like with Void, where old grudges made things awkward.

Uncle seemed to think the same.

‘But isn’t this just a complete personality clash?’

There’s no fixing that. I shook my head.

“So you ran off in such a hurry, and all you came to was the front garden?”

Licht glanced around the mansion’s garden and asked lightly. It was the place I often visited with Titi.

Catching my breath, I answered,

“Outside is dangerous...”

Who knew what could happen if kids just wandered out together? 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

“That’s a good thought.”

Licht smiled softly. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief, and laid it on the bench.

“Sit down.”

“...”

Are all royals this polite?

‘But isn’t this kind of thing usually done for girls?’

I sat down reluctantly.

“I’m glad you seem to be doing well.”

“You... no, I mean, why is His Highness glad about that?”

Licht squinted one eye and smiled.

“Why so formal all of a sudden?”

“Well, before I didn’t know your identity, but now I know you’re a prince.”

At least I understood that much.

But Licht seemed dissatisfied. He closed his eyes slightly and said slowly,

“But I didn’t come here as a prince.”

“So what?”

“Licht.”

The prince sat beside me, tilting his head and whispering.

“Shouldn’t you call me that?”

Wow... he really knows how to use his face.

I edged away a little and mumbled awkwardly,

“Well... if that’s what you want.”

Maybe because I’d read the original story, I oddly felt a kind of closeness with him. That actually made things easier for me.

As I answered hesitantly, a wide smile spread across his face.

“By the way, it looks like you get along well with Duke Jebert.”

“Yeah. Well... he’s my dad, after all.”

“Your face looks so much healthier. Of course, I’m not saying it looked bad back then.”

“You don’t need to flatter me...”

“But it’s true.”

I had first met Licht after being sick for a long time in the capital. Obviously, I looked much better now.

He skillfully called over a maid to prepare a tea table in the garden. The servants quickly bustled away.

“Duke Jebert seems busy even here.”

He looked toward the carriages arriving in a line.

“Well, yeah.”

“Still, he makes time for you, huh? Soon it’ll be the Spring Subjugation, right?”

I swung my legs and nodded.

“Mm. After the Green Festival, he’s heading out right away.”

“Then the knight order must have taken in new recruits too.”

Like my childhood friend and other rookies who had recently joined.

“Right. How did you know?”

Licht smiled.

“I even got to see Grand Duke Jebert again after so long. He seems to be doing much better.”

I turned my head, staring quietly at him. The prince, smiling like a painting, was reading the coats of arms on the carriages entering the estate.

“No other interesting things happened in Jelrox?”

Looking at the glint of his golden hair, I spoke softly.

“Licht.”

“Hm?”

“Why are you testing me?”

“...”

A short silence fell.

A tiny crack formed in his smile. His calm mint-colored eyes wavered for a moment.

“Seems like you’re more curious about my dad than about me... aren’t you?”

“...Rubian.”

“If you’re so interested in the Duke’s affairs, wouldn’t it be faster to just ask him directly?”

“...”

“Wouldn’t it, Your Highness?”