Yuto fell silent for a moment as he considered Shiro’s offer.

He had to feign being deeply moved, but accepting too quickly would make him seem frivolous. This called for an appropriate show of hesitation.

“Your Highness... that is far too great a kindness,” Yuto said hesitantly. “An attendant is someone in your service, is it not? To place Elun in such a position...”

“There is no need to be bound by formalities.” Shiro smiled gently and waved a hand. “It would be strictly in name only. I wish to repay my debt for Belkain, not burden you, Yuto.”

Yuto looked at Elun. She was looking up at him, chewing chocolate. Her face was expressionless, but he was familiar with that particular look.

‘She wants me to accept.’

Elun had engineered this situation. Accepting Shiro’s offer would spare him any further trouble over how to bring her to the academy.

“Elun. Prince Shiro has been kind enough to offer. What do you think?”

Yuto asked despite knowing her intentions. He wanted to make it clear to Shiro that the wishes of the child he had rescued from Belkain came first.

“I don’t mind. As long as I can stay beside Yuto, that is enough.”

“You two are close.” Shiro smiled, then added as though something had occurred to him, “There is one thing you should keep in mind, however.”

His gaze turned to Shirin.

“Even an attendant in name only must follow the academy’s regulations. Of course, I will provide an ‘appropriate’ explanation so that the academy’s senior staff do not interfere with Elun... but if a girl who arrived as an attendant to Ristal royalty spends all her time with you, Yuto, people would hardly look kindly on it.”

His tone was impeccably natural.

“So Elun will occasionally need to act as an attendant to the Ristal royal family. Ah, I do not mean to give her an attendant’s duties. Simply spending some time together will suffice. As it happens, my younger sister Shirin is fond of children...”

Shiro’s gaze moved to the chocolate in Elun’s hand.

“And Elun seems fond of sweets. Enjoying refreshments together from time to time should do.”

Shirin’s eyes widened at that. Then she beamed at Elun.

“I would love that, provided this little lady doesn’t mind.”

Elun did not answer immediately, instead staring at Shirin. Since this was the situation she herself had intended, she had no choice. She slowly nodded.

“I don’t mind, as long as it isn’t too often.”

Yuto considered what Shiro had just said and the arrangement they had reached.

‘He’s tying Shirin and Elun together.’

He was not saying this simply for Elun and Yuto’s benefit.

Keeping Elun beside Shirin would naturally create opportunities for Yuto and Shirin to meet. With Elun between them, the two would grow closer, and that closeness would become a tether Shiro could use to bind Yuto to him.

With a serene smile, Shiro took in Shirin, Elun, and Yuto.

He recalled the dance Yuto and Shirin had shared earlier. There had clearly been a connection between them. When the dance ended, both had drawn away with equal reluctance.

If a boy and girl connected while dancing and regretted its end, there could be only one reason: mutual attraction. If Yuto had developed feelings for Shirin, Shiro intended to exploit them without a moment’s hesitation. To Shiro, his younger sister was a convenient, readily available tool before she was family.

Yuto stilled his emotions.

‘In my past life, Shirin and I fell in love naturally. I... don’t believe you had anything to do with it... but this time is different. Shiro Ristal. You’re using Shirin to control me.’

His suppressed emotions froze cold, but he put on a deeply moved expression.

He had to acknowledge what was true.

Shiro’s current move was effective. Shirin was Yuto’s weakness. He had loved her in his past life, and he loved her still. The woman he had failed to protect, who had died before his eyes, stood alive before him now.

The trembling he had felt when he took Shirin’s hand during their dance had not been feigned. Nor had the emotions that welled up when he heard her warning.

Shiro’s use of Shirin was devastating to Yuto.

‘As long as I interest you, as long as you see a need for me... you’ll use me.’

Conversely, if he lost interest and decided Yuto was no longer needed, Shiro would discard him without a second thought.

‘Just as you did in my past life.’

Back then, Shiro had not discarded Yuto alone.

He had discarded Shirin too.

‘I have no choice but to drink, even knowing it’s poison.’

To avoid suspicion, he had to let Shiro see him being used to an appropriate degree. That would be safer for Shirin as well.

‘Someday...’

He had no intention of losing Shirin in this life too. He would protect her. He would never let Shiro kill her. With that resolve, Yuto bowed to Shiro and Shirin.

“Prince Shiro, Princess Shirin. Thank you so much for your consideration toward Elun and me.”

“Yuto, as prince of Ristal, I command you: please do not bow to me again.”

Shiro was smiling, but his eyes were serious. He meant it; this was no joke.

“I did not say this to receive your thanks. Compared with what you have done for us, it is only a very small repayment.”

“My brother is right. Yuto, as princess of Ristal, I command you as well. Do not bow to me again.”

Shirin straightened as she spoke.

“There is no need for such formality over every little thing. We have even danced together, haven’t we?”

Something flickered in Levian’s eyes at Shirin’s words. The beautiful dance the two had shared earlier had left a small knot in her heart. She still did not know what that knotted feeling was, but Shirin’s mention of the dance made her chest ache once more.

“Shirin is right. Please do not stand on such ceremony. Have we not already formed a bond?” Shiro added with a smile. “And that bond will continue at the academy. It may be too soon to say this... but I believe you and I can become good friends, Yuto.”

At Shiro’s gesture, the attendants waiting nearby brought plates of cake. He personally handed the plates he received to Levian and Elun.

“If I followed my heart, I would ask you to be my friends right now... Haha, but that would put far too much pressure on all of you. So I will not rush things.”

Friends.

The word shook Yuto’s heart, his very soul. He did not want to let it show, but his seething emotions threatened to twist his expression against his will.

Desperately composing himself, he forced a smile. He aimed for the smile of an ambitious boy overwhelmed by the honor, yet thrilled by those words.

“Thank you for your... gracious words.”

“Haha, I shall have to use my authority as prince to forbid you from thanking me as well.”

Shiro offered Yuto the plate he still held.

“Yuto. This party is for you. So... relax and enjoy yourself.”

Yuto forced a smile and accepted the plate of cake.

He took a bite with his fork.

Just like the drink, it tasted of nothing.

* * *

The party was gradually drawing to a close.

One by one, nobles began excusing themselves and leaving the banquet hall, and the orchestra shifted to a leisurely tune.

At some point, Shiro and Shirin had left Yuto’s side to speak with the invited nobles. They also spent a long time talking with Rufus Marigold.

“It is about time we left.”

Shiro had returned to Yuto, speaking with a smile. Throughout the party, that smile had never faltered, no matter whom he faced. Even now, it formed a perfect curve.

“Yuto, Lady Levian. Thank you for so warmly welcoming and entertaining a pair of uninvited guests.”

Adding a touch of humor, Shiro inclined his head. Beside him, Shirin caught up the edges of her dress and offered an elegant curtsy.

“I truly enjoyed myself.”

Shirin’s gaze lingered on Yuto. Her smile was beautiful, but her eyes betrayed her reluctance to part.

“We will see each other again at the academy, won’t we?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Yuto smiled gently. Smiling now took more effort than fighting the Black Mages in Belkain had.

“I hope you remain well until then.”

“You too, Yuto.”

Shirin smiled back. Shiro, who had been quietly watching them, spoke.

“I look forward to meeting you at the academy.”

Shiro gave Yuto one last smile. It was benevolent, warm, and perfect.

“Let us become good friends there.”

“I look forward to that day, Your Highness.”

The two smiled at each other. Neither smile held any sincerity. No—there was sincerity in them, but its nature was utterly opposite.

Shiro turned away first. The knights waiting nearby approached him. As the tread of military boots drew nearer than the orchestra’s music and Shiro went to meet the knights, Shirin looked back at Yuto and whispered.

“Don’t forget what I told you earlier.”

Her voice was too soft for Shiro to hear.

Her warning not to take her brother’s goodwill at face value. Yuto slowly nodded. That was all he could do. Any further answer caught in his throat and would not come out.

Shirin turned away as well. Before long, the prince and princess were hidden from sight by their escort of knights. The Ristal royal party left the banquet hall.

“...”

Shirin’s golden hair disappeared beyond the doors. Yuto, who had been standing straight as he saw them off, swayed.

“Yuto?”

Startled, Levian turned toward him. His face was expressionless. The smile he had fought to maintain throughout the party was gone.

“Wearing an air of refinement that doesn’t suit me for so long has left me drained,” Yuto said evenly. “Excuse me for a moment. I’ll be back soon... so don’t worry too much.”

Truthfully, he did not want to come back. But a few nobles still remained at the party. He forced a smile onto his blank face and told Levian,

“I’m just going to wash my face.”

“Ah... all right.”

The moment Levian answered, Yuto turned away. His steps were quick. He had nothing left to spare. Watching him rapidly recede, she bit her lip lightly.

‘His expression... something’s wrong.’

She had often seen his expressionless face. But the blankness she had just seen was different from usual.

As though he were desperately suppressing something.

Worried, Levian moved to follow him, but Elun caught her sleeve.

“Don’t go.”

Elun’s voice was as emotionless as ever, but the fingers gripping Levian’s sleeve held unmistakable strength.

“He needs to be alone right now.”

Levian looked down at Elun. No emotion showed in her black eyes. But the words “He needs to be alone” carried the same firmness as the fingers holding her sleeve.

“... All right.”

Levian let Yuto go.

* * *

Yuto left the banquet hall and walked down the corridor.

His mask was slipping off.

No, it was not slipping. It was crumbling.

The smile, the gratitude, the humility, the composure he had maintained throughout the party.

Everything he had built up before Shiro was cracking from within.

The corridor was empty. The noise of the party sounded distant through the walls. Yuto quickened his pace. He walked, then ran.

He pushed open the restroom door. No one was inside.

Yuto knelt before a toilet. With both hands, he clutched the cold rim of the porcelain bowl.

“Ugh—...”

A groan escaped him as his stomach twisted. The cake, the drink, everything he had swallowed at the party surged back up.

“Urrgh...!”

He vomited.

It did not stop at once. Even after his stomach was empty, the retching continued. Stomach acid rose, burning his throat, and Yuto curled his back, still gripping the toilet.

Shiro Ristal.

His smile. That bastard’s voice. The glass that son of a bitch had handed him. The words that fucking bastard had spoken.

Let us become good friends.

Shiro had said the same thing in his past life.

With the same smile, in the same voice.

Shirin Ristal.

Shirin’s hand. Shirin’s warning. The warmth of her body. Her heartbeat he had felt during the waltz.

Over those hours at the party, Yuto had swallowed it all.

He had swallowed hatred, swallowed sorrow, swallowed rage, swallowed regret, swallowed love.

While feigning a smile, feigning gratitude, feigning humility.

It had been a horrific ordeal.