The Crown Prince In Hiding

Nora remained firm in her insistence to take responsibility for destroying Prince Fury’s shelter. The saying “Rome took 200 years to build and one day to fall” wasn’t far off from the events of the past few days.

“But… Prince Fury…”

As they sat around the fire, Nora, seated on the opposite side, spoke up.

“You do know it’s technically illegal to build a residence in this area, right?”

“Huh? What?”

With a half-chewed piece of grilled rabbit in his mouth, both Dan and Zeedee froze in place.

“This forest belongs to the Academy. It’s considered state property.”

“Wait—seriously?”

“That’s what I’ve heard, at least.”

“But Snowhaven gave us permission!”

“I don’t have that kind of authority, Prince Fury.”

“…Great.”

“Your Highness, what are we going to do?!”

“As long as you stay discreet and don’t draw attention, no one should come inspect this place. From what I know, almost nobody ever enters this forest... not to mention the rumors about ghosts.”

Dan shot her a skeptical look.

“No one, huh? Then who’s sitting right in front of me?”

Nora glanced away.

“C’mon, Your Highness, that’s not the point…”

Zeedee suddenly gripped Dan’s shoulder tightly and turned to Nora.

“Wait. Did you say ghosts?! You mean this place is haunted?!”

“Yes. I heard senior Claire talk about it. This used to be a battlefield. They say the place is cursed.”

“You’re not afraid?!”

“No.”

“If they couldn’t rattle her after everything she’s put us through, I doubt ghosts could, either.”

Nora blinked. She took it as a compliment—and rightfully so. She was the exception. But Fury saw an opportunity.

“Well, now I see the upside. Aside from you, Nora, all those spooky stories and human fears basically act as a security barrier. This pretty much guarantees no one will find our camp.”

“There might be some, Prince Fury. People like me who aren’t afraid of ghosts do exist.”

“Your Highness… c-could we… maybe move to another location…?”

“Stop being a child, Zeedee! We’ve been sleeping here for days!”

Her face said she wasn’t okay, but she had no choice but to accept it.

Seeing her expression, Dan turned to look at the newly-repaired shelter and then back at Zeedee.

“That’s right—I promised to take you shopping in town.”

“!”

Her face immediately lit up.

“Let’s go at dusk. The moon’s already up.”

“Prince Fury!”

“You’re heading into town?” Nora asked.

“Correct.”

“Then… I should return to the dormitory.”

She started to rise, but Dan’s hand lightly tugged her sleeve.

“Prince Fury…?”

“Nora. Just two minutes—by that tree.”

Leaving Zeedee by the fire, the two of them walked under the branches together.

With her hands folded in front of her, Nora stood and listened.

“Listen—I’m going to speak bluntly, in true Diabo fashion.”

“?”

“You’re a serious case, Nora. What you did that day, putting a blade to your own throat, told me more than enough.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Listen.”

“?!”

“I don’t know how the Ophilis family lives, but I do know this—your empress has placed too much hope on your shoulders. So much that it’s become dangerous. You’re on the edge, Nora. One spark away from a full breakdown. That’s not something anyone wants—not even me. This isn’t your fault. It’s not your mother’s either. Understand?”

He placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

“Casca once taught you swordsmanship. She would never want this for her student. Nothing in this world is perfect. Nothing is ever good enough—not Casca, not even me. But as someone who’s walked ahead of you down this path… let me help you reach the other side. Trust me, like I trust you. Deal?”

“…Prince Fury…”

He patted her shoulder.

“Now go back to your dorm and sleep. I’m banning you from touching a single textbook tonight.”

“But—”

“If you don’t, I won’t answer any of your questions.”

“…Ugh.”

City Marketplace

Yellow lights flickered as dozens of shops lined the street. People of all walks bustled through the plaza. Dan and Zeedee moved among the crowd.

“Am I pretty?”

Zeedee twirled, showing off a pair of elegant earrings, matching bracelets, a necklace, and all kinds of accessories before a mirror.

“Yeah, you are.”

“Really?!”

“You look like someone from the Lahu tribes. I like it.”

A bracelet immediately flew at his face.

“Don’t compare me to those uncultured savages!”

“That was inappropriate, Freya.”

She walked over, holding two pairs of earrings in her hands like a scene from The Matrix.

“Red or blue? Which is prettier? Pick.”

“Blue.”

“I think red’s prettier, though.”

“I don’t know—I was just answering randomly. I don’t really have much of an artistic eye.”

“Just pick whichever you think looks good.”

“Blue.”

“But isn’t red better?”

“Hmm… actually, yeah, maybe it is.”

“See?!”

So she already had a favorite from the start...

After all the shopping, Zeedee ended up with a pair of red earrings and a lovely bracelet.

“Well? Don’t I look dazzling under the lights?”

“You do.”

“Better than her?”

“What does my wife have to do with this?”

Not that he’d say it aloud, but having Freya in full human form really was something. The accessories only enhanced her natural beauty. He froze for a second.

His demon instincts synced imperfectly with his human senses—his body was clearly thrilled by this little date.

Before he could say more, Freya returned with two cotton candies. Green for her. Red for him.

“I brought sweets!”

“Oh, these must be the same as Kas—”

“EEEEEKKK!!!”

Zeedee was attacked by the sugar bomb.

“Sweet—too sweet!! My throat’s burning!!”

She coughed violently.

Dan coughed too. “Yeah… same.”

They weren’t used to sugar. Diabos could eat raw meat just fine, but cotton candy? It was like opening all seven body gates.

Sugar bomb aside, Zeedee had the time of her life wandering the human city. Dan watched her all night—running around pointing at things, listening to buskers, watching animal shows, admiring gemstones… This was her night.

At last, the two of them sat at the riverside bridge, legs dangling over the water under moonlight.

In addition to the red earrings, she now held a small bottle of perfume Dan had bought for her.

“Prince… I’ll never forget tonight for the rest of my life.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. This was just a reward.”

“But no kisses, huh?”

“Nope.”

“Ugh~ I love you!”

Smack.

Dan was tackled by the taller girl, her brown hair brushing against his face.

“You don’t care if someone from the Academy sees us like this?”

“We should’ve stopped caring the moment that brat found out.”

“Which was your fault!”

“Doesn’t matter. Everyone knows by now what kind of relationship we have.”

“Again—with your fault!”

“Say it. Do you love me?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t have brought you here otherwise.”

“Eeehee~ More than your tragic-lance ex?”

“Hmm…”

Dan looked up at the stars—same stars he once gazed at with Casca.

“She used to say human love comes in many layers… I don’t claim to understand it all. But if we go by the love I do understand—yes. I love you. Just like I loved her—”

“OHHHHHH!!!!!”

“—and my father. And my mother. Now let me finish.”

“Ughhhhhh!”

“Don’t push it.”

Whack.

“Ow!”

“Always asking for more.”

Dan scooted a bit away. Just then, someone approached from behind.

“Would you like some bread?”

A harmless-looking peasant girl with braided hair and a basket full of loaves. But they’d seen her before.

She was one of Diabo’s six undercover agents, disguised as a humble baker.

“Fresh bread! Hot and warm!”

She passed by Dan and Zeedee—and at that precise moment, a small brown envelope slipped from her basket and landed beside him.

Then she was gone.

Dan picked it up.

“All right. Time to head home.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”