The Crown Prince In Hiding

The Day Before… The Origin of the Prince and His Fiancée’s Plan

Dan stood alone with Casca in a rented training hall in Artheris, akin to an open sports arena.

The carriage that left the Institute after the contract termination had dropped them here and departed.

“You can just rent a place like this, like booking a hotel?”

“Normally, it closes at 8 p.m., but today they’re staying open late because I requested it. I’ve got money.”

“Not bragging at all, huh?”

“Shut up and listen. I’m your sponsor.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You can’t beat that kid. Straight up.”

“No way, really? Damn, never would’ve guessed.”

“Finish listening, or I’ll smack your head in.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“From what I’ve heard, your biggest pain point is sensory speed. You might hit harder, but you’re slow. Way too slow compared to her.”

“So how do we fix that?”

Casca drew a sharp dagger.

“The method’s a bit gross.”

“Why the dagger?”

“You need to drink my blood.”

“What?”

Dan froze.

“For real?”

“I’ll share my Blessing of God with you. Drink my blood, and you’ll gain a sliver of my power for a short time.”

If he were in his demon form, Fury would be incinerated by Casca’s holy blood. But in his human body, Dan’s blood was separate from Fury’s, immune to the Blessing’s effects.

“You’re not gonna bleed yourself dry, right?”

“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. Too much of my blood, and your body would break. Like a glass bottle catching water from a dam—it shatters.”

“Where’d you learn this?”

“Knowledge passed down from the old five-star generals.”

“Ever done it?”

“During the war, yeah. Last resort, if I had a choice.”

“…”

“What’s that face? Is my blood that disgusting?”

“Fine, I’ll drink, I’ll drink. Ughhh.”

“Open your mouth. Wide.”

“Ahhh…”

Grab!

Casca pinched his cheeks, scrunching his mouth.

“Mmph!”

“One gulp first.”

She sliced her palm, red liquid gushing out, dripping into Dan’s mouth.

Fresh blood, its iron tang overwhelming. Dan gagged, stomach churning, bile rising—plainly, he was about to puke.

“Hold it in.”

“Gulp… gulp…”

Dan forced himself to hold his breath and swallow every drop. Finally, Casca released him.

“Cough, cough, cough!”

He hacked violently, discovering his human body despised the smell of blood.

“Ugh—?! Urp!”

He clamped his mouth, forcing the vomit back down. If it wasn’t his lover’s blood, no way he’d swallow.

Then, suddenly—

Dan heard his heartbeat pounding in his ears. A faint golden aura coated his body.

He felt impossibly light.

“Here.”

Casca handed him her dagger and pointed at three training dummies.

“Now, strike them. Pretend they’re your opponent.”

With a light push of his foot, Dan’s body surged forward with blistering speed, like an engine fueled by premium gas. Every muscle fiber, every joint, worked in perfect harmony. The dagger felt light as a feather.

He darted between the three dummies, slashes multiplying at a shocking rate until—

Slash!

They tore apart… destroyed.

Dan stepped back, stunned.

“This is straight-up devilry…”

“And few know this secret.”

“How so?”

Casca approached from behind.

“Only the White Cavalry knows this. Not Foden… not even the judges checking you.”

“Just elite soldiers, huh?”

“Exactly.”

She clapped his shoulder.

“But this alone won’t beat that kid. You need to use your stuff too.”

“My stuff? My true form?”

“Yup. Like when you cheated for the scholarship.”

“So, unleash Light fortress across the whole Garden?”

“We’re in this together. Get through this, and the other kids should be easy.”

“I’m damn lucky to have you.”

“Damn right. No one’s luckier.”

“Cutest wife ever.”

“Stop with all that sweet-talking.”

Casca placed her hand over a glass potion bottle, letting blood pour in.

“You’ll drink this tomorrow. The effect lasts under five minutes. Make it count.”

She glanced at her cut, a golden aura glowing as her healing magic closed it. She handed the blood-filled bottle to Fury.

“Won’t it spoil by morning?”

“…Crap, you’re right…”

“Wait... I’ve got it—Nora!”

And that was the origin of the red-liquid potion Nora questioned. Not a potion… but Casca’s blood.

After Friday’s events, the other matches didn’t matter.

The spectacle would be Artheris gossip for at least two months.

As the crowd drained from Madison Square Garden, Dan, fully treated, emerged from the medical tent.

All eyes locked on him.

Even the Knight Department instructors.

Professor Foden.

Even the scholarship seniors.

Perceptions flipped completely, but Dan never cared about their opinions to begin with.

They knew it.

Senior Chiesa Saint-Germain knew better than anyone.

Dan had no reason to mingle with them anymore.

As he left the tent, the first person waiting, the only one he’d spoken to from day one, was Princess Nora.

“All healed?”

“Well…”

Dan tugged at his tattered tracksuit.

“Gonna need a new outfit.”

“I can lend you one.”

“If you weren’t a princess, I’d smack you.”

Nora and Dan walked off together, under the stunned gazes of the crowd, beneath the setting sun.

Then, Senior Jenny stepped in their path.

“What’s your hidden power, Dan?! What was that?!”

Dan and Nora ignored her, passing through like she was air.

“Dan! I’m talking to you! Dan!!!”

She reached to grab his arm… but froze when Dan flashed his wristwatch.

“What time is it?”

“What—”

“What time is it?”

His voice shifted. Jenny froze. She’d never felt this pressure from him…

Nora leaned in.

“Looks like 5 p.m.”

“When does school end, princess Nora?”

“4 p.m.”

Dan nodded, turning to Jenny.

“It’s after hours.”

Jenny’s eyes widened. The sly atmosphere vanished, leaving only… someone realizing she meant nothing to this boy, not even worth a name.

His message wasn’t just for Jenny but for everyone itching to approach—including Professor Foden and the noble house elders watching.

Dan turned to the one person who’d been kind to him.

“See you next week, Senior Aaron.”

He bowed respectfully.

With that, Dan and Princess Nora left the arena… and vanished.

Outside Madison Square Garden, in Nora’s private carriage

“Mr. Fury, I knew you had a plan, but I didn’t expect you’d use your true form.”

“I held back,” Dan said.

“Light as I could, believe me.”

“Light? You cracked concrete.”

“Payback for knocking me out mid-air.”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t hold grudges?”

“Didn’t say I wouldn’t settle scores.”

“You’re quite vengeful, Mr. Fury.”

“Gotta have some. I’m no monk.”

“Psss!”

?

Dan and Nora turned toward a sound from an alley. A tall figure in a brown cloak approached, pulling back the hood slightly to reveal their face.

“Your Majesty.”

Zeedee Lamb.

“Oh, Freya!”

“All done, sir.”

“How much?”

“Tenfold profit.”

“Profit from what, Mr. Fury?”

“My way out of debt, Nora.”

Flashback to Yesterday

“Here.”

Thud!

A massive sack of coins landed before Zeedee and Dan, filled with Casca’s money.

“One million credits.”

“Why’re you giving me this?” Zeedee asked.

“While Fury’s in the arena, I need you to take this to the bar by the Garden and bet it all on him winning.”

“What…?”

Zeedee froze.

“They’ve got that in a place of learning?!”

“Everything’s a game with enough demand.”

“Why not go yourself?”

“Someone like me, in a place like that? Are you nuts?”

“You’re betting?” Dan raised an eyebrow.

“A holy knight like you?”

“Mhm.”

“Doesn’t your religion ban gambling?”

“Gambling’s betting on the unknown. I know the outcome. So it’s not gambling.”

“Dunno about that, Casca.”

“You’ve got debt, right?”

Casca slapped the sack.

“Your odds against that kid are 1 to 10. One million becomes ten million to pay it off.”

“For my debt?”

Dan eyed the sack, then Casca.

“You’re giving me this?”

“Yup.”

She nodded.

“No need to pay it back.”

“Really… is that okay?”

“What’s wrong with a wife helping her husband?”

The prince leapt into her arms, overjoyed.

“Casca!”

“There, there~”

Casca patted his back, sticking her tongue out at Zeedee.