Chapter 30: Performance

"Your Majesty, we beg you to come with us. Madam Herz requires your honorable presence."

That was all they told me when they dragged me away from my pleasant conversation with Elion and Clementine.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Not even the courtesy of giving me a bit of context so I could understand why that decrepit old woman suddenly needed me.

…How annoying.

If it were anyone else but her, I would have walked away. I wasn’t remotely interested in hearing whatever Madam Herz wanted to discuss.

And to make matters worse, my stomach was still hurting from the hit my dear Kathryn gave me.

Why in the world did she do that?

It was the first time—THE FIRST—time a woman hit me like that. Also the first time someone had rejected me so many times in a row.

Honestly… she’s so strange.

But that eccentricity is exactly what makes her so adorable. She’s alarmingly stubborn, and that’s precisely why it’s so tempting to watch her fall for me.

…And even so, as much as it pains me to admit it, she really did go a little too far this time.

I suppose I’ll have to punish her by ignoring her for a while. Let’s see if that softens that rough attitude of hers once she realizes what she stands to lose.

Yes… that will definitely work.

That thought made me smile, slow and satisfied. Of course it would work.

She’s probably just shy… and socially awkward. Well, very awkward, to be honest.

But that’s what makes her so damn adorable.

No matter how much she rejects me, it has to be just nerves. I’m convinced she enjoys my attention and just plays hard to get.

So the moment she thinks I’ve lost interest, she’ll squirm in desperation. And when that happens, I’ll show up to comfort her, like a proper prince.

…Gods, now that would be the perfect plan.

After all, there’s nothing in this world I can’t obtain… Nothing…

Those words echoed in my mind, and even though they were meant to comfort me, they only reminded me of a bitter truth.

The only thing—truly the only thing—I can’t obtain in this world… is my name.

Luxury. Money. Friendships. Women. Everything belongs to me—but does it really?

Sometimes my mind and soul whisper these questions.

Is all of it mine… or does it belong to the name “Kaelvarion”?
If I didn’t have it, would I still fly as freely as I do?

I’m sure I would.

I am me. Therefore, there is nothing I cannot do.

…And yet, because of this name, my life has no freedom.

First Father and Mother.

Then my tutors.

And now… even that Carlotta.

Everyone wants to cut my wings. Everyone wants something from me. Everyone wants my attention in one way or another.

My parents want me to be the heir to that rotten throne.

My supposed fiancée—the one I didn’t choose—wants me to be her loyal dog. To follow her will, all for her precious “family honor.”

They all orbit around me, but not for me.

They want to drag me into their world.

They want to pull a star by force, not understanding that doing so will only kill them both in the end.

Everyone is like that… except her.

A smile tugged at my lips again as I remembered the only interesting woman I’ve ever met.

Kathryn von Adelheid.

Like I said before, she always rejects me. She refuses to give me what I want. Unthinkable.

I want—no! I need to know what that woman desires.

Maybe, just maybe… she’ll be the one who truly makes my heart beat.

Before I noticed it, I had arrived at the room where they needed me.

The air was heavy; the guards walked stiffly, as if terrified of their own shadows. While they were prisoners of their anxiety, I advanced with a relaxed, confident stride, enjoying the attention I inevitably draw.

After all… I am Kaelvarion.

The center of the world.

And everyone here knows it.

The guards opened the door, their hands trembling. Poor things… I suppose having to escort Madam Herz and someone as important as me would make anyone nervous.

I entered without hurry, letting my boots echo against the floor.

Then I saw her.

Not only was Herz waiting with her usual icy expression… She was there too—my charming, elusive, dangerously adorable little cat.

"Well now… what’s going on?" I asked, with a small, deliberately careless smile.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Herz said, bowing her head slightly. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but we have a situation that requires your assistance."

"Th-Thank the heavens you’re here, Lord Kaelvarion! I seriously thought I was done for! But now that I see you, my heart is, like, sooo relieved!"

Huh?

What?

Whose sweet voice was that?

I asked myself once, then again—

But I couldn’t deny the truth.

It was her. Kathryn.

Her voice, normally low and firm, now sounded high and shaky… almost like she was about to cry.

I was stunned by such a shift.

Before I could speak, the guards stepped beside me, explaining the situation.

"Your Excellency, this Nen girl here claims she spent most of the day with you. We simply need to know if that’s true. Please answer."

Oh… I see. They needed me to clear up some misunderstanding.

“Sure. I’ll help her,” is what anyone would expect me to say.

It would even be a good chance to earn points with Kathryn, to soften her walls with my—magnificent—heart.

But…

A slow smile curled on my lips.

I wasn’t going to make it that easy.

Maxine had told me Kathryn liked people who didn’t chase her—she liked people who ignored her. So the answer was obvious.

My plan was simple: play with the tension. Pretend I might deny it, just long enough to make her panic—but not enough for Herz to notice. A little revenge for hitting me earlier… and for all those repeated rejections that still stung my pride.

A tiny game of payback.

I wanted her to know I was genuinely hurt.

But of course I wasn’t going to abandon her. That much was obvious.

I wanted her to need me. To watch her expression tighten, her eyes search for me, her breathing turn unsteady… And then, just as she reached the edge of panic, I’d save her.

That would seal my victory over her heart.

So the theater began.

"Leeeet’s see… I was with…"

But before I could even finish the first sentence, I felt something warm around my hands.

Small hands. Delicate hands. Shaking hands.

I lifted my gaze and met hers.

Kathryn was blushing, her little Nen tail flicking behind her nervously. Her eyes were begging silently.

"Lord Kaelvarion, like, someone’s trying to frame me as a suuuper evil thief! I just wanted to hang out with you and Maxine, like, shopping cute outfits! I never-ever thought something like this would happen!"

And I swear I felt an arrow pierce my chest.

Without a single word, I understood.

She was begging me not to betray her.

AS IF I COULD EVER LEAVE THIS LITTLE CREATURE TO HER FATE!

"Non."

The old woman’s voice cut through our sweet moment. My adorable little cat was torn away from me, though she clung to me until the very last second.

Gods… how can she be so adorable?

She ended up behind the two guards, hiding almost completely, just a tiny bit of her face showing.

I must admit, Kathryn’s height is one of her greatest charms.

…But I should focus on the important part. I can admire her beauty later.

"No, no. Very poorly done, young lady," Herz scolded. "We cannot allow any extra context. Although… since you’ve already said it, it hardly matters now. Please continue, Your Highness."

I took a breath, straightened my posture, and raised my chin with regal elegance.

"As I was saying…" My voice came out steady, hiding every trace of my thoughts. "Of course the three of us were together. We were enjoying some clothes shopping."

The relief in Kathryn’s eyes was so sweet it almost made my heart leap.

Ah… who would’ve thought?

In the end, I was right.

That mysterious woman is already falling for me.

I wonder what the future has in store for us.