# Chapter 57
—
After the appetizers, the main courses began to arrive.
In the midst of it, Arthur murmured.
“…What kind of person?”
“Mm.”
“Why ask that out of the blue?”
“Isn’t it something people usually wonder? How others see them, what others think about them….”
Elin answered firmly.
“Especially when it’s someone close by, all the more.”
Arthur stroked his chin and nodded.
‘Hmm…. True, even for me, I’m careful at school because I’m always mindful of how others see me.’
Then what kind of person was Elin, in his eyes?
‘A noble who actually acts like a noble?’
A spirited woman?
Or perhaps someone brimming with confidence?
Many descriptions floated up, but none quite nailed it down.
As he lingered in thought, Elin asked in a voice that lacked its usual confidence.
“…Is it something that needs that much thought?”
“Pardon?”
“Are you hesitating because I’m really that awful…?”
Arthur blinked at her words that trailed off.
“Hm… Elin?”
“Mm.”
“Why would you think I see you as awful?”
“You can’t answer right away.”
“Then isn’t it more likely that you’re too good of a person, so I’m hesitating?”
Elin’s eyes widened.
“Too… good of a person?”
“Yes. Why would I ever think Elin is bad?”
“But… I have a bad personality.”
“In what way?”
“Well… I’ve got this needless overconfidence, and I can’t really say things prettily….”
Arthur chuckled.
“If you say that anywhere else, you’ll just get scolded, Elin.”
“….”
“And that’s not bad. That’s personality. Something everyone has. And yours, Elin….”
Arthur paused, then stated firmly.
“To me, it’s a good personality.”
“…That’s a lie.”
“It’s true. I really do think Elin is a good person.”
“In what way?”
“That’s what I’m thinking about now. Because, to me, Elin has too many good points….”
He began listing them one by one.
“Being able to proudly assert your opinion in front of others, your kindness in reaching out to me first….”
“….”
“And there’s your leadership. When you speak, the other students follow, don’t they? That alone shows what kind of person you are. And on top of that….”
Elin, who had been listening blankly, suddenly shouted in a fluster.
“W-wait! How far are you going to go?”
“…Until I run out of things to say?”
“You mean… there’s *that* much?”
Arthur smiled brightly.
“A good person isn’t called good because of just one trait. It’s because the person themselves is good. That’s why they’re called that.”
“….”
“Trying to single out one thing is… yes, harder than you’d think. But since you asked me to, I’m just being honest.”
At those words, Elin’s eyes trembled.
Her reddened ears and flushed neck betrayed just how flustered she was.
Arthur blinked and asked.
“Elin? Why’s your face suddenly….”
“Stop there.”
“…?”
“Please, stop there. I feel like my face is about to burst….”
At her faltering words, Arthur closed his mouth.
After a deep breath, Elin managed to pull her hand away from her face and murmured.
“Arthur… have you ever said those kinds of compliments to another girl?”
“…Sorry?”
“Have you ever said them to another girl.”
“Uh… no? Never.”
“Never do it. Got it?”
At her strange intensity, Arthur flinched.
Meanwhile, Elin, not even trying to hide her reddened eyes, pressed him.
“Promise me. Promise you’ll never say them.”
“…Yes. I promise, Elin.”
“Good…. Then I guess it’s my turn now?”
“My turn?”
“How I see you.”
Arthur raised his brows.
“Uh… I have to do this too?”
“Don’t you want to know? How I see you?”
He thought for a moment, then his lips curved.
“Hooh… now that you mention it, I am curious. About how I look in other people’s eyes.”
“Want me to tell you?”
“Yes. Mm… but Elin. When you say it, please frame it as if you’re comparing with others. Like, compared to the other students.”
Elin tilted her head.
“Why? Any reason for that?”
“That’s the part I want to know. Whether I stand out too much, whether I’m not normal… that’s what worries me.”
At his answer, Elin smiled faintly.
“…There’s no way you’d be normal compared to others.”
“Sorry?”
“The way I see you… there’s no way you’d be normal compared to others.”
Her words made Arthur tilt his head.
And just as Elin took a deep breath, ready to finally reveal one of the thoughts she had been long holding back—
Suddenly, her mind went blank.
Thud—!
She collapsed onto the table, and Arthur blinked.
“Uh… Elin?”
He cautiously called her name and rose from his seat.
Then he sensed the shift in the restaurant’s atmosphere and his expression hardened.
‘Damn. I was so focused on Elin, my senses dulled.’
It was the moment he braced himself.
A voice rang out—strange, yet all too familiar.
“Seemed like you were having a good time. Did I interrupt?”
Arthur slowly turned his head.
And there it was—a face he knew well, yet hated to see. Blond hair gleamed in the light.
Arthur’s lips curled into a sharp smile as he looked at the handsome blond man.
“Prince Leon Madrid… -nim?”
—
—
The man was clad in a fine tuxedo.
Leon Madrid raised his lips in a smile.
“So we meet again.”
“….”
“I didn’t expect it so soon myself. Isn’t this what they call destiny?”
Arthur cocked his head.
“Not destiny. More like, you followed me. Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”
“Followed you, did I?”
“Yes. Sounds more plausible than a coincidence, don’t you think?”
Leon blinked. Then he laughed heartily.
“Sorry, but I don’t chase after men.”
“….”
“Now, if it were a beautiful lady, maybe. But chasing after some dark fellow—what’s the point?”
With that, Leon dragged a chair over and sat down.
Arthur’s gaze chilled.
Leon raised both hands.
“No need to glare. I’m not here to fight.”
“….”
“This is my restaurant. After all that chaos yesterday, I came here to enjoy some good food—and found you here instead.”
Arthur blinked.
“This restaurant is yours, Your Highness?”
“Yes. Check the name on the deed if you don’t believe me.”
Arthur closed his mouth at Leon’s confident reply.
‘He’s not lying….’
No sign of the usual traits—uneven breathing, shifty eyes—appeared.
Still, considering who he was, Arthur couldn’t afford to take it at face value.
Leon glanced at the unconscious Elin and asked.
“…By the way, did I interrupt?”
“What do you mean?”
“When I spotted you, I instinctively knocked that beautiful lady out first. You weren’t on a date, were you?”
Arthur tilted his head.
“…No.”
“Really? You two looked like you were hitting it off.”
“It *was* an important moment. And you ruined it, Your Highness.”
“…Ugh. My apologies. Didn’t mean to come between a man and woman….”
“No need to apologize. You can make it up to me another way.”
Arthur awakened his bloodline.
Scales rippled across his body, and Leon’s eyes widened.
“Here? You’d attack me here?”
“Why not?”
“…I felt it yesterday, but you’re truly unpredictable.”
Arthur smirked.
“People tell me that often. But—is that all you had to say?”
“What? If it is, will you kill me?”
“I told you, once I make up my mind, I see it through.”
Leon’s eyes twitched.
‘Still those damned eyes. Especially that crescent-marked pupil.’
He wanted to taste the prince’s blood, curious about his powers. But unfortunately, the Imperial family’s bloodline was one Bayern blood could not absorb.
‘Even in my last life, I couldn’t absorb Khan Madrid’s ability…. For some reason, the Imperial bloodline is off-limits.’
That only left him with distaste.
Leon spoke.
“I told you, didn’t I? There’s a compromise to be found.”
“That’s only your opinion, isn’t it?”
“Then tell me why you’re angry. So I can offer an apology or compensation.”
Arthur laughed.
“Do I really need to spell it out?”
“….”
“Digging into my mind and putting me under hypnosis. Isn’t that reason enough to kill you?”
Leon’s expression wavered. He thought for a moment—then suddenly bowed his head.
“…!”
Arthur blinked.
‘Why bow his head?’
Was he really going to end it with an apology?
The space warped.
And suddenly, Leon Madrid’s true industrial spy, not a disguise—
Mashal Dust appeared, whispering urgently to the prince.
‘L-Leon Madrid-nim! How can you bow your head!’
The prince, understanding from lip movements alone, replied aloud.
“If I’ve done wrong, I must apologize. Don’t you agree?”
“….”
“Whatever the greater cause may be, what I did was still wrong.”
Arthur chuckled.
“Your Highness. That one’s a lie, isn’t it?”
“…What? I’m serious! Why would I lie now?”
“It’s written all over your face.”
“….”
“People’s tells when they lie—trembling eyes, uneven breaths, exaggerated shouts.”
Leon blinked, then answered.
“Was I that obvious?”
“Yes.”
“…Tch. Still, I *am* sorry. Look—I, a prince, even bowed my head.”
His brazen attitude made Arthur blink.
‘This man… peculiar. As peculiar as that Kassel fellow I met the other day.’
Different, but peculiar all the same.
Turning that thought over, Arthur rose from his seat.
Leon asked.
“Leaving?”
Arthur smiled over his shoulder.
“If Elin weren’t here, I would’ve killed you. A pity.”
Leon clicked his tongue.
“Yesterday’s secret. Can you keep it?”
“And if I don’t?”
“Hmm… then I’ll have to clean up after you.”
“Quickest way is to kill me.”
“That’d be ideal, but I’ve taken a liking to you.”
Arthur tilted his head. Leon grinned.
“The young master of the Bayern Dukedom, slumming it as a mercenary in back alleys. And the Imperial Prince, smuggling out royal secrets.”
“….”
“Don’t we share a lot in common?”
Arthur chuckled.
“Which is exactly why we *can’t* get along.”
“Why not? Two men can always bond over drinks and words.”
“Not me. People whose true selves I can’t see always stab me in the back.”
Leon laughed boldly.
“Then at least we can keep each other’s secrets?”
“…I don’t like it, but I can agree to that much.”
Cradling the unconscious Elin, Arthur spoke.
“Though who knows how long that’ll last.”
Then he walked out of the restaurant.
Mashal, watching his back, whispered cautiously.
‘Shouldn’t we take care of him?’
Leon shook his head.
“No. Leave him for now. Doesn’t look like he’ll spread it around.”
‘But….’
“It’s fine. Trust me. Arthur Bayern *cannot* spread my secret.”
Mashal tilted his head.
‘What do you mean…?’
Leon smirked.
“Because he shares my goal….”
Mashal Dust’s eyes went wide.
“To kill the same person—the same human being. So there’s no need to worry. Arthur Bayern and I are on the same boat.”
—
