In an Instant

17. Where ripples are being formed (39-41)

Hey guys! Guess what! I'm still alive!!! I'm so sorry for just ditching everyone for so long—I actually have this in the drafts for literal years I tell you. I actually started writing this the moment I finished my last chapter which is *check time* 2024-11-09......Ahahaha. Ha.

So yeah, this chapter's been my guillotine for years. I've been checking in every month, but finally, it's DONE!

On another note, it's nearing 20k words this time, so I hope it makes up for the delay?

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As the small screen asking for permission dissolves before his eyes, Alberu* keeps his eyes resolutely on the screen, carefully avoiding looking towards his soon-to-be secret-keeper.

A slight mist encroaches upon the auditorium, separating everyone from each other, obscuring all sound, smell, and sight.

No one but those involved will know who is privy to the secret about to reveal, from this point onward.

As the mist obscures Lock* from his sight, Choi Han* can't help but tense up.

He knows this is the secrecy measure Cale Henituse has mentioned previously, but losing sight of his dongsaeng so abruptly like this unavoidably makes him antsy.

However, when he catches sight of three other figures in the mist, that unease transforms into shock.

Aside from Choi Han*, two cloaked beings sit side by side, calm and composed as if nothing is happening. Alberu Crossman*, the man whose secrets are about to be revealed, leans back against his chair, his face utterly inscrutable.

He doesn't once turn to look at Choi Han*.

But Choi Han* has so many things to say to him.

'You chose me???' 'I thought there were supposed to be four??' 'Do you really trust me?' 'Are you truly okay with me being here?' 'Who are those two people?'

But in the end, he says none of them.

-

At that moment, the Black Dragon muttered something odd.

[Why did this weakling called the crown prince dye his hair with magic? It is at a level that only a great and mighty dragon like me would notice it. Did another dragon dye his hair? No, is it some other type of power?]

'Shit.'

At this moment, Cale realized that he had learned another useless secret that he could not even reveal the tiniest bit to anyone else.

'Is it a secret of a birth this time?'

Cale did not care to know about such things.

-

Reflexively, Choi Han* snaps his head around to look at Alberu*'s hair, only to find the crown prince already looking at him. Choi Han* startles.

"......Your Highness."

Alberu*, for one, doesn't smile. Not hiding the scrutinizing look in his eyes, the man just nods at Choi Han* perfunctorily.

"Choi Han*."

Choi Han* hesitates.

"Sir......Your hair is dyed?"

Alberu*'s answering quirk of lips is more grimace than smile.

"The Crossman* household is rumored to be blessed by the Sun God, you see," the man says instead. "Such is why our hair is like spun gold."

The crown prince says "blessed" like it's a curse, something dirty and distasteful.