The Crown Prince Thinks I'm a Guy

An Unexpected Acquaintance

'Pretty...' I thought. 'This version of Zepherin definitely looks so pretty.'

The contrast of her black hair with her pale, white skin. Her wondrous, light violet eyes even made more noticeable with her dark locks. She had cut bangs on her forehead and her once wild and unkempt hair was now silky smooth and fell in wondrous waves. Without a doubt, she would be a temptress in the eyes of all the men in the Aerim Continent.

She was sneering at me quite contemptuously, but I knew that smile. Back in the Order, I had taken a long time to understand the complex smiles this girl had. There were ones that only meant happiness, others a mask of excitement, and this smile... was definitely one she would make when she was troubled.

'Does she find my presence here irksome?' I wondered. 'After all, I did follow after her without giving her prior notice. I imagine she must be greatly shocked if she could even allow her demeanor to show that particular smile.'

I smiled back a little before turning away. Albert was still looking up at the Sinus Fidei Maximus, his eyes shining in the light. He muttered, "They look so different from us. They're like gods, looking down on us puny mortals."

I chuckled a bit. I thought that he would hardly think the same if he even had a glimpse of how wild and chatty that girl once was. I said, "They definitely look cleaner than us, without a doubt. How come they didn't have to travel through the Forests of Elara like we did?"

"I mean," he started. "Why should they do such a thing anyway? If it was a test, they don't really need it. They're the top of the breed. They come from blood lines as ancient as the continent, and their magic is as strong as they are mysterious. I doubt the school would test them and not rather just invite them into their halls outright."

I nodded in understanding, but it still didn't sit that well with me. I mean, I was totally alright with Zepherin since I knew it was all an act. But, what of the other four? There were three boys and another girl. They definitely seemed very noble and all, but what could make them become so different that they would look down on us with eyes filled with disgust? They were children, not much different from us, yet they already seemed so pulled into their respective roles in society.

"Also... Also," Albert whispered in my ear, although I felt it wasn't really helpful, since his voice was a tad too loud to be a whisper. "I heard there's actual, first-line royalty coming in this year."

I looked at him with a small smile. "Are you talking about yourself, Second Prince?"

He blushed redly in the hall's warm light. "O-Of course not! I hardly qualify as royalty anyway. I mean royalty from the two mega-nations themselves: the Saule Kingdom and the Mond Empire!"

I paled in shock. "What do you mean, the Saule Kingdom?"

And, just like it was meant to answer my very question, a dashing young man walked right past us, a few servants and attendants following right after. His golden blond hair glinted in the air, and his steps were swift and dignified. He passed by me like a storm swirling through my heart.

'Brother,' I whispered to him. 'My cutest Clement.'

I hadn't seen the second prince in a year now. He had grown taller and even at nine, he was a very handsome figure. I especially liked the fact that he had no scar on his pristine face. I couldn't help but smile after him. He looked better than our eldest brother, the way he was now.

"You seem to know him?" the other second prince asked beside me.

"Yeah," I said with an adoring sigh. "I saw his majesty once in the Saulian royal capital. He was a cute boy then, and he's even cuter now."