Chapter 36

"Still, I was quite surprised."

In the parlor, Cordelia spoke as she faced Hailute.

"I never realized you were a subordinate of Prince Leonhardt until he told me."

"Is it like 'deceive the enemy by deceiving your ally'?"

"I think it's a bit different..."

Even after revealing his true identity, Hailute still smiled calmly.

"On the day I was kidnapped by Tupac and others, was it thanks to you that the Prince was able to come to my rescue?"

"Pretty much. When I went to see you that day, you were gone, and I panicked. I managed to track down Tupac's carriage, and I think you should praise me for that."

Hailute puffed out his chest proudly, and Cordelia nodded deeply.

"Yes, I'm very grateful for that. Thanks to you, both the Prince and I were saved."

"Ugh... When you respond so seriously, it makes me feel a bit embarrassed..."

Hailute scratched his head, and Cordelia straightened her posture and asked again.

"...Your approach to me was at the Prince's command, right?"

"Yes, that's right. My job was to get close to you, Cordelia, and check if it was safe, then report back to the Prince. But after a while, it became a hobby too. Even though I was deceiving you, I genuinely felt a friendship, and I hope you can forgive me."

"Well, I don't want to lose a friend... But what exactly did you report to the Prince? I hope you didn't tell him any of my secrets or embarrassing things... If you did, I'll despise you with all my might."

Smiling, Cordelia glared at him, and Hailute raised his hands.

"Please, don't make such a scary face. I only told the Prince about your safety and your preference for sweets."

"Really, just that?"

"Even if I say it, it might not be convincing, but please trust the Prince. Even though he was concerned about you, he felt guilty about monitoring you unilaterally. That's why he was satisfied with just knowing your sweet preferences."

It seems Hailute has a deep admiration for his lord, Leonhardt.

"...I see. I can accept that, but it's a bit surprising. For someone as free-spirited as you to be a subordinate to the royal family, even if it's the Prince, is quite unexpected."

"...I'm like the Prince, you see."

"Like the Prince?"

"This is what I mean."

"!"

Hailute's eyes turned golden, and his pupils became vertically elongated, something impossible for a human.

"Those eyes... a snake?"

"Correct. Unlike the Prince, I can't transform into a snake, though."

"...I heard from the Prince that there are several others with similar ancestral traits, but I didn't expect one to be so close."

"...Apparently, if you trace my maternal lineage back a few generations, it leads to the eastern desert. In that country, there are legends of snake spirits that can transform into humans, which are passed down as true stories."

"But Hailute, your appearance is just like that of a person from this country..."

"Maybe it's a sudden and partial ancestral trait? I never even thought to research my maternal ancestors until my snake eyes appeared."

"...Do your parents know about your eyes?"

"They know, but they didn't accept it."

Hailute smiled wryly.

"Of course, it's natural. My parents told me to hide my snake eyes, and I obeyed... until the Prince found out one day."

"Was it because the Prince could sense a 'smell' or something?"

"Exactly. Apparently, my smell is different from other humans. As a result, the Prince and I discovered that we both have ancestral traits, leading to our current situation. After all, it's rare to find someone who can share your secrets. The Prince treated me like a friend, without being repulsed by my eyes, and I was willing to do some espionage for him."

Hailute shrugged.

"Besides, my ancestral traits were convenient for espionage."

"Can you control fire like the Prince?"

"No, I can't do anything flashy like that. But I do have slightly better physical abilities and special vision."

"Special vision? Can you see things that others can't?"

"Not exactly. It's more like feeling with my lips and the sides of my face... but if I have to compare it to something, it's like vision."

"...I don't really understand."

"Neither do I, but thanks to this, I knew you were in the secret room the other day."

"What do you mean?"

"The Prince asked me to check if the secret room's door could be detected from inside the mansion. While searching for the entrance, I used my special vision."

"Did you accurately find the location of the secret room? That's impressive."

"The walls were well-disguised, and the room was soundproof, but my ability is like 'seeing heat.'"

"Seeing heat..."

"Without touching something, I can tell if it's warm or cold. I can't do it through thick walls, but I can sense the heat of a person through the walls of a house."

"That's a useful ability for espionage..."

"Indeed. It's a sensation I can't really explain, but it helped me find the secret room."

"Seeing heat... I can't even imagine what that feels like."

"If I had to visualize it, it's like the paintings I do as a hobby."

"Those paintings with chaotic colors?"

"Yes. I originally planned to be a painter. I wanted to become famous and have many people see my paintings... hoping that someday, I might meet someone with a similar 'heat vision.'"

"...So, you were looking for someone who shares your vision..."

The Prince's 'smell' and Hailute's 'heat vision'—convenient abilities, but ones that the bearers can't share with anyone.

(That must be a bit lonely...)

Perhaps that's why Leonhardt and Hailute have maintained their friendship despite their different statuses. They might feel a sense of kinship as people with unique senses.

"Well, there's no need to be so pessimistic. The world is vast, and there might be someone with similar abilities in other countries. Maybe even among the beastmen."

"Beastmen..."

"Today, I came to say goodbye. Since the Prince and Cordelia are finally together, I plan to go to the Wolfwald Kingdom, where many beastmen live."

"...I'll miss you."

"That's a kind thing to say." Hailute smiled with his elongated pupils.

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"This means I'll be saying goodbye to Cordelia for a while..."

On the way back from the earl's mansion, Hailute muttered to himself. The sun was still high, and the sky was bright and clear, contrary to his inner feelings.

"Cordelia, who accepted me as a friend despite all the lies I told, is truly remarkable..."

The word 'friend' made Hailute's heart ache.

—His encounter with Cordelia was a favor from Leonhardt. At first, it was just a job, a mere protection assignment.

(I was drawn to her...)

Conversations with the intelligent Cordelia were enjoyable, and by the time he noticed her hidden weaknesses and kindness behind her strength, it was too late. Hailute realized his feelings, but she was the Prince's beloved.

(The Prince and Cordelia are both too precious for me. Fortunately, they haven't noticed my feelings.)

He had been careful to hide them, and it paid off. To Hailute, Leonhardt was both his lord and a friend. He couldn't take Cordelia from him, nor did he want to reveal his feelings.

That's why he welcomed their union, but...

(Losing her is harder than I thought...)

Still, for now, it was painful to watch their love up close.

To someday genuinely bless Cordelia and the Prince,

"Well, I need to stock up on pigments before going to Wolfwald. I'll be busy."

—The painter with the snake eyes bid farewell to a love that ended before it began.

Thank you for reading.

Hailute's 'heat vision' ability is based on the pit organs of snakes, with original elements added and modified.