Chapter 4

### The Prince's Method of Making Friends - Chapter 4 (4/324)

“Ugh, ughhhhh.”

Lianus de Harpence was heartbroken.

He wasn't this heartbroken when people called him the Swamp Prince because his hair, a mix of the deep blue from His Majesty and the blonde from his mother, turned into a dull green. He wasn't this heartbroken when people called him the Odd-Eyed Prince because he had one golden eye from His Majesty and one green eye from his mother.

“Ugh, hic, ughhhh.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Ugh, ughhhhhh.”

Sir Evan's voice, trying to comfort him from the side, was drowned out by his sobs.

But the command to shut his mouth was heard too clearly.

So he felt even more heartbroken.

I'm a prince, and you're a beggar. I can do a lot for you, and I'm a higher person.

You're the bad one. I'm a prince, and you're ignoring me, so you're the bad one.

No matter how he tried to stop, the tears wouldn't cease.

Do you also find my deep green hair and mismatched eyes dirty and disgusting?

The crimson eyes of the duke, who had looked at him from afar, came to mind.

I am thoroughly alone, but I felt so happy, surrounded by everyone, as my brother held his noble position.

My brother said it was all because I was cursed. Because I had a half-elf mother, and that's why people left me.

So, am I the bad one? Is that why you don't want to be my friend?

But I didn't want to be born like this.

Tears that had paused at his golden and green eyes started to well up again. The black opal, watching this, frowned even more.

“Stop crying. Your head will hurt.”

Thud.

“...Hic, does your head hurt?”

“Yeah.”

“Hic, I'm sorry, hic, I'm sorry.”

The prince tried hard to suppress his sobs. He couldn't make it worse for the other person, who was already in pain because of him.

His throat was a bit hoarse from crying for so long.

The black opal's child raised an eyebrow at the prince, who had stopped crying. It was as if he was looking at some bizarre creature.

Sir Evan felt a strange mix of emotions as he watched the prince, who had been sobbing so heartbreakingly, now trying to suppress his sobs because the bratty black opal said his head hurt.

The knight handed the prince a water bottle.

“Prince, have some water.”

“Yeah…, thank you.”

Sir Evan glared at the culprit of this incident. The wild cat-like brat didn't even flinch.

The baby cat's eyes were so red and swollen, it looked like they would burst and tears would pour out if pressed.

While it was a bit disappointing that the baby cat, who had been sobbing so heartbreakingly, responded to the bratty black opal, Sir Evan consoled himself by thinking that the brat's rude and disrespectful tone was so ingrained that it was impossible not to react.

“Hey.”

The bratty black opal spoke.

Sir Evan wanted to punch him but held back, fearing that the baby cat, who had just stopped crying, would start again. He couldn't risk making the baby cat cry again, so he tried his best to be as kind as possible.

“Show some respect to the prince, beggar.”

“You didn't call me. Hey, seaweed head.”

Lianus's eyes widened at the black opal's question. Actually, his eyes were too swollen to be that wide.

Lianus, who had been rejected twice in his friend requests, didn't know what "seaweed" meant, but he knew the black opal was calling him, so he felt happy and quickly answered, stopping Evan from stepping in.

“Yeah.”

“I'm not a girl.”

“Yeah, I know. I said it wrong the first time. Sorry.”

“I won't use honorifics with you, whether you're a prince or a king.”

“Yeah? Uh-huh...”

Lianus, who had already stopped using honorifics, didn't mind and nodded, telling the black opal it was fine.

“I don't like holding back.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I won't do anything I don't want to do.”

“Yeah.”

The prince answered, but he was confused and tilted his head, not understanding the situation.

The beggar continued, regardless.

“I don't like crying sounds.”

“Yeah.”

“I don't like being in pain.”

“Yeah.”

“I don't have much, but I have a lot of pride.”

“Yeah.”

Sir Evan, listening from the side, nodded involuntarily, thinking the brat had a good self-awareness.

“Do you still want to be friends with me?”

“...Yeah?”

Only then did Lianus realize that the sudden list of statements was an introduction.

Right, you usually introduce yourself before becoming friends!

Lianus started to feel excited. He nodded eagerly, afraid the black opal might change his mind.

“Yeah, yeah! I want to be friends.”

“Can you bring me into the palace?”

“...Huh?”

Into the palace?

Before he could think about any potential issues, the beggar continued.

“I'm a beggar, as that knight said. I can't just wander in and out of the palace, so you'll have to come to me. But...”

“I can't come out often.”

“Right. If you're a prince, you can't come out often. So, can we meet once a month?”

“I don't like that. It's too infrequent.”

Once a month? How could they become friends that way?

“Then I have to enter the palace. So, how are you going to bring me in?”

“...”

Exactly. How am I going to bring him in?

“Just so you know, I don't want to be a servant. I don't use honorifics, remember?”

Lianus started to think. He couldn't let go of this opportunity.

This kid survived being hit by a speeding carriage, so he must be very tough. He was fearless in front of his large bodyguard knight, and with his strong pride, he wouldn't run away because of some unfounded curse.

And he stood up to the nobles, so he wouldn't be intimidated by his brother.

Finally, his gut told him that if he didn't seize this chance, he would regret it forever. He had to be friends with this kid!

‘What should I do?’

Lianus started to think hard. But no matter how long he thought, he couldn't come up with an answer.

Lianus, now more nervous because he didn't know what would come out of his mouth, glanced at his bodyguard, who was still leaning lazily in the carriage, and then carefully spoke.

“Maybe we can sneak in first and think about it later?”

“...”

“Prince!”

The carriage jolted as the knight jumped up in shock.

Sneak in? This isn't an empty house; it's the palace!

Lianus, seeing the black opal's eyes cloud over with disdain, quickly started to explain.

“My room is big. There are many places to hide.”

“...”

“I can give you lots of good food.”

“...”

“I have a lot of money... Do you like it?”

“...”

“Hiiing...”

The seaweed head drooped when the kid didn't answer.

Sigh...

The kid thought.

Where did this weirdo come from?

***

Sir Evan started to comfort his baby cat.

It was a problem that the baby cat wanted to be friends with the bratty black opal, but he couldn't blame the baby cat for being lonely.

Sir Evan took a deep breath to calm down and started to explain gently.

“Prince, the palace has many eyes and ears. To start, we need to find a bedroom for this beggar, but as you know, most servants share rooms. Even if he stays in a room, he'll need at least one person's cooperation, and you said he can't be a servant because you're too young. It will definitely draw attention.”

“I won't be a servant.”

Sir Evan, seeing the bratty black opal growl, wanted to punch him but held back because he was already a mess. He continued.

“Even if you don't want to, you'll need to disguise yourself. Anyway, Prince, you really need to think this through...”

“Aha!”

But before Sir Evan could finish, the baby cat jumped up, grabbed the black opal's hand, and exclaimed. Sir Evan, seeing the prince's clean, delicate hands get dirty again, sighed and put his hand on his forehead.

“Prince, grabbing that dirty hand like that...”

“Will you stay in my bedroom?”

“...What?”

Sir Evan rubbed his ears, thinking he must have heard wrong. He blinked a few times, but his innocent baby cat was still holding the black opal's hand, smiling and shining.

“Yeah.”

The arrogant black opal, seeing the sparkling odd eyes, nodded casually. Sir Evan's mouth dropped open in disbelief.

What is this kid saying!

“'Yeah' isn't an answer! The royal bedroom isn't that easy to get into! And what's with that indifferent reaction! Prince, absolutely not! What makes you think you can give your bedroom to this kid...!”

“But how old are you?”

“...”

Ignoring the knight's desperate cries, the baby cat started to work on the black opal.

Sir Evan, in a panic, tried to reason that bringing a beggar into the bedroom was out of the question, that he couldn't guard the prince properly if an outsider was there, and that he didn't know what the kid might do. He even threatened to stay in the prince's bedroom if the kid was brought in, but the adorable baby cat just smiled and said it would be fine, suggesting they all live together.

“My bedroom will be so lively!”

“Prince! No matter what, the bedroom is absolutely not allowed!”

“Huh? How old are you? You're my age, right?”

“Prince!”

“Sir Evan! Be quiet. Let me talk to my friend.”

Sir Evan was speechless.

How could he call this kid a friend after just a few minutes! How could he side with this ragged brat over his only bodyguard, whom he had been with for five years!

Sir Evan wanted to shout but closed his mouth.

Seeing the prince, who was holding the dirty hand and smiling, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

How long had it been since he saw the prince smile? He couldn't even comfort the prince when he was crying, so it was better to step back.

He couldn't understand why the prince, who was usually wary of outsiders, was doing this, but Sir Evan decided to watch silently. If they managed to sneak in, they would eventually need official permission to stay, so the kid would probably leave soon.

Then the prince would be heartbroken again.

Sir Evan looked at the baby cat, who was starting to introduce himself, and then at the bruised kid. If this kid didn't harm the prince, it might not be bad to keep him around, but the prince making friends with a commoner would definitely cause gossip. The worst-case scenario would be betrayal.

Sir Evan, seeing the kid still sitting calmly despite knowing the prince's status, felt uneasy. This kid, who had just met the prince, wouldn't have any loyalty. Even if he managed to enter the palace, he would likely run away under pressure, be bribed, or be executed for disrespect. Was bringing this kid in a good choice?