Chapter 39

"Thank you always."

As soon as he got home, Cain fell onto his futon, sulking.

"What's wrong, sulking as soon as you get home? Are you upset because you couldn't carry Lady Diarana to her room?"

Having fallen asleep in the carriage and become completely limp, even at seven years old, Cain wasn't strong enough to carry Diarana to her bedroom. Thanks to his daily running, he had stamina, but his arm strength was still lacking. His mother Elise carried Diarana out of the carriage, and the waiting butler took her to her room.

"Haaa~"

In response to Ilvaleno's question, Cain sighed deeply and reflected on the day.

"I was planning to beat him up."

"Oh, you mean the Crown Prince? You couldn't do it?"

"I couldn't."

"Why not? Because the Queen and the ladies were watching?"

"No..."

Cain rolled over and turned his back to Ilvaleno.

"I thought that even if there isn't such a huge difference between 17 and 20, or 12 and 15, there would be a clear difference between 7 and 4. I wanted to show him that I was overwhelmingly stronger."

"Well, that might be true."

"I wanted to beat him up now and make it clear that he could never beat me."

"That's what we call a trauma."

Because she was so cute, Cain muttered to himself.

In his previous life, Cain worked in sales for an educational toy manufacturer. He often interacted with young children at kindergartens and nurseries, playing with them to explain how to use prototype toys and gather their reactions and opinions.

"To protect Diarana, I wanted to get rid of him."

Children are bundles of potential. He often saw them play with toys in ways he never imagined, achieving effects beyond what he had aimed for.

"There are no mean girls from the start... right?"

"Did you get bullied by a girl?"

Those were the words he said earlier, thinking about Diarana, but they also applied to Alundilano. And, by extension, to Ilvaleno as well. No one is born as a heartless, mentally ill assassin.

"You shouldn't respond to meanness with more meanness."

"That's idealistic."

Those were also the words he said earlier. In the first place, it wasn't a situation where Cain could lecture Alundilano, who had grabbed Diarana's arm, about revenge. In a fit of anger, in a moment of impulse, driven by a momentary lapse in judgment. Even when you try to control yourself, there are times when you can't.

"Prince Alundilano is..."

"Prince, that's a tongue-twister name."

"His hair is bright, shiny gold."

"The same color as yours and Diarana's."

"It's well-maintained and fluffy."

"Yours and Diarana's are smooth, lustrous, and beautiful."

"His eyes are a green like young leaves in the sun."

"Yours and Diarana's deep blue eyes, like the summer sky, are mesmerizing and enchanting."

"His blushing, bashful smile was adorable."

"Your melting smile when you look at Diarana is so charming, it could even be dangerous."

Cain rolled over and faced Ilvaleno, his cheeks red.

"What's with you? Why are you praising me so much today?"

Seeing Cain's face, which was no longer sulking, Ilvaleno's lips curled into a smile.

"I'm trying to cheer you up because you were so obviously down after the embroidery meeting. I thought you were finally feeling better, but then you were suddenly taken to the palace and came back sulking. If you keep sulking and moping, it won't be fun for me. I don't want to see Diarana's bored face when you're not feeling well. And I do mean what I say. I want you to be energetic so we can run and train together again."

"Thanks. It's embarrassing, so please stop..."

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I am. I am."

"That's good to hear."

Cain propped himself up on his elbow and stared at Ilvaleno. Noticing his gaze, Ilvaleno approached the bed.

"Do you need something? Are you changing clothes? Do you want some tea?"

"No... What's with the formal language? We were casual when we're alone, right?"

Cain asked, and Ilvaleno tilted his head, looking puzzled.

"Mr. Wainz, the butler, told me not to let my guard down even when I think no one is around. He said I should maintain a proper attitude until it becomes second nature."

After saying this, Ilvaleno stood up and took a step back, looking at Cain with a questioning gaze. Cain was taken aback.

When were they seen? During their private time, morning and evening runs, or when they visited the orphanage? It's scary not knowing. With the memories of his previous life, he might be underestimated by the adults of this world.

"I need to be more careful..."

Nobles are scary. Cain hugged himself and shivered.

---

Thank you for the reviews, comments, ratings, and bookmarks. As a special thank you, I will be posting extra chapters tomorrow and the day after. I hope you enjoy them.