Later that evening, the family prepared a dinner of steak and roast potatoes, to welcome the Prince into their home. Even though he was their guest, the mood was quite awkward. Mikael hardly spoke, simply eating without saying a word.

But what bemused both Rayvis and Irene, was the fact that Mikael's maid was also sitting at the table and eating with the family - as if she herself were someone with importance equal to that of the prince's. The children knew that their mother was just being hospitable toward her, but it felt odd. It was largely uncommon for servants and aristocrats to sit at the same table in a formal first meeting.

Ms Cather was a maid — with no noble background. Yet it seemed she wanted to be treated as the prince's mother, in a sense. No matter how much Irene tried to communicate with Mikael, Ms Cather would stand like a proud guard at his side. The boy would simply continue to eat whilst his maid answered all their questions in his stead.

This is odd... I never wrote about a Ms Cather in my original novel. Irene cleared her throat after taking a sip of water, trying to conceal her irritation with a graciously welcoming smile. This woman... Just who is she?

While Irene continued to act as hospitable as possible, it seemed her brother had other ideas.

"You. Sophia, correct?" Rayvis then called out, and Irene glanced at Rayvis beside her, to see him coldly glaring at the old woman on the opposite side of the table. Upon realising he called the woman by her first name, it seemed the boy was planning to put the servant in her place.

"When do you plan on stepping aside? I don't know if you've realised it, but we've been trying to talk to the prince, not a servant."

Irene almost choked at her brother's show of little manners, when he was usually so polite and amiable toward strangers. Despite his crude words, a radiant smile was illuminating his expression. He's so straightforward while smiling so innocently... What a crazy kid.

Glancing at the shrewd old woman to observe her response, Irene held her breath anxiously. Ms Cather seemed to be wearing a completely composed and calm expression. So she can take an insult pretty well... Irene thought, but she couldn't be more wrong.

For it took all of Sophia Cather's strength, to hold that composure. That brat... He thinks because he's the son of a Duke, he has power over me?! She thought, in a fit of rage. Just you wait... I'll make sure your entire family falls at my feet!

"His Highness is still very shy, around new people," she simply responded, her voice dry and unpleasant to hear. "It may take him a while to get used to his surroundings and feel comfortable enough to speak. I hope you understand."

The rest of the dinner went by in an awkward silence between the children, with only Sarah making an awkward effort to talk. In the end, Ms Cather and the duchess were the only ones conversing, and one by one, the children finished their meals.

Irene noticed it after her meal, but Mikael was a rather slow eater. As she watched him, it seemed as if he was slightly unfamiliar with using a knife and fork, but he still managed to look elegant while having his meal. He even seemed to be enjoying it, since his gaze was fixed to his plate the entire time.

It was then she remembered — his life before wasn't the kind that had warm meals served to him every night.

As she waited for him to finish his meal, Irene approached Mikael, with a kind smile. "Your Highness, are you free right now?" She beamed, taking his hand which caught him by surprise. "I'd like to show you all my toys and favourite things!"

Mikael stared at her with a look of doubt across his deep blue eyes. Before he could say anything, Ms Cather spoke up, again.

"I'm afraid it's getting quite late, His Highness must be tired," She told her. "Perhaps tomorrow would be-"

"I was speaking to Prince Mikael." Irene cut her off, which annoyed the elderly woman to no end. Although she was one who could hide her inner thoughts well, the look in Irene's golden eyes spoke out a very clear message.

In a way, it looked like this little girl was warning Ms Cather of her position the same way Rayvis did, threatening her to stop talking. Irene wasn't the type to rudely assert herself, since she needed to create a good image of herself to guarantee her survival. But at times like this, she realised she shouldn't just nod along to a maid like this.

And as arrogant as Ms Cather was, she was aware that she had little power right now.

At least, over the Cherlianns. There was still one very important figure who would listen to her every word. Sophia smiled, staring at the back of Mikael's head.

"Your Highness?" She then called out, and the prince flinched uncomfortably. "You are tired, are you not?"

Mikael was silent for a moment. When Irene gazed up at his face, he looked like he was in the middle of an inner conflict. But his emotions were still kept almost invisible upon his doll-like face.

"Yes," he responded, before icily facing Irene. "I apologise, but I'm afraid I'm quite exhausted. I hope you'll understand."

Irene frowned, releasing Mikael's hand. The look on his face really says he wants nothing to do with me... She found herself slightly disheartened, before apologising and taking her leave. Albeit mostly unaffected by his coldness, it dawned on her in that moment — opening up to Mikael really wasn't going to be easy. She expected this already, but it only felt real now.

As she wondered about how to melt the prince's ice walls, Irene was oblivious to the fact that Mikael's gaze followed her out of the dining room. He surveyed the back of her receding figure, but remained indifferent to her.

That girl... He wanted to sigh, glancing down at the table. She just reeks of trouble.

Over the next few days, Irene continued to try and approach Mikael, much to his annoyance. It was the only way the girl felt she could somehow improve their nonexistent relationship — by forcing her way into his everyday life.

Ms Cather had started to hover around him a bit less - considering she, as a maid, had duties expected of her. Meanwhile, Mikael slowly familiarised himself with the manor, searching for all the quiet and unnoticed cracks in the walls where he could hide. At least - whenever Irene wasn't around, which was hardly ever.

Her presence was always following him wherever he went. Like an annoying fly that just wouldn't go away, and would come circling back the more you swat it away.

"Prince! Are you alone right now? How are you finding life at the estate?"

"Oh, would you like to see the garden? There are lots of winter flowers still around!"

"We should play a game together!"

Her endless attempts at being friends only introduced him to irritation, especially because he could hardly tell what the girl was thinking. Mikael continued to try and ignore her, but she was so persistent, he couldn't take it any longer.

As he found himself attempting to find the library one day, Mikael only ended up turning back around the moment she came up to him again. Irene followed him, attempting to match his increased speed as he paced down the halls to lose her - but to no avail.

"Your Highness! You're really running away again?" Irene whined, chasing after him as her shoes clacked against the marble ground. "You can't ignore me forever, you know."

"Will you drop the act, already? You're so annoying!" He suddenly snapped, turning his head back to face her with annoyance visible on his face. "Why are you constantly bothering me? What do you want?"

This was the first time he spoke to her in a way she felt was his real self. It took him several days, but at last, Mikael let go of- or rather, threw his composure out of the window.

Irene's expression didn't seem fazed. In fact, the fact that he seemed to reach his limit was quite a relief. She herself didn't think he would manage to ignore her for this long — the fact that it took so much of her effort just showed how resilient Mikael was. In a way, she was beginning to feel like her hard work was paying off.

"It's because I want to be friends, of course." Irene then told him simply, offering him a small smile. As they stood amidst the empty hallway, his expression only became more bitter.

"And I've already told you, I have no intention of being friends," he spat, turning his head away. "So stop persisting-"

"Now, that's never going to happen!" Irene interrupted, and for a moment - he stared up at her in bewilderment. As Irene took a step closer to him, Mikael found himself trapped in her strong gaze for a moment.

"I'm a Cherliann, and we're a stubborn family. Things just have to happen our way, you see," She smiled softly, closing her eyes as though reminiscent of a distant memory. Irene then faced Mikael again, with a look of unmovable resolve. "I wonder which of us will hold out the longest? You, who refuses to be friends — or me, who won't give up on becoming close?"

Those lapis-blue eyes of his widened upon hearing those words, as strands of pale hair fell over his beautiful face. Mikael averted his gaze, breaking away from her golden orbs which he felt would consume him.

"Just stop it already... Do you not know who I am?" He spoke in a whisper, but his voice quavered. "...I'm a prince who's already been thrown aside by the entire empire. No one would ever approach a bastard like me and ask to be friends without some kind of motive. If you want to use me, just say it honestly."

He was right, for the most part. In a world like this, Mikael was ultimately discarded by high society from the day of his birth. Unless they intended to use his identity as a prince to their own advantage, no one would ever warm up to him. That was why he would become a villain who would try to ruin Laydel in the first place.

But this time, that wasn't going to happen. Because Irene was going to change the nation's view of him entirely.

"Why would I want to use you? My dad is already powerful enough to get me anything I want." She harrumphed, crossing her arms as she frowned at the prince.

"Then what?" In turn, his beautiful face appeared visibly irritated. Creases formed between Mikael's brows, as his eyes narrowed sharply. "You're doing this out of pity? Or because you want to feel like a good person?"

Irene wanted to sigh. He sure has a sharp tongue, she thought. It was then, that Irene closed in on Mikael, reaching a hand up to his face and causing him to jolt from the sudden contact.

But oddly, the warmth of her fingers didn't feel unpleasant. As he gazed into her golden eyes again, Irene offered him another smile.

"I'm doing this because I like you." She told him simply. Mikael's jaw dropped — but no words came out. He was so dumbfounded by what he just heard, he almost forgot how to breathe.

"Maybe I am doing this out of pity. Maybe I do want to feel better about myself," Irene smiled warmly. "But most of all... I'm just doing it because it's nice to have allies in a big scary world! Do you really need a reason to become friendly with someone? If I like you, that's enough reason for us to become friends."

Oh... So when she said she likes me, it's in a friendly way... Mikael thought, somewhat relieved. As Irene stepped away from him, the prince turned his head. Despite her convincing argument, he was still sceptical.

The word 'friends' was completely foreign to the prince, but he knew it would only cause more trouble than good. Someone like him — a person scorned by society, could never hope to find comrades among the elite members of the nation. Not even his own brother - the sole person who cared about him - could ever take his side.

But something about this girl overwhelmed him in ways he himself couldn't understand. She was irritating, ignorant and obstinate. But her eccentric attitude toward him felt oddly comforting. And that was what frightened him.

I can't let this girl or anyone else, bring my hopes up. The good of this world was never meant for me.

"... You're really annoying." Was all he said, after that. And as Irene watched him run off, disappearing down the hallway, she decided not to chase him this time.

As always, she couldn't tell what he was thinking. But unlike his previous moments of indifference or annoyance toward her — Irene noticed a fleeting hint of sadness in his eyes before he left. A side of him she was yet to see, but was sure he experienced it in abundance.

Irene clenched her fists in determination, as Mikael soon disappeared from her view. So long as she continued to persuade him into forming a close bond with her, things wouldn't progress negatively. All she had to do was keep this persistence up.

I'm going to change this story, no matter what.

And to do that, I'll bring the villain to my side.