As Mikael and Irene silently left the scene hand-in-hand, she couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind, in that moment. The cold touch of his small fingers intwining with her own, the back of his head which felt difficult to read, and even the silent way he carried himself.

Irene felt like a frozen fish, unable to process what was happening. Her hand stinging from when she slapped Ivan. But the sight of Mikael's back and his hand clasping around her palm, overwhelmed all the other feelings in her body.

The way he acted just now was almost protective, in a way. It was something she didn't expect to see from him, even if they became friendlier than before. Irene couldn't help but start to wonder if Mikael actually cared about her more than he let on. Perhaps that was his way of showing his feelings.

It was then that he finally stopped, taking a halt but not turning around to face the girl behind him. Around them, the foliage rustled from a cool breeze sweeping past. Strands of his velvety hair gently danced like elegant threads.

"You shouldn't have slapped him," He told her, his voice almost inaudible. Irene held her breath, as the child in front of her turned around - and met her gaze at last. His glistening blue eyes appeared pained yet relieved, at the same time. "It doesn't matter what people say about me, but don't put yourself in an awkward situation by getting mad."

Irene silently took in those words for a moment, before frowning. "...I don't care," she managed to say. "You're more my friend than anyone else. Do you really think I'd just stand by and let someone insult you like that?"

Mikael continued to gaze at her with a relieved expression, before he offered a rueful smile. "What's with you, seriously?" It looked like he was on the verge of letting his emotions spill through tears. For a woman in the body of a child, it was hard to watch such a small boy hold back his emotions, or lock them away altogether.

But the more time she spent with him, the more she saw that Mikael really was just another nine-year-old child. He loved to play games - relishing victories and making fun of her for being so bad. He enjoyed seeing things like meteor showers, adored sweet things, and his patience was close to nil.

In that moment, his iris-blue eyes were glassy and pained, and Irene felt as if she finally began to understand him more than she thought.

Mikael didn't think I would side with him just now...

Is that why he looks so relieved? Because I protected him instead of blaming him, like anyone else would have done?

He was a child who closed himself off because no matter how long he waited, no one would acknowledge him or embrace him. He became cold and pushed people away before they could get to him, because he didn't want to get hurt. Mikael was aware of his own feelings from a young age, and he ended up becoming a villain because the world around him pushed him over the edge.

Gazing at his sad expression, Irene offered the boy in front of her a small smile. She gently reached up her free hand, and to his surprise - she brushed her palm over his hair, petting him tenderly.

"There's one thing you should know, Mikael," she beamed, causing the boy to glance up at her with interest. "I'll always be on your side, even if the whole of Laydel isn't. You can try to push me away, or tell me to stop, but you won't ever change my mind."

Mikael speechlessly gazed at the girl as he processed those words of hers. All his life, Mikael thought that this world wasn't meant for him. He didn't have parents who loved him, like other children did. He didn't have friends he could bond and grow up with, like other children did. People didn't look at him with the tender sweetness he longed for. And even his only sibling was pitted against him by society.

But when Irene Cherliann, a girl who perpetually annoyed him and only spelled out trouble, managed to force her way in like a brutish animal — he never realised she would be the first person to break him.

He was truly convinced. Irene Cherliann wasn't someone with ulterior motives. She wasn't a person who ever spited him, and she was always obstinately trying to grow closer to him. Admittedly, he enjoyed the time he spent with her, but the part of him that couldn't trust others would always stop him from warming up to her completely.

She defended me, believing that I did nothing wrong... And she even slapped Ivan for my sake...

Not even Daniel ever stood up for me in that way...

For a while, Mikael thought Daniel and Irene were similar. But this experience made him realise they were a lot different. Irene was much braver.

"You sure are confident..." Mikael frowned softly, averting his gaze after a moment. When she gazed at his furtive expression, Irene noticed a faint rosy glow tinting his pale cheeks. "What if I become a bad person? Would you side with me even then?"

Irene chuckled at this, finding his reaction cute and leaning in toward Mikael with a cheeky grin. "Oh? Are you really underestimating my resolve?" All her previous tensions melted away, and the kind and radiant Irene he knew was finally back.

"Well, I won't let you weaken me... I'm pretty stubborn too, you know." He told her, but he didn't really look convinced by his own words. Irene only continued to smile at him triumphantly.

"Ahaha, is that so?~" Irene chuckled, before glancing down and pointing to her right hand. "But I think I've already weakened you? After all, you've been holding on to me this whole time."

His eyes followed hers, and only then did he notice his hand was still firmly grasping Irene's smooth palms.

Mikael's pale face flushed a bright red — he quickly retreated his hand and hid it behind his back. The white-haired girl only laughed at the motion, leaving him flustered and slightly embarrassed.

"It seems that all my effort over the last few months has finally paid off!" She beamed. "I guess a part of you doesn't want to distance yourself from me now, right?"

"...Stop talking, idiot." He mumbled, face glowing red all the way up to his ears. But Irene only giggled at his cuteness. Perhaps that fight with Ivan was a good thing, since it helped her grow closer to the prince in the end. Even though it did add another mess to clear up later.

"Anyways, we should go in and treat you," Irene suggested, pointing to the swelling below his cheek. "Ivan that punk...! I won't forgive him for harming this precious face!"

"There you go again, with the 'pretty face' talk..." Mikael sighed, as the two strolled back inside the building together. "What about my face is so precious to you?"

"Are you really that unaware? Your face is picturesque! You look like an angel, and I bet you'll be total eye-candy when you grow up." Irene debated.

Her words only elicited a look of confusion. "What does... 'eye-candy' mean?" He asked, as she sheepishly looked away.

Oops... I let that slip out. "It's nothing, don't worry about it."

Since then, a week had passed as delicate white blossoms began to grow on the trees surrounding the manor. The previous frosty air had finally thawed out a little - much to Rayvis' relief. He could finally train without having his lungs and hands almost freeze to death, under his merciless teacher's guidance.

As the heir of House Cherliann manoeuvred his body decisively with his sword's blade glinting under the light, it clashed violently with the knight's. His shoulder-length silver hair shone like his weapon, blue eyes narrowed and focused on his practise opponent. There was no hesitation in his expression - only a cold visage betraying no remorse.

Mikael watched Rayvis skilfully parry every one of the knight's blows, steadily building up speed in his attacks. He stood at the sidelines, beside the teacher who was apparently going to train him next. An old man from the eastern continent - said to have taught Duke Rudien as a child.

Captain Yue Hakure. A soldier who previously served as an army general in his home nation — Jowei, before leaving as a traveller and coming to Laydel to teach all he knew. A master of sixteen sword styles, adept with any weapon, as well as an unbeatable force who raised monsters rather than swordsmen.

I'm going to be learning from a man like that... Mikael thought, side-glancing at the man beside him. He looked to be about in his late seventies, yet his keen eyes and healthy stature suggested he was still very much alive. He watched Rayvis practise like a hawk, searching for any flaw in his footwork or prowess. But very few came to light.

Captain Hakure smiled slightly when the knight Rayvis was practising with, fell to the ground and was instantly overpowered by the young boy. With the edge of his sword lined against the soldier's throat, Rayvis gazed down with a merciless look in his eyes.

"I win." He curtly stated, as the knight beneath him breathlessly heaved a sigh in defeat. The boy sheathed his sword, closing his sapphire eyes for a moment, before extending a hand to help up his practise partner - a knight who was also an adult man.

"As expected of the lord's son. You're just as frightening as your father, Sir Rayvis." He wailed, and Rayvis chuckled softly. The previous cold look in his eyes melted away, as quickly as a snowflake in one's tender palm.

"Well, I have to be strong if I can live up to my father's name," he chuckled. Rayvis then turned to his teacher, who had been watching beside Mikael, and approached the two. "So? How did I do?"

"You did well," Hakure praised, but his expression didn't appear too impressed. "Every move was carried out perfectly, and you handled all the strong attacks well. Rudien himself wasn't this skilled at your age."

Rayvis smirked triumphantly. "Let's hope my dad doesn't get jealous when he sees how quickly I'm surpassing him!" He joked.

Meanwhile, Mikael stood watching the elder brother of Irene with a nonchalant expression. To this day, the two never really had a conversation, and it had already been over a month since the prince settled into the Cherliann household. Rayvis seemed to find something suspicious about the prince, and so he was initially cold to him.

But seeing as he was close to Irene now, the elder brother decided to not say anything. Especially after hearing from Haren, the fight that took place between Mikael and Ivan not too long ago.

Yet no matter how well Rayvis was able to remain strangers with the blonde-haired boy, they were about to have their first class together now that Mikael was taken in as a new student under Hakure. Since he was royalty, it was compulsory for Mikael to have been fully educated and able with the sword.

That was why Sarah organised for him to join Rayvis' lessons, at Rudien's request.

It was rather uncomfortable for both boys, who couldn't tell what the other was thinking. Rayvis was still wary of the prince's intentions, and afraid that he was secretly exploiting Irene to gain his own power. Meanwhile, Mikael felt Rayvis had some ill will towards him as every other person did, because of who his mother was. He couldn't help but feel his situation was only going to get worse, with Rayvis as his senior in these classes.

However, the swordplay lessons were not a complete loss. Mikael had been looking forward to them, in fact.

In this nation, if a man is strong, he earns respect... He thought. People will leave me alone if I can prove myself through this.

"Now then," Hakure turned to the prince, his new student. "Your Highness, you will learn the basics and fundamental areas of wielding a sword from Young Master Rayvis."

The two boys froze in awe for a second.

What...?

"But Sir Hakure, shouldn't he be learning those things from you?" Rayvis asked in confusion. "I've never even taught a person before, and I'm still learning myself."

Hakure's decision would remain unchanging, and that could be seen in the slightly unimpressed look on his wrinkled face. "If you can't teach one knight, how do you expect yourself to handle a whole army when you take your father's place one day?"

Rayvis was noticeably taken back by that remark. Heir or not, he was only twelve, and didn't want to end up being responsible for this prince's education. It would have been different if it were someone else, but Mikael of all people...

"What? Is it too hard for you?" Hakure scoffed condescendingly, his dark eyes gazing down at Rayvis in disapproval. "What a shame. This would be a great learning curve for you, but if you don't want to do it-"

"Fine, I'll do it!" Rayvis interjected, leaving Mikael in surprise. The silver-haired boy then glanced at the prince beside him, his expression slightly cold. "But don't blame me if something goes wrong."

Hakure saw this happening, knowing full well about the situation he had created. It was known throughout the manor that Rayvis was unwelcoming toward the prince from the start, even though people were beginning to accept Mikael now.

He needs to overcome this on his own. If the day ever comes that Mikael becomes important, Rayvis may need to serve him one day.

A tiger who defies its master is always going to be thrown in a cage and discarded.

After talking with their instructor, Rayvis took Mikael to where the beginners often trained, with straw dummies and wooden swords. At one point, he had been here as well when he was a child. The memories always resurfaced whenever he entered the novice zone, and it would always bring a smile to his face - realising how much he had grown in just a few years.

But for now, he had something else on his mind.

Rayvis came to a halt, before turning around to face the young prince. The blonde head of the boy was shorter and smaller compared to him, but he didn't seem the slightest bit intimidated when Rayvis suddenly peered into his face with a murderously baleful look in his cold, icy blue eyes.

"Before we get started, I hope that you know - whatever you learn here will never be used to harm Irene. Understand?" Rayvis smiled, but his voice was laced with venom. And although Mikael was thinking in that moment - why would I hurt Irene? Rayvis placed a hand on his shoulder as a friendly gesture, but the prince could easily tell...

Like a snake concealed under the grass, waiting to jump at its prey — Rayvis' hand was dangerously close to Mikael's neck. It felt that he could strangle him at any given moment. Rayvis wasn't even trying to mask his threat, because his smile was not one of kindness.

Mikael knew well, in that moment. This person would not hesitate to kill anyone. He's as dangerous as his father, it seems. Despite the frightening nature of these thoughts, the prince remained unfazed. He remembered Irene's words about her brother in that moment.

"Brother Rayvis can be such a baby, sometimes."

"My brother is a sweet person. Kind of an idiot sometimes, but he's always been adorable to me."

I wonder if she knows about this side of him...

"So," the silver-haired boy then stepped away, returning to his normal, carefree self before taking a wooden sword and handing it to Mikael. "To start, we need to do stretches. And then I'll show you the basic stance and attacks. Then, you'll attack this dummy." Rayvis spoke without any malice in his voice. He only looked at Mikael with nonchalance now.

The prince took the swords's hilt, an unfamiliar feeling as he held the lean wooden blade and observed it keenly. Hakure observed the two boys from a distance, watching as Rayvis explained certain actions to him, and Mikael tried to mirror those moves.

As he expected, Rayvis was able to teach the prince efficiently, even though there was tension between them. Although Mikael was someone he doubted, right now - he was his first ever student. Rayvis wanted to do this well in order to prove his own worth.

After a while, Mikael had gotten down the basic patterns of Rayvis' instructions. Then, the young master of Cherliann watched with crossed arms, as the prince began to attack one of the dummies with those moves.

His attacks are really shallow, lacking strength or technique. But his movements are fast and his body is flexible... Rayvis thought, watching as the stiff prince struggled to damage a single hair on the dummy's body.

The silver-haired boy sighed softly. Okay this prince is really bad... I thought he would be naturally gifted since he appeared dangerous at first, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Since Mikael always had a vicious look in his eyes, Rayvis felt wary about the prince and his intentions. He could never tell whether the prince held malice toward the Cherlianns, but his sister's continuous attempts to befriend the prince, somehow thawed out the frosty glare Mikael carried about with him. Eventually, at least.

I've been watching him to make sure he doesn't try anything funny... But he may just be a normal kid. Rayvis thought to himself. Perhaps being around Irene was what changed the look in the blonde boy's eyes, but when he really thought about it - not even Rayvis could blame Mikael for appearing hostile at the start. Who knew what kind of life he lived up till now?

I guess I'll try to be nicer to him. A little. The heir of Cherliann crossed his arms, his eyes locked onto the back of Mikael's head. Since my adorable sister likes him so much.