How to Live as the Enemy Prince

Kyrie couldn’t believe everything that was happening before his eyes. 

The person who saved them from the gambling grounds was the prince, and he had even given them money. However, Calian wasn’t just here to give them money.

Calian continued, 

“After five days, come to the palace and look for me. Don’t confuse me for another prince. There’s one that’s a bad drunk, and it’ll be bad if you find him instead.”

Hina laughed silently. It seemed like rumours about the ‘bad drunk’ had already spread outside the palace. 

Suddenly, she widened her eyes and stared at Calian. She must have just processed what Calian meant when he told them to come to the palace.

“You can stay at the palace for now. It would be difficult for me to let you stay as a guest, so you’d have to work. But it should still be much better than where you were before. Anyway, when you come to the palace, there will be a boy called Yan who kind of looks like a cute puppy. Just do as he says. I… might not be able to see you two right away since I’ll be busy.”

It wasn’t in Calian’s power to help Hina, who couldn’t talk, live on her own immediately without Kyrie. 

He could have sent her to Alan’s house, but he figured that Kyrie would be uncomfortable with the idea. 

After all, Alan was a young man by appearance. It would be better for Calian to have her work as his maid. It wouldn’t be too late to let her leave when she decides to do so for herself.

“You got everything?”

Nod.

“Alright. Which prince am I?”

Three fingers.

“Do you mind working in the palace?”

She shook her head.

“After how many days?”

Five fingers.

“Alright, good.”

Nod nod.

Hina nodded with so much energy, Calian was almost concerned that her neck might be sore. 

Calian had to stop himself from petting Hina’s head. Although she was shorter than Calian, he remembered that she was two years older.

Having told what he had to tell Hina, Calian turned around and pulled down Kyrie’s sword that was placed on Raven’s saddle. 

“Take this.”

Kyrie took the sword in the confusion of the moment. Its weight was just right for him to swing it around. Calian smiled contently. 

‘That’s right. Kyrie is only truly himself when he’s holding a sword.’

“You won’t be able to become a knight right away. You’d have to serve as my shield first. If you still wish to learn how to use a sword, come find me.”

Kyrie looked down at his sword, and back up at Calian.

“I promise to turn you into the best sword in existence.”

A sword that serves the prince. Kyrie couldn’t ever dream of it. He couldn’t believe any of this.

“Why… Why do you give us so much?” asked Kyrie.

“I need a good sword,” answered Calian.

It didn’t take long for Kyrie to make his decision. 

Finally, somebody who recognised his desire had appeared before him. There was nothing much to think about.

Kyrie dropped and kneeled in front of Calian and said almost desperately, 

“I’ll go. Please allow me to become your sword, Your Highness.” 

Yes. I came here so that I could save my sword.

Calian smiled and pulled Kyrie up onto his feet.

‘And this, Kyrie, is how I’d like to repay your kindness.’

—

Thankfully, Calian reached Teinansha Street before sunrise. However, he was certainly not in his best state. He had walked into the street practically lying down on Raven’s back.

A few people – they must have either woken up early or not slept at all – were walking on the street in their mage’s robes. 

Those who saw the suspicious person who was shrivelled up on the back of a black horse flinched and backed away. Every time this happened, Raven’s hooves clacked on the pavement with a subtle sense of pride. 

He must have been reminded of attracting everybody’s attention during the march.

Calian, who was still lying down on Raven’s back, mumbled in defeat. 

“This isn’t the good kind of attention. Stop being so proud of it. It’s embarrassing.”

After finishing everything that he needed to do, all the exhaustion and pain hit Calian at once. He had gathered what little mana he had to use his aura. 

Even though he took his medicine, he was at his limit. He was left with no other choice but to use Raven’s back as a bed. 

It was a good thing that Raven was so smart. If he hadn’t returned to the Royal Road by himself, they wouldn’t have made it back on time.

Not long after, they arrived at the Mages’ Union headquarters that Alan had mentioned. 

When Calian stumbled into the building, the mages joyously greeted him. Euria, the leader of the Mages’ Union, came down herself and showed Calian into a room on the fourth floor.

It was a small study that could also be used to welcome guests. All kinds of books about magic filled the bookshelves that lined the walls. A knife ornament on the desk caught Calian’s eyes. It was oddly similar to the one that Calian had.

Alan was sitting on the couch. He was waiting for Calian without sleeping. Calian was so glad to see Alan after his long night and had to swallow his tears of gratefulness.

“Teacher.”

Alan gaped as he stared at Calian’s worn-out appearance. 

“Did you get into a fight? Where in the world did you lose all your clothes?”

Calian laughed. 

“I didn’t get into a fight. About my clothes… it’s a long story.”

He had only put up a front to threaten the men at the gambling grounds, and technically didn’t get into a fight. 

Alan scrunched up his nose, presumably from the foul smell of the gambling grounds that had oozed into Calian’s clothes. He snapped his finger. A fresh gust of air surrounded Calian and he instantly felt refreshed. Calian was overjoyed to know that it was cleaning magic.

“Thank you,” said Calian as he plopped onto the couch across Alan.

Alan closed the book that he was holding. 

“Did you finish everything that you needed to do?”

“Yes, for now. I think I’d have to come back out again in about a month.”

Alan nodded. He would be willing to bring Calian outside next month as well.

Alan let go of his book in the air. To Calian’s surprise, the book fluttered away like a bird and nested itself into the bookshelf.

Alan saw Calian marvelling at the book and explained, 

“A spell has been cast on the building. It allows you to move objects where you wish. Mages are very inactive creatures, you see.”

“That’s quite fascinating.”

“Yes, even though it was probably more trouble to cast a spell on the whole building. That’s just what mages do, so don’t worry about it.”

Calian laughed. He glanced at the object that had caught his eye earlier.

“But that knife isn’t something that mages don’t really use.” commented Calian.

Alan followed Calian’s gaze and stared at the knife for a little too long.

“You’re right. There’s… a knife,” he said in a strangely unsettling voice.

Alan smiled bitterly. Calian turned towards Alan, slightly confused.

Although the object was sitting there like it was nothing, Euria held this treasure more valuable than her life. It was none other than Sispanian’s own creation. 

It was a magic device that warned of someone’s hidden weapon in the form of a desk ornament.

In other words, the fact that there was a knife ornament on the desk signified that Calian currently had a knife hidden away.

“It’s something that shouldn’t be there.” Alan’s eyes sunk.

“When people age, many things are supposed to change… but it seems that curiosity still thrives in me.”

Calian’s face filled with confusion once again. Instead of explaining any further, Alan prepared his mana.

“As I have just told you, the objects in this room can move according to my will. All I need is to know how to connect my will to them, so there’s nothing difficult about it,” Alan continued.

Calian still couldn’t understand why Alan was saying all this. He was about to suggest that Alan slept a little, but could not get the words out.

“I wish people’s minds worked the same way – easily moved and understood.”

Calian couldn’t get the words out because he saw the knife ornament slowly being lifted off the desk.

“But that is the one thing that can never be done.”

The blade, which was sharper than needed for an ornament, slowly turned towards Calian.

Calian narrowed his eyes. 

“Teacher-”

“If this is my only way of opening your mind, so be it.”

Calian thought it was a joke. However, Alan didn’t stop.

Fwoosh!

The knife flew into Calian’s neck. Calian’s hand moved instinctively.

Clang!

The deafening sound of two blades striking each other rang throughout the study.

Complete silence settled in. 

Alan stared.

He stared at the knife that was in Calian’s hand, the knife that was deflected into the wall –

And at Calian’s eyes that were as sharp as the knife’s blade.

Calian stared at Alan without a word, and Alan gazed back in silence.

It was Alan who broke the suffocating silence first.

“Please explain.”

Calian closed his eyes for a moment.