"You're really blunt out of nowhere."
I stared intently at Arjen.
"...Because you've been throwing tantrums over toys you don't care about since earlier, and pretended to get lost even though you came here on purpose."
Arjen tilted his chiseled jaw slightly.
"How old are you? You're perceptive."
"I'm 8, y'know..."
"Huh? I thought you were 6..."
What nonsense! I wanted to snap back but restrained myself because Theo was sleeping.
"Ah, sorry. I misjudged because you're so tiny."
"$%$#^@!"
"Even your hands and feet are ridiculously small..."
"@#!$@%!"
"...Got it. Today I learned you can convey such insults through lip movements alone. My bad for the personal attack. I apologize."
Huuuu. I took several deep breaths to compose myself. Hold it in, hold it in.
"Seeing that reaction makes me glad I came."
His cat-like eyes softened into crescents.
"What's that supposed to mean? How did you even know I was here?"
"Simple - just asked where the Wintervalt Ducal carriage went..."
"...Then how did you know I live with the Wintervalt Ducal family..."
"Ah... that."
The prince smiled with childish innocence.
"I really enjoy exploring. Great at catching frogs, making lake splashes, and sneaking naps in libraries."
Since when did this become an achievement showcase?
"When you wander enough... you pick up things. Like how you're the kid who found the Duke's lost artifact and got adopted."
So he'd been eavesdropping on adult conversations.
'What kind of child is this...?'
His posture remained princely perfect, yet his clothes hung worn and disheveled in contrast.
Though his lips maintained a practiced smile, his dull crimson eyes revealed no emotion.
'A suspicious jelly prince full of contradictions...'
I finally asked in resignation:
"So why did you seek me out..."
After a beat of silence, Arjen replied:
"My belongings..."
"Huh?"
"You took my things."
His flat tone held no accusation, yet my shoulders slumped involuntarily.
"Excuse me? Appearing suddenly to accuse me of theft?"
"Truly?"
Swoosh.
He leaned into my space.
"Absolutely certain you took nothing?"
Maintaining eye contact, Arjen twisted to reach behind me. Before I could react, he'd snatched my turtle-shaped pouch.
"Hey...!"
Ziiiip.
He unzipped it decisively, producing a handkerchief-wrapped bundle. Within lay vibrantly colored jellies neatly arranged.
"See?"
My eyes darted away guiltily.
"Hehe... I just picked up discarded goods... Is that criminal?"
"Trash bin items aren't free for taking. Didn't read Chapter 3 of Ethical Mind & Prudent Living Volume 1?"
"Pardon?"
The prince sighed and patiently recited the textbook passage.
I pouted, subtly shifting to conceal the weighted pouch at my back.
'So he returned suspecting I took his jellies.'
Since when do child princes investigate so thoroughly?
Truthfully, I'd collected them for another reason:
'...Heard they induce sleepiness. Wanted an excuse to meet again.'
I'd been skeptical until now.
But his retrieval attempt confirmed it - these jellies held secrets.
"About these jellies..."
"I'll take my leave now."
Arjen stood abruptly.
"Keep today secret. Adults won't believe a child's word without proof anyway."
"Wait! Where are you going?"
More urgent than his request, panic surged at his departure. My hand clutched his sleeve before I realized.
"......"
His frown made me recoil as if burned.
'Dislikes unpermitted contact?'
"Snuck out while grooms were drunk. Must return before chaos erupts."
"......"
"Tell Lord Blaine my attendants retrieved me."
I studied his impassive face.
"Fine. Then... grant me one favor."
"...Price for silence?"
"Call it that."
I extended my palm.
"Just let me hold your hand once."
"Apologies, but I'm penniless."
"No, your actual hand-"
A crease split his brow.
"Why...?"
Because despite this long conversation, no memories surfaced like before!
'My mind erupted earlier upon seeing him.'
Now unsettlingly calm. Had that been a dream?
Physical contact might trigger recall.
'Once.'
Just once, hand-in-hand. Oh fastidious prince!
Restore my memories!
'Fingers interlaced, preferably!'
Perhaps sensing my desperation, Arjen reached out trance-like.
30cm between our hands.
20cm. 10cm...
5cm...
Click.
'Huh?'
A soft chuckle sounded as his hand withdrew.
"Apologies. I dislike hand-holding."
"...?"
"Childish practice."
Says the 9-year-old!
Ignoring my stunned look, Arjen flung the carriage door open.
"I'll pay you later. Keep quiet."
With that impertinent remark, he vanished into winding alleys.
"Ugh."
My memory key escaped!
A spring gust swirled through the doorway, making sleeping Theo shiver.
Then - impossibly - the prince reappeared.
"......"
Our eyes met through the door crack.
Just as I opened my mouth-
Thud.
The outside view disappeared.
'Wait...'
Did he...
'Return solely to close the door properly?!'
"Huuuuuuuh."
All strength drained from my limbs.
"What even is this kid...?"
Flapflapflap!
My limbs flopped uselessly like beached fish.
Meanwhile, in shadowed alleys:
"Ah, adorable~"
A magician hummed while walking.
Removing his ring transformed him - green eyes unchanged, but black hair now pink. He crushed a forged junior mage's badge to dust. The Magic Tower wouldn't trace this disguise.
"My precious daughter."
Memories surfaced of their past in the Magic Tower.
Her eyes had widened beautifully at his touch.
'Her power control improves daily.'
She'd grow safely this way.
Soon, he could reemerge publicly.
'That fool better perform at the summit.'
His lips twisted bitterly.
'Sent the rigged mana gauge already. Failure is unforgivable.'
The evidence to expose the divine beast's secret:
Northern coordinates paired with a mana density reader.
Tamper-proof spells normally guarded such gauges - trivial for the former Tower Archmage.
'Warned him my clever daughter might interfere.'
No failures allowed.
Wintervalt would crumble, the child returning to him amidst chaos.
'And Calex, desperate over the divine beast, will order her to fix it!'
Absorbing that power through her...
Obtaining the complete Druid...
"These trials will bear meaning."
All proceeds as planned!
Humming cheerfully, the man disappeared.
