Chapter 4: 3

“Because you’re handsome.” I shrugged nonchalantly. 

 

“What?”

 

“Hehe. Hmm? Your Highness, there’s a leaf here.”

 

When I found a leaf attached to Kyle’s shoulder, I reached out to brush it off.

 

But– 

 

“Nngh!”

 

As soon as my hand touched his shoulder, Kyle grimaced and flinched.

 

Confused, I took my hand back.

 

What? Did I brush too hard?

 

But I soon noticed a trace of red left on the inside of his baggy shirt. A grim thought flashed through my mind at that moment.

 

Yeah, Kyle’s childhood in the original story…

 

I grabbed Kyle by the wrist. Holding tightly onto the embarrassed Kyle, I pulled down the collar of his clothes to the side. 

 

“Vivian!” Kyle shouted.

 

Oh my god.

 

What is all this?

 

At first glance, Kyle’s white shoulders were webbed with angry red marks.

 

The welts even extended down to his back. Some were in a slightly darker color, and some were so brightly red that they had to have been freshly carved.

 

This….this…..

 

“Vivian, can you let go of me now?” Kyle pleaded.

 

“Who hit my poor puppy?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Mmm?”

 

“What did you say…?” Kyle asked again, looking at me with surprised eyes.

 

What…?

 

Did I say my thoughts out loud?

 

Oh! Seeing Kyle´s face in panic, I think I ….

 

Hahhh.

 

 ‘I made a mistake.’

 

After a moment of embarrassment, Kyle shook my hand off of his shirt collar.

 

Though he hurried to adjust his clothes, I had already seen it all.

 

‘That’s the wound Titania made, right?’

 

Titania was Kyle’s birth mother and was originally a maid in the Imperial Palace. With her beautiful appearance, she was noticed by the emperor and they spent the night together. This led to the birth of her son, Kyle.

 

Until Kyle was born, the emperor’s only children were Prince Logan and Princess Rosaline, who were mothered by the official Empres. 

 

Even though there were more than a few women touched by the emperor, they were the only heirs produced, so everyone thought that Prince Logan, the eldest, would rise to the throne.

 

However, a maid who suddenly appeared took the concubine’s seat next to the emperor and gave birth to a son.

 

It was only natural for the Empress and her home, the Dukedom of Grassrin, to be wary of Titania and Kyle. 

 

The Empress isolated Titania completely. This was very easily accomplished using the power of Duke Grassrin, a founder of the country.

 

In the first place, there was no way for the high-spirited nobles to recognize a maid’s son. When the emperor turned away from Titania because his lust for her had faded, her position within the imperial palace inevitably narrowed. 

 

A small palace, a few maids obtained by giving birth to a son and becoming a concubine – that was all Titania got.

 

Maybe that was why Titania was obsessed with Kyle being the crown prince and then becoming the emperor. She thought that her miserable life would suddenly mean something after Kyle became emperor.

 

In fact, her origin contributed to the fact that Titania was helplessly subjected to the empress’s checks, so she harbored a deep sense of resentment.

 

To put it bluntly, it was unlikely that the son of the concubine, who was abandoned by the emperor, would become the emperor. However, Titania, who climbed higher than her station and fell, was unable to make a rational judgment.

 

Kyle, who showed extraordinary brilliance from an early age must have ignited her desire as well.

 

If Kyle ascends to the throne, then no one will be able to look down on her.

 

Her obsessive thoughts led Titania to raise her hand to Kyle. She took up the rod as soon as Kyle showed the slightest misbehavior or lack of learning.

 

In a place called the education room, physical punishment was imposed under the pretext of love.

 

‘Actually, I wonder if you can call that education. It doesn’t seem like anything other than abuse, to me.’

 

After all, what Titania claimed to be Kyle’s shortcomings were ultimately determined by her mood, right?

 

Kyle wrapped his shirt so tightly that his bare skin was entirely covered.

 

“I will overlook your rudeness once. Go back now.” He said in a voice devoid of emotion.

 

“Are you okay with that wound?”

 

I asked, defying Kyle’s order. It wasn’t okay, and I couldn’t pretend that I didn’t know.

 

Kyle´s face seemed to contort for a moment, but soon he continued feigning ignorance.

 

“I don’t know what kind of wound you’re talking about.”

 

He stood up crookedly and crossed his arms. His face clearly said ‘What are you still doing here?’

 

‘I´m here to reconcile with you, but things seem to be getting worse.’ I thought hopelessly.

 

If I step back, I don’t know when I’ll be able to meet Kyle the next time.

 

And now that I’ve seen the wounds, I can’t pretend nothing happened.

 

I flopped down in front of Kyle.

 

I took out a small package of snacks from the small bag at my side. Kyle looked down at me in amazement.

 

“What are you doing?” He asked incredulously.

 

“I’m going to eat snacks.”

 

“Are the snacks going into your mouth now?”

 

Where else would they go? I shrugged my shoulders and unfastened the red ribbon from the wrapped pocket.

 

I was a little worried because I ran so much, but fortunately, the cookies were not broken and were pristinely contained.

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I handed out one of the prettiest cookies to Kyle. 

 

“Your Highness, would you like to have one?”

 

“No, and you called me a poor puppy earlier.”

 

Why did you bring that up again?

 

I pretended not to hear and stretched out my arm for him to take the cookie.

 

Still, Kyle didn’t budge. I had no choice but to lure him in.

 

“This is a very delicious cookie. This is a cookie that our genius chef made with his utmost sincerity this morning.”

 

“………”

 

“I just might go home once I finish eating all these cookies….”

 

“Phew.”

 

Kyle let out a sigh unbefitting his young age and sat down next to me. A blunt touch took the cookie in my hand.

 

I laughed and took my share out of the pocket.

 

I took a big bite of a delicious-looking cookie with white chocolate chunks stuck all over it.

 

“Eat and go home.”

 

“Yes,” I agreed satisfiedly. “The sweets are quite good, right?”

 

“….not bad.”

 

“Hehe. I knew it.”

 

We sat side by side for a while and shared cookies.

 

I heard a little bird chirping somewhere. Butterflies fluttered over the tall bushes.

 

The scenery of the garden was so peaceful that my mind was running wild even with the distraction of eating cookies.

 

How can I save Kyle from Titania?

 

In the original story, the abuse from Titania continued until Kyle became an adult.

 

As a child, he did not know how to rebel, and after a little growth, he endured the violence silently due to his already imprinted fear, resignation, and his love-hate relationship with his mother.

 

After a long time, his battered body and mind were truly saved only after meeting the female lead.

 

But that’s just the original plot.

 

Kyle, who is now enduring the violence of Titania, is a living person to me.

 

Kyle and I are the same age and I’m 11 years old now. This means Kyle has eight years left before he escapes from the abuse as an adult.

 

In addition, the level of abuse will gradually increase in the future if the story is the same as the original. I can’t just stand by and do nothing knowing a child is being harmed right beside me.

 

But how could I help?

 

I could tell everyone about Kyle’s wounds and expose Titania’s atrocities. But it would lower Kyle’s honor to the ground.

 

A prince who grew up being beaten by his mother, who used to be a maid.

 

That is the sort of story that aristocrats who like to rip, chew, and taste the reputations of others will go crazy about.

 

There was a reason why Kyle tried to hide it.

 

The best thing to do is to keep Kyle and Titania apart…

 

Kyle suddenly opened his mouth to me, who was frowning and agonizing. “Never mind it.”

 

“What?”

 

“Pretend you didn’t see it,” he reiterated.

 

Kyle calmly said his piece and ate the remaining cookies in one bite. He looked like someone who had already given up, so my heart ached even more.

 

Even though he is a male protagonist who will overcome hardships and adversity, Kyle is still young.

 

“Prince, if you could get out of this situation, would you do that?”

 

Kyle´s eyes widened for a moment at my question. But soon he shook his head.

 

“It’s impossible.”

 

“I might be able to help you.”

 

“How? It’s done. I just need to put up with it.”

 

‘No, you bastard! What else are you going to endure after leaving your back like that?’

 

I cried out inside because I felt inexplicably emotional at his indifference to his own suffering.

 

“I can do it! If possible, it’s better to get out of there, right?” I pushed.

 

“If there’s any fuss, then I’m against it.”

 

“There won’t be a fuss, so don’t worry!”

 

I pounded my chest with my fist to show to believe only in me. 

 

Kyle’s strange gaze reached me. He asked in a slightly hoarse voice. “Why are you doing that?”

 

“Well….we’re friends.”

 

If I help you, you’ll one day help me too.

 

A mutual aid relationship?

 

“Trust me.” I said in my warmest voice.

 

I did my best for Kyle, who was anxious, and smiled.

 

***

 

“Vivian Rosiere.”

 

Flinch. My body shrank at the harsh voice that was different from usual.

 

When I rolled my eyes and looked around, I could see my father with a firm expression.

 

Heh, heheh. 

 

‘Is my dad very angry?’

 

It was important to meet Kyle, but after I disappeared, the palace seemed to be in an uproar. 

 

Oops.

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