* * *
After hearing those words, Anakin felt his stomach churn.
That phrase was strikingly similar to the dialogue Kamil used in the original work when he eventually imprisoned Anakin.
He couldn’t understand why the Prince was already saying such things.
‘Is it really impossible to escape the original plot?’
They hadn’t even spent that much time together yet.
To anyone else, they might have sounded like sweet words, but to Anakin, they were chilling.
In his past life as the “original” Anakin, a miserable existence had followed immediately after that declaration.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but… what about your fiancée?”
“I’m going to break the engagement, obviously. She was only ever a formal fiancée; there is nothing between us. Anakin, if you wish, I can place you on the Empress’s throne instead of Evelin. However… the you I know wouldn’t want such a thing.”
“…You’re right.”
As Anakin nodded, Kamil carefully stroked his cheek. He smiled and spoke softly.
“I’m not asking you to decide right now. Just remember this, Anakin. I love you.”
“…”
His confession of love was far too sweet.
Who wouldn’t fall for a man who speaks of love with a smile brighter than the sun?
Especially when that man is the Crown Prince of the Empire.
There were likely many nobles who lived their lives dreaming of this exact moment… yet Anakin found it difficult to either accept or refuse.
Kamil was the future monarch who would carry the weight of the Empire, and Anakin had no confidence in spending his entire life by the man’s side.
And Empress?
Even after transmigrating into Anakin, he had never once dreamed of it. Even the original Anakin had refused the position because it was too burdensome.
After refusing, the original Anakin lived as a concubine, staying by Kamil’s side until Harca’s rebellion.
To be precise, it wasn’t so much “staying by his side” as it was being kept in chains.
“I’m sorry for confusing you. You’re tired, aren’t you?”
“I am a bit tired. But…”
As Anakin trailed off, Kamil tilted his head curiously.
“I really don’t think I can be Your Highness’s partner.”
Anakin rejected him.
His pale face glowed radiantly, but the words he uttered were a firm “no.”
Kamil asked him:
“Why?”
“I want to live freely.”
Anakin crouched down to look at the pond.
Various colored fish lived inside.
Even if a high-ranking fish caught others and lived happily within those confines, could it ever be more interesting than the world outside?
He worried that a hasty rejection might offend Kamil, but he felt that the sooner he said these things, the better.
The main problem was the Prince’s obsession…
For a brief moment, Anakin had seen the possessiveness staining his gaze.
It didn’t seem like he would let go easily.
“My goal is to become a high-ranking disciple of Pasadian and eventually a Great Mage.”
It was time to make his future direction clear.
Since entering the world of magic, he had grown day by day. Anakin wanted to test his limits.
Moreover, he had made new connections: the Elders of Pasadian, numerous disciples, and his first group of peers.
It felt like a waste to quit now without seeing it through to the end.
“…I see.”
Unexpectedly, Kamil accepted it easily.
When Anakin stood up to look at him, Kamil stroked Anakin’s hair with his large hand.
“Anything beautiful is naturally difficult to obtain.”
“…”
“I never thought you’d be easy to have.”
“…”
“In my life, I have never once given up on something I wanted. No matter what it was.”
The moment their eyes met, Anakin’s red eyes widened.
‘Kamil…’
That cold gaze, which seemed to bind him from head to toe, was exactly like the Crown Prince in the original novel.
Anakin had seen all sorts of precious jewels, but he had never seen one more beautiful than Kamil’s violet eyes at this moment.
The man was beautiful even in his obsession.
“…Your Highness.”
As Anakin’s pupils wavered, Kamil’s expression returned to a gentle one.
He seemed like a completely different person, and the shift was enough to send a chill down Anakin’s spine.
“It’s already this late.”
Looking at his wristwatch, Kamil spoke with regret.
“If you ever need my help, feel free to send a letter, Anakin. I’ll grant anything you ask.”
He then leaned in slightly and kissed Anakin’s forehead reverently.
At the soft touch, Anakin’s eyelashes fluttered. His heart beat uncontrollably.
“Then, I’ll see you next time.”
Anakin couldn’t find any words to say to the handsomely smiling, statue-like Kamil.
After a final outing full of twists and turns, Anakin and Hilde successfully returned to Pasadian.
Fortunately, Pasadian seemed to offer some leeway for the final day of freedom, as the curfew was quite generous.
Anakin sat dazed, touching his forehead.
Hilde looked at him curiously.
“What happened with the Crown Prince to make you have that expression?”
Hilde asked because Anakin had been in that state ever since they left.
“It’s nothing. Just…”
“I bet he confessed to you.”
“…!”
When Anakin’s eyes went wide as if asking how he knew, Hilde let out a short sigh.
“It’s obvious you’re confused.”
“…”
“Anakin. You wouldn’t be satisfied by his side anyway.”
“…Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“You don’t seem to realize how your eyes look when you fight… you look like a fish in water. You didn’t look like a hothouse flower at all.”
Anakin blinked and said:
“Really? I was too focused to notice.”
“That’s why I’m more worried. His Highness is not the type to give up on you easily.”
“Mmm…”
Hilde was indeed too sharp.
If he had been an enemy, he would have been a very difficult opponent.
Anakin was truly glad they were friends.
“Ahaha… I guess I can’t keep secrets from you, Hilde.”
“It’s not something to just laugh off. What do you plan to do?”
“…Hmm.”
Anakin stretched his arms up high and said:
“I don’t know. For a while, I think I’ll just focus on becoming a formal disciple of Pasadian.”
The Prince said he’d see him next time, but it was essentially a promise-less wait.
Besides, the events of today were so spectacular that they felt unreal.
He had taken a request, met a Renatus member, almost died, was saved by an Elder of Latus, went to his mansion, got treated by Callis, and met the Crown Prince.
‘What an eventful day.’
He couldn’t believe all of this had happened in just twenty-four hours.
What should he say when they eventually met again?
He had lived thinking the Prince had betrayed him, but knowing the truth made his heart feel lighter and more at ease.
Ultimately, while he had suffered great damage, he was relieved to know the man hadn’t betrayed him.
It seemed he had still held a lingering attachment to him without realizing it.
“Class starts tomorrow. Get some sleep today.”
They arrived at the Tran dormitory.
The room Anakin was assigned to was right next to Hilde’s.
‘That’s a relief. Being right next to Hilde.’
“Oh, by the way. Speaking of which, don’t you have something to tell me, Hilde?”
At Anakin’s question, Hilde frowned.
“What is there to say?”
“About the magic you used when fighting Katarina.”
Hilde’s expression turned troubled.
Anakin had no intention of letting it go.
It might be related to the dark energy Kayla had seen from Hilde during the second exam.
“You saw it after all.”
Hilde looked resigned, as if he knew this would happen.
“It’s hard to ignore when you use it so openly, isn’t it?”
At Anakin’s playful teasing, Hilde spoke reluctantly.
“I’ll explain it properly later.”
“Alright. See you tomorrow, Hilde.”
With that, Anakin entered his room, ending the long day.
The next day, Anakin woke up and rubbed his eyes.
“Mantis?”
Incredibly, he was roommates with Mantis again.
The night before, he had been so tired he couldn’t even greet him properly before falling asleep.
By early morning, Mantis’s bed was already cold.
Anakin stared at the bed for a moment, then changed into his Pasadian trainee robes and left the room.
‘Room P-110.’
The lecture hall was set up like a classroom.
It was filled with the faces of unfamiliar disciples.
“Mantis!”
“Ah, Anakin. Welcome. You were sleeping so soundly I felt bad waking you.”
Mantis, the most familiar face, was already in the middle of a pleasant conversation with someone else.
The person Mantis was talking to hesitated and hid behind Mantis upon seeing Anakin.
Anakin tilted his head curiously, and Mantis laughed to smooth things over.
“Ah, they’re just a bit scared of nobles…”
He hadn’t even introduced himself yet.
* * *
