* * *
“Are you feeling any better?”
“Yes… Thank you for your concern.”
Melody looked genuinely worried as she asked, apparently believing whatever excuse Ashard had fed her.
She seemed utterly convinced Eren was sick.
“If you’re short on potions, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Even a letter would be fine—I can have a servant sent to your estate.”
Sunlight streamed softly through the windows.
The room was filled with a warm gentleness, colored by Melody’s kindness.
Her face was still youthful, but everything else about her—the way she carried herself, the way she spoke—was so composed and mature.
“If it’s not rude to ask… may I know why Your Highness chose to study under the House of Freedit instead of taking imperial successor classes?”
Eren hadn’t known her for very long, but he was already certain: If Melody became the next Emperor of the Trovien Empire, the realm would flourish more than ever.
The headship of House Freedit was no small title, but even that felt too limiting for someone like her.
And it wasn’t just Eren.
Anyone in the Empire would say the same—Melody was far more suited to the throne than Elyrion.
“Have you ever met my brother, Count?”
Eren shook his head.
He’d heard of him, but never met him in person.
The infamous delinquent prince of the Trovien Empire.
A magical genius who had claimed the position of Tower Master at the age of thirteen
. The rumors alone made it clear—he was not someone you could compare to Melody.
“You’ll understand once you meet him. That he’s far more fitting for the throne than I am.”
“…What?”
“The throne isn’t something one should take just because they’re talented.”
Before he could process what she meant, the door suddenly swung open.
Without so much as a knock, he entered—and Eren’s face twisted the moment he saw him.
“If Eren came, he should’ve told me first, Your Highness.”
Leaning lazily against the doorway, Helid was staring directly at Eren.
He was uncharacteristically tidy today—dressed in a crisp black uniform with his hair slicked back.
Eren blinked in surprise at the unfamiliar sight.
“Didn’t know you were capable of dressing like that.”
Gone was the wild, bandit-like look he used to sport.
The stark contrast made Eren’s comment slip out reflexively.
It wasn’t a compliment—but Helid smirked as if it were.
“Why? Looking at me like this… make you feel like giving in?”
He could say the filthiest things without blinking an eye.
His appearance had changed, but not his rotten personality.
Eren let out a long sigh and ignored him.
Whether because Melody was present or because of what happened last time, at least he had the sense to keep his voice down this time.
“Class is about to begin. Please leave.”
Eren gave a sharp dismissal.
But Helid didn’t budge.
When Eren turned away to ignore him, Helid suddenly grabbed his wrist.
A warm breath brushed against his ear.
“Promise me once, and I’ll leave.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
The absurd suggestion left Eren speechless.
He hadn’t expected him to leave quietly, but this was just annoying.
When Eren blatantly ignored him, Helid stepped further inside and leaned against the wall.
Eren motioned for him to leave with his eyes, but it didn’t work.
“Doesn’t the princess need a guard? Shouldn’t a proper escort stay close? Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”
He shrugged as if it were obvious and glanced at Melody.
As the Captain of the Princess’s personal guard, he had every right to serve in that role.
Helid looked at her with a self-assured grin, confident in his qualifications.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“…What?”
The unexpected answer left Helid speechless.
Melody looked him dead in the eye, not a flicker of doubt in her gaze.
“I don’t assign my protection to those weaker than me. That’s also why I’ve never had a guard before. So if you want the position, go train some more, Viscount.”
With that cold declaration, she didn’t even spare him a glance.
Eren, meanwhile, cheered silently in his head.
“God, that was satisfying.”
But that wasn’t the only thought running through his mind.
Knowing what Helid was like, Eren couldn’t help but worry about what he might pull next.
“Wait… is he actually backing down?”
Unexpectedly, Helid didn’t argue. He simply shrugged, like it couldn’t be helped.
“Then I’ll just wait outside until you’re done.”
With that whispered reply, Helid left the room without hesitation.
The complete reversal of his usual behavior made Eren wonder if the man had eaten something strange.
Even with Melody present, this was too off.
This was the same guy who had acted brazenly even in front of the Emperor at Epentel.
But now, something felt different.
“Let’s begin the lesson, Count.”
“Ah… Yes, of course.”
Helid’s presence seemed oddly familiar to her, and she remained composed.
Whatever had happened during that time was unclear, but one thing was certain—he was clearly, and quite intensely, conscious of Melody for some unknown reason.
‘…That man is actually reading someone’s mood?’
It was hard to believe even with her own eyes.
This was a man who ran his mouth regardless of who was around to hear it.
But in front of Melody, he looked excessively cautious.
‘…Is he scared of her?’
It was a ridiculous thought, but under the current circumstances, there was no other explanation for his behavior.
Eren shook his head firmly to rid himself of the thought.
“What kind of class takes this long? Thought you ran off without telling me.”
As the door opened, Helid came into view, arms crossed and leaning against the wall.
He really hadn’t moved an inch the entire time, waiting until the class ended.
Nearly three hours had passed since he left. His face was tinged with fatigue.
Eren, unconcerned, brushed past him.
‘No one told you to wait.’
Just as Eren was about to walk by, an arm shot out in front of him, completely blocking his path.
He glared at Helid as if to tell him to move, but the man wasn’t the type to be swayed by a stare.
They were in the Imperial Palace, where even the hallways were as wide as rooms in noble estates.
There was no reason to insist on passing through the narrow path Helid was blocking.
Eren started to circle around him with quick steps—until a low voice stopped him.
“If you don’t want those dainty ankles of yours shattered, you’d better stop.”
Helid’s voice, already intimidating before, now felt even colder.
His purple eyes, as deep and still as an abyss, locked silently onto Eren before curving into a sly smile.
“Princess. I was hoping to show Eren around the knights’ division. The lesson’s over now, right?”
“…Yes, but individual excursions aren’t permitted.”
“We’re still within the palace. I’ll bring him back safe and sound after the tour. Don’t worry.”
Melody’s gaze shifted from Helid to Eren.
It was a silent question: What do you want to do?
Whatever Helid was planning, it seemed he wasn’t about to act out in front of her—but who could say how long that would last?
What Eren knew for certain was that Helid was someone who didn’t give a damn about what others thought.
His hobbies included dirty talk, and his specialty was tormenting people with adult toys.
Whether it was before the Emperor, in a ballroom, or on the battlefield, he never held back if he was turned on.
The title of this novel, ‘Degeneration’, owed about ninety percent of its meaning to Helid.
“I didn’t say I was going—”
“Think carefully, Eren.”
Helid cut him off.
* * *
