The season went around several times .

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Last week, I was twelve years old .

“Your Highness Arthur, good morning . ”

Violet, carrying a cup of black tea, made me smile as usual .

Since then, I hadn’t tried to force any interactions with her . Instead, I tried to nurture our master and servant relations.h.i.+p . Thanks to that, there was a clear boundary in our relations.h.i.+p as Prince and a maid . Two years ago, she was but an apprentice, but now, she was no longer .

“Good morning, Violet . What a nice weather we have today . ”

The sunlight faintly came through the window that was opened by Violet . It spread through the room, giving a whitish luminance .

Violet calmly gave me the cup of tea . I received it while leaning on the bed . Then, I slowly brought the cup to my lip .

—delicious . It has the taste of the tea Violet usually brews for me .

After seeing me exhale, Violet opened her mouth .

“Today is Arthur’s twelfth birthday party . ”

“That’s right . I’m not very good at partying . ”

Every aristocrats’ daughter and son from all over the kingdom would partic.i.p.ate in my birthday party . Their ages would range from eight to fifteenth years, just below adulthood . The boys from this kingdom’s aristocratic family enter boarding school at the age of thirteenth—so it would double as my announcement .

Aah… this does sound good…

I felt very comfortable living inside the castle and didn’t know much about the outside world . I had no personal connection with the n.o.ble sons I had met when I was seven years old . It was even more so because I kept freaking out .

At my melancholic sigh, Violet chuckled .

“Fufu . It’s going to be okay, Your Highness Arthur . You probably won’t need to do anything besides sitting on a chair . ”

“The Prime Minister will also attend . That person usually only says things that other want to hear . ”

“That’s certainly true . ”

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Violet looked a little awkward due to my words . That expression made me ponder—

—Violet wouldn’t like me if I was gloomy .

“Yes, it’ll be alright . After all, I’m twelve years old, already . I can attend one or two parties just fine, and I’ll make sure to take it easy . ”

I said that and laughed .

That was when Violet smiled .

“Fufu, I’m so excited, Your Highness Arthur . ”

Her voice was like a little bird chirping under the bright sun—a very pleasant voice for me .

Oh, how happy I am .

The spring breeze carried the scent of flowers—as if celebrating our future . Giving us a blessing of a happy future .

At that time, I never imagined—

—how fragile my peaceful days were; how easy it was for it to collapse .

My birthday party started at noon, and currently went on .

The boring as always party was held in the castle’s garden . Hence, it was a little more relaxing than usual .

At the very beginning, I had to deal with the n.o.bility introducing their daughters and sons . After about two hours, it was finally over . Soon, I was hungry . I wanted to eat something .

Looking around the garden, the center was wide open and long desk were lined up on the left and right, where dishes were arranged . In addition to meat and fish dishes, various exotic, tropical, fruits were also there .

Since it was a party intended for children, sweets, cakes, and chocolates were a must .

—how hungry I am .

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May I leave my seat? I stared at my father, but he didn’t seem to be aware of my gaze . Of course, my mother who sat next to him even less so .

In the first place, since she was my mother, we had gradually begun talking normally again . However, I was still a bit awkward and couldn’t clearly express what I wanted to say .

Violet was both my maid and the Baron’s adopted daughter . But, she declined the invitation, because it would mean that her foster father would also attend .

I was mainly free .

“…”

The moment I tried to get up, my body fell forward—

—wha…?

I grabbed the armrest . I felt dizzy—no, more like, nauseated…

Cold sweat drenched my back—even though today was supposed to be warm, I felt chilly .

Why?

At the same time, for the first time since forever, another’s person voice reverberated—

—the voice of another me .

“Switch places with me, Arthur . ”

“Eh?”

I was surprised . I was never requested to switch places before . He only came out when I was at the brink of desperation . But why did he appear now?

Even though nothing seemed amiss about my current situation .

“Hurry up . ”

His tone was as usual—however, it made me anxious this time . I didn’t know the reason why, but .

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“Tch . Arthur, look at the table at the far right . That man clad in black . ”

“—!?”

My eyes frantically went towards said direction .

Yes, there he was—

—a boy with an expressionless face . A little older than me, maybe as old as Violet . He had dark hair and eyes—both were rare in this kingdom .

“—!”

My line of sight collided with the boy’s . He noticed my gaze in an instant .

“Arthur—!!”

The moment he screamed, my right eye burned . It felt hot and painful . If it wasn’t for the purple lens, the cursed, glowing, red color would certainly be revealed right there and then .

“—!?”

I couldn’t read a person’s heart from this distance . But he could .  He forcibly took control of my body . I had no choice but to watch .

He observed the boy . But the boy only laughed, uncaring .

“—wha?”

He, no, cold sweat erupted from my entire body . Was it because of fear? Awe? Excitement?

—no .

The feeling that got transferred into my mind was complete and utter hatred . Such was the boy’s feelings . I understood everything that happened .

That boy was deflecting my power .

It would be an impossible feat for an ordinary person . But this boy probably didn’t fall under such a category—who is he?

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The boy then took a sip of his drink . I could only stare at him in silence . I tried to conceal my surprise under a calm façade and thought of what could have possibly happened .

“Arthur, who is that boy?”

He stuttered in awe . There was no way for me to answer that question—he might be aware of that . However, if he didn’t receive an immediate answer, it seemed that he would only became more distraught .

Then I noticed the boy was no longer there .

He had vanished, as if he wasn’t there since the beginning . He had completely and naturally erased his presence .

He stared bitterly at the place where the boy was .

“That boy was probably the same as us . ”

The same? Did that mean he also has mysterious power like us?

“That’s right . But I feel like that isn’t all . ”

It was the first time for me to hear his voice tremble like this .

“I feel like something bad will happen . ”

“B, but…”

I swallowed .  He then disappeared—what? Had he gone back to sleep? Or was it because of that boy?

I thought about it, but it wasn’t like there was anything I could do . I couldn’t make sure of it .

My cold sweat, too, had completely dried, as if it was a lie .

“…”

A spring breeze stroked my cheeks . They naturally would feel comfortable .

But now, to my once drenched in sweat body, they felt like piercing thorns . The sensation which clung on my body, probably wouldn’t leave anytime soon .

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