The Crown Prince In Hiding

Chapter 23

Wishbone Ash

Monday

Two days had passed since the incident.

This was the final week in the life of a first-year student—no classes for the whole week. Students were given time to clear assignments and prepare for exams.

Princess Nora found Dan in front of the statues of the Five Heroes. He was tilting his head back, gazing at the statue of the wife—looking at her with the kind of eyes one gives to a beloved. As if he were enchanted. As if he adored her with all his heart.

“Don’t you have one at home you can look at?”

“Watch your tone, Nora. Whether my wife is carved in limestone or standing in the flesh, her beauty is the same.”

“……”

“There it is again. That face. What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing at all.”

“Let’s go find a place to study.”

“How about we read in the morning and practice magic for Professor McClaff’s exam in the afternoon?”

“Sure, sounds good.”

Sheffield Library.

“Whoa… doesn’t it feel more crowded than usual?”

“Can’t be helped, Mr.Fury… it is exam season.”

“Our usual seats got taken…”

Dan pointed at their corner—occupied by a group of students.

“Guess we’ll have to sit in the middle.”

“Is that alright?”

“I don’t mind. As long as we get to study, that’s enough.”

One hour later…

Nora peeked up at Dan sitting across from her. He was focused, very much so—though she could see him struggling with the geometry section every now and then.

“Mr.Fury…? Is something confusing you?”

“…Well, actually…”

Before he could even explain, Nora rose and circled around to sit beside him.

Very close. Close enough that he caught her fragrance.

“—Nora?”

“Show me the part you don’t understand, Mr.Fury.”

“Uh… well…”

“Oh, this part…”

After she explained, Dan nodded in understanding.

“So that’s how it works. Thank you.”

“A small thing, Mr.Fury.”

“You seem cheerful today. Something good happen?”

“Not really.”

“Don’t lie to me. Out with it.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“Fine, nothing it is.”

How could Nora tell him?

Tell him the truth—that Fury had refused to be Rafinya’s mentor.

But her joy didn’t last long…

Because in the moment when all of Sheffield Library fell quiet, both of them heard the front door open—the bell chiming softly.

And the person who walked in… was Rafinya.

Was she here to get books for exam prep?

Probably. Exams were close, after all.

Nora leaned closer, continuing her conversation with Fury. She acted unfazed, but the tiny smile she’d been wearing evaporated instantly.

Rafinya hadn’t noticed them yet. Her broken arm was still bandaged. She scanned the shelves—

—and then her eyes landed on Dan and Nora.

Her expression drained of color. She froze.

Then she stepped back, turned around, and left the library entirely.

“She left. Must be terrified of you to death, Mr.Fury.”

“Scared of me? I doubt it.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s not like you.”

Dan lifted his eyes from the book to look at Nora.

“She’s fighting herself.”

His crimson eyes followed the short-haired girl running farther and farther away…

And then he narrowed them.

His mind drifted back to the face of his wife.

His wife, disappointed in him—eyes shimmering as if on the verge of tears.

A sigh.

Ugh… damn it, Casca.

The image of his wife grew sharper.

For heaven’s sake…

Princess Nora packed her books and was about to return to the city. As she stepped out of the cabin, she heard faint voices outside—voices she immediately recognized as Casca and Fury.

“That was too cruel, Fury! Why would you do such a thing?”

“I don’t see what’s cruel about it.”

Nora peered out. Casca stood with arms crossed, glaring furiously at Dan. Dan, of course, looked calm as ever.

“Not cruel? You broke her arm! She’s still a kid!”

“At that age? I wouldn’t call her a kid.”

Dan replied,

“But on the inside? Maybe.”

“Fury!”

His wife snapped. Nora watched him flinch slightly, though he still showed no remorse.

“You’re blowing this out of proportion. It’s just a broken bone. A healing spell will fix it.”

“You don’t get it, do you? What you did—transforming like that—could scar a person for life. Fear is a negative emotion. It has lasting consequences, you know that.”

“Fine, I’ll admit I went a bit hard. But that brat’s been on my back for ages. It was bound to happen eventually.”

“I know that. But you still overdid it.”

“I stand by what I said. She’s not someone I could trust.”

He continued—which made Nora’s eyes widen.

“She tracked us down here. I’ll admit, that’s impressive. She’s intelligent—no denying that. But she doesn’t have the emotional intelligence like Nora. If I were to mentor someone, I’d choose Nora over anyone.”

“Then give her a chance. People can change, and you know it.”

“I’m not wasting my time.”

Dan waved it off.

“I didn’t come here planning to mentor anyone to begin with. Count me out.”

“Fury…”

Casca deflated.

She looked so defeated.

“…Alright. If that’s what you want.”

She turned away and walked into the forest.

Dan: “…”

And right then—Nora, who had been listening all along—felt her lips curl upward despite herself.

She recognized the privilege she possessed.

Across the entire continent, only Nora held it.

(Mr.Fury…)

Running footsteps slowed.

Rafinya hunched forward, bracing her hands on her knees as she panted. Her legs gave way, and the book she had borrowed dropped onto the grass.

She punched the ground.

She couldn’t face them.

Defeat haunted her. Pain gnawed at her from the inside.

And worse—she couldn’t deny reality.

Rafinya’s straightforward nature didn’t allow her to ignore the truth:

that the last being who should ever walk this earth was now sitting among ordinary students.

If he wished—and he could—he could turn her classmates, the teachers, the citizens beyond the walls, all into lumps of flesh.

Just like what the stories from Velmount said he once did.

Her hands trembled. Her head spun. Rafinya felt sick, like she might vomit—yet she swallowed it down.

Slowly, she pushed herself back to standing—

When—

“Um… are you alright, dear?”

TA Thomasin Mayfield.

She happened to pass by while carrying stacks of exam papers between buildings.

She hadn’t planned on speaking… but she couldn’t ignore a struggling student, not with her nature.

Rafinya stepped back instinctively.

After a moment, she forced herself to stand properly.

Then it hit her—

TA Thomasin… had no idea what Fury truly was.

“No… it’s nothing.”

Rafinya masked her expression and walked away.

Rafinya’s entire day was—

“Damn it…”

Her hand clenched the book tightly. The words she tried to force into her head bounced away as if hitting an invisible barrier.

She couldn’t concentrate. Not even a little.

With a long exhale, she pushed the book away in frustration.

Then she lowered her head onto her arms—

Ready to nap.

…But—

“Miss Rafinya.”

“!?”

A sharp inhale caught in her throat. Her eyes widened. Blood rushed hot through her body. She jerked back instinctively, kicking off the floor to put distance between them.

Dan Burn was sitting across from her.

She had no idea when he arrived.

Sweat gathered along her cheek. Rafinya stared, stiff as a deer facing a lion.

“We’re practicing for the magic exam this afternoon.”

Dan tapped the table lightly as a signal before rising to his feet.

His behavior was normal.

So normal it terrified her even more.

If he killed her…

he’d be able to act exactly like this the very next hour.

“Rafinya?”

“… yes…”

She swallowed a huge lump in her throat.

Slowly, she stood and followed behind him.

Her eyes clung to his back—

He looked so human.

A physical body, flesh and bone.

Since when… could someone of Diablo blood do this?

“We’re practicing with Nora. Please come along.”

And then—on the way—

They crossed paths with two familiar seniors.

Chiesa Saint-Germain and Helena Haaland.

“Oh? You two?”

!!!

Rafinya froze. Her mouth opened—

But no words came out.

“Where are you heading?”

“Good afternoon, seniors.”

Dan bowed politely.

Chiesa and Helena glanced at Rafinya—

They could tell immediately something was wrong.

Her body language had changed.

Withdrawn. Skittish.

Not the Rafinya they knew.

“We’re off to practice for Professor McClaff’s exam.”

“Oh, I see! That makes sense.”

“ How is it, Dan? Living with Lady Casca?”

Helena leaned in with curiosity.

Dan smiled gently and answered,

“Lady Casca takes good care of me. Everything’s fine.”

“So jealous~ right, Chiesa?”

“Hm.”

Rafinya listened in silence.

They didn’t even know who they were really speaking to.

His answer sounded normal—so normal—

but now that she knew who he truly was, even the most ordinary words felt like something else entirely.

“Well then, we’ll be going now.”

Dan gave another small bow.

Rafinya followed behind, stiff and uneasy, giving the seniors a slight nod before leaving.

Chiesa watched them go with a frown.

“Rafinya’s acting strange.”

“She’s been off lately anyway.”

“No… two days ago she wasn’t like this.”

“No idea.”