I Became the Narrow-Eyed Character in the Little Prince Game

"So... are you saying that partner is me?"
Selena's expression was filled with curiosity and slight disbelief.
Her gaze, tinged with the haze of midday drunkenness, blinked slowly, revealing a rare sense of bewilderment.

"Would you join me, Master?"
I nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world, my reply direct and unapologetic.
Perhaps the abruptness of the request had caught her off guard.

She put aside the bottle of liquor she had been drinking from and adjusted her posture to face me fully.
Her long, violet hair shimmered under the light, and her crimson eyes carried a dull, tired gleam.
For a moment, her luscious lips remained silent, as if gathering her thoughts.

"..."
Her eyes held a hint of suspicion.
What crazy scheme is he plotting this time?

That seemed to be the question running through her mind.
Her gaze pierced me, as though poking at my cheeks, but I kept my composure and maintained a playful demeanor.
Finally, she muttered, her voice low and slightly hoarse from exhaustion and intoxication.

"Do you even understand the implications of asking someone to be your partner?"
"If you're referring to the banquet’s myth, then yes, I’m aware."
"That only makes this even more puzzling."

"It’s precisely because I understand that I’m making this request."
The myth surrounding the Galimar Banquet wasn’t unfamiliar to me.
It had been a popular topic among the students lately.
According to the tale, if a pure man and woman partnered up and danced together, their love would blossom.

It was a cliché and overly sentimental myth, but...
I’m not a child.
Recently, more eyes had been on me, likely due to my recent victory over a professor.

With everyone already watching, choosing a partner carelessly could easily stir up scandals.
For young students, love stories were irresistible gossip material.
This was my way of preventing such complications.

Firsts are precious, after all.
This wasn’t just about me but also the protagonist and her companions, who had grown closer to me over time.
I didn’t want to entangle them in unnecessary rumors about romantic entanglements.

Someday, when this world reached its conclusion, they would go on to lead their own lives, possibly starting families of their own.
I didn’t want their memories of this time to be tainted by lingering awkwardness.
That was why I had chosen Selena.

Surely, this isn’t her first time.
She was a mature woman, well into her thirties.
Her sultry appearance, decadent charm, and enviable figure all but confirmed that she had plenty of experience with men.

The myth’s premise of purity—requiring both partners to be virgins—would be rendered null.
It was the perfect way to avoid any unwelcome romantic rumors.
"Huhu."

I smiled at my flawless plan.
Meanwhile, Selena seemed to be deep in thought.
Her usually calm crimson eyes wavered slightly, a rare sight.

What could she possibly be worried about?
I waited patiently for her response, watching as she tapped her fingers on the desk, her expression pensive.
"If you’re making this request knowing the implications, I’m not sure how to interpret it."

"You can take it at face value."
(Simply put, I want to avoid unnecessary gossip.)
"There are plenty of other female students around, aren’t there? Couldn’t you ask one of them?"
"It has to be you, Master."
(You’re the only partner who can completely counter the myth.)

"..."
As the conversation continued, her expression grew more complicated.
It was an unexpectedly pure reaction.

For someone who usually maintained a cold and detached demeanor, seeing her momentarily flustered was oddly refreshing.
Of course, it also meant I was dragging her into an inconvenient situation.
With a sigh, she muttered under her breath.

"Honestly, it’s not a very tempting offer."
"There’s no need to feel pressured."
"How could I not?"

"I’m not forcing you into anything. I just thought it would make me happy if we could attend the banquet together. But if you refuse, I understand—it’s a shame, though."
"Don’t you think it would be awkward for someone my age? I doubt it would be enjoyable for either of us."
"You don’t need to worry about that."

She spoke with a self-deprecating tone.
But I shook my head firmly and offered her a warm smile, my eyes curving softly.
"The fact that it’s you makes it meaningful for me."

"..."
Even as I made my request, guilt gnawed at me slightly.
Was it really okay to drag my mentor into this just to avoid complications?

Though my Confucian upbringing protested, the urgency of the situation left me no choice.
At the very least, this was an opportunity to grow closer to her.
It won’t be easy, but…

Selena was a solitary person.
Even if someone approached her with kindness, she would never let them past a certain point.
Of all the people around me, she was the hardest to reach.

She was like a wild animal, impossible to tame.
That only made me want to get closer.
"Just standing by my side as you always do is enough."

The banquet and the role of a partner.
What seemed like a trivial request could lead to an exchange of emotions, and I intended to use this chance to close the distance between us.
The academy was on the brink of facing several major incidents, including assaults and disasters.

Securing strong allies among the staff now would prove invaluable for proactive responses.
This was a stepping stone to gaining a firmer grasp on the academy’s workings.
I smiled leisurely.

"Just one evening. That’s all I’m asking."
"..."
"I won’t ask for much—just that you accompany your student for one night."

"If you phrase it like that... I won’t force myself to refuse."
"I’ll take that as a yes."
"You truly are unpredictable, Yuda."

"Thank you."
Satisfied with her answer, I nodded, feeling as though I had just crossed a significant hurdle.
With this, I wouldn’t have to worry about any unnecessary gossip.

"I look forward to that evening."
My plan had succeeded.
What I failed to anticipate, however, was just how ruthless the students of this age could be.

Who would have guessed they’d even turn my teacher-student relationship into gossip fodder?
In the end, my struggles with rumors were far from over.
Unaware of the fate that awaited me, I basked in a brief moment of peace.

It was winter.
***
Scratch, scratch—

The tip of the pen moved along the paper, producing a faint sound as it danced across the pages.
Neat handwriting filled the documents, efficiently managing the workload.
"Hmm."

It was two days before the banquet.
Even with a holiday just around the corner, the pile of paperwork didn’t magically disappear.
If anything, the need to free up a day’s schedule made things even busier.

To stay ahead, the work had to be completed in advance.
This meant Selena’s workload had increased, and so, I found myself visiting her research lab frequently to lend a hand.
After all, she’d agreed to my request, so this was the least I could do in return.

Not to mention, as her assistant, it was part of my responsibilities.
“There’s so much.”
I glanced at the neatly stacked documents, unable to suppress the thought.

Since Selena had no other staff besides me, most of the paperwork fell to the two of us.
Even as I worked, a question lingered in my mind.
Why, with such a spacious research lab, didn’t she employ more assistants?

Pausing my pen, I decided to ask.
"Wouldn’t it make things easier if you had more people helping you?"
"Hmm."

A nonchalant voice responded.
Across from me sat the violet-haired woman, as usual, holding a bottle of strong liquor in one hand and a pen in the other.
Her reply was mechanical, devoid of any warmth.

"I’ve always managed this way."
"Am I your first assistant, then?"
"You are. I’ve had a few errand runners before, but you’re the first I’ve given the position of chief assistant."

"Was there a particular reason you avoided hiring anyone before?"
"I dislike people."
Her answer came without the slightest hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I smiled faintly at her bluntness but pressed further.
"Then why did you accept me?"
"Because your talent will go down in history. The benefits of having you outweigh my distaste for people."

"That’s a calculated answer if I’ve ever heard one."
"I’m an adult."
"Does that dislike still persist?"

"...I wouldn’t say I like it, but I don’t hate it, either."
"Good enough for me."
"I see."

The nonchalant drunkard.
Tilting the bottle, she took another drink, her throat moving lightly as she swallowed.
I decided to tease her a little.

"Mind sharing some of that?"
"I’ll have to refuse."
"What a pity."

"Alcohol is harmful to one’s health. Especially for children like you."
"Then why do you consume it so often?"
"To forget."

"Forget what?"
"Anything and everything."
Her gaze softened slightly.

Her slender fingers toyed with the bottle, and her voice, now quieter, seemed almost ghostly.
Perhaps there was a mix of confusion and regret hidden in her murmurs.
"If I had to name one thing... maybe I drink to forget my own shame."

"Shame? What could possibly embarrass you?"
"The fact that I drink, of course."
"That’s quite ironic. Couldn’t you just stop, then?"

"It’s because I can’t stop that I’m an adult. Knowing something is wrong yet being unable to change—that’s what defines us as grown-ups."
"..."
Her gaze shifted from the bottle to me, then to her hands.

She lowered her eyelids, shutting out the world for a moment.
The silence that stretched between us was tinged with unease.
Her faintly trembling shoulders hinted at distant thoughts—memories, perhaps.

Was she recalling something?
Or was she reflecting on her own words?
Knowing something is wrong but believing it’s too late to change...

It was the excuse of someone retreating from the possibility of growth, of someone becoming a train wreck unable to stop.
Was it resentment toward life?
Regret?

Or guilt?
Whatever it was, it wasn’t a pleasant expression to witness.
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity.

"So, it is as I thought."
Her expression mirrored one I had seen countless times in my own past.
I smiled bitterly and offered softly:

"If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m always here."
"That won’t be necessary. There’s nothing wrong."
Her red eyes opened again, though they seemed clouded with fog.

With a tone that sounded almost like a spell, she murmured:
"Yes... nothing at all."
And with that, the conversation came to an end.

***
Two Days Later.
The day of the banquet had arrived.

The festivities began in the evening as the sun dipped below the horizon.
In front of the extravagantly decorated hall, Selena and I stood side by side.
Both of us were dressed appropriately for the occasion.

"You look wonderful."
Selena had shed her usual plain attire in favor of an elegant gown that immediately drew attention.
The way it accentuated her flawless figure was mesmerizing, exuding a mature and sophisticated allure.

She truly embodied the grace of an adult woman.
I extended my hand to her with a gentle smile.
"Shall we head inside?"

"Of course."
Her hand met mine lightly, and after a brief exchange of glances, we began walking into the hall together.
It was the start of a short but beautiful night.

***
Meanwhile.
As we stepped inside, a few familiar pairs of eyes trailed us.

It was none other than the girls from before.
"Wow... You two look amazing together!"
"Is this really the time to be impressed?"

"Yeah, they do look great."
"I’ll admit, bright-colored suits suit him surprisingly well."
"..."

The five girls, each harboring their own complex emotions, watched from a distance.
And so, the curtain rose on the night of the banquet.