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

Glittering Lights.
Soft melodies of music.
Children, dressed in suits and gowns, wander around the spacious hall, enjoying the ball to their hearts’ content.

We were stepping into this bustling scene.
It was a proper, formal banquet.
Considering the high expectations surrounding the event, it seemed the academy had put in a great deal of effort into its preparation.

The fresh and lively atmosphere naturally brought a smile to my lips.
"Hoho."
I glance to the side.

Crimson eyes were already looking in my direction. Meeting her gaze, I gave a faint smile. My lips parted slightly, delivering a playful remark.
It was about her attire.
"Come to think of it… this is the first time I’ve seen you dressed like this."

"I usually prefer comfortable clothing."
"A dress suits you very well, though."
"I’m too old to feel flattered by compliments, but… I’ll graciously accept the sentiment."

"Oh dear, but I was being sincere."
Though she shook her head as if dismissing the compliment, I truly meant it.
The maturity she exuded carried an undeniable charm.

Her striking figure, draped in a black dress that accentuated her curves and highlighted her chest, combined with her subdued crimson pupils, created an allure impossible to ignore. Her captivating presence drew every gaze in the room, regardless of gender.
Especially the way her midsection and lower half stood out.
Thankfully, my narrow eyes saved me.
Otherwise, I might have made a fool of myself with an absentminded stare.

I continued speaking, doing my best to maintain composure.
"Did your recent work wrap up well?"
"I had help, after all."

"All I did was handle some basic paperwork…"
"That was more than enough."
"I’m glad to hear it."

"Thanks to that, my schedule is more relaxed. I’ll be able to keep you company until late tonight."
"Those words bring a smile to my face."
"There you go again with the flattery."

"This time, too, it’s genuine."
A lighthearted exchange of small talk.
Though she had initially maintained an awkward silence, she eventually warmed up as I approached her more actively.

My playful smiles seemed to chip away at her otherwise impassive expression.
The atmosphere between us gradually softened, and we moved together in harmony.
I could feel the eyes of students around the hall following us.

It must have been because of her striking beauty.
"Young Master…!"
"So that’s where you disappeared to. I thought you’d wandered off."

While walking toward the center of the hall, familiar voices reached my ears.
It was our companions who hadn’t arrived with us.
Instead of finding new partners, they seemed to have chosen to attend together.

There was no rule requiring the attendees to come in male-female pairs, after all.
Rezia and Irene.
Charlotte and Elize.

I’d heard that Emilia, left without a partner, attended with her younger brother.
Seeing these girls dressed in gowns for the first time was refreshing.
If they had previously felt like innocent children, now they carried a budding sense of maturity.

I reached out to gently pat each of their heads in turn.
"You all look wonderful."
Each reacted differently to my words.

The soft warmth of their heads under my touch reflected my fondness for them.
"Ugh… I’m not used to wearing something like this. C-Can I even wear such expensive clothing…?"
"It’s not like I wore this for you to see…"

"Mm. Yuda, you look nice too."
"Why bother? I’m stuck in this wheelchair anyway."
"…Dresses are definitely uncomfortable. But if you like it, then I’m fine with it."

In particular, the fox from the remote borders and the commoner pilot seemed especially uneasy in their dresses, as though unaccustomed to such attire.
But even their awkwardness was endearing.
Was it simply to show me how they looked in their gowns?

After a brief greeting, the girls turned and left.
They said something about fairness, though I couldn’t quite grasp the meaning.
What lingered in my mind was the sight of the rose and the fox glaring sharply at the drunkard.

Were they competing over something?
Irene even whispered to me:
"Remember this… In the end, your final choice will be me."

A cryptic smile.
And then, as if to confirm her words, she brushed past me and nibbled lightly on my earlobe.
It seemed she was intent on devouring her master one day.

Her ingratitude in multiple ways was hard to overlook.
In any case.
After briefly showing their faces, the girls disappeared again.

Selena casually remarked:
"They all had such intense looks in their eyes."
"Ha… Allow me to apologize on their behalf. Some of them are particularly sharp-tempered."

"It doesn’t bother me. I wasn’t offended."
"Thank you for your understanding."
Fortunately, Selena remained indifferent.

I had planned to focus on the banquet, but now someone from the faculty approached us instead.
It was none other than Professor Cardel, the one I had thoroughly trampled in the previous duel.
He greeted us lightly.

Of course, his attention was on Selena.
"Well, this is unexpected. I didn’t think I’d see you at an event like this."
"Professor Cardel."

"Acting as if you couldn’t care less about the world… What’s driven you to step out of your lab?"
"That’s none of your concern."
"Still as unpleasant as ever."

"And you remain as petty as ever."
"Ha."
The young man, as always, initiated a quarrel.

Didn’t he ever tire of it?
Despite being defeated last time, he couldn’t resist provoking her again.
I thought about intervening, but Selena stopped me.

She seemed unwilling to waste energy on unnecessary conflicts.
"This carefree attitude of yours won’t last much longer."
"…"

"A great upheaval is right around the corner."
His words were little more than a murmur, barely audible.
Leaving behind those cryptic remarks, Cardel smirked meaningfully before walking away.

His gaze, brimming with ominous intent, left an unsettling impression.
"Yuda… Let’s meet privately sometime soon. There’s something I need to discuss with you."
"Something to discuss, huh?"

Unease crept in, but I nodded.
"I won’t avoid it."
"Good."

That seemed to be the end of his message. The young man turned his back on us, leaving with one final remark.
"Well then, I hope you both enjoy the evening."
His figure receded into the distance, and Selena gazed after him with lifeless eyes. Silence hung heavily between her lips.

Was she about to sink into her thoughts again? Before she could drift away, I tugged gently on the hand I held and whispered to her, my voice carrying a hint of warmth.
I wanted to pull her focus back.
"Please stay with me."

"Yuda?"
"Didn’t you say you’d keep me company? It’s quite disheartening to see my partner getting distracted."
"The man who was just surrounded by women says this? I find it rather unconvincing."

"Is that so?"
I laughed softly.
Our gazes met in the air, and soon, we were looking directly at one another.

"Well, let’s leave it at that."
Music began to flow through the hall.
Perhaps to announce the official start of the banquet, the melody from the instruments gradually filled the space.

The students paired off, blending into the scene.
The dance had begun.
The Snake and the Drunkard moved as well.

"I’ll lead."
"As you wish."
The first piece was a gentle tune.

The distance between us closed.
Our breaths mingled as they reached one another, and a faint sweetness lingered in the air.
Rationality blurred as the gap between us narrowed further, until it felt like even our hearts might touch.

It was as though we were sharing the very beat of our hearts.
Together, we matched each step.
"……"

Perhaps it was the allure of maturity standing out like a thorn amidst the freshness of youth.
I could feel eyes on us as we danced, drawn by curiosity or desire.
But we continued, undeterred.

Swish.
Her hand rested lightly on my waist as we flowed through a circular movement.
The once slow tempo began to pick up speed.

Selena, who had been following my movements, eventually let out a faint sigh and spoke.
"As I thought… dancing is difficult."
That was strange.

I had assumed she’d be quite skilled, but her movements wavered noticeably.
Perhaps it was the high heels, causing her balance to falter precariously.
Had it been a while since she last danced?

Given her repeated claims of disliking people, it seemed likely she had little experience with banquets altogether.
Her feet, perched on tall heels, struggled to keep up with the accelerating tempo.
Her steps wavered clumsily.

By the time I noticed and tried to steady her, it was already too late.
"Ah…!"
In trying to regain her balance, she twisted her ankle.

Selena nearly fell, but I caught her just in time.
Still, to stay upright, we had to hold each other close.
Our shared warmth clung tightly, impossible to pull apart.

A soft groan escaped her lips.
Was it the pain in her ankle?
Continuing the dance with such awkward movements must have taken its toll.

Supporting her, I assessed the situation.
"It seems… her ankle’s been twisted."
Continuing the banquet was out of the question.

Tending to her injury came first.
Judging the situation, I decided we needed to leave the hall.
I turned to Selena and asked:

"Professor."
"……"
"Can you walk on your own?"

"……I’m sorry."
"Don’t be."
I shook my head.

The fault was mine for not being more considerate.
I had assumed she’d be comfortable dancing, but it turned out she wasn’t.
Not just dancing—banquets, tight dresses, and high heels all seemed unfamiliar to her, as if she were experiencing them for the first time.

"I’ll take responsibility."
"What?"
I carefully held her.

Then, without hesitation, I lifted her into my arms, cradling her slim figure against me.
It was what people often called a "princess carry."
For the first time, Selena’s usually composed crimson eyes widened.

She was visibly flustered.
"Y-Yuda…?"
"Shh."

Rarely, she stuttered.
I smiled, signaling her to stay quiet, and without another word, carried her out of the hall.
The students around us stopped dancing and stared, curiosity glimmering in their eyes.

"……"
"Excuse us."
Regardless, I walked across the hall, carrying her.

The students’ gazes followed us, lingering until we had completely left the space.
The Snake, carrying the Drunkard in his arms, left behind a room of wide-eyed onlookers.