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

And so.
A week had passed.
The fierce days remained like a single photograph in memory.

And at the bitter end of the brutal snowscape, only spring flowed, having shed the winter.
We returned once again to the Academy.
"It truly was a long week, wasn’t it."

The fall of the Vanity family had been officially declared.
Since the Imperial family had to maintain face, the true agents behind the coup’s suppression were kept hidden.
Instead, it was announced that the Emperor himself, having detected signs of rebellion, had swiftly eradicated them all.

For us, who had no desire to attract undue attention, this was a welcome decision.
In fact, the very act of handing over the traitors to the Empire had already been more than generous.
Had I not owed the Emperor a favor, it would’ve been far more difficult to obtain his permission.

I let out a breath of relief.
[So then, when are you planning the royal marriage?]
[Both Elize and Charlotte seem to be looking forward to it, you know.]
[To marry both princesses… The continent will be turned upside down.]
[Still, if that’s what the children desire, we should support them.]
[It’d be nice to have an answer by summer, at least.]
[Ah, and considering the matter of heirs too…]
Alongside his regards—

Valcaros had included a not-so-subtle pressure, but I decided to set that matter aside for now.
With the final chapter drawing near, work had piled up from all directions.
As always, I neatly folded the letter and sent it back.

Then turned back to the remaining documents on my desk.
‘The fall of Vanity.’
The aftermath had proceeded swiftly.
The betrayal of Vanity, one of the Empire’s three great ducal houses, had left a deep shock.

However, with the Imperial family claiming they suppressed it in a single night, they effectively reasserted their strength across the continent.
As if to say—even an ancient noble house could be erased if the Emperor so willed it.
Overwhelming force—

To those within the fence, it brings reassurance; to those outside, terror.
In that sense, the way this incident was handled was quite a success.
Once again, the Empire’s unrivaled authority had been burned into everyone’s memory.

‘Thankfully.’
Deron Vanity, the leader of the coup, had been executed.
The elders and close aides who supported him were all put to death.

Even those who had been remotely involved couldn’t escape the gallows.
Normally, it would’ve been policy to purge three generations of a traitor’s bloodline, but since Emilia herself had led the suppression of the coup, a merciful pardon was extended to the innocent.
But only to those who had actively resisted Vanity’s betrayal.

‘A little lenient… but it should be enough.’
It ought to serve as a warning.
To those noble houses who had been harboring similar ambitions.

Their strongest supposed ally had crumbled—of course they would hesitate now.
They needed to realize what kind of enemy they’d nearly made.
So they’d never again treat rebellion like a game.

‘It’s honestly laughable.’
All that, for what—greed?
To risk everything—honor, wealth, family?

I scratched my pen across the page with a derisive sneer.
Investigations were still ongoing into the houses that had ties with Vanity.
If their involvement became clear, not a single one would be spared from the purge.

I pushed the finished papers aside.
[Shattered Pride, and the Final Sentinels.]
At a glance—

A single newspaper caught my eye.
It was an Academy publication, written for the students.
It included coverage of the recent coup attempt, and the role the twins played in stopping it.

The ink across the page had turned them into heroes.
[Emilia Vanity. Ruska Vanity.]
[The direct descendants of the Vanity line took the lead in stopping the coup.]
[They led the knights from the front, and personally executed the traitor Deron Vanity.]
[The two have become the final heirs of the pride held by the Sentinels of the Snowfield.]
[In recognition of this, the Emperor has honored the twins…]
The hero’s tale of the twins.

Once it became known that they had stopped the rebellion with their own hands and brought down their own house—
They were finally freed from the stain of dishonor.
Call it the power of a conveniently embellished story.

‘Of course.’
They had betrayed their own blood.
So of course there were whispers and murmurs behind their backs—but no one spoke up publicly.

Ruska and Emilia were already under the Emperor’s protection.
And I, too, was watching over the path they had chosen.
However complicated things might have been, there seemed to be no regrets.

I merely supported them in silence.
"Hmm."
Scratch—

The once-graceful pen came to a stop.
I began tidying up the documents I had finished processing.
As I stretched, stiff from sitting, a voice called out beside me.

It was Ruska, who had been helping with the paperwork.
"Is it done?"
His clear eyes glanced toward me.

I gestured toward the now-clean desk in reply.
"As you can see."
"You’re surprisingly good at administrative work."

"Have you forgotten I was top of the class in writing?"
"Come to think of it… my sister used to grumble about that. Said she always ended up second place behind you."
"That’s just the fate of the runner-up."

"…Why did you say that twice?"
"Ah, it just slipped out."
"...."

Smooth as flowing water, the sarcasm slipped in.
Letting out a small sigh—perhaps from exasperation—Ruska «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» looked as if he’d just discovered the childish side of a future brother-in-law.
I chuckled quietly and said:

"Young master, you should rest as well."
"I still have duties to finish."
"I told you—I could’ve handled it alone."

"This work concerns my family. If I didn’t take responsibility, it would make no sense."
"You really are the stubborn type."
"Be quiet."

His sharp reply.
But the hand holding the pen kept moving diligently.
Scratch, scratch—

‘So you are paying attention, after all…’
The Vanity execution order.
Maybe it was the fact that he’d been bedridden the entire time that still weighed on him.

After regaining consciousness, Ruska insisted on helping with the aftermath and ended up stealing most of my paperwork.
I suppose, in his own way, he felt responsible for the collapse of his household.
Whoever he took after, he was an incredibly earnest person.

He dragged his pen without much thought as he spoke.
"I still have work left, so you go on ahead."
"Even if you say that, I still feel bad…"

"I heard my sister is waiting. You’re not planning on leaving her there, are you?"
"That would be unforgivable. Then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll head back first."
"You sure left in a hurry."

Ruska wrinkled his brow in mock annoyance.
Then, without much warning, he gave my shoulder a light punch.
A dull thump.

"Hey."
It was a slightly awkward call.
I stopped mid-step and looked down at the boy.

He seemed to be hesitating—as if there was something he wanted to say.
Before long, Ruska parted his lips.
"…Thanks."

An unexpected line.
I thought he hated sappy stuff like this.
Apparently, he’d swallowed his embarrassment.

"Hooh?"
"I just never really got the chance to say it."
"I didn’t expect to hear something like that from you, young master."

"I owe you for preserving the pride of Vanity. It wouldn’t sit right with me to let it go unspoken."
"Ah."
So that was it—pride again.

As expected of twins, I suppose.
They were both the type to stake their lives on the word "pride."
I nodded with quiet amusement.

"Then I’ll accept your thanks, gladly."
"And one last thing."
"Hm?"

"…Please take care of my sister."
His voice dropped a little.
As always, his concern for his sister came first.

I offered a faint smile at the tenderness of it.
Then answered him.
"As I promised."

A promise.
From just a few days ago.
—If my sister finds herself in danger, what will you do?

—I’ll be her strength, of course. Just like everyone else who admires her.
The thing that hadn’t changed.
And the thing that never would.

These children were still clumsy—but they would keep walking forward with unrelenting steps.
I rose from my seat along with the gentle spring air.
"Leave it to me."

I stepped out of the office.
Not a single hesitation in my stride.
***

"You’re late!"
That usual snappy tone.
Emilia welcomed me back as I returned from finishing my work.

I replied with a smooth smile, reaching up to tousle her blue hair.
Her voluminous twin buns squished slightly under my hand.
But the girl didn’t push my touch away.

"There were more documents than I expected."
"You should’ve called me. If you’d just asked, I would’ve come to help right away."
"Young Master Ruska was assisting me. So it wasn’t a problem."

"Hmm… You and Ruska seem pretty close, huh? You even call him by name."
"Could it be that you’re jealous?"
"…Shut up."

We walked into the spring.
Unlike the snowy wasteland from just a few days ago, the Academy streets were now blooming with cherry blossoms.
Soft pink petals floated everywhere, carried by the gentle breeze.

And within that scenery, the ice princess herself seemed like a living painting.
I pushed aside my sentimental musings and headed for the dorm.
We walked side by side, chatting about trivial things.

"Because Lady Emilia, you’re not very good at expressing yourself."
"I said shut up."
"But your face is turning red."

"It’s just hot."
"To think you’re this embarrassed when you were the one who hugged me first…"
"Ugh! I said shut up! You really…!"

"You’re a hundred years too early to land a hit on me."
"Ugh, you little…!"
Our usual bickering.

Just as we passed through the center of the shopping district—
Suddenly, the girl stopped in place.
Standing still, her blue eyes looked up at me.

I tilted my head, confused by the sudden change.
"Lady Emilia?"
What now?

Did I tease her too much?
As I wondered, her red lips parted.
Her cheeks were just as flushed as her mouth.

"Um, Yuda…"
A stammered voice clutched at my sleeve.
Uncharacteristically timid.

"I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?"
"Th-that is…"

Her face burned up.
By now, I already had a good guess what the peacock wanted.
But I asked anyway—teasingly—because I wanted to hear it directly from her lips.

"Today too… I was hoping you’d…"
"Hmm?"
Emilia furrowed her brow and continued.

"Today too… I was hoping you’d… kiss me."
A kiss.
The lips that finally spoke the words were trembling faintly.

Her gaze wavered, unable to meet mine.
I just smiled.
And offered a composed reply.

"Of course."
Ssshh—
I stepped closer to the peacock.

The cold scent of the snowfields brushed the tip of my nose.
Beyond her trailing blue hair, the heat rising to her cheeks was endlessly beautiful.
I placed a hand against her pale cheek.

"If it’s your request—gladly."
And I gently leaned in.