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

"Not at all. I’m always on your side."

Since that day.
A small change came over the relationship between me and the girl.
Or rather, Emilia changed.

She started acting just a little more spoiled.
Unlike before, when she always had this prickly air about her, now she was capable of smiling gently.
It must’ve meant she’d finally found some peace.

—Why do you keep trying to go somewhere?
—You promised ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) you’d always stay by my side…
—Then take me with you.

How should I put it?
She started clinging more and more, even if she didn’t notice it herself.
Like the last wall she’d been clinging to had finally crumbled.

Not that I couldn’t understand it.
—…I wish you’d need me too.
—The way I need you.

No matter how determined her will had become—
In the end, she was still a girl who hadn’t even gone through her coming-of-age ceremony.
She’d destroyed her own house and was left standing alone in an empty snowfield.

As a child who hadn’t yet become an adult, it was only natural she’d want something to lean on.
And it just so happened that the one who’d caught her as she fell… was me.
—Yuda.
A hand clutching my sleeve.

There was something painfully tender about that clinging.
Like staring at a reflection of my long-past self.
All I could do was hold the little peacock and gently pat her trembling shoulders.

The more I did, the more Emilia burrowed into my warmth.
And all I could do was accept her clinging.
"Today too… I want a kiss."

It was the same this time.
The more I accepted her neediness, the more natural the skinship became.
Ever since I kissed her on the forehead one day, she’d taken a liking to it and started asking for it constantly.

Even as her face flushed scarlet and her eyes trembled, she’d mumble through the words.
And I couldn’t very well push away a girl being so earnest.
All I wanted was for her to feel safe.

"Of course."
Because I’m not going anywhere yet.
Until you can stand up again, I’ll stay right here by your side.

You’re no longer that sixteen-year-old girl who cried quietly at dawn.
You’re no longer bound—so now, you can fly anywhere you want.
So—

"If it’s your request, gladly."
I just wanted to tell her that everything would be okay.
That from now on, the days ahead wouldn’t be so uncertain.

And she wouldn’t be so alone.
"Nh…"
Ssshh—

I cupped her pale cheek in my hand.
Then gently brushed aside the long bangs that had fallen across her forehead.
Maybe it was the crisp air or the scent of early spring—

But I could feel the warmth of her skin even without touching it.
Drawn closer by that tenderness.
Smooch—

I leaned in.
A soft kiss brushed her forehead.
The faint warmth that lingered behind it.

The cool scent of the snowy fields hovered at the tip of my nose.
All that remained on the peacock’s forehead was a short, breathy noise.
She’d asked for it herself, but now her eyes were shut tight.

Even that reaction—so purely her.
I slowly pulled back.
"Lady Emilia."

"Ah…"
It took Emilia a second to come back to her senses.
She fumbled for a moment, like something inside her had short-circuited, then quickly looked away.

Even then, she didn’t fully turn her back—maybe trying to salvage some pride.
If it embarrassed her that much, she didn’t need to push herself.
But I couldn’t help but chuckle at the innocence of it.

"Pff."
"Don’t… don’t laugh… What’s so funny?"
"Perish the thought. I was just thinking how you’re still just a kid, Lady Emilia."

"What? We’re the same age, and now I’m a kid to you?"
"It just means you look young for your age."
"You’re teasing me again, aren’t you?"

"Oh dear. You caught me."
"You really…!"
Tap, tap—

The atmosphere returned to its usual setting.
I teased the sulking Emilia a few more times.
Our steps, briefly paused, resumed down the path.

We were just about to head back toward the dormitory when—
"Shall we head back soon? The others must be wait—"
"Yes. We’ve been waiting."

"I was wondering why you were so late."
Familiar voices spoke from behind us.
I flinched for a second, then slowly turned around.

At the end of my gaze stood two girls—one with orange hair, the other with red.
Both wore chilly expressions.
"So that’s what this was."

"Hmph."
The fox and the rose.
They had appeared out of nowhere.

Had they come to meet us?
Judging by the icy air around them, they’d seen everything.
Irene stood with her arms crossed, while Elize wore a cold, unreadable look.

On a side note, it still felt strange to see the rose without her wheelchair.
As I paused in brief reflection…
Tug—

"Lady Emilia…?"
Suddenly.
The peacock hugged my arm.

And then, naturally, leaned her head against my shoulder.
Her radiant blue hair spilled down over my chest.
"…"

"Hah."
Was that supposed to be a signal?
Two pairs of eyes cooled to freezing.

Their stares shot toward me like icy daggers.
And yet, as if she didn’t care in the slightest, Emilia showed no signs of letting go.
Leaving me to bear the full weight of the tension in the air.

"Lady Emilia."
Whenever the fox and the rose fought, Emilia had always been the one to try and stop them—or at least quietly stand by and watch.
But now, she was the one throwing firewood into the flames herself.
Truly fitting of a warrior from the proud snows, like a proper Sentinel.
I couldn’t help but let out an awkward smile.

“You two… seem pretty close, huh?”
“Don’t know when that happened, though.”
The temperature around us dropped sharply.
Winter—no, a spring cold snap had arrived.

And after that, I was forced to deliver a long string of explanations.
Not that a single word stuck.
***
Back at the dormitory.

Even after I’d finished explaining everything, the interrogation continued for a long while.
I turned to the little peacock for help, hoping she’d say something on my behalf—
—This is punishment for teasing me all day.
But she mercilessly turned a blind eye.

They say you should never take in a black-haired beast, right?
Though in this case her hair was blue, I could still relate to the lament of the ancestors.
It was only after I’d been thoroughly tormented that the rose and fox finally let up.
They were always at each other’s throats, so why did they suddenly get along only in moments like this?

I reflected bitterly on the injustice of it all.
“Still, maybe it’s time you stopped toying with them,” Selene said.
“I’m not sure I follow, Master.”

“Hmmm… Playing innocent now?”
“I swear I’m being misunderstood.”
“Of course you are.”

Poke, poke—
Selene lightly jabbed my cheek.
Whatever it was that amused her so much, she’d been smiling sweetly for a while now.
Behind that playful gaze, her red irises sparkled.
Gone was any trace of drunkenness—she was perfectly clear.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself, Master.”

“Of course.”
We sat side by side on the couch.
From the common room around us, the noise of daily life continued to drift in.
The presence of the others filled the space with warmth.
—Lady Emilia, you have to do it like this…
—It’s easier if you cut them smaller.

—Like this?
—Ugh… Cooking’s still hard, no matter how many times I try.
—How are you so good at this when you’re just a commoner?
—W-Well, because I am a commoner…?
In the kitchen, the villainess was learning how to cook.
The protagonist, of course, was her teacher.

—What is it now?
—Are you just picking a fight out of boredom again, you second-rate princess?
—I think you’re the one starting something.
—A mere maid, talking back to me?
—Elize. No mean words.
—Irene, don’t pick fights either.

—“Maid” isn’t a bad word!
—Why do you always take her side anyway, big sis?
—Because we shared snacks.
—In books, if you share snacks, it means you’re friends.
—I can’t choose between a friend and a sister.
—What kind of weird books have you been reading…

Meanwhile, the fox and the rose were bickering again.
With the eccentric fourth-dimensional princess right in the middle.
Clatter, clatter—
The peaceful bustle of daily life quietly unfolded.
Selene listened to it for a while, then murmured softly, as if melting into the sound.
Her voice was unhurried.

“It’s so peaceful, isn’t it?”
“A bit noisy, perhaps.”
“Peace isn’t always quiet, you know.”

“How very true, Master.”
Thump—
Selene gently leaned her head on my shoulder.
As if savoring the stillness, she closed her eyes.

“Sometimes I think it’s a miracle.”
“A miracle?”
“That I get to enjoy peaceful days like these.”

“There’s no reason you shouldn’t. After all, you are enjoying them.”
“It’s thanks to you, Yuda.
These are all stories you nurtured with your own hands.”
“I only stood by and watched.”

“I always think of you with gratitude.”
“You flatter me.”
Peace.
It was still a word I didn’t fully understand.

With the final chapter approaching, it was hard to predict what lay ahead.
There was still the headmaster’s cryptic prophecy lingering in the air.
As always, life was just unstable enough to be worrying.
But—
“We’ll have to work harder.”

I decided not to be anxious.
Yes.
These were stories I cultivated.

If I was going to tame them and form bonds, I had to take responsibility.
Leaving the stray thoughts behind, I chose to think of only one thing.
The fate I carried as a possessor—

“For all of you.”
For the happy ending of this world.
***

Night had quietly arrived.
The earlier commotion had faded, and the dormitory welcomed the pre-dawn stillness.
I sat in the shadows, toying with something in my hand.

A communication orb connected to headquarters.
Its glow shimmered a faint blue.
—{Commander.}
The voice on the other end belonged to the vice-captain.
She spoke with her usual clipped tone, delivering the report.

—{The merchant.}
—{We’ve confirmed the location of the target who had been off the grid.}
—{According to our informants, they’ve been spotted heading to the “Apple Tree” auction house.}
—{All proceeding as planned.}
Silently listening, I rose from the sofa.
Outside the window, only thick darkness swirled.
Even the moonlight was obscured by clouds.
I smiled, eerily.
“Good.”

Just as planned.
The target was walking straight into the trap.
Covering my twisted grin, I recalled the events of a few weeks ago.
“I did promise you’d pay the price, didn’t I?”

I wonder if they remember.
Hopefully, they’re losing sleep in fear right now.
With idle amusement, I whispered to the orb.
A simple declaration—
“Then… shall we go capture them?”

One of the worst villains in the original story.
A symbol of adult depravity.
The one who burned the fox’s village.
The one who drove my teacher to death.
I ground his repulsive name between my teeth.

“Time to hunt…”
A starless dawn.
The true hunt was about to begin.