It was an eerie dark and tranquil night. As the door creaks open and a warm breath grazes my ear.

"sigh...Damn it..." , A deep and warm voice tinged with a hint of danger, whispered close to me, sending my heart racing. I unconsciously winced and felt a strange hand remove my shirt, slidind downwards. "uh...you..." The silhouette of a strong body pressed down on me and-  roughly goes up and down, messing around with my sensitive part. A faint chuckles comes out from him, amused by my vulnerability.

**"Haah... ugh..." . "The heat... Can you feel through your shirt ? " I brace myself pushing his chest with all my will to look at his face\, but the more I push\, the closer he pressed me. **

**"How dare.. you lay a hand an the body of a royal? You should be punished" \, 'he said' . **

**Due to sudden rush of pleasure \, my mind became hazy\, and only now did I realize who the owner of the voice was. "Crown prince\, y-your Highness? Ah\, ugh...!" . Before I can get a hold of myself\, something is caressing me below. It's like a de`ja` vu. Repeated one. Familiar heat. Inescapable. **

From the moment I set foot in the royal palace, things began to go awry.

"I thought I had warned you enough",

"As long as you're here, your fate is to be devoured without mercy. Over and over."

'Prince Adriel said'

In the midst of his rough probing hands, a strange sense of excitement engulfed my entire body....

**-A few months ago **

**"You\,re here at the same time today! " *

" well my visit is not a waste . Seeing you Matias, remembering me like this", 'Jade said'

"Do you want me to wrap it for you?"

As usual , Jade playfully taps my hand.

"I'm good today. But Matias, what are you doing after work?",

"There is a festival at the lakeside today...."

'Jade said'

The words of the regular customer were interrupted as the shop's door creaked open.

"Matias! Matias! Matias! How can you work now? Come out", 'said Lily'. 

"**Lily, what happened? we're far from closing the shop"

"who cares about the part-time job right now? It's chaos outside"

"A life changing opportunity awaits outside, Matias! Who knows, you might even rise your social status!"

'said Lily'.

"Well... I'm kind of content with myself now*"

**After mom passed away from illness and barely making things work but.... I've never uttered a lie, never. Just because I am a commoner, it doesn't mean that I can't enjoy in my life.

**"How frustrating! come on\, hurry up!" 'said Lily'. **

....I ended up being dragged outside by Lily. One thing that caught my eye immediately, right in the middle of the street shiny and magnificent-

"**Imperial carriage ? why is it here?"

"Matias, you haven't heard it? The imperial family is desperately looking for someone."

"Judging by how they're scouring through everyone, regardless of noble or commoner, it must be someone of high status..."

'Lily said' .

Royal officer : "Matias*?"

**As I turned my head in response to the abruptly distracting voice, I saw a man in high-ranking royal robes.

Royal officer : "Is your name Matias?"

"yes...What can I do for you?" I replied. 

Royal officer : "Then, you need to come with me."

***Lily who have been staring at me with her mouth agape, her eyes suddenly sparkled.

Lily: "Matias, you owe me big if things goes well! And you have to invite me!"

"What? what do you mean, Lily!?"

***Without being able to ask about the situation\, I was being pulled away from Lily to the front of the imperial carriage. **

In front of the enormous imperial carriage, people who seemed to be officials and alchemists were waiting.

Freder III : "Extend your  both hands to the front and close your eyes" 

" **I'm sorry but why are you asking me to do this?"

Freder III* : "......"

**After a brief silence, suddenly a large hand covering my eyes. Not long after that, I can fell a cold and daunting thing touching my hands. 

Freder III : "oh, no.... This is....!"

"let's see"

***After a few weird feeling run over my body, the hand covering my eyes is lifted- Revealing some royal officials standing bowing deeply towards me. And the words following...

Freder III : "It must be God's blessing, that we can promptly find you. You are the only son of the Emperor. Kindly let us escort you tothe royal palace, Your Highness 'PRINCE MATIAS VERMILLION" .

"what**...."

***at royal chamber-**

Freder III : "His majesty, The Emperor. I present prince who has completed the confirmation process to you." 

Haderus(The King): "you have always worked hard. My son, how have you grown?"    

the same hair as mine. Despite a slightly pallid face, his eyes emanate dignity and strength. 

Freder III :"Your highness Prince, you may greet His Majesty the emperor."

*I suddenly snapped to attention at the whispered voice. 

".....It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesty."

***As someone who had lived as a commoner for the rest of his life, I know nothing about noble etiquette. I greet the King as polite as I can be.**

Haderus(The King): "Hahaha...! You are so formal. Just like your mother. From now on , you should address me as 'Father'."

"Yes Father......."

Haderus(The King): "Matias you are 'sole bloodline' of mine, from this moment forth, you are the Prince of Vermillion Empire. No one will dare to take you lightly and you too must have the qualities of a Prince. Blood is bound blood. It was quite lonely for me since the Crown Prince and Princess were the late Emperor's children.....

But now, I don't feel lonely anymore."

***Everyone in the Empire knows that the crown prince and princess are the children of the late Emperor Claudius Vermillion. Emperor Haderus Vermillion is the younger brother of late Emperor ascending the throne in place of the

Crown prince, who was too young at the time.**

Haderus(The King): "From now on, you will be the only person in this palace I adore....** cough.....!"

Freder III :"Your Majesty, are you all right?"

Haderus(The King): "I'm fine....cough , cough.....!"

Freder III :"Please let us escort you to the infirmary."

Haderus(The King): "Please... cough!.... do. Courtier, guides the Prince to the drawing room.**

***As I followed the courtier into the drawing room, disapproving glances were cast in various directions.**

"(Well, it's understandable that they might be unhappy since a commoner suddenly became their Prince...)"

***Not only was I snatched to the palace as if kidnapped, but also this unexpected turn of events. I'm just as baffled as them.**

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "I heard that a very esteemed someone had arrived."

Chamberlain 1:"Your Highness, the crown prince!"

***Graceful yet with a voice that seemed to harbor poison within. A noble-looking man enters the drawing room. As his golden hair sways, and his crimson eyes seem to glance at me- He passes by as if there's nothing more to see.**

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "Of course, it was not referring to the smelly rat."

*That.... was undoubtedly directed to me. 

"Perhaps....... It is me. His Royal Highness "

***Intense gaze emanated from his red eyes, as he approached me closely.**

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "Wow, quite bold, aren't you? Seems like you liked your father whom you just met today?"

***Intense gaze emanated from his red eyes, as he approached me closely.**

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "Even His Majesty seems reckless. Leaving alone a reeked rat in the drawing room. Wouldn't it be a humiliation if the maids mistook him for garbage?"

"I will make an effort to pay more attention to my appearance, following Your Highness's nobility."

***I tried to hide my trembling body as best I could, but he responded by coldly chuckling.**

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "The entrance of such a pitiful little rat in a trap into the treacherous royal court..."

***Before I could even realize it, he had me cornered against a wall. By the time his hot breath reached my ears, I could hear a growling voice like a predator.**

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "Have you ever heard any rumors about me. I've been trying my best to keep my successor title... But rumors have spread that I'm a troublemaker who doesn't care about gender and age. Aren't you scared? I might crawl into your room any moment."

".....I've never heard it before."

Adriel (Crown Prince) : " You really are a ignorant little mouse , aren't you ?"

*The Crown prince who looked at me as if he were going to kill me, raise hi self up.

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "What a good father to give you such a VIP escort, that put me an awe."

"VIP escort...? What are you talking about?"

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "Seem like you haven't heard it yet. Well, he even might hesitate to escort a half-blood prince like you."   

Chamberlain 1:"Your Highness Crown Prince, Grand Duke Lumarond requested to meet you."

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "Oh , he is here. Send him in."

*Just right after his order, a huge and threatening man enters. Having one eye covered by an eye patch makes his cold demeanor mare intense. 

kalcion(Grand Duke) : I have arrived in the capital under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor. I am kalcion Lumarond who will escort His Highness Prince from now on."

"(Lumarond Grand Duke of the north..... He will directly escort me?) I'm so relieved to be with you. Please take care of me."

*Tall with broad shoulders and his menacing atmosphere. Seeing Grand Duke also knowns as the 'Demon Slayer' in front of my eyes, sent shivers down my spine but impressed me at the same time.

kalcion(Grand Duke) :"...........,"

*Grand Duke shifted his eyes avoiding my gaze. Does he.... feel uncomfortable?

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "Have a cup of tea before you go. it's your first time seeing him."

*As soon as the Crown Prince finished his words, the Chamberlain served the tea, as if he had prepared in advance. Sweet smell fly off the beautiful tea cup.

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "Please, have some."

*The sliver teaspoon laid next to the teacup caught my attention. Trying not to look frivolous, I slowly added a block of sugar and stirred with the teaspoon.

kalcion(Grand Duke) :"This is....(However, the silver teaspoon which had shone brightly, had turned black completely.)   It's poisoned. "

"......!"

*Amid the buzz around, an unpleasant sneer flew into my ears

Adriel (Crown Prince) : "Indeed. you are a lucky person."

*Why does only the Crown Prince seems out of place among the people who are frightened and puzzled? 

                                                                                     --X--