In the grand kingdom of Navenia, where magic intertwined with destiny, there lived a prince named Vaelion. He was not only the kingdom’s sole heir but also a skilled warrior, blessed with the rare ability to wield both "fire and ice"—a power that made him revered and feared alike. 

His father, "King Zephyr", was a ruler of great renown, known for his unwavering leadership and unmatched bravery. His mother, "Queen Serena", was celebrated for her beauty and kindness, beloved by the people. Despite his noble lineage and extraordinary gifts, Vaelion’s life was suffocatingly predictable. Duty overshadowed freedom, and he found himself bound by the rigid expectations of royalty. He had no true friends—only mentors, advisors, and knights sworn to his service. 

Seeing his son's isolation, the king made an unexpected decision: he would find someone to keep Vaelion company. Someone who could entertain him, challenge him, and perhaps even bring some much-needed chaos into his orderly life. 

One fateful day, the king’s attention was drawn to a mischievous boy darting through the bustling market streets. He was small, bright-eyed, and full of energy, weaving between the crowd as he performed dazzling sleight-of-hand tricks. The boy's magic—though far from refined—was lively and unpredictable, sparking laughter and gasps from onlookers. 

However, his antics soon led him into trouble. After a failed pickpocket attempt, the guards chased him down, magic flashing in the air as he tried to escape. He put up a good fight, slipping through their grasp like a shadow, but ultimately, he was caught and dragged before the king. 

Instead of punishment, however, the king simply smiled. 

"You caught my attention, boy." Zephyr’s voice was calm yet commanding. "I should have you imprisoned for thievery... but instead, I offer you a choice." 

The boy blinked, still panting. "A... choice?"

"Yes. You will not be thrown in the dungeons—if you agree to my request." The king’s eyes gleamed. "Become my son’s fool."

The boy stared, stunned. "W-what? A fool?" 

"Yes. Live in the palace, stay by the prince’s side, and report to me about his daily activities. In return, you will have food, shelter, and a place to belong." 

A long pause. The boy looked around—at the guards, at the towering palace beyond, at his ragged clothes. Then, with an uncertain but mischievous grin, he bowed dramatically. 

"Then allow me, Your Majesty, to be the greatest fool your kingdom has ever seen!"

And thus, the tale of the prince and his fool began. 

The sun hung lazily over the grand kingdom of Navenia, casting golden light through the towering spires of the royal palace. Inside, Prince Vaelion lay on his bed, resting after an uneventful morning, when a knock echoed through his chambers. 

"Your Highness," a royal servant announced. "The king has summoned you." 

Vaelion sighed. His father rarely called for him unless it was something bothersome. Dragging himself up, he adjusted his attire and made his way to the king’s study hall. 

--- 

(Inside the King’s Study)

As Vaelion stepped into the grand chamber, his gaze immediately landed on an unfamiliar figure standing behind his father’s chair. The boy, no older than sixteen, peered at him curiously, a mischievous glint in his bright eyes. 

Vaelion frowned. "Father, what is this about?" His voice was calm but held a note of impatience. "And who is that behind you?" 

King Zephyr chuckled. "Ah, straight to the point, as always." He gestured for the boy to step forward. "This is Zenny. From today onward, he will be your personal attendant." 

Zenny grinned and extended a hand. "Hello, Your Highness! Nice to meet yah!" His voice was light and playful, his posture relaxed despite the prince’s cold stare. 

Vaelion glanced at Zenny’s outstretched hand but ignored it, instead turning his sharp gaze back to his father. "Do I look like I need a babysitter?" His tone was laced with irritation. "No—scratch that. Why does it seem like I’m the one being forced to babysit him?" 

Zenny gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. "Hey! That’s so mean!" he whined, pouting. 

King Zephyr chuckled again, but his tone turned firm. "This is not up for debate. He’ll be keeping an eye on you, and he will report to me about your daily activities." 

Vaelion clenched his jaw, realizing he had no say in the matter. Meanwhile, Zenny was practically beaming with excitement. 

--- 

(In the Palace Hallways)

As Vaelion strode back to his chambers, he noticed Zenny trailing behind him like a lost puppy. 

The prince stopped abruptly. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked, his voice edged with annoyance. 

Zenny gave him a wide grin. "Following you, of course! Just in case you need anything." 

Vaelion exhaled sharply. "I don’t need anything. Go somewhere else." 

"Can’t do that!" Zenny chirped. "The king told me to stay close to you." 

Vaelion’s eyebrow twitched. "Listen, if you want to stay in this palace, you’d better obey my orders, not just my father’s." 

Zenny shrugged. "Nope! King's orders take priority." 

Vaelion’s eye twitched further. "I said—" 

Before he could finish, Zenny dramatically covered his ears. "Blah, blah, blah! I’m not listening! Hahaha!" 

The prince’s patience snapped. With a flick of his wrist, sharp icicles materialized, floating menacingly in the air. "You annoying brat! If you don’t leave now, I’ll make you!" 

Zenny’s eyes widened before he turned on his heels and bolted down the hallway. "Aaaah! Princy’s lost it!!" 

What followed was a ridiculous cat-and-mouse chase through the palace, the sound of Zenny’s laughter and Vaelion’s threats echoing through the halls. 

--- 

(Later That Evening)

After hours of rest, Vaelion stirred awake, stretching his limbs. Just as he sat up, a face suddenly appeared inches from his own. 

"Good morning, princy~!" 

Vaelion recoiled. "You!?" 

Zenny grinned, holding up a tray of food. "Brought you dinner! You must be hungry." 

Vaelion narrowed his eyes but took the tray, realizing he hadn’t eaten all day. He ate in silence, while Zenny watched him with an amused expression. 

Once he finished, Vaelion sighed. "I suppose I have no choice but to tolerate you." 

Zenny’s eyes sparkled. "So you don’t hate me anymore?" 

Vaelion scoffed. "I still hate you. But if you insist on following me, you’ll follow one rule: do not cause me any trouble." 

Zenny saluted dramatically. "Aye aye, Princy!" 

Vaelion rolled his eyes, already regretting this arrangement. 

Little did he know, his so-called personal servant was about to bring more chaos into his life than he ever imagined. 

To be continued…

Prince Vaelion sat at his desk, deep in study for his upcoming exam. The quiet of his study chamber was perfect—until it wasn’t. 

Suddenly, loud clapping, cheering, and bursts of laughter echoed through the hall outside his door. His brow twitched. 

"What now?"

The noise refused to die down, completely shattering his concentration. Sighing, he slammed his book shut and marched toward the door to investigate. 

--- 

(Outside the Study Room) 

As soon as Vaelion stepped into the corridor, he was met with a bizarre sight. 

A group of palace maids and guards stood in a loose circle, clapping and laughing. At the center of their attention was none other than Zenny—the tiny, annoying whirlwind of chaos. 

Zenny twirled and flipped with practiced ease, performing tricks and playful magic, his bright grin never fading. 

Vaelion's eye twitched. He took a deep breath, then let his voice cut through the commotion like a blade. 

"So, all of you have time to slack off instead of working?" 

The laughter ceased instantly. 

The guards and maids straightened up, stiff as boards. "Apologies, Your Highness!" they stammered before scattering like startled birds, rushing back to their duties. 

Now, only Zenny remained, blinking in confusion. He turned to see Vaelion standing there, arms crossed, looking distinctly *not* amused. 

Zenny, ever unfazed, beamed. "Ouh! Hi, Princy! What brings yah here?" He tilted his head playfully. "Ooooh, wait! Do you wanna see some of my magic tricks?" 

Vaelion pinched the bridge of his nose. "Haven't we agreed that you wouldn’t cause trouble for me?" he asked, voice edged with frustration. "Do you *even* realize what you're doing inside the castle?" 

"Umm… something fun?" Zenny grinned. 

Vaelion's irritation deepened. "Well, your ‘fun’ is ruining my study time. The castle is not a carnival. If you want to play that badly, go outside." 

Zenny pouted. "You know I can't do that, right? My job is to stay close to you and report your activities to the king." 

Vaelion scoffed. "Oh? Because from what I’m seeing, you’re doing a horrible job. You know I could tell my father about this and have you thrown out of the palace?" 

Zenny’s eyes widened in panic. "W-wait! You wouldn’t do that, right?!" He clutched Vaelion’s sleeve, looking up at him with the most pitiful expression—wide teary eyes, quivering lips, the very picture of a helpless little hamster begging a big, scary cat for mercy. 

Vaelion tried to keep a straight face. He really did. 

But the way Zenny practically radiated desperation was too much. 

He let out an amused chuckle. 

"Alright, fine. I’ll let this one slide," he said with a smirk. "But no more distractions—understood?" 

Zenny perked up immediately, nodding rapidly. "Got it, Princy!" 

Vaelion sighed. "Just follow me to my study room—and behave this time." 

Zenny grinned and skipped after him like a happy puppy. 

--- 

(Inside the Study Room)

For a brief moment, all was peaceful. 

Vaelion was focused on his studies, while Zenny sat nearby, seemingly obedient. 

That peace lasted a grand total of ten minutes. 

Zenny started shifting restlessly. His fingers drummed against the table. Then he stood, wandered around, poked at bookshelves—until finally, he tripped over his own feet and crashed straight into a neatly stacked pile of books. 

The books tumbled to the floor in a chaotic mess. 

Vaelion turned slowly, his expression darkening. 

"…Zenny." 

Zenny gulped. "Uh-oh." 

"You. Annoying. Little. Pest." 

And just like that, the chase was on. 

Zenny dashed across the room, narrowly dodging the prince’s grasp as Vaelion lunged after him. "I said I was sorryyy!" Zenny whined, barely avoiding the prince’s grip. 

Eventually, the prince caught him and—using his magic—suspended him mid-air, leaving Zenny dangling helplessly. 

Zenny groaned. "Ugh, Princy! This is cruel and unusual punishment!" 

Vaelion smirked, satisfied. "Maybe now you’ll learn to sit still." 

--- 

(A Moment of Understanding) 

After some time, Zenny finally settled down beside Vaelion, watching him study with surprising curiosity. 

"You actually find this interesting?" Vaelion asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Zenny nodded. "Kinda! I mean, I dunno much about this stuff, so it’s cool to learn." 

For a moment, Vaelion hesitated. Then, with an exasperated sigh, he began explaining—going over the principles of magic, the proper ways to harness power, and the dos and don’ts of spellcasting. 

Zenny listened intently, eyes shining with interest. For once, he wasn’t being a nuisance. 

Vaelion found himself… enjoying it. 

It was nice to have someone actually listen to him for a change. 

After a while, curiosity got the better of him. "Zenny… you’re pretty untrained in magic, but you still use it instinctively. How did you learn?"

Zenny’s cheerful expression faltered slightly. "Well… I never went to school."

Vaelion blinked. "You didn’t?"

Zenny shook his head. "My family died in an accident when I was little. My mom was the one who taught me the little tricks I know. After she was gone, I just… figured things out on my own." His voice was quiet now, lacking its usual playful lilt.

A strange ache settled in Vaelion’s chest.

"I… didn’t know," he admitted.

Zenny forced a smile. "It’s fine, really! I mean, I’ve gotten over it. Gotta accept I’m on my own now, right?"

Vaelion frowned. "You're not alone."

Zenny blinked at him.

"You live in the castle now," Vaelion continued. "You’re with me now."

Zenny’s lips trembled, and before Vaelion could react, tears welled up in his eyes.

"H-hey, why are you crying?" Vaelion asked, taken aback.

Zenny wiped his tears, smiling. "It’s nothing. I’m just… happy to be here."

Vaelion sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Then, an idea struck him.

"Since you never got a proper education in magic… how about I enroll you in the Academy of Magic?"

Zenny’s eyes widened. "Wait… WHAT?"

"It’s the school I attend," Vaelion explained. "You need to learn how to control your magic properly. And don’t worry—I’ll look out for you."

Zenny gasped. "Re-really?! I get to go to school?!"

Vaelion nodded. "Of course. You need to learn to use your powers properly. If you’re going to be by my side, I refuse to let you be weak."

Zenny was practically vibrating with excitement. "OHMYGOSH, I'M GONNA BE A STUDENT!!!" He threw his arms up in joy, jumping around the room like an excited rabbit.

Vaelion chuckled, shaking his head. "I already regret this decision."

Zenny just laughed, his happiness infectious.

And so, the day ended with laughter and warmth—the prince and his fool, bound by an unspoken understanding.

To be continued…