“So, seeing as Sehelus brought him, is this child Shasha’s friend?”

“Yes, he wanted to come more than anyone.”

Grinning, Sehelus prompted a similar grin from me.

“But Merkin, why are you wearing a hood like that?”

“Because I… am ugly and it’s become a habit.”

“Ugly?”

“The previous tower master really disliked my hair. He said it reminded him of someone. That’s why I was often scolded and it became a habit to wear a hood. I apologize for my impropriety. I’ll take it off next time.”

Upon hearing that, Sehelus made an uncomfortable expression.

“The reason the previous tower master disliked Merkin’s hair is that it resembled mine. He didn’t like me much.”

“Ah, I see… But Sehelus, your hair color is beautiful too.”

I forced a smile as I thought of a Doberman with an exceptionally muscular physique due to that hair color.

Sehelus, perhaps surprised by the unexpected compliment, belatedly grinned and adjusted his glasses.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Rather, if the person Merkin came to see isn’t me but Shasha, we should call Shasha.”

Expectation flickered across Merkin’s face.

‘Shasha must really like him.’

A full smile came onto his face, different from when he was talking to me, like the last time we spoke at the tower.

I looked towards the shade where the mats lay.

“Shasha, your friend is here.”

Upon hearing this, Shasha, who had been engaged in serious discussion with Lurdello, sprang up.

“A friend?!”

Then she rushed towards us. Lurdello, who had been talking to Shasha, looked at her with his mouth wide open in shock.

He couldn’t even come to us. But Shasha didn’t care about such a Lurdello and ran straight to Merkin and hugged him.

“Mel!”

“Shasha, have you been well?”

“Yes! I missed you, Mel! I was so upset because I couldn’t say goodbye properly at the tower that day.”

She was as lively as when she was with Lurdello. Shasha seemed truly happy, bouncing on her toes.

Just then, Lurdello, who had been sitting on the mat, ran over and separated them with a displeased look.

“What are you doing? Who is this?”

“Ah! Pig! This is my friend Mel! Mel, this is uh…”

“I am the Crown Prince.”

Lurdello stiffened his neck, as if trying to win over Merkin with his position. The smile had long vanished from his face.

Seeing this, Merkin shrugged his shoulders.
The Emperor had not married, and as far as I know, there’s no one who has taken the role of the Crown Prince.

He was a smarter kid than expected. Despite Rurdello’s imperious words, he spoke without any hesitation. Rurdello could only move his lips, knowing he was not wrong.

“What… What…?”

But Shasha vehemently shook her head.

“No, Mel. The pig is the Crown Prince! The Emperor also said he’s his son.”

“Ah…”

“That’s a secret for now, so it’s not yet been officially announced. So, please keep it a secret from Merkin and Sehelus.”

Worried that this childish argument might inconvenience Liandro, he hastily spoke up.

It was then that Mel lowered his head, realizing he had made a mistake.

“I apologize, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I made this mistake due to my ignorance.”

He seemed to be a couple of years older than Shasha. Seeing him quickly admit his mistake and apologize, he appeared quite mature.

Contrarily, Rurdello flared his nostrils, looking at the bowed Merkin, as if he thought he had won.

How cute.

“Now that you know, I was born of noble blood, so don’t make such impertinences in the future.”

He knew the manners impeccably at times like this.

“Yes…”

At such behavior of Rurdello, Merkin felt a bit down. Shasha, who had been observing both, looked at Rurdello discontentedly.

“Hey, pig.”

“What?”

“When will you stop making my friend bow his head? And I really hate hearing about this bloodline talk!”

“What…? Are you siding with him in front of me?”

Merkin is an orphanage graduate. He doesn’t know who his blood relatives are. Maybe that’s why Shasha, who usually would have ignored Rurdello’s bloodline rants, turned her head abruptly.

“Hmph.”

“…Hm? Are you hmph-ing me right now?”

But Shasha had already grabbed Merkin’s arm and dragged him toward the mat.

“You can raise your head. You’re not the type to listen to such talk about bloodlines. So, ignore it and play with me.”

“Uh… Can I?”

“Yeah. I don’t like that pig!”

“Ah… Crown Prince, if you’ll excuse me.”

As Shasha led him away, Merkin had no choice but to follow. Standing still, Rurdello trembled his lips.

“How… How can this happen to me?”

Looking as if he had received a big shock, Rurdello stared at the two. Unable to bear it, the kid stomped toward the mat.

“This mat is mine, you know?!”

“This place is mine and my sister’s! The Emperor said the star palace is ours! So if you don’t want to get kicked out, stay still!”