The Crown Prince In Hiding

The same cafeteria; a new morning.

“I don’t understand this page…”

Dan shook his head in the library, and Nora craned in to see what was in his book… a mathematical formula calculating star orbits in intricate detail…

“I don’t… understand it a little, either.”

“Your ‘a little’ and mine are different.”

“If I could read it for a week, I could probably explain it to you… just the equation itself.”

“…Think Thomasin could help me?”

“I don’t think Thomasin would know this, Mr.Fury.”

Rafinya glanced over from the corner of her eye… She saw Dan’s new book about the stars.

“Nerd.”

That was what her look told him.

Breakfast went on. First period today was Knight Studies, followed by PE in the afternoon.

“How far did you get on the homework?”

Rafinya asked curtly, as if to make conversation, and ended up getting cut off when Dan handed over the magic homework he’d done (copying some from Nora).

Tch.

And that wasn’t counting how Nora was looking down her nose at her.

“Johannes K., huh?”

Rafinya pointed at the book.

“That name sounds familiar.”

“Does it?”

“I know he wrote sensitive material in his own books—about the world’s orbit.”

“…Look, Nora.”

“Yes, Dan.”

“Someone did their homework.”

“True. But still a long way to go.”

Rafinya swallowed the sarcasm.

“He was a Luminus citizen who was exiled from Luminus alongside Galileo.”

“That’s right.”

Dan pulled the yogurt spoon from his mouth.

“Why bring up what I already know?”

“Because I remember that some of his books seized by the Luminus authorities are still kept in the Forbidden Library.”

As if by magic—

Everything froze.

Dan’s demeanor changed. Princess Nora noticed… and her expression could be summed up in two words: “Uh-oh…”

“What did you say? The Forbidden Library? Didn’t Luminus burn everything?”

“We’re not savages,” Rafinya said.

“If it’s not obscene or violently sexual imagery, we don’t destroy things at random. They’re just books.”

Dan went still for a long moment… Nora knew immediately.

He wanted to know more about the Forbidden Library. If Johannes K.’s books hadn’t been destroyed… could it be that other works by Darwin C. were still preserved as well?

“Mr. Dan, she’s clearly messing with you… don’t just believe anything.”

Nora said, worried.

“Me? Use such a low tactic?”

“Anyone can spout things out of nowhere like that, Mr. Dan. Even I could.”

Nora leaned back, arms crossed.

That was true.

“Right… finally, a way in that sounds plausible. But I won’t believe it easily without proof.”

But proof, in this case, meant going home to ask Casca… and who knew if she’d know? She hadn’t been in Luminus for almost ten years, right?

“Believe it or not—up to you.”

Rafinya spread her hands.

“Johannes and Galileo were expelled, but they continued their work elsewhere. As for Darwin, he was executed in Luminus. So what he knew died with him… unless there’s a chance Luminus kept his things.”

Rafinya’s choice of words showed careful preparation. Princess Nora’s eyes flew wide; she shot back at once:

“Impossible. Content that contradicts doctrine would definitely be destroyed—nothing would remain.”

“You can believe the princess if you like. But I think you know this much at least: for a family that has governed the North longer than the Artheris district has existed, gaining trusted access to the Forbidden Library isn’t something we Saint Paulis can’t do.”

!!!

On what should have been a leisurely day for Nora… it wasn’t leisurely anymore. The heat was rising—and it rose further when Dan’s gaze changed.

No eternal friends or permanent enemies. Dan merely found Rafinya’s stubbornness annoying, but nothing said he’d turn away if she had something truly interesting to offer.

That’s the way of the world.

“Who told you?”

No onlooker saw what expression Dan wore.

“Who told you about Darwin?”

“How I got the information is my business.”

Rafinya’s look turned triumphant; she folded her arms and leaned in.

“I just know that someone willing to pour money into Paleobiology the way you did will be interested in my new proposal.”

The moment she said it, Princess Nora knew at once…

News of Mr.Fury’s sponsorship had already reached the Pauli family.

“So you’ll find a way to tack ‘Saint Pauli’ onto the end of Dan’s name no matter what, huh… But all that in exchange for a few books isn’t worth it.”

Dan was quiet for a long time, then suddenly said,

“I’m wondering where you learned this—if it wasn’t from Senior Thomasin.”

Right. It wasn’t hard. Rafinya had already met Thomasin. And aside from Dan and Nora, they hadn’t told anyone else.

Goodison Holding, Everton’s company—no doubt they’d dig into that connection.

But trusting his younger brother, the Saint Paulis weren’t the only ones who would investigate the company. If Everton’s plan to rise to power in the economic world was true, he would have designed Goodison Holding without any seams leading back to Dan, to Fury, or to Diablo—no matter who investigated, even governments or royalty.

And for that reason… it wasn’t why Nora had goosebumps from seeing only those red eyes shine out of the boy’s dark-shaded face.

Rafinya herself sensed the “pressure,” as if a mass were suddenly compressing the air around her…

“Miss Rafinya… did you coerce Senior Thomasin?”

A simple question—yet why… did Dan’s tone sound like he was already three steps ahead, deciding how he would crush her?

Both girls could feel it…

“Senior Thomasin isn’t someone who readily tells anyone anything… You forced her, didn’t you?”

The pressure in the air doubled. There was no soundtrack… only silence. And that silence—that was the most crushing pressure of all.

This feeling…

Rafinya’s eyes flew wide—

Yes.

This is what I wanted to see from you.

The same feeling as in the arena!

“I didn’t ‘coerce’ her.”

Rafinya put on a brave face, leaning back and folding her arms.

“I didn’t even lay a finger on her. I simply asked her directly.”

“I can do that too.”

Nora could see the evasive half-truth in Rafinya’s words. Of course. A noble from a great, powerful house—if she pushes, the other party must answer.

Senior Thomasin was a commoner. Pressed that hard, she’d have to spill—especially when it’s Rafinya.

Then… a very clear sigh escaped Dan.

Hard to describe… but Nora felt… afraid.

“My mistake, for thinking shallowly. I thought this was so minor I didn’t need to consider anyone’s safety.”

Dan spoke to himself… then drew a breath, lifted his face to the ceiling, and lowered it again.

“Rafinya. Our line is drawn here.”

Dan spoke in a voice cool—but heavy.

“If even one member of Saint Pauli reaches out to meddle with Senior Thomasin again, there will be serious consequences.”

Nora could feel it…

The one speaking wasn’t Dan Burn.

It was Prince Fury of Diablo.

“Serious consequences?… What are you…?”

Rafinya was shocked by the sudden change, but she still fought back.

“What are you saying…? Who do you think you’re threatening? Who do you think you are, talking to us like that!”

“I won’t repeat myself. Consider this your warning.”

Dan stood at once.

“Princess Nora.”

“Y-Yes, Dan?”

“Go on to class. I have something to do.”

Nora swallowed…

Then gave a small nod.

Rafinya stood as well, following the boy.

“Hold on! Where are you going!? Dan!”

He didn’t answer. He was already gone…

“Dan!”

Rafinya meant to follow—but Senior Chiesa arrived just in time.

“Rafinya, Professor Foden is calling. It’s time.”

“Guh…”

The girl had no choice but to let Dan go…

Paleobiology Department.

TA Thomasin Mayfield had just sat down in her office with her morning coffee when—like déjà vu, before she’d been seated ten seconds—a voice rang out from the corridor.

“Senior Thomasin!”

“Wha—?! D-Dan?!”

She jumped so hard her coffee nearly went to chat with the dust on the floor.

“What’s the matter this early?! Wait, aren’t you supposed to be in class?!”

“Did Rafinya do anything to you yesterday?”

“Uh… what did you say…?”

Sweat beaded on the TA’s brow, but it didn’t soften the severity in Dan’s gaze.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Thomasin trembled and bowed at once, certain she’d angered Dan…

She expected to be scolded by her junior—the heir to wealth who could scold her as the “one holding the purse strings,” no less.

But—

“No… it’s my fault for not thinking more carefully.”

Thomasin slowly raised her head… Dan didn’t rebuke her. His tone even suggested he understood that Thomasin had had no choice.

“It was my own carelessness. But don’t worry. From here on, it won’t happen again.”

“Junior Dan… what do you mean?”

“Senior Thomasin, I promise that as long as I represent the sponsor, there won’t be any more harassment like this.”

When he finished, Dan apologized by bowing so deeply she stiffened, trying to stop him.

“Dan! You don’t have to—”

“I’ll head to class now.”

“…Dan.”

The boy stepped back and bowed again. He opened the door and left the office, went down the stairs, and out of the building.

And at that very moment—

A reflection in the fountain as Dan passed showed a black silhouette—a demon in the shape of a wolf.

Dan stopped… drew a breath—

And spoke to the air.

“From now on, this is your job.”

{ Yes, Your Highness. }

Roma’s voice answered from the void.

“Protect Thomasin from all danger. Kill on sight if anyone from Saint Pauli lays a hand on her again.”

{ Are you sure, Your Highness? If we kill a Saint Pauli, we might have problems. }

“No one gets in the way of my objective.”

{ Understood, Your Highness. }

Thomasin Mayfield watched Dan from the office window.

Even Thomasin could feel it.

Today… that junior she doted on had become someone frightening.

Those eyes…

Thomasin swallowed.

Junior Dan is… definitely angry.