MTLNOVEL 11
‘Ah… My whole body aches.’
I don’t even know how many days I’ve been doing this unwanted exercise.
As if that wasn’t enough to make every muscle in my body scream, I even had to wedge myself between the slides to sleep because of my uncomfortable cohabitation with mealworms all night.
No, but seriously, how does anyone sleep with bugs right next to their head? I can’t do it. I’m a city dweller, the kind of coward who couldn’t even move to the countryside because of bugs.
I can’t live like this. This is too much. It’s unfair and miserable. I’m running away. I’m leaving this place!
“Today, I’ve prepared a different special meal for you, Cashew Nut.”
Just as I made up my mind, Kyle entered the study and took away all the bugs in the room.
“Sen mentioned that raw food might not be to your liking. That was my mistake.”
— Chirp. (Yeah. It was your mistake.)
“For breakfast today, try dried pollack, and for dinner, I’ve arranged beef. Since it’s festival season, there’s plenty of meat. Would you like chicken tomorrow?”
‘…Should I rethink running away?’
I mean, his effort is touching. He’s trying his best to take care of me, after all.
As I slid down the slide and looked up at him, Kyle’s face visibly brightened. He quickly placed a piece of dried pollack in my hands, then took my overturned water bowl and refilled it with fresh water.
I nibbled at the pollack. It seemed like he hadn’t seasoned it since it was meant for animals, so it was a bit bland, but still edible. Honestly, considering the horrifying things that had been in my food bowl until yesterday, this was heaven.
‘Should’ve done this from the start.’
If I had to pretend to eat that stuff… Ugh, my poor fate.
I got something stuck in my throat and pounded my chest with my tiny fists. Seeing that, Kyle quickly placed the water bowl beside me.
“There’s been some unrest in the castle lately. You’ll be staying here anyway, so there’s nothing to be cautious about, but in case that perverted consort tries to barge into the study—”
— Screech!
I nearly dunked my nose straight into the water dish.
‘…What did he just say? P-Perverted consort?’
Is he talking about me? Wait, which lunatic came up with that title?!
“I’ve stationed guards outside the study, so you have nothing to worry about, Cashew Nut.”
Oh, of course. Nothing to worry about. Because that perverted consort is me…
As I tilted my head back and forth, Kyle, looking like he was about to die from how cute I was, scooped me up and showered me with kisses.
Hey, stop! Why do you kiss me more often than you eat? Do your subordinates know you act like this? Huh?
Aren’t you supposed to be the Conqueror of the North? The ruthless and merciless strongest swordsman of Meinhardt? The Grand Duke who tamed a wasteland? You damn hamster otaku!
“Your Highness.”
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Like lightning, Kyle set me down inside the room and straightened his posture.
As if he had transformed into an entirely different person, he spoke with a solemn expression.
“Enter.”
What the hell? Is he really the same person?
I would never get used to this. Watching him turn his back to me, receiving a report from a knight, I felt like someone who had just been scammed.
The report stated that the Second Prince, Belial Serena Meinhardt, was arriving at the estate soon.
The knight meticulously went over the details—welcoming procession, decoration placements, designated dining locations, and even the menu for each meal—almost excessively thorough.
If I only listened to the report, I’d think an audit was about to take place. The knight’s grave expression only reinforced that impression.
‘I knew there was bad blood between Kyle and the imperial family—I even heard about it during the summoning—but… just how bad is it for things to be this serious?’
From his expression alone, I’d believe he was heading out to subjugate a horde of monsters.
“I should depart immediately.”
Kyle glanced at me, his eyes brimming with reluctance.
I have no idea how he’s managed to keep that affectionate nature hidden all this time. Or maybe it’s just me he’s affectionate toward. If he’s only soft-hearted toward animals, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but…
“I’ll be back, Cashew Nut.”
Instead of answering, I held out my hands. Give me one more piece of pollack before you go.
“Too much isn’t good for you.”
He whispered.
‘…Yeah, sure….’
I flopped onto my back and started fantasizing about all the food I wanted to eat.
A triple-patty burger, hot pot with shrimp balls, a T-bone steak bigger than my face, thick-cut pork belly wrapped in lettuce. In autumn, fresh gizzard shad sashimi. In winter, yellowtail sashimi. In spring…
‘Just wait and see.’
When I turn back into a human, I’m going to eat nothing but meat for three straight days.
***
After finishing off the last bits of dried pollack, I rolled around lazily and suddenly had a thought.
‘Now that I think about it, why did Kyle have such a bad relationship with the imperial family? He’s not a legitimate heir, but he’s still the current emperor’s son.’
Well, there must be some tragic backstory behind it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be living as a Grand Duke in this freezing land instead of enjoying his status as a prince.
Kyle Jane Meinhardt wasn’t a particularly important character in the original story. On top of that, he died off pretty quickly, so his past was never given much focus.
What is it that he truly wants? If I could grant him that, maybe I could change the future.
[Kyle’s one and only wish is revenge.]
‘So, you want revenge too, huh…’
This place is overflowing with revenge-driven hopefuls.
It must be because of his origins that he rebelled against the imperial family. His mother was never accepted as part of the imperial bloodline and ultimately met a miserable end.
That being said, Kyle and Belial weren’t mortal enemies from the start. Belial might have provoked Kyle a few times in the past, but Kyle had endured it all.
The North was unstable even without someone actively trying to crush it. For the sake of his land, minimizing variables was the best course of action.
But despite Kyle’s efforts, Belial’s provocation succeeded. Or rather, he found the perfect excuse to pressure the North.
Right on cue, the system displayed the exact part of the original story where the incident occurred.
[“Kyle Jane Meinhardt used the festival as a pretext for treason. The falling chandelier at the final banquet, nearly striking the Second Prince, Belial Serena Meinhardt, is undeniable proof! Therefore, the Duke of Klein declares Kyle an enemy of the empire and vows to stand against him alongside all those associated with the Blake territory.”]
‘This is it. The Chandelier Incident!’
On the last night of the festival, an accident involving Belial led his family to publicly declare their hostility against Blake territory.
And if things went according to the original story, this would be the first time I’d meet Serena—now called Sen—who was originally Belial’s maid. I think they bonded while she was tending to his injuries?
If Belial and his maternal family, the Klein ducal house, joined forces against Kyle, the North would become even more isolated. That was likely a major factor in Kyle’s eventual death.
That means I have to stop this incident.
‘The final banquet…’
Stopping it is simple. I just need to prevent Belial from attending that grand banquet on the last night.
‘How should I do it…?’
First, I need to meet him in person. I need to understand what kind of man he is and how best to persuade him. And if persuasion fails, well… I’ll just have to find some dirt on him.
I was deep in thought, idly picking at the wood shavings between my tiny paws, when I heard a voice outside the study.
“Why have you stationed guards at the door?”
It was an unfamiliar voice—soft, refined, and almost melodic.
Then, with a click, the door opened. Kyle stepped aside to let his guest in, answering curtly, “There was a minor issue, so I ordered tighter security.”
His tone was strictly professional, clearly implying don’t ask further. The man following him let out a low chuckle.
“Even the Grand Duke’s private chambers are not immune to unexpected disturbances, it seems.”
Was that a jab at Kyle’s inability to manage his own quarters?
Kyle’s expression twitched into a fleetingly cold smile before returning to impassivity.
Curious, I crawled out of my hideout and climbed to the top of my enclosure, next to the exercise wheel. From this vantage point, I could finally see the man seated across from Kyle.
[Belial Serena Meinhardt.]
Just as expected, it was Belial.
Golden hair gleaming like honey, vibrant green eyes, a face brimming with warmth and charm, gentle eyes slightly drooping at the corners, and a habitually polite smile…
If someone were to craft the image of a fairytale prince, it would look exactly like this. Well, he is a real prince, after all.
“I also heard you were keeping a peculiar beast in your study.”
A peculiar beast? That’s gotta be me.
As I listened, gnawing on the walnut I had brought up with me, Kyle’s eyebrow twitched for a split second.
Hey, hey. Don’t react.
“It’s a juvenile magic beast, native to the coldest eastern forests. It is of no concern to Your Highness.”
“I heard that when fully grown, this species devours humans. Keeping such a creature… Grand Duke, your courage is truly admirable.”
Belial’s eyes curved as he smiled. Kyle remained expressionless, staring at him without a word.
I could practically see the invisible sparks flying between them.
The festival is just around the corner, so why waste energy like this? Get along, get along!
“Or… perhaps you have another motive?”
…Yeah, these two are never going to get along.
“Once words leave your lips, they cannot be taken back, Prince Belial.”
“Shouldn’t you start by denying it, Grand Duke?”
It was a blatant provocation. And not just any provocation—one insinuating that Kyle was raising a magic beast to stage a rebellion.
If only you looked at me, you wouldn’t be saying such nonsense. How long do you think it’ll take for something my size to grow big enough to attack the imperial palace? I’m barely the size of a human palm! It’s so ridiculous I can’t even get mad.
But Kyle seemed to feel differently. The already frigid air in the room turned even colder. I rubbed my tiny forearms together, watching the tension rise.
‘…Wait a second.’
He’s not actually going to draw his sword, is he?
They say taking three deep breaths can prevent murder. Breathe, Kyle, breathe!
“If you’re going to strike me, Kyle, do it. You’re just as vulgar as your wretched mother.”
Kyle’s hand moved to his sword.
Hey! You can’t kill him! I mean, sure, insulting someone’s mother is a solid reason to die, but still!
There was no time to think.
I took a deep breath, then flung myself forward, rolling down in a tumble.
Thunk, thunk, thud—!
As my round body bounced off the slide, the noise echoed through the study.
The sudden sound drew both their eyes toward me.
…Alright. Time to play dead.
“…Cashew Nut?”
A startled Kyle shot to his feet.
Since I remained motionless, he turned sharply and barked an order at the guards outside.
“Escort the prince to his quarters. Summon a physician.”
He rushed toward me in alarm.
Just as the door creaked open, another person stepped inside.
It was Sen, carrying a sample of my snacks.
“…Your Highness?”
“Sen. Escort the prince to his room.”
Kyle carefully lifted me from my enclosure as he spoke. Sen quickly assessed the situation before nodding, then exited with Belial.
The previously tense study fell into complete silence.
I could feel Kyle’s gaze, heavy with worry.
‘Alright, that should do it.’
That was an Oscar-worthy performance.
[･᷄︵･᷅]
What? What’s with the face? You totally fell for it! If this isn’t top-tier acting, what is?
I twitched as if I were just waking up. Kyle leaned in, sighing in relief.
Then, in his softest voice, he asked if I was alright.
Yeah… I like him much better like this than when he tries to act indifferent.