n

n

nHikan returned to the study alone and touched his forehead. Cedric’s story disturbed his mind.

nCedric is too much for a small child like Dalia to handle……. Well, it is now over anyway.

nTranscendents are more tolerant with fellow transcendents. This is because they share different perspectives than others and know the same pain.

nThere are only five to six transcendents in one era.

nAlthough they often become enemies because of their arrogant and self-deprecating personality, those who have once shared friendship remain friends for as long as possible.

nOf course, there were many cases of marriage. There was a certain consensus between Hikan and the Emperor, so they could be close regardless of their age and status.

nCedric, on the other hand, was not on good terms with Hikan even though they were both transcendent.

nBefore meeting Dalia, Hikan’s personality was worse than it is now, but Cedric was never innocent either.

nCedric smiled as Hikan became more sensitive at a social gathering after he was expelled from the family. (*t

/n: sorry not sure about this one)

n

n

n“Well, isn’t crying about being kicked out of the house is a challenge to overcome for a five years old?”

nHe can’t have a friend because he talks like that.

nThere was already a famous incident where he set fire to the entire residence of a noble after he rudely commented ‘it’s like it’s on fire’ when he saw the Empress flaming red hair.

nThere was also an incident that was often talked about in secret when he offered a blank check to a devastated noble and asked him to claim damages on his own.

nHe also heard some stories from Adrisha. If a subordinate makes a mistake, no matter how trivial it is, he or she will be fired right away.

nIf they invade his personal space or ask a few personal questions, they’re fired.

nIt doesn’t matter even if the person has worked there for 10 years or 20 years. A smiling face is just a mask to hide his contempt, Adrisha said with confidence, that he clearly despises everyone.

nHow did such a person like Cedric end up falling in love with Dalia?

nIt was more complicated because he couldn’t think of any idea at all.

nHe recalled what he heard from the Emperor today.

nSurprisingly, Cedric wasn’t like that from birth. Rather, he heard from the Emperor that he was softer and milder than the average transcendent.

nBut there was a problem. It was because of Cedric’s unusual constitution. For whatever reason, the Emperor’s ability as a transcendent was partially manifested in the young Cedric.

nEmperor Alexandro Duncan Michelio has the ability to read other people’s emotions through physical contact.

nHowever, Cedric had that power from birth, compared to the Emperor who gained his ability after he was 17.

nIt was completely different from Cedric’s innate power as a transcendent – the multi-attribute magic.

nMoreover, it was slightly different from the Emperor’s power. He could read emotions without necessarily touching them, and he can perceive bad emotions more sensitively than the good ones.

nFurthermore, the Imperial Palace is always filled with people with various purposes. Rather than a good person, a person with the desire for power or ambition visits this place.

nCombined with several factors, Cedric knew the darkest side of human beings before his rationality was established.

n“It would be better for the world if Count Salamander died.”

n“Huh? Why is that?”

n“He looks at me with animosity.”

nThe five-year-old Cedric frowned and looked with contempt with a corner of his mouth raised. It was an expression that a child of that age shouldn’t make.

nThe Emperor immediately investigated the Count and found out the huge underworld network behind him.

nHe launched a massive rescue effort in the area to rescue Adrisha. However, he did not manage to save Cedric’s already crooked heart.

n“Do all human beings live with that thought?”

nNo matter how good a human is, they also have bad thoughts sometimes. Jealousy-like emotions exist in any normal human being.

nHowever, no matter how much the Emperor says so, Cedric’s prejudiced view of the world did not change easily.

nEven the Empress could not escape. During a ball, she poured all sorts of criticism inside because of the bad breath of the nobleman she was talking to.

nAt that time, Cedric looked up at her with a strange expression, and the Empress shed tears for three days and nights.

nBut it didn’t work.

nThe energy of negative emotions is much stronger than positive emotions. After all, most of the humans that Cedric saw were full of negative emotions.

nIn order to break through such barriers of mind, it took intense and purely positive power. However, such feelings are not common. Thanks to that, the Emperor gave up halfway and just told him to stop getting into an accident.

nBut maybe Dalia had a strong, tremendous energy to break through that deep barrier. And she just happened to be in front of Cedric.

n‘Since when?’

nUntil that point, Hikan didn’t know.

nBut it didn’t surprise him at all that Dalia had a soul strong and good enough to make Cedric fall in love.

nEven when he looked at her, he often wondered where someone like Dalia came from.

nBecause it was harder not to love someone like Dalia who loved others for nothing.

nIn any case, nothing changes even if his intentions are pure. He needs to somehow stop Cedric from approaching Dalia.

nHikan was determined.

n* * *

nI’m done with my book report, Dalia. Come check it out. I reserved the fourth room of the Imperial Palace Library.

nThree days later Dalia received a letter from Cedric. She folded the letter nicely and put it back into the envelope. After that, she tore her hair off and buried her face in bed.

n‘Ahhhhh……’

nShe’s doomed. She’s screwed.

nWhy didn’t she think this would happen? Did she think it would be over if she took one step ahead and escaped from the palace?

nNo, it wasn’t her fault, it was Cedric’s. How would she know that it would take him three days to finish it all instead of a month?

n‘What should I do if I really need to get engaged?’

nBesides, Cedric is so handsome. Since she is weak to handsome face, he might push for the engagement and she may be already at the ceremony once she managed to get a hold of herself.

nShe slammed her head into the bed. It was so soft that it didn’t hurt at all.

n“Dalia, please, just what is this about?”

nOutside, Hikan was banging on Dalia’s door.

nAs soon as she saw the letter in the dining room, she ran to her room with a pale face, so Hikan’s worry was natural. But what would she say to him?

n‘I pretended to be a teacher to His Highness the Prince, but he finished the assignment.’

n“…….”

nHe’s not some kind of idiot.

nBut now that they’re here, she can’t hide it anymore.

nDalia opened the door to Hikan with a pale face. And she showed him the letter she received.

n“…….”

nSitting side by side on the bed with Dalia, Hikan touched his forehead after hearing all the explanations.

n“What should I do?”

n“…….”

n“I want to stay with brother.”

nDalia clung to his arm with a desperate look. Hikan’s face deepened further like the depth of the water.

nHe patted her on the head and said.

n“For now, go first.”

n“…….”

n“If you go, I’ll do something no matter what.”

nHis expression was serious.

nHikan couldn’t have been more reliable now. Dalia nodded eagerly.

nDalia went into Room 4 of the Imperial Palace Library, wearing the ring the Emperor gave her and a yellow dress, carrying several books from Hikan’s study.

nThe structure of the room was simple. A long table that could fit eight people was in the middle, and a chalkboard occupied one side of the wall.

nCedric came first and was waiting for Dalia. He spoke casually as soon as he saw Dalia.

n“I’ve done my homework, teacher.”

n“…….”

n“You won’t give me any compliments?”

n“G, good job!”

n

n

nDalia put the book on the desk while saying so. And she got the book report from Cedric. It was very thick and dense.

n‘He really finished it all.’

nDalia felt guilty. She ordered that to buy time. She didn’t mean for him to actually do it.

nDalia apologized in a small voice.

n“I didn’t know you would do everything so quickly. I’m sorry.”

nCedric replied casually.

n“There’s nothing you should be sorry for.”

n“But…….”

n“I worked hard to impress you.”

nHe smiled at Dalia as he closed his eyes.

n