Once, Kaichen couldnt say to annoyingly persistent Julius so he attended a ball. Where he said to the Marquises daughter, Do not approach me with the smell of an animal who is in heat Its dirty and indecent.

The marquises daughter was from one of the most prestigious families in the empire, so it didnt go down well. She was beautiful and talented, and she had approached Julius, for which Kaichen had said something like that to her.

That had been so harsh. Kaichen was known to dislike people except maybe Julius but saying something like that was harsh and uncalled for. Which was why it was so surprising to see the Kaichen in front of me. He was so different from the Kaichen I had read about in the original novel. His mysophobia was still present and he was still a sociophobe, but he was somehow different.

I have no reason to listen to you, he said.

Then use honorifics if you want but at least call me by my name. Even if its temporary, its funny to hear you call me Countess when Im your disciple.

Kaichen didnt say anything. He clamped his mouth shut. I thought it was okay to be stubborn in this matter and I would hold onto it. I felt good when Kaichen called me Dalia. The weight of my guilt seems to ease a little when he did that. I felt as though I was human, and I wasnt alone.

Have you checked the medicine? I asked, intending to change the topic.

I uh I was going to tell you that today.

The door flew open loudly and Kaichen was cut short mid-sentence. Kaichen! Didnt I tell you not to cut off communication like that? said Julius as he came in. He was all beautiful eyes, smiling lips and blue hair. He looked refreshing. Julius was always of a cheery disposition.

Kaichen sighed, ignoring Julius. His Highness decided to come today, he said. I gulped and jumped out of my seat. I put my hands together and bowed respectfully.

As a subject of the empire, I feel very honored to greet His Highness the Crown Prince, I said, lowering myself to bow down respectfully.

No, Countess! Its perfectly alright. Please get up, said Julius.

My plan of making a good impression on Kaichen when I first met him had already been ruined and I couldnt let the same happen with Julius. He was, after all, the protagonist of the story.

It is an honor to be able to meet you like this, Your Highness, I said. I didnt really care for His Highness but I couldnt look disrespectful, especially since he was the Crown Prince and friend to Kaichen. I got up and smiled at him. Kaichen scowled at me and didnt hide his annoyance at Julius.

I was done talking, so I just cut off the communication, said Kaichen.

But I was not done with what I had to say?

Do I have to say it for you to know?

If you dont tell me, I wont know, Kaichen.

I didnt want to hear what you had to say, said Kaichen at which Julius closed his mouth. I looked at them both but observed Julius more. He indeed fit the description of embracing a fantasy and incarnation of a blue dragon as in the novel. He had a cheery personality, the spirit of a young boy but also the dignity of an Emperor.

Personally, I liked Kaichen better but the two were so different. While I was lost in thought comparing the two, I felt both pairs of eyes at me.

Should I bring you some tea? I asked hurriedly.

Oh? Theres tea in this house? asked Julius in surprise. I recalled that the ingredients in the kitchen had run out. And I also remembered that I hadnt bought any tea the last time I went to the village.

Oh actually no. I am sorry, Your Highness. I bowed apologetically. But Julius just laughed it off.

Thats alright! Besides, I knew that Kaichens home would never have any tea anyway. I laughed with him awkwardly. I made a mental note to buy some tea when I went to the village.

In the original novel, it was often mentioned that Kaichen enjoyed drinking tea. So, I had assumed that there would be some tea in his house. Butt since I had met him, I could not imagine Kaichen brewing and drinking tea at all. I got up from my seat.

I am sure you both have a lot of things to talk about, I said. I will leave you to it then. The two of them might have very serious things to talk about so it was only natural for me to step out and give them the space. I made my way to the second floor to get changed into comfortable clothes to go out.

Where are you going? asked Kaichen.

I am going to go to the village and buy some groceries. The ingredients are running out so I need to go to the market anyway.

I cant allow that.

What? Why?

You havent fully recovered enough to go out alone.