Kyle looked like he had a lot of questions, but when I said I was tired, he didn’t pry further. Instead, he grabbed my shoulder and examined my face from every angle.
"Did you hurt yourself anywhere?"
"I’m fine. Nothing serious happened."
I answered curtly, but Kyle was already touching my clothes. I had discarded the ragged garments I’d found in the cave and borrowed Reynold (레이놀드)’s formal wear.
Of course, this was much nicer and cleaner, but I couldn’t deny that the rags had been more comfortable. Yet Kyle—who had nothing to do with my clothes—seemed to find these borrowed clothes uncomfortable.
"What’s this? Where did those ragged clothes go, and why are you wearing His Highness’s clothes?"
Ragged clothes? So Kyle had been thinking of me as a beggar all this time. Learning a truth I’d rather not know put me in a foul mood.
"They were too worn out, so I was told to throw them away."
"By chance… nothing bad happened, did it?"
Judging by Kyle’s trembling eyes, he seemed to be misunderstanding something—and in a very unpleasant way.
"We just talked. He said I looked like someone he knew and wanted to make sure."
I spoke firmly, cutting off any doubt.
"Oh? But seeing you here, I take it he still hasn’t confirmed?"
I nodded irritably, and Kyle’s face lit up as if a lamp had switched on.
"So does that mean you’re coming with us?"
"It seems that way for now."
Kyle clapped his hands once, pleased. The sound must have irritated sleeping Kakaros, who let out a small groan.
"Make yourself comfortable for now."
There was nowhere truly comfortable, but I sat beside Kyle and leaned back against the iron bars.
On the cramped carriage floor, I saw Kakaros and Elonen huddled in sleep. Gerard sat in the farthest corner, eyes tightly shut.
"Sorry you’ve had to go through this trouble because of me."
"No need to apologize."
It wasn’t really because of them that I’d been captured—it was my past that did it.
"By the way, according to the Crown Prince, there’s going to be a trial. That’s… okay, right?"
I let slip the information I’d heard from Reynold. Kyle stared off at the forest, then sighed deeply.
"I’m not surprised. Reynold’s always been like that."
Reynold’s rude words and actions were so familiar to Kyle that he seemed almost unfazed.
"Why does Crown Prince Reynold hate you so much?"
I thought I’d read something in the original novel, but I couldn’t recall it immediately. When I asked, Kyle answered calmly.
"Because I’m the only one among the seven princes who inherited the 'Royal Blood.'"
I nearly snorted at the term’s shocking appearance but managed to hold it in.
The more I thought on it, the more familiar it felt.
"Royal Blood?"
Feigning ignorance, I asked Kyle, while my mind raced to recall the original story.
"Yes. It’s a special ability passed down in our family since ancient times. Since it’s public knowledge now, it’s fine to talk about it."
Kyle’s kind explanation made things clear.
Before the Delos family became the royal house, they were a renowned lineage of swordmasters. They had produced easily twenty exceptional sword masters.
Among the Delos bloodline there was a unique ability called 'Pure Blood.'
"Originally, Pure Blood was inherited by the firstborn, but it hadn’t manifested for almost three generations until it appeared in me, the seventh. That had never happened before."
Those born with Pure Blood could master aura without effort and reach the heights of sword mastery more easily than others. In other words, they were born sword prodigies.
After the Delos house ascended to the throne, Pure Blood naturally became known as Royal Blood.
"Thanks to that, I became a sword master without much effort, and from childhood Reynold hated me."
Reynold must have been jealous, thinking I’d taken the power meant for him. Honestly, if I were Reynold, I’d be envious of Kyle too. In fact, Reynold was very envious and jealous of Kyle.
"What exactly does Royal Blood let you do?"
I already knew, but I asked as if I didn’t.
"Simply put, it means you’re born with aura. So, to exaggerate, I started holding a sword almost as soon as I could walk."
The imperial house’s lineage had dwindled, but with someone inheriting Royal Blood, how happy the Emperor must have been. It made sense that Emperor Perosen had doted on Kyle since he was young.
"Reynold thought I’d stolen what was rightfully his. The other brothers felt the same. They believed I had what could have been theirs."
Kyle’s older brothers envied him, so he hid his ability and lived quietly, trying not to stand out.
"So I distanced myself from swordsmanship, which disappointed my father. The ability people called a blessing became a curse for me."
Kyle spoke bitterly. Thinking of how he couldn’t simply be happy with his blessing made my mouth taste sour.
If the Black Flame Dragon had appeared and Emperor Perosen had not wasted time, Kyle wouldn’t have stepped forward as a hero.
I had both sympathized with and cheered for Kyle when reading the original novel.
Though now we were villain and hero, I still didn’t wish him unhappiness.
I wanted to comfort Kyle’s sad eyes but didn’t know how and hesitated.
"…That must’ve been hard."
I finally plucked up the courage and placed my hand on Kyle’s shoulder. It was my best effort, but Kyle burst out laughing as if it amused him.
"What’s this, are you comforting me now?"
"…I guess that depends on how you look at it."
Kyle swallowed his laughter and leaned his head on my shoulder. Surprised by the sudden contact, I froze, unsure how to react.
"What could have been so hard for me? I was treated as a prince after all. Everyone has their own story."
Everyone had their own story, like this party of heroes. Any living being had their own tale.
"Rishian, you have your own story too, don’t you?"
Kyle quietly asked, turning his head to glance at me.
I knew he was fishing for my story, but looking into his clear eyes, I almost blurted out the truth.
"Actually, I… have no memories of my past."
Using the words I’d used with Crown Prince Reynold, I shared half the truth. Kyle’s eyes flickered with interest.
"No memories of your past?"
I regretted telling him, knowing we’d soon part ways, but I couldn’t take back my words.
I exhaled softly and calmly continued my lie.
"Yeah. That bit about coming here to chop wood was a lie too. I don’t remember why I came to this forest or what I was doing."
Half of it was true. Revealing half the truth made me feel half-relieved, though still burdened.
Watching me unburden myself, Kyle slowly reached out his hand. His rough palm covered mine, which was resting on the floor, and my shoulder twitched.
Kyle’s hand was so large my hand fit entirely in his. Unexpected warmth sent shivers down my spine.
"It makes sense. No one believed you were a lumberjack. It was a terrible lie anyway."
I’d thought he accepted my cover without doubt…! Learning he’d thought me a beggar was a truth I didn’t want to know.
Embarrassed, I pulled my hand back from under his.
"So… if you knew I was lying, why did you keep me with you?"
I wondered if he’d had some other reason for keeping me around. Could it be he knew I was the Black Flame Dragon…?
This time I turned my head and met Kyle’s gaze. His blue eyes, shining transparently in the moonlight, took me in completely.