Regas Vol 1. Chapter 17

Looking at him, Ashler instinctively realized that sothing had happened to Abel.

The mont the thought crossed his mind, he stood up from being dragged along. When he gently pulled the prince’s small hand in the opposite direction, the prince, who had been leading the way, turned around. A chill ran down Ashler’s spine as he saw the yellow eyes peeking through the prince’s hair, but he forced himself to stay calm and knelt down before him.

“May I touch the prince’s body? If it is urgent, I will carry him and run quickly.”

Receiving silent permission, Ashler paused, then carefully lifted the prince into his arms. The small body pulsed faintly. A strange uneasiness settled over him—perhaps from when he was stabbed by that sharp piece of wood during their first encounter.

Yet the prince, who allowed Ashler to hold him without resistance, pointed to a direction instead of causing harm.

Is it there? Ashler imdiately dashed toward the spot the prince indicated, running through the forest.

The soldiers, still chatting as they waited for lunch, noticed sothing strange when soone asked,

“Oh? Where did Sir Ashler go?”

The others looked around. Ashler, who always stood with his sword at the edge of the fog, was nowhere to be seen. Everyone's expressions hardened. Ashler never left that post—never—until the prince returned from the forest. Unless...

“Could it be... he went into the forest?”

Soone murmured with uncertainty, but none of the frozen soldiers denied it. That fog was a monster that devoured n. And none could shake the feeling that Ashler, who had stood guard before it every day, had finally been swallowed whole.

****

Ashler had known the Dragon Forest was vast, but it felt even more imnse now that he was inside. After walking so distance, he stepped into a wide clearing and squinted against the sudden glare of sunlight. Then, a sweeping field ca into view—endless and stunning.

The green waves rolled like a sea, so vivid and beautiful it felt unreal. Ashler, entranced, stopped walking for a mont—until the prince tugged at his clothes, urging him on.

Snapping out of it, Ashler bowed his head. The prince pushed at his shoulder, struggling to be let down. Does he want to put him down? Ashler carefully set the boy down. Instantly, the small hand grabbed his and pulled him forward.

Led by the prince, Ashler took several steps before spotting Abel ahead, lying on his back, staring at the sky. Sothing was wrong with his face. It was obscured by a black object.

What is that? It looks like a spider...

Uuukk.

Ashler stopped involuntarily, eyes wide with shock. But no matter how long he stared, it was just a palm-sized spider, motionless on Abel’s face. It twitched. The legs moved.

A chill shot down Ashler’s spine. Goosebumps rose on his arms. He froze.

The prince, unfazed, yanked Ashler toward Abel. At last, Ashler snapped back and tried to pull him back instead.

“Your Highness, it’s dangerous, please stay back...!”

His words stopped in his mouth.

The prince stood before Abel and, without hesitation, reached out with one small hand—then crushed the spider.

Crack.

With a soft sound, like an egg breaking, the spider burst. Its green innards sared across the prince’s palm. Unflinching, he flung the creature aside.

Ashler gaped, speechless.

Where it landed, five more spider remains were already scattered.

There were more.

Panic rising, Ashler looked around, half-expecting a swarm.

But the prince continued pulling his hand, guiding him to Abel’s side. When Ashler looked up, the prince tugged again, urging him to sit beside the fallen boy. Rembering Abel at last, Ashler dropped to his knees and reached out to check his condition.

Yet the prince did not let go of his hand.

He sat beside Abel, still holding Ashler firmly.

There had been tis Ashler wondered if the prince might be a fool. He read books—difficult ones for a child—which only deepened Ashler’s doubts.

The speed at which he flipped the pages had always seed too fast, as if he enjoyed the motion more than the aning. But no fool would hold on like this. If the prince let go, Ashler was sure he would be lost in the fog.

Ashler placed a hand under Abel’s nose to feel his breath. Then he checked his eyelids, listened to his heartbeat, and examined his face for bite marks.

But Abel’s breathing was steady. No visible injuries. It seed he had simply fainted.

Ashler turned to the prince, ready to reassure him—when a sound stopped him.

“...Eppel.”

A faint word. But clearly a child’s voice.

Ashler held his breath, hardly believing it. The prince gripped Abel’s body with one small hand, shook him gently, and spoke again.

“Eppel, Eppel.”

He turned to Ashler as if asking for help. Ashler looked into the yellow eyes and no longer found them eerie. They still resembled those of a snake—but now they seed like a child’s, pure and uncertain.

“Your Highness, Abel is only unconscious. You need not worry too much.”

The prince looked at him, unsure, and slowly replied.

“Up... huh.”

Are you speaking to ?

Ashler froze, disbelieving. Then the prince spoke again.

“Up... it’s a command.”

In his firm eyes was an imposing presence—it was hard to believe he was only eight years old.

Gulp. Ashler bowed his head before the prince and answered,

“Yes, Ashler will follow the prince’s order.”

With one hand, Ashler gripped Abel’s shoulder, lifted him, and turned to bear his large fra on his back. Though Abel’s build was similar to Ashler’s, he carried him effortlessly and stood.

As he supported Abel’s weight, Ashler suddenly noticed—both of his hands were free. Looking up, he saw the prince standing a step away, eyes locked on Abel. Though the prince no longer held Ashler’s hand, everything remained clear.

Ashler straightened his back, realization blooming in his chest—Abel was the true Regas of the prince. And today would not be Abel’s last day.

When they returned to the palace with Abel, the prince, who had followed silently all the way, grabbed Ashler’s sleeve.

It seed he wanted to take Ashler to his room. A murmur of surprise rippled through the maids and soldiers nearby at the prince’s unexpected gesture. The voice of the child who could not move toward Ashler rang out clearly.

“My... room.”

Ashler bowed his head and turned toward the prince, hesitating. But that was not the end.

The prince suddenly turned to the gathered maids and ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) soldiers and raised his hand, slowly brushing his hair back. His yellow, serpentine eyes—rarely shown—were revealed to all.

“Wow!”

“Oh my...”

Gasps and cries of surprise rang out, but the prince did not conceal his cold, glassy eyes. Once he confird everyone was backing away, trembling, he turned away.

His ssage was unmistakable: do not co close.

Everyone understood. Even after the prince entered the room with Ashler, no one dared approach. The image of those chilling yellow eyes lingered with them long after, like a cold grip on their hearts.

****

The prince began to reveal his will after speaking. This was the outco the king’s side had hoped for. Yet while Truyde welcod it, Norhox and the court attendants did not hide their discomfort. Truyde, of course, ignored their reactions and issued instructions.

“I intend to recognize Abel as the prince’s official Regas. Starting today, a record keeper will follow Abel and docunt his every movent. The Marquis and the court attendants should take note and begin preparations.”

The attendant gave a reluctant nod, but Norhox’s frown remained. Truyde, smiling thinly, pressed him.

“Is there a problem?”

“I wonder if it’s too soon for such a decision. If the prince recovers, we could assign a different Regas even now...”

“Then the prince will return to his forr self. Is that what you want?”

Truyde’s sharp words shut Norhox’s mouth. Though he admitted Abel had changed the prince, he could not accept the boy’s appearance or background. If Abel were officially nad Regas, then what was left for him?

Norhox’s face contorted. Truyde smirked, as if reading his thoughts.

“If you are unable to prepare, let know. There are many eager to assu the duties of the Norhox family.”

Norhox bit his lower lip, glared at the young duke, and turned away without a word. The door slamd shut behind him. Truyde’s smirk only deepened. The attendant, who had been watching silently, asked carefully,

“Should you prepare as well, Your Grace?”

Truyde imdiately understood and nodded.

“Do not worry about that.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

Truyde paused, thinking.

“We must see how the prince progresses, but it should be completed within a month or two. That should be enough ti for Marquis Norhox to prepare as well.”

As if concluding sothing, he lowered his voice.

“It is best to finish this quickly, even if the prince resists. Those who support him must disappear swiftly. But you have other matters to attend to.”

“Yes.”

“Send His Highness into the forest. It is ti to find out exactly what Abel is doing with the prince.”

Truyde added, his eyes gleaming at the change in the boy,

“The prince has finally beco useful. Even if Abel has cast so strange magic, it no longer matters.”