I packed my luggage, I hastened not to stay, I was sure that the old man would definitely regret his decision sooner or later, and I didn’t want to see it happen, as we got out, I pulled Yume, the kid, from his arm, attempting to drag him with me, his two men reacted violently to that act of mine, if it wasn’t for his word, they would have left some marks in my face for sure. He agreed to follow me as he understood why I did that, he was ashamed of his guards, and that shame was manifested in his blush. We went outside the grand mansion, it was already night time.

“Can I ask something of you?” asked me the kid.

“Go ahead.”

“What do you think about this whole event? Did you enjoy it? Do you enjoy solving puzzles?”

“What I think you asked... this whole ‘puzzle’ thing we’ve been dealing with was actually meant for the son to solve, it was his father’s last attempt to incite him to learn, or else he wouldn’t have made this puzzle at all, because if it was for just prizing whoever solves it -the puzzle that is- he would have announced it before his death to everyone, that is if he wanted and enjoyed to make such an event, because I simply see no reason or motive behind it, but if we consider my hypothesis, everything would make sense, ‘the clever one’ was meant to be the owner himself... plus, the owner had all the information needed to solve the puzzle, all that he lacked was the skill to read. So, I think that backs me up.”

“...What about the other-”    

“I chose not to answer, never mind that. So, you’re a man of your word?”

“Y-yes.”

“Well, according to our deal, answer my questions. What’s your hometown?”

“The city of Cody, the capital, as every nobleman.”

“How old are you?”

“About 16 in age.”

“Do you have any siblings?”

“I do, 5 sisters.”

I already formed my profile about him, asking him directly is just for further conformation and possible information, but he sure is stupid. He gives away everything so easily.

“Are your parents still alive?”

“My father passed away; my mother is alive. Huh, these are some peculiar questions!”

“Good, good. One more question, Yume Kuromizo isn’t your full name I presume, right?”

“... No.”

“Right? Yume Kuromizo Anthrozel!”

At the time my say invaded his ears, he turned pale as if blood never flew in his veins, he was paralysed with fear and concern. His guards, upon noticing his sudden transformation, were about to jump me for a beating.

“HALT! he has the upper hand!”

“Yes, truly! I have the power! I know who you truly are! And you know what I’m capable of! But prince, I must admit, you’re quite reckless!”! Wondering when you’re supposed to be ruling- “

“PLEASE!!! Till a safer place!!”

“...I apologize.”

We went outside, we then mounted his cab, we sat, faced with each other, I saw how hard he was struggling to keep his tears in, his blue eyes were about to be drowned. We continued our talk.

“So, prince, as I was saying, you are reckless to wander in here, here are many dangers, plus, you should be in your palace, doing what you should be doing, ruling!”

“... Tell me all what you know about me.”

“Very well, I hope that you don’t take any offense of what I’m about to say. You just matched my expectation; Because of your effeminacy, originating from your raising in a feminine environment, that is, your mother, sisters, and maids, while your father was busy and old enough to not even spend time with you, I suppose, you were deemed by the council to be not yet ready, so they sent you around the land so you can ‘man up’, garnering ‘moxie’ and ‘wisdom’, ‘courage’ and ‘bravery’, you weren’t even present at your OWN coronation! Some proxy took the glory of it instead of you! Outrageous! And so, here you are in front of me! Plus, your reaction at the moment is only-”

He released all the tears he had been holding all this time.

“I-I-I CAN’T!!! I CAN’T!!! THIS IS TORTURE!! IT’S SCARY!!! I’M AFRAID!!! ALWAYS!!”

It was an explosion.

I got closer to him, and just as I began to comfort him, he jumped and hugged me, I hugged him in return.

“Calm down, your highness, might I have the audacity to make an offer?”

“W-What is it?”

“I understand your pain, it’s not your fault you are what you are, you can’t change it. this responsibility of yours, it’s hard to take on, and not anyone can take it! It’s a kind of people that have the talent for it! And I, without any pride, and just as I demonstrated, am one of them. So, I say to you prince, to take me with you to your glorious palace, I’ll be your own private councillor. I’ll enlighten you with my thoughts, and of course, you as the true heir, still get to keep your power! You are the one who decides! I’m just giving you a broader view of the matter.”

The prince seemed to lighten up at this proposal of mine, nay, I’ll say he was relieved.

“This is a good idea! This is a really good idea!!”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

He, out of nowhere, held my hands, and started blabbering about how his life was never of fortune, all misery, and how alone and lonely he was. “Once” he said, “I organized a big party for my birthday, but no one came, when I asked why, they thought that my behaviour was contagious!”.

He kept on.

...

This kid’s story about his so called ‘misfortunes’, it made me feel... intense jealousy.

Unusual as it is, I had these moments of emotion, it occurred when I wasn’t occupying myself with some problem of some sort, so it was very rare, however, it occurred alright, and I hated it. I was jealous with the kid, ‘Why did I have to go through so much pain? What was the major difference between me and him? He is meek, weak, stupid. Why was I so badly tried?’ Questions of this sort...

It’s humiliatingly stupid, the human emotion, jealousy for example, jealousy is anger, anger at the world itself, but a blind, childish anger it is, in the end, why would the world answer? Or care? The weakness of humans always leads to them personalizing what they don’t understand, the day, the night, the sun, death, life, it’s just their nature, they need to know that what’s more powerful that them won’t hurt them, it understands them, even if it was a lie, or else the terrible fear would consume them.

The human emotion is nowhere to be compatible with reason, it should never be followed if one is to truly seek a goal, or even survival, the purpose of these sentimentalities as a whole. it’s misleading, primal, outdated and can’t keep up with the change of time and generations. However, it’s because of it that every living is living, battling to stay alive, it’s the reward and the punishment, hence, it’s life itself, I am alive because I fear death a great deal, and because I understand there is pleasure for me to seek in this very same life, the sentiment that I experience no matter what is it, be it to desire pleasure in accomplishing a single goal, or because I try to deal with some thing that causes me fear and pain, that’s why am I alive, that’s why I move.