# Chapter 52
Chapter 52
The director looked at her blankly and asked: — The other… students?
“I want to tell the underhanded gang that attacked this child.
I saw all these kids coming from the same direction.
Cayena still had the screen up, so the smile on her face was clearly visible.
“I remember all their faces too.
Shall we look for them together?
The director turned pale and hurriedly waved his hands.
“No, Your Highness!
I will find them!
— With a relaxed smile, Cayena added calmly:
“I hope you handle this according to academy regulations.
“Of course.
I will… I will follow the rules.
At the mention of the academy's regulations, the director's face fell.
"If we follow school regulations, wouldn't that be suspension?
Or is it expulsion?"
The students who fought were children from renowned families.
They must have believed in the strength of their families to touch the emperor's beloved son.
If they were punished according to the regulations, it would be difficult for the director to keep his position.
But that was nothing that worried Cayena.
Cayena continued with a cunning expression.
“So, I need to treat my younger brother's handsome face.
Where is the infirmary?
“…and on this path.
The director listened carefully to the nuances of Cayena's words.
She clearly called him “my little brother”.
“Should we go?
Cayena reached out to Ethel.
“…
Ethel looked at her gloved hand that had some blood on its thumb.
He knew Cayena protected him.
"Why?"
It was a natural question.
Until now, they have lived like strangers.
They have never met before.
Therefore, it made no sense for her to suddenly take care of him as her little brother.
Did she perhaps want something from him?
At that moment, Cayena spoke.
“When you don't have power, you need to make use of powerful people.
Ethel raised her head at her words.
Cayena still seemed unconcerned.
“Knowing how to hold someone's hand is a way to survive.
“Did…did she mean I should use it?”
Ethel hesitated, then grabbed her hand.
As she did so, Cayena smiled widely as if she had done something good.
“Let's go.
His hand, held tightly in hers, felt warm.
Ethel fell into step with him, though it seemed he was being dragged along reluctantly.
Somehow, his heart tickled.
They arrived at the infirmary.
However, there was no nurse and the director was very nervous.
“If your highness will wait a minute, I will find someone to help you!
“He is well.
You are dismissed.
“Excuse me?
“I'll take care of it myself, so leave.
It may take some time for you to find the group of students who committed the attack.
“… then, I will leave.
Cayena sat Ethel down and rummaged around the infirmary.
Ethel looked at her doubtfully.
“Do you know what you're looking for?
She took out a bottle of medicine and shook it lightly.
“They have labels.
Cayena prepared alcohol, cotton wool and ointment and began to take off her gloves to treat him.
“I will do it, Your Highness,” said Olivia, who was beside her.
Cayena shook her head.
“Everything is fine.
She tended Ethel's injuries herself.
When Ethel frowned at the sting, she even blew on the wound.
Ethel could not bear his embarrassment.
He asked: — … why are you doing this for me?
Cayena said happily, — It's natural for an adult to protect a child.
Furthermore, you are my younger brother.
Ethel bit her lips and muttered in a sad voice.
—But I'm just a bastard.
On the other hand, Cayena's ancestry could not be disputed by anyone.
She was the only daughter of the emperor and the late empress.
“That's not a reason for you not to be protected.
Cayena found that he was much calmer than before.
But maybe his heart was different.
She let go of the hand that was applying the ointment and asked, “Does my behavior make you feel uncomfortable?”
Ethel accidentally grabbed Cayena's hand when she moved away from him.
The urgent ringing surprised Cayena.
Meanwhile, Ethel was shocked by her own behavior and withdrew her hand.
He looked away and spoke in a low voice.
“… it doesn't matter.
Cayena started to apply the ointment again with a gentle smile.
“I am happy.
It was the first time that an adult other than his mother had taken care of him like this.
The affectionate concern and protection Cayena offered him was sweet.
Ethel waved her hand.
“You shouldn't get scars.After applying the ointment to her face, Cayena also fixed her disheveled hair.
His school uniform was messed up, so he would have to change into a different one.
“Olivia, can you bring Ethel a change of clothes?
“Yes, Your Highness.
Cayena then called her new companion knight for today.
“Ansel.
“Yes, Your Highness.
“Tell the principal to take care of Ethel's classes.
He's going back to afternoon classes.
“Wouldn't it be dangerous for you to be alone?
Cayena shook her head at the knight's concern.
“There's another knight here who took down five people by himself, so it'll be fine.
Ethel's face turned red at these words.
“I will comply with your order.
The princess's lackeys left to carry out her orders, leaving only the two of them behind.
Ethel thought there was nothing Cayena couldn't make happen if she wanted to.
He realized that this must be what they call “power”.
Everything he thought could never be done, she was doing with ease.
The principal, who treated Ethel like an insect, could not threaten him with school rules.
Ethel had never seen him so embarrassed, except when he was dealing with the Kedrey heir.
“Someone like that helped me.”
Ethel had no other siblings.
Many of those he considered his friends left him when the emperor fell ill.
The only person he could count on was his mother.
However, her mother felt overwhelmed trying to maintain their normal lives.
Every time this happened, Ethel felt guilty.
Her mother was suffering because he was born.
He had no desire to become the crown prince.
He just wanted some peace and his family.
He wanted to put the flowers his mother liked on the table and eat together, and he also wanted to have a little dog.
He wanted the kind of everyday life where, when he came to the gym, he could get along with his friends.
Now, everything was a mess.
In crumbs.
Slowly, little by little, everything became dark...
until he met Cayena today.
It wasn't as bright as the sun, nor as dangerous as candlelight.
She was just like gentle moonlight.
She only gave as much light as he needed, but strangely, he was sure she would always be there.
While Ethel was going through a change of heart, Cayena was lost in other thoughts.
“If Rezef cannot control himself and becomes a tyrant, this child will become the emperor.”
When she thought about this, she couldn't help but feel distressed.
She was taking measures to ensure that such a situation did not happen.
However, she knew very well that one person might not make a difference no matter how hard they work.
KNOW KNOW.
Olivia, who got new clothes, entered.
Cayena handed Ethel the clothes.
“Are you going to take off your clothes?
“What are you talking about?!
— At her scream, Cayena's eyes widened.
“Don't you have any wounds on your body?
I have to apply the ointment.
“Even if I’m young… and even if I’m her younger brother, that and…”
Ethel blushed up to her neck.
“I'll do it myself, so it's okay!
— Well, if you say so.
Cayena thought casually: “Is this child already in puberty?”
Olivia, who saw the scene from the side, slightly turned her head as if she was laughing.
From time to time, Cayena acted like an old noblewoman.
She didn't seem to be aware of it, however.
Then, the escort knight returned.
“I received confirmation that the director will take care of the classes, as you said.
Furthermore, I saw that Duchy Kedrey's carriage has arrived.
“Already?
It was earlier than they had agreed to meet.
Of course, Cayena also arrived before the scheduled time.
“Olivia, would you greet Sir Raphael first?
“Yes, Your Highness.
Ethel listened to the conversation silently, holding her uniform tightly in her hand.
It looked like Cayena would be leaving soon for a meeting.
He quickly got up and went behind a partition.
For some reason, he felt angry and threw his ruined clothes on the floor.
On the other side of the divider, Cayena asked, “Can you put it on yourself?” Do you need help?
Ethel screamed.
“I'm 13 years old!
I can dress myself!
“Puberty happens around age 13…?”
Cayena shook her head.
It was already difficult to deal with his younger brother, who could become a tyrant.
She didn't expect that she would also have to deal with her younger brother, who was going through puberty.She sighed so subtly that the others couldn't notice.