Chapter 390: New Observations

Words : 1333 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 390: New Observations Read it, of course. And try not to laugh or cringe at the material. Because reading about a fictional version of yourself described as "the school prince who could melt glaciers with a single smirk" was...a lot. Xavier winced again as another line hit. He didn’t know what was worse—the lines themselves or the fact that they sounded too glorified, as if he’d paid for an ad. "..." And his little wife was reading this? Why? And just how did that one who barely knew of the existence of his own shop’s forums get into such a place that looked like it had been hidden away? He could only think of a few people. Like one well-meaning blonde who suddenly had a sneezing fit and a chill while trying to retrofit the frames with the panels they’ve made. Technically, he meant well and had been trying to schedule the reading with his good brother once his job outside was done. But how could he have known that the person with the busiest schedule would manage to fit reading bits and pieces?! Bits that had their golden boy lingering longer than necessary. His training session had just finished when he happened to hear a few whistles and voices that got him curious. They were watching Xavier and Kyle as they squared off, starting with decisive moves that have always amazed Luca who was still conservative when it came to close combat. Luca liked the sounds of their fighting and was just as mesmerized as he always was whenever he watched the people around his age perform like the veterans. It’s just that his focus was shot because suddenly, a few spectating soldiers nearby were not watching the form or precision of either man’s footwork. They were watching something else entirely. "Where were men like this during our time at the Academy?" whispered one lamenting veteran female soldier. "I swear, when I was a cadet, my sparring partner looked like a compressed toad with anger issues." "It was fine if he just looked like it, but he acted like one, too!" added the woman whose grimace was audible. "Look at that elbow lock," sighed another, hand over heart. "Sure, it hurts. But if I had to get pinned down by someone with that face? I say it’d be worth it." "It’s kind of unfair, really. These new students have it so good. We’ve all got traumatic injuries, but at least they got the injuries with eye candies." "I could’ve survived near-death experiences with a smile if I had that face watching from the sidelines," added another soldier who wished for a more colorful past, only to be interrupted by intensifying commentary. Kyle landed a clean sweep, and Xavier countered with a low stance, making several nearby onlookers nod in approval. "Have you ever seen a jawline with that kind of responsibility?" "You think he’s got an older brother?" "The other one has one, but it’s Lord Killian, and unless you want to see your partner only once a week, if you’re lucky, then maybe you’ll rethink your life choices." "You say that like she’d even stand a chance," came the flat reply, followed by laughter. "At your age, you might want to look for a single uncle or something." "Oi! For your information, I’m not even thirty yet!" "Could’ve fooled me!" jested a soldier who got the lot of them laughing. Meanwhile, a little eavesdropper had to make it look like he was concentrating on the match as his face reddened at all the praises he was hearing. They weren’t even praising him. But for some reason, Luca couldn’t help but be flustered as he’d never thought about such things until today. But apparently, he wasn’t the only one who was flustered as a certain adjutant tried not to falter as his boss grilled him about certain materials. Kyle had really been monitoring those works, and did try to take down as many, but they’d return with a vengeance and an even greater audience! And really, he couldn’t be expected to read each one to check, right?! If anything, he’d been thankful because at least one of them liked snooping around to protect his good brother and had been vocal about works that he thought were slanderous. So, he’d been listening and taking those out. But he really didn’t feel like he could read all the rest! He was already being tortured with enough dog food, and felt like he’d have to bleach his mind if he read any more. "Then it’s got to be from the mop, right?" confirmed the prince, who found an opening when Kyle winced at the mention of Ollie. Most likely. Extremely likely. "Then, Captain, do you want me to find out why or how?" asked the adjutant, who didn’t really want to but was obligated to. "No. And if it came to that point, it’d be best to ask Luca myself." "Also, it’s not like you’d even want to do that," he added, knowing the circumstances and how they’d likely get an off version of the narrative if they asked someone else. But maybe he should’ve asked faster, for the person under observation was about to be taught life lessons by one passionate princess. And it was frankly an unexpected combination that started when the frazzled princess rushed to look for their guild leader, only to find him flushed all over. It was really surprising, and Luca scrambled to hide the projection even when Princess Kira couldn’t see it because of the settings. How could he be caught like this?! "Uhm...Hello, Princess Kira. Is something wrong?" His voice was shaky, but he figured something must have really happened for her to come running over. "Yes! It’s my father, he’s officially confirmed his schedule to visit Astreon! It’s in two weeks! And I still don’t have a husband!" screeched the princess who had almost forgotten her unfortunate plight because of all the good things she’s encountered lately. Now that didn’t sound good, and while his parents have dispatched people to search for his double, they really couldn’t find much. Which surprised even the Duchess because it was as if traces of the double’s existence vanished just like that. And when they said traces, they meant fingerprints, any form of DNA, or any semblance of personal belonging. If anything, the room looked cleaner than a murder scene that had been scrubbed from top to bottom! So, what were they supposed to do with the princess and her engagement problem? "Princess, do you really have to get married? And is that something that you really want?" asked Luca, who really didn’t know much about marriages and wanted to know why they seemed to be hellbent on this marriage. "It’s not that I have to, but I had to make compelling reasons to travel this far for my beloved Bunbun, and if my father finds out he’s missing, then I’m done for. No, we’re all done for!" "And you’ve got to understand, I tried!" Princess Kira sounded strangled as she started pacing around. "Tried?" "Yes!" she cried, face twisted with anguish. "I tried looking for him, too. Then, when that didn’t work, I tried dating, putting myself out there—but...but nothing! It’s impossible!" she stomped, and the place shook slightly. "Because I couldn’t even forget him! I have loved that human with all my heart, and at the threat of even losing my inheritance rights, I fought for our love...so how could I just throw all of it like that!" "!" "You love him...?" asked Luca, who’s been hearing about this word again. "Of course! Why would I want to marry him if I didn’t?! He might’ve looked like a toothpick, but he was my slightly buff toothpick! I already named our children!" "!!!" "K-kids?!" "Of course! I’m a princess! Who would be my successor if we don’t have kids?!" Luca choked. Wait. Does everyone need successors? ’???’

Chapter 390: New Observations

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