Chapter 61: Do you have more gifts to give?

"That I’m the boss?"

Cassian guessed, though he looked unsure.

"No," Julian laughed softly. "They’ll think you’re scared of them. Or that you’ve forgotten your own name. A real Prince is generous. When someone acknowledges you, you give them a nod. You introduce yourself clearly. It tells them: ’I see you, I know exactly who I am, and I am far more important than you.’ You aren’t being forced to speak; you’re choosing to be kind."

Cassian scowled, but it was a thoughtful scowl. "But what if I don’t want to be kind? What if I don’t like them? There’s a Duke from the South who smells like old cheese and always tries to pat my head. I hate him. I don’t want to give him anything."

Julian hummed, a playful glint in his odd-colored eyes. "Ah, the ’Cheesy Duke’. I see. Well, for people you dislike, you use the most dangerous weapon of all: The Perfect Mirror."

"The Mirror?" Liora whispered, leaning in so close her golden hair almost brushed Julian’s shoulder.

"Exactly," Julian said, winking. "If you dislike someone, you don’t scowl. You don’t ignore them. You become perfectly polite. You use your very best manners—so perfect and so correct that they can’t find a single thing to complain about."

"Really?"

"Yes," Julian nodded. "You become a mirror that reflects how clumsy and rude they are. While they’re sweating and trying to be liked, you stay cool and untouchable. It’s the best way to win a fight without ever raising your voice or..." he looked at the stick in the prince’s hand. "Picking a stick."

Cassian’s lips slowly curled into a smirk.

The idea of using ’politeness’ to make someone he hated feel awkward sounded absurd to him, but he had already witnessed it firsthand.

Julian had used that polite tactic with him when he asked for permission without a fight so he knew it would work.

This was clearly the best ’gift’ he’d ever received. He stood up, straightening his small coat with a sudden, natural dignity that looked much better than his earlier posturing.

"The Cheesy Duke won’t know what hit him," Cassian muttered, testing out a sharp, regal nod.

Julian felt a genuine warmth in his chest, his own panic about the Emperor fading into the background.

For a moment, he just wanted to enjoy this joy of teaching and nothing else.

The affection level of these children shot up,

> [Target: Prince Cassian — Affection level: 5%(learning)]

> [Target: Princess Liora — Affection level: 7%(excited)]

These children seemed easy to please. Just like how Julian was able to please Lucius with gifts, he pleased the royal kids with a similar gift, which was apparently a lesson wrapped as a gift, haha.

"Do you have more gifts to give?" Liora asked, her excitement increasing by the second.

Given that her affection level was higher than Cassian’s, it looked like it wouldn’t fade anytime soon.

"Well," Julian thought about it. He had interfered enough, but he felt he could help the children a bit more.

It was just to satisfy himself a bit more, anyway. No harm done.

"Master Astrea," Cassian called a little after he had taught them a few more about how to keep their backs straight when they greet the nobles.

He was lying on the field, his little legs swinging up and his face resting on his little hands, being weighed by his elbows.

Both children already had their affection level up to 10 and 15%, which was a little scary to Julian, who had come across the truth of what a higher affection level could mean.

The clinginess that came with it.

"Yes, your highness?"

"You said you came with the Duke of the North, right?" He asked, and Julian went silent for a second before nodding. "Then, do you know about Young Lord Lucius?"

"Yes, yes, do you know him?" Liora included herself in the conversation as soon as Lucius was brought up.

Then, Julian recalled the emperor saying his children needed a new playmate as he took Lucius the previous day.

"Yes, he is the child I tutor," Julian said.

"Really?" Cassian quickly got up to sit straight, but then his expression fell into a weird mix of unease and anger.

"Why? Did something happen?"

"The Young Lord is very pretty, Master Astrea," Liora said. "But he doesn’t talk a lot. I think he doesn’t like us much."

Ah.

Julian had thought Lucius would be the one left out because he was mute, but his cuteness made up for that. Instead, he was being misunderstood as not liking them.

"Please do not misunderstand the Young Lord. He has a condition and can not talk. He is also very shy, but he is a good person." He said. "Would you like to be friends with him?"

"Yes, but... what if he really doesn’t like us?" Cassian asked. "Father said to be nice to him, but he won’t even try to play with us or do anything with us."

Julian hummed a bit as he tried to think over the situation.

Lucius was naturally shy, and he had never played with anyone his age, so it must be hard getting along with them or doing the things they liked.

"It’s all just new to him," Julian said, trying to act as the perfect friend matchmaker for his adorable student. "In the North, there is nothing but snow, so he doesn’t play outside. He doesn’t have friends either, so it’s all new to him, but if you can reach him patiently, he’ll definitely open up." He reached for Cassian’s head, and only when he had patted the boy did he realize he shouldn’t have done that.

It was considered a crime to touch a royal without permission.

He had done it out of habit and felt this young boy would snap his hand off and go, ’How dare you touch the head of a royal?!’, but to his surprise, he was blushing.

’Guess a child is still a child in the end, ’ he thought and saw Liora’s eyes glinting at his hand, openly waiting for her turn.

He sighed, wondering what he was getting himself into as he took his hand off Cassian’s head and patted Liora’s.

"You’re good kids." He muttered.

"You know, Master," Cassian called, looking away like the shy, simple boy he was. "It wouldn’t be bad if you taught us as well."

Julian flinched and then took his hand back. He knew he had done too much. It would be terrible if the children insisted on making him their tutor as well.

"That’s a nice joke, Your Highness. But it’ll inconvenience me, so let’s just pretend you didn’t say anything." But his response broke the boy’s heart, and he got up, running away without a word.

"Brother," Liora called out, but he did not stop. She went after him after giving Julian one last look, one filled with a little caution and worry.

Julian sat there, looking at his hand, and then sighed. He had a feeling things would come to this.

Why was he so stubborn?