Chapter 3 The Crown Prince Remembers Nothing

Kael’s entire body froze.

“It sounds like you’ve lost me before.”

The words echoed endlessly inside his head.

For one terrifying second, Kael wondered—

Does he remember too?

But Lucien’s expression remained calm.

Cold.

Unreadable.

The training grounds had gone completely silent around them. The nobles nearby looked as though they had forgotten how to breathe.

Nobody spoke to the Crown Prince like this.

Nobody survived acting strangely around him.

Yet Kael had practically confessed emotional attachment in front of half the royal court.

Kael forced himself to stay calm.

“…Your Highness is overthinking.”

Lucien studied him carefully.

Those crimson eyes always felt dangerous.

Like they could peel apart every lie hidden beneath skin.

Then suddenly—

Lucien stepped even closer.

Kael instinctively stopped breathing.

The Crown Prince lowered his voice enough that only Kael could hear.

“Am I?”

A chill crawled down Kael’s spine.

In his first life, Lucien only spoke this softly when he was interested in something.

Or someone.

Before Kael could respond, one of the noble sons nearby laughed awkwardly.

“Y-Your Highness, perhaps Lord Kael was simply nervous—”

Lucien glanced sideways.

Instantly, the noble went pale and shut his mouth.

The Crown Prince turned back toward Kael calmly.

“You’re assigned to my side starting today.”

Kael nodded slowly.

“I know.”

Another pause.

Then Lucien asked:

“Do you regret it?”

Kael stared.

In his first life, Lucien never asked that question.

Back then, the prince accepted everyone’s fear silently.

As if he already expected abandonment.

But now…

Something felt slightly different.

Kael lowered his gaze carefully.

“If I regretted it,” he answered quietly, “I wouldn’t have come.”

The training grounds became even quieter somehow.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Then unexpectedly—

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

Tiny.

Almost invisible.

But Kael saw it.

And it nearly shattered his composure.

Because in his previous life…

Lucien rarely smiled.

Especially not like this.

The Crown Prince suddenly turned away.

“Follow me.”

Kael immediately walked after him while the surrounding nobles stared in disbelief.

The whispers exploded the moment they left the arena.

“Did His Highness just smile?”

“At Kael Arden?”

“Impossible…”

Kael pretended not to hear any of it.

But internally, his thoughts were spiraling.

Something had changed.

Even if only slightly.

And Kael didn’t know whether that was a good thing or not.

—

The palace corridors felt painfully familiar.

Sunlight spilled across marble floors while servants bowed nervously as Lucien passed.

The Crown Prince ignored all of them.

Kael walked half a step behind him silently.

Three years.

He had once walked these same halls every day.

Discussed military plans beside Lucien.

Shared late-night tea during storms.

Watched the prince slowly carry the weight of the empire alone.

And then—

left him behind.

Guilt twisted violently inside Kael’s chest.

Suddenly, Lucien stopped walking.

Kael almost bumped into him.

“You’re distracted again.”

Kael immediately straightened. “My apologies.”

Lucien turned slightly.

“You’ve apologized twice since arriving.”

Kael blinked.

“…Have I?”

“Yes.”

The prince’s gaze lingered on him strangely.

“You act like someone awaiting punishment.”

Kael’s throat tightened.

Because Lucien wasn’t wrong.

Some part of him still felt trapped on that execution platform.

Still waiting to die.

Lucien watched him quietly for several seconds before speaking again.

“…Who hurt you?”

Kael looked up sharply.

For a moment, he forgot how to breathe.

Because Lucien’s voice didn’t sound cold.

It sounded angry.

Dangerously angry.

Kael forced a small smile.

“No one.”

Lucien clearly didn’t believe him.

But before he could continue questioning—

“Your Highness!”

A knight hurried down the corridor before kneeling quickly.

“The northern ambassador has arrived earlier than expected.”

Kael’s expression changed instantly.

Northern ambassador.

He remembered.

In his previous life, this meeting became the first step toward the conspiracy against Lucien.

The ambassador secretly worked with corrupt nobles inside the palace.

And Kael—

Back then, he failed to notice it.

Lucien looked mildly annoyed.

“They were scheduled for tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The knight hesitated before adding nervously:

“They requested a private audience.”

Kael’s eyes darkened slightly.

Private audience.

Of course.

That was where the manipulation began.

Lucien turned toward him suddenly.

“You’re coming with me.”

Kael blinked.

“In the past, you attended these meetings alone.”

“I changed my mind.”

The answer came too quickly.

Kael stared at him in surprise.

Lucien looked away first.

“…You’re my strategist now. Start working.”

Kael almost laughed.

Somehow, despite his cold expression, the Crown Prince sounded defensive.

It was strangely familiar.

And strangely comforting.

Kael lowered his head slightly.

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

Lucien stared at him for another second before continuing down the hallway.

Kael followed silently.

But his mind was already racing ahead.

This was his first chance.

His first opportunity to change the future.

And this time—

he would not fail.

—

The royal audience chamber was already prepared when they arrived.

Large golden pillars stretched toward the ceiling while royal guards stood motionless beside the doors.

At the center of the room stood three men dressed in northern formalwear.

The moment Lucien entered, all three bowed.

“Your Highness.”

Lucien sat lazily upon the elevated chair near the platform.

Kael immediately noticed it.

The blond man standing in the middle.

Duke Serdan.

Beautiful smile.

Gentle voice.

Poison hidden beneath silk.

In the future, he would become one of the main people responsible for destroying Lucien.

And in Kael’s first life…

he trusted him.

Like a fool.

Duke Serdan smiled warmly.

“It’s an honor finally meeting the empire’s brilliant Crown Prince.”

Lucien looked bored already.

“Get to the point.”

The duke chuckled lightly.

Directly beside Lucien, Kael noticed several nobles exchange awkward glances.

Everyone feared Lucien’s personality.

Everyone except the people planning to use him.

Serdan’s gaze suddenly shifted toward Kael.

“And this must be Lord Kael Arden.”

Kael felt disgust crawl through him instantly.

Because he remembered this man laughing during his execution.

“I’ve heard many wonderful things about you,” Serdan continued smoothly.

Kael smiled politely.

“And I’ve heard nothing about you at all.”

The room went silent.

One of the northern nobles nearly choked.

Lucien slowly turned his head toward Kael.

Kael kept smiling calmly.

But internally?

He was done being polite to snakes.

To his surprise—

Lucien suddenly laughed.

A real laugh.

Low and brief, but unmistakable.

Every noble in the room looked utterly horrified.

Because the Crown Prince of the empire—

was laughing because of Kael Arden.

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