Chapter 5 The Prince Who Hated Thunder

Rain poured heavily against the palace windows.

Kael stood beside the bookshelf inside his office, staring silently at the storm outside.

Thunderstorms.

Lucien hated them.

Most people didn’t know that.

The Crown Prince hid it well.

Too well.

But Kael remembered countless nights from his previous life when Lucien stayed awake until dawn pretending to work while thunder shook the palace walls.

Back then, Kael never asked why.

Now he regretted it.

A sudden knock interrupted his thoughts.

“Lord Kael?”

Ethan entered carefully while holding a folded black cloak.

“His Highness is preparing to leave for the western territory.”

Kael blinked.

“…Now?”

“It seems the storm won’t stop before morning.”

Kael frowned slightly.

That was unusual.

Traveling during heavy rain was dangerous even for royal escorts.

Unless—

Kael’s expression changed.

In the original timeline, the western territory inspection never happened because assassins attacked Lucien on the road during a storm.

The attack failed.

But several knights died protecting him.

Including one of Lucien’s closest guards.

Kael immediately grabbed his coat.

“When did His Highness decide this?”

“Less than an hour ago.”

Too sudden.

Too reckless.

Which meant something probably triggered Lucien’s decision emotionally.

Kael sighed internally.

So some things truly never changed.

—

The palace courtyard was chaos.

Knights hurried through the rain while servants loaded supplies onto black carriages bearing the royal crest.

Lightning flashed across the dark sky.

Kael quickly searched the area.

Then he spotted him.

Lucien stood beside his horse while rain soaked through his dark uniform.

Completely motionless.

Like the storm itself couldn’t touch him.

But Kael noticed immediately—

Lucien’s jaw was tense.

His fingers flexed slightly against the horse reins every time thunder echoed.

Still afraid.

Still pretending not to be.

Kael walked toward him slowly.

“Your Highness.”

Lucien glanced sideways.

“You came.”

Kael almost smiled at the wording.

As if Lucien expected him not to.

“I said I would.”

The Crown Prince stared at him quietly for a second before looking away first.

“We leave immediately.”

Kael nodded.

But before he could step toward his carriage—

BOOM!

A violent crack of thunder exploded overhead.

Several servants screamed.

Horses panicked loudly.

And for the briefest moment—

Lucien flinched.

Tiny.

Almost invisible.

Nobody else noticed.

Nobody except Kael.

The prince immediately straightened again, expression turning colder as if nothing happened.

Kael’s chest tightened unexpectedly.

In his first life, Lucien always looked untouchable.

Invincible.

But moments like this reminded Kael that beneath all that terrifying strength…

Lucien was still human.

And painfully alone.

Without thinking, Kael stepped closer.

“Your Highness.”

Lucien frowned slightly.

“What?”

Kael hesitated.

Then quietly asked:

“…Would you prefer riding inside the carriage instead?”

Silence.

The nearby knights looked horrified.

Suggesting the feared Crown Prince hide from a storm?

Suicidal.

But Lucien simply stared at Kael strangely.

“…You think I’m afraid?”

Kael answered honestly.

“I think you haven’t slept during storms for years.”

Complete silence.

Even the rain suddenly felt quieter.

Lucien’s crimson eyes widened slightly.

For the first time since Kael returned—

the Crown Prince looked genuinely shaken.

“How do you know that?”

Kael’s mind blanked instantly.

Damn.

He answered too naturally.

Quickly, Kael forced calm into his voice.

“Your servants talk.”

A lie.

A terrible lie.

Lucien clearly knew it too.

But instead of exposing him, the prince suddenly stepped closer.

Very close.

Rain dripped from Lucien’s dark hair onto his face as those crimson eyes searched Kael’s expression intensely.

“You observe me too much.”

Kael’s heartbeat sped up.

Because Lucien said it softly.

Not angrily.

Almost curiously.

Kael looked away first.

“…It’s my duty.”

Lucien stared at him for another long moment before finally turning toward the carriage.

“Ride with me.”

The surrounding knights instantly froze.

Kael blinked.

“…Your Highness?”

“I dislike repeating myself.”

Kael almost laughed despite the tension.

Still impossible.

Still arrogant.

Still Lucien.

And somehow…

that familiarity made Kael’s chest ache.

—

Inside the royal carriage, the sound of rain became softer.

Warm lantern light flickered gently while the carriage wheels rolled across wet roads.

Kael sat across from Lucien in silence.

This was dangerous.

Far too dangerous.

Being alone with Lucien always weakened his self-control.

Especially now.

The prince sat near the window, one hand supporting his chin while thunder rumbled outside.

Kael noticed the smallest details automatically.

Lucien’s fingers tightened slightly during louder thunder.

His posture stiffened each time lightning flashed.

Yet his expression remained perfectly calm.

Kael suddenly spoke before thinking.

“You can sleep if you want.”

Lucien looked at him immediately.

“I’m not tired.”

Another lie.

Kael sighed quietly.

“In your previous—”

He stopped instantly.

Too late.

Lucien narrowed his eyes.

“My previous what?”

Kael’s pulse exploded.

Idiot.

Careful.

“…Previous military inspections,” he corrected quickly. “You rarely slept properly beforehand.”

Lucien continued staring at him suspiciously.

Kael forced himself not to panic.

After several painful seconds, Lucien finally leaned back slightly.

“You notice strange things.”

Kael smiled faintly.

“You’re easy to read.”

That earned him an offended look.

Which was almost funny.

“Impossible,” Lucien said flatly.

Kael nearly choked holding back laughter.

Ah.

There he was.

The secretly prideful prince who thought nobody understood him.

In the past, Kael spent years learning every hidden emotion behind Lucien’s cold face.

He knew:

which expression meant annoyance

which silence meant exhaustion

which smile meant danger

And right now?

Lucien was sulking.

Very slightly.

Kael looked out the rain-covered window to hide his amusement.

But then—

The carriage suddenly jerked violently.

Horses screamed outside.

The knights shouted.

Kael’s expression changed instantly.

No.

Not yet—

“AMBUSH!”

Arrows pierced through the carriage windows.

Lucien immediately grabbed Kael’s wrist and pulled him down.

CRASH!

A blade slammed through the side of the carriage exactly where Kael’s head had been seconds earlier.

Chaos erupted outside.

Rain.

Screaming horses.

Clashing steel.

Lucien drew his sword instantly.

His expression transformed completely.

Cold.

Terrifying.

Murderous.

The same future tyrant from Kael’s memories.

But this time—

Kael grabbed his sleeve before he could move.

Lucien looked down sharply.

Kael’s voice came out low and urgent.

“There are archers hidden in the trees to the left.”

Lucien froze slightly.

“…How do you know that?”

Because I already watched this happen once.

Kael met his eyes steadily.

“Trust me.”

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