TDKSR 03

Chapter 03

The Stealth aura that had protected Jonathan all this time and helped him carry out any task in secret was now being blatantly exposed to someone.

Jonathan smiled faintly and swallowed dryly.

Livga quickly averted her gaze and greeted those present.

Jonathan clenched his trembling hands and watched Livga closely.

Soon, the chancellor hurriedly left the office as if being chased out.

“I understand you possess some special ability.”

Ronan spoke to Livga. He was performing his assigned role well.

“A special ability, you say?”

Livga asked back, appearing calm.

“It seems you can see what you shouldn’t be able to see.”

“…”

“At the graduation ceremony, you reached out toward empty space and said someone was there, didn’t you?”

Without changing her expression, Livga spoke.

“It was merely my misunderstanding, Duke.”

‘Liar.’

But Livga had stopped looking in Jonathan’s direction at some point.

“This is important, so honesty matters most. Please answer me. Is there someone in this room who is invisible to others?”

When Ronan asked that question, Jonathan intensified his Stealth aura even more.

“What kind of person is invisible to others?”

At Livga’s counter-question, Ronan was momentarily flustered and asked again.

“Is there someone with the same appearance as the one you saw that day in this room right now?”

“What answer should I give here?”

“Huh?”

Jonathan struggled to calm his churning heart.

‘Ah, how could you ask back so stupidly like that.’

That bastard Ronan usually does well—why is he acting like this today?

“What would happen if I said I saw what others shouldn’t see?”

At that moment, Jonathan noticed Livga’s hand trembling.

‘Huh? Is she frightened?’

The young girl with a straight back and expressionless face who asked the question hid her inner unease quite well. But it seemed she couldn’t stop her hands from trembling.

“What would happen? You’d become a special person under the imperial family’s protection.”

Fortunately, Ronan answered well this time.

“You wouldn’t kill me?”

“Kill? What are you talking about?”

“Seeing something invisible to others—either I’m crazy…”

Livga paused for a moment, then seemed to gather courage and continued.

“…or perhaps I’m possessed by an evil spirit.”

“Hahaha. Well, that’s what people say when they don’t know about auras and Star Seekers.”

‘Oh, Ronan you bastard. That last part really sounded like me.’

Jonathan covered his mouth with one hand in admiration. Though Ronan wouldn’t be able to see it anyway.

“Auras and Star Seekers?”

“Well, let’s talk about the details after we confirm that you can truly see.”

Ronan stared at Livga and asked again.

“Besides me, is there anyone else in this room?”

Only then did Livga, showing signs of slight relief, glance toward Jonathan and speak.

“Yes, there is.”

“Where?”

Livga stood up abruptly and approached Jonathan.

“Can’t you see him, Duke?”

Livga looked at Jonathan and asked Ronan.

“That’s right. To my eyes, there are only the two of us—you and me.”

“I see…”

Livga looked up at Jonathan intently.

That reaction made Jonathan’s heart sink. It felt like being caught in a long game of hide and seek.

Clearly, Livga was smaller and younger. Yet Jonathan felt overpowered by just her gaze alone.

With a strangely furrowed brow, Livga reached out and grabbed Jonathan’s arm.

“!”

Without taking her eyes off Jonathan, Livga spoke.

“I can feel touch too.”

“What does he look like?”

“Platinum blonde hair and blue eyes—a handsome youth. He looks about two to three hand-spans taller than me, and he’s shimmering.”

Using her other hand that wasn’t grabbing his arm, Livga stroked Jonathan’s cheek.

“He’s sparkling. It feels like he’s wrapped in shimmering mist.”

Jonathan’s face flushed.

This girl… why is she so bold?

And she truly was a Star Seeker.

Indescribable emotions washed over Jonathan.

What was this strange feeling?

The girl was both fascinating and frightening.

“He has no wings, but he’s like an angel—or is he a ghost?”

One of Livga’s hands was still touching Jonathan’s face. To others, it would look like she was groping at empty air.

Jonathan wanted to step back, but there was only a wall behind him.

Ronan seemed flustered too and didn’t ask Livga any more questions.

Then Livga’s finger pressed against Jonathan’s lips.

“!”

Jonathan’s eyes widened in shock because Livga brought her face close as if she were actually going to kiss him.

Flustered, Jonathan turned his head away.

“…I don’t think he’s an angel. He’s shy.”

What surprised Jonathan the most was Livga’s comment.

That action, which seemed like an attempt to kiss him, was actually meant to test him. From a female student who wasn’t even of age yet.

He must not get flustered. How easy would that make him to be toyed with?

He had to pass over the situation as naturally as possible and make the other person let their guard down.

Forcing the corners of his mouth up, Jonathan spoke.

“Enough with the games, little lady.”

At the same time, Jonathan withdrew his aura.

Even that sight must have looked beautiful to Livga’s eyes, as she smiled faintly and examined Jonathan’s surroundings.

Jonathan was now clearly visible even to ordinary people.

Livga had stepped back one pace from Jonathan.

Jonathan crossed his arms and looked at Livga.

“You are the only Star Seeker currently discovered.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, that title is too long. Let’s just call you Star. Anyway, you’re a Star. Understood?”

Even though he knew about her, Jonathan couldn’t stop the tension and the cold sweat on his hands.

From the moment Livga perceived him, to grabbing him and pretending to kiss him—Jonathan had been unable to do anything.

Why was that?

Because she was a woman? Because she was a child? Or was he overwhelmed by the strange atmosphere?

Hiding his own incomprehensible unease, Jonathan stared intently at Livga.

“Have you ever heard of Star Seekers?”

Livga looked toward Ronan and answered carefully.

“No. Until just now when Duke Kusakov mentioned it…”

Jonathan smiled and continued.

“You’ve heard of aura manifesters, right? The late Emperor was an aura manifester with defensive abilities.”

“Yes, I know at least that much…”

Livga had somehow adopted a polite demeanor toward Jonathan.

“This might be a bit of a long story. Would you like to sit?”

“Ah, yes.”

Livga glanced briefly at Ronan.

“As you might have guessed, this is my close aide, Ronan Itche. He sometimes acts as my proxy like this.”

“Oh!”

Finally realizing that Jonathan was the real Duke Kusakov, a flustered Livga bowed formally.

“I greet the noble son of heaven.”

“That greeting is ancient history.”

Jonathan chuckled lightly and extended his hand to Livga.

“Let me properly introduce myself. I’m Jonathan Kusakov. Brother of the Great Sun and first in the line of imperial succession.”

After wiping her hand once on her skirt, Livga took Jonathan’s hand.

“I am Livga Wilton of the Viscount Wilton family.”

“I heard Lady Wilton tried to kiss Your Highness.”

“Ah, really. I was manifesting my aura, you know? What kind of nonsense is that bastard Ronan spreading when he couldn’t even see properly?”

Jonathan immediately expressed his annoyance at Jonah’s words.

It was irritating enough that Jonah had barged into the office right after graduation, but Ronan spreading nonsense made him even more annoyed.

“The information department’s subordinates specialize in paying attention to Your Highness’s personal affairs. Ronan observed and reported Livga’s actions.”

“She didn’t! Nothing happened!”

“Yes, I know. That’s why it’s strange.”

“What?”

“Your Highness hasn’t liked physical contact with people since turning eighteen.”

“…Family is fine.”

“Since your family are all imperial family members, there aren’t many occasions for contact anyway.”

Jonah was annoyingly competent. To the point where it bothered Jonathan somewhat.

“Did you go easy on her because she’s a minor and a girl?”

“Yes.”

“Your Highness doesn’t really go that easy on people even if they’re women, actually.”

“Can you not?”

Jonathan threw a cookie at Jonah. Jonah twisted his body and deftly dodged.

“So she’s your type?”

He added that annoying remark.

“No! What would I do with a minor?”

“When Your Highness was eighteen, you mercilessly broke the arm of a minor girl who lunged at you and told her she shouldn’t do that. Very firmly.”

“Is that the same as this?”

“What’s different?”

“Back then, I was frequenting back-alley taverns full of all sorts of people, so I was mentally prepared.”

He was annoyed at himself for rambling on like an excuse to Jonah. But somehow he couldn’t stop.

“This time, it was an ordinary academy student in the chancellor’s office—and in a situation where she thought the Duke of Kusakov was present—so I didn’t expect her to do that to me!”

“…”

Honestly, Jonathan was the one who had been harassed by a young girl.

Looking back, even he found that day’s events absurd. He couldn’t understand why he had let himself be treated like that.

And the more Jonah tried to bring it up, the worse he felt.

‘Have I become lax since my brother ascended the throne?’

Just then.

“Impressive, Livga Wilton.”

“What?”

“Even if she weren’t the Star Seeker Your Highness mentioned, she seems talented enough to recruit into the information department.”

“…”

Thinking again, Jonah was right.

Her bold behavior in the chancellor’s office was truly…

“Anyway, I briefly explained the confidentiality clause and such, and Livga said she plans to join the imperial civil service immediately after graduation.”

“Congratulations. You found something you didn’t know you were looking for. A Star Seeker.”

“That’s too long. Just call her Star.”

“Why is she called a Star Seeker? The real Star is the aura manifester. That is, Your Highness.”

“What does it matter? Whatever’s convenient for me is best. I’m the head of the information department.”

At that, Jonah, as if waiting, smoothly brought up the main topic.

Very naturally.