Sonya didn't answer Mika's question immediately. Instead, she held out the notebook, offering it to Elain without a word.
The head butler took it carefully, flipping through the measurements with his usual precision—
Until his eyebrows shot up in pure disbelief.
His tone was quiet, but unmistakably concerned.
"Oh my. Height: 176 cm. Weight: 47 kg. Waist: 56 cm. Chest: 77 cm. Shoulders: 43 cm."
Elain sighed softly, but there was an undeniable note of pity in his voice.
"My prince, you are severely underweight."
Mika blinked, as if hearing this for the first time.
"Really?"
He looked at his own body, confusion flickering across his features.
Sure, Mika was always considered weaker than anyone else in the novel, that much he had already accepted.
But he had never noticed that his body was this fragile—this unnaturally thin.
No wonder he was always tired.
No wonder he was always sleepy.
'...Mika, just how uncared for were you?'
The realization hit hard, sinking into his thoughts.
But Mika wasn't asking himself.
Not really.
He was asking the real Mika—the one who had lived through this neglect without a second thought.
He closed his eyes for a moment, jaw tightening slightly as he made his silent vow.
'Don't worry, this time you won't die. I will make sure to take care of your body properly.'
Mika opened his eyes before flatly saying,
"I don't need that much food."
His tone was deadpan, utterly unbothered as Sonya kept pulling out a mountain of snacks from her drawer.
What kind of drawer was that?
Mika's eyebrow furrowed slightly when Sonya pushed a sandwich against his face, her exaggerated sobs filling the room as if this were some tragic event.
"Eat, eat, you pitiful child! Don't worry, big sis is here to feed you!"
Seriously.
What was wrong with people in this palace?
Mika's eyebrow twitched as Sonya kept pressing the food against his cheek, refusing to back down.
Meanwhile, Elain simply stood off to the side, watching with a smile of pure amusement.
Mika exhaled, finally giving up, and opened his mouth to take a bite—
And instantly froze.
"!? Wait, this is so good!!"
The sheer shock in his voice was unmistakable.
He had fully expected it to be bland—after all, it had come straight from Sonya's drawer, of all places.
But instead—
The sandwich was packed with flavor.
Juicy beef and chicken, perfectly seasoned.
Crisp vegetables, fresh and balanced—not too overwhelming.
Even the bread was soft, the ratio between ingredients flawless.
The taste was ridiculously good.
Mika chewed slowly, processing this betrayal of expectations.
"I know, right? I bought this from LuLu Bakery! The head chef there is an absolute genius when it comes to bread! He's young but ridiculously talented!" Sonya beamed, speaking as if she personally knew the chef.
Mika continued munching on the sandwich, nodding slightly.
"Heeh… maybe I'll visit the bakery after the coronation."
If only Mika had someone this skilled making food for him regularly.
Louis could cook, sure—but he was a bodyguard, not a chef.
"Hmm… I should probably hire a chef in my mansion…" Mika muttered, leaning forward to take another bite—Sonya still holding the sandwich for him.
This was actually really convenient.
Having someone hold your food while you ate?
Mika could get used to this.
"A chef who feeds me every day…" Mika murmured, closing his eyes in thought as he took another bite.
Sonya's expression suddenly turned somber, her teary gaze fixated on Mika's frail frame.
"With that body, someone should even be taking care of your baths…"
Her words carried unexpected weight—her tone sincere rather than teasing.
"My, a perfect lazy life," Elain chuckled softly, amused by the conversation.
The two were obviously joking, but Mika felt something shift deep inside him at the thought.
A life where someone took care of everything for him…
'But having someone take care of me in the shower… is a bit…'
Mika scrapped the thought immediately, deciding that hiring a chef was the first priority instead.
"Do you have any recommendations?"
Mika asked after finishing the sandwich, grabbing his clothes.
Sonya tapped her chin, thoughtful, as she glanced at her notebook.
Sitting down, she started sketching a rough design for Mika's coronation attire.
"Well… there is one."
She lightly tapped her pencil against the table's surface, contemplation settling in her gaze.
"But… he's an apprentice—only eighteen years old."
Sonya hesitated before gesturing toward her spider legs.
"But he's… well… like me."
Her words held unspoken meaning.
"He's half minotaur, but his human genes are more dominant."
Mika's eyes sparkled, his expression shifting into something almost serious as he turned to Sonya.
"Minotaur, you said?!"
His mind immediately conjured images of the massive, towering creatures he had read about in fantasy books—horned, muscular, and unstoppable.
Sonya nodded, but quickly clarified.
"Yeah, but like I said—aside from his eyes, horns, and tail, everything else is human."
Mika's brows furrowed slightly, thoughts racing.
"Wait… is he comfortable with it?"
Sonya blinked, caught off guard by the question.
"Eh? Uh… if you're asking whether he's comfortable with his Minotaur heritage—then yes. He always corrects people that he's a Minotaur instead of a halfling."
Mika clenched his fists, exhaling deeply as a sudden idea struck him.
"I want it… a strong Minotaur to carry me around…"
Sonya let out a loud gasp before comically falling sideways, her body hitting the floor with exaggerated shock.
"THAT'S what you mean?!"
She laughed, shaking her head at the absurdity.
"Well… you know, I think he would actually like that. That boy—he loves being in service and cooking."
Mika nodded, considering the possibilities.
Minotaurs were known for their strength and endurance, but one who could cook?
If his mansion was ever attacked while he was away, at least he'd have someone strong enough to defend it.
"So, what's his name?"
Sonya's smile softened slightly, the warmth in her tone evident.
"Aster. Aster Athak. You can find him in the horse stable."
Mika's eyes narrowed slightly, confusion flickering through his expression.
"Horse stable? Why is he there?"
Sonya clicked her tongue in irritation, crossing her arms.
"Because the Queen doesn't want half-bloods or non-humans in the kitchen."
Elain let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.
"Ahaha, it is true. The Queen is nothing if not a refined connoisseur of human superiority, incapable of tolerating anything less than the purity of her own kind."
Mika and Sonya turned to Elain, their expressions shifting into disbelief.
'Scary… Elain, do you really not fear anything?'
Mika clenched his fists before abruptly turning on his heels.
"Okay, let's go find him!!"
Elain, ever composed, pushed the curtain aside, granting Mika passage.
"I shall show you the way, my prince," he said with a polite nod.
Behind them, Sonya cheerfully waved.
"Tell Aster I said hi~!"
Mika and Elain walked down the hallway in silence.
Honestly, Mika preferred it this way.
The quiet allowed him to gather his thoughts, to piece together the fragments of information running through his mind.
'Aster Athak… Aster…'
Mika furrowed his brows, tapping his forehead with mild frustration.
'It's no use—I can't remember him! He might not even be a side character in Crimson Revenge!'
His arms crossed tightly, his gaze drifting toward the window.
'No… this is actually good. It means I can trust him to be loyal to me instead of the royal family.'
Just as he had settled on the thought, Mika blinked—
A sudden warmth enclosed his hand.
Looking up, he realized Elain was holding his hand, his posture naturally poised as they approached the staircase.
"Please, allow me to guide you down the stairs," Elain said with a gentle smile, his tone patient.
Mika paused, his expression slightly blank.
"I can go down the stairs myself," he replied flatly.
The act of accepting help to walk down stairs was something reserved for ladies, so it felt strange for Mika to do it.
But Elain's smile didn't waver.
"Yes, but you're deep in thought—I worry you might hurt yourself."
Then, with effortless elegance, Elain lifted Mika's hand, pressing a light kiss against his knuckles.
"Will you let me assist you, my prince?"
Mika stared at him, confusion flashing across his face.
"...I guess."
After a brief pause, he nodded, allowing Elain to assist him as they descended the stairs.
Elain's grip softened, his movements steady, his presence calming.
One hand behind his back, his expression carried a quiet warmth, something softer—something unreadable.
'I wonder what he's thinking…'
Mika mused, glancing down at him.
He noticed then—
The head butler would always take three steps ahead of him.
'...You sly old butler.'
Mika let out a soft chuckle, finally understanding what Elain meant. Even if he helped Mika, he would never be under his command. Three steps ahead, always. A silent declaration that his loyalty lay elsewhere, that his assistance was mere duty.
As they arrived at the stable, Mika released Elain's hand and looked around. The space was eerily empty, save for a few horses shifting lazily in their stalls. His brows furrowed.
"There's no workers?"
Elain's expression remained unreadable, like he already knew the answer but was waiting for Mika to figure it out himself.
Mika sighed, giving him a look before raising his voice.
"Excuse me, is Aster here?"
Silence.
He waited, scanning the stable.
No response.
Two minutes passed, the stillness unsettling.
"Excuse me," Mika tried again, voice firm.
Then he felt it.
A presence.
A shadow loomed over him, blocking the dim stable light.
"Y-yes…"
A hesitant voice spoke from behind him.
Mika turned his head, looking over his shoulder, and his breath hitched slightly.
Towering over him was a huge man, more massive than Cyrus. Around 6'7, his tan skin contrasted against his long, messy white hair that cascaded past his waist, partially covering his eyes.
Curled bull horns sat atop his head, twitching slightly. Instead of human ears, he had bull-like ones, flicking subtly.
He wore a gray denim overall over a white short-sleeved shirt, paired with worn boots. His posture was tense, uneasy.
Behind him, a long bull's tail swayed slowly, almost nervous.
"U-uhm…"
The man hesitated, leaning down slightly, allowing Mika to see his pale purple eyes. His brows furrowed, his gaze soft yet cautious.
"D-do you need s-something…?"
His voice carried a quiet uncertainty, as though he wasn't used to being addressed directly.
Mika studied him carefully.
"Aster?"
The moment the name left Mika's lips, the man visibly tensed, his body going rigid.
"Y-yes?! I-I am Aster…"
His voice was rushed, his posture stiff. Nervous energy rolled off him in waves.
Mika stared at Aster, watching as the man grew increasingly nervous, his eyes darting between the prince and Elain.
Elain, standing calmly beside Mika, smiled—though there was something unmistakably sly about it.
Then, as if deciding the situation wasn't amusing enough yet, he casually tilted his head and added,
"This is Prince Mika."
The reaction was instantaneous.
Aster's eyes widened in pure panic, and before Mika could even blink, the man dropped to his knees, trembling like a frightened kitten.
"P-please forgive me for being rude!"
Mika sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before shooting Elain a look.
The head butler simply maintained his innocent smile, as if he had no idea what Mika was glaring at him for.
Mika exhaled tiredly, crouching down in front of Aster.
"So, Aster. Do you like cooking?"
Aster lifted his head sharply, his expression shifting in an instant, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I-I do!"
Mika let out a slight smile, pleased with the enthusiasm.
"Then, would you like to cook for me?"
Aster froze, staring at Mika as if he had just heard something unbelievable.
Then—
"C-cook?! Me? Now?!"
Mika simply nodded as he stood up, unfazed by the reaction.
"There's a kitchen here, right?"
Aster quickly nodded, and Mika continued,
"It's almost lunchtime, and I'm getting hungry."
For a brief second, Aster looked overwhelmed before suddenly jumping to his feet, his stance stiff but his energy determined.
"Y-yes, your highness!"
He quickly gestured for them to follow, leading them toward the outside kitchen, which was clearly built to accommodate his large frame.
As Mika walked beside Elain, the butler chuckled softly, clearly pleased with the chaos he had stirred up.
Mika gave him a glance, catching the subtle amusement dancing in the older man's eyes.
It was never just duty with Elain.
There was always a little fun in it for him too.