Angelic Predator:Trust Me, I'm Sane

Herua's POV:

There he was again. That kid. The youngest son of the Head.

I'd seen him from a distance before, always training alone. Never really bothered to approach until now. Normally, I came to this practice ground at a different time, but today... I don't know. Something just pulled me here.

And the moment I saw him up close, I felt something-respect

Perfect posture. Perfect balance. No wasted movement. As if he wasn't even trying, yet still looking so... steady. So sharp. Like a blade made for killing.

I was pissed off. Maybe because I worked my ass off every day, but this kid—smaller than me—was better and sharper.

I didn't hate him because I can see he worked hard for what he has and deserved it. The thing that pissed me off is-Me. I should also have done better and worked harder.

Still, there was something about him that caught my attention even deeper.but watching him stirred something. Curiosity. Maybe respect.

That, and something else—

—I kinda wanted to talk to him.

Not that I was good at it. I didn't really have actual friends, just lackeys. People hung around me because of my skills. But someone my own age, someone like him? That was rare.

Kids in the duchy mature faster than normal because of training, pressure, whatever. Makes it harder to have real friendship.

So why not? We were the same age. I figured there was no harm in trying.

In duchy kids here, gets mature faster than any other kids because of various reason, it also become harder to have genuine friendship.

As I got closer, he stopped moving. His head tilted slightly, sensing me without turning.

Sharp.

'So the rumors were true... a prodigy,' I thought, amused.

His hair, pitch black like ink. His skin so pale it almost glowed. And when he finally noticed me and turned—

Those eyes.

One blue. One red.

It wasn't fair. His face... too good-looking for a guy. Those lips, red like they'd been painted. Big, clear eyes. Small cute nose. His looks, like he wasn't real. Like some kind of doll made from ice and fire.

And yet—built. Taller than average, already looking like a future swordsman. It made no sense. Cute and dangerous at the same time.

I actually caught myself thinking: This guy's gonna be a heartbreaker someday.

But even cuter than that was the contrast. His build. He wasn't small or weak-looking. Even as a kid, he was tall for his age, with a solid figure like a warrior in training. Yet his face and cheeks round and adorable.

'So cute... I wanna pinch his cheeks.'

I caught myself. Tch. Focus, Herua.

Clearing my throat, I stepped up properly and spoke without thinking too much:

"Yo. Look who we got here... a mismatched bastard."

The second I said it, my stomach twisted a little. I didn't mean it like that. I didn't want to actually insult him.

But it was the only way I knew how to talk to someone like this. Push first. Get their attention.

Still... I figured it was better this way. A little provocation, a little fight. It'd start there, and maybe after that—rivals, companions... best friends, even.

That was the plan. Foolproof.

But he just looked at me, silent. No reaction.

Not even a twitch.

My jaw tightened.

"Oi... You deaf or just ignoring me?" I pushed again, brows furrowing.His lips were curved in a slight smirk, which ticked me off.

"Tch... I said—are you laughing at me? Come fight me, then. Let's see if you'll still laugh after!"

His lips curved, the faintest smirk grew larger now. Calm , too calm,like a Predator assessing his target.

Then he said finally. "Let's do it. But... with a bet."

A bet? This guy had nerves.

I narrowed my eyes. "What kind of bet?"

He didn't answer right away. Just watched me quietly, like a hunter sizing up prey. It made my skin itch.

Then, as if he couldn't help himself, he dropped a single word:

"Scared?"

That got me.

"Who's scared?! I don't care. If I lose, I'll do anything you want. And vice versa!"

His chuckle was quiet, too quiet. And for some reason, it felt like I'd already lost before the fight even started.

"Cool, then. Finally something interesting."

That was the first real thing he said to me. And it stuck in my head long after.

Not just the fight. Not just the bet.

But his voice. His face.

That moment.

Yeah... I was already screwed.

I didn't knew back then… but from that moment onward, my life would get tied up with his—again and again. From sparring in this dusty courtyard to standing beside him years later, facing death together in that hellish war.

But that was still far away.

Right now, all I cared about was knocking the quiet prince off his throne, even just for a second.

---

End of POV.