I Became the Narrow-Eyed Character in the Little Prince Game

Vanity.

One of the three great ducal families of the Empire—iron-blooded sentinels who ruled over the snowy plains.
They had also long been loyal retainers guarding the North.
Perhaps it wasn’t so strange for them to take pride in that.

After all, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) they had achieved immense merit during the [Great War] six years ago.
The former head of the Vanity family had been that exceptional.
"All of you, stand behind me."
"Today, on this battlefield, I will not lose a single soul."

A hero.
A person for whom that short yet weighty word was fitting.
The father of the twins had been just such a man.

Naturally, Emilia and Ruska were deeply influenced by him.
And they came to revere him.
"Emilia."
"You may forget all other words, but live remembering this one thing."
"Light… only has value when there is someone for it to shine upon."

The girl chased the light of the stars.
"Ruska."
"Become a star like a guidepost."
"Let the weak hide in your shadow, and the strong find their direction in your light."
The boy yearned for the idea of stars.

A person who had been great to all.
The era led by his grand stride seemed as though it would shine forever in Vanity.
But tragedy, as always, arrived in the most unforeseen moment.

The star that had soared so proudly in the night fell in vain and ruin.
It was when the twins were just fifteen years old.
"The Duke and Duchess have passed away."
"The cause of death remains unknown, though an investigation suggests a possible carriage accident…"
Those known as the rulers of the snowy plains.

The death of the Duke and Duchess left a massive shock even across the Empire.
Rumors swirled—assassination, staged theatrics, all sorts of conspiracy theories—but in the end, the case was closed as a simple accident.
Even with the Imperial Family intervening and conducting a full investigation, nothing especially suspicious was uncovered.

The twins, too, harbored no particular suspicions.
They merely felt an unsettling discomfort.
But even that sensation was soon washed away by tears.

They were too young to endure such loss.
"Do not worry."
"The complicated matters of the family… I shall handle them."
"You two need only grieve for your father."
At the time, the twins were too young to lead the family, so their uncle took up the position of acting head in their stead.

He had always maintained a close relationship with them. Because of that, the children trusted the adult.
Without knowing what consequences that choice would bring.
The world of adults was nothing short of filthy.

"Trust your uncle."
"Everything I do is for your sake."
In the years that followed,
The atmosphere in the Vanity family began to shift.

Those who had once sworn loyalty to the former duke began to leave, one by one—or were purged on various charges.
In the end, only those who treated the twins with coldness remained in the ducal household.
Only then did the children begin to feel a sense of alienation.

"Could it be… Uncle…?"
But—
By the time the twins realized something was wrong, everything had already fallen apart.

The family was now filled only with those loyal to their uncle.
Those who had truly served Vanity—whether they were pushed out or killed—were all gone.
The elders had already colluded with the uncle, and even the family’s elite assassination unit, "Awl," had been reorganized, reborn as the blade of perfect traitors.

Because of that, Emilia and Ruska lost any place to stand within Vanity.
Worse yet, a powerful contract had been embedded in the heart of the younger sibling.
"Swear it on your mana, Ruska."
"For your uncle to protect you both, this contract is absolutely necessary."
"There won’t be any side effects, so won’t you trust your uncle?"

A Mana Oath.
It was a contract the uncle requested from Ruska on the very day he assumed the position of acting head.
The boy, drowned in the sorrow of losing his parents—

He simply nodded, trusting only his uncle.
Without knowing he had stepped straight into a vile trap.
"So, you’ve finally realized it. That you were deceived from the beginning."
"But… what can you two possibly do now?"
"The family is already mine."
"And you’ve entrusted your lives to me—do you think you can even defy me?"
"Stay quiet. If you wish to cling to even a scrap of life, that is."

The uncle crushed the children underfoot.
On a board crafted down to its finest details, the twins were forced to play an unjust game.
The only reason their uncle didn’t get rid of them outright was for appearances.

If the heirs were to die less than three years after the former duke’s accident, it would undoubtedly arouse the suspicion of the Imperial Family this time.
To avoid that, he needed to present the image that Ruska and Emilia were alive and well.
Even as he slowly gnawed away at them from the inside.

"A Mana Oath."
"The reason I bothered going through the trouble of forming that contract was exactly this."
"In the process of seizing this family… who knows if you might try something foolish?"
"So don’t even think of trying anything else."
"I’ll kill you without hesitation."
The oath was a leash.
A means to restrain the twins until his plan was complete.

If they ever became useless, they’d simply be discarded… disposable pieces, perhaps.
"Don’t worry about what comes later."
"I’ve recently come into contact with some people—our interests align quite nicely."
"The demon worshipers, you see."
The cult.

Their uncle had already joined hands with them.
The very ones the family had bled to fight against in the last war—he had allied with them out of nothing but greed.
Ruska and Emilia were enraged, but they had no way to overthrow him.

All they could do was obey in silence.
"The world will soon be overturned by them… and once the Imperial Family collapses—"
"A new Emperor will rise within the Empire."

"My brother always said our homeland was the snowy plains, but… that was a foolish thought."
"This time, it will be the name of Vanity that commands the continent."
"In short, to make Vanity great."

The uncle intended to overturn the Empire.
More directly—coup d'état.
As long as he could sit upon the glittering imperial throne, he clearly didn't care what means he used.

Beyond that, the uncle wanted to make use of the twins for his own ends.
"Ruska."
"From now on, you'll be helping me in many ways."
He chose the younger sibling.

Rather than Emilia, who was brilliant and often drew attention, he picked the quiet and reserved Ruska.
Moreover, Ruska himself had volunteered to become a pawn.
Begging him—if nothing else, please do not lay a hand on his sister.

"Very well. I will respect your wish."
"We’ll just be adding one more line to our contract."
The uncle accepted the condition.
From then on—

Ruska, as a subordinate of Vanity, supported various operations.
Submitting regular reports from the academy, mapping the structures of key buildings.
During the last raid, that information had even been used.

Because of it, the boy was consumed by unending torment.
"What am I even…"
It had all been for his sister—yet he was losing himself more and more.

The childhood dream of becoming a hero now felt like nothing but a cruel dissonance.
He had been tainted by adults—so much that even he found himself pathetic.
And so, Ruska spent every dawn in anguish.

And then—
"Why do you hesitate?"
The torment that had persisted—

At last—
"Did you really think I’d dance to your tune all the way to the end?"
He broke through his shell.

The heart that had once surrendered and crumbled—rose again.
The girl pointed her frost-bound blade with a breath like mist.
Behind her, faint snowflakes drifted in silence.

***
A dark, shifting alleyway.
Ruska stood with the moonlight at his back.

"……"
Across from him stood the traitors who had betrayed the family.
A chilling bloodlust lingered around them.

The assassins, having lost their prey, glared with sharpened eyes.
They mocked, just a little.
"What’s this supposed to be?"

"Never imagined the young master would dream of betrayal."
"How’re you planning to clean up this mess, huh?"
"This just got complicated. Seems like the target’s caught on too."

Complaints, perhaps.
At their voices, Ruska let out a brief, mocking laugh.
He had always wanted to see their twisted expressions.

This had been his plan from the start.
"Who knows… maybe I had a change of heart."
He answered lazily on purpose.

So their mood would sour even more.
"The one who gets fooled is the one at fault, no?"
"A Mana Oath… I heard you signed a contract with the Head. You think you can just break that?"

"It doesn’t matter anymore. That kind of price? Who cares."
"Who cares? Your heart’s about to be pulverized."
"Whatever."

Ruska intended to die here.
So he hadn’t called for help, hadn’t left himself a way out.
The reason was simple.

'It’s time to end this… all of it.'
Emilia Vanity.
If there was any reason she remained in the family this long, it was because of Ruska.

Their uncle held his life in his hands. If she tried to flee, her brother would be in danger.
As long as Ruska lived… Emilia could never escape Vanity.
The boy’s decision was to break that shackle.

'Someone must carry on the bloodline of Vanity.'
It just wouldn’t be him.
Ruska would die here, to set his sister free.

So she would never again be bound by any adult.
"Go to hell, all of you."
Perhaps this was the final card he’d kept hidden.

There was not even the slightest tremble in the boy’s gaze.
'Besides—'
Yuda Snakeus.

If that guy remained by Emilia’s side, he could feel somewhat at ease.
In Ruska’s ears, that unwavering voice echoed vividly.
"I’ll stay by her side and support her."
"Like many others, I admire her as well."

If it was him, he could be trusted.
Because he was the one his sister had trusted.
Not that Ruska particularly liked him… but the guy had ties to the royal family, held a respected position as a teacher, and was the heir to a count family—he’d eventually wield considerable influence.

At the very least, enough to protect Emilia.
Ruska cast off his meticulously prepared end.
It was time to break free.

"My heart will explode in thirty minutes."
The price of violating the oath.
Yet even in such a state, the boy remained calm.

The spring breeze scattered his deep blue hair.
"You ever consider that we might tear you apart before those thirty minutes are up?"
"Who knows."

Ruska was tired.
The disillusionment with his hero, the admiration he couldn’t let go of.
He had never fully turned his back on those early dawns.

In the end, he chose to abandon reality—and walk toward the ideal he had once dreamed of.
If he had to die, he wanted to take at least one shot on his way out.
At the uncle who had used him like a tool.

"I’ll drag at least one of you down with me."
Frost surged beside him.
The boy raised the tip of his sword.

Toward the world of adults—one he could never compromise with.
The blue-hued ice slashed forward at blinding speed.
With a heavy kick, he launched off the ground.

Boom—!
"Kh…!"
Ruska collided with one of the robed figures.

The blades that met were coated in frost.
A chilling, solidifying storm.
Behind the boy stood the academy.

And today, he wasn’t going to lose anyone.
The blizzard howled.