The academy dormitory for the Monster Extermination Unit was a squat stone building on the eastern edge of the grounds—far from the polished towers of the Aura divisions, close enough to the kitchens to smell roasting meat on the wind.
Kael's room was small, plain, and at the end of a quiet corridor.
He had lived there alone for months, fed by silent servants who left platters outside the door and vanished before he opened it.
That changed the day Mira arrived.
She came with official papers from the palace—transferred from her old nursemaid duties to "personal attendant" for the fourth prince during his academy years.
No one questioned it openly.
Everyone knew why.
After the incident with Cassian, the palace wanted someone Kael trusted near him.
Someone who could calm the beast when hunger rose.
Mira was twenty-two now—soft-spoken, gentle-eyed, the same woman who had lasted longest in the eastern wing nursery years ago.
She carried her old habits with her: pockets full of dried meat strips, a calm voice, and endless patience.
Kael turned thirteen the next day.
A quiet milestone—no celebration planned, no royal visit.
Just another year stronger, hungrier.
Mira knocked softly that morning, tray in hand: eggs, bread, and a small mountain of sliced Maki beef—rich, marbled cuts imported specially after the geography lecture.
She had heard about the mirror incident.
Everyone had.
Kael opened the door slowly.
Saw her.
His gray eyes widened—just slightly.
The only person who had ever brought food without fear.
The only one he followed with his gaze as a child.
Mira smiled, small and familiar.
"Good morning, Your Highness. Happy birthday."
Kael stared.
Then stepped aside to let her in.
She set the tray on the small table, arranged the plates with care.
The smell of Maki beef—smoky, spiced, tender—filled the room.
Kael sat.
Picked up a slice.
Ate.
Mira watched him for a moment, then pulled a chair opposite.
She had waited years for this assignment.
Not out of duty.
Out of something quieter.
Affection, perhaps.
Or the simple wish to see the boy she had once soothed grow into whatever he was becoming.
Kael ate steadily.
Half the platter gone.
Then he paused.
Looked at her.
Really looked.
His mouth opened.
Closed.
Opened again.
Words—rare, precious—fought their way out.
Stammering.
Rough from disuse.
"H-hello… Mis… Mira…"
Mira froze, fork halfway to her own small portion.
Kael's cheeks reddened slightly—the first hint of embarrassment anyone had ever seen on him.
He tried again, eyes dropping to the meat.
"I… I'm hungry. I… want… Maki's… meat."
The sentence was broken, halting, each word pulled like a stone from deep water.
But it was a sentence.
Full.
Directed at her.
Mira's eyes filled.
She quickly blinked it away, smiling wide.
"Yes, Your Highness. All of it is Maki's best. Eat as much as you like."
She pushed the platter closer.
Kael stared at her for another long moment.
Then nodded once.
And ate.
Faster now.
Happier.
Mira sat with him in silence, refilling his plate when it emptied, until every slice was gone.
Outside, the academy woke to drills and lectures.
Inside the small room, something shifted.
Kael had spoken.
Not just "meat."
A greeting.
A want.
To someone he remembered.
Later that afternoon, Jade barged in without knocking—usual habit.
Saw Mira.
Raised an eyebrow.
"Who's the soft one?"
Mira bowed politely.
"I'm Mira. Assigned to care for His Highness."
Jade grinned.
"Good. He needs a feeder. I'm Jade. We hunt together."
She slapped Kael's shoulder.
"Tell her, prince. Say something smart."
Kael looked at Mira.
Then at Jade.
Then back at Mira.
Quietly.
"Hello… Mis Mira."
Jade's jaw dropped.
"He talked! Twice! In one day!"
Mira laughed softly.
Jade whooped and dragged Kael out for "birthday monster practice."
But from that day on, Mira was there.
Bringing food.
Sitting quietly.
Listening when—rarely—Kael tried more words.
Always starting with her name.
Always ending with meat.
In the palace, word reached King Aurelion indirectly.
The null prince had spoken a full sentence.
To a servant girl.
About Maki beef.
The king dismissed it as trivial.
But Princess Elira smiled when she heard.
And far below the temple, Thalion received the note from his observer.
The subject forms deeper attachments. Speech emerging. Trigger: familiar caretaker and foreign meat.
Thalion closed the ledger.
"Soon," he murmured to the circle. "The key turns itself."
Above, in the dormitory corridor, Mira walked with an extra tray that evening.
Kael waited at the door.
Not staring past her.
At her.
"Hello… Mis Mira."
She smiled.
"Hello, Kael."
And for the first time, the Meat Prince answered with something like warmth in his eyes.
"I'm… hungry."