"We're friends, right?" Ron asked softly. "At least, that's what I think."
Andre raised his head, a complicated emotion flashing through his eyes. "Of course. I think so too."
"Then if something is troubling you, you might as well say it." Ron's tone was calm and sincere.
"I can't promise I'll be able to help, but at least I can listen. Sometimes, saying terrible things out loud can make you feel much better."
Andre sighed again. He set down his teacup and clasped his hands together, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"I don't know where to begin..." he finally said, his voice carrying a rare vulnerability. "This matter... is too complicated."
Ron waited patiently without urging him on. He knew that at times like this, the best comfort was to give the other person enough time.
"Do you remember when we were chatting last month? You mentioned Trish, and my reaction was a little unusual?" Andre finally spoke again.
Ron nodded. "I did notice, but it wasn't convenient to ask at the time."
It had not happened just once or twice. Whenever that girl who had risen from Daughter of the Hunter to Intermediate Apprentice was mentioned, Andre's emotions would always fluctuate.
"As for Trish, I saw her once at the Herb Shop more than half a month ago." He continued calmly, maintaining an appropriate sense of distance. "She looked very busy."
"Yes. As Lady Corinna's disciple, her status is quite high now."
An indescribable emotion colored Andre's voice, and his lips pressed into a straight line.
"Do you remember when we first gathered in Black Mist Forest? Back then, she was still very..."
His voice grew quieter and quieter, and a hint of nostalgia and bitterness flashed through his eyes.
Ron did not respond. He merely listened in silence.
He had a feeling that Andre might be about to reveal feelings he had hidden for a long time.
"I once..." Andre hesitated, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the button on his collar.
"I once wanted to get close to her. I wanted to pursue her. I had only just arrived in Black Mist Forest then, and I still had some foolish ideas from the kingdom."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "You pursued Trish? Seriously?"
"Don't look at me like that." Andre rolled his eyes. "I'm still the Thirteenth Prince of the Royal Family. Back in the Royal Capital, you know how many noble ladies cast longing glances at me."
"And then? You got rejected?" Ron asked bluntly.
"Of course I got rejected." Andre gave a self-mocking laugh.
"Her wording was quite direct—'I came here to change my fate, not to relive my miserable past. A pampered Royal Family noble like you should stay away from me.'"
"Tsk, tsk. That was quite a blow." Ron could not help laughing. "So you were heartbroken and finally saw reality for what it was?"
Andre punched Ron hard in the chest, knowing full well that his attack was nothing more than a tickle to him.
"Have you laughed enough? Yes, that was when I truly understood this world's rules—no matter where you are, the weak can only look up at the strong. Here, nobody cares which prince of the Royal Family you are. They only care how strong you are."
"But that was only a small part of the problem..." he continued, his voice growing lower and lower.
"In truth, those people who sent me to Black Mist Forest never expected me to become a qualified Wizard Apprentice."
Ron raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue.
"The Royal Family had long given up hope regarding my spiritual aptitude."
Andre revealed a bitter smile. "They sent me here because their true purpose was to use the abundant extraordinary resources here to cultivate my aptitude as a Knight."
"Knight aptitude?" Ron was somewhat surprised.
"Yes. My talent in Knight training is far better than my spiritual aptitude."
Andre explained, "The Royal Family's plan was for me to become the guard Knight of one of their key investment targets, while also breaking through to become a Formal Knight here."
His voice suddenly became exceptionally pained. "And that so-called 'key investment target' was Trish, the person I initially wanted to approach."
Ron finally understood part of this complicated relationship, but he felt there seemed to be a deeper reason behind Andre's pain.
"Trish rejecting you made you feel humiliated. I can understand that," Ron said softly. "But that does not seem enough to explain your current state."
"Because things got even worse!" Andre practically shouted.
"My plan to please Trish failed, so now they're demanding that I serve another female apprentice—Cynthia."
The name made Ron frown slightly. "Sorry, but I don't think I've ever heard you mention this person."
"She arrived in Black Mist Forest ten years ago." The blond youth's expression became like parched farmland that had not seen rain for months.
"She is already a High-level Apprentice now, though she only advanced recently."
His fingers clenched tightly, nearly digging into his flesh. "Cynthia... has an extremely bad reputation. Whenever she is not training, she toys with her slaves, especially handsome young men."
The blond youth's face twisted in agony. He pressed his fingers together and made a rotating drilling gesture.
"That madwoman likes some very... special methods. For example, using Thornball Grass to drill into men's sensitive parts... It is said she 'uses up' one slave a year on average."
Ron clicked his tongue in shock. He vaguely felt phantom pain from below and began to understand the source of Andre's suffering.
The Royal Family was actually demanding that he serve someone like that. It was practically the same as sending him away as a male favorite, and of the most degrading kind.
"Does the Royal Family know about this?" Ron asked cautiously.
"Of course they know." Anger and despair flashed through Andre's eyes.
"But they don't care. In their eyes, what did one unfavored Thirteenth Prince amount to if he could secure the support of a High-level Apprentice?"
His voice nearly choked. "Ron, I don't know what to do. I always hoped I could escape this fate through my own efforts, but..."
"But your progress hasn't been fast enough," Ron finished for him. "And my breakthrough gave you a glimmer of hope."
Andre nodded, a complicated light flickering in his eyes.
"I originally hoped to form a stronger alliance with you, but even if you became a Primary Apprentice, your influence and strength would still be nowhere near enough to contend with a High-level Apprentice."
"So you've been hesitating over whether to tell me all this."
Ron suddenly understood. "Because you weren't sure whether I could help, nor whether I'd be willing to risk offending a High-level Apprentice for this."
Andre nodded weakly. "I know it's selfish, but I truly don't know what to do anymore."
Before you continue