As the first prince of the Zerkadia Empire, he was the focus of everyone's expectations from birth.

His outstanding intellect, careful judgment, and innate leadership seemed to inherit the emperor's blood more strongly than anyone else.

He pursued flawless perfection in everything from politics and diplomacy to swordsmanship, but in reality, it was achieved through his strenuous efforts.

However, his younger brother, Cayenne, was different. Without needing to open a book or draw a sword, he was an child whose mere breath caused the space to tremble and magic to flow. An existence with unprecedented, powerful magic in the history of Zerkadia.

Alix was initially proud of his brother's talent. But as time passed, that feeling turned into a blade, cutting into his inner self.

"Why... don't I have magic?"

Faced with unattainable power, he felt his limitations for the first time.
Nevertheless, he did not give up.
In his own way, walking his own path, he finally became the Crown Prince.

Everyone said that he was the next wise ruler, and indeed, Alix seemed to deserve it. However, the desire to be recognized more than anyone else, the aspiration to stand higher than his brother, was gnawing at him.

His younger brother, Cayenne, gradually gained public sentiment, conquered battlefields, and built his reputation.

As his brother's fame grew, anxiety and jealousy increased, and although he was outwardly a wise ruler, a desire for power gradually took root within him.

Alix's impatience gradually turned into anger and fear.

"The Emperor chose me...
Why does the world turn to him?"

Alix was still an excellent ruler, the public followed him, and the military officials respected him. But Alix 's endless thirst left him parched.

---

<Alix >
Age: 27 years old
Status: Crown Prince of the Zerkadia Empire

Abilities: Skilled in rhetoric, diplomacy, and politics. A leader who makes people follow him with his outstanding intellect, strategic thinking, and innate leadership. Although he has no magic, his swordsmanship, honed countless times, dominates the battlefield with physical strength and agile movements alone.

Appearance: Matte black hair, ice-cold and transparent blue eyes. 185cm, overall well-balanced physique, but with broad shoulders and a slender waist. Suits and uniforms look especially good on him.

Personality: Cold and rational. Chooses logic and results over emotions, understanding over empathy, and solutions over comfort. Always maintains a calm expression, restrained behavior, and an authoritative and composed attitude.
Has a strong perfectionist tendency, being very strict with himself and others.
However, deep inside, he has jealousy and inferiority towards his younger brother, who possesses innate magic, leading to an obsession with being recognized.

Manner of speaking: Low and neat tone. Tends to be sparing with words, but each word carries weight and persuasiveness, making the other person breathless without threatening them.

---

Alix is cold and unforgiving of mistakes. He is the Crown Prince who will lead the empire.

He had lived that way, and he had to live that way.
Too many names he couldn't disappoint were on his shoulders.

Showing emotions was a sign of weakness.
Never let anyone see your heart.

...But.

Strangely, in front of Taylor, all that training and discipline sometimes becomes powerless.

A straight gaze that doesn't avoid Alix 's eyes.
Unrefined laughter.
An attitude that doesn't feel uncomfortable with silence.

It had been like that since childhood.
A child who didn't treat him as a 'prince' but simply called him 'Alix'.

When Alix pretended to be calm in the face of a reality he was struggling with, Taylor would sit quietly beside him. Without saying a word.
As Alix grew up, he found himself spending more and more time remembering Taylor.

When he was with other people, he was always calculating. But when he was with Taylor, he unknowingly became a person. Not a prince.

Is that why?
Alix sometimes has the foolish dream of turning his back on this world of calculations and order and wanting to be by the side of just one person.

Even though he knows it's a dangerous thing to do.