Lord of Entertainment C4 Just a short trip

Apollonia stopped in her tracks as she heard me trying to explain. Her eyes, filled with worry, locked onto mine as she caressed my cheek gently.

"I am really worried about you, sixth brother," she said, her voice soft but urgent. "You're always so quiet, not interacting with anyone, only wanting to shut yourself from the world. I know you've always been... well, not the brightest. But I can't let you go and plan to end your life!"

I stared at her, speechless. "End my life? What?"

She shook her head, apparently taking my confusion as confirmation of her fears. Without another word, she grabbed my hand and continued pulling me towards the infirmary.

As we walked, the reality of the situation sank in. No matter what I said, my younger sister had completely misunderstood my intentions. The irony was almost painful - here I was, finally taking charge of my life, and she thought I was trying to end it.

We approached our destination, and I realized with a start that this wasn't the demon infirmary I'd expected. Instead, we were standing in front of a pet infirmary.

"Apollonia, this is a pet-" I began, but she cut me off.

"Brother Arthur, it's just the same," she explained patiently, as if talking to a child. "This is the nearest infirmary."

Before I could protest further, she pulled me inside. The interior was a strange mix of a veterinary clinic and a demonic lair. Cages lined the walls, filled with a variety of otherworldly creatures. In the center of the room stood a demon woman, her appearance as wild as the reptile she was stroking.

"Eli," Apollonia called out, "can you please check my brother?"

Eli's eyes flicked between Apollonia and me, finally settling on my sister. "What's the problem?" she asked, her voice rough and curious.

As I stood there, caught between my sister's misplaced concern and this eccentric pet doctor, I couldn't help but wonder how I was going to explain my way out of this one.

Apollonia jumped in before I could speak, her words tumbling out in a rush of concern. "Brother looked healthy, but he must be consuming a deceptive potion to look fine, when it's actually harmful!"

Eli nodded thoughtfully, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Hmm... Your pet is really disobedient, huh, Apollonia?"

"What?" Apollonia's face flushed a deep crimson. "My- my brother, not pet."

Eli chuckled, clearly enjoying the situation. "Okay, okay. So you think your pe- I mean, your brother wants to make himself sick?"

Apollonia nodded vigorously, her concern evident in every movement. "I think he also plans to end his life!"

I stood there, utterly speechless. End my life? Was she serious? I turned to look at my sister, really look at her, and saw her eyes were brimming with tears.

She was serious. Deadly serious.

Eli looked at me curiously and said, "Well, let me see..." She reached for a medical instrument, but I quickly pulled away from my sister's grip.

Under their combined gaze, I tried to explain myself. "Guys, I am not consuming anything harmful! I am completely fine!"

Apollonia looked at me indignantly. "Then why do you look healthy? You usually look tired and lacking sleep!"

I was momentarily speechless. I knew my sisters brain was wired differently, but Apollonia was truly in a class of her own.

The idea that looking healthy was a sign of something wrong... it was so absurd, I almost laughed.

With a sigh, I tried again. "Listen. The reason I look healthy is because I've been doing these sets of exercises."

"Sets of exercise?" Apollonia frowned, clearly unfamiliar with the concept.

To my surprise, Eli butted in. "My lady, it is a form of making one's physical looks and health better. It is a practice invented by the humans."

Apollonia nodded thoughtfully, processing this new information. She turned back to me, her eyes narrowing slightly. "So, you learned that thing from those human films?"

I nodded, seizing the opportunity. There was no other way to explain it, and if exercise was indeed seen as a thing from the human world, then this was the perfect cover.

"Yes," I confirmed, trying to sound casual. "I've been watching those films and thought I'd give it a try. Turns out, it actually works."

Apollonia's frown deepened, but this time it seemed more contemplative than worried. "I see," she said slowly. "And this... exercise... it's not harmful?"

"Not at all," Eli chimed in again, surprising me with her support. "In fact, it can be quite beneficial for demons too. Strengthens the body, which in turn can enhance magical abilities."

I shot Eli a grateful look. Her unexpected assistance was turning this potential disaster into a plausible explanation.

Seizing the moment, I continued my explanation. "Yes, and the reason I plan to go out of the palace was to have a vacation. Not to end my life." I added, trying to sound casual, "I wanted to take the opportunity, since it's summer vacation..."

Apollonia looked at me, her brow furrowing again. "It's dangerous outside," she said, her voice tinged with worry.

I chuckled wryly, attempting to project confidence I didn't entirely feel. "I'm your big brother, so have confidence in me."

Apollonia still looked hesitant, her eyes searching my face. After a moment, she said, "Then if nothing's wrong, it's okay to have Eli check you out, right?"

I looked at Apollonia, weighing my options. I knew she wouldn't let this go until she was completely satisfied. With an internal sigh, I nodded. "Alright, if it will put your mind at ease."

As Eli stepped forward, her unusual medical instruments at the ready, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness.

As Eli began her examination, I tried to keep my expression neutral. Apollonia watched intently, her eyes flicking between me and the eccentric veterinarian.

"Well," Eli muttered, more to herself than to us, "let's see what we have here..."

But as Eli continued her examination, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated. In a world of demons and magic, who knew what a simple check-up might reveal?

Eli's examination took an unexpected and highly inappropriate turn when she suddenly reached for a part of my anatomy that should have been off-limits. I quickly pulled away, my face burning with embarrassment and indignation.

Even Apollonia was taken aback. "What was that, Eli? What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, her voice a mix of shock and anger.

Eli just giggled, seemingly unperturbed by our reactions. "I'm just teasing... Hehehe..." she said, her eyes glinting mischievously.

She added a comment about my physique that made me want to sink into the floor. "He is very healthy and... big..."

Apollonia, her face flushed, quickly steered the conversation back on track. "So what do you think of my brother's health?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure.

Eli shrugged, her demeanor suddenly professional again. "He's fine. He can go wherever the hell he wants."

At those words, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, momentarily overriding my discomfort from Eli's inappropriate behavior. I smiled, seizing the opportunity to reassure my sister.

"Don't worry, little sis," I said, my voice calm and confident. "I only want to go to Ashen Plains and Crimson Peaks." It was a lie, of course, but a necessary one.

Apollonia still looked concerned. "You want bodyguards? I'll get you some."

I quickly shook my head, knowing that bodyguards would make my real plans impossible. "It's fine. Besides, who would dare touch a young prince like me?" I said, trying to project confidence I didn't feel.

But in my mind, I knew the truth. There was no way I could go out as a young prince. I was all too aware that demons were vicious and only respected power. As a prince without significant magical abilities, I would be in serious trouble if my true identity were known.

That's why my disguise skill was so valuable. It wasn't just about hiding my identity; it was about survival in a world that would show no mercy to a weak demon prince.

As Apollonia seemed to consider my words, I felt a mix of guilt and determination. I hated lying to her, but I couldn't let her concern derail my plans. The path ahead was dangerous, but it was a risk I had to take.

"I'll be careful, I promise," I added, hoping to ease her worries. "This is just a short trip, nothing more."