“Your Highness, there are guests who have come to visit you.”
"Who is it?"
“Well, um. He is the second son of the Marquis of Esil and the Duke of Milken.”
"I get it."
Franz left the horse to Nadine and went straight into Astel Palace. Bartholomew and Rogero did not follow. It was thought that Rogero would have brought up only boring topics anyway, and since Bartholomew was nominally Judith's bodyguard, she had to return to the Argentine Palace.
“By the way, now that I think about it, you are Her Highness Judith's bodyguard, right? Is it okay to come out and walk around like this?”
“Permission has been received. And, besides me, there is another escort knight next to her.”
“Did you? I didn't know. Who?"
Bartholomew suddenly laughed, sounding like the wind had been knocked out of him. Rogero seemed to have become even more interested in that reaction, and he started urging him on, going as far as circling around Bartholomew
"Huh? Who are he? A person as strong as you, right? Now that I'm here at Rotair, I want to compete with anyone with decent skills. Tell me what kind of person je are.”
“Her skills are good, but… If you say you want to spar with her, I will stop you.”
"Why? Why are you stopping me?”
Bartholomew cleared his throat and glanced down at Rogero. Rogero had such an innocent expression that he really didn't know what was going on, so it was difficult for him to recall the terrifying sight he had seen just moments ago. Bartholomew said.
“Well, no one would want to send the girl they like into a place that could be dangerous.”
Rogero's eyes blinked a couple of times. Then he twitched his lips and nudged Bartholomew's side with his elbow.
“Oh, somehow. With this tall appearance, I thought it was strange that you weren't even engaged yet. There was a separate plan.”
“Please keep it a secret. If I catch you talking like this outside, I might lose my head.”
“Do noble ladies learn sword skills in Rotair?”
“No, not at all. That young lady is just unique.”
“You mean that red-haired girl? I saw her hanging next to Her Highness in the banquet hall the whole time. I thought she was just a maid.”
“A maid is a maid. She’s a maid who carries a sword around her waist.”
After saying that, Bartholomew suddenly seemed embarrassed and laughed, pretending to clear his throat. Rogero arched his back and giggled, then exaggeratedly placed his finger over his lips.
“Okay, I’ll keep my mouth shut to save your neck.”
“Your Highness the Prince.”
At that time, he heard laughter from afar. He turned around and saw Judith and Cheraan walking. Rogero, who saw Bartholomew's ears turn red, stamped his feet as if he was dying of laughter.
“But tell me this. Is it unrequited love? Or does the young lady know?”
Bartholomew's eyes, drooping gently, blinked. Then, this time, he spread his cheeks and rubbed his head.
"That... Well... I do not know."
“What if she doesn’t know? Then, what if some guy steals that girl away? Quickly go and get her. Hurry."
“Well, that won’t happen, right?”
“Uh-huh, I don’t know what happens between a man and a woman. For me, Franz alone is enough for the stuffy piece of wood. So tell me some good news. It would be better if it were before I return to the Empire.”
Got it?
Rogero narrowed his eyes. The tone was kind and friendly as if he was pampering an older sibling. Bartholomew once again felt suspicious about Rogero. How can someone change so quickly?
Of course, it doesn't seem like the mischievous appearance is fake...
“Bartholomew.”
Judith recognized Bartholomew first and was friendly. Then she immediately turned her gaze towards Rogero and slightly bent her knees.
“Your Highness the Prince.”
“Your Highness. Are you going for a walk?”
Rogero greeted. Judith looked back toward Cheraan for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
“I’m on my way back from a short trip to the square. There is a bookstore that carries a lot of interesting books from foreign countries. Cheraan recommended it.”
“Does His Highness the Prince like storybooks too?”
Cheraan asked with curiosity in her voice. She also had a huge crush on this cheerful Prince. First of all, he was given high marks for being Franz's friend, and his attitude toward Judith was also cheerful and polite.
Rogero didn't really like books, but he had a natural foundation, and while hanging out with Franz at the Academy, he unintentionally read a lot. When he was young, his nanny and aunt, who took care of him, loved books, so he often listened to old legends and tales.
“It’s a bit harsh to say that reading is a hobby, but I like stories that are interesting.”
“Then, Your Highness the Prince, please come and tell us an interesting story. Her Highness the Princess and I were just reading a really darkly funny book.”
Cheraan shook Judith's shoulder lightly. She must have been so happy about stopping by the bookstore that she was more excited than usual. Judith knew it too. She said, looking at Rogero.
“Would you like to have some tea together? The chef decided to bake a plum pie for today's snack. If you like it, let's eat it together.”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t like plum pie? Thank you for the invitation.”
Rogero, who smiled brightly, followed Judith. Not long after they entered the Argent Palace, someone's presence was heard on the garden path leading to the central Magnus Palace.
“Your Highness, are you really going?”
The first person to appear beyond the tall garden trees was Flavia's maid, Anne Mille. She used to be quite a cute girl with her freckles barely visible on her cheekbones, but now she just looked anxious.
Before she could finish speaking, Flavia appeared. Her appearance was very different from her usual appearance, with her hair braided into a round shape, as golden as cloudy wheat fields. The same goes for the diamond necklace around her neck and the bright sky-blue dress she rarely wears.
Anne Mille held a round plate in her hand. Delicious baked cookies were visible under the glass cloche.
“Your Highness.”
"Be quiet! Why are you doing this if anyone hears it?”
Flavia's voice was extremely thin as if she was scared, but Anne Mille kept her mouth shut.
“Bartholomew.”
Judith recognized Bartholomew first and was friendly. Then she immediately turned her gaze towards Rogero and slightly bent her knees.
“Your Highness the Prince.”
“Your Highness. Are you going for a walk?”
Rogero greeted. Judith looked back toward Cheraan for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
“I’m on my way back from a short trip to the square. There is a bookstore that carries a lot of interesting books from foreign countries. Cheraan recommended it.”
“Does His Highness the Prince like storybooks too?”
Cheraan asked with curiosity in her voice. She also had a huge crush on this cheerful Prince. First of all, he was given high marks for being Franz's friend, and his attitude toward Judith was also cheerful and polite.
Rogero didn't really like books, but he had a natural foundation, and while hanging out with Franz at the Academy, he unintentionally read a lot. When he was young, his nanny and aunt, who took care of him, loved books, so he often listened to old legends and tales.
“It’s a bit harsh to say that reading is a hobby, but I like stories that are interesting.”
“Then, Your Highness the Prince, please come and tell us an interesting story. Her Highness the Princess and I were just reading a really darkly funny book.”
Cheraan shook Judith's shoulder lightly. She must have been so happy about stopping by the bookstore that she was more excited than usual. Judith knew it too. She said, looking at Rogero.
“Would you like to have some tea together? The chef decided to bake a plum pie for today's snack. If you like it, let's eat it together.”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t like plum pie? Thank you for the invitation.”
Rogero, who smiled brightly, followed Judith. Not long after they entered the Argent Palace, someone's presence was heard on the garden path leading to the central Magnus Palace.
“Your Highness, are you really going?”
The first person to appear beyond the tall garden trees was Flavia's maid, Anne Mille. She used to be quite a cute girl with her freckles barely visible on her cheekbones, but now she just looked anxious.
Before she could finish speaking, Flavia appeared. Her appearance was very different from her usual appearance, with her hair braided into a round shape, as golden as cloudy wheat fields. The same goes for the diamond necklace around her neck and the bright sky-blue dress she rarely wears.
Anne Mille held a round plate in her hand. Delicious baked cookies were visible under the glass cloche.
“Your Highness.”
"Be quiet! Why are you doing this if anyone hears it?”
Flavia's voice was extremely thin as if she was scared, but Anne Mille kept her mouth shut.
Why did she do this?
If anyone heard, they would have thought that Flavia and Anne Mille were stealing.
“Why on earth are you suddenly saying that you are bringing cookies to His Highness Franz? I really don't understand...”
“I told you to be quiet!”
Flavia's voice rose nervously.
A sickly blush appeared on her face, which had always been as bloodless as plaster. It was partly because she was nervous and because Flavia herself knew that it was a shameless act, but Anne Mille could not know the true intentions. Flavia took a deep breath to calm her heaving chest as she walked with Anne Mille in front of her.
"Just… Didn’t you just say you baked a lot of cookies today? I wanted to share something with him... What’s the problem?”
“Why on earth are you suddenly saying that you are bringing cookies to His Highness Franz? I really don't understand...”
“I told you to be quiet!”
Flavia's voice rose nervously.
A sickly blush appeared on her face, which had always been as bloodless as plaster. It was partly because she was nervous and because Flavia herself knew that it was a shameless act, but Anne Mille could not know the true intentions. Flavia took a deep breath to calm her heaving chest as she walked with Anne Mille in front of her.
"Just… Didn’t you just say you baked a lot of cookies today? I wanted to share something with him... What’s the problem?”
“I’m not saying it’s a problem...”
If you're going to do as you said, wouldn't it be better to give it to your husband, Krald?
If not, then at least to Queen Gilsis. Flavia had never personally baked cookies for either Krald or the Queen, but in any case, when it came to disposing of the remaining cookies, they took priority. It was strange that Franz would be the first.
“Are you saying this after talking to His Highness Franz?”
As Anne Millle asked, Flavia's face turned even redder.
“No... There was no time to talk... Because you are with other people.”
“Then wouldn’t Your Highness be embarrassed?”
"Now... I'm going to have to keep seeing him from now on, so what's wrong with saying hello? is not it? As for Prince Krauld, he is his younger brother... Since I am the wife of Prince Krald, I should greet him... I have to give it to him.”
Flavia stuttered to explain, but Anne Mille's expression was still frozen as if she had seen something strange.
If she had always enjoyed meeting other people and shown herself to be sociable, it would have been understandable. But, far from being sociable, Flavia often turned away guests who came to her, saying she was sick. If a stranger spoke to her at a formal banquet or fancy party, she had a hard time responding properly.
“I’m just going to give him cookies.”
It sounded like something she was saying to Anne Mille, but it was actually something Flavia was saying as a promise to herself.
After seeing Franz, Flavia couldn't sleep at night for the first time in her life because of excitement. There had been many nights where she had spent many nights sobbing silently, unable to control her depressed mood, but this was literally the first time she had experienced being unable to sleep because her heart was pounding.
Things like the image of him getting off the carriage and bowing to the King, or the image she saw at the banquet hall, were constantly floating through her mind. Every time she recalled things such as a gentle smile, a thoughtful expression, or the occasional worried look in his eyes, she would automatically sigh and her cheeks would heat up.
“Are you saying this after talking to His Highness Franz?”
As Anne Millle asked, Flavia's face turned even redder.
“No... There was no time to talk... Because you are with other people.”
“Then wouldn’t Your Highness be embarrassed?”
"Now... I'm going to have to keep seeing him from now on, so what's wrong with saying hello? is not it? As for Prince Krauld, he is his younger brother... Since I am the wife of Prince Krald, I should greet him... I have to give it to him.”
Flavia stuttered to explain, but Anne Mille's expression was still frozen as if she had seen something strange.
If she had always enjoyed meeting other people and shown herself to be sociable, it would have been understandable. But, far from being sociable, Flavia often turned away guests who came to her, saying she was sick. If a stranger spoke to her at a formal banquet or fancy party, she had a hard time responding properly.
“I’m just going to give him cookies.”
It sounded like something she was saying to Anne Mille, but it was actually something Flavia was saying as a promise to herself.
After seeing Franz, Flavia couldn't sleep at night for the first time in her life because of excitement. There had been many nights where she had spent many nights sobbing silently, unable to control her depressed mood, but this was literally the first time she had experienced being unable to sleep because her heart was pounding.
Things like the image of him getting off the carriage and bowing to the King, or the image she saw at the banquet hall, were constantly floating through her mind. Every time she recalled things such as a gentle smile, a thoughtful expression, or the occasional worried look in his eyes, she would automatically sigh and her cheeks would heat up.
At the banquet, Flavia was staring at Franz without even thinking about what other people were thinking. As his glass touched and fell, the light from the chandelier fell on his slightly moist lips, and his sparkling appearance was so fantastic that she wanted to go up and kiss him.
However, Franz could not be seen at all near the Serene Palace. This is because Astel Palace, where he was located, was in a location directly opposite Serene Palace.
Flavia, who couldn't sleep for days on end, devoted herself to baking cookies, which she had languished for several years after marrying Krolled.
Before I got married, I often remembered baking cookies with my mother and became depressed, but as I thought about Franz, I soon forgot about it. So, after finishing her cookies, she mustered up more courage than she could have imagined and came all the way to her Astel Palace.
“This is Astel Palace, Your Highness.”
At Anne Mille's words, Flavia pursed her lips with a stiff expression. The entrance was clean and quiet. If the nearby Argent Palace was like a bright garden, Astel Palace was like a cold, calm lake.
Flavia's cute but she picked a married man.
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