Philia and Rubia, who had witnessed David’s trickery, exchanged glances. Their eyes were cold and settled with a different meaning than before.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
And the next moment. Philia smiled with a charming voice. At that call, David stopped and turned his head. Philia stood up, smiled faintly, and saluted.
“Philia Seicrine sends greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“This is Rubia Glever.”
Rubia also greeted him with a gentle smile. Jeffrey and Auston were silently shocked by their changed attitudes, which made them seem like they were different people. Regardless, Philia and Rubia sat down again and approached David, starting to talk. Philia spoke quickly with a bright smile on her face.
“Before you went on your expedition, I was too young to come to the capital, so I think this is the first time I’ve met you formally.”
David had been away from the palace for the past few years on a campaign in the south, so this was his first time meeting Philia, who had begun attending the King's birthday party with her parents about two years ago.
‘...Something feels familiar.’
David narrowed his eyes and glanced at Philia and Rubia, who were always smiling beside him. Their attitudes were just like... noble ladies who were approaching him intending to become Crown Princess. In fact, Philia and Rubia had intended for it to look that way.
'Did he get fooled?'
'I feel like he's been tricked.'
The two exchanged glances, avoiding David's eyes. As soon as Philia and Rubia realized that David was flirting with Sylvia, they felt their already bad impressions of the Crown Prince sink to the floor. Since both of them were quick-witted in this regard, they exchanged opinions with their eyes immediately after assessing the situation.
'Let's kick him out.'
Even Randall was sometimes dissatisfied, but he could not dare let the Crown Prince get involved with a married woman, Sylvia!
When he heard her question, Auston stopped passing the tea and coughed. When people's eyes were focused on him, he quickly waved his hand saying it was nothing, but he continued coughing for a long time after that. David asked back with a wry look on his face.
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Isn’t it okay to be curious?”
Instead, Rubia opened her eyes wide and asked provocatively. David, who let out an absurd laugh, frowned and became lost in thought.
“My ideal type... my ideal type...”
It was at this moment that Rubia smiled inwardly at the thought that David's attention had been turned this way.
“By the way, what is the Duchess’ ideal type?”
David suddenly turned his head and asked Sylvia. Sylvia's cold face glared at him with a hint of contempt.
“Why does Your Highness wonder about such things?”
“I’m going to try to match it from now on.”
But David did not give in and smiled brightly. Sylvia was secretly impressed by his ability to turn whatever people said into an excuse to talk to her. However, apart from the admiration, she was not happy because she knew why David was interested in her.
'Ideal type...'
To silence David, Sylvia decided to list traits of men that could not possibly exist in the world.
'Handsome, good body, moderately dark skin, slightly curly hair, cute, lovely, but also naughty...'
...When she looks at it, it’s Randall?
'Who would have thought that I would end up marrying a man like this, even though I was determined to die?'
Sylvia, who was trying to shake off her thoughts and list everything that came to her mind, suddenly felt annoyed. Besides, if she went into detail about her ideal type, David might change his skin color and hair to match it.
Randall shook his head and shook off his baseless speculations as he made ominous assumptions. No matter how much he harbored ill feelings toward David and how bad David’s personality was, what could the Crown Prince of a country gain by colluding with the public dark bugs of humanity?
Sylvia calmly explained to Randall the whole story of what happened that day. When she told him that David had asked her about her ideal type, Randall put one hand on his forehead.
“You don’t have to tell me.”
"...Yes?"
“By the way, it’s late at night, and I wonder if it’s because of me that Madqm can’t sleep... I’m fine, so you can go and rest now.”
“Ah, that... I understand. You must have had a hard time too. Get some rest.”
Sylvia was unusually flustered by the obvious order to evict guests. It was even more so because the person who issued the order was Randall.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
And the next moment. Philia smiled with a charming voice. At that call, David stopped and turned his head. Philia stood up, smiled faintly, and saluted.
“Philia Seicrine sends greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“This is Rubia Glever.”
Rubia also greeted him with a gentle smile. Jeffrey and Auston were silently shocked by their changed attitudes, which made them seem like they were different people. Regardless, Philia and Rubia sat down again and approached David, starting to talk. Philia spoke quickly with a bright smile on her face.
“Before you went on your expedition, I was too young to come to the capital, so I think this is the first time I’ve met you formally.”
David had been away from the palace for the past few years on a campaign in the south, so this was his first time meeting Philia, who had begun attending the King's birthday party with her parents about two years ago.
‘...Something feels familiar.’
David narrowed his eyes and glanced at Philia and Rubia, who were always smiling beside him. Their attitudes were just like... noble ladies who were approaching him intending to become Crown Princess. In fact, Philia and Rubia had intended for it to look that way.
'Did he get fooled?'
'I feel like he's been tricked.'
The two exchanged glances, avoiding David's eyes. As soon as Philia and Rubia realized that David was flirting with Sylvia, they felt their already bad impressions of the Crown Prince sink to the floor. Since both of them were quick-witted in this regard, they exchanged opinions with their eyes immediately after assessing the situation.
'Let's kick him out.'
Even Randall was sometimes dissatisfied, but he could not dare let the Crown Prince get involved with a married woman, Sylvia!
The two people who had made that promise immediately put a friendly smile on their lips to drive the Crown Prince out without being noticed. It was an action that came from the idea that if they showed excessive interest in him like a noble lady who was aiming for the position of Crown Princess to rise in social status, David would get sick of it and leave. Perhaps it was thanks to the fact that they were so openly friendly.
Fortunately, David seemed to have noticed that Philia and Rubia had an ulterior motive. Rubia asked David while running one hand through her hair with great enthusiasm.
“By the way, Your Highness, what is your ideal type?”
“Cough.”
“By the way, Your Highness, what is your ideal type?”
“Cough.”
When he heard her question, Auston stopped passing the tea and coughed. When people's eyes were focused on him, he quickly waved his hand saying it was nothing, but he continued coughing for a long time after that. David asked back with a wry look on his face.
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Isn’t it okay to be curious?”
Instead, Rubia opened her eyes wide and asked provocatively. David, who let out an absurd laugh, frowned and became lost in thought.
“My ideal type... my ideal type...”
It was at this moment that Rubia smiled inwardly at the thought that David's attention had been turned this way.
“By the way, what is the Duchess’ ideal type?”
David suddenly turned his head and asked Sylvia. Sylvia's cold face glared at him with a hint of contempt.
“Why does Your Highness wonder about such things?”
“I’m going to try to match it from now on.”
But David did not give in and smiled brightly. Sylvia was secretly impressed by his ability to turn whatever people said into an excuse to talk to her. However, apart from the admiration, she was not happy because she knew why David was interested in her.
'Ideal type...'
To silence David, Sylvia decided to list traits of men that could not possibly exist in the world.
'Handsome, good body, moderately dark skin, slightly curly hair, cute, lovely, but also naughty...'
...When she looks at it, it’s Randall?
Sylvia realized anew that Randall was a perfect man who couldn’t possibly exist in reality, and her face turned pale.
'Who would have thought that I would end up marrying a man like this, even though I was determined to die?'
Sylvia, who was trying to shake off her thoughts and list everything that came to her mind, suddenly felt annoyed. Besides, if she went into detail about her ideal type, David might change his skin color and hair to match it.
Sylvia blurted out her answer, half thinking she shouldn’t give him any room to talk, and half not wanting to bother answering David in detail.
“Randall.”
“...”
“My husband is the epitome of my ideal type.”
Silence fell once more in the garden. Even Philia and Rubia, who had been acting to drive David away, looked at her with cold eyes for a moment. Madam, it is a matter of congratulation that you and your husband are on good terms, but please stop the swearing...
“Randall.”
“...”
“My husband is the epitome of my ideal type.”
Silence fell once more in the garden. Even Philia and Rubia, who had been acting to drive David away, looked at her with cold eyes for a moment. Madam, it is a matter of congratulation that you and your husband are on good terms, but please stop the swearing...
But David was an exception. Sylvia expected him to laugh again, but he looked strangely satisfied.
“...It seems like your husband is very precious to you.”
“...”
“I hope that the relationship between the two of you will never change.”
The sight and words made her feel uneasy, and Sylvia felt a chill even though she was sitting in the sunlight, so she swept her arms down without a second thought.
“...It seems like your husband is very precious to you.”
“...”
“I hope that the relationship between the two of you will never change.”
The sight and words made her feel uneasy, and Sylvia felt a chill even though she was sitting in the sunlight, so she swept her arms down without a second thought.
***
Randall returned to his room late in the evening on the day of the picnic. Sylvia waited for Randall to return and then went to his room.
“Randall.”
“Oh, Sylvia. You’re here.”
“What are the results of the investigation? Is there any progress?”
Sylvia looked at Randall's face with concern. Randall shook his head sheepishly, rubbing a hand over his face, which had become noticeably rough over the past few days.
“There aren’t many traces left. It’s as if someone deliberately erased them...”
As he continued speaking, he suddenly remembered David, whom he had run into on his way back to his room, and his words trailed off.
"Is the investigation going well?"
Although he is now in self-reflection, David did not join the investigation team because he was in self-reflection by royal command when the investigation team was formed. He found Randall, who had returned late at night, passing through the hallway and spoke to him with a smile.
"...Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Randall wanted to ignore him and pass him by because he was tired, but he suppressed that feeling and bowed his head. David looked at Randall, who was bowing his head to him, with satisfied eyes and patted his shoulder.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"It's something that should be done."
"It seems like there won't be any results anyway, but keep working hard."
David, who had left behind a whisper, passed Randall. Those vague words kept bothering him. The Crown Prince, who had been absent several times during the Southern conquest, had avoided people’s eyes. And the dark bugs, who had suddenly grown in power and become active after the Crown Prince’s return.
'No way...'
“Randall.”
“Oh, Sylvia. You’re here.”
“What are the results of the investigation? Is there any progress?”
Sylvia looked at Randall's face with concern. Randall shook his head sheepishly, rubbing a hand over his face, which had become noticeably rough over the past few days.
“There aren’t many traces left. It’s as if someone deliberately erased them...”
As he continued speaking, he suddenly remembered David, whom he had run into on his way back to his room, and his words trailed off.
"Is the investigation going well?"
Although he is now in self-reflection, David did not join the investigation team because he was in self-reflection by royal command when the investigation team was formed. He found Randall, who had returned late at night, passing through the hallway and spoke to him with a smile.
"...Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Randall wanted to ignore him and pass him by because he was tired, but he suppressed that feeling and bowed his head. David looked at Randall, who was bowing his head to him, with satisfied eyes and patted his shoulder.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"It's something that should be done."
"It seems like there won't be any results anyway, but keep working hard."
David, who had left behind a whisper, passed Randall. Those vague words kept bothering him. The Crown Prince, who had been absent several times during the Southern conquest, had avoided people’s eyes. And the dark bugs, who had suddenly grown in power and become active after the Crown Prince’s return.
'No way...'
Randall shook his head and shook off his baseless speculations as he made ominous assumptions. No matter how much he harbored ill feelings toward David and how bad David’s personality was, what could the Crown Prince of a country gain by colluding with the public dark bugs of humanity?
Randall tried to shake off his uneasy feeling, thinking it was a groundless delusion. He smiled softly at Sylvia.
“So, it seems like I’ll be as busy as you are now until the foundation of the country. What have you been doing, Madam?”
“That’s why I came here. I thought it would be better to hear it directly rather than through someone else’s mouth.”
“Huh? What is that...”
Randall tilted his head in puzzlement at Sylvia's words. Sylvia took a deep breath and got to the main point.
“I met His Highness the Crown Prince during the day.”
"...Yes?"
“That’s right, I was going to match up Lady Seikrin and Sir Cedars, but I stepped outside for a moment, and it just so happened that His Highness...”
“So, it seems like I’ll be as busy as you are now until the foundation of the country. What have you been doing, Madam?”
“That’s why I came here. I thought it would be better to hear it directly rather than through someone else’s mouth.”
“Huh? What is that...”
Randall tilted his head in puzzlement at Sylvia's words. Sylvia took a deep breath and got to the main point.
“I met His Highness the Crown Prince during the day.”
"...Yes?"
“That’s right, I was going to match up Lady Seikrin and Sir Cedars, but I stepped outside for a moment, and it just so happened that His Highness...”
Sylvia calmly explained to Randall the whole story of what happened that day. When she told him that David had asked her about her ideal type, Randall put one hand on his forehead.
In the past few days, David had been showing interest in Sylvia, but he had to leave her side and go out, which was slowly eating away at his composure. Hearing such a story in such a situation made him feel dizzy for a moment.
'Next time something like that happens, just run away. No, just get out of the room...'
He bit his lips to stop the words that were about to spill out of his mouth without his knowledge, thinking that even if he heard it, he would sound like he wasn't in his right mind.
‘...This isn’t usually crazy.’
Randall was aware that he was not in a 'normal' state right now. The fatigue accumulated from chasing the traces of the dark bugs, the stress from the inevitable encounter with the King and Crown Prince while staying in the palace. These things kept trying to peel off the mask of a 'good person' that Randall was barely maintaining.
'Next time something like that happens, just run away. No, just get out of the room...'
He bit his lips to stop the words that were about to spill out of his mouth without his knowledge, thinking that even if he heard it, he would sound like he wasn't in his right mind.
‘...This isn’t usually crazy.’
Randall was aware that he was not in a 'normal' state right now. The fatigue accumulated from chasing the traces of the dark bugs, the stress from the inevitable encounter with the King and Crown Prince while staying in the palace. These things kept trying to peel off the mask of a 'good person' that Randall was barely maintaining.
The dark possessiveness and obsession that was buried deep in his heart. Randall took a deep breath, fearing that he might reveal it to Sylvia. Sylvia watched Randall's reaction and moved her lips slightly.
“...What do you think I would have answered if asked about my ideal type? Aren’t you curious?”
Sylvia was going to confess that he was her ideal type if Randall answered that he was curious. It was nothing, but she thought that it might lighten his mood a little. However, Randall couldn't bring himself to ask Sylvia about it. What if, really what if...
“...What do you think I would have answered if asked about my ideal type? Aren’t you curious?”
Sylvia was going to confess that he was her ideal type if Randall answered that he was curious. It was nothing, but she thought that it might lighten his mood a little. However, Randall couldn't bring himself to ask Sylvia about it. What if, really what if...
What if Sylvia's ideal type was closer to David? Since their relationship started out as a political marriage, she had no choice but to 'try' to become attached to him. What if her true feelings were different from what he knew?
Such worries and self-loathing kept his mouth shut.
‘...She was always the one who avoided giving definitive answers.’
If, in this situation where he is not feeling well, he were to confirm that the slight affection Sylvia had for him was the kind she would have for a pet... He would feel truly hopeless.
‘...She was always the one who avoided giving definitive answers.’
If, in this situation where he is not feeling well, he were to confirm that the slight affection Sylvia had for him was the kind she would have for a pet... He would feel truly hopeless.
Randall cowardly chose to take a step back from Sylvia. He opened his mouth with the warmest smile he could muster.
“You don’t have to tell me.”
"...Yes?"
“By the way, it’s late at night, and I wonder if it’s because of me that Madqm can’t sleep... I’m fine, so you can go and rest now.”
“Ah, that... I understand. You must have had a hard time too. Get some rest.”
Sylvia was unusually flustered by the obvious order to evict guests. It was even more so because the person who issued the order was Randall.
Sylvia managed to show a calm smile, closed the door, and left. She stood leaning her back against the door for a moment, trying to calm her trembling heart. Her chest felt suffocated as if it was being suffocated.
'What.'
Sylvia was confused as to whether her heart was agitated because Randall had ordered her to stay away from him, or because he didn't seem to be particularly interested in her affairs with the Crown Prince. Sylvia lost in thought, suddenly burst into laughter at the thought of how she felt like a total deceiver.
'Neither the former nor the latter... Am I qualified to do so?'
Sylvia always tried to push Randall away. Even after realizing that she had him in her heart, she was afraid that she would throw the hope she had barely held onto into the fire with her own hands. She was afraid that she would be swept away by her wandering heart and get hurt again. She chose to push him away without hesitation.
'What.'
Sylvia was confused as to whether her heart was agitated because Randall had ordered her to stay away from him, or because he didn't seem to be particularly interested in her affairs with the Crown Prince. Sylvia lost in thought, suddenly burst into laughter at the thought of how she felt like a total deceiver.
'Neither the former nor the latter... Am I qualified to do so?'
Sylvia always tried to push Randall away. Even after realizing that she had him in her heart, she was afraid that she would throw the hope she had barely held onto into the fire with her own hands. She was afraid that she would be swept away by her wandering heart and get hurt again. She chose to push him away without hesitation.
In such a situation, how could she be so hurt by the fact that Randall had pushed her away just once? Wasn't she acting more childish than Randall, who was just starting his first life?
‘...At least to Randalll, I’m the worst person.’
Sylvia eventually turned around and left the room without going to Randall.
‘...At least to Randalll, I’m the worst person.’
Sylvia eventually turned around and left the room without going to Randall.
Support Novellate!
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment