Early morning. The palace of Rhodnes was equally busy. Their master was showing unconventional behavior by attending the Crown Prince’s birthday party for two days in a row, which he had not attended for several years. Rhones frowned and was considering several jackets on the bed. He had just washed up without any separate bathing service and was standing with only a towel wrapped around him. Rhodnes’s muscular back was still wet and glistening in the sunlight. Neil, who came into the Prince’s bedroom looking for new clothes, naturally frowned.
“There are many fancy clothes, Your Highness. It’s just that Your Highness doesn’t wear them often.”
“Choose the most colorful and attractive one.”
Rhodnes stopped worrying and stretched out on the couch that was too small for her body.
“You should let your servants do this kind of work. The servants of the Second Prince’s palace are good. All their work is done by these high-ranking personnel.”
“Shut up and choose.”
“Well, I do have an eye for aesthetics.”
Neil, who boasted the best aesthetic sense in the 2nd Imperial Knights Division, which was full of dark-skinned men, smiled and winked one eye. In fact, no matter what he wore, his lord was a picture-perfect man.
'If you just close your mouth.'
“But don’t you just wear whatever the servants put on you? Why did you call me in the morning... You’ve been attending the birthday party for two days in a row... The other royals probably won’t attend. You’re not even dating. Do you really plan on finding a bride?”
Neil chuckled, thinking it was funny, and was amused at the thought of dressing up Rhodnes, who suddenly became concerned about his appearance.
“It’s a date... something like that.”
"... Yes?"
Neil felt goosebumps as he watched Rhodnes smiling with his lips twisted.
How dare you try to tease the Emperor who makes the absurd remark that all women look the same! Neil muttered to himself, desperately clenching his fists and not handing his jacket to Rhodnes, who was reaching out for it.
“?”
"Your Highness."
"What."
“The truth is, you look best when you’re not wearing anything.”
“?”
Neil, who had placed his jacket on the couch, quickly unbuttoned his shirt with a flushed face and opened the collar to both sides.
“It’s perfect!”
The less he is covered, the more beautiful he is. That was the greatest prodigal son of the imperial family, Rhodnes Cosma de Ronta.
"Your Highness?"
Rhodnes came to his senses as he recalled the morning situation. Blie, with her luscious black hair half-tied up, was looking at him. Contrary to expectations, the lady’s attire was not modest, but it was not intended to seduce anyone.
“Where are you uncomfortable?”
“It’s beautiful.”
When he spoke out of the blue while staring at her intently, Blie opened her eyes wide and smiled.
“I was a little nervous today. Even though we’re acting like a couple, Your Highness has to keep his dignity in mind. It’s still debutante season...”
If he tells her that she is beautiful, most women would quickly blush and become embarrassed. When he talks to them, they will talk nonsense and tell him all the information he wants, but they will be so shocked that they won't even realize they are talking. But this woman, while embarrassed, acted as if it wasn't her compliment, and even a little proud.
“You don’t have to worry about my reputation. As you know, my reputation in the Empire isn’t all that good.”
“That’s right. But since you have such a high reputation, I think you might need to manage your image a little bit.”
'I see?'
Are you going to fight? But Blie's face was so calm and her tone was as if she was giving him advice.
“I have no intention of doing anything like image management.”
“?”
“I’m saying that I won’t hesitate to use any means necessary to earn the title of ‘Newly Starting Lovers.’”
“There are many fancy clothes, Your Highness. It’s just that Your Highness doesn’t wear them often.”
“Choose the most colorful and attractive one.”
Rhodnes stopped worrying and stretched out on the couch that was too small for her body.
“You should let your servants do this kind of work. The servants of the Second Prince’s palace are good. All their work is done by these high-ranking personnel.”
“Shut up and choose.”
“Well, I do have an eye for aesthetics.”
Neil, who boasted the best aesthetic sense in the 2nd Imperial Knights Division, which was full of dark-skinned men, smiled and winked one eye. In fact, no matter what he wore, his lord was a picture-perfect man.
'If you just close your mouth.'
“But don’t you just wear whatever the servants put on you? Why did you call me in the morning... You’ve been attending the birthday party for two days in a row... The other royals probably won’t attend. You’re not even dating. Do you really plan on finding a bride?”
Neil chuckled, thinking it was funny, and was amused at the thought of dressing up Rhodnes, who suddenly became concerned about his appearance.
“It’s a date... something like that.”
"... Yes?"
Neil felt goosebumps as he watched Rhodnes smiling with his lips twisted.
“What... what?”
“I’m going on a date with Countess Acacia, so make it as fancy as possible.”
"Oh my God!"
Neil, who almost threw his jacket, strode towards Rhodnes, who was lying like a statue with blazing eyes.
“After all! After all! Is that how it all comes together? No matter how debaucherous this country is! Everyone says that Your Highness is at the top of it! Even though Grand Duke Trovica is only half-uncle! But he is still your uncle! How! With that government... !”
As Neil shouted softly and picked up the pearl-colored jacket, Rhodnes, who had been squinting his eyes and ignoring the nagging, jumped up and picked it up.
“Are you listening to me?”
Neil held onto it tightly as if he would never hand over the jacket. Rhodnes, who had a faint smile on his face that he never showed Neil, snatched it away without difficulty.
“I’m going on a date with Countess Acacia, so make it as fancy as possible.”
"Oh my God!"
Neil, who almost threw his jacket, strode towards Rhodnes, who was lying like a statue with blazing eyes.
“After all! After all! Is that how it all comes together? No matter how debaucherous this country is! Everyone says that Your Highness is at the top of it! Even though Grand Duke Trovica is only half-uncle! But he is still your uncle! How! With that government... !”
As Neil shouted softly and picked up the pearl-colored jacket, Rhodnes, who had been squinting his eyes and ignoring the nagging, jumped up and picked it up.
“Are you listening to me?”
Neil held onto it tightly as if he would never hand over the jacket. Rhodnes, who had a faint smile on his face that he never showed Neil, snatched it away without difficulty.
Did a man who was dating smile like that?
'This atmosphere, could it be...?'
“...This isn’t a date, is it?”
When there was no excitement on Rhodnes's face and only a leisurely smile flowed, Neil, who had become calm for a moment, opened his mouth.
“Beauty trap...?”
“I guess I’m starting to feel like I can do some work now. If only I could babble one more time...”
“My crown must have been stuck in the ground. My shin bone was split in two.”
Neil offered a shirt that was lying on the bed with the aforementioned face. Rhodnes accepted his service without saying anything and sewed the shirt onto his long sleeves. Neil swallowed without realizing it as his always angry back twitched and stared blankly at Rhodnes’s wet blond hair that was still dripping with water droplets.
“That’s not the face you’re looking at.”
“What are you going to do with that woman?”
“Since you are trying to come out like that, we just need to strike first.”
As his furrowed brows revealed his unwillingness to explain in detail, Neil understood his words as if he were a ghost.
“That lying lady tried to seduce Your Highness!”
'This atmosphere, could it be...?'
“...This isn’t a date, is it?”
When there was no excitement on Rhodnes's face and only a leisurely smile flowed, Neil, who had become calm for a moment, opened his mouth.
“Beauty trap...?”
“I guess I’m starting to feel like I can do some work now. If only I could babble one more time...”
“My crown must have been stuck in the ground. My shin bone was split in two.”
Neil offered a shirt that was lying on the bed with the aforementioned face. Rhodnes accepted his service without saying anything and sewed the shirt onto his long sleeves. Neil swallowed without realizing it as his always angry back twitched and stared blankly at Rhodnes’s wet blond hair that was still dripping with water droplets.
“That’s not the face you’re looking at.”
“What are you going to do with that woman?”
“Since you are trying to come out like that, we just need to strike first.”
As his furrowed brows revealed his unwillingness to explain in detail, Neil understood his words as if he were a ghost.
“That lying lady tried to seduce Your Highness!”
How dare you try to tease the Emperor who makes the absurd remark that all women look the same! Neil muttered to himself, desperately clenching his fists and not handing his jacket to Rhodnes, who was reaching out for it.
“?”
"Your Highness."
"What."
“The truth is, you look best when you’re not wearing anything.”
“?”
Neil, who had placed his jacket on the couch, quickly unbuttoned his shirt with a flushed face and opened the collar to both sides.
“It’s perfect!”
The less he is covered, the more beautiful he is. That was the greatest prodigal son of the imperial family, Rhodnes Cosma de Ronta.
***
"Your Highness?"
Rhodnes came to his senses as he recalled the morning situation. Blie, with her luscious black hair half-tied up, was looking at him. Contrary to expectations, the lady’s attire was not modest, but it was not intended to seduce anyone.
“Where are you uncomfortable?”
“It’s beautiful.”
When he spoke out of the blue while staring at her intently, Blie opened her eyes wide and smiled.
“I was a little nervous today. Even though we’re acting like a couple, Your Highness has to keep his dignity in mind. It’s still debutante season...”
If he tells her that she is beautiful, most women would quickly blush and become embarrassed. When he talks to them, they will talk nonsense and tell him all the information he wants, but they will be so shocked that they won't even realize they are talking. But this woman, while embarrassed, acted as if it wasn't her compliment, and even a little proud.
“You don’t have to worry about my reputation. As you know, my reputation in the Empire isn’t all that good.”
“That’s right. But since you have such a high reputation, I think you might need to manage your image a little bit.”
'I see?'
Are you going to fight? But Blie's face was so calm and her tone was as if she was giving him advice.
“I have no intention of doing anything like image management.”
“?”
“I’m saying that I won’t hesitate to use any means necessary to earn the title of ‘Newly Starting Lovers.’”
***
A new lover. At those words, I realized that Rhodnes was much more serious about this play than I had thought. The word 'lover' flowing from his lips strangely froze my throat. When the conversation stopped, I naturally noticed his clothes.
The Crown Prince's birthday party lasts for three days, and on the first day, all the nobles and members of the royal family of the capital gather, and on the second day, almost all of the members of the royal family are absent. Naturally, on the first day, everyone comes dressed to the point of excessive perfection. Not a single strand of hair is out of place, and in a slightly classic style. On the second day, they come dressed in a slightly more free and trendy style, but even though I don't know much about men's clothing, I thought that they wouldn't be dressed as freely as Rhodnes.
My eyes kept going to the shirt that wasn't buttoned up. The jacket was carelessly placed in a corner of the carriage, without the owner's attention, and I couldn't see where the cravat was. His broad shoulders drew attention to his sunken collarbone through the gap in his shirt. Even if you tried to look away, his presence was quite impressive. The white shirt he was wearing was neatly pressed without a single wrinkle, but it was slightly taut to fit his body.
'Is that why it's so frustrating?'
The clothes were too small for his muscular body? I was looking at his seriously flared shirt and thinking deeply when I felt a piercing gaze.
'Ah!'
I stared at the man’s skin too clearly. I felt my face flushing and glanced up at him. I met his bright red eyes exactly. His lips, which had been smiling faintly like a fragranceless flower, slightly stretched out. He wiggled his eyebrows slightly and swept his disheveled hair back, slowly opening his shirt.
“...?”
The corner of one mouth slightly raised, the smile of a predator who had eaten a satisfying meal. As if he had achieved his goal...
'... For what purpose?'
As the carriage stopped, the thoughts that had been pouring out in confusion suddenly stopped. Before I knew it, Rhodnes, who was wearing a cravat and a jacket, had gotten out of the carriage and was holding out his hand. As soon as he got out, there was a small commotion around. It was a response close to a low scream. The outside was now completely covered in darkness, but the entrance to Atilchard Hall was romantically sparkling with twinkling lights and decorations.
“Shall we go, Ma’am?”
The hand he held out was too big for me, thick-knotted, long, and beautiful. I took his hand with slightly trembling hands. I could feel his rough palm with calluses through the gap between his thin gloves. But at the same time, my head turned a little pale. It wasn’t a polite hand, but a hand that was held with such closeness that it felt so hot that it felt like my hand was melting.
'Is that why it's so frustrating?'
The clothes were too small for his muscular body? I was looking at his seriously flared shirt and thinking deeply when I felt a piercing gaze.
'Ah!'
I stared at the man’s skin too clearly. I felt my face flushing and glanced up at him. I met his bright red eyes exactly. His lips, which had been smiling faintly like a fragranceless flower, slightly stretched out. He wiggled his eyebrows slightly and swept his disheveled hair back, slowly opening his shirt.
“...?”
The corner of one mouth slightly raised, the smile of a predator who had eaten a satisfying meal. As if he had achieved his goal...
'... For what purpose?'
As the carriage stopped, the thoughts that had been pouring out in confusion suddenly stopped. Before I knew it, Rhodnes, who was wearing a cravat and a jacket, had gotten out of the carriage and was holding out his hand. As soon as he got out, there was a small commotion around. It was a response close to a low scream. The outside was now completely covered in darkness, but the entrance to Atilchard Hall was romantically sparkling with twinkling lights and decorations.
“Shall we go, Ma’am?”
The hand he held out was too big for me, thick-knotted, long, and beautiful. I took his hand with slightly trembling hands. I could feel his rough palm with calluses through the gap between his thin gloves. But at the same time, my head turned a little pale. It wasn’t a polite hand, but a hand that was held with such closeness that it felt so hot that it felt like my hand was melting.
***
The Atilchad Hall was already crowded with people. As soon as we entered the entrance, after a brief silence, the hall became noisy again. However, some people looked at us with particularly bright eyes.
“It seems that Countess Giuseppe is very interested in us.”
“Is that lady with the scarlet hair, Countess Giuseppe?”
“Noura Jousetta. She is also the maid of the Crown Princess.”
Only then did I realize why she had shown such great interest in me, who had been called by Doris yesterday. As soon as Rhodnes finished speaking, her eyes met mine again. I smiled reflexively. She had not expected me to do so, and she turned her head to her group with an awkward smile.
“Is there any other reason why you wanted to attend the party? Other than to be seen by Noevian Trovica.”
When he nodded slightly, a very familiar person was standing in the corner.
“Why is that person...?”
It was Noevian's adjutant, Sir Jimsker.
“Just because he doesn’t participate doesn’t mean he's not paying attention.”
“I didn’t know there was a Sir Jimsker.”
“The plan to get on the Grand Duke’s nerves by having us appear side by side in the gossip magazine is quite clever and gutsy, but I don’t feel the need to go back.”
“What is that...?”
“Sometimes it’s not a bad idea to show it to him right in front of his eyes.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Rhodnes stopped a servant who was passing by with a tray full of champagne glasses with one finger. He stopped only one servant, but the eyes of all the nobles around him were focused on his fingertips.
“Let’s drink. For our love.”
“!”
Ignoring the pouring gazes, Rhodnes clinked the champagne glass he had handed me with his own glass. With the hand that had been escorting me, he naturally pulled my arm and entwined our arms, drinking in a manner that would only be done in a private setting. I couldn’t even properly drink the bubbly, sparkling wine due to his sudden behavior, and barely brought my mouth to the glass. On the other hand, Rhodnes, who had emptied his glass in one go, enjoyed the gazes of those who sighed softly while sweeping his shiny blond hair up. And amidst the crowd of people slowly gathering around, a low voice that only I could hear flowed out from his sagging lips.
“It’s just the beginning...”
Rhodnes held my shoulder tightly, protecting me from the attendant who was hurriedly passing by. I was startled by the heat, but his hot breath reached my ear.
“...It won’t work if you're stiff like this.”
His lips were clearly a few fingertips away, but it felt like he was talking right up to my ear, sending a tingling sensation down my spine.
“It seems that Countess Giuseppe is very interested in us.”
“Is that lady with the scarlet hair, Countess Giuseppe?”
“Noura Jousetta. She is also the maid of the Crown Princess.”
Only then did I realize why she had shown such great interest in me, who had been called by Doris yesterday. As soon as Rhodnes finished speaking, her eyes met mine again. I smiled reflexively. She had not expected me to do so, and she turned her head to her group with an awkward smile.
“Is there any other reason why you wanted to attend the party? Other than to be seen by Noevian Trovica.”
When he nodded slightly, a very familiar person was standing in the corner.
“Why is that person...?”
It was Noevian's adjutant, Sir Jimsker.
“Just because he doesn’t participate doesn’t mean he's not paying attention.”
“I didn’t know there was a Sir Jimsker.”
“The plan to get on the Grand Duke’s nerves by having us appear side by side in the gossip magazine is quite clever and gutsy, but I don’t feel the need to go back.”
“What is that...?”
“Sometimes it’s not a bad idea to show it to him right in front of his eyes.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Rhodnes stopped a servant who was passing by with a tray full of champagne glasses with one finger. He stopped only one servant, but the eyes of all the nobles around him were focused on his fingertips.
“Let’s drink. For our love.”
“!”
Ignoring the pouring gazes, Rhodnes clinked the champagne glass he had handed me with his own glass. With the hand that had been escorting me, he naturally pulled my arm and entwined our arms, drinking in a manner that would only be done in a private setting. I couldn’t even properly drink the bubbly, sparkling wine due to his sudden behavior, and barely brought my mouth to the glass. On the other hand, Rhodnes, who had emptied his glass in one go, enjoyed the gazes of those who sighed softly while sweeping his shiny blond hair up. And amidst the crowd of people slowly gathering around, a low voice that only I could hear flowed out from his sagging lips.
“It’s just the beginning...”
Rhodnes held my shoulder tightly, protecting me from the attendant who was hurriedly passing by. I was startled by the heat, but his hot breath reached my ear.
“...It won’t work if you're stiff like this.”
His lips were clearly a few fingertips away, but it felt like he was talking right up to my ear, sending a tingling sensation down my spine.
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