The eyes, nose, and mouth of Rhodnes, who had his back to the light and bent toward me, were a work of art in themselves even in the darkness. There was a thumping sound like a drum beating in his chest. The tension I could clearly feel under my two arms wrapped around his neck tickled as if it was coming right to me.
“?”
Rhodnes, who had finished adjusting his clothes, wiggled his eyebrows and looked down at me. He must have thought I came out without an escort and came to protect me himself. He could have sent someone else.
His face, which seemed to be barely holding something back, quickly turned red and blue, then changed into a bewildered expression.
“If they come that close, you know what they’ll do.”
“They weren’t the ones who came to kill me.”
“You’ll only find out after you're dead whether they’re trying to kill you or not.”
“...”
Rhodnes, who shamelessly rode into my carriage with me, kept nagging me the whole way to the Grand Duke's residence. I was staring at him, wondering if he was the 'Second Prince' I knew, when Rhodnes, who had suddenly turned pale, started to look at me.
“I spoke nonsense.”.
“I'm talking about death to you, damn it, I...”
I was fine, but Rhodnes was blaming himself. I was going to tell him that it was okay, but when I looked closely, Rhodnes’ face was abnormally pale, even if it wasn’t because of my words. Cold sweat was running down his straight and handsome forehead. The smell of medicine I had smelled earlier was clearly a sign that he had been treated in the palace.
“Rhodnes.”
I tried calling his name properly for the first time. When I blushed at the feeling of my lips tingling, Rhodnes also looked up blankly, his face still reproaching.
“..."
“You already have a lot of people posted around here to keep watch, right? That’s why you knew I went out without an escort.”
When I saw his face that said, “Oh no,” I couldn’t help but loosen up the stern expression that had been telling him to go back. Strangely, his face, which everyone else found intimidating, seemed cute to me because he was two inches taller than me. Unable to hold back the tickling feeling below my heart, I impulsively opened my mouth.
“I was just curious all of a sudden...”
The flustered face of Rhodnes suddenly became serious.
“Why didn’t you use me properly earlier?”
"What?"
“If you had just come closer to me earlier, we could have chased down the Capital Guard a little faster.”
Oh my God. Am I out of my mind? What did I suddenly ask? Was it because the face and arms that I had desperately held on to remained in my head like afterimages?
“I told you we’d be friends until the end of time. I just don’t think you’re ready for me yet.”
“!”
"And..."
The corners of Rhodnes’s mouth slowly rose. He was smiling, but he also looked a little sad.
“...If I kiss Blie Acacia’s lips, I’m afraid you’ll be sad.”
As I felt a cold sweat running down my spine for no reason, the sound of people approaching grew closer. I closed my eyes tightly and pulled Rhodnes’ neck, which I was holding with my two arms, closer. I clearly remember reading about how to deal with such a crisis in a romance novel. Our noses brushed against each other, and the smell of the medicine that had healed his wounds and Rhodnes’s body scent simultaneously surged into my nostrils. We must have both heard the heartbeat of someone we didn’t know, but Rhodnes never came closer to me and stood firm.
“Oh, oh, sorry, sorry!”
“What you were doing, hehe... Keep going! Do it!”
As the footsteps of the Capital Guards retreated rapidly, I opened my eyes. The tendons on Rhodnes’s arm, which had been holding on, stood firm. He was desperately trying to keep his arms against the wall, trying to prevent our lips from touching because of the neck being pulled so tightly. Even after the people had left, we continued to stare at each other for a long time.
“...They went.”
"Don't do it."
“!”
Gently pulling my arm away and straightening my posture, Rhodnes spoke in a locked voice.
“Don’t raise your voice.”
“Uh, yeah.”
When I was flustered and barely able to answer after doing something, Rhodnes straightened up his clothes. In between, he muttered to himself, “Because the Capital Guards do things like that, the capital’s security is in shambles.”
“Oh, oh, sorry, sorry!”
“What you were doing, hehe... Keep going! Do it!”
As the footsteps of the Capital Guards retreated rapidly, I opened my eyes. The tendons on Rhodnes’s arm, which had been holding on, stood firm. He was desperately trying to keep his arms against the wall, trying to prevent our lips from touching because of the neck being pulled so tightly. Even after the people had left, we continued to stare at each other for a long time.
“...They went.”
"Don't do it."
“!”
Gently pulling my arm away and straightening my posture, Rhodnes spoke in a locked voice.
“Don’t raise your voice.”
“Uh, yeah.”
When I was flustered and barely able to answer after doing something, Rhodnes straightened up his clothes. In between, he muttered to himself, “Because the Capital Guards do things like that, the capital’s security is in shambles.”
Although I was a bit annoyed, Rhodnes’s elegant hand gestures were like a well-drawn picture, so I stared blankly for a while. The Rhodnes in my memories were much smaller. The Rhodnes in my imagination was a bit more shy. It felt strangely awkward.
“You know that there have been a lot of weird incidents happening in the capital these days, right?”
"Ah..."
“Coming out without an escort? That’s not possible.”
Rhodnes made a slightly stern face.
“I have an escort.”
“You know that there have been a lot of weird incidents happening in the capital these days, right?”
"Ah..."
“Coming out without an escort? That’s not possible.”
Rhodnes made a slightly stern face.
“I have an escort.”
“?”
Rhodnes, who had finished adjusting his clothes, wiggled his eyebrows and looked down at me. He must have thought I came out without an escort and came to protect me himself. He could have sent someone else.
When I imagined Rhodnes , who had left me in the morning and hurriedly left, my heart felt strangely full.
“Count Acacia promised that he would always have 20 guards with me because he was so worried. They all hid and waited for my signal.”
“Count Acacia promised that he would always have 20 guards with me because he was so worried. They all hid and waited for my signal.”
His face, which seemed to be barely holding something back, quickly turned red and blue, then changed into a bewildered expression.
***
After a while, when I returned, the Capital Guard had disappeared without a trace. When I asked around, they said they had only arrested those who were trying to traffic people. As Rhodnes had said, even though the security in the capital had deteriorated, it was clear that the Capital Guard had become extremely lax.
“You’d better cut off all your escorts too.”
"What?"
“You’d better cut off all your escorts too.”
"What?"
“If they come that close, you know what they’ll do.”
“They weren’t the ones who came to kill me.”
“You’ll only find out after you're dead whether they’re trying to kill you or not.”
“...”
Rhodnes, who shamelessly rode into my carriage with me, kept nagging me the whole way to the Grand Duke's residence. I was staring at him, wondering if he was the 'Second Prince' I knew, when Rhodnes, who had suddenly turned pale, started to look at me.
“I spoke nonsense.”.
“?”
“I'm talking about death to you, damn it, I...”
I was fine, but Rhodnes was blaming himself. I was going to tell him that it was okay, but when I looked closely, Rhodnes’ face was abnormally pale, even if it wasn’t because of my words. Cold sweat was running down his straight and handsome forehead. The smell of medicine I had smelled earlier was clearly a sign that he had been treated in the palace.
“Rhodnes.”
I tried calling his name properly for the first time. When I blushed at the feeling of my lips tingling, Rhodnes also looked up blankly, his face still reproaching.
“I’m okay, but I don’t think you’re okay.”
"I'm okay."
He was so firm, even though he didn't know what he was talking about.
“You're not okay.”
"...Why?"
The eyes that seemed to ask because they really didn't know were so innocent that I couldn't help but laugh.
“Of course. How could I not worry when you got hurt because of me?”
“...It’s not because of you, it’s because I have a bad temper, so don’t think like that.”
For some reason, the face of Rhodnes, who was washing his face with one hand, turned red.
“You say you have a bad temper? How can you say something like that when you are so kind?”
This time, Rhodnes smiled faintly. The corners of his lips rose as light and shadow intersected outside the fast-moving carriage, and sunlight gathered and disappeared repeatedly.
“I just need to be nice to you.”
“?”
What was so funny, he kept laughing the whole way to the Grand Duke's residence. And since I was seeing Rhodnes like that for the first time, I just blankly watched without realizing the passage of time.
"I'm okay."
He was so firm, even though he didn't know what he was talking about.
“You're not okay.”
"...Why?"
The eyes that seemed to ask because they really didn't know were so innocent that I couldn't help but laugh.
“Of course. How could I not worry when you got hurt because of me?”
“...It’s not because of you, it’s because I have a bad temper, so don’t think like that.”
For some reason, the face of Rhodnes, who was washing his face with one hand, turned red.
“You say you have a bad temper? How can you say something like that when you are so kind?”
This time, Rhodnes smiled faintly. The corners of his lips rose as light and shadow intersected outside the fast-moving carriage, and sunlight gathered and disappeared repeatedly.
“I just need to be nice to you.”
“?”
What was so funny, he kept laughing the whole way to the Grand Duke's residence. And since I was seeing Rhodnes like that for the first time, I just blankly watched without realizing the passage of time.
***
At the entrance to the Grand Duke's residence, I argued with Rhodnes again about whether or not I should go back with him. I had to convince him several times that His Highness the Crown Prince was visiting today. In the end, Rhodnes lost the battle and got off the carriage with a very heavy gait. Only then did I feel relieved and get back on the carriage. As soon as we arrived and got off the carriage, Jonah came running from afar, his face flushed with excitement.
“Madam! Madam! You are here?”
“Yeah, did something happen?”
“Yes! His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”
"Already?"
“He came in a hurry! All the servants went there! I sent a message to the madam, but it must have gotten mixed up.”
No matter how much I looked around, there was no ceremony as great as I had seen before. Neither the palace's large and splendid carriage nor dozens of knights.
“I have been very rude to His Highness”
“Madam! Madam! You are here?”
“Yeah, did something happen?”
“Yes! His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”
"Already?"
“He came in a hurry! All the servants went there! I sent a message to the madam, but it must have gotten mixed up.”
No matter how much I looked around, there was no ceremony as great as I had seen before. Neither the palace's large and splendid carriage nor dozens of knights.
“I have been very rude to His Highness”
“The butler told His Highness that Madam went to check out the cemetery early in the morning.”
“...That guy, no, Gaspard?”
“Heh heh, yes!”
Jonah, who always looked at Gaspard’s sensitive eyes with a sly expression, openly giggled and agreed with me. With Jonah’s help, I took off my coat and quickly headed to the annex where Crown Prince Bardenaldo was. As expected, the annex, which was usually empty, was bustling with servants. The entire lobby of the annex was filled with a fragrant aroma, and the space was filled with the scent of all kinds of rare teas.
“Oh, the manager is here.”
“Are you here, Ma’am?”
Bardenaldo, who was sitting on the sofa, enjoying tea, and the butler who was chatting beside him greeted me one after another. I approached him with a strange feeling because Bardenaldo seemed to welcome me very much.
“...That guy, no, Gaspard?”
“Heh heh, yes!”
Jonah, who always looked at Gaspard’s sensitive eyes with a sly expression, openly giggled and agreed with me. With Jonah’s help, I took off my coat and quickly headed to the annex where Crown Prince Bardenaldo was. As expected, the annex, which was usually empty, was bustling with servants. The entire lobby of the annex was filled with a fragrant aroma, and the space was filled with the scent of all kinds of rare teas.
“Oh, the manager is here.”
“Are you here, Ma’am?”
Bardenaldo, who was sitting on the sofa, enjoying tea, and the butler who was chatting beside him greeted me one after another. I approached him with a strange feeling because Bardenaldo seemed to welcome me very much.
Older brother of Rhodnes. Lord of Noevian. Bardenaldo is known for his gentle nature, to the point that he is called the saint of Ronta, but is he really real?
“Meet the greatest star in the Empire. I am Blie Acacia, wife of Count Acacia. Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Ahaha-.”
Unlike me who tried to greet him briefly, Bardenaldo smiled awkwardly when I greeted him politely and asked me to sit across from him.
“If you have become my wife's maid, then you too are like a member of our family. From now on, you can greet me simply.”
Bardenaldo spoke warmly to me as I sat there nervously.
His deep blue eyes and red hair were symbols of the legitimacy of the Ronta Empire. However, despite the intense colors, his moderately sized eyes were slightly droopy and his facial features were overall soft, giving him a very kind impression compared to Noevian or Rhodness.
“Still, how can I convey this...”
“I’m not that difficult of a person.”
Indeed, Bardenaldo was as affectionate as rumored. He was a highly respected treasure of Ronta, who spoke respectfully to everyone and treated them as individuals.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Are there any difficulties? Although the number of employees is small compared to its size, the Grand Duke's residence is so large that there must be a lot of difficult work.”
“Yes, the butler is helping me a lot and my stay is only for a short time.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Gaspard gave me a meaningful smile. I barely managed to straighten my distorted expression and looked at Bardenaldo. He was filling out the guestbook where visitors were writing their names with great care. It felt strange to think that we had once been a family. If I were alive, Bardenaldo would have been so polite to me, who was younger than him, and called me 'aunt'.
“Just because I’m here, you don’t have to stay by my side, Madam. It’s easier to think of me as a relative who lives here rather than a distinguished guest at the Grand Duke’s residence. That’s not wrong.”
“Yes? Oh... I heard you visit the Grand Duke’s residence often. Is there a special reason?”
“There is not much of an age difference between my uncle and me, and we are like brothers because we walk the same path.”
"Ah..."
“This is just another house outside the palace.”
It was around the time when I thought he was answering my short questions quite sincerely that the Crown Prince, who had been talking about things like visiting the garden at the Grand Duke's residence and sharing information about the rebels, suddenly said this to me as I nodded diligently.
“Is the Crown Princess curious about this?”
“!”
“I don’t think the Lord will be satisfied with this.”
The Crown Prince, who was looking at me frozen stiffly and not knowing what to say, soon made a bitter expression.
“I am close to my uncle not only because he is competent, but also because we are close on a personal level.”
“Oh, yes. I thought so, of course.”
“Madam, I am a man who would give my life for this country.”
There was a slight heat in Bardenaldo's gentle eyes.
“I just hope that the Grand Duke and Grand Duke of Castagna will get along well and work hard for this country.”
Perhaps the Crown Prince knows why Doris sent me here. That is why he went to the Grand Duke’s residence to offer condolences, even though he knew that Noevian was not there, as he had done so many times before. Only the Crown Prince knows whether it was a warning to me or an excuse to Doris. His determined eyes, which said that he could do anything for the country, left a deep impression on me.
“Meet the greatest star in the Empire. I am Blie Acacia, wife of Count Acacia. Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Ahaha-.”
Unlike me who tried to greet him briefly, Bardenaldo smiled awkwardly when I greeted him politely and asked me to sit across from him.
“If you have become my wife's maid, then you too are like a member of our family. From now on, you can greet me simply.”
Bardenaldo spoke warmly to me as I sat there nervously.
His deep blue eyes and red hair were symbols of the legitimacy of the Ronta Empire. However, despite the intense colors, his moderately sized eyes were slightly droopy and his facial features were overall soft, giving him a very kind impression compared to Noevian or Rhodness.
“Still, how can I convey this...”
“I’m not that difficult of a person.”
Indeed, Bardenaldo was as affectionate as rumored. He was a highly respected treasure of Ronta, who spoke respectfully to everyone and treated them as individuals.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Are there any difficulties? Although the number of employees is small compared to its size, the Grand Duke's residence is so large that there must be a lot of difficult work.”
“Yes, the butler is helping me a lot and my stay is only for a short time.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Gaspard gave me a meaningful smile. I barely managed to straighten my distorted expression and looked at Bardenaldo. He was filling out the guestbook where visitors were writing their names with great care. It felt strange to think that we had once been a family. If I were alive, Bardenaldo would have been so polite to me, who was younger than him, and called me 'aunt'.
“Just because I’m here, you don’t have to stay by my side, Madam. It’s easier to think of me as a relative who lives here rather than a distinguished guest at the Grand Duke’s residence. That’s not wrong.”
“Yes? Oh... I heard you visit the Grand Duke’s residence often. Is there a special reason?”
“There is not much of an age difference between my uncle and me, and we are like brothers because we walk the same path.”
"Ah..."
“This is just another house outside the palace.”
It was around the time when I thought he was answering my short questions quite sincerely that the Crown Prince, who had been talking about things like visiting the garden at the Grand Duke's residence and sharing information about the rebels, suddenly said this to me as I nodded diligently.
“Is the Crown Princess curious about this?”
“!”
“I don’t think the Lord will be satisfied with this.”
The Crown Prince, who was looking at me frozen stiffly and not knowing what to say, soon made a bitter expression.
“I am close to my uncle not only because he is competent, but also because we are close on a personal level.”
“Oh, yes. I thought so, of course.”
“Madam, I am a man who would give my life for this country.”
There was a slight heat in Bardenaldo's gentle eyes.
“I just hope that the Grand Duke and Grand Duke of Castagna will get along well and work hard for this country.”
Perhaps the Crown Prince knows why Doris sent me here. That is why he went to the Grand Duke’s residence to offer condolences, even though he knew that Noevian was not there, as he had done so many times before. Only the Crown Prince knows whether it was a warning to me or an excuse to Doris. His determined eyes, which said that he could do anything for the country, left a deep impression on me.
***
After that, the Crown Prince talked about various light-hearted things about state affairs, encouraged me, and left. Feeling guilty for not having greeted him properly when he came, I walked to the entrance of the Grand Duke’s residence to see him off. As I stood there watching him walk away with his escort, I heard a voice clearing his throat from somewhere. I was startled and turned around.
“... Rhodnes?”
Rhodnes suddenly appeared. It was amazing how he had managed to evade the personnel monitoring the outside of the Grand Duke's residence and hide.
“Didn’t you just go back to the palace?”
“I’m worried.”
Rhodnes, who had been watching the retreating procession of Bardenaldo for a while, came closer to me. His face looked a little uneasy.
"What?"
“Just everything.”
I saw the trembling hand of Rhodnes. It was a hand that wanted to hold on tightly, for fear that I would disappear like last time.
“Okay, go back to the palace quickly...! Your face is so pale right now.”
“... Rhodnes?”
Rhodnes suddenly appeared. It was amazing how he had managed to evade the personnel monitoring the outside of the Grand Duke's residence and hide.
“Didn’t you just go back to the palace?”
“I’m worried.”
Rhodnes, who had been watching the retreating procession of Bardenaldo for a while, came closer to me. His face looked a little uneasy.
"What?"
“Just everything.”
I saw the trembling hand of Rhodnes. It was a hand that wanted to hold on tightly, for fear that I would disappear like last time.
“Okay, go back to the palace quickly...! Your face is so pale right now.”
“..."
“You already have a lot of people posted around here to keep watch, right? That’s why you knew I went out without an escort.”
When I saw his face that said, “Oh no,” I couldn’t help but loosen up the stern expression that had been telling him to go back. Strangely, his face, which everyone else found intimidating, seemed cute to me because he was two inches taller than me. Unable to hold back the tickling feeling below my heart, I impulsively opened my mouth.
“I was just curious all of a sudden...”
The flustered face of Rhodnes suddenly became serious.
“Why didn’t you use me properly earlier?”
"What?"
“If you had just come closer to me earlier, we could have chased down the Capital Guard a little faster.”
Oh my God. Am I out of my mind? What did I suddenly ask? Was it because the face and arms that I had desperately held on to remained in my head like afterimages?
As I looked at the bewildered face of Rhodnes, I tried to make excuses for speaking thoughtlessly... Rhodnes, with a serious expression on his face, opened his mouth heavily.
“I told you we’d be friends until the end of time. I just don’t think you’re ready for me yet.”
“!”
"And..."
The corners of Rhodnes’s mouth slowly rose. He was smiling, but he also looked a little sad.
“...If I kiss Blie Acacia’s lips, I’m afraid you’ll be sad.”
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