Next to the 9th Prince with his playful eyes was a man who was slightly taller than him.
'Are you an attendant from Elacon?'
Darker skin tones than the Rontans. Gray eyes. Strong body. And the contrasting short pink hair gave off a military-like vibe.
He too had as many ornaments on his hands and wrists as Ephero. He seemed to come from a country where jewels roll around like stones. I blinked slowly at the dazzling display for a moment, and in that blink of an eye, a pink head strode toward me. It was the moment when the Crown Prince opened his mouth to introduce him.
“He is Elacon’s...”
“Woman. You. Are famous. In Elacon.”
Huh. The awkward Imperial language was thrown crudely in front of me.
"...Yes?"
“Women. You. Like. Elacon. People.”
"Ah...?"
I was so flustered that I just opened my mouth, but the pink-haired, bear-like giant man grabbed my shoulders without hesitation and smacked out cheeks against each other repeatedly, making a smacking sound.
“Woman. You. Are famous. In Elacon.”
Huh. The awkward Imperial language was thrown crudely in front of me.
"...Yes?"
“Women. You. Like. Elacon. People.”
"Ah...?"
I was so flustered that I just opened my mouth, but the pink-haired, bear-like giant man grabbed my shoulders without hesitation and smacked out cheeks against each other repeatedly, making a smacking sound.
“I want to be in a good relationship.”
Clearly, the one staring at us with wide eyes right in front of my eyes was the Crown Prince. Even without looking, I could feel his warm gaze from behind where Rhodnes was.
“Victor. I heard that in Ronta, you can’t greet someone like that unless you’re close to them.”
“I didn’t know.”
Did you know or didn't you? I was so embarrassed that I stepped back for a moment, and I immediately felt a hot, hard body behind my back. When I turned my head back, Rhodnes was pressed against my back and was glaring at the man called Victor in front of me.
“Who is that rude person?”
“Brother, can’t you see this Ephero?”
Rhodnes asked the Crown Prince, but Ephero suddenly interrupted.
“You look too good. Who is that guy hanging out next to you? Is that your pet dog?”
When the pink-haired man tilted his head as if he didn't understand the word pet, Ephero burst out laughing.
“Excuse me, ma’am. This is Victor Vansheik from Elacon.”
Vansheik! I suddenly came to my senses and looked at the pink hair again.
“He is Prince Elacon, and also my close friend who I have been with throughout my studies abroad.”
It was said that the 9th Prince Ephero had returned home with Prince Elacon.
“Brother Rhodnes. Shouldn’t you introduce the person who came with you?”
Ephero's mumbling speech sounded like that of a city swindler, but his content was polite and gave off a strange feeling.
“According to those who know the Empire well, that lady is my brother’s..."
He smiled, revealing his sharp fangs, and lifted his little finger. The large gemstone rings on each knuckle sparkled. It was a light action that was hard to believe, and it was from a Prince of a country. Rhodnes's facial muscles contorted with discomfort.
“Ephero, you rascal...”
“I’m sorry, but Your Highness the Second Prince and I are friends. Your Highness the Ninth Prince.”
I spoke firmly to the ridiculously rude Ephero. When I stepped forward, Ephero raised his slightly scratched eyebrows as if he was surprised, and sneered. It was as if he was saying, “How can a lady and a Prince be ‘friends’?” But did I really need to explain to him? I didn’t feel the need to explain, so I just sat there, and Victor, who had been wanting to join the conversation the whole time, suddenly approached me again. He bent down with his huge body, put his face right up to mine, and examined my face carefully as if he were appraising a jewel.
“I don’t understand. Woman. Beautiful. How can we be friends?”
“Prince Rhodes. Me. Us. Friends.”
I looked straight into Victor's gray eyes and responded in the same way using Elacon. My Elacon conversation skills were still poor, so it was surprisingly similar to this pink-haired bear Prince. Victor's thin, double-lidded eyes blinked slowly several times. He finally laughed loudly, making this audience room disappear. The 9th Prince, standing behind him, opened his eyes wide as if it was quite surprising.
“You. I like you. Me too. Friend.”
“I don’t like it.”
Clearly, the one staring at us with wide eyes right in front of my eyes was the Crown Prince. Even without looking, I could feel his warm gaze from behind where Rhodnes was.
“Victor. I heard that in Ronta, you can’t greet someone like that unless you’re close to them.”
“I didn’t know.”
Did you know or didn't you? I was so embarrassed that I stepped back for a moment, and I immediately felt a hot, hard body behind my back. When I turned my head back, Rhodnes was pressed against my back and was glaring at the man called Victor in front of me.
“Who is that rude person?”
“Brother, can’t you see this Ephero?”
Rhodnes asked the Crown Prince, but Ephero suddenly interrupted.
“You look too good. Who is that guy hanging out next to you? Is that your pet dog?”
When the pink-haired man tilted his head as if he didn't understand the word pet, Ephero burst out laughing.
“Excuse me, ma’am. This is Victor Vansheik from Elacon.”
Vansheik! I suddenly came to my senses and looked at the pink hair again.
“He is Prince Elacon, and also my close friend who I have been with throughout my studies abroad.”
It was said that the 9th Prince Ephero had returned home with Prince Elacon.
“Brother Rhodnes. Shouldn’t you introduce the person who came with you?”
Ephero's mumbling speech sounded like that of a city swindler, but his content was polite and gave off a strange feeling.
“According to those who know the Empire well, that lady is my brother’s..."
He smiled, revealing his sharp fangs, and lifted his little finger. The large gemstone rings on each knuckle sparkled. It was a light action that was hard to believe, and it was from a Prince of a country. Rhodnes's facial muscles contorted with discomfort.
“Ephero, you rascal...”
“I’m sorry, but Your Highness the Second Prince and I are friends. Your Highness the Ninth Prince.”
I spoke firmly to the ridiculously rude Ephero. When I stepped forward, Ephero raised his slightly scratched eyebrows as if he was surprised, and sneered. It was as if he was saying, “How can a lady and a Prince be ‘friends’?” But did I really need to explain to him? I didn’t feel the need to explain, so I just sat there, and Victor, who had been wanting to join the conversation the whole time, suddenly approached me again. He bent down with his huge body, put his face right up to mine, and examined my face carefully as if he were appraising a jewel.
“I don’t understand. Woman. Beautiful. How can we be friends?”
“Prince Rhodes. Me. Us. Friends.”
I looked straight into Victor's gray eyes and responded in the same way using Elacon. My Elacon conversation skills were still poor, so it was surprisingly similar to this pink-haired bear Prince. Victor's thin, double-lidded eyes blinked slowly several times. He finally laughed loudly, making this audience room disappear. The 9th Prince, standing behind him, opened his eyes wide as if it was quite surprising.
“You. I like you. Me too. Friend.”
“I don’t like it.”
The answer came not from my mouth, but from above my head. Rhodnes, who had been holding my arm tightly, pulled me behind him in an instant. He was so strong that I had no time to stumble. His body, as large as the bear-like Prince Elacon, stood before me like a wall.
“In Ronta, friends, that’s not something just anyone can do, Prince.”
I tried to shake off Rhodnes, who was holding my arm while hiding me at his back, and look forward, but he was holding me with such force that I couldn't move forward.
"...Your Highness!"
Even though I shouted in a low voice that only he could hear, Rhodnes did not move an inch.
“Oh-. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you make that face. Isn’t that right, Brother Bardenaldo? If I had known there was such an interesting spectacle, I would have come a little earlier and enjoyed myself.”
“We didn’t even call you, so why are you suddenly here and causing trouble?”
Instead of the Crown Prince, Rhodnes responded coolly.
“Father’s birthday is just around the corner, but how can I not show my face even once? I couldn’t help but come here because Brother Bardenaldo and my uncle were so holy.”
“...Uncle?”
As if he didn’t understand, Rhodnes turned his gaze straight to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince’s face was completely drained of energy. He couldn’t bring himself to ask Ephero why he came or to blame the Grand Duke who was stuck in the north, so he seemed to have nothing to say.
I used Rhodnes’s wide back as a shield and smiled slyly. This was because I knew the Crown Prince would come out like that. By abandoning Noevian, he had won the hearts of both the West and the East, but he couldn’t ignore Ephero, the hope of the noble faction when he came. This was because the 9th Prince was the legitimate son of the current Empress Grace, and he had a pro-Elacon tendency.
Traditionally, the empire tended to look down on Elacon, but they couldn’t ignore Elacon, who was using its vast resources to strengthen its military as if it were just a small country. This was especially true because they had suffered a crushing defeat in a military conflict with Elacon a few years ago. The 9th Prince Ephero was a victim of that war. Elacon wanted to promote new friendship by giving the Empire a large gem mine in the disputed area, and the Empire wanted to send the young 9th Prince Ephero, the legitimate heir of the current position, to Elacon to study. The exchange, which was somewhat humiliating, changed the situation when the 9th Prince Ephero adapted to Elacon better than expected and won the hearts of the people there. The friendship between Ronta and Elacon was strengthened even more, and the young Prince Ephero suddenly emerged as a bridge between them.
Naturally, the Crown Prince's faction could not help but be wary that the 9th Prince would use this as an excuse to aim for the position of Crown Prince. The moment the Crown Prince looked impatient, and now that the Grand Duke was gone, it was obvious that the Crown Prince's faction would waver. It was a time when it was difficult to tell who was an ally and who was an enemy. If a completely noble person was placed next to Ephero, those around him would definitely think that there was some kind of plot, and if a completely noble person was placed next to Ephero, the Crown Prince himself would feel uneasy.
I was just watching the situation with my head sticking out, and I pinched Rhodnes' arm hard and barely managed to get him out while he flinched.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, may I ask why you have summoned me here today?”
“...I would like to ask you, Madam, to take charge of Ephero’s training.”
A woman, not a man. A married lady, not a single one. Someone who became famous for successfully hosting a welcoming ceremony for the Elacon delegation. Someone who was the maid of the Crown Princess and almost became the wife of the Grand Duke whom the Crown Prince had rejected. It was hard to find someone as suitable as me, who was in an ambiguous position.
Ephero smirked, ruffling my already carelessly slicked-back hair.
“I asked you specifically. This pink bear-like human that accompanied me said he really wanted to meet Madam, and he was also curious about my brother’s lover.”
And since there would be few nobles with the courage to openly support Ephero, I also calculated that Ephero would seek me out since I was friendly with the Elacon messengers.
“Ephero. Did you only learn how to bark in Elacon without learning the Elacon language?”
Ephero responded to Rhodnes's cool voice with a light wink. However, his refreshing expression only made Rhodnes even angrier.
“There are people all over the palace who will accompany you, you little bastard. Those are useless people...”
I slightly shook my head at Rhodnes, who seemed ready to draw his sword. Then I straightened my back and turned my gaze from between the two rough brothers to the pale-faced Crown Prince.
“Is this a favor you ask as Your Highness’s aide?”
I conveyed my intentions precisely with my eyes. It was the same look in my eyes that day when I said I was sure he would need my help.
“...Please take good care of me.”
The Crown Prince let out a sigh, clearly showing his reluctance. I gathered all the affection within me and smiled. Ephero, who had been called in to be the Crown Prince's aide, was looking at me with eyes of interest.
“Please. Good.”
Prince Elacon, who came along, was not on the plan.
“I asked you specifically. This pink bear-like human that accompanied me said he really wanted to meet Madam, and he was also curious about my brother’s lover.”
And since there would be few nobles with the courage to openly support Ephero, I also calculated that Ephero would seek me out since I was friendly with the Elacon messengers.
“Ephero. Did you only learn how to bark in Elacon without learning the Elacon language?”
Ephero responded to Rhodnes's cool voice with a light wink. However, his refreshing expression only made Rhodnes even angrier.
“There are people all over the palace who will accompany you, you little bastard. Those are useless people...”
I slightly shook my head at Rhodnes, who seemed ready to draw his sword. Then I straightened my back and turned my gaze from between the two rough brothers to the pale-faced Crown Prince.
“Is this a favor you ask as Your Highness’s aide?”
I conveyed my intentions precisely with my eyes. It was the same look in my eyes that day when I said I was sure he would need my help.
“...Please take good care of me.”
The Crown Prince let out a sigh, clearly showing his reluctance. I gathered all the affection within me and smiled. Ephero, who had been called in to be the Crown Prince's aide, was looking at me with eyes of interest.
“Please. Good.”
Prince Elacon, who came along, was not on the plan.
***
Before leaving the Crown Prince's Palace, the Crown Prince personally saw us off and asked us to please make Ephero and Prince Elacon as comfortable as possible. Since that was what I had in mind, the Crown Prince's request was not a problem. The problem was Rhodnes. Rhodnes' expression was so stern that it was difficult to talk to him all the way back to the Grand Duke's residence.
“...Dude, can you do that with just anyone?”
Those were the first words spoken by Rhodnes who had been staring out the window with a stern expression for a long time.
“The Prince of Elacon would be a good friend to have. He is the person I need right now.”
I took a risk to become the Crown Prince's aide, but Prince Victor, who Ephero brought with him, was a good variable for me.
“Maybe... I can learn more about Blie.”
I hesitated and finally spoke, but it didn't make sense to Rhodnes at all. The brow that had been showing signs of discontent from earlier was furrowing as if on the verge of a frown.
“Blie was a sorcerer from Elacon. No matter how much Your Highness and I investigate here, there will be limits to what we can learn about Blie. If we become friendly with Victor Vansheik, we may be able to investigate Elacon a bit more. Besides, it seems like His Highness the Crown Prince needs my help right now, so I will do the work he has entrusted to me in order to gain His Highness’ trust.”
The Crown Prince entrusted me with the preparation of their welcoming ceremony, which was to be held two days later. Normally, such matters were the responsibility of the Empress and Crown Princess, who were in charge of the inner palace, but since it was so sudden, they could not prepare for it on a large scale, and they were already busy preparing for His Majesty the Emperor's birthday party, which was just around the corner.
'Doris is going to be a little upset.'
I would love it if I could avoid working, but I wondered how she would react when she found out I was the one who planned the welcome party.
'Not as her maid, but as the Crown Prince's aide.'
I was as silent as my mind was busy, and I was so focused that I didn't realize that it had been a while since the carriage had stopped.
“You look busy, even though you’re doing nothing.”
“Oh, when did you get here? Oh my goodness, I have a ton of work to do, I might have to stay up all night.”
Although Rhodes noticed that I had come to my senses, he showed no intention of opening the carriage door and leaving.
“Uh... Your Highness, you should return to the palace right away, right? I’d like to offer you a cup of tea, but there are only two days left until the welcoming ceremony.”
Despite my excuses, which were made because I was feeling impatient, Rhodnes just lifted his chin and looked at me. The silence made me feel even more anxious.
“...Do you have anything to say?”
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
The weather was definitely cold, but his gaze was extremely persistent and hot. I felt unnecessarily nervous and pulled the front of the fur cloak I was wearing tightly. Rhodnes's dark gaze immediately followed me there.
“Wh, what do you want to say...?”
“You secretly kissed me... and then ran away.”
Ah. Like boiling water under the water, a calm and hot gaze stared at my lips as if licking them.
“...Dude, can you do that with just anyone?”
Those were the first words spoken by Rhodnes who had been staring out the window with a stern expression for a long time.
“The Prince of Elacon would be a good friend to have. He is the person I need right now.”
I took a risk to become the Crown Prince's aide, but Prince Victor, who Ephero brought with him, was a good variable for me.
“Maybe... I can learn more about Blie.”
I hesitated and finally spoke, but it didn't make sense to Rhodnes at all. The brow that had been showing signs of discontent from earlier was furrowing as if on the verge of a frown.
“Blie was a sorcerer from Elacon. No matter how much Your Highness and I investigate here, there will be limits to what we can learn about Blie. If we become friendly with Victor Vansheik, we may be able to investigate Elacon a bit more. Besides, it seems like His Highness the Crown Prince needs my help right now, so I will do the work he has entrusted to me in order to gain His Highness’ trust.”
The Crown Prince entrusted me with the preparation of their welcoming ceremony, which was to be held two days later. Normally, such matters were the responsibility of the Empress and Crown Princess, who were in charge of the inner palace, but since it was so sudden, they could not prepare for it on a large scale, and they were already busy preparing for His Majesty the Emperor's birthday party, which was just around the corner.
'Doris is going to be a little upset.'
I would love it if I could avoid working, but I wondered how she would react when she found out I was the one who planned the welcome party.
'Not as her maid, but as the Crown Prince's aide.'
I was as silent as my mind was busy, and I was so focused that I didn't realize that it had been a while since the carriage had stopped.
“You look busy, even though you’re doing nothing.”
“Oh, when did you get here? Oh my goodness, I have a ton of work to do, I might have to stay up all night.”
Although Rhodes noticed that I had come to my senses, he showed no intention of opening the carriage door and leaving.
“Uh... Your Highness, you should return to the palace right away, right? I’d like to offer you a cup of tea, but there are only two days left until the welcoming ceremony.”
Despite my excuses, which were made because I was feeling impatient, Rhodnes just lifted his chin and looked at me. The silence made me feel even more anxious.
“...Do you have anything to say?”
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
The weather was definitely cold, but his gaze was extremely persistent and hot. I felt unnecessarily nervous and pulled the front of the fur cloak I was wearing tightly. Rhodnes's dark gaze immediately followed me there.
“Wh, what do you want to say...?”
“You secretly kissed me... and then ran away.”
Ah. Like boiling water under the water, a calm and hot gaze stared at my lips as if licking them.
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