Episode 90. You’re having fun, aren’t you?
I couldn’t tell if he was talking to himself or trying to test me, so I felt like I was sitting on a bed of thorns.
The reason Prince Kaidel spoke to me today was that he wanted to cause this kind of misunderstanding.
I was seething inside.
“Misha, just go and greet the Prince, and, you know, ‘ask me to dance.’ Do that.”
The Countess had told me something like that during etiquette training before entering the palace. I ignored it because she said dancing had nothing to do with me, so I don’t remember exactly.
“Is that so? ...No. Why are you doing that? Actually, I greeted him earlier, but hr just gave me a nod and passed by.”
Misha said that and returned to her seat. When Misha left, the Count at the table smiled at me.
I also bowed to the Count, but then my eyes met the eyes of the ladies around me.
They were all talking in unison.
'How dare you reject our Prince Kydel?'
This was a fight he had won from the moment it started.
"Haa..."
***
After a long party, Grayon and Locard finally started drinking when they returned to the Second Prince's Palace.
On the balcony of Grayon's bedroom, their neatly dressed shirts were loosely open, and laughter flowed freely.
Locard looked as Grayon clinked his glasses until they were all sloshed.
"You saw the expression on the face of the maid, Milliora, just now. She really wanted to tear your bones apart!"
"The courtship was revealed before it even began. This is the only way to make a public attack. After today, rumors about me will probably spread far and wide."
"Should you at least get slapped once?"
"That would be even better."
"Don't ever let me down. My honor rests on your shoulders."
"Your Highness's scheme is too daunting to talk about honor."
“Nevertheless, it is your duty as a lion to get the job done. Die honorably.”
Then Locard opened his arms and bowed his head, making an exaggerated gesture.
Grayon smiled softly and asked,
“You’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”
“Yes. It’s delicious.”
But Grayon wasn’t talking about the alcohol. Locard only turned around when Grayon’s gaze had cooled.
“Why not?”
“It’s not pleasant to discover your expressions that I don’t know because of that maid.”
“There’s a me that I’ve never seen before. That’s why it’s interesting.”
Grayon snorted softly as if he were angry.
“End it with self-exploration. You’re the one who will be the first lion. Even though half of her blood is Loire, she’s an illegitimate child; that’s not right.”
Locard looked at the wet garden at night and said,
“Your Highness, you look happy with Lady Ankart.”
“...”
Grayon sighed and poured the alcohol.
“How much help would it be if the Ankart were on my side?”
“If there is no change, Viscount Ankart will be the largest investor in the construction of the new steel mill. The enormous wealth from there, plus the iron supply rights... That should be enough to win over the warlords and central forces who are currently looking at you. They expressed their disappointment during the second competition.”
“But?”
“...”
“There is a ‘but’ in your voice.”
Locard answered indifferently.
“I am not sure what Viscount Ankart will demand of you. If he is simply using your power to continue the businessmen’s business, then Your Highness...”
“She asked me where I could use her family’s wealth, and then she asked me to change her name. What a womanizer.”
Locard put down his glass with a stern face. His voice was filled with anger.
“You dare say that Kalin Ankart proposed to you?”
Locard snorted with contempt and poured himself more wine.
Grayon was watching his every move closely.
“Is that your answer? Contempt.”
Locard knew how to shine even in the darkest night. He stared at his master and asked.
“Who are you asking now, Your Highness’s servant or your friend?”
“I will ask them in turn.”
“If you ask your servant Locard, I will tell you to be careful until I can find a way to control her desires.”
“My friend Locard?”
“I do not want to see someone sitting next to Your Highness who is motivated only by her own desires and not by her love for the Empire.”
Locard was not entirely honest. He was angry now.
Kalin Ankart did something she shouldn’t have done today. She tried to buy the future Emperor with her wealth.
That was the same as proving that she was not worthy of being the next Empress.
Power is not traded like that. It may be fine for a business deal, but when it’s an empire, a completely different logic is required.
Those who don’t know the difference should not approach him.
When Grayon Tagar heard that proposal today, he should have been angry and insulted.
Instead, he was pondering her proposal deep into the night.
Locard was angry at both Grayon and Kalin, but he didn’t show it.
He just added this situation to the variables he had to consider in the future.
Grayon seemed angry at his silence.
“But I need money. Brother Orl can spend his family’s money however he wants, but I only have you. I can’t worry about where to get the money to give my person a small reward.”
“...How much do you need?”
“This kid is real.”
“I told you. I have a lot of money. But thanks to Your Highness, I have more.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Pirates of the high seas. I found their hideout. Now they are ownerless treasure.”
“Tch, Loka...!”
“If you need money, just let me know. And it won’t be too late to decide once the new Tagar has ascended to the throne.”
“You punk, you did that all by yourself...!”
“This kid is real.”
“I told you. I have a lot of money. But thanks to Your Highness, I have more.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Pirates of the high seas. I found their hideout. Now they are ownerless treasure.”
“Tch, Loka...!”
“If you need money, just let me know. And it won’t be too late to decide once the new Tagar has ascended to the throne.”
“You punk, you did that all by yourself...!”
“I rented six ships, and I burned one. Do you know how much that cost? Victory for Your Highness, and the spoils for me. Isn’t that right?”
“Ha...”
The night was deep, and he was quite drunk. Locard bowed to his lord once again with a flashy gesture, then returned to his bedroom.
With a mischievous smile on his lips.
Etrang.
‘How did I end up here?’
I looked down at the silk napkin with Etrang written on the corner and felt regret.
The tea party ladies would brag about visiting Etrang, and indeed, this place was full of nobles and the rich even in broad daylight.
Do they have nothing to do but eat lunch and hang out during the daytime when the commoners are busy working?
Prince Kydel, who was sitting in front of me, smiled warmly as if comforting me, who was uncomfortable and didn’t know what to do.
I smiled warmly at him, too.
The difference in our temperatures was clear. He had the rewarding smile of a man acting out a courtship, and I had no choice but to be subjected to it, and my anger was burning.
His words sounded quite plausible.
I had broken the etiquette of the social world, and that was an insulting act, so I needed to apologize to him, and I had come all the way here at the request of the person receiving the apology...
I gritted my teeth and muttered,
“This losing streak.”
“Huh? What?”
“No. I’m hungry.”
You need to have a stomach to fight. This guy is particularly good at confusing people.
“The meal will be served soon, so please wait a moment. I have clearly told the restaurant. Please serve the food as soon as ‘Miss Loirr’ arrives.”
“...You told the restaurant about ‘Miss Loire’?”
“Of course.”
“Your Excellency is a war hero. The lion cub of the empire.”
“Well, that title is dangerous. Miss Loire.”
My eyes widened at the sudden mention of the words.
“Lion is the most honorable title that only His Majesty the Emperor can bestow. His Highness Grayon was in Tunbar in His Majesty’s stead, and I used that word when I saved the royal family, so it was tolerated, but if His Majesty takes issue with it, it could be a big problem.”
“But the whole world already calls Your Excellency that.”
“That is why His Majesty tolerates it. However, it must never be said in official settings.”
“I didn’t know. I will be careful.”
“As expected, this confirms your favor to me again. Thank you for being so considerate.”
I let my guard down again.
This kid comes in without missing a moment. Is it because he uses his sword well?
“Haa...”
“Ha...”
The night was deep, and he was quite drunk. Locard bowed to his lord once again with a flashy gesture, then returned to his bedroom.
With a mischievous smile on his lips.
***
Etrang.
‘How did I end up here?’
I looked down at the silk napkin with Etrang written on the corner and felt regret.
The tea party ladies would brag about visiting Etrang, and indeed, this place was full of nobles and the rich even in broad daylight.
Do they have nothing to do but eat lunch and hang out during the daytime when the commoners are busy working?
Prince Kydel, who was sitting in front of me, smiled warmly as if comforting me, who was uncomfortable and didn’t know what to do.
I smiled warmly at him, too.
The difference in our temperatures was clear. He had the rewarding smile of a man acting out a courtship, and I had no choice but to be subjected to it, and my anger was burning.
His words sounded quite plausible.
I had broken the etiquette of the social world, and that was an insulting act, so I needed to apologize to him, and I had come all the way here at the request of the person receiving the apology...
I gritted my teeth and muttered,
“This losing streak.”
“Huh? What?”
“No. I’m hungry.”
You need to have a stomach to fight. This guy is particularly good at confusing people.
“The meal will be served soon, so please wait a moment. I have clearly told the restaurant. Please serve the food as soon as ‘Miss Loirr’ arrives.”
“...You told the restaurant about ‘Miss Loire’?”
“Of course.”
“Your Excellency is a war hero. The lion cub of the empire.”
“Well, that title is dangerous. Miss Loire.”
My eyes widened at the sudden mention of the words.
“Lion is the most honorable title that only His Majesty the Emperor can bestow. His Highness Grayon was in Tunbar in His Majesty’s stead, and I used that word when I saved the royal family, so it was tolerated, but if His Majesty takes issue with it, it could be a big problem.”
“But the whole world already calls Your Excellency that.”
“That is why His Majesty tolerates it. However, it must never be said in official settings.”
“I didn’t know. I will be careful.”
“As expected, this confirms your favor to me again. Thank you for being so considerate.”
I let my guard down again.
This kid comes in without missing a moment. Is it because he uses his sword well?
“Haa...”
I absentmindedly looked around and found Young Lady, a member of Her Highness’s tea party, sitting at a table near us.
She was whispering intently while looking at us and her group, and when I turned around, she turned her head and pretended not to know anything. I could tell what she was talking about.
Prince Kydel and Lorisha Loire are dating!
I twisted my head ambiguously and whispered to him.
“Couldn’t you have reserved a seat in a corner? I heard that ‘Miss Loire’ likes corner seats.”
Prince Kydel glanced in the direction I had just looked and snickered. He had quickly figured out the situation.
I covered my forehead with my hand and closed my eyes.
“Did you take this seat on purpose? You didn’t even ask about a private room, did you?”
“I like it because I can communicate well with Miss Lorisha. You know how difficult it is to find someone you can have a good conversation with.”
“I hope it’s not too difficult!”
At that moment, the food began to be served.
Prince Kydel stopped talking, but he was smiling as if he found what I had just said very amusing.
My stomach boiled when I thought that other people would think of that smile as that of a man in love.
I glanced at the other tables and said.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment