Side Story Episode 1. It's Okay to Go Backwards (1)
The Smeilan envoy dispatched for a secret meeting with Emperor Tagar was Princess Shanla's maternal uncle.
After settling several issues related to Crown Prince Grayon's marriage, the envoy visited the Crown Prince's palace. Princess Shanla and Locard were also present.
Princess Shanla shouted the moment the envoy entered the door.
"Uncle! The Crown Prince is harassing me!"
Since everyone in the room knew Smeilan, everyone's faces froze simultaneously.
Of course, the most flustered was Grayon.
Fortunately, however, the envoy chuckled and asked,
"How did the Crown Prince, who will soon be your husband, harass the Princess?"
"He always tells me to be quiet. It really bothers me!"
Grayon said, his face turning bright red.
“What? I was only pointing out that your informal speech was inappropriate. Princess!”
However, Princess Shanla completely ignored Grayon, making the situation her own.
“Etiquette, etiquette, etiquette! The Crown Prince of Tagar is so petty. He finds fault with everything. Uncle, I’m really having a hard time!”
The envoy bowed his head as if apologizing to Grayon.
“Please look upon her with kind eyes, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. The blessing of freedom that Smeilan reveres has been bestowed upon our Princess a little more.”
Grayon sighed, relieved after confirming that the envoy had not misunderstood him.
If the envoy had not been someone who knew Shanla’s usual behavior well, there might have been a huge conflict.
Grayon muttered in vain.
“Well, it’s okay. If it’s my fault that this kind of thing is cute sometimes, then it’s a fault...”
While Locard suppressed a laugh at those words, Shanla grumbled. He felt betrayed because his uncle had comforted Grayon instead of comforting him.
Grayon put an arm around her shoulder and comforted her before she could say anything else. Shanla's face melted.
The envoy smiled at her and straightened his back.
He spoke in the Imperial language, taking everyone into consideration.
"I will tell Her Majesty the Queen that the Princess is in good health."
"I wish you a safe journey back home."
Grayon said. The envoy looked slightly embarrassed.
"I am old, and eating and sleeping on the road is a bit of a burden... Smeilan is not a short boat ride away..."
The Smeilans were not known for long conversations. That hesitant attitude signaled that he had something he wanted.
Shanla spoke loudly to Grayon.
"My uncle said he wanted to have some fun now that he's in the Empire! He's old and doesn't know when he'll be able to come back and have fun. Grayon, what are you going to do?"
Everyone looked at the envoy. They expected the envoy to laugh, naturally embarrassed, and deny Princess Shanla's words. Instead, he bowed his head slightly and remained silent.
Locard quickly spoke.
"The Zebron Hotel is empty now, Your Highness."
Shanla then craned her neck like a startled deer and said,
"Zebron? I want to go too, Your Highness."
Grayon clicked his tongue lightly.
"It's far. You should prepare for our wedding."
"Ahh... What a shame."
Grayon's face twisted for a moment.
Was Shanla's regret about not being able to go to the Zebron Hotel, or about marrying him? But there was no room for that now.
Locard said,
"If Your Highness permits, I will escort the envoy to Zebron."
"...!"
Grayon glared at Locard, who was grinning.
"That bastard!"
Grayon's eyes twitched, but he couldn't object.
He couldn't treat his wife-to-be's uncle badly, nor could he send a foreigner alone to the royal family's undisclosed hotel.
That bastard Locard had cleverly seized the opportunity to visit his wife. Zebron Beach was Loricha's favorite place. What a detestable bastard. He was already detestable, but he became tenfold more detestable after marriage.
Grayon glared at Locard, his thoughts clearly captured.
"That's a good idea, Locard. I'm delighted to be able to invite my wife's uncle to such a beautiful resort. But will it interfere with the academy?"
"The exams are just around the corner, so it will be a major inconvenience... but for me, serving His Highness the Crown Prince is more important."
That brat who only spoke softly.
Grayon suddenly felt eyes on him and turned to Shanla.
She was staring intently at Grayon, smiling. She seemed pleased to have sent the envoy to the Zebron Hotel.
"Good."
“Haa...”
Grayon touched his forehead and lowered his head, and the envoy consciously backed away. Locard retreated happily.
“You want me to go on a business trip? To a place that will take more than two weeks?”
I asked back, my eyes wide. Prince Kydel rubbed my arms and gave me a seductive expression.
With that kind of expression, I couldn’t refuse most things. But I was afraid.
“If this wicked woman follows you around on your official business... I don’t want my notoriety to follow you, too. I don’t want you to hear that you’ve blurred the lines between public and private.”
“I think my reasoning has already faded...”
Prince Kydel began to twist the fastening string on my chest with his fingertips, then slowly pulled it.
I held the string tightly in the middle and glared at him.
"It's work!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince gave permission."
I subtly brushed his arm, which was holding onto my buckle, then grabbed his wrist. He felt a sting and tried to pull his hand away.
"You were just twisting your fingers behind my back, weren't you?"
"Oh, I did. It was... something."
But my heart was growing weaker. Do you really want to go like that? It was kind of cute how the always brazen man would tell such a lame lie just in case I refused.
"I'll go and stay in my room. I won't disturb you while you work."
"Yes."
Prince Kydel's reaction still felt uneasy, but I decided not to argue further.
Considering what we'd been through, perhaps this much rest was due a long time ago, I thought.
Prince Kydel needed rest. He hadn't even shown up at the palace the day after returning from wiping out pirates on the high seas.
I was tired too. I'd been living on edge, always on the edge of death.
While I was thinking about that, Prince Kydel had already tucked me into bed and covered me with the blanket.
I loved seeing his face gazing down at me from under the covers. At those moments, it felt as if we were both children, playing pranks.
Of course, the content of those pranks was the very essence of adulthood.
He sternly commanded me.
“Focus on me, my dear.”
“Oh, really. I’m embarrassed when you call me that!”
“Why, I like it. Will our Lorisha listen if you do this?”
“Ah, my dear...!”
I leaned my head against the carriage wall, exhausted, when Prince Kaidel chuckled and pulled me to sleep on his lap.
My throat felt slightly hoarse from calling him “honey” all night. I couldn’t believe how many different ways I could say “honey”.
My eyes were slightly wet from the tears I shed during the process.
He must have been so touched by my diversity that even in the morning, his face remained silent, a mixture of emotion and solemnity.
“Ha...”
Anyway, we set off for his business trip in that state. He didn't tell me where to go. It was all part of his prank.
When we met the envoy we were supposed to accompany, the envoy, seeing my dull eyes, remarked, "Your face looks like a sailor who's weathered a storm."
Prince Kydel then used that as an excuse to hop into my carriage instead of his.
I wanted to tell him not to, but once I felt the comfort of his knees in the swaying carriage, my mouth wouldn't open.
Whenever we stopped at inns, we dined with the envoy, and he was incredibly kind to me.
He told me that I was the only woman in the empire who could understand and befriend Princess Shanla. He didn't forget to mention that the Princess loved me dearly.
In short, he asked me to take good care of his nephew.
When I looked at Prince Kydel, slightly embarrassed by his continued praise, he would look at me gently and mouth,
"My dear."
That almost made me choke on my food a couple of times. But humans are so adaptable, and with time, even that became bearable.
And after a few days, I could see where we were going.
As I stared out the carriage window, taking a deep breath and remaining silent, Prince Kydel lightly kissed my shoulder.
"Do you know the way?"
"Are we... going to Zebron Beach?"
"I thought you'd like it."
"Your Excellency!"
I spun around and hugged his neck. My momentum sent us crashing down onto the carriage seat.
"Oh, you're so pretty! My husband only does pretty things!"
When he winked at me with a sly grin, I couldn't help but correct him, overcome with gratitude and excitement.
"My dear!"
"Oh, Lorisha. You're so stimulating!"
The Smeilan envoy dispatched for a secret meeting with Emperor Tagar was Princess Shanla's maternal uncle.
After settling several issues related to Crown Prince Grayon's marriage, the envoy visited the Crown Prince's palace. Princess Shanla and Locard were also present.
Princess Shanla shouted the moment the envoy entered the door.
"Uncle! The Crown Prince is harassing me!"
Since everyone in the room knew Smeilan, everyone's faces froze simultaneously.
Of course, the most flustered was Grayon.
Fortunately, however, the envoy chuckled and asked,
"How did the Crown Prince, who will soon be your husband, harass the Princess?"
"He always tells me to be quiet. It really bothers me!"
Grayon said, his face turning bright red.
“What? I was only pointing out that your informal speech was inappropriate. Princess!”
However, Princess Shanla completely ignored Grayon, making the situation her own.
“Etiquette, etiquette, etiquette! The Crown Prince of Tagar is so petty. He finds fault with everything. Uncle, I’m really having a hard time!”
The envoy bowed his head as if apologizing to Grayon.
“Please look upon her with kind eyes, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. The blessing of freedom that Smeilan reveres has been bestowed upon our Princess a little more.”
Grayon sighed, relieved after confirming that the envoy had not misunderstood him.
If the envoy had not been someone who knew Shanla’s usual behavior well, there might have been a huge conflict.
Grayon muttered in vain.
“Well, it’s okay. If it’s my fault that this kind of thing is cute sometimes, then it’s a fault...”
While Locard suppressed a laugh at those words, Shanla grumbled. He felt betrayed because his uncle had comforted Grayon instead of comforting him.
Grayon put an arm around her shoulder and comforted her before she could say anything else. Shanla's face melted.
The envoy smiled at her and straightened his back.
He spoke in the Imperial language, taking everyone into consideration.
"I will tell Her Majesty the Queen that the Princess is in good health."
"I wish you a safe journey back home."
Grayon said. The envoy looked slightly embarrassed.
"I am old, and eating and sleeping on the road is a bit of a burden... Smeilan is not a short boat ride away..."
The Smeilans were not known for long conversations. That hesitant attitude signaled that he had something he wanted.
Shanla spoke loudly to Grayon.
"My uncle said he wanted to have some fun now that he's in the Empire! He's old and doesn't know when he'll be able to come back and have fun. Grayon, what are you going to do?"
Everyone looked at the envoy. They expected the envoy to laugh, naturally embarrassed, and deny Princess Shanla's words. Instead, he bowed his head slightly and remained silent.
Locard quickly spoke.
"The Zebron Hotel is empty now, Your Highness."
Shanla then craned her neck like a startled deer and said,
"Zebron? I want to go too, Your Highness."
Grayon clicked his tongue lightly.
"It's far. You should prepare for our wedding."
"Ahh... What a shame."
Grayon's face twisted for a moment.
Was Shanla's regret about not being able to go to the Zebron Hotel, or about marrying him? But there was no room for that now.
Locard said,
"If Your Highness permits, I will escort the envoy to Zebron."
"...!"
Grayon glared at Locard, who was grinning.
"That bastard!"
Grayon's eyes twitched, but he couldn't object.
He couldn't treat his wife-to-be's uncle badly, nor could he send a foreigner alone to the royal family's undisclosed hotel.
That bastard Locard had cleverly seized the opportunity to visit his wife. Zebron Beach was Loricha's favorite place. What a detestable bastard. He was already detestable, but he became tenfold more detestable after marriage.
Grayon glared at Locard, his thoughts clearly captured.
"That's a good idea, Locard. I'm delighted to be able to invite my wife's uncle to such a beautiful resort. But will it interfere with the academy?"
"The exams are just around the corner, so it will be a major inconvenience... but for me, serving His Highness the Crown Prince is more important."
That brat who only spoke softly.
Grayon suddenly felt eyes on him and turned to Shanla.
She was staring intently at Grayon, smiling. She seemed pleased to have sent the envoy to the Zebron Hotel.
"Good."
“Haa...”
Grayon touched his forehead and lowered his head, and the envoy consciously backed away. Locard retreated happily.
***
“You want me to go on a business trip? To a place that will take more than two weeks?”
I asked back, my eyes wide. Prince Kydel rubbed my arms and gave me a seductive expression.
With that kind of expression, I couldn’t refuse most things. But I was afraid.
“If this wicked woman follows you around on your official business... I don’t want my notoriety to follow you, too. I don’t want you to hear that you’ve blurred the lines between public and private.”
“I think my reasoning has already faded...”
Prince Kydel began to twist the fastening string on my chest with his fingertips, then slowly pulled it.
I held the string tightly in the middle and glared at him.
"It's work!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince gave permission."
I subtly brushed his arm, which was holding onto my buckle, then grabbed his wrist. He felt a sting and tried to pull his hand away.
"You were just twisting your fingers behind my back, weren't you?"
"Oh, I did. It was... something."
But my heart was growing weaker. Do you really want to go like that? It was kind of cute how the always brazen man would tell such a lame lie just in case I refused.
"I'll go and stay in my room. I won't disturb you while you work."
"Yes."
Prince Kydel's reaction still felt uneasy, but I decided not to argue further.
Considering what we'd been through, perhaps this much rest was due a long time ago, I thought.
Prince Kydel needed rest. He hadn't even shown up at the palace the day after returning from wiping out pirates on the high seas.
I was tired too. I'd been living on edge, always on the edge of death.
While I was thinking about that, Prince Kydel had already tucked me into bed and covered me with the blanket.
I loved seeing his face gazing down at me from under the covers. At those moments, it felt as if we were both children, playing pranks.
Of course, the content of those pranks was the very essence of adulthood.
He sternly commanded me.
“Focus on me, my dear.”
“Oh, really. I’m embarrassed when you call me that!”
“Why, I like it. Will our Lorisha listen if you do this?”
“Ah, my dear...!”
***
I leaned my head against the carriage wall, exhausted, when Prince Kaidel chuckled and pulled me to sleep on his lap.
My throat felt slightly hoarse from calling him “honey” all night. I couldn’t believe how many different ways I could say “honey”.
My eyes were slightly wet from the tears I shed during the process.
He must have been so touched by my diversity that even in the morning, his face remained silent, a mixture of emotion and solemnity.
“Ha...”
Anyway, we set off for his business trip in that state. He didn't tell me where to go. It was all part of his prank.
When we met the envoy we were supposed to accompany, the envoy, seeing my dull eyes, remarked, "Your face looks like a sailor who's weathered a storm."
Prince Kydel then used that as an excuse to hop into my carriage instead of his.
I wanted to tell him not to, but once I felt the comfort of his knees in the swaying carriage, my mouth wouldn't open.
Whenever we stopped at inns, we dined with the envoy, and he was incredibly kind to me.
He told me that I was the only woman in the empire who could understand and befriend Princess Shanla. He didn't forget to mention that the Princess loved me dearly.
In short, he asked me to take good care of his nephew.
When I looked at Prince Kydel, slightly embarrassed by his continued praise, he would look at me gently and mouth,
"My dear."
That almost made me choke on my food a couple of times. But humans are so adaptable, and with time, even that became bearable.
And after a few days, I could see where we were going.
As I stared out the carriage window, taking a deep breath and remaining silent, Prince Kydel lightly kissed my shoulder.
"Do you know the way?"
"Are we... going to Zebron Beach?"
"I thought you'd like it."
"Your Excellency!"
I spun around and hugged his neck. My momentum sent us crashing down onto the carriage seat.
"Oh, you're so pretty! My husband only does pretty things!"
When he winked at me with a sly grin, I couldn't help but correct him, overcome with gratitude and excitement.
"My dear!"
"Oh, Lorisha. You're so stimulating!"
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