“Ugh, wow, that’s a surprise!”
The man who was hiding behind the bushes was startled by the sudden attack and fell backwards in an awkward manner.
He was none other than the Count's son, Gerald Cenospawn.
“Aren’t you the young master of the Count’s family? Why are you here...?”
Cloud, who had confirmed that he was the owner of this mansion and not an intruder, put the sword he had drawn back into its sheath with a bewildered expression, but Aila was still holding the dagger in her hand and glaring at Gerald with wary eyes.
“Th, that... I, I was just curious what you were doing.”
Gerald avoided Aila's gaze with a flushed face.
It seemed that he was too embarrassed to show off his cool side, but then he fell backwards and landed on his butt in an embarrassing scene.
“...”
Cloud instantly realized why Gerald was acting this way. Even if he tried to ignore it, he couldn't help but notice. His affection for Aila was evident on his face.
'It's difficult.'
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
By all accounts, Aila was no match for Gerald.
She was a consumable item that would one day be used and discarded, and even if that wasn't the case, she was a noble Princess of the Duke of Weishaffen, someone he couldn't overlook.
But, since they were living in the Count's care, it was not right to say something unpleasant to the son of the family, like, "It will be difficult for you to act like this here. Go back immediately."
“...So, I’d like you to put that knife away. I’m not a suspicious person. You saw me before.”
Gerald smiled shyly and pleaded his innocence in a charming voice.
Aila still had a somewhat uneasy expression on her face, but she put away the dagger she had pointed at him. She didn't like the fact that he had tried to hide and watch her, but her identity was certain.
Aila, who had lost interest, sat back down on the iron chair with a dull expression and held the mug in her hand.
She didn't know why the noble young master of the Count's family would do something like this, but whatever the reason, it wasn't something she should be concerned about, as she was already preoccupied with her own problems.
She just wishes he would come back soon so she can rest in peace.
But Gerald seemed completely unwilling to grant her wishes.
“I’m Gerald. Gerald Cenospon.”
"...so?"
"I think I heard the introduction on my first day at this mansion," she replied curtly and took a sip of her cocoa.
Although it might have been hurtful to be treated so coldly, Gerald seemed to like that aspect of her and smiled broadly as he took the chair that had originally been Cloud's.
Then, he cleared his throat and gave Cloud a nod. It was a signal to him to leave, as he wanted to be alone with her. Not only did he take someone else's seat, but he told him to get out. Even for the landlord, it was an overly brazen attitude.
But Cloud pretended not to notice the signal and just stood behind Aila, keeping his mouth shut.
Gerald furrowed his eyebrows in displeasure at the sight, then smiled cheerfully again as if nothing had happened and spoke to Aila.
“You? What’s your name?”
“...There’s no name.”
"Why do you always ask such difficult questions?" Aila swallowed her discontent, biting the soft flesh on the inside of her lip.
Somehow, she felt like she was starting to dislike that guy named Gerald more and more.
“Where in the world is there a person without a name? Are you kidding me?”
Gerald thought her answer was a funny joke and burst out laughing, clapping his knees.
At that sight, Aila narrowed her eyes and stared at Gerald. The more she talked to him, the more her mood seemed to plummet.
Of course, she also had a pretty name, 'Aila Hailing Weishaffen', and she only just now realized that.
In her previous life, she was truly a 'nameless lady'.
How sad it was not to have a name that everyone else had.
If, in that situation, she had encountered a person who made fun of her answer of 'I don't have a name' and asked how such a thing could be true, Aila at that time would have definitely fallen asleep with her pillow wet with tears.
And Gerald, who belatedly noticed the cold expression on her face, stopped laughing and looked at her. If he laughed even a little longer, she'd be ready to punch him.
“...You don’t want to tell me your name?
Gerald interpreted Aila's answer in his own way and pouted in frustration, only to make her even more furious.
Maybe he's just trying to see the situation the way he wants to see it.
'If you have a name to tell me, I will tell you!'
She wanted to tell him her name and then yell at him to get lost now.
However, if she answered that her name was Aila in front of Cloud, the secret would be revealed, and even if no one was around, she couldn't tell her name to someone who might run to her father and say, "That girl's name is Aila," so Aila kept her mouth shut.
If that happened, Byron might activate a curse or something, and she would lose her life.
No, maybe it's better to misunderstand like that. If she shows off like this, that she doesn't want to talk, he'll just go back and never bother her again.
But Gerald was a boy with a lot of unnecessarily stubborn spirit.
“...It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. What should I call you? Since you’re pretty, should I call you pretty?”
He asked with one eye wide open, and Aila almost spit out the cocoa she was holding in her mouth.
She couldn't quite figure out what she was hearing. It was so chilling, it felt like every hair on her body stood on end.
Even Cloud, who had been standing still as if he were just part of the scenery, let out a cough at that remark.
“Good, pretty. Do you like it too?”
But Gerald actually smiled brightly at her as if he liked the nickname he had given her.
The man who was hiding behind the bushes was startled by the sudden attack and fell backwards in an awkward manner.
He was none other than the Count's son, Gerald Cenospawn.
“Aren’t you the young master of the Count’s family? Why are you here...?”
Cloud, who had confirmed that he was the owner of this mansion and not an intruder, put the sword he had drawn back into its sheath with a bewildered expression, but Aila was still holding the dagger in her hand and glaring at Gerald with wary eyes.
“Th, that... I, I was just curious what you were doing.”
Gerald avoided Aila's gaze with a flushed face.
It seemed that he was too embarrassed to show off his cool side, but then he fell backwards and landed on his butt in an embarrassing scene.
“...”
Cloud instantly realized why Gerald was acting this way. Even if he tried to ignore it, he couldn't help but notice. His affection for Aila was evident on his face.
'It's difficult.'
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
By all accounts, Aila was no match for Gerald.
She was a consumable item that would one day be used and discarded, and even if that wasn't the case, she was a noble Princess of the Duke of Weishaffen, someone he couldn't overlook.
But, since they were living in the Count's care, it was not right to say something unpleasant to the son of the family, like, "It will be difficult for you to act like this here. Go back immediately."
“...So, I’d like you to put that knife away. I’m not a suspicious person. You saw me before.”
Gerald smiled shyly and pleaded his innocence in a charming voice.
Aila still had a somewhat uneasy expression on her face, but she put away the dagger she had pointed at him. She didn't like the fact that he had tried to hide and watch her, but her identity was certain.
Aila, who had lost interest, sat back down on the iron chair with a dull expression and held the mug in her hand.
She didn't know why the noble young master of the Count's family would do something like this, but whatever the reason, it wasn't something she should be concerned about, as she was already preoccupied with her own problems.
She just wishes he would come back soon so she can rest in peace.
But Gerald seemed completely unwilling to grant her wishes.
“I’m Gerald. Gerald Cenospon.”
"...so?"
"I think I heard the introduction on my first day at this mansion," she replied curtly and took a sip of her cocoa.
Although it might have been hurtful to be treated so coldly, Gerald seemed to like that aspect of her and smiled broadly as he took the chair that had originally been Cloud's.
Then, he cleared his throat and gave Cloud a nod. It was a signal to him to leave, as he wanted to be alone with her. Not only did he take someone else's seat, but he told him to get out. Even for the landlord, it was an overly brazen attitude.
But Cloud pretended not to notice the signal and just stood behind Aila, keeping his mouth shut.
Gerald furrowed his eyebrows in displeasure at the sight, then smiled cheerfully again as if nothing had happened and spoke to Aila.
“You? What’s your name?”
“...There’s no name.”
"Why do you always ask such difficult questions?" Aila swallowed her discontent, biting the soft flesh on the inside of her lip.
Somehow, she felt like she was starting to dislike that guy named Gerald more and more.
“Where in the world is there a person without a name? Are you kidding me?”
Gerald thought her answer was a funny joke and burst out laughing, clapping his knees.
At that sight, Aila narrowed her eyes and stared at Gerald. The more she talked to him, the more her mood seemed to plummet.
Of course, she also had a pretty name, 'Aila Hailing Weishaffen', and she only just now realized that.
In her previous life, she was truly a 'nameless lady'.
How sad it was not to have a name that everyone else had.
If, in that situation, she had encountered a person who made fun of her answer of 'I don't have a name' and asked how such a thing could be true, Aila at that time would have definitely fallen asleep with her pillow wet with tears.
And Gerald, who belatedly noticed the cold expression on her face, stopped laughing and looked at her. If he laughed even a little longer, she'd be ready to punch him.
“...You don’t want to tell me your name?
Gerald interpreted Aila's answer in his own way and pouted in frustration, only to make her even more furious.
Maybe he's just trying to see the situation the way he wants to see it.
'If you have a name to tell me, I will tell you!'
She wanted to tell him her name and then yell at him to get lost now.
However, if she answered that her name was Aila in front of Cloud, the secret would be revealed, and even if no one was around, she couldn't tell her name to someone who might run to her father and say, "That girl's name is Aila," so Aila kept her mouth shut.
If that happened, Byron might activate a curse or something, and she would lose her life.
No, maybe it's better to misunderstand like that. If she shows off like this, that she doesn't want to talk, he'll just go back and never bother her again.
But Gerald was a boy with a lot of unnecessarily stubborn spirit.
“...It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. What should I call you? Since you’re pretty, should I call you pretty?”
He asked with one eye wide open, and Aila almost spit out the cocoa she was holding in her mouth.
She couldn't quite figure out what she was hearing. It was so chilling, it felt like every hair on her body stood on end.
Even Cloud, who had been standing still as if he were just part of the scenery, let out a cough at that remark.
“Good, pretty. Do you like it too?”
But Gerald actually smiled brightly at her as if he liked the nickname he had given her.
Aila couldn't tell if he was serious or just joking around to tease her.
Even after seeing the expression of disgust and horror on Aila's face, he asked if she liked it.
And then, just then, a voice calling out for Gerald was heard.
“Master! Master, where are you!”
“Oh, I have to go. I’ll be back later, pretty.”
He ruffled Aila's hair, then disappeared in the direction of the sound with a flower-like smile.
Normally, Aila would not have allowed him to touch her body, but she was so shocked by the 'pretty' comment that she couldn't stop him.
Even after Gerald left, Aila, who had been gaping in a daze, finally came to her senses and opened her mouth after a long time.
“...Is he crazy?”
Yeah, crazy. No word could describe him better than crazy.
Cloud, who was standing behind her, didn't react much to her words, but judging by the strange groans he made, he seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“I wonder if he’ll really come again?”
“I think he’ll come again.”
As she muttered to herself, Cloud, who had regained his position, answered in an embarrassed voice.
She didn't know what it was, but Aila was so exhausted in an instant that she felt like her soul had been sucked out of her. She wanted to just throw away all training and everything and rest.
She sighed deeply.
The palace of the Peles Empire, early in the morning, before the sun had even risen.
The diligent chamberlain was already ready to start the day, standing in front of the Crown Prince's bedroom.
“Your Highness, have you been coughing?”
Knock, knock, knock, but there was no answer from inside the room. It seemed the Crown Prince of this country was still lost in dreamland.
It was a morning no different from any other day.
“...I will go in, Your Highness.”
The attendant chuckled and opened the door.
Although he had grown significantly in the past few months and was now fifteen, Crown Prince Winfred still looked like a child.
He's not sure if it's okay to have such irreverent thoughts about the Crown Prince he serves, but Winfred was truly a lovely Prince.
When the chamberlain approached the bed to wake Winfred, he was groaning and mumbling in his sleep, as if he were dreaming something.
“No, I don’t want to...!”
He was writhing and crying, and it seemed like he was having a really bad dream.
“...Your Highness, Your Highness!”
The chamberlain gently shook Winfred's shoulder. Whatever dream he was having, it was time to wake up.
Then Winfred jumped up as if someone had forced him to stand up and let out a ragged breath.
“Huh, huh.”
“What did you dream about that makes you do that?”
The chamberlain looked at Winfred with pity and poured cold water into a glass.
Winfred drank the water in one gulp, sighed, and muttered.
“A bad dream.”
It was a very dirty and unpleasant dream.
It was nice that Aila was there, but the problem was that there was a boy of about the same age standing next to her, unidentifiable. He even had his arm casually wrapped around Aila's shoulder.
And no matter how desperately Winfred called her, she didn't answer and disappeared somewhere with the boy.
'No, don't go, Aila!'
He shouted and tried to chase after her, but his legs felt heavy as if they were a thousand pounds, and he couldn't keep up.
It was a truly horrible nightmare.
Winfred tried to console himself that dreams were just dreams, but his ominous feeling didn't ease his mood.
Still, to continue the day's schedule without a hitch, it was time to get up. Winfred put down his empty cup and struggled to get up.
And just as he was about to change his clothes, the door burst open and someone came in.
“Binka…! How many times do I have to tell you to knock when entering His Highness the Crown Prince’s quarters?”
“Ah, ah! I’m sorry, I thought no one was here...!”
It was Binka, a maid, who suddenly rose to fame as the one in charge of cleaning the Crown Prince's bedroom after finding his precious handkerchief.
Even after seeing the expression of disgust and horror on Aila's face, he asked if she liked it.
And then, just then, a voice calling out for Gerald was heard.
“Master! Master, where are you!”
“Oh, I have to go. I’ll be back later, pretty.”
He ruffled Aila's hair, then disappeared in the direction of the sound with a flower-like smile.
Normally, Aila would not have allowed him to touch her body, but she was so shocked by the 'pretty' comment that she couldn't stop him.
Even after Gerald left, Aila, who had been gaping in a daze, finally came to her senses and opened her mouth after a long time.
“...Is he crazy?”
Yeah, crazy. No word could describe him better than crazy.
Cloud, who was standing behind her, didn't react much to her words, but judging by the strange groans he made, he seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“I wonder if he’ll really come again?”
“I think he’ll come again.”
As she muttered to herself, Cloud, who had regained his position, answered in an embarrassed voice.
She didn't know what it was, but Aila was so exhausted in an instant that she felt like her soul had been sucked out of her. She wanted to just throw away all training and everything and rest.
She sighed deeply.
***
The palace of the Peles Empire, early in the morning, before the sun had even risen.
The diligent chamberlain was already ready to start the day, standing in front of the Crown Prince's bedroom.
“Your Highness, have you been coughing?”
Knock, knock, knock, but there was no answer from inside the room. It seemed the Crown Prince of this country was still lost in dreamland.
It was a morning no different from any other day.
“...I will go in, Your Highness.”
The attendant chuckled and opened the door.
Although he had grown significantly in the past few months and was now fifteen, Crown Prince Winfred still looked like a child.
He's not sure if it's okay to have such irreverent thoughts about the Crown Prince he serves, but Winfred was truly a lovely Prince.
When the chamberlain approached the bed to wake Winfred, he was groaning and mumbling in his sleep, as if he were dreaming something.
“No, I don’t want to...!”
He was writhing and crying, and it seemed like he was having a really bad dream.
“...Your Highness, Your Highness!”
The chamberlain gently shook Winfred's shoulder. Whatever dream he was having, it was time to wake up.
Then Winfred jumped up as if someone had forced him to stand up and let out a ragged breath.
“Huh, huh.”
“What did you dream about that makes you do that?”
The chamberlain looked at Winfred with pity and poured cold water into a glass.
Winfred drank the water in one gulp, sighed, and muttered.
“A bad dream.”
It was a very dirty and unpleasant dream.
It was nice that Aila was there, but the problem was that there was a boy of about the same age standing next to her, unidentifiable. He even had his arm casually wrapped around Aila's shoulder.
And no matter how desperately Winfred called her, she didn't answer and disappeared somewhere with the boy.
'No, don't go, Aila!'
He shouted and tried to chase after her, but his legs felt heavy as if they were a thousand pounds, and he couldn't keep up.
It was a truly horrible nightmare.
Winfred tried to console himself that dreams were just dreams, but his ominous feeling didn't ease his mood.
Still, to continue the day's schedule without a hitch, it was time to get up. Winfred put down his empty cup and struggled to get up.
And just as he was about to change his clothes, the door burst open and someone came in.
“Binka…! How many times do I have to tell you to knock when entering His Highness the Crown Prince’s quarters?”
“Ah, ah! I’m sorry, I thought no one was here...!”
It was Binka, a maid, who suddenly rose to fame as the one in charge of cleaning the Crown Prince's bedroom after finding his precious handkerchief.
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