Nike had just returned after confirming that the salvation medicine had been released into the capital earlier than scheduled.
Thanks to Vania giving him a heads-up about the future, the Imperial Family had made preparations in their own way, but there was no fundamental solution.
In the midst of that...
"Don't worry. I'll find a solution as soon as possible."
Vania kept her word.
Thank you.
Thank you, and...
'I'm really ugly.'
I was sorry.
I felt a sense of shame.
He proposed out of the blue after meeting her for the first time in a long while, and even made ridiculous suspicions that she might have found another guy.
'Please, let's not act like losers.'
Nike swallowed a sigh and rubbed his face.
At that time.
“...Your Highness, the Third Prince, are you there?”
Someone knocked.
"I came because Miss Vania sent me."
It appeared that the servant sent by Vania had arrived.
Nike opened the door himself.
Moreover.
Thanks to Vania giving him a heads-up about the future, the Imperial Family had made preparations in their own way, but there was no fundamental solution.
In the midst of that...
"Don't worry. I'll find a solution as soon as possible."
Vania kept her word.
Thank you.
Thank you, and...
'I'm really ugly.'
I was sorry.
I felt a sense of shame.
He proposed out of the blue after meeting her for the first time in a long while, and even made ridiculous suspicions that she might have found another guy.
'Please, let's not act like losers.'
Nike swallowed a sigh and rubbed his face.
At that time.
“...Your Highness, the Third Prince, are you there?”
Someone knocked.
"I came because Miss Vania sent me."
It appeared that the servant sent by Vania had arrived.
Nike opened the door himself.
Moreover.
“...?”
***
'Salvation medicine delivery, success.'
I will need to explain further how to use the medicine to dismantle the medical cartel, but since Nike plans to stay here for the time being anyway, there is no need to rush.
'Isolation in the annex, success.'
I gave Nike and Reiner each the largest and best rooms in the annex, so that we wouldn't run into each other while I was coughing up blood.
'Keeping the servants quiet, success.'
I informed the maids about His Royal Highness the Prince and his aide of the situation regarding their temporary stay and strictly warned them not to let even a word about my condition slip away by mistake.
"It's perfect. I should go to sleep now."
I am in a state where I cannot function like a normal person.
I must force myself to sleep and secure as much sleep as possible to recover my damaged body.
"Burn the sleeping herb for me, Lindsey."
“Yes, young lady. But why did you send all the male servants to the annex?”
Lindsey, who was burning the sleeping herb and handing over the blindfold, tilted her head and asked.
"We sent away the few kids we had, so there is no one here to help. In the mornings, we have to move heavy ingredients."
"Oh, don't worry about that. I've arranged for them to come and go on time."
“That’s a relief, but... is it really necessary?”
***
“Hello, my name is Gerald!”
A man named Gerald was nervous yet excited.
“It is a true honor to serve Your Royal Highness, the Prince. I have heard that you will be staying until the Lord returns, so I will do my utmost to ensure you experience no inconvenience!”
The same goes for the other servants who never imagined they would have to serve the royal family for the rest of their lives.
“This is Ivan, here to take care of Your Highness’s meals and tea time, and this is Derek, here to manage the laundry...”
Nike blinked blankly as he was introduced.
Why, all of them...
***
"Oh dear, I know. But the Prince says he finds it easier to have male servants? Well, I guess it can't be helped."
Yeah, that's a lie!
Nike didn't say that!
I just scraped together the few male servants I had and sent them over, making the area next to Nike a men-only zone!
'Blocking the opposite sex, success.'
Even if someone insults me for having so little faith, I can't help it.
I can't help but get sensitive after hearing such crazy talk about whether it's okay to marry another woman.
"I'm sorry, darling. Please understand the unspeakable circumstances that leave me no choice but to confine you there for ten days."
I apologized to Nike inwardly, put on an eye patch, and lay down nonchalantly.
"I'm going to bed now!"
***
...They are all men!
Young, tall men, all with neat appearances and dapper attire!
Since Vania sent them to attend to him at all times, they must be resident servants who originally lived in this castle 24 hours a day, right?
'Why are there so many men in the house...'
Stop!
'So what if there are a lot?'
Nike, who had frozen for a moment, awkwardly rubbed his neck.
Please, get a grip.
It hasn't even been 10 minutes since he vowed not to act like a loser!
***
It has been a week since Nike left for Belzer.
It is the day the Ryan award ceremony is held in the capital.
Crown Prince Bane, who had been waiting anxiously for Ryan to arrive, ran out to personally greet the Belzer family procession.
It was because he was in a hurry to say a lot, putting the awarding ceremony aside.
However, the moment Bane saw Ryan get out of the carriage, he was speechless.
'What is that?'
Puffed-up frills on the neck, shoulders, and sleeves. Jeweled rings on every single one of the ten fingers. Heavy-looking boots dangling with gold studs...
“I hope you have been well. Your Highness, the Crown Prince, your loyal subject Ryan Belzer, sends my greetings.”
Ryan waddled over as if he had trouble walking and said.
It seemed like he put a lot of effort into it because it was an award ceremony, but unfortunately, it looked like a country mouse who had come to the capital for the first time was trying to look his best.
'I guess I'll have to change his clothes.'
Bane thought to himself and quickly led Ryan.
"You had a tough time getting here. The awards ceremony is in the afternoon, so let's go to my room and chat for a bit. I have a lot to tell you."
The imperial attendants guided the people of the Belzer family who had come with them, and Bane took only Ryan to his room.
“I heard Nike received a message from your daughter. So he left for Belzer a week ago, and he should have arrived by now.”
“Ah, yes. I knew that, too.”
Upon arriving in the room, Bane offered Ryan a seat, sat down opposite him, and immediately began to speak.
"I should be welcoming you a little more, but I'm in a hurry, so I think we need to talk about work first. Please bear with me."
"Yes, please feel free to speak."
"It may be sudden, but I hope you won't be too surprised. I intend to expedite Nike's engagement. Since he went to Belzer, I have asked him to pass the news on to your daughter as well."
"... Yes?"
Ryan's eyes widened.
“An engagement, an engagement? Your Highness, the Third Prince... now... an engagement... now?”
"You seem very surprised. But listen to this."
Bane explained, glancing at Ryan, who seemed shocked.
"Father urged Nike on his marriage. He tried to arrange a political marriage with a member of the royal family from the Kingdom of Ebonwind for the purpose of an alliance."
"... Yes."
“As you know, Nike has missed his chance to marry. The fact that he has held out this long is unprecedented for a member of the royal family. It means he couldn't just keep stalling indefinitely. Even if I were protecting him, there would have eventually been a limit to it...”
Bane’s voice trailed off. Ryan’s jaw, clenched in clenched teeth, was trembling.
Even though he was explaining the reason as clearly as possible so that he might not be flustered by the suddenness, Ryan looked displeased.
“Anyway, in the midst of this, His Imperial Majesty suggested marriage to Nike. Since the pressure to marry would continue even if he declined this offer, I decided it would be better to take this opportunity to expedite Nike’s engagement. It may be sudden, but please bear with me.”
"I understand..."
Ryan muttered and chuckled.
"Then you must have ordered my daughter to be informed of the breakup."
“...”
"While I was excitedly traveling to the capital, my daughter must have heard the news of His Royal Highness the Prince's engagement, whom she hadn't seen in a long time."
...What are you talking about? Bane frowned. His thought process, unable to understand Ryan's words, froze for a moment.
"I was naive."
Ryan smiled. Only the corners of his mouth were turned up, but his sharp gaze was fiercer than ever before.
Bane, who was retracing the flow of the conversation, was momentarily captivated by that unfamiliar expression.
"It was my mistake to blindly trust that Your Highness had opened my side a little."
He was furious. Looking into Ryan's beast-like golden eyes, Bane felt a sense of unease. He was also surprised.
He thought he had figured Ryan out completely as they grew closer, but no.
"Your Highness is someone who always makes rational choices for the sake of the Empire. I should have been aware of that every single moment."
The man, who looked innocent and naive, had a look in his eyes that showed he knew nothing.
'That's interesting.'
To think you know how to make that kind of expression.
You really cherish your daughter.
Having read a great deal from Ryan's unfamiliar face in an instant, Bane adjusted his posture and spoke.
“To be honest, I still haven’t grasped the flow of the conversation. However, I understand why you are angry. To correct a misunderstanding, I sent Nike to propose to your daughter.”
“...”
Ryan narrowed his eyes. He seemed lost in thought for a moment. However, his expressionless, fierce face remained the same.
"...Your Highness."
Ryan, with his gaze lowered, called out softly.
Bane was nervous.
Eventually, Ryan spoke.
"Could I possibly count it as having regressed by just 3 minutes...?"
"Ha."
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