Adelaide was barely able to take a seat amidst the awkward atmosphere. Callion sat opposite her and glared at her with a hostile gaze. His intensity was so menacing that the Havand delegation standing behind Adelaide flinched. Noticing this, Cedric whispered to Callion during the commotion of the tea being brought out.
“Grand Duke, please. Just look at me.”
"What about her?"
Cedric changed his strategy at Callion's increasingly sharp gaze.
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
“You remember the past, don’t you? When you went out to hunt monsters. Some women liked you even more, Grand Duke.”
“...”
At Cedric's words, Callion bit his lip. He was just as Cedric had said. Some crazy people were trying to barge into his bed, so he had fiercely chased them away; what did they say again? That they liked it better because it was rough? Was it thrilling?
Of course, Princess Adelaide, who was so careful to save face in front of everyone gathered like this, would not say such a thing. However, the thought that she might misunderstand in her heart gave him goosebumps.
Callion let out a sigh and turned his gaze away.
'I'd rather not see it.'
His sharp gaze did not easily soften. Callion recalled the events of the morning.
After receiving the report from Cedric, he closed the door and returned to his bed. There, Erna was still fast asleep.
She couldn't fall asleep like that because he had sprayed so much of his during the night.
Callion had fallen asleep after enjoying some more lewd play with Erna in his bathroom.
Because of that, Erna's body was warm and filled with a pleasant scent. So, as he pulled her into his arms, he too drifted off to sleep. As he fell asleep, Callion thought that he would have a leisurely breakfast today and start working with Erna in the afternoon.
He intended to gaze at her alone, overflowing with emotion, until Erna woke up.
So, when Erna woke up, he wanted to see her smile at him...
"Shit..."
Swallowing his irritation, he grabbed Erna's shoulder and gently shook her.
“Erna, wake up.”
“Ugh... whyyy... I don't like it....”
Still looking sleepy, Erna pushed his hand away, pulled the blanket deep over her head, and scurried inside. A corner of his heart tickled, wondering if a fully grown adult could be this cute.
'I really hate it.'
He didn't want to force Erna to wake up, and he didn't want to have to deliver annoying news. But he couldn't help but say no.
Callion squeezed his eyes shut and threw off the blanket. Feeling the chill, Erna struggled to open her eyes, smiled slightly, and extended her arm to him.
“You just go back to sleep too...”
I'm going crazy.
Seeing the way she called him, he almost agreed and nearly hugged Erna. Callion sincerely cursed Princess Adelaide.
To think he had to just wake Erna up, even after seeing her like this.
He spoke again with difficulty.
"A new messenger from Havand has arrived."
“Right, Grim Reaper... what!”
At that moment, as if her sleepy appearance from a moment ago had been a lie, Erna sprang up from her seat.
“When? Wait, what time is it? More importantly, who came?”
Erna, who was rushing to get out of bed, realized she was completely naked and hurriedly put on the robe hanging there. Callion said the name he had heard from Cedric.
"They say she is Princess Adelaide."
“Adelaide?”
At that moment, Erna's movements stopped as if broken. Then, Erna's face instantly turned pale.
“Erna?”
Surprised by the reaction, Callion approached Erna. He could tell at a glance that Erna was flustered by the name.
"What's the matter?"
“No, nothing... Why is Adelaide... here... She is the Princess King Havand cherishes the most...”
Erna's eyes were darting back and forth. She did not appear surprised merely because King Havand had sent his beloved child.
“What happened with that Princess? Did she torment you, too?”
Erna once briefly spoke about her childhood. She said that since she was the only unattractive one in the Havand royal family, her siblings tormented her when she was young.
“No, Adelaide didn’t do that. She just... just watched.”
Erna stammered her answer and looked at Callion.
“You’re going to meet Adelaide, too, right?”
“Huh? Ah, I guess so. Since she came as an envoy for now... Erna?”
As Callion answered, he saw her face grow even darker. Instinctively, Callion realized that there was something Erna hadn't told him. He grabbed Erna, who was hurriedly trying to return to her room.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“What did I...”
“Don’t say it’s nothing. Your expression right now is no joke.”
“...”
At Callion's words, Erna hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“The meeting with the envoy... can't I go alone?”
For a moment, Callion wondered if he had misheard. She meant she would go alone, not him.
"Is there a reason why I shouldn't go?"
“Well... I mean...”
Erna continued to hesitate, then closed her eyes tightly as if she had made up her mind and spoke.
“Adelaide is... very beautiful.”
"So?"
Callion didn't understand what that meant.
“I mean... everyone really… likes her.”
Callion stared intently at Erna, who was muttering in a timid voice.
“So you’re saying you’re worried that if I see your younger sister, Adele or whatever, I’ll fall in love with her at first sight and drool over her?”
“...”
Erna bit her lip at Callion's words. Callion pinpointed exactly what she had been unable to say.
'Callion doesn't understand.'
Erna clutched her trembling hand.
When she was young, Erna envied Adelaide. Enough to think that if the good witch in the story came to grant a wish, she would ask to become Adelaide.
Adelaide was a Princess whom not only Erna but also her other siblings envied.
The Third Queen, who was not only acknowledged by everyone as the King's most beloved wife but was also always kind and beautiful, raised her daughter with such preciousness that she could not tolerate her coming into contact with even the slightest dirt.
Even the Crown Prince was wary of Adelaide. If he were to upset her, even as the Crown Prince, he would have to listen to the King's stern voice.
Erna understood all of it. Adelaide was a very beautiful younger sister, even in her own eyes. She had seen the children of high-ranking nobles frequenting the royal palace, trying their best to win Adelaide's favor.
Whenever Adelaide laughed, everyone laughed with her.
Erna recalled the palace maid who, at least, took pity on her and gave her snacks. She was the only person in the palace who showed Erna a smile, even faintly. That is why Erna had thought of her as her own.
Then one day, Adelaide, who was passing by, suddenly called out to the maid standing beside Erna. At that moment, Erna saw it. The maid, who had only shown her a faint smile, ran toward Adelaide with a bright smile she had never seen before.
She ran so frantically that she didn't even realize she had stepped on Erna's foot.
Erna suddenly felt a chill as she remembered what happened back then.
Adelaide was a younger sibling, like a spring breeze. So much so that she felt it was beyond her station to even hate her, and she could only envy her.
And so Adelaide has come here. She will wear a bright smile, just as she did at the Royal Palace of Havand. Then everyone will smile back at her. The attendants of the Grand Duke's castle, the members of the council, the wizards, the knights... and Callion, too.
Just as Erna was about to become increasingly depressed, Callion suddenly grabbed her by the waist, lifted her up, and walked to the mirror in the corner of the couple's bedroom.
Then, he carefully held Erna's chin and lifted her head.
As Erna tried to turn her head away as if she didn't want to see his face, Callion grabbed her again and spoke while looking into the mirror.
“What on earth do you think I am?”
“...”
“I am a man who had the most beautiful woman in Hessengard as my wife and didn’t even look at her for ten years.”
“...”
"She was also called a pumpkin."
"...Hey."
At those words, Erna instantly relaxed her dark expression and glared at him. Seeing the look in her eyes revealing her true personality, Callion kissed Erna on the cheek as if he was finally pleased.
"But now, do I look like a crazy guy who fell in love at first sight with some Princess who just rolled in from Havand? How ridiculous."
"But..."
Callion kissed Erna's murmuring lips. A very long kiss followed. After a while, as Erna grew breathless, he finally pulled his lips away and wildly ruffled her hair with both hands.
“What are you doing!”
"It’s a mess, so it’s going to take some time to clean up. It would be best to just wash it all over again."
"You!"
Callion chuckled and opened the door to the couple's bedroom. Sure enough, Erna's maids were waiting there, pacing anxiously, not knowing when she might come out. Callion gave them an order.
"The Grand Duke of Hessengard is scheduled to welcome the Princess of Havand. It may take half a day. Do your utmost."
At Callion's words to adorn Erna with all their might, the maids nodded with determined faces.
That was three hours ago.
In the meantime, Callion grew up at a leisurely pace and came here. He was a bit nervous before opening the door.
He was curious to see what on earth Princess Adelaide looked like, who was said to be so beautiful that Erna was worried.
And now, having examined her thoroughly, Callion let out a sigh.
At least the pumpkin was cute. He honestly couldn't understand in the slightest what was so special about this frail, pale woman that people were making such a fuss about her beauty.
“Thank you for welcoming me first. I did come a little early, didn’t I?”
“It is fortunate that you are aware, Princess Adelaide. I would like to inform you in advance that I will not accept audiences before lunchtime while you are here. Please bear this in mind.”
Cedric grabbed Callion by the nape of the neck from behind. "I understand that your good time was interrupted, but how can you treat Havand's messenger like that!"
Of course, it was not as if Callion was unaware of that fact. But what could he do when, far from seeing Adelaide sitting in front of him even now, he kept thinking of Erna, who had been on the verge of tears with her hair all messed up?
Just as Callion thought he should give her a few warnings again, a servant's voice was heard from outside the reception room announcing that Erna had arrived.
The moment the door opened, Erna entered.
“...!”
Callion suddenly stood up from his seat without realizing it.
“Grand Duke, please. Just look at me.”
"What about her?"
Cedric changed his strategy at Callion's increasingly sharp gaze.
“If you stare at her like that, she’ll know you’re interested.”
“You remember the past, don’t you? When you went out to hunt monsters. Some women liked you even more, Grand Duke.”
“...”
At Cedric's words, Callion bit his lip. He was just as Cedric had said. Some crazy people were trying to barge into his bed, so he had fiercely chased them away; what did they say again? That they liked it better because it was rough? Was it thrilling?
Of course, Princess Adelaide, who was so careful to save face in front of everyone gathered like this, would not say such a thing. However, the thought that she might misunderstand in her heart gave him goosebumps.
Callion let out a sigh and turned his gaze away.
'I'd rather not see it.'
His sharp gaze did not easily soften. Callion recalled the events of the morning.
After receiving the report from Cedric, he closed the door and returned to his bed. There, Erna was still fast asleep.
She couldn't fall asleep like that because he had sprayed so much of his during the night.
Callion had fallen asleep after enjoying some more lewd play with Erna in his bathroom.
Because of that, Erna's body was warm and filled with a pleasant scent. So, as he pulled her into his arms, he too drifted off to sleep. As he fell asleep, Callion thought that he would have a leisurely breakfast today and start working with Erna in the afternoon.
He intended to gaze at her alone, overflowing with emotion, until Erna woke up.
So, when Erna woke up, he wanted to see her smile at him...
"Shit..."
Swallowing his irritation, he grabbed Erna's shoulder and gently shook her.
“Erna, wake up.”
“Ugh... whyyy... I don't like it....”
Still looking sleepy, Erna pushed his hand away, pulled the blanket deep over her head, and scurried inside. A corner of his heart tickled, wondering if a fully grown adult could be this cute.
'I really hate it.'
He didn't want to force Erna to wake up, and he didn't want to have to deliver annoying news. But he couldn't help but say no.
Callion squeezed his eyes shut and threw off the blanket. Feeling the chill, Erna struggled to open her eyes, smiled slightly, and extended her arm to him.
“You just go back to sleep too...”
I'm going crazy.
Seeing the way she called him, he almost agreed and nearly hugged Erna. Callion sincerely cursed Princess Adelaide.
To think he had to just wake Erna up, even after seeing her like this.
He spoke again with difficulty.
"A new messenger from Havand has arrived."
“Right, Grim Reaper... what!”
At that moment, as if her sleepy appearance from a moment ago had been a lie, Erna sprang up from her seat.
“When? Wait, what time is it? More importantly, who came?”
Erna, who was rushing to get out of bed, realized she was completely naked and hurriedly put on the robe hanging there. Callion said the name he had heard from Cedric.
"They say she is Princess Adelaide."
“Adelaide?”
At that moment, Erna's movements stopped as if broken. Then, Erna's face instantly turned pale.
“Erna?”
Surprised by the reaction, Callion approached Erna. He could tell at a glance that Erna was flustered by the name.
"What's the matter?"
“No, nothing... Why is Adelaide... here... She is the Princess King Havand cherishes the most...”
Erna's eyes were darting back and forth. She did not appear surprised merely because King Havand had sent his beloved child.
“What happened with that Princess? Did she torment you, too?”
Erna once briefly spoke about her childhood. She said that since she was the only unattractive one in the Havand royal family, her siblings tormented her when she was young.
“No, Adelaide didn’t do that. She just... just watched.”
Erna stammered her answer and looked at Callion.
“You’re going to meet Adelaide, too, right?”
“Huh? Ah, I guess so. Since she came as an envoy for now... Erna?”
As Callion answered, he saw her face grow even darker. Instinctively, Callion realized that there was something Erna hadn't told him. He grabbed Erna, who was hurriedly trying to return to her room.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“What did I...”
“Don’t say it’s nothing. Your expression right now is no joke.”
“...”
At Callion's words, Erna hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“The meeting with the envoy... can't I go alone?”
For a moment, Callion wondered if he had misheard. She meant she would go alone, not him.
"Is there a reason why I shouldn't go?"
“Well... I mean...”
Erna continued to hesitate, then closed her eyes tightly as if she had made up her mind and spoke.
“Adelaide is... very beautiful.”
"So?"
Callion didn't understand what that meant.
“I mean... everyone really… likes her.”
Callion stared intently at Erna, who was muttering in a timid voice.
“So you’re saying you’re worried that if I see your younger sister, Adele or whatever, I’ll fall in love with her at first sight and drool over her?”
“...”
Erna bit her lip at Callion's words. Callion pinpointed exactly what she had been unable to say.
'Callion doesn't understand.'
Erna clutched her trembling hand.
When she was young, Erna envied Adelaide. Enough to think that if the good witch in the story came to grant a wish, she would ask to become Adelaide.
Adelaide was a Princess whom not only Erna but also her other siblings envied.
The Third Queen, who was not only acknowledged by everyone as the King's most beloved wife but was also always kind and beautiful, raised her daughter with such preciousness that she could not tolerate her coming into contact with even the slightest dirt.
Even the Crown Prince was wary of Adelaide. If he were to upset her, even as the Crown Prince, he would have to listen to the King's stern voice.
Erna understood all of it. Adelaide was a very beautiful younger sister, even in her own eyes. She had seen the children of high-ranking nobles frequenting the royal palace, trying their best to win Adelaide's favor.
Whenever Adelaide laughed, everyone laughed with her.
Erna recalled the palace maid who, at least, took pity on her and gave her snacks. She was the only person in the palace who showed Erna a smile, even faintly. That is why Erna had thought of her as her own.
Then one day, Adelaide, who was passing by, suddenly called out to the maid standing beside Erna. At that moment, Erna saw it. The maid, who had only shown her a faint smile, ran toward Adelaide with a bright smile she had never seen before.
She ran so frantically that she didn't even realize she had stepped on Erna's foot.
Erna suddenly felt a chill as she remembered what happened back then.
Adelaide was a younger sibling, like a spring breeze. So much so that she felt it was beyond her station to even hate her, and she could only envy her.
And so Adelaide has come here. She will wear a bright smile, just as she did at the Royal Palace of Havand. Then everyone will smile back at her. The attendants of the Grand Duke's castle, the members of the council, the wizards, the knights... and Callion, too.
Just as Erna was about to become increasingly depressed, Callion suddenly grabbed her by the waist, lifted her up, and walked to the mirror in the corner of the couple's bedroom.
Then, he carefully held Erna's chin and lifted her head.
As Erna tried to turn her head away as if she didn't want to see his face, Callion grabbed her again and spoke while looking into the mirror.
“What on earth do you think I am?”
“...”
“I am a man who had the most beautiful woman in Hessengard as my wife and didn’t even look at her for ten years.”
“...”
"She was also called a pumpkin."
"...Hey."
At those words, Erna instantly relaxed her dark expression and glared at him. Seeing the look in her eyes revealing her true personality, Callion kissed Erna on the cheek as if he was finally pleased.
"But now, do I look like a crazy guy who fell in love at first sight with some Princess who just rolled in from Havand? How ridiculous."
"But..."
Callion kissed Erna's murmuring lips. A very long kiss followed. After a while, as Erna grew breathless, he finally pulled his lips away and wildly ruffled her hair with both hands.
“What are you doing!”
"It’s a mess, so it’s going to take some time to clean up. It would be best to just wash it all over again."
"You!"
Callion chuckled and opened the door to the couple's bedroom. Sure enough, Erna's maids were waiting there, pacing anxiously, not knowing when she might come out. Callion gave them an order.
"The Grand Duke of Hessengard is scheduled to welcome the Princess of Havand. It may take half a day. Do your utmost."
At Callion's words to adorn Erna with all their might, the maids nodded with determined faces.
That was three hours ago.
In the meantime, Callion grew up at a leisurely pace and came here. He was a bit nervous before opening the door.
He was curious to see what on earth Princess Adelaide looked like, who was said to be so beautiful that Erna was worried.
And now, having examined her thoroughly, Callion let out a sigh.
At least the pumpkin was cute. He honestly couldn't understand in the slightest what was so special about this frail, pale woman that people were making such a fuss about her beauty.
“Thank you for welcoming me first. I did come a little early, didn’t I?”
“It is fortunate that you are aware, Princess Adelaide. I would like to inform you in advance that I will not accept audiences before lunchtime while you are here. Please bear this in mind.”
Cedric grabbed Callion by the nape of the neck from behind. "I understand that your good time was interrupted, but how can you treat Havand's messenger like that!"
Of course, it was not as if Callion was unaware of that fact. But what could he do when, far from seeing Adelaide sitting in front of him even now, he kept thinking of Erna, who had been on the verge of tears with her hair all messed up?
Just as Callion thought he should give her a few warnings again, a servant's voice was heard from outside the reception room announcing that Erna had arrived.
The moment the door opened, Erna entered.
“...!”
Callion suddenly stood up from his seat without realizing it.
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