That evening.
As I was about to knock on Lady Citroen’s bedroom door, I clenched my fist.
“I understand, young master. Just a greeting. Just a greeting, mind you.”
“Captain. Let me tell you, if I stay longer than fifteen minutes, I’ll barge right in without hesitation.”
From behind me, the steward and Raul were applying pressure.
“Shut up. I know. Why don’t you trust me?”
I turned around and glared at them, but both of them remained unfazed.
“Well, when I watched the introduction and dinner party… right, Raul?”
“Yeah. It was crazy, man, I was like, totally smitten. Right, steward?”
They nodded at each other.
“No, that wasn’t it. We weren’t being all lovey-dovey.”
We simply stood arm in arm, bowing to the relatives we encountered. During the dinner party, we were so focused on interacting with the guests sitting next to us that I thought, “The prince must do this every day; it’s tough.”
“Every time you introduced Lady Citroen to someone, you had this face that said, ‘My wife is super cute, isn’t she?’ Captain.”
Raul said coolly.
Really? Was it that obvious?
“Anyway. I’m just going to say goodnight and let her know about Vander.”
I said, turning my back to the two of them. I thought they might leave, but it seemed they planned to wait right there.
“Uh… Lady Citroen. It’s me.”
I knocked three times, announcing my arrival.
“Yes. Please come in.”
I heard a voice from beyond the door that sounded like a bell rolling.
I grasped the doorknob.
“Maintain a proper distance,” “Fifteen minutes max,” the steward and Raul said in a rapid-fire manner.
They were annoying.
With my other hand, I waved them off, opened the door, and stepped inside. I quickly shut it behind me. But for some reason, my back felt prickly. Their gazes remained fixed.
Feeling a bit nauseous, I quickly stepped into the room. Those guys seemed like they could see right through the door.
As I was thinking about that, I suddenly noticed the atmosphere of the room had changed.
This was one of the rooms in my mansion.
It had previously been used as a guest room, but I had heard that the butler and head maid had transformed it to resemble a lady’s parlor.
The wallpaper and furnishings had been completely changed, making it a much more feminine space.
The curtains were in soft hues, and the color of the lamps seemed to soften the light, making the room appear quite spacious.
The bed was also canopied, adorned with lace designs that were lovely.
It was very much suited to Lady Citroen.
“Thank you for your hard work earlier, Prince.”
She seemed to have been sitting on a cat-legged chair in the middle of the room, drinking tea. Lady Citroen stood and politely bowed, making me feel flustered.
It seemed she had already taken a bath.
She was dressed in a glossy silk nightgown. The length covered her ankles, but her arms were bare—though, I suppose that was the design.
Oh, I thought.
Dragon patterns.
I had heard that Prince Arios detested them, so I imagined she might have tattoos covering her body and arms.
But to my surprise, her arms were slender and graceful, with nothing on them. Only the orange light from the lamp seeped in.
“Ah… I came to say goodnight…”
I was taken aback by her alluring appearance.
It was just her arms, but I felt as though I shouldn’t be looking, so I hurriedly averted my gaze.
“Shouldn’t I be the one to come to you?”
She spoke hurriedly, and I was surprised enough to shake my head. No, it’s strange that I’m here at all. We properly said goodnight to each other when we parted.
Honestly, I had planned to sleep right away, but with the Vander incident, I found myself visiting like this…
“If you experience any inconvenience at the mansion, please let me know. I will address it promptly.”
Ah, I should have come after taking a bath as well.
I felt kind of sweaty, didn’t I?
Thinking that, I hesitated to get too close to her.
“Everyone has been very kind. Maid Eaton is also grateful.”
She smiled with her eyes narrowed.
For some reason, it felt like my chest was tightening.
That was because I had received reports from the head butler.
“It seems you had quite a hard time at your previous residence.”
It was likely concerning her treatment at Prince Arios’s place.
According to Eaton, who cried so much she couldn’t stand, they didn’t even provide proper meals, and the clothes sent for laundry were torn apart, while her personal items were destroyed. The head maid frowned and told me, “It shows the status of their household.”
Lady Citroen said nothing, but Eaton complained while sobbing, “What on earth did our princess do?”
At first, it seemed she had tried her best to improve her relationship with Prince Arios, but two years passed in vain without success.
Thus, the engagement was apparently called off.
“Young master. This is your chance to show what a man can do.”
The head butler and head maid encouraged me.
Despite having gone through such terrible experiences, she didn’t show any signs of it at all.
If she were to cry, scold, or complain like Eaton, I could comfort or cheer her up, but it felt strange to do something when she said nothing.
She wasn’t hurt.
I dislike comforting people who act like they’re okay by saying, “It must be hard for you, isn’t it?”
“Um, Prince…”
She gently opened her mouth. “Yes.” I reflexively responded.
“Thank you so much for everything this time.”
As she deeply bowed her head, I was taken aback, wide-eyed.
“Not only did you come to my aid during the engagement ceremony with Prince Arios, but you even offered to have me as your wife…”
“No, no, no, no.”
I hurriedly interrupted.
“If we’re talking about that, I should apologize to Lady Citroen instead. That…”
I scratched my head roughly.
“I’m really sorry for being such a bear-like man. Just a name, ‘Prince.’”
I shrugged, and Lady Citroen looked at me with wide eyes, just as I had a moment ago.
Then, she giggled softly.
Guh. So cute.
“You were just as I imagined a prince would be. You really haven’t changed at all.”
Haven’t changed…?
“Oh, have we met somewhere before…?”
I was about to ask, but Lady Citroen spoke first.
“Am I really good enough for the prince?”
“Honestly, I’m satisfied, or rather, yes, yes.”
I nodded eagerly. No, no, that’s not good. I’m being too greedy.
“That’s good to hear.”
She smiles with rosy cheeks. I could watch her forever. Pure bliss.
But then, it suddenly dawned on me.
Right.
I need to talk about that man.
“Um… actually, you see…”
“Yes?”
Miss Citroen looks up at me, puzzled.
“Tomorrow, a friend will be coming. His name is Vander… I’m sorry to ask while you’re tired, but would you be able to meet him?”
“It would be an honor.”
No, saying it’s an honor is unnecessary.
I really don’t want to introduce him, but he’s already come to the royal capital. His actions are too quick.
“Um…”
She timidly calls out to me again.
“Yes.”
I respond while thinking that it might be about fifteen minutes by now.
“Doesn’t the dragon crest bother you?”
I hesitated for a moment at her question. I had just been thinking about it.
“It would be a lie to say it doesn’t concern me… But it’s not something that bothers me too much. Um, is it necessary to see it? Should we take a look?”
As I ask without knowing what the right thing to say is, Miss Citroen blushes all the way to her ears and shrinks back as if trying to hide her chin.
“No, um, it’s not that you have to see it… Well, do you think it’s gross?”
“Gross?”
“What about the dragon crest?”
“No, not really…”
I’m curious about what it’s like. After all, I’ve never had the chance to see it in person.
But saying it’s gross… what’s that about?
“Um… it seems that some gentlemen find it unpleasant to look at…”
I wonder how I should phrase this to make it sound softer.
Miss Citroen has made every effort to express that.
It’s probably that guy.
That prince, Prince Arios.
He said something ridiculous like it’s gross.
“When talking about the Tania Kingdom, dragons are indispensable. I would think that a person with a tattoo of scales that signifies a dragon is a noble one… but I feel nothing beyond that.”
So I too choose my words carefully with the utmost consideration.
Honestly, I want to say, “Just ignore the idiots. Forget what that guy said,” but if I could forget or laugh it off, I wouldn’t be saying something like this.
“If it’s alright with you, Miss Citroen, would you be able to show me?”
When I said this with the kindest smile I’ve ever given, her whole body turned as red as if she were about to explode with embarrassment.
Huh? What’s this reaction? Did I say something strange?
“Um… I would like to show you, but I’m still not ready in my heart…”
“Ready in your heart?”
I asked back instinctively, and Miss Citroen shrunk her little body even smaller, pointing to the middle of her chest. With her head down, she spoke in a barely audible voice.
“Right here… with what I have…”
Just then,
it was her cleavage.
“I’m so sorry!! Um!! If I look now, then!! Ah, this is bad!!”
I held my hands up to stop myself.
Well, it’s not like Miss Citroen was trying to show it to me…
But in my imagination, she was saying, “Would you like to see?” and started to take off her clothes, which was dangerous.
I need to retreat from here.
I can’t take it anymore.
“Then, Miss Citroen! See you tomorrow!”
As I said this, I dashed out of the room.
As expected, or rather, right outside the door were Raul and the steward.
“Why is your face so red?” “What were you imagining?”
I ran down the hallway of my mansion while shouting, “Aaaah!” for no reason.
