“While the guards are crowding the streets, we will kidnap the royal princess’s maid.”
Grand Duke Benio said as he processed the piled-up documents. He knew the royal princess would come out to see the festival with her maids today. The maid to be kidnapped was the spy planted by him in the royal princess’s palace. He had already sensed that the maid was about to turn away.
“So all you have to do is rescue the royal princess and kidnap the maid.”
“…Yes?”
Ash was standing in front of him.
“In the end, is Father telling me that I have to make my own play?”
“That’s right.”
Unlike Ash’s hardened expression, the grand duke’s tone was calm.
“Don’t you remember the insults we suffered at your welcoming party?”
“…That’s.”
“In addition, His Majesty really wants Siani to become the royal princess’s direct teacher.”
Articles about Siani were also published in all kinds of popular magazines.
That’s funny. She was called the cursed red-eyed witch, but now she was praised as a rose.
“All of this was done by Siani over the last few months.”
“…”
“We can’t just sit back and watch as the imperial family and the Felicite family grow closer, can we, Ash?”
Throughout the conversation, Ash couldn’t say anything. His father’s gaze towards him just felt suffocating.
“I’d like to invite Siani for a chat. But Duke Felicite is very picky.”
“Does His Grace not like us?”
“Yes. Even when the engagement was annulled, it seemed like he intentionally accepted it without any response.”
How did the Grand Duke Benio family, the most successful family in Eunomia, end up like this? Not only did they become an outcast for not having a daughter, but they were also threatened by the Felicite family’s reputation.
“But even Duke Felicite wouldn’t be able to object if Siani had a heart for me.”
“…What did you say?”
At that moment, the grand duke laughed. “Are you saying that you can turn Siani’s heart towards you again?”
“She is a woman who has relied solely on me for the past few years. There’s nothing I can’t do.”
“I didn’t see it like that.”
“Yes?”
“The look in Siani Felicite’s eyes when she saw you at your welcoming party…”
The grand duke glanced at Ash. His glance was too cold to be said to be looking at his son.
“Even watching a passing ant seems more affectionate than that.”
“…”
Ash’s jaw tightened. He was suffering from nightmares because he heard Siani’s words to raise his nose a little higher and shape his body even in his dreams. The area under his eyes had turned black, no matter how hard he took care of it…
Then the grand duke smiled. “Then do it by all means. This father would like Siani to be my son’s partner and my daughter-in-law.”
He looked as if he had completely erased the past events, just like an ordinary father who hopes and expects his son’s happiness.
“If only you did well…”
But suddenly.
“There was no need for me to do such a tiring thing.”
Ash felt disgusted by the way his face changed from time to time.
* * *
Ash, recalling his conversation with his father, jumped off his horse. People wearing robes were walking in the direction of a route that had been determined in advance.
“Hu.”
After clearing his expression, Ash hurriedly ran out.
“Oh my gosh, Ash Benio is seeing our precious royal princess!”
“Huuuh?”
The royal princess, who was hiding in a large robe, held her head out.
“When I heard that there was a threat to your safety, I hurriedly deployed our family’s guards!” Ash took a deep breath. “What kind of person dared to kidnap the royal princess’s maid?”
“Yes?”
“What do you mean, Grand Prince?”
Then the maid, who was guarding the royal princess, asked Ash.
“How did you know we’re here?”
“Are yu perhaps observing us?”
The two people looked like they were asking what he was doing here.
There should be two maids, but there’s only one. Ash thought to himself. So, that means the other maid was kidnapped as planned…
But Ash thought again. Why are they so calm?
“I heard that one of the royal princess’s maids has disappeared. She was kidnapped.”
Although he solemnly got down on one knee, he began to feel confused. What kind of expression should I make next?
“Ah, are you talking about Renia?”
“Renia wen to buy candi.”
Even before Ash’s eyes turned, the royal princess pointed somewhere. “There she is.”
Renia, who really had a candy bag in her arms, was walking.
“Fortunately, they still have the taste of the blue sky that you like! Uh, what brings the Grand Prince here…”
“I heard Renia was kidnapped?”
“Kidnapped? Where did you hear that? Did anyone plan to threaten the royal princess?”
In an instant, the faces of the maids surrounding the royal princess brightened.
“After hearing that the royal princess’s party seemed to be in danger, my father sent the guards…”
For now, Ash continued speaking for the sake of his pride. He rushed toward here with a sword, but he couldn’t be laughed at like this.
“W-what? Danger?”
“No wonder! I guess that’s why the grand duke suddenly deployed so many guards.”
“Oh my gosh, what a heinous criminal!”
When the maid shook the bell vigorously, knights jumped from out of nowhere.
“Where are those sinners now! Grand Prince, please guide us quickly!”
“Aha…?”
Things were getting bigger and bigger.
Damn it. If he took them to the warehouse, they would run into his subordinates who had been tasked with kidnapping. However, it couldn’t be said that it was a mistake when he already made a fuss about so many guards.
“Dat’s why…” At that time, the royal princess patted Ash’s leg. “Were are those kidnappers? I want to see it too.”
She chuckled bitterly.
There was no place to retreat anymore.
* * *
“…”
Redian couldn’t think of how he got here. But when he saw the closed door, he began to realize it little by little. No way…
While performing his duties in the underground guild, he saw the same scene every time he opened the door like this. Dead corpses or half-beaten people covered in blood. These were things that he was already familiar with. But…
Redian slowly swept his face. “What happened inside?”
“…That’s.”
A chill passed through his entire body when he thought Siani was there. He already came all the way here, but he couldn’t open the door.
Why? Why on earth?
“I-I just did as my master instructed me. P-please spare me!” muttered the guy.
When Redian saw those shaking pupils, he felt like something had snapped. “You shouldn’t have done something you can’t handle.”
“…!”
“I guess your master didn’t teach you anything like that.”
Bang, Redian opened the door hard. “Princess…!”
“Why are you doing this cowardly thing?”
“Gasp, I’m sorry.”
However,
“You know who I am, right?”
“Yes. I know.”
“P-Princess S-Siani F-Felicite, Heurgh.”
“What the? You dare to kidnap me but only can speak with this volume?”
A very unexpected scene unfolded.
“Siani! Princess Felicite!”
The man on his knees held up his arms. In front of him, Siani was looking down at the man crookedly.
“Tell me now. So, who is your little master?”
“T-that’s.”
“You’re not going to tell me. Repeat again. Which family do I come from?’
Ah… Redian pressed his eyes tightly. Siani’s scent was clearly felt even in the acrid air in the warehouse. Hat voice, that tone, that warmth. Only then did blood that had been drained from his body seem to fill up again.
“…Princess.”
A sense of relief surrounded Redian that he had never felt before. If someone breaks his heart, would it feel like this?”
“…Uh.” The woman’s red eyes turned to Redian.
Wouldn’t that woman disappear again if he took a step closer? What if it’s all scattered like it was his dream?
Redian was unable to move. However,
“Redi, no, Rere!”
The woman called him.
“Are you okay?”
In the end, Redian reached out and wrapped his hand around the woman’s cheek.
“What on earth…”
Only when the familiar warmth touched him did his heart, which had been beating wildly, return to its proper place.
“I’m okay. But how did you get here?”
“…Sigh.”
When he heard her voice, it seemed as if the chains that were holding his breath were lifted.
“I’m really okay.”
“…”
“Rere, are you very surprised?”
The last time she affectionately stroked his hair…
“I’m sorry.”
“…Huh?”
“I was supposed to protect you.”
Something stirred him up.
“I shouldn’t have missed you.”
The sight of himself breaking down in front of this woman was so burdensome and unfamiliar.
Siani slays