In fact, both Redian and Vallentin seemed to dislike sweet things when given to them. But this person, he’s not disking them, rather liking them, right? Come to think of it, Francis seemed to be the youngest of the four.
“What should I do? I don’t have any jelly right now. You don’t like candy or chocolate?”
“Both are not good.”
He may be the youngest, but he gave off a very cynical vibe.
He’s a firm jelly lover. I guess I’ll have to learn how to make jelly for the sake of my future strategist.
“What are you reading like that?”
“Book.”
Wow, his cheekiness is improving as time goes on. But since it’s a book, he’s definitely a smart character.
I watched Francis like that for a moment. Fingers turning the pages, the wind blowing and stroking his hair, and an impassive gaze.
“Is it me this time?”
Francis asked then.
“What do you mean?”
“I heard that all those chosen by Princess will be released from here. Like Redian and Vallentin.”
There was a look in his eyes as if he was addressing someone beneath him.
Being chosen by me. I guess he knew that I was Siani Felicite.
“Those two are the strongest in the underground castle.”
Every time the boy’s gaze, which had been on the book, met my face, time seemed to slow down.
“Thanks to you, all the trainers are too busy watching Redian’s moves.”
“…”
“Vallentin just does whatever he wants.”
A gentle voice was heard. True to his upbringing as a noble from the count’s family, his manner of speaking was distinct.
“The underground castle is quiet though.”
He muttered, leaning his head against the tree as if bored. “If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have bothered coming here.”
“…”
Talking in circles like that was also typical for a noble to speak. In other words, he seemed to say that I had destroyed the order of the underground castle.
“No matter what anyone says, I liked being here.”
“…”
“Because you can only get first place through your own strength and ability.”
During my long silence, he opened his mouth. “I’m already sick of trying to get someone’s attention.”
In short, an approach like saying ‘Good job, my dear child!’ seemed unlikely to work.
“I ran away because it was unfair.”
“…”
“Do I even have to do that here?”
Francis shifted the conversation, looking at me. His gaze was tinged with displeasure.
“Ah, so that means you don’t really like me, right?”
“…”
“I got it.”
Why beat around the bush with such long explanations?
I shrugged my shoulders. “If that’s the case, then so be it.”
I had once been an orphanage director, so dealing with a fussy child was nothing new.
“If you don’t like me, that’s fine.”
Then I got up from my seat. I could feel the boy’s gaze following me.
“By the way, that book.” I pointed to the book on Francis’ lap. The pages were worn out, clearly because he was constantly reading them.
“It’s a novel by the late Otria, right? I have the spin-off.”
“…How did you get the spin-off?”
Otria! Master of Literature, with a divine touch in writing and the creator of masterpieces! For the first time, the boy’s expression noticeably changed.
“Even my father couldn’t get the spin-off.”
“Of course. You know Otria only left one copy of the spin-off before dying.”
“…”
“And I have that.”
“…!”
Every time I spoke, his reaction changed. It’s fun to tease him too.
“Take care then. The underground castle facilities will improve in the future, so you can stay comfortably.” I turned around without hesitation.
“…Hey.”
Nice shot.
“Yes? Why?” I looked back with the kindest face I could make.
“Please lend me just once. I will read it just once and return it to you.”
“Why should I?”
“…”
“Just like you said, I’m a favoritism person.” Then I smiled lightly. “I’m only kind to the people I favor. To my people, I can offer not just Otria’s spin-off but also the original manuscript of continental myths.”
“…”
“You said you didn’t like it.”
So why should I do that? I asked back with my eyes.
“I never said I didn’t like being favored.”
“Really? Then what did I hear?”
“It’s just….”
His lips hesitated. He frowned as if it hurt his pride.
“Because Princess only likes strong and handsome people.”
Wh-what?
“I’m handsome too, but I’m not as strong as Redian and Vallentin…”
He lowered his head, his purple hair swaying in the wind.
What kind of rumor is this that I only like strong and handsome people? Ah, of course, if you look at Redian and Vallentin, you might have that misunderstanding.
“Why? You’re strong too.”
“Yes?”
Now, he may be a young lord with delicate fingers, but in the future, he’ll become a powerbroker dragging the nobles by their necks, so what’s the worry?
“Well, what do you think about Otria’s conspiracy theory? I’m of the opinion that he was murdered, not suicide.”
At the same time, his dazed eyes glistened. “Princess, are you also interested in that conspiracy theory?”
“Of course. As far as I know, there was some unknown powder on the teacup he last drank.”
“No, it’s not a poison. It’s a sweetener that Otria was fond of, and it’s widely said to be harmless.”
“What about the theory that he died because he was addicted to that sweetener?”
“Oh my god, Princess knows about that too? I think that’s a plausible theory!”
The prince of the glass castle, thirsty for conspiracy theories, made a passionate argument.
“Ah, I see. I didn’t know that. You’re smarter than I heard.” This should be enough. “I like smart people.”
“My father, I mean, the count told me not to be interested in such things. He said it’s useless…”
“It’s not useless.”
Francis’s cheeks reddened slightly.
“I’ll give you homework. Do you want to try it?”
“What is it?”
“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you now. Hmm, the reward would be Otria’s spin-off and the unpublished manuscript.”
It was easier to bait him rather than Redian or Vallentin.
“And jelly too. What do you think?”
“…That’s…”
His hesitant lips opened quickly.
“If you don’t like it, just s—”
“I’d like to.”
After all, the glass castle is easily shattered.
* * *
“Now, next.”
Redian, Vallentin, Francis. I crossed out the names one by one in my small notebook.
What is his real identity?
It was because he was an unknown person. Even in the original story, he was only described as one of the surviving Norma, with no further details. Nothing was mentioned about what happened to him afterward, his back story, or where he came from.
“Is there anything known about his life before that?”
“Well, I only heard that the duke found him on the road. I looked at the records and found nothing but that he was almost sold to a slave market.”
“Found him on the street?”
Moreover, his record only mentions the street and the slave market? Can that be possible? All the other boys had noticeable backstories or powers, which made their names known through word of mouth. But being picked up from the street means… He’s only saving him because of his appearance, right? It wasn’t like he got anything special but he survived until the end.
“What’s his personality like?”
“Princess will know when you see him.”
“I’ll know when I see him?”
It was a very disturbing remark. I wondered what kind of person was waiting for me this time…
“There’s no lock here?”
“This one is really gentle.”
Maze shrugged his shoulders as I asked when I saw the iron bars open in an instant.
Gentle?
My footsteps echoed in the quiet darkness. By now, I expected to feel a sharp gaze or a chilling coldness, but I didn’t feel anything. And then, at that moment.
Oh my god.
My feet came to a standstill in the shadow stretched across the floor. This was because my body froze when I discovered a figure presumed to be Inein.
I could fully understand why the duke brought this guy who had no connection or story. It was clearly the duke’s selfish interest.
His physique was different. Unlike the Norma before, this one…
If he doesn’t like me, will he pick me up and throw me away?
He has moderately tanned skin, dark brown hair, a strong muscular body, and is tall enough to poke the ceiling.
“W-wake him up, Maze.”
I, who had approached Redian without hesitation, took a step back for the first time!
“Understood, Princess.”
But for some reason, the timid Maze approached confidently.
“Wake up. The bread is here.”
“…Bread?”
At Maze’s words, Inein rose slowly, stretching his back. A heavy voice rang out as if scratching the iron bars.
“By the way, Princess came to have something to say, so please say hello.”
“…”
Only then did the guy look at me. Perhaps because I had disturbed his nap, his languid, beast-like gaze almost intimidated me.
“Hello.” He greeted me with a straight bow. “My name is Inein.”
Hmm?
I couldn’t believe the roughest-looking one turned out to be the most polite.
