Anyway, ever since Puffy came to live in the castle, Dioana has been living a pretty exemplary life, believing that she has to show her mastery and make a name for herself.
She doesn’t oversleep, she doesn’t miss classes, she works hard at her heir lessons, she doesn’t skip basic training, and most of all….
“I’m not a picky eater!
Dioana used to love desserts more than meals. She used to sneak candy and chocolate under her pillow, ruining her sheets and causing her teeth to rot.
She wouldn’t eat vegetables or meat, and when I finally got her to eat, she’d bite down on them, which was enough to make me worry, but funnily enough, since I got her a puppy, she’s been eating everything.
“Master, are you not eating asparagus now?”
“Uh…? Oh, no, I’ll eat it later.”
“Isn’t that right, Puppy’s owner never eats easy?”
“Of course I do. I’m the owner of Puppy, so I get to eat all the asparagus, right, Auntie? I’m not a picky eater, am I?”
I couldn’t believe that something I’d tried so hard to fix was so easily fixed as soon as he said it.
“I feel strangely self-conscious, Dio,” I thought, “do you like that puppy better than your aunt…? It feels lonely, and I don’t know who I’m being jealous of.”
But she can’t help but feel angry.
Dioana, are you really going to do this to your aunt? How can you change your mind so easily over a handsome man when she loves you so much? How can you change your mind so easily?
My hand tightened in frustration.
“Ah!”
A groan escaped the man’s mouth.
“Auntie! You’re going to get a puppy head!”
“Oh, no. My mistake. I didn’t mean to.”
“Puffy. Are you okay? Let’s see. You’ve got puppy hair on your hand!”
I shrugged and brushed my hand away. I don’t care if it’s hairy or not. It’s kind of cathartic.
“Let me ho-ho you, Puffy. Give me your crown.”
“Dio, ho-ho’s only for aunts. Are you betraying me?”
“What do you mean, betrayal? You’re the one who squeezed Puffy’s head.”
” You don’t feel sorry for Auntie.”
“Ah…. Okay, sorry, Puffy. Ho- can only be for Auntie.”
“It’s okay, Master. It doesn’t hurt that much, and I didn’t peck you too much, did I?”
Puppy asked, looking at me cheekily.
It’s not funny, I thought, waiting for someone to answer. Turning away, I suddenly realised that a lot of time had passed. We’re on schedule for the day, and now Dioana has Heirs class, and I have to do some work.
“Okay, Dioana, it’s time to go to class.”
“Oh. Already? Puppy, I’ll see you later for dinner.”
“Aye. Good luck in class, Master.”
Dioana waved to me and Puffy as if she was sorry to part, and headed for the training room with the maid who soon came to fetch her.
The reason Puffy didn’t follow was because of the aforementioned agreement between me, Dio, and Russell.
First. When Dio and Puffy were playing, I would always be there.
Two. When he is not playing with Dio, he is supervised by my side.
When I took in Puffy, it was to keep a closer eye on him. I don’t think he’s had a normal life, or that he’s been a slave since birth.
‘He’s no ordinary man. He says he doesn’t remember his past? Do you think I’d believe that lie so easily?
I will not let my guard down until I uncover your true identity and whatever purpose you seek to gain from me.
* * *
Puffy’s daily routine is simple.
I wake up in the morning, straighten the sheets, put on some comfortable clothes for the servants, and head downstairs to fetch Dioana. When I get there, I find Daphne on the central staircase, staring at me with a very fat face.
“You’re late, by three minutes.”
“Sorry.”
“Tsk. Don’t you think it’s very impudent of you to keep the Archduke waiting? …Dioana will be waiting for you, so let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Daphne clicked her tongue in disdain and led the way. There was a good reason why the Archduke of House Steren was like that.
“Aunt hates Puffy for nothing. Puffy is my friend, and she needs to get to know him!”
The only person Daphne didn’t like was Dioana Steren, the forbidding jade lobe of the Steren family. Dio’s words sent Daphne into a tizzy, wondering if it made any sense.
“Your Excellency, just consider this a defeat for Dioana.”
“From now on, Auntie and Puffy will come with you to fetch Dio, I’ll be furious if you come alone, and Puffy is part of our Sterren family from now on.”
“You’re not quite right, he is not hired like some of the people here, he is just Dioana’s ‘puppy’ for the time being…. , Your Excellency. You know you can’t beat the lady.”
She seemed mildly shocked that even her trusted Russell was secretly siding with Dioana.
What the hell is that damned puppy doing putting me through all this trouble? She was sure that was what he was thinking.
Of course, Daphne would never have welcomed a puppy, but what could she do, these were the words of her crying niece.
So Daphne ate mustard and went to pick up Dioana with Puffy at certain times.
“I don’t believe you. Whether you’ve lost your memory or not. I’m going to find out who you are.”
“Yes. Please do so, ex-master.”
“Do not call me ex- master.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“And if you’re thinking of using Dioanna to gain some sort of advantage, you’d better fold early. Unlike Dio, I will not give you any favours.”
“Right.”
“I’ll be watching you, so behave yourself.”
“Yes, sir. You’ll be watching.”
A chill runs down my spine, as if I’m some kind of cold Northern Archduke. Well, even that was just beautiful and wonderful and lovely in Ethan’s eyes.
* * *
Ethan’s memory
“Whoa, who are you?”
“I, I’m….”
“What’s ‘I, I’?”
“I, I am the second crown prince of the empire.”
“What? The second prince of the empire?”
“That’s right.”
No matter how much he is reserved, he is a man of the house. The Emperor’s son. At the sight of young Daphne looking at him as if he were a pathetic prankster, he was embarrassed and tried to look as dignified as possible.
“You’re being ridiculous. You’re the second emperor of the empire? Haha, tsk tsk, you’ve got the wrong guy.”
But instead of embarrassing him, she snorted, put her short hands on her waist, and clicked her tongue.
Thinking that Daphne’s initially rude behaviour had been superimposed on that of Lucius, the first prince, he exclaimed angrily.
“Insolence!”
“Rude? You’re the one who’s lying. How dare you?”
“Lies? What lie?”
“Lying! There’s no such thing as a second prince!”
“I am the second prince!”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I know the original story.”
“…The original?”
“Let me see, yes. You don’t even have a name, do you?”
“How did you know…?”
He never forgot the memory of that day. Even if he tried to forget, he couldn’t. For seven-year-old Ethan’s life began to change the day he met eight-year-old Daphne.
When he saw her at the slave market, he knew as soon as he laid eyes on her face that she was Daphne Steren.
“That one. That one.”
“This one’s a higher-end slave. He’s a bit more expensive.”
“I’ll pay whatever you want. Give him.”
At first, he thought she recognised him. But as Daphne stared at him in his raggedy slave garb, she said.
“Wash yourself first. This will cool your thousand-year old libido.”
It was enough to crush his hopes.
But he hadn’t washed himself properly while he’d been a prisoner of war and sold from place to place. Yes, he’d hoped she’d recognise him when he was clean and fresh.
He was taken by the servants and washed as if he were being washed, so that he might regain his former appearance.
“You’re lucky. You’ve got a life now.”
“Yes. To be noticed by the Grand Duke’s young lady and no one else, you’re quite a figure. You’d better keep that face, for she’s as cold and vicious as a northern duke’s blood.”
He wondered what the hell they were talking about, but they shoved him into Daphne’s luxurious room without any explanation.
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