As Ludwig was walking by, the servants approached him with smiling eyes and greeted him, something that had never happened before. They even whispered openly as he passed.
Although Ludwig was annoyed, he didn’t stop walking. Suddenly, one of the servants, seeing him, panicked and ran off, dropping something on the ground.
“The discipline in the palace has really slackened,” Ludwig mused.
Servants were not only gossiping when they saw the Crown Prince; they were supposed to step aside, bow their heads, not turn their backs and run away.
“I’ll have to punish everyone,” he thought, as he picked up a magazine that had fallen to the ground and flipped through it out of curiosity.
It was no ordinary magazine. It was a secret romance guide detailing how to win over someone’s heart, including those of the same sex, how to confess your feelings, and tips for dating success.
“Wow, these things…”
Clutching the crumpled magazine in his hand, Ludwig stormed off to his office.
As he opened the door, the attendants clustered around his desk scattered, throwing something under the table. Already irritable, Ludwig gave them a stern look and retrieved another romance guide from under the desk.
“Is this kind of romance guide trendy in the Empire now?”
It wasn’t really a question expecting an answer.
“And these days, is it fashionable not to work and just date?”
“Well…”
Leo started to respond but stopped, scratching his head awkwardly.
“Recently, there’s a rampant rumor within the palace walls that your Highness prefers men,” Robert said with a stern, no-nonsense expression.
“Me, interested in men? Who am I supposed to be dating then?”
“It’s said you’re involved with a masked servant named Rapunzel.”
“Are those rumors still circulating?”
“Yes.”
“Rapunzel and I are indeed close. But what exactly do you mean by ‘close’?”
“People say it’s a deep relationship.”
“A deep relationship? What does that even mean?”
Ludwig teased, clearly finding amusement in the conversation.
“Well…”
Leo faltered, unable to continue as Elias and Robert exchanged looks and dismissed the other servants.
“Eli, what exactly do you mean by ‘close’? Are we just good friends? If so, Rapunzel and I are definitely close.”
“Don’t speak so carelessly. The palace has hundreds of eyes. Any word from your Highness could lead to unpredictable outcomes,” Elias said seriously.
“Don’t worry too much. It’s not the first time rumors about me have surfaced.”
“This time is different. Ian’s faction is stirring.”
“That’s nothing new… What’s the plan?”
“We’ll have to quell the rumors somehow.”
“Through Marisa again?”
“Did you think I didn’t know? I appreciate the efforts you and Marisa have put into managing these rumors over the years, but this one won’t be so easy to handle.”
“We’ll think of something.”
“What could possibly be the plan? I can’t see one.”
“What?”
Elias looked puzzled, unable to follow Ludwig’s train of thought. But Ludwig was still focused on the romance guide.
“Look at this, even this doesn’t give me any clues. How does one even do romance?”
“Ludwig de Sergey!”
Elias exploded at Ludwig’s nonchalant demeanor.
“A guy who’s never cared about anyone else trying to understand patience and consideration needed for a relationship?”
“And you think you understand love?” Ludwig shot back.
“Of course. All the eligible ladies are at my fingertips.”
“If that’s the case, Ludwig could have any lady in the Empire if he wished.”
As Elias passionately argued, turning red, Robert chuckled and bluntly asked Ludwig.
“Ludy, are you not interested in women at all? Don’t you feel a thrill or a desire to kiss when you see a woman?”
This conversation, normally reserved for close friends, lacked any formalities.
“Well, I’ve never really liked anyone other than myself.”
“Right, I forgot about that.”
“So how do you do it?”
Ludwig, genuinely curious, looked at Elias while holding the romance guide.
“Damn, it’s like giving candy to a child.”
‘Do I really have to worry about Ludwig’s love life now? My head is already a mess.’
***
Ariel had noticed for some time now that the servants giggled whenever they saw her.
They would stop talking as she approached.
“Princess, there’s trouble.”
Anna, breathless, rushed to Ariel’s quarters to tell her, not even realizing she was still calling her ‘Princess’ in her urgency.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Well, they’re saying you and the Crown Prince… that you’re an item.”
“Huh?”
“That you’re deeply involved.”
“Deeply involved?”
“…That you’re lovers.”
“That is simply not true. What’s there to worry about?”
“Princess, both you and His Highness are ‘men’, right? Even ordinary relationships between men in the empire are harshly punished. But if rumors spread that the Crown Prince is into men… What will His Highness do?”
Hearing Anna’s words, Ariel’s expression darkened.
The rumors about the Crown Prince could be more than just idle gossip.
If the source was among the royals or nobles, not just his position but even his life could be at risk.
“…Should I leave?”
Ariel wondered if this was her last chance to leave Ludwig.
‘Have I developed feelings for him? For that arrogant, narcissistic Crown Prince…’
The thought of leaving made her heart heavy.
She turned her head and noticed something under the bed—the romance guide Anna had dropped earlier.
***
“Are you really going to keep following me?”
Elias, on his way to the palace, asked sternly.
“You said you’d teach me.”
“Didn’t I already tell you?”
“Maybe I’m dumb, but I just don’t get it.”
“Just follow what the romance guide says. Win over their heart, and when the opportunity comes, confess.”
“That’s weak, your explanation is too weak. Well, you seem busy, so let’s talk over dinner.”
Ludwig chuckled as he watched Elias walk away.
“Heh, teasing Elias is always fun. Maybe I should visit Rapunzel next?”
Ariel was in her room, looking at the romance guide Anna had dropped.
Though the advice seemed bizarre, Ariel read it intently, wrestling with her own thoughts.
“Do people really fall in love this way?”
Love seemed awfully complicated.
“Rapun, what are you doing?”
Ludwig approached Rapunzel, who was deeply engrossed in something on the bed. Startled, Rapunzel quickly hid the romance guide under the bed.
It seemed he knew what Rapunzel was hiding, but the flustered look was too cute not to tease.
“What are you hiding so hurriedly?”
“Oh, nothing… It’s nothing.”
Ariel pushed the romance guide deeper under the bed with her foot.
She bent down to retrieve the hidden item, but what she grasped wasn’t the romance guide—it was a book.
<The Prince by Night>
It was a book Ariel had accidentally left under the bed before.
Blushing as if her cheeks were roses, Ariel stood up abruptly and snatched the book from his hand. However, Ludwig’s grip threw off her balance, and she fell over, pulling him down with her.
“Win their heart and confess when the opportunity arises.”
Elias’s earlier advice came to mind.
‘Is this the opportunity Elias was talking about? But I’d rather kiss than confess right now.’
Her heart raced wildly, and Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise. Ludwig found her adorable and wanted to kiss her right then.
“……”
Ludwig and Ariel were so overwhelmed by the sound of each other’s hearts that they couldn’t think of anything else.
***
“Bring it back.”
Ludwig critiqued the food brought by the steward. Elias and Robert, who were dining with him, glanced at him sideways.
“Your Highness, is there something specific you’d like to eat?”
“What’s the point of wanting something if I can’t even eat it…”
Ludwig listlessly stirred his food with a fork and complained.
“I’m feeling rather frustrated.”
Robert, understanding the hint, said with a knowing look. He seemed eager to leave his seat, quickly stuffing his mouth with food before standing up.
Elias also wanted to follow Robert out. However, catching Ludwig’s gaze, he reluctantly sat back down.
After finishing his meal, Ludwig wiped his mouth with a napkin and turned to Elias.
“Teach me how.”
“What’s the use of teaching you a hundred times? Here, take these wooden dolls and play around to figure it out yourself.”
Elias tossed him two wooden dolls before leaving.
Ludwig lay on the bed, examining the wooden dolls Elias had thrown at him. Both were simple figures with just heads, arms, and legs.
Yet, the taller doll seemed to resemble himself, and the shorter one seemed like Rapunzel.
He tried putting them together and apart, even made them ‘kiss’, and smiled to himself.
‘I quite like this.’
He should really make proper dolls. Make them look like him and Rapunzel.
Hmm, dress up the Rapunzel doll, put a mask on it, and then…
The memory of Rapunzel’s flustered expression earlier suddenly came to mind. It was so cute and endearing that he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“Maybe Rapunzel is developing some feelings for me.”
Suddenly, Ludwig’s heart fluttered with pleasant thoughts, and the excitement lasted all through the night.
🍉🍉🍉
