Chapter 24
“why…?”
“Of course I came to see Areline!”
A bright smile and prompt answer.
“Me… ?”
“Yes! Visit!”
Pession laughed as if using an invincible shield.
Oh. Really…
She hopes he is bright and cheerful.
‘I didn’t go to the palace so I wouldn’t see this bastard, but what if the culprit comes?’
Her head is pounding. She had lost motivation, nothing to say, and no will, so she was just breathing quietly when the crown prince suddenly made a shy suggestion.
“Areline, would you like to exercise with me?”
“yes?”
What kind of nonsense is this?
“Exercise?”
“I’ve learned some amazing facts!”
Peshion’s eyes sparkled to the point of being burdensome.
“They say exercise makes you healthy!”
That’s a huge truth.
“Wow.”
It is the discovery of the century.
If you report it to academia, you could even win a Nobel Prize.
[Breaking News] Shock! If you breathe, you are alive!
The main title of tomorrow’s Albrecht Times has been decided.
Everyone will clap their hands and be amazed at this discovery of the century.
“He said she wasn’t feeling well. Be healthy! I know how to get healthy!”
“okay.”
“Uh, so the human body runs like a simple machine!”
“What is it?”
“Live regularly!”
“Ah yes.”
“Sleep well, eat well, exercise! All you have to do is exercise!”
“Wow, really?”
She reacted like a soulless idol attending a fan meeting.
“Actually, I know.”
Pession’s eyes, which had been puffed up in anticipation of praise, were filled with surprise.
“Uh, really? How do you know? It’s advanced knowledge that I learned after asking too!”
Is this advanced knowledge?
She was disappointed by the advanced level of knowledge in this world.
“Lord Jade told me specially because it was me!”
She didn’t know who Lord Jade was, but she could tell that the crown prince was bluffing to some extent.
‘Still, I’m glad.’
There’s nothing special.
She thought there might be something going on, but it seemed that the crown prince’s visit today was just a boring schedule.
“Then, Arellin, work out with me!”
“I’m sorry. I’m too tired to do that. Trouble.”
“Hmph.”
Pession looked at her with eyes dripping with regret.
“I get dizzy after a short walk.”
She shot him a look that said, “No, how could you?” but voila. To her surprise, that’s her.
“Well,” She said, “it can’t be helped.”
He nods in understanding. He seemed to accept it easily because of his previous experience.
“Anyway, so, today I’m going to train and hang out with the kids…”
Pession tells her what he did at the last collection meeting she missed.
She didn’t want to know anything, but the crown prince was cute and eager to please, so she listened. The crown prince would have been great at ASMR.
“So.”
Hmm? You seem strangely evasive about the twins and Aaron, but she’s guessing that’s because he’s in a bad mood.
“I’m glad you had fun, you must be enjoying yourself.”
“Huh? No! I didn’t have any fun without Arellin!”
“…?”
Then why were you having so much fun? Did you trick me?
“What did Arellin do?!”
“Ugh.”
She made a sticker board of compliments.
It was hard work.
“?”
The crown prince cocked his head , not speaking, but holding his head.
His silver hair swayed slightly, and his vivid red eyes looked like rubies.
“How can a person’s eyes have such a beautiful color?
She stared, unable to stop herself, and then snapped out of it.
“Arellin?”
“…, can you please move away?”
They were unnecessarily close.
The crown prince, who had been staring at her, smiled ruefully and stepped back.
She thought she was mesmerized.
“Arellin, your eyes are a lovely light pink.”
“They say they’re the color of a rose.”
“It suits you. It’s pretty.”
She pauses for a moment at the ceremonious, heartfelt compliments.
“It’s even prettier when Arellin smiles.”
“…”
Where had this child learnt this archaic workplace mantra?
The trap is that it doesn’t feel bad. She wonders if it’s not offensive because it’s so sincere.
“Or is it, like, face sucking?
She learnt for the first time today that she is easily swayed by a man’s good looks.
Okay, new knowledge about herself.
“Come to think of it, Arellin doesn’t seem to smile much.”
“I don’t have much to laugh about.”
“Why?”
She didn’t know what to say to that. Because it’s true, she doesn’t laugh much.
“Then I’ll make you laugh!”
“No, thanks…”
“Here, look!”
The crown prince made a funny face that she didn’t ask him to make.
Listen to the woman!
The crown prince’s various attempts at comedy all ended in disastrous failure.
It was a tough time.
“Thank you for coming to visit me today, but I’m not feeling well and I think I should rest now.”
Tired.
Let’s get it over with and get some rest.
“Oh. Yeah.”
The crown prince’s expression shows that he wants to play more.
Isn’t he the devil? How much longer is he going to torment me here?
“Well, it’s been a pleasure, and until we meet again, whenever that maybe, may you always be at peace.”
It was a wonderfully polite goodbye.
“No, Arellin!”
“What?”
‘No for what?’
“I’ll be so sad if you can’t come back like this.”
“Oh, yeah.”
But what does that have to do with me?
“So I’ve been thinking.”
Oh, the suddenly ominous intro.
“From now on, I’ll come!”
“What?”
Why do I never seem to be wrong about ominous forebodings?
“From now on, I’ll be visiting Arellin!”
What a dark cloud to cast over her peaceful corner of the room.
“No, you can’t do that, I don’t care, don’t worry.”
“How can you not care? It’s because of me.”
What about you?
“I’m the reason you fell down and keep getting sick.”
“That’s…”
“I’ll take care of you until you’re well!”
“No…”
Rather embarrassing.
As she stood there wondering how on earth she was going to get through this, Pession announced.
“I’ll come every day!”
“What?!”
It’s bad enough that he just comes, but to come every day?!
We can’t go on like this.
This was the peace of Halbern Manor, and he could not tolerate a disturbance.
“No, it’s not necessary. His Highness is not happy with the work.”
“What? What’s wrong with construction? Where’s the construction? I’m not in trouble?”
“…”
The person is a child.
Suddenly, she’s not convinced
“Ah! Arellin was worried about me!”
“…”
“Don’t worry, Arellin! I’ll come back every day!”
Here’s a cheerful devil.
***
When the crown prince declared that he would ‘come every day’, her reaction was.
Haha. No way.
But then it actually happened.
“Arellin!”
Her barely regained peace was shattered.
“You’re here again!”
The crown prince, smiling broadly, was real. She couldn’t believe it.
It’s been a week today.
He had already been at work for a week.
‘How is this possible?’
He may be the crown prince, but this is her home. The Mansion of Halbern is one of the Five Great Duchies, and he’s allowed to come and go as he pleases?
Are we all going to stand by and let the crown prince run amok in the Duchy of Halbern!
Everyone, say something!
“Ohhhhh, Your Highness, welcome, please make yourself at home, as you are used to in the palace.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?”
“The lady is over there.”
… these traitors.
She grinds her teeth as she looks at the nursery group with Pession as her guide.
Mehen is her only hope, after all.
“Mehen has given his permission.”
… has no dreams and no hope.
Reality is cold.
“Your Highness, please take good care of our young lady!”
“My lady is weak in body, but she is kind-hearted, gentle, and very cute.”
What’s wrong with them.
“Yes! Trust me!”
What do you believe?
She’s furrowing her brow at one big party after another, and everyone seems happy except her.
‘This is ridiculous.’
The world is bullying her.
“Arellin, look, Yuni gave me this!”
Pession runs up to her, clutching a bunch of Yuni’s treats in his arms. She couldn’t believe the smile on his face.
What’s so nice about him?
‘Well, it’s nice to have an easy life.’
After all, he was born a crown prince, handsome and talented.
“You must be a good messenger.”
“?”
She didn’t feel sorry for the crown prince. She just didn’t want to get involved.
But he kept tangling with them, and her patience was wearing thin.
She thought this interest would be fleeting, and sooner or later they’d move on.
She got tired of it.
On the other hand, she was running out of patience in real time.
‘Maybe it’s because I’m young, and my body is like a sunfish that loses strength when it sees the sun.’
How such a shitty body could exist was a fresh surprise every time she opened and closed her eyes.
“Are you ill, Arellin, your breathing is ragged.”
“No.”
This is average.
“Don’t underestimate my lung capacity.”
“Huh??”
Kid, don’t you know there’s a basement under the floor.
Anyway, she was trying.
“Okay, suck it up. If you’re rude, you’re not only ruining me, you’re ruining my family.’
You can’t help but scatter ashes, can you?
She wondered what it would be like to have a father who had never seen his face since birth, just to provide ritual food without any abuse.
‘Even if it’s a family that’s going to die anyway…’
It doesn’t feel right to be a part of their demise.
Let’s just say she’s added ‘babysitting’ to her schedule, and she’s going to pass it off as such…
“Arellin, should we go to exercise?”
“Go away.”
She couldn’t take it anymore.
