Chapter 27
How many times has Pession heard the word “hey” in his life as a crown prince?
She could bet her bottom dollar that it was never.
“Hey.”
“Uh, me? Me??”
Years of bullying had taught her a few tricks for dealing with annoying people.
One. Build a wall.
That didn’t work?
Well, here’s two. Be rude.
“Yeah, you.”
“…!”
Pession’s eyes narrowed.
Suddenly, there was a cold silence.
Everyone turned to look at her, from the nurserymen, who had come to see her, to Graham, the chamberlain, who stuck behind Pession like a gumshoe.
They all stare at her in astonishment.
‘Yes, yes, this is the atmosphere, this is the atmosphere I want!’
This cold, cheap atmosphere.
Now all she need is for the crown prince to get angry.
“Uh, uh, uh, Arellin, what did you say?”
“I said you.”
“…!!”
A cold retort to drive a wedge.
“Now, you all heard me.
Her half-answer!
She spoke her mind without permission. How dare anyone call her safe.
No matter how comfortable the crown prince is with me, there’s a difference in status between us.
What she’s done here is undoubtedly disrespectful. How dare she try to match the crown prince!
Now, be angry!
Come on, Pession, let’s get angry and go back to the palace!
He was calmly waiting for the call.
“Wow!”
“…?”
That’s not the reaction she was expecting.
“Arellin!”
She shook her head, and suddenly Pession grinned.
“…??”
Why is he laughing?
Was there a punchline she didn’t know?
“Arellin, are you finally comfortable with me?”
“What?”
“Wow, Arellin’s talking back to me! Finally! Oh my god!”
Ugh, that’s not how this story is supposed to go.
Hey, aren’t you supposed to be angry right now? You look like you’re happy. It’s your mood, right?
“Keep it up!”
“To …”
No,
No, that’s not right.
“No, Your Highness, I’m talking back to you, aren’t you angry?”
“Angry? Why am I angry?”
“Doesn’t it occur to you that I’m being arrogant, or that I’m pissed off, or that you’re going to bow down to me because of it, or that you’re going to show me the class disparity?”
“Huh?”
Pession shook his head.
“I’d rather have Arellin.”
What the hell do you believe me for?
“Why?”
“Do you need a reason?”
“…”
It was an incapacitating blow. A power that could melt down even the hardest of walls and the most venomous of poisons.
No, wake up, you can’t do this, or you’ll just get caught up in the crown prince’s pace!
“I don’t want to, I want to say respect.”
“What? Why are you back to being respectful again? I told you to say something back.”
“No, go away.”
“No! Arellin said no, so I don’t like it either!”
… You bastard.
“Oh, go away!”
“I don’t like it~!”
“Ha, really.”
Someone get this guy off me.
“Arellin, let’s go for a walk! Come on, let’s go!”
“I don’t want to. I’m going alone.”
“Okay. I’ve heard advice, you need to exercise to be healthy, Arellin, you’re sick because you’re stuck inside all the time! Let’s go!”
She never thought she’d hear about the exercise cure-all in this world.
“That’s a myth. Muscle-less humans like me shouldn’t move too much.”
“Eh? No way! You’re lying because you don’t want to move, aren’t you?!”
“No, it’s not. Some brilliant people wrote about it in their thesis.”
“Who wrote it?”
“That’s…”
“What else do you have to say? Then come with me for a walk, it’s a beautiful day!”
Pession tugged on my hand.
“Don’t hold on to me! Go alone!”
“No~! No! I’m coming with you!”
Pession just laughed as she continued to argue with him.
This is ridiculous.
Why the hell is this not working!
***
“Hmph.”
The crown prince was a formidable foe.
“Arellin, did you enjoy your walk?”
That bastard…
Isn’t he doing this on purpose?
“…”
“Arellin, did I ask you to keep call me?”
The crown prince looked at me, puffing out his cheeks. The pouty cheeks of a seven-year-old.
‘That’s cute.’
“I’ve been waiting for you to call me Pession the whole time.”
Crown Prince Pession’s exasperation shows, as if he’s been waiting for this moment.
“Are you going to stop calling me Pession?”
Prince Pession snapped, as if he would hunt her down for the rest of her life if she didn’t.
“Pession.”
“Right!”
The crown prince laughed.
“That’s what you’ll call me from now on!”
She would have fought back if her walk hadn’t destroyed her stamina.
As she trudged to her room, her legs wobbling like a newborn fawn, she felt the need for a new plan.
“I need something stronger.”
She can’t believe that didn’t work after all that palm time!
You’re too self-aware for a crown prince, you should have dropped to your knees as soon as I said, ‘I’ll show you the difference.’
“The stronger one…”
But what is stronger?
“Uh-huh…”
She never thought to take it any further than that, because usually when you’re rude, you’re like, “Well, he’s a jerk,” and he walks away.
As she gritted her teeth, she could see the sisters from the parenting group in the distance, watching us warmly.
“It’s a good time.”
“It’s such a good time~”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
All of them, not helping!
“Everyone, confiscate the praise stickers!”
Her sudden declaration flipped the sisters in the nursery around.
“What?! No!”
“Why all of a sudden?!”
“Lady-!”
Hee hee.
***
Pession’s routine became even tighter and tighter as she began to go in and out of the Halbern mansion.
“Busy, busy!”
Training, studying, practicing, and never missing a day.
“Ahhhhhh!”
Tea time with Empress Ageni.
“Oh, Pession. How many times does this mum have to tell you that you can’t run around like that?”
“Oh, I miss her so much…!”
“Hoo hoo, if that’s the way it is, I can’t help it.”
While it was customary for imperial and noble families to have professional nannies and not raise their children themselves, Empress Ageni was the type to take an active role in their upbringing.
Empress Ageni hugged Pession tightly. Pession, still giddy from the embrace, sat back down in his seat.
“Are you going to the Halbern estate again today?”
“Yes! I trained, studied, and practiced.”
“How was Arellin?”
“She’s not well enough to go out yet, but they say she’s recovering. Actually, she always has a similar look on her face, so I don’t know.”
“A similar look?”
The look that always seems to be there, always looking off into the distance.
Perhaps that’s why.
You’ve seen it time and time again, but you keep checking to see if she’s okay.
He can’t leave Arellin alone, so he keeps coming back to visit and spend time with her.
“I wish Arellin would smile.”
“…”
Empress Ageni’s smile faded.
Her tightly closed lips parted as she stroked Pession’s head.
“Pession.”
Empress Ageni urged, her voice full of concern.
“Do as much or as little as you like.”
A harsh admonition.
Pession cocked his head.
“Yes?”
Empress Ageni smiled.
“Only as much as you can give up at any time.”
“Mmm. Uh…”
“It would be better for you, and better for the child.”
Compassion flashed in Empress Ageni’s blue eyes.
“You wish the child were healthy, don’t you?”
A puzzling word that only raised more questions. Pession looked to her for an answer, but Empress Azeni merely smiled faintly and sipped her tea.
All she could offer was advice.
“Don’t be too nice to her.”
“Why?”
Why is she telling him this? His anxiety is rising. Looking down into his questioning red eyes, Empress Ageni replies.
“Because it will make it easier for you later.”
The calmness of her eyes, so blue, made Pession unable to form any response.
***
“Arellin!”
“…?”
“We must be healthy.”
She thinks the crown prince is already healthy.
Suddenly, she was confused to see the crown prince rubbing his hands together and making a promise to himself.
What happened?
‘But I don’t want to ask.’
She can’t ask because it would raise some weird flag.
“I’ll be strong!”
Why do you need to cheer me up when I’m getting healthy? You’re a weird one.
But she should have realized then. she should have realized that this was the double-track that would shatter her peace.
