TL note: Guys, I’m changing Marquis Slanford to Count Slanford. Enjoy!
Britia, who got off the carriage, stood by the side without entering and glared at Sig. Carriages kept arriving behind them, and from within came individuals dressed more extravagantly than any other party.
“Where’s the palace you call a home?”
Sig didn’t know how to respond to Britia’s resentment. When she asked if the play was being performed in a grand theater, he honestly said no. To him, the palace was his elder brother’s home, so he had simply referred to it as such.
“It’s not small by any means.”
Thinking about the palace where the play was taking place, Britia commented on its size. However, Sig, understanding them as the invited guests, tilted his head slightly.
“About ten people have been invited. My brother does so every year. But there’s no need for you to worry about conversing with them.”
From his perspective of avoiding unfamiliar interactions, he thought that meeting people would be the issue. That’s why he tried to reassure her in his own way.
“To prevent any disruptions during the performance, the seating is arranged in a way that no one can see each other, and we’ll be in the same area as my brother.”
“What?”
Britia was startled, taking a step back for a moment. She had to watch the play with the Crown Prince too?
“My brother isn’t a scary person. Although he sometimes mischievously teases and finds it amusing, he’s a good person.”
“The words ‘mischievous’ and ‘good person’ contradict each other, Sig.”
A man with laughter in his voice walked out from the entrance. “Your Highness,” Sig recognized him and called out. Britia, who had been standing there, froze upon hearing the voice. Even without turning around, there was no doubt that the Crown Prince was standing there.
“I wonder when you were planning to come in. I waited outside for so long, but you just wouldn’t come in, so I had to come and get you like this.”
Britia felt him approaching behind her and tensed up. She hadn’t expected to suddenly meet the person she thought she would only have to deal with after marrying Sig.
Unlike her stiff posture due to tension, Sig, instead of anything else, happily approached and embraced the Crown Prince.
“Is there a problem?”
The Crown Prince, patting Sig’s back, turned to look at Britia and asked. Though Britia’s shoulders trembled slightly, she bit her lip and turned to face him.
Britia tried to put on a smile on her tense face. The Crown Prince was not much taller than Sig, but he had a strong and well-built physique. His tail was black and resembled that of a lion. As it swayed left and right, Britia found her gaze unintentionally following the movement of his tail.
“It seems like you’re about to say you want to go back.”
The Crown Prince grinned widely, bowed his head, and looked at Britia, who seemed somewhat dazed.
Britia was smiling, but she felt the pressure emanating from the Crown Prince’s demeanor, and her lips trembled under the force.
If Sig’s first impression seemed harsh and intimidating at first glance, the Crown Prince gave off a much gentler impression. Yet strangely, Britia felt like prey standing in front of a lion. She was nothing more than a plaything for a sated lion.
“Britia.”
Sig grew anxious at the thought of her actually leaving. Hadn’t he been studying and practicing Evry’s book about cuteness for her every day in preparation for today? Even if the issue of confidence in being able to handle it came second, the most crucial thing was that if she left, all their efforts would go to waste.
Britia’s body had stiffened under the Crown Prince’s smile, but upon hearing Sig’s voice calling her, she turned her head and held her breath, then released it with a sigh of relief upon seeing him.
“I apologize for making you wait, Your Highness. Thank you so much for inviting me today.”
Britia managed to conjure up a natural smile. In response, the Crown Prince’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“So, you’re Britia Lockhart. We’ve heard a lot about you from our little puppy.”
Puppy?
Britia murmured suspiciously, wondering if she had heard correctly. “Mad dog” was a familiar nickname, but “puppy”? It was an entirely different nuance to refer to the same kind of animal.
“Your Highness, today, the word ‘puppy’…”
As Sig’s voice trailed off, the Crown Prince glanced at him and burst into laughter with a soft chuckle.
“Why? You’re usually so nonchalant, but suddenly you’re embarrassed in front of her? But ‘puppy,’ you’ve committed a grave offense by making me wait like this while acting all affectionate. Moreover, you even made me move personally.”
The Crown Prince found Britia muttering the term “puppy” continuously quite amusing, probably because it was shocking.
“So, let’s go inside, little puppy.”
“Your Highness!”
“Britia, come along too. Puppy, make sure you hold her hand or something so she doesn’t run away and come inside.”
He, enjoying Sig’s bewildered reaction, entered first.
“Puppy.”
As that title came out of Britia’s mouth, Sig’s body jerked noticeably. Sig’s temples twitched, and he turned away from her. He had never minded being called a puppy in front of anyone, even being teased about the nickname. But why did he feel so embarrassed in front of her?
“Puppy, indeed. It’s quite an endearing title.”
Britia felt like she was about to burst into laughter, so she bit her lower lip and then realized she had gone too far, covering her mouth with both hands. But Sig noticed her eyes narrowing in half.
“Cute, aren’t I?”
Sig’s words were broken by his embarrassment. But at the same time, he felt a sense of happiness. Today’s goal, promised with Evry, was to hear her call him cute. It was already as good as achieved.
“Yes. It was unexpected, so I was surprised. Duke-nim, His Highness is quite endearing, aren’t he?”
Britia sensed that even though the Crown Prince emitted an aura that could intimidate people, there was a generous amount of affection when he referred to his brother as a ‘puppy.’
“To His Highness, yes, of course.”
Though she said it with the intention of pleasing him, Sig was immensely disappointed. He believed it was merely stating the truth that she found his brother the Crown Prince cute, not that she actually thought he was cute. The goal was far from being achieved.
“I told you to hold her hand and come in. Rare to see you not following my words.”
Seeing the two of them entering, the Crown Prince narrowed his eyes and raised one corner of his mouth. He grasped Sig’s firm cheek.
“Are you rebelling against me, brother?”
“No.”
“Then what is it? Hmm?”
Britia found it amusing how Sig, who usually looked so grown-up, appeared like a young boy in front of the Crown Prince.
Leon came to mind for some reason.
“Britia.”
As she indulged in such peaceful thoughts, an unwelcoming voice reached Britia’s ears.
“Kyra.”
When Britia turned around, Kyra smiled slightly and embraced her, pressing her index finger firmly against her waist. The signal exchanged for the dress trade was unmistakable.
Who did she want Britia to introduce her to, anyway?
Having moved away from Kyra’s embrace, Britia glanced at the Crown Prince, nodding discreetly. However, she herself wasn’t intimate enough with anyone to introduce them.
“Your Highness, thank you for inviting me again this year.”
As she hesitated about how to phrase her words, Harty, who had come along with Kyra, greeted the Crown Prince warmly. Upon seeing him smile like he held the world’s purest young boy within, Britia felt a shiver run down her spine.
“Count Slanford, you with deep connections to the Mia family, cannot be left out from an event like this.”
But the Crown Prince, whether he found such a man agreeable, greeted him warmly and shook hands with him. In response, Harty started by saying it was an infinite honor and then mentioned having peeked at the stage in advance, unable to sit still with too much excitement for the play.
“Yes, I’m grateful for your anticipation. I hope the time lives up to that anticipation. And, who is the person beside you?”
“I apologize for the late introduction. This is my cousin, Kyra Slanford, the third daughter of Duke Scandars.”
“Kyra Slanford, it’s a pleasure to meet Your Highness.”
Seeing the introduction naturally continue, Britia realized she wouldn’t have to step forward after all.
“Kyra, I hope you also enjoy the performance today.”
With just a very brief statement, the Crown Prince withdrew his attention from her. He soon turned with Sig to head to their seats, draping his arm around Sig’s opposite shoulder.
Britia felt like this wasn’t the right time. The content of the trade with Kyra wasn’t about revealing Kyra’s name. She needed to subtly mention that Kyra had a hobby of drawing exceptionally well.
But how on earth could she smoothly bring that up? As Britia hesitated, the Crown Prince attempted to move his foot, and in response, Kyra discreetly placed her hand on Britia’s back, pinching her skin tightly.
“Ouch!”
When Britia let out a cry of pain, both Sig and the Crown Prince turned to look at her.
“Britia-nim?”
Sig asked, wondering what had happened.
BShe hadn’t even had a chance to formulate a response in her mind yet!
Britia gave Kyra, who had pinched her back, a stern look before reluctantly turning towards her and opening her mouth.
She had to come up with something on the spot.
“Oh, right. Thank you for the drawing you sent this time, Kyra. I knew you enjoyed drawing, but I had no idea you were so skilled. I was truly surprised. I did send a thank-you letter, but I wanted to express my gratitude in person when I saw you.”
Britia tried her best to make her words sound plausible.
Hoping that the Crown Prince was listening, she continued speaking, fervently moving her lips.
“I would like to repay you for such an exceptional piece of artwork. What would you prefer?”
Whether it was acting or lying, she couldn’t ask for something truly different.
Britia pointed to her dress desperately with her eyes as she spoke. In response, Kyra smiled brightly and pulled her into a hug, seemingly satisfied.
“Oh, Britia, there’s no need for any kind of repayment. I just really wanted to draw something for you.”
She’s quite good at acting, more than I thought.
Speaking in a hushed voice that no one else could hear, she covered Britia’s ear with her mouth.
“Do you like art?”
Sig, who hadn’t realized the fact that she had acted before them, asked. Britia pursed her lips for a moment and then smiled, nodding her head.
“Why would I be so fond of it after receiving a gift of artwork?”
The Crown Prince spoke as if he was curious. However, seeing his smiling face, Britia had a gut feeling that he had figured out it was all an act.
“Is it a landscape painting, or a portrait?”
This is probably deliberately asked.
Britia made a great effort to maintain her smile.
“It was a portrait, Your Highness.”
“A portrait. Was it of you?”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
As Britia nodded, the Crown Prince squinted his eyes and lifted the corner of his mouth slightly.
“I’m curious how remarkable the painting is. Could you show it to me sometime?”
Oh, I’ve never received anything like that. The lies are getting bigger and bigger. What should I do?
Britia bit her inner lip slightly.
“Of course.”
But what can she do? She can’t possibly say she can’t show it.
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