Upon hearing the word “jealousy,” Sig was momentarily taken aback, holding his breath.
“So, the source of this frustration is jealousy?”
Although he had considered factors such as lack of sleep and inadequate training, he had never even thought of jealousy. The mention of jealousy caught him off guard.
“Did you get angry after seeing Harty Slanford having a genuine conversation with her?”
“It’s a sticky, unpleasant feeling that seems to cling to my chest without dissipating.”
“That’s jealousy, indeed.”
As the prince nodded, Sig’s lips parted. How could he briefly observe someone else’s interaction and diagnose his own state without even opening up his heart? Despite that, Sig expressed boundless respect for his esteemed brother, whom he never ceased to admire.
“So, this is jealousy. However, I also feel a sense of rivalry. Since childhood, whenever there was someone better than me in martial arts, I felt a burning desire to catch up with them. But that man…”
He wasn’t particularly skilled in martial arts. So why did I feel jealous of him?
“In this case, what matters isn’t Harty Slanford, but rather Britia, right? Try imagining Britia absent from the picture. Do you still feel jealousy?”
Following his words, Sig tried to erase Britia from the image of those three individuals. Indeed, he didn’t sense any special emotions just because his cousin was conversing with them.
“It’s not because Slanford is with Britia, but because Britia appears to be enjoying herself with Slamford, that I feel jealous.”
“It seems so…”
Sig clenched his jaw and furrowed his brow. Now that he realized it was jealousy, he pondered how to resolve it. Normally, he would have trained diligently to catch up with the person he felt envious of. But in a situation like this, how could he?
Despite racking his brain, Sig couldn’t find a solution, and his troubled face grew increasingly sinister.
“Your Highness.”
A young court official, who had come to announce that it was almost time for the play to begin, paused when he saw Sig’s expression. The prince was murmuring to Harty, and Sig exuded an eerie aura as if he had found his enemy. The court official had witnessed similar situations before.
It was evident that the two of them would discuss how to deal with those who posed a problem to the royal family. The reason Sig earned the nickname “Mad Dog of the North” was because he would quietly keep to himself in the northern region most of the time, but when an enemy appeared in the royal palace, he would emerge and ruthlessly trample them.
Is Harty Slanford the next sacrificial lamb?
“Is it time?”
Lost in thought as he discreetly observed Harty, who was with his partner, Sig snapped back to attention and nodded in response to the prince’s question.
“You should quickly bring your partner here.”
In the midst of wanting to command her to come, the Crown Prince took the initiative and moved his own feet. Driven by jealousy and a sense of confusion about his younger sibling, who was struggling, he moved forward with the thought of coming to the rescue.
“It seems Britia Lockhart is the one who sets me in motion.”
Upon reflection, it was true. Hearing rumors about her, he had thought Sig would like her to such an extent that she must be an impressive woman who knew how to charm a man’s heart. However, seeing her in person, she appeared more ordinary than he had expected, leaving a slight sense of disappointment. Yet, she had already managed to move him twice.
“She may seem ordinary on the surface, but she is no ordinary woman.”
As the prince murmured, Sig looked at him with admiration, recognizing his brother’s exceptional ability to perceive others. While he hadn’t noticed her extraordinary qualities until she revealed her abilities, his brother had recognized them at a glance.
“Britia, it would be great if you could stop your delightful conversation there and join us now.”
Witnessing her startled reactions, she appeared entirely lacking in braveness. Yet, Sig marveled at the mysterious force that propelled her into action. What power, he wondered, compelled her to move despite her apparent timidity?
“Although it’s a bit late to mention it, your dress is absolutely beautiful.”
As the crown prince carefully examined her, he suddenly discovered something and spoke up. From the revealing line connecting her neck and back to the gradually spreading pleats below and the not overly vibrant color—there were many similarities to what those people had proudly claimed to have received from that man.
“I remember the Count had such a taste. It’s remarkable how coincidentally it fits you perfectly. Even if you said you received it as a gift, I would believe you.”
As he chuckled, Britia’s face darkened.
Was it really a gift from Harty? She wore the dress given to her by Harty when she came as Sig’s partner.
The crown prince glanced at Sig, inwardly admiring the fact that she was no ordinary woman. Sig’s eyes, which were already giving off a sinister impression due to jealousy, intensified as if they were about to ignite with envy.
As the play was about to begin, Britia moved to her prepared seat and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the seating arrangement. Thanks to Sig sitting between them, she managed to avoid sitting right next to the crown prince.
Even though she was already close enough, considering that they were sitting far apart in a radial pattern from the stage and were not visible behind the curtains compared to the others, it was still too close.
“I hope you enjoy it.”
As the curtain was about to rise, the crown prince looked at the stage and spoke. Britia wanted to believe that he was saying it to Sig, but when she briefly turned her gaze to the side, their eyes met, and the increasing tension made her swallow hard. If she couldn’t answer when he asked about the content of the play after it ended, it felt like something serious would happen.
So she wanted to focus on the play, but Sig’s gaze next to her was too intense. When she glanced at him, their eyes met.
“Why are you like this?”
What could be bothering him? Britia asked, but he just stared at her silently without giving any response.
“Shh. It’s starting.”
The crown prince raised his index finger to his lips and gently shushed Britia, who was about to ask why he kept looking at her. She hastily closed her mouth, but Sig did not follow suit.
“….”
He continued to gaze at her as if he had something to say. Unable to ask him why he was doing this, Britia couldn’t fully concentrate on the play because she was bothered by Sig’s gaze. Despite the magnificent music and beautiful singing that followed, along with the dazzling costumes and props, nothing seemed to register in her mind.
And so, the first act of the play came to an end. During the short intermission, Britia saw it as an opportunity and planned to take Sig outside to ask him why he kept staring at her.
“Puppy, go and fetch a glass of wine.”
The crown prince, who was quick to make a move, commanded Sig before Britia had a chance to speak. It could have been given to any servant or attendant, but Sig silently rose from his seat.
Suddenly, Britia found herself alone with the crown prince. Unable to bear the suffocating atmosphere, she was about to excuse herself and briefly leave her seat.
“I have something I want to ask you. Can you spare a moment?”
“…Yes.”
Britia’s attempt to escape failed, and she sat back down. What could she possibly be about to ask? Nervous, she swallowed hard, her mouth dry.
“I’m curious about how Sig proposed to you.”
“Cheup!”
Britia was so surprised that she bit her tongue before speaking.
“Turas-nim has never proposed to me, Your Highness. There are rumors circulating, but they are not true.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
The crown prince narrowed his eyes as he observed Britia, her face flushed and visibly perturbed. Although he hadn’t proposed, her reaction raised suspicions that something had transpired.
“I know it may seem like unnecessary meddling, but he is my one and only cute younger brother. Even though we didn’t come from the same womb, that doesn’t matter to me. I cherish him as if we did.”
Britia thought of Leon’s face. Despite being taller and stronger than herself by a head, Leon always seemed younger and in need of protection. Perhaps the crown prince shared a similar sentiment towards him.
If rumors were to spread that Leon had proposed to a girl and been rejected, how would she react? She could already envision herself indignant, demanding to know which girl had dared to reject their Lenny.
“Brother.”
Just then, Sig returned with wine glasses in both hands. Britia, seeing the two of them, projected herself and Leon onto the scene, missing her younger brother whom she rarely had a chance to meet due to his knight training.
“Puppy, this isn’t it.”
However, her musings crumbled as she saw the prince shake his head upon catching a whiff of the wine.
“Bring something with a sweeter fragrance.”
If it were Britia, even if he had brought it as a gesture of gratitude, she wouldn’t have rejected Leon so coldly.
“But didn’t you say you don’t like sweeter scents?”
“That was then. Today, I don’t feel like putting anything cloying in my mouth.”
With a gesture urging him to go and fetch it again, Sig reluctantly complied, his eyes filled with a sense of injustice. He took the glass and pushed through the curtains, leaving the room. It was clear that it was done on purpose.
His older brother enjoyed teasing his younger siblings.
Britia thought of her twin. Seeing him like this, he looked like a refined version of Crave Lockhart, minus the mischievousness and with a lot more grace. She had always found his mischievous smile intimidating, but now she realized it was his way of teasing his cute younger brother.
When Britia secretly felt a sense of familiarity from the prince, he noticed that she, who had been tense and stiff in front of him, suddenly had a peculiar look in her eyes.
“It seems Your Highness is quite mischievous.”
At that, the prince chuckled.
“I have to tease my cute younger brother. Besides, Sig has a knack for getting teased.”
His remark was truly something Crave would say, and Britia couldn’t help but laugh.
“Mother always asks what’s cute about that big guy, but it’s adorable to see someone so big whining like a puppy.”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Do you understand too?”
“My younger brother is also very big and cute.”
The prince became interested upon hearing about her younger brother.
“But comparing him to Sig wouldn’t be fair.”
The prince’s tail, slightly raised, swayed behind the chair. He narrowed his eyes and provocatively looked at Britia.
“You don’t agree? You don’t think Sig is cute?”
“Of course, Duke-nim is cute.”
“Oh really? So, that little one is cute even in your eyes.”
The prince chuckled as he saw Sig appear with a new glass, holding it between the curtains.
“Did you hear, puppy?”
“What do you mean?”
Unfortunately, Sig didn’t hear her words and slightly tilted his head as he handed the glass to the prince.
“Are you going to drink it?”
Britia was worried that he would tell Sig to go back again and she wanted to talk to him. He had come back with the glass as if threatening the person outside to quickly bring it.
“Yeah, this will do.”
Once permission was granted, Sig quickly took his seat.
“Oh, by the way, weren’t you about to go somewhere? Sorry for holding you back. Hurry back.”
However, the prince didn’t let Sig stay still to talk with her. Upon his words, Britia hesitated for a moment, then smiled slightly and lifted the curtain with one hand before stepping outside.
“Don’t be so disappointed. She’ll be back soon.”
The prince chuckled as he watched Sig, who was gazing endlessly between the curtains that Britia had left behind.
“More importantly, let me give you some important advice, my dear brother.”
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