I said my greetings and asked for something I was curious about. I thought madame would take her child right away when I said it was okay to take her child. However, she had entrusted her child to Shale, the person who she only met once a week. Even though she wanted to meet her child so badly.
“The fence hasn’t been built properly yet.”
“What more fences does he need when he has you? It’s all a lie that he doesn’t remember when he was young. When I was young… no, it’s nothing.”
Madame smiled unexpectedly. After a while, it subsided a little, and she opened her mouth.
“I’m still afraid of my father.”
“…”
“I could take my child with me any time. But I think he will take him away from me again, just like before. I still need to build up more strength.”
Contrary to her soft voice, her gaze was firm. She even sounded like what I was about to say.
I looked at her like that and put my hand on the teacup.
“That’s right. I think Madame can do it. I won’t bring that up again. But don’t just trust him just because he protects your child.”
“I don’t trust him. I trust you.”
I let out a ridiculous laugh and looked at Madame again. It’s hard to believe that I saved her child.
“Do you know what’s different about me? If I hadn’t seen Madame, I wouldn’t have saved your child. What’s good about being taken advantage of.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you found my child. It’s been a while since you’ve been here, can I help you with anything?”
“I’m still thinking.”
Then Madame picked up the tape measure.
“Then shall I measure it? If you move, good ideas may come to you.”
Madame has certainly changed a lot since she found the child. She seemed to be a little self-righteous and was exceptionally friendly.
She shook the tape measure with a smile, whether I frowned or not.
* * *
“Lady?”
Delkian looked at me with startled eyes.
“Greetings to Your Highness the First Prince. It’s been a really long time since we met. How have you been?”
“Ho, I guess I’m really seeing Lady right now.”
I smiled a little at Delkian’s words.
“I thought Lady had evaporated somewhere.”
It was not difficult to make a meeting with Delkian. Actually, it was very easy for me to match his schedule. He seemed very fond of the exhibition. He often went to game halls or banquets, but he seemed to prefer places where it was quiet and rare to see people. Seeing that he usually spends his free time in places like this.
Delkian’s eyes were wide open as soon as he saw me. As I evaporated out of nowhere without showing a sign of gratitude and appeared two years later, it was understandable.
Seeing that he was so surprised, wouldn’t it prove that our relationship seemed closer than I thought? Perhaps that’s why Delkian gladly welcomed me after going missing for a long time.
“I wanted to say thank you for that time.”
“Your body is more important. So, is your body feeling a little better? You should have told me that you had to go abroad.”
“Body is more important. Is that why you’re feeling better? You should have told me that you had to go abroad.”
“I didn’t expect to get worse suddenly. I’ve been fine for a few months.”
“Still, seeing you go out, you seem to be fine again now. It’s good news, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I’m much better. I’ve been lying in bed all this time.”
“I see. That’s a relief. After Lady disappeared…”
Delkian’s voice diminished, and he murmured to himself.
“Yes?”
“Nothing. I’m really glad you’re getting better.”
Delkian answered with a friendly smile. Seeing that smile reminded me of Valery’s face. Maybe it’s because of his eye color.
After that, we exchanged conversations for a long time. Only then the moment all the fears of meeting him might be rejected, go away.
“Then will you also attend the fox hunting? Is it still too much?”
“It’s too much for the hunting, so I think I will probably attend the banquet. I would love to see what other people are doing. Your Highness will also attend, right?”
“Of course, Your Majesty is attending, so I should participate.”
“Then the winner has already been decided.”
Delkian then burst into a small laugh as if he was happy.
I didn’t exaggerate. Delkian and Valery both share the position of a winner every year back and forth. If you look at the next talented person after them, it would be his close friend, Duke Lige.
“Then how about the fox statue after getting Arisuke’s ice statue?”
The fox statue would be given to the winner of the fox hunt. Usually, there was a custom to give it to the person you wanted to give it to rather than having it. Delkian and Valery won it every year, but there was no scandal because they gave it to their mother, the empress.
In fact, Delkian was more difficult to understand than Valery. He seemed interested in me but acted like a warm brother, which was somewhat meaningful.
It was a great harvest to reassure my mother.
“I think I’ll be a little greedy.”
“Then I have to work harder.”
Delkian smiled and leaned slightly toward me.
* * *
The conversation with Delkian has lengthened. In the meantime, I couldn’t ask about anything about Valery for fear he would notice anything, so I guess I couldn’t hide my impatient expression at the end.
Today, I confirmed that Valery went outside too. There had been no invitation, letter, or anything ridiculous after we met. He didn’t ask to meet, nor did I ask to meet. As usual, just like the meeting with Delkian, the meeting was disguised as a coincidence when we tailored the princes’ movements.
This place, which was the place for unmarried young people, was a place that looked like a mix of exhibition and banquet hall. It was a good place to meet and talk lightly, and it was a good place to spend time with light alcohol, drinks, and desserts. Above all, the place was so large that people rarely bumped into each other.
It was an open space, so it was the perfect place to avoid suspicion from my mother or Sir Shubart. I could just say I tried to get some fresh air and collect information.
I came here because I couldn’t finish our conversation that day, so I thought I should talk to him at least once. And he knew who I was. Also to save him from danger. As fox hunting was just around the corner, it would be difficult to prevent danger if we didn’t meet today. I already heard that he was definitely meeting someone here today.
Has he already gone back?
With Ian standing at the entrance, I went inside and looked for him while pretending to read the atmosphere leisurely.
Duke Lige could be found in the middle, but I hadn’t found the answer to my question. Then it occurred to me that he might have returned to the Imperial Palace because he was an hour late from his schedule.
I slowly wandered around the room, receiving greetings from the young men whom I didn’t even know their names. However, even after going around once, I couldn’t find him. Looked like he had already gone back.
Today is the best time though.
I turned around, thinking he might get out by the back door. There was a pretty spacious hallway over there.
He was someone who didn’t care about what others thought, but he didn’t like noisy things either. So if there was anything he could do, he might find a quieter place than being here.
My steps got a little faster without realizing it. Almost as if running, I turned to the corner and headed to the hallway leading out the back door.
There were no people there at all. It was empty because people only used the front door. Even the guide was nowhere to be found.
“He must have really gone.”
I stopped walking and breathed out in vain. It was too dangerous to send a letter to meet now. I flipped to find another way then stopped as if I was nailed in the spot.
“…”
Valery’s eyes found me first. When I found him, he was already looking at me. Seeing that he appeared from where I came out, he might have found me. Or he was just about to get out here. Either way, it was a good thing that he was still here.
I took a deep breath and slowly moved closer to him.
“…Greetings, Your Highness the Second Prince. How are you?”
With about five steps left, I gently held both sides of my dress and between my waist and head. I finally caught my breath.
“…”
He didn’t say anything.
When I stopped bending over, he came three steps closer. I could see his expression at a glance when I raised my waist. He reached out to me with a mysterious look.
When I reached out my hand a little late in the changed atmosphere, he kissed me on the back of my hand. The soft, warm lips touched and fell off.
“Where are you going?”
