“Episode 11”
My maids, though not particularly polite, never crossed the line. They knew the importance of their profession and never touched my belongings without permission. So when my letter went missing, I didn’t suspect them. I thought about checking the room again, but, “So that’s why, last night and today.” What were you thinking, Lucas? Moreover, you must know I always come earlier than the appointed time. Prince Joshua’s letter probably contained an invitation ticket to the performance at this theater, and he intercepted it. “Yes, Lucas Medelaike wouldn’t do something so impressive.” Today, the fan service seemed excessive. I greeted Prince Joshua with a sigh. “I didn’t expect to run into you here, Your Highness.” Even if he knew the truth, Prince Joshua shouldn’t know it was Lucas. It would be better to say I carelessly lost the letter. I couldn’t afford to tarnish that kid’s reputation as a hero compared to Joshua. “I accidentally lost the letter, so I couldn’t read it. I’m terribly sorry.” “Ah, I see. It’s okay.” As expected from the perfect prince. Even though it could have been considered a sacrilege in his narrow-minded aristocratic circle, he looked apologetic instead. After all, there were many passersby here. There was no point in making a scene. I dreamt an unattainable dream of Lucas developing such sensitivity. I asked him with sincere regret, “Were you invited to this theater?” Joshua hesitated for a moment. He glanced at my attire and nodded with a bitter smile. “Yes, I thought it would be nice to enjoy Blante’s and Harpist’s quiet performance. Today, the Empire’s top harpist was playing a concerto.” Ah, I felt truly disappointed upon hearing the explanation. I especially enjoyed concerts, particularly those with string instruments, as each performer’s style made the music sound different. So I occasionally attended orchestral performances rather than musicals. But I couldn’t help it. Missing the Empire’s top harpist’s performance was incredibly regrettable! Just as I was about to apologize to Prince Joshua again. “But I came to apologize.” “Excuse me?” Joshua was the first to speak. He smiled at me with a regretful expression. “I came to tell you that I might be too busy to spend time with you tonight.” If that’s the case, he could’ve just sent a messenger. I realized he was lying for my sake. Why? Was his pride hurt by the fact that he was stood up? But no matter how hard I tried to see him in a bad light, I knew that couldn’t be the reason. “Your Highness is really-” I was about to say he was overly kind when I realized.
“Already here, Alicia? Did I keep you waiting?” Lucas appeared, wrapping his arm around my waist possessively and planting a kiss on the back of my hand.
Ah, really Lucas! I inwardly screamed a short scream. Why is he doing this exaggerated gesture now when he doesn’t usually do it? And there were still about 20 minutes until our appointment time! Despite feeling frustrated, I naturally responded, thinking that I couldn’t ruin this situation.
“No, Your Highness. I just arrived too.”
“Is that so? Good. I didn’t want to keep my dear childhood friend waiting.” Lucas tried to impress Prince Joshua, even matching his gaze.
Why on earth is he doing this? Did he forget what he said to me when we climbed the stairs? I thought about it more because of that…
“Alicia, you know better than anyone, but when we get to the capital, I won’t be able to focus only on you.”
“Yeah…”
“Don’t be too upset, it’s inevitable. Let’s think about what we need to do from now on.”
And yet, why is he trying to show off our friendship like this, especially in front of Prince Joshua? Even if I’ve shown some hostility towards Prince Joshua or Princess Anita in the past…
But still, Lucas, you shouldn’t do something that could harm yourself. I desperately sent him a faint smile as a signal to act as usual. But Lucas is Lucas.
“Yeah, why? Were you tired of waiting for me, Alicia?”
He didn’t understand my feelings at all. While contemplating how to handle this situation, Prince Joshua spoke up.
“Brother, are you here to see Blante’s performance today?”
Only then did Lucas finally divert his gaze from me and relaxed his arm. Although he didn’t stop showing off that he was my escort, he finally addressed Prince Joshua as if he had just realized it.
He had been treating Prince Joshua as if he were invisible all this time, but now, with a relaxed smile as if he had just realized it, he casually spoke.
“Oh, right. Joshua.”
Really, why is he doing this? I had to suppress a shiver creeping up inside me.
“I’d better not blatantly ignore Prince Joshua like this.” I felt a headache coming on from revealing such petty jealousy.
In the midst of my frustration, Prince Joshua and I accidentally made eye contact. It was brief, but his intense gaze felt like it was enveloping me before quickly shifting to Lucas.
What was in those eyes? It felt like he was testing me and offering trust at the same time, with a discomforting gaze.
And then, the next moment.
“Oh, brother seems to have a narrower field of vision than I thought.”
I was greatly surprised by Prince Joshua’s blatant sarcasm.
“What? What did you just say?”
“I tried to greet you as soon as you arrived, but you only had eyes for Blante, completely oblivious to your brother’s presence.”
His smile was tinged with mockery.
“I’ve heard rumors that the renowned hero ‘Lucas Delrick’ pours his heart out to people and is praised for his broad-mindedness.”
Prince Joshua lowered his eyelids slightly, smiled softly, and then opened his eyes slowly, locking eyes with Lucas as he spoke.
“Well, even heroes need privacy. Perhaps that’s why.”
Prince Joshua approached me a little. Lucas, who wasn’t used to such attacks, just stared wide-eyed and half-open-mouthed!
Prince Joshua smiled at me as if greeting me and then whispered in a gentle voice as if he were talking to me, even though his sharp gaze was clearly directed at Lucas.
“Even if it means taking advantage of your brother’s invitation.”
Prince Joshua’s gentlemanly demeanor suddenly turned into that of a predator as he maintained eye contact with Lucas.
“Then, let’s look forward to next time. Blante, I have no intention of causing you any trouble.”
With a flutter, Prince Joshua left with nothing but a storm of words.
And he left behind a dumbfounded Lucas!
“That, that…! A guy who doesn’t know the slightest difficulty living in the royal palace!”
That’s your story, Lucas.
“That’s your story, Lucas.” Lucas Medelaike regained his composure after Prince Joshua left the scene, and I managed to divert attention away from him to a less crowded area. He opened his mouth to speak defiantly against Joshua’s unexpected actions.
“And to think I intercepted his invitation? What nonsense!” Lucas raised his voice in the breezy space. “Surely you don’t believe those words, Alicia? He’s just trying to sow discord between you and me!”
Lucas erupted in anger. “What reason would I have to intercept your appointment? I just wanted to spend some affectionate time with you since I finally had some free time.”
Listening to Lucas’s futile excuses, I glanced at him briefly. Many thoughts swirled in my mind. “…Really, Lucas, you’re only using half of your brain.”
If you wanted to stubbornly deny those words, you should have asked how you and Prince Joshua arranged the appointment in the first place. Because I deceived you.
“…Lucas Medelaike was scrutinizing my whereabouts.”
You, who are always so arrogant, instead of probing me, you immediately started making excuses. I clenched my fist for a moment before exhaling a short breath. What difference would it make if I demanded an explanation from you? And more importantly…
“You know, Lucas.”
“Yeah, Alicia.”
As I spoke, Lucas suddenly softened his angry expression and gently took hold of my elbow as if to support me. Such excessive affection, you really have some nerve. Feeling fatigued from the tense confrontation between Lucas and Joshua just now, I wrapped my trembling arm around his and spoke.
“Could we postpone today’s visit? As you know-”
“I know, I know!” Lucas cut me off abruptly, as if he had been waiting for me to say those words. Then, he pulled me closer and whispered as if reassuring me.
“Alicia, don’t believe Joshua’s words. You know, you’re special to me more than anyone else.”
Yeah, I’ve always pretended to believe those words. But why, Lucas? Is it because my love has grown stale? Your words don’t sound sincere.
“Yeah. I know.” I replied quietly, feeling the breeze brushing past my thighs.
—
“Look at this.” Joshua Medelaike, as soon as he woke up early in the morning, checked today’s morning paper on the small table and spoke to his aide.
“He made such a scene in a crowded place.” Joshua gently pulled the corners of his mouth upwards.
Despite it being a confrontation between princes, no newspaper mentioned the incident.
“It’s really impressive, isn’t it? Blante, huh?”
The aide nodded as if tired of the situation. “I never thought he would be this impressive, Your Highness.”
“That’s why I regret it. He’s so capable.” Joshua murmured coolly, looking at the peaceful newspaper.
“Just to be behind someone like Lucas.”
