When he was in the North, Kayan would always leave a few buttons undone, no matter how cold it was. He would wear his tie or cravat loosely, complaining about feeling stifled, and he often rolled up his shirt sleeves.
But now, Kayan had buttoned his shirt all the way to the neck, with his cravat neatly tied. From his stiff tone, polite speech, and attire to his posture, everything about him seemed like he was a completely different person.
“Don’t act so uncomfortable in front of me. I know you hate walking around in formal attire like that. When you’re staying at the barony, you can dress comfortably like before. You used to do that even at the palace. I liked seeing you when you were at ease,”
Kayan stiffly shook his head.
“That was just me being rude and ignorant a year ago.”
He hesitated for a moment before adding in a troubled voice,
“Also, the people in the North don’t know that our relationship has become distant. I didn’t tell them. I apologize.”
“What are you sorry for? If it were me, I’d have already told everyone and made a scene. You’re quite the bigger person.”
Kayan, looking conflicted, responded,
“…It wasn’t because I was thinking of you, Your Highness. I simply couldn’t bring myself to talk about it.”
“Well, then it was the best choice for both preserving my reputation and saving your vocal cords!”
I clapped my hands lightly and smiled warmly. Unable to hide my delight, I asked,
“So no one knows we cut ties?”
“Not… no one. My father knows.”
Of course.
Arthur was a peculiar man in many ways, but he cared deeply for his son. There was no way he wouldn’t ask why Kayan suddenly returned home in a sullen state.
I muttered awkwardly without realizing it,
“Ah, so the baron—no, the viscount—knows.”
“Yes. Other than my father and me, no one else knows,” Kayan replied with a heavy sigh.
“That’s why the knights at the viscounty might act overly familiar with you, just as they used to. I will make sure to educate them right away.”
“No! Don’t do that!”
Seeing Kayan’s resolute expression, I waved my hand, frowning.
“What education? I actually feel comfortable and like it that way. Don’t you dare.”
Kayan seemed about to respond but then abruptly closed his mouth and turned to look behind him, as if sensing something.
I narrowed my eyes and followed his gaze.
Before long, a man appeared, walking toward us with unhurried steps.
“Oh, what a coincidence to meet you here.”
The man, stretching lazily with his long hair falling over his shoulders, was none other than Saquar.
He was someone I had first seen during a recent meeting. He was strikingly handsome, but his gaze was unfocused, and his expression seemed oddly vacant.
“What are you two kids doing here, standing side by side?”
Smiling casually, he glanced back and forth between Kayan and me.
‘I’m not particularly close to this person,’ I thought, slightly uncomfortable but still managing a polite smile.
“It’s an honor to see you, Great-Uncle.”
“…Hmm, how about just calling me Saquar?” he muttered, scratching his cheek.
“Hearing myself called ‘uncle’ at my age is rather unsettling. It makes me feel like some ageless monster. It’s a terrible experience that shakes the dignity of being human. Please, never say it again.”
Is the title “Great-Uncle” really that bad?
‘And besides, am I even allowed to call him Saquar?’
However, Saquar was an ambiguous figure within the imperial family in many ways.
He had no claim to succession. By rights, as my grandfather’s half-brother, he should have been fourth in line after Hugo. But he had given up his claim long ago.
The method of renouncing one’s claim was simple: one only needed to declare lifelong celibacy.
As such, Saquar couldn’t formally marry, and even if he had children, they couldn’t inherit the Tayan name.
Regardless, if calling him “Great-Uncle” made him feel like a monster, I couldn’t bring myself to be so disrespectful.
“Understood, Saquar. Please feel free to call me Ivnoa in return.”
“Oh, what to do? I don’t like that either, Princess.”
What is with this man?
Still, as always, I maintained my composure as the polite princess, smiling gently as I responded in a way that subtly implied, “Please leave now.”
“Understood. Thank you for your honest opinion, Saquar.”
“Hmph.”
He looked me up and down, then tilted his head and asked,
“I heard the second imperial palace reprimanded you yesterday. Are you alright?”
“If I’ve done something wrong, it’s only natural to be reprimanded. But thank you for your concern, Saquar.”
I smiled brightly and brushed off the subject. No matter how much he was called the “Palace Fool,” I couldn’t reveal my inner thoughts to someone I didn’t know well.
Keeping an appropriate distance was the best option.
“Still, did the second prince’s palace let you go easily?”
“Well, as you can see, I’ve managed to leave the second prince’s palace without much trouble. But thank you again for your concern, Saquar.”
“Hm.”
At my polite but firm response, Saquar raised an eyebrow before shifting his gaze to Kayan.
Kayan, already wary, was glaring at Saquar. It seemed like the right moment to introduce him.
I spoke softly,
“I’ve been exiled and will be staying at the Viscounty of Barcklith.”
“Hm?”
At that, I nudged Kayan in the side.
He immediately bowed and introduced himself,
“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Kayan Barcklith of the Viscounty of Barcklith.”
Saquar tilted his head in confusion.
“The princess is going to your estate? Really?”
He blinked, looking Kayan up and down.
“Can you take good care of the princess? From what I’ve heard from the maids at the princess’s palace a year ago, you were quite… lacking in manners. Did you and the princess even get along in the North?”
What on earth was this man? This clueless “Palace Fool”… how did he get his information so accurately?
It was entirely true, though.
While Kayan was polite to me now, back in the North, he was a cold, distant boy who kept everyone at arm’s length. And even a year ago in the palace, he didn’t get along well with anyone except me.
I stepped in front of Kayan, smiling warmly, and replied,
“He just has room for growth in his personality.”
Which, of course, meant he had a long way to go.
Saquar narrowed his eyes skeptically and muttered,
“He grew up in the North, so he probably doesn’t know much about the capital’s ways.”
“He’s simply a forward-thinking talent for the future,”
Even if that future hadn’t arrived yet.
“I heard he’s sharp-tongued, like a blade, when criticizing others.”
“That just means his verbal skills are particularly well-developed in certain areas.”
I continued to counter his remarks one by one, smiling as I spoke. Saquar chuckled lightly.
“I thought the princess was only skilled in offense, but your defense is impressive too. Picking a fight with you isn’t fun; it just ends with that little viscount being moved to tears.”
Huh? Could Kayan really be moved by my unwaveringly positive perspective of him?
If so, that would be fantastic news.
As a grin spread across my face, Saquar continued,
“Who wouldn’t be moved? Anyone would be. Even his own mother wouldn’t defend him this well, right, little viscount?”
At this, Kayan, who had been silent the entire time, finally opened his mouth.
“My apologies. I have no mother.”
“Ah. Uh, really?”
Saquar froze in place, then awkwardly tried to recover.
“Well, uh, neither do I. But, uh, it hasn’t stopped me from becoming such a handsome adult.”
Oh my goodness. Did he really think that was a recovery?
As expected, it was a perfectly foolish comment to match his dazed expression.
An awkward silence lingered.
Saquar, clearly flustered, added hesitantly,
“Still, if I recall, during your childhood, there must have been…”
“I apologize. In my case, I’ve never had one since birth.”
“Oh. Oh, uh, I see. Well, this is…”
This was turning into a disaster.
In the end, Saquar let out an awkward laugh and hastily turned away.
“Well then, I’ll be going. No need to see me off—or even greet me. I’m not worthy of being greeted. Children, please forget this conversation ever happened.”
At least he had some awareness.
And with that, Kayan successfully fended off the eccentric passerby.
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