41
I didn’t coordinate the conditions for my matchmaking partner in advance. Still, even so… my parents should have known that I prefer women. Why a man?
Of course, if the other party is a dominant alpha and a prince, I suppose gender wouldn’t matter much.
The part about “you can look forward to it” might have referred to the matchmaking partner’s status. Perhaps they found the other party’s status too tempting to decline this matchmaking arrangement, considering my sexual preferences.
…No wonder they were grinning so much.
Our son whom a prince desires, something like that? But I already know what that person’s true intentions are.
“I heard there was a carriage accident on the way back from the Imperial Palace. Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“Haha…”
“Oh my. You seem disappointed that I’m your matchmaking partner.”
As I was awkwardly smiling, Castian shrugged his shoulders. My reluctance must have shown on my face.
“Still, I came all this long way to meet you. I even carefully chose what to wear today.”
He grumbled as he approached the seat across from me and sat down, crossing his long legs. Since this wasn’t an official occasion, his clothing was less elaborate, but the calm-colored outfit suited him very well.
I hesitantly opened my mouth.
“I’m not sure how to put this…”
It was awkward having to refuse after we were the ones who sought this meeting first. Castian seemed to have somewhat anticipated my reaction.
“You know my purpose is the manifestation, right?”
“Yes…”
“But it’s also true that I’m interested in you.”
“……”
“How about getting to know me better with this opportunity?”
“…I already gave you my answer back then.”
“And I also said I haven’t given up yet.”
“I’m sorry. My answer will ultimately be the same.”
I gently shook my head. At that point, Castian looked at me with what seemed like curiosity.
“Hmm. You won’t budge even a little.”
When I nervously rolled my eyes, feeling burdened by his blatant gaze, he let out a small laugh.
“There aren’t many people who can casually refuse my courtship. Why is that? Are you displeased by my purpose? Or am I really not your type?”
“……”
“Come to think of it, I don’t really know anything about you. Do you have any particular conditions you look for when choosing a partner? I’m curious… it should be okay to ask this much, right?”
It would be easier to reject him if he acted brazenly and shamelessly, but his cautious attitude makes it rather difficult instead. And it would be a bit much to criticize him just for showing interest.
After a brief moment of contemplation, I opened my mouth.
“Actually, I find men a bit burdensome.”
“Really? Hmm, so that’s how it is. How unusual.”
In a world where liking both genders is considered natural, whether you hide your traits or not, it’s not strange to be called unusual. I nodded at that, and Castian muttered something odd.
“So that’s why you’re having such trouble…”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Well, there are oddballs like me in the world who only like men, so I don’t think it’s strange. Which secondary gender do you prefer?”
I was curious about what he meant by “having trouble,” but he seems to intend to just pass over it. Though I felt uneasy, I didn’t press further.
“I don’t particularly care about secondary gender.”
“I see.”
Castian, who had been listening to my story more seriously than expected, crossed his arms and leaned back against the sofa. Looking at his face, it seemed he understood my behavior up until now.
“Alright. I won’t force you to marry me.”
Just as I was about to feel relieved, thinking he was going to give up—
“Still, it should be possible for you to hang out with me as a friend, right?”
…Looking at his sly smile, I find him highly suspicious.
“Anyway, you’ll be staying at this mansion for several days, so I can bother you as much as I want. If you don’t want that, then please keep me company for a while.”
“…Mmm.”
He truly was a cunning person.
I suppose there’s no choice.
Well, it is significant that he came all the way here from the Imperial Palace.
“I understand.”
At my answer, Castian quietly smiled with the corners of his mouth curved up. He looked at me as if I were prey caught in a trap, so I glared at him warily, and he stood up from his seat first.
“Shall we go then?”
“…Pardon? Where to?”
Castian’s eyes immediately narrowed like a snake’s.
“To a place you’ll like too.”
* * *
Following Castian, we took a carriage and arrived at… Veloce Hall, one of the famous music halls within the Nemad Empire.
The first music hall created by Marquis Cardello, who sponsors the imperial orchestra and started music-related businesses.
Veloce Hall is located in the southern Cardello Marquis territory, where the carriage roads are well-maintained and not too far from our territory, so we were able to arrive within a few hours.
But… this is my first time actually coming here.
‘To think I’d get to come here.’
I quietly gazed at the magnificent building before me, feeling somewhat moved.
This place was basically created to encourage music concerts, appreciation, viewing of rare classical sheet music and arcana crystals, and education, but nobles who aren’t founding patrons or their descendants can only enter after receiving approval through Marquis Cardello’s strict review.
Because of this, there’s an enormous waiting list, making it a difficult place to visit.
“Can we really go in?”
“Of course we can.”
Actually, thinking about it, I heard that Veloce Hall was built with the help of the imperial family and is currently operated through a partnership with them, so it’s natural that Prince Castian would have the authority to enter freely.
And I now have the opportunity to enter thanks to that prince’s invitation.
“Looking at your face, I’m glad I brought you here.”
“…What did my face look like?”
“Like bread that’s been left in the oven too long and puffed up completely.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
“You’re the type whose thoughts show completely on your face.”
Castian chuckled and playfully poked my cheek with his finger. Then he headed toward the music hall entrance first, telling me to follow. Worried they might not recognize me as part of his group, I quickly chased after Castian’s heels.
The soldier standing guard at the music hall entrance confirmed with Castian that I was accompanying him, then politely bowed and let us inside.
‘Wow…’
The interior of Veloce Hall was incredibly spacious, and the ceiling was correspondingly high. Gold-decorated pillars stood in orderly rows, and the lobby walls were filled with decorative panels wrapped in crimson velvet.
To express that it was a music hall, decorations shaped like musical instruments and classical paintings hung on the walls, maintaining a majestic and even sacred atmosphere.
“Is this sufficient as a surprise event?”
Castian approached me as I was busy looking around and asked. I honestly nodded.
“Yes, thank you for bringing me to such a wonderful place.”
Castian also seemed satisfied with that answer and smiled thinly, then casually put his arm around my shoulder. This person naturally initiates physical contact.
“You’ll want to see the sheet music exhibition room inside too, right?”
…But just this once, I’ll pretend not to notice and let it slide.
“Yes!”
With my heart pounding, I eagerly followed Castian into the sheet music exhibition room. In the center of the exhibition room stood an elegant piano, and around the perimeter, numerous sheet music pieces and arcana crystals made from those scores were displayed in glass cases.
The arcana crystals in particular were arranged so that you could insert them directly into arcana music boxes to listen to the music.
It really is an incredible place.
Even I was dazzled there, quickly sticking to the display cases and busily examining what was inside. In the display cases, I occasionally saw sheet music composed by masters from 100 years ago, and original scores rather than copies were frequently visible.
‘It makes sense that the security inside would be so tight.’
Currently, the sheet music exhibition room is full of soldiers. They must be soldiers on constant standby.
‘Ah.’
I suddenly spotted familiar sheet music in the display case. I carefully picked up the arcana crystal displayed next to it and turned to Castian.
“Your Highness. Would it be alright if I tried operating the music box?”
“If you want it, you can do anything. I give you permission.”
Since he said that, I inserted the crystal into the music box without worrying about anyone’s reaction. Soon my favorite music filled the sheet music exhibition room.
It’s a famous piece often used as court music. The silky smooth yet bright and hopeful melody always cleared my heart whenever I heard it.
“Is this a piece you usually like?”
“Yes. It’s by a composer I like.”
“I see. We have something in common then.”
Suddenly, Castian patted my head and spoke. I unconsciously turned my head, then panicked at his face being much closer than expected and jerked my head back. Castian’s deep eyes curved playfully right in front of me.
“I like it too.”
…What was really bewildering came after that. Suddenly, Cedric’s face appeared in my mind. Perhaps because I’d often experienced similar situations with him, I saw their figures overlapping.
But what I felt was quite different.
Just as I felt no stirring when Castian kissed the back of my hand, even though our foreheads nearly collided, I only felt flustered without any more sensitive reactions occurring.
“……”
The sense of disparity from that made my mood oddly complex.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
