Chapter 45
Kyle began plucking roses one by one. Although Kyle was ruining the garden, even the gardener who had meticulously cultivated this place wouldn’t have been able to scold Kyle if they saw him now, arms full of flowers. It was a sight beautiful enough to appease even the garden’s creator. After picking plenty of roses, Kyle turned to Blair with a bright smile. Among all the vibrant and vivid-colored flowers, Kyle was undoubtedly the most flower-like.
With an armful of flowers, Kyle seemed to be in a good mood as he walked around the garden with lively steps. Like an excited puppy seeing snow for the first time, Blair didn’t mind watching him. The Monetery family garden was too vast to walk its entirety. As they passed through the area where roses bloomed magnificently, the sun began to set, casting shadows across the ground.
Looking back, Blair could see that the mansion was already brightly lit. It was time to return for dinner.
“Your Highness, I think we should head back now.”
“Really?”
“Yes. We should go in for dinner. My brother will arrive soon too.”
Kyle nodded primly. Carefully holding the roses to prevent damaging them, Kyle made his way toward the mansion. The two went directly to the dining room. The Count and Countess had already arrived in the spacious dining room. Having likely been informed that Blair had a guest, the Count and Countess weren’t surprised to see Kyle. Kyle, still holding the flowers, bowed politely.
“Good evening.”
Kyle tried to calm his pounding heart.
“Ah, Mother, Father, this is the Second Prince, His Highness Kyle Owentree. And these are my parents.”
“Oh my goodness.”
The Count and Countess hurriedly rose from their seats. The elegantly dressed Countess approached first, bowing to Kyle.
“So you’re the Prince. It’s my first time meeting you. I am the Countess of Monetery.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am the Count of Monetery.”
The Count, with his stylish white beard, also approached and greeted Kyle. Both had leisurely, gentle impressions. The Count and Countess quickly scanned Kyle’s delicate face. Since Kyle rarely appeared in social circles and was known as a prince without power, this was naturally their first meeting with him.
“Yes. Thank you. I am Kyle Owentree Crassia. I came to visit because of my acquaintance with your son, Blair.”
Kyle bowed politely, in a manner that anyone would find satisfactory. The Count and Countess smiled with approval.
“Ah, I see you’re my youngest son’s friend from the Academy?”
The Countess began to make a fuss. The Countess was truly a good person, but she was a bit scatterbrained. Blair quickly cut in.
“Mother. We’re not exactly friends, more like he’s my senior. You know Aaron Taklamakan? He’s in the same year as Aaron, so he’s two years above me.”
“I see. I thought you were the same age as our Blair.”
Kyle smiled broadly and offered the bouquet of roses he had picked from the garden to the Countess. It wasn’t wrapped in fancy packaging, and the thorns hadn’t even been properly removed—a rough bouquet. But with the pretty Kyle holding it, it looked like a professional arrangement.
“Oh my, how lovely. Thank you.”
The Countess exclaimed as she accepted the bouquet. She immediately passed it to a maid standing behind her, ordering her to put it in a vase and bring it back, and then all four took their seats.
“Theodore and Clara are running late today. Is Clara planning to eat out before coming home?”
“No, I briefly stopped by my sister’s earlier, and she said she’d be here on time. She’ll be here soon.”
“Is that so? Then she’ll be here shortly. And Theodore… Well, that boy isn’t exactly a gentleman. Hurry up, Theo.”
Just then, Theodore walked into the dining room with heavy footsteps. He hesitated briefly when he saw the unfamiliar blond head, but soon recognized its owner and bowed.
“Prince Kyle.”
Theodore, who had worked at the Imperial Palace for a long time, immediately recognized Kyle. As Theodore took his seat, the Count picked up his utensils. Theodore signaled Blair with his eyes, asking what was going on. Blair discreetly looked away.
Theodore couldn’t understand his youngest brother at all. In the morning, he had barged into the palace and upset the Princess, and now at night he was hanging out with the Second Prince? But Blair pretended not to notice Theodore’s blatant stares. Unlike with Adriana, the situation with Kyle truly wasn’t his fault.
When the lively and vivacious Clara joined them, the table became even more boisterous. For Kyle, who was always quiet, spoke little, and preferred tranquility, this was probably an overwhelming commotion. Yet Kyle himself said nothing, while all the Monetery family members seemed to take a liking to this pretty and gentle prince.
Everyone pushed all sorts of food toward Kyle. Blair had to intervene, warning them that Kyle might get indigestion. Clara, who particularly loved pretty things, was the worst offender. The family bombarded Kyle with questions to the point that he could barely eat. Thanks to the cheerful family, as soon as dinner ended, Kyle, completely drained of energy, returned to Blair’s room and immediately collapsed onto the bed.
“Was it exhausting?”
Blair quietly laughed as he gazed at the back of Kyle’s blond head.
“Mmmm, a little. But the House of Monetery is very harmonious. I’m envious.”
Kyle rubbed his cheek against the fine fabric. It was truly like a puppy digging at the ground to make a place to lie down.
“Haha, I suppose we are. Anyway, you did well.”
Blair fluffed the pillow and placed it under Kyle’s face.
“My sister isn’t a bad person, but she really loves pretty things. Your Highness is an exceptional beauty, so it’s natural that she would like you.”
Kyle’s cheeks turned slightly red at Blair’s compliment.
“Umm… Is that so?”
Kyle lifted his head from the bed and looked up at Blair with a shy expression.
“Of course.”
Blair nodded readily.
People might have different opinions about Kyle himself, but there could be no disagreement about Kyle’s beauty. If someone thought otherwise, either they had vision problems or their taste was truly peculiar. Of course, there was nothing wrong with Blair’s eyesight or taste. Kyle’s cheeks slowly reddened at Blair’s affirmation. Though he had heard compliments and praise about his appearance countless times, when Blair said it, it felt different.
“You must be tired. Coming all the way from the Academy to here is no small feat, and dinner was a bit chaotic, wasn’t it?”
“No, it’s fine. It was delicious.”
“Are you free tomorrow? If you don’t have any other plans, I was thinking of showing you around the Monetery territory. It can’t compare to the Imperial Capital, but this is a commercial city with its own charm. There’s a certain vitality here, you could say.”
Since Clara couldn’t immediately secure the ledgers and a doctor, Blair had some free time. He could spare a day for the Prince who had come all this way.
“Of course that’s fine.”
Kyle sat up with a bright smile.
“Good. Then I’ll show you to the guest room. You must be tired, so sleep early.”
“Guest room?”
Kyle asked, puzzled.
“Yes, is there a problem?”
The Monetery mansion had more than enough rooms. The Imperial Palace, of course, and most noble houses typically maintained separate guest rooms. Naturally, the Monetery mansion also had several guest rooms. Since there were currently no other guests staying at the mansion, there were plenty of guest rooms available for Kyle.
“Oh, I thought I’d sleep with you.”
Having rarely visited other noble houses, Kyle, with limited experience, fidgeted with his fingers again. He was a bit embarrassed that he hadn’t thought about guest rooms.
“Haha, you’d be very uncomfortable sleeping with me. Even though you used a double room at the Academy, the beds were separate. This room only has one bed.”
Kyle’s expression suggested he wouldn’t mind, but Blair, who had already left the room, couldn’t see it.
“There’s a guest room right next to mine, so I’ll give you that one. If you need anything, please call a servant right away. I’ll leave my door open, so you can wake me if necessary.”
Blair opened the door that was indeed right next to his room. It was a room that would be given to Blair as a reception room or study when he grew a little more. But before going to the Academy, Blair had been too young to need a study, and after going to the Academy, there was no particular need for him to use a reception room or study, so it had been furnished with a bed like a guest room.
Despite being rarely used, the maids must have kept it clean regularly, as there wasn’t a speck of dust—everything was neatly arranged.
“So please rest. If you want something to eat or need anything, call someone right away. You can wake me too.”
Blair approached the bed and patted the pillow several times to lower its height. He lit a scented candle that supposedly helped with sleep and carefully checked the windows.
“Are you going to bed now too, Blair?”
“Yes. If we’re going out tomorrow, I should also sleep early.”
Blair answered while skillfully preparing the bed. After checking the room, Blair withdrew with smooth, efficient movements. Kyle, who had been staring at him, seemed about to say something but just closed his mouth.
“Okay, I will.”
“Then I’ll come to fetch you in the morning. Wash up and sleep well.”
After preparing the bed, Blair placed a navy blue nightgown made of soft, fine fabric on the bed with a gentle smile.
“Sweet dreams.”
After bidding goodnight, Blair slowly closed the door and left. Kyle’s handsome white face was full of disappointment, but even Kyle knew he couldn’t stop Blair in this situation. It was fine since they had agreed to see each other tomorrow, really.
[To be continued…]
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
