13
A character that neither the original me nor the current me had ever met directly…
His gaze reached me.
Castian, who had been occupying the bath alone, looked at me and smiled mysteriously with an elegant curve.
“I think this is the first time we’re meeting face to face, right?”
“Yes. But do you know me?”
“Of course. You’re the only son of the Lowell family.”
Even if he’s a prince, he wouldn’t know all the personal details of noble families. The fact that he knew me was fascinating.
“And…”
His gaze turned to Cedric this time.
“I didn’t expect the Soliwen young master to be here too.”
Cedric glanced at Castian.
“I wasn’t told that our guest was a prince.”
“I came in hiding both my face and status. It’s actually more bothersome when people fuss over me for being a prince.”
The two seemed to know each other. Since I knew the prince’s face well enough from portraits, Cedric, being the Grand Duke’s son, would have met him directly many times.
“What are you doing? You two stop hesitating and come in.”
Castian gestured toward us.
I looked back and forth between Castian and Cedric before carefully stepping into the bath. The water was hot, but once I got used to it, it was a bearable heat.
“Phew…”
A groan of relief escaped me naturally.
Riette’s experience was accurate. The warm water temperature enveloping my body felt like it was melting away all the fatigue I had accumulated.
Only then did Cedric approach the spot next to me and slide his body into the bath. Right between Castian and me.
While I was enjoying the refreshing sensation that seemed to tingle through my bones, I rolled my eyes at the strangely awkward and stiff atmosphere.
Even though I wanted to talk with Cedric, with His Royal Highness the Prince right next to us – not a complete stranger – I couldn’t speak comfortably.
Did Castian sense that atmosphere too?
He was the first to speak.
“But… when did the Lowell family’s son become an alpha?”
“Ah, I’m actually a beta.”
“Really?”
“Yes. There was a problem with the beta men’s bath…”
“Hmm, so that’s how it happened. It doesn’t matter anyway.”
Castian nodded as if one small question had been resolved. Leaning back more comfortably, he stared directly at me and raised one corner of his mouth.
“Edgar.”
“Ah, yes.”
He knew my name too.
“You’re twenty now, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Three years younger than me. Even better.”
…Huh? Better? What’s better?
“The more I look at you, the prettier your eyes are.”
“Is, is that so?”
“Yeah. The way your eye corners droop down slightly like this is really my type.”
Castian drew a curve below his own eye corner with his fingertip and even added a joke.
“Like a fox giving eye kisses. A pretty fox at that.”
For a prince who grew up under the strict discipline of the royal family, he seemed to have an incredibly free-spirited personality. I had heard rumors that he had such a personality.
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“Of course.”
Since he said it was, I smiled pleasantly despite feeling a bit awkward.
Where’s the harm in that? Even whales dance when praised.
It was a somewhat subtle compliment to hear from a man and as a man, but I didn’t particularly dislike it.
That’s when it happened.
“When will Your Highness be leaving?”
Suddenly, Cedric, who had been quietly sitting next to me warming his body thoroughly in the hot spring water, spoke up. The tone was so obviously annoyed that anyone could tell it contained the underlying meaning of ‘why don’t you leave soon?’
‘Gasp.’
I was so shocked I thought my eyes would pop out.
No matter how much Cedric was the son of a Grand Duke family that rivaled the imperial family, still, to make such an impudent remark to His Royal Highness the Prince so casually…
It was truly a bold action.
‘Why is he suddenly being so spiteful?’
I was nervous that Cedric’s remark might turn into something serious. While I was flustered, glancing between both of them…
“…Puhaha! Ahahaha!”
What was so funny? Castian suddenly burst into laughter that could shake the bath. He giggled with tears hanging from the corners of his eyes before finally calming down and responding.
“You seem to wish I’d disappear quickly?”
“If you know, then leave.”
“I just got in too, that’s too much.”
Castian grinned.
“What are you so wary of, young master?”
“……”
“This isn’t like you.”
Cedric just frowned silently.
Somehow, the damp air seemed to press heavily on my shoulders. Amid the rising tension, the subtly barbed conversation between the two continued.
“It’s not something Your Highness needs to worry about.”
“When you say it like that, it makes me more curious.”
“……”
“Hmm. Shall I try to guess?”
And I, who had been sitting there holding my breath as if I were invisible, secretly swallowed a sigh.
It was completely like sitting on a bed of thorns. It hadn’t even been 5 minutes since we entered, but I desperately wanted to leave again.
‘If you’re going to have a power struggle, go do it somewhere else.’
For reference, the Soliwen Grand Duke family had royal blood mixed in as relatives, so they had a good relationship with the imperial family.
Even now, seeing that they weren’t releasing pheromones, it was safe to say they weren’t really fighting with true hostility.
That’s what made it even more puzzling.
Just why were they acting like this?
“Are you two dating?”
Suddenly Castian said something unexpected. At first I sat there blankly, not realizing that one of the ‘two’ referred to me, then I was startled.
“What?! No! We’re just friends.”
I quickly poked Cedric’s side with my elbow. But Cedric, who had been chattering away just fine, pressed his lips into a straight line and didn’t cooperate with my explanation.
Frustrated by this, I pouted with a sullen expression, when Castian, who had been smiling deeply, stood up from his seat first.
“I understand. I’ll leave for you.”
“Your Highness. It’s really a misunderstanding.”
“Right. I’m not misunderstanding, so don’t worry.”
Castian looked at me explaining and chuckled quietly before heading toward the changing room. I felt somehow unsettled.
After looking toward the back for a moment, I turned my head back toward Cedric.
“Hey, why didn’t you help me? What if he misunderstands?”
“…Would it be so bad if he misunderstood a little?”
“What?”
I was momentarily flustered and lost for words. Cedric, who sighed quietly through his nose, slowly added.
“The Second Prince likes men.”
“…Ah.”
“You don’t like that.”
“Mm, it’s not that I dislike it…”
“Anyway. So I was just blocking for you. He seemed interested in you.”
“Is that, so?”
“Yeah.”
Deep blue eyes shadowed with darkness gazed at me quietly. I belatedly realized that distance was quite close.
…Had I been soaking in the hot spring water too long? Suddenly feeling a sensation of breathlessness, I quietly caught my breath and sat up on the stone floor.
“I can handle that kind of thing myself, so you don’t need to help.”
“……”
“But thanks for looking out for me.”
Cedric, who had been silent, rested his head against my thigh after a moment. That action was somewhat cute, and my expression softened without realizing it.
‘To think I’d find him cute.’
It was a sentiment I couldn’t have imagined before. I unconsciously played with Cedric’s wet black hair.
His hair was so nice it was quite addictive. His head was also surprisingly small…
Then I suddenly remembered Castian’s misunderstanding-filled remark and quietly pulled my hand away.
‘Ugh.’
This is trouble. I’ve become conscious of it.
‘It’s uncomfortable to be conscious like this between friends.’
…Is this guy not bothered at all?
I stared intently at the round back of his head as he remained motionless, leaning against my thigh as if he might fall asleep.
“Cedy, don’t sleep.”
“I’m not sleeping.”
“Let’s stay a little longer then leave.”
“Okay.”
After that, we shared trivial conversations about being hungry, what we wanted to eat, wondering if Ret was enjoying herself… before leaving the hot spring.
I slept really deeply that night.
Soaking in the hot spring water melted away all my fatigue, so I didn’t even dream while sleeping and could greet the morning sunlight with a refreshed feeling.
After meeting up with Riette and Cedric in the hallway, I headed to the dining room to have breakfast first.
And there…
“Fox, we meet again?”
I encountered Castian.
He was wearing a hat and sunglasses, so I wasn’t sure who it was at first, but when I heard the voice greeting me familiarly, I couldn’t help but notice immediately.
“Your Highness the Prince…”
“Shh.”
Castian put a finger to his lips and made a gesture to be quiet, so I quickly closed my mouth. There weren’t just us but several people gathered having meals around us.
All the guests staying at this inn were nobles. In other words, everyone here could recognize the prince.
Riette, who had been peeking from the side, was also surprised and covered her mouth upon realizing the person in front of us was the prince. She lowered her voice and whispered softly.
“That’s His Royal Highness the Prince, right? Since when have you been acquainted?”
“I met him yesterday when I went to the bath.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I don’t know why he’s here either…”
“Are you going to keep standing? Sit down comfortably here.”
While Riette and I were talking, Castian made a suggestion. After briefly exchanging glances, we silently gathered and sat near Castian.
Riette took the seat next to Castian.
Cedric sat across from Castian…
So I naturally ended up sitting across from Riette.
Actually, I had intended to sit across from Castian, but Cedric grabbed my arm and stopped me, then sat there himself, which is how it ended up that way.
I put down my tray and sat there awkwardly when my eyes met Castian’s. He had been carefully observing our behavior, and the moment our eyes met, he smirked.
Strangely, I felt uneasy…
I slowly averted my gaze down to my tray. Sociable Riette seemed to quickly adapt to Castian’s presence and spoke to him first.
“What brings Your Highness the Second Prince here?”
Castian answered amicably.
“Do you know what’s good about being a prince with no succession rights?”
“What?”
“Being able to travel around freely like me.”
“Your Highness, you must hear a lot that you’re a troublemaker, right?”
At Riette’s bold remark, Castian burst out laughing.
Castian, who chuckled quietly under his hat, twirled noodles with his fork while looking at Riette with his eyes.
“You are, so, Count Rosman’s…”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m called Riette.”
“Your companions?”
“A coachman, a luggage carrier, and the three of us like this.”
“Ah. Then you must be on your way up to the Imperial Palace?”
Castian asked, apparently remembering that all three of us had reached the age of twenty and that the New Year’s Ball was approaching.
I was quietly eating while listening to the conversation, making eye contact with them as a gesture that I was listening.
Riette answered for us.
“Yes. The New Year’s Ball is coming up soon.”
“I was just thinking about heading back to the Imperial Palace myself.”
When Castian said that and paused for a while, I had a sinking feeling. Cedric, who seemed to have had similar thoughts, was glaring directly at Castian.
Soon the words that came from his mouth were…
“Since we have the same destination anyway, how about making some room in your carriage?”
It was exactly as I had expected.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
