The Original Work Got Ruined After I Quit Being the Sub Male 14

14

“There’s no room.”

Cedric refused immediately.

His reaction showed he didn’t want to give even the slightest opening.

But Castian didn’t give up easily either.

“Then I’ll prepare a bigger, better carriage.”

He was quite a cunning person.

“Fox, it would be fine if I accompanied you, right?”

Suddenly Castian turned his arrow toward me.

I was troubled.

In the first place, the only person here who could find fault with what a prince wanted to do was Cedric.

So even if he asked me about it…

“Please do as Your Highness wishes.”

…that was the only answer I could give.

Castian’s eyes curved with satisfaction.

I was worried about Cedric so I glanced to the side, and sure enough, he had a very uncomfortable expression on his face.

Riette… smiled knowingly as if she understood my feelings.

In the end, the accompaniment was decided.

We went to find the coachman and porter right after the meal ended to inform them of this fact, and though they seemed very troubled, they guided Castian to the carriage.

Cedric got in the carriage first, and Castian and Riette followed and took their seats. This time too, Cedric and Riette occupied the seats next to and across from Castian, so I quietly sat beside Cedric.

It might be coincidence, but lately I seem to be sticking close to Cedric quite often.

“Then we’ll depart!”

Not long after the coachman’s shout ended, the carriage began to move.

“……”

“……”

The inside of the carriage was quiet.

The interior was actually comfortable enough that we didn’t have to press close to each other, contrary to Cedric’s statement, but…

‘Ugh. This is uncomfortable.’

The psychological problem was significant.

Cedric was displaying blatant displeasure toward Castian, so it felt like it was my fault for allowing it.

On the other hand, Castian either couldn’t feel the uncomfortable atmosphere at all—or perhaps he knew but was pretending not to—and spoke to me with a nonchalant expression.

“What’s the next territory we’ll arrive at?”

“Ah… where was it again.”

“It’s Lisnel territory.”

Riette, who had carefully prepared the map and schedule instead of me and Cedric, helped with the answer.

Castian’s voice continued.

“Lisnel, I happen to know the owner there well. Shall I ask if we can stay at the mansion for just one night? If it’s my request, he’ll grant it.”

“Really? That would be wonderful if it worked out!”

Riette’s eyes sparkled.

I also nodded enthusiastically in agreement. A noble’s mansion would have much larger and cleaner rooms, and there would be servants to help too.

Castian slowly pulled up the corners of his mouth.

“Right. I’ll tell him once we arrive to treat you as honored guests. By the way, if you’re participating in the New Year’s ball, you must have already received the dance music?”

“Yes. Romance Sonata and A-11 Waltz.”

“Favorit and waltz choreography.”

“Your Highness also attended three years ago, didn’t you?”

At Riette’s question, Castian nodded. Castian was twenty-three, three years older than us, so he was already experienced with the New Year’s ball.

“What choreography did you dance then?”

“Nerita and waltz.”

“Waltz really does seem to be essential.”

Thanks to Riette leading the conversation well, the uncomfortable atmosphere was diluted and we could catch our breath for a moment.

But that was only temporary… Castian, who had been curious about who Riette’s dance partner was, asked me the same question.

“Fox, you must have a dance partner too?”

“Um, yes. I do.”

“Who?”

“Me.”

Cedric, who hadn’t said a single word until then, suddenly interrupted. It was a situation perfect for misunderstanding, following yesterday’s incident.

I frantically waved my hands.

“We couldn’t decide on another partner to dance with! We just said let’s do it as friends, so that’s how it happened!”

“Hmm.”

“I-it’s really true.”

The longer my tongue wagged, the deeper the smile lingering at Castian’s lips became.

I rolled my eyes anxiously. I was nervous that he might easily bring up another conspiracy theory-like comment.

I hoped there wouldn’t be any awkward talk about whether Cedric and I were dating or something, especially with Riette listening.

Fortunately, Castian asked a different question.

“Do you have someone you’re dating?”

…Though that question was awkward in a different way.

“No.”

“Then, want to date me?”

“…Excuse me?”

Suddenly?

This person… really… is not ordinary.

“You’re crazy.”

Cedric seemed to have similar thoughts to mine.

Even so, calling someone crazy in front of His Highness the Prince seemed a bit excessive, so I lightly pinched Cedric’s thigh telling him not to do that.

“Please don’t make such jokes, Your Highness.”

“It’s not a joke though.”

“Then I’m sorry. I’ll have to decline.”

“But you said I could do as I wished.”

What kind of logic is that.

“Your Highness, that was…”

“He’s troubled by it. Please stop.”

Finally Cedric added another comment. It was reassuring, but I was a bit scared that this might actually lead to a real fight.

Fortunately, Castian just chuckled and let it pass even at Cedric’s sharp reaction.

When the conversation cut off and an awkward silence settled, Riette, who had been reading the mood like me, was the first to change the topic to refresh the atmosphere.

I don’t even know how we spent time in that tension. When I came to my senses, it had gotten quite dark.

We somehow endured that longer and more arduous time than usual and arrived at our next destination.

‘Phew.’

Who knew the air I breathed through my nose after getting out of the carriage would be this refreshing. Maybe it would be better to prepare one more carriage after all? Put Cedric and Castian together in it. Yeah.

Around that time, a soldier who had been discussing something with Castian in front of the Lisnel family mansion hurried into the mansion, and not long after, the count came rushing out to greet us.

“Oh my, Your Highness the Prince! It’s been so long.”

“Yes. It has been a while, Count Lisnel.”

Count Lisnel was completely captivated by Castian. Seeing how he was trying especially hard to look good, it seemed he usually received a lot of help from Castian.

“I’d like to stay just for tonight.”

“By all means! Now, please come in comfortably.”

Count Lisnel, with a beaming face, gestured toward us and walked into the mansion first. The coachman and porter were guided to different accommodations while we followed to the main building. The rooms we were assigned seemed well-maintained—large, spacious, and clean.

Thanks to that, it looked like we’d be able to sleep comfortably tonight too.

‘Phew. I feel like I can live.’

After finishing unpacking appropriately, I threw myself onto the bed and lay down. I was enjoying the comfort by myself for a while when…

“Eddie.”

Along with a knock, I heard Riette’s call.

I quickly sat up and told her to come in, and Riette peeked her face through the open door.

“Are you getting ready to sleep now?”

“No, not yet.”

“Then want to chat with me for a bit?”

“Huh? What kind of chat?”

Riette smiled and gently closed the door as she came in. With a cute girl swaying and smiling in front of me, I felt strangely awkward and couldn’t meet her eyes, turning them to the side.

Riette’s voice continued.

“There was something I’ve been thinking about asking you.”

…Something she’s been thinking about asking?

What could she want to ask about.

From the nuance, it seemed like it would be a serious conversation, so I faced Riette again and quietly waited for her to continue. Riette sat at the edge of the bed, took her time, then asked secretively.

“Eddie, you… how are things with Cedy lately?”

“Cedy? We’re just getting along like usual.”

“Really? It seemed like you’ve gotten a lot closer recently?”

“Ah.”

That’s true. Saying we got along like usual would be inconsistent. Compared to my past self who had drawn subtle lines with Cedric and treated him coldly, I had definitely changed a lot.

Riette must have felt that change and been curious.

“…Maybe so. Yeah, I think we’ve gotten closer.”

At my answer, Riette’s face brightened.

Come to think of it, despite being bound together by the name of childhood friends, watching the distance between two people that hadn’t shortened for years… Riette, who was in the middle of it all, probably wasn’t comfortable either.

Riette chatted away with a sunny smile as if she had lifted a burden from her mind.

“Cedy’s not as bad as you’d think, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I really wondered when you were going to properly accept that guy. It’s been years since you first met!”

“Haha…”

Riette seemed to think I was simply very shy. There were other reasons why I couldn’t close the distance even as time passed, but I couldn’t tell Riette about that.

“I’m glad. That you two became friends.”

“Were you worried about it all this time?”

“It would be a lie to say I wasn’t, right? I was the one who introduced you two in the first place…”

Riette trailed off and swallowed her words. It felt like she wanted to say something more but was holding back. I was tilting my head at that when…

Knock knock. Another knock was heard. When I said to come in, this time the visitor was the count.

I was surprised to see who had come… he subtly informed us that Castian and Cedric had gone down to the training ground in the middle of the night.

He had come to inform us because he was worried something might happen.

‘They’re quite energetic. At this hour.’

I was puzzled about why the two of them had sought out the training ground at this time, but I followed the head butler’s guidance to the outdoor training ground with Riette without complaint.

How far did we walk? I could see Castian and Cedric standing with wooden swords crossed in the field.

Castian, who spotted us approaching first, grinned.

“News travels fast. Did you come to watch?”

“Both to supervise and watch. Would that be alright?”

“Haha, it’s fine. Right, Young Master Soliwen?”

Castian answered Riette’s question and looked back at Cedric.

Cedric silently glanced toward where Riette and I were, and our eyes briefly met then.

Feeling somewhat awkward, while I was rolling my eyes this way and that, Cedric turned his head back toward Castian and answered that it was fine.

“Then let me receive some instruction!”

Castian laughed with a face full of competitive spirit and lowered his body. The tip of his sword was aimed at Cedric.

That stance was fortunately the posture of dueling swordsmanship that nobles mainly learned for entertainment, not practical combat swordsmanship.

Cedric took the same stance. There was no disorder in that posture whatsoever.

The Soliwen Grand Duke family was skilled enough in swordsmanship to be called ‘the Empire’s Sword,’ so they couldn’t lose due to family pride if nothing else.

Soon the two men’s swords clashed.

Watching that scene, Riette, who was sitting in a chair the head butler had brought and watching, exclaimed quietly.

“Your Highness isn’t being pushed back at all either.”

Certainly, for someone who had asked Cedric to teach him a thing or two, Castian didn’t seem to be losing ground at all.

To me, who had no talent for swordsmanship and poor athletic ability, both of them seemed amazing and fascinating anyway.

After a while, I silently looked at Riette. Her pink eyes were completely focused on Cedric and Castian.

I suddenly became curious about her inner thoughts.

“…Ret, you know. About what we were talking about earlier.”

“Mmhm?”

Riette turned to look at me. Her eyes that held moonlight sparkled especially tonight, captivating my gaze.

…The Cedric from the original work must have lovingly gazed into her eyes too. I’m certain he couldn’t have helped but do so.

Indirectly, I had expressed that I didn’t have feelings for Riette, but still Cedric toward Riette…

‘Isn’t he pretending not to like her while actually liking her?’

That thought occurred to me.

That’s when it happened.

While I was hesitating and just moving my lips, the head butler came out from the mansion again, approaching while pushing a tray.

The conversation was momentarily interrupted there.

“I brought some refreshments, please have some if you’d like. Since the night might be chilly, I’ve also put blankets under the tray.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The head butler politely bowed his head and left. I took out a blanket from the tray and covered Riette with it.

Then Riette smiled brightly and put a caramel-coated almond in my mouth. I unconsciously went “plop” and ate it, and it was very sweet.

“It’s delicious.”

“Yeah. So what were you trying to say earlier?”

“Um, mm.”

I pretended I couldn’t speak because I was chewing the almond, slowly drawing out the sound… then slowly opened my mouth.

Author: Hyacinthus B

Hyacinthus