“Fine. If you insist on choosing a harder path, it can’t be helped. But assassination by poison would have been the easiest solution for both you and me. What a pity.”
“If I were going to be poisoned, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place, Your Highness. I came here to live, not to die.”
“That’s for me to decide. I thought you might try some trick like secretly swapping the cups, but you’ve got more nerve than you look. I thought you’d be a timid young noble. You look gentle, after all. No wonder the first thing Se-non said about you was, ‘He’s pretty.’”
Se-non, you bastard!
I shot a glare at Se-non, but he only shrugged with a shameless expression.
“By the way, that outfit you’re wearing now—is it Se-non’s work?”
The Crown Prince asked in a weary tone.
When I confirmed it, he shook his head.
“Oh dear. You’re going to have quite a headache getting dressed from now on.”
“Pardon?”
“That guy is extremely particular about appearance. Clothes, hairstyle, shoes, accessories—he checks everything in detail. The problem is it’s all too extravagant, and it takes an absurd amount of time to prepare.”
What?
“When there are imperial banquets or parties, I honestly feel like running out of the palace before it even begins. And you—your looks are already excellent, so Se-non will put in even more effort on you.”
“It pains me, Your Highness. I only wished for you to be the most admired person at the banquet—more beautiful than anyone else. Do you doubt my loyalty?”
“You just enjoy playing with dolls, don’t you?”
“So what if I do? I satisfy my artistic spirit, and Your Highness becomes the protagonist. It’s mutually beneficial, isn’t it?”
…Hah. I can already see the future.
As their argument dragged on, I turned my eyes toward the food on the table.
My stomach growled. This food was like something just out of reach—no, like a mirage. Not even a proper meal.
Noticing my misery, Se-non stopped the banter and changed the subject.
“Your Highness, I think it would be best to begin the meal. Lord Ryu-an seems quite hungry.”
“Really? Then bring clean utensils this time. I don’t want to trouble the servants again.”
“Understood.”
Se-non placed clean tableware in front of me, and the Crown Prince smiled faintly.
“Go ahead. You must be tired from the long journey—eat as much as you want. There’s no poison in the food. We don’t play tricks with food made by farmers who worked so hard.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
I said it sincerely, and then began eating in earnest.
The taste was exquisite—almost heavenly—and there was more than enough food for me to enjoy fully.
Occasionally, the Crown Prince would comment, “You eat more than you look like you would,” and Se-non would add, “You’re eating like you’re starving. Drink some water too.” But none of it mattered, so the conversation didn’t last long.
Finally, I placed down my fork after the dessert—pineapple.
“May the Goddess’s blessing be upon the farmers who shed their sweat and blood to prepare this meal. Thank you for the food.”
Ah, I’m full. When was the last time I ate like this?
Without meaning to, my lips curled upward.
But the Crown Prince and Se-non didn’t respond.
When I looked at them in confusion, both were staring at me with stunned expressions.
“…How did you eat all that?”
“I feel like I just witnessed the mystery of the human body.”
Huh? I just ate a normal amount.
I looked at the table. Plates that had been piled high were now completely empty.
Am I supposed to leave food behind? There are people starving in the slums.
Their reaction made me realize something was off.
“Um… did I do something wrong?”
“Hm? No. I just realized that appetite and body size can sometimes be inversely related.”
What does that even mean?
Se-non also nodded in agreement.
The Crown Prince sighed and stood up.
“Let’s call it a day. It’s getting late.”
“Oh dear. I thought you had more work to do tonight.”
“Stop meddling in my affairs and focus on serving Ryu-an properly. If you keep acting out of line, I won’t spare you either. Bring a candle.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Se-non chuckled as he brought a candle from the table.
Just as the Crown Prince reached out to take it—
“Ah—hot!”
“Oh, my apologies.”
Se-non stepped back quickly, startled.
The Crown Prince shot him a resentful look.
“You held it too close. Were you trying to burn me alive?”
“I apologize. Are you hurt, Your Highness?”
“I’m fine. Just be more careful next time.”
After grumbling, the Crown Prince took the candle and looked at me.
“I’ll be heading back. Good night, Ryu-an.”
“Ah… Y-Your Highness.”
“Hm?”
Our eyes met.
For a moment, it felt like his gaze deepened, as if something flickered within it.
“No… good night.”
“You’re a dull one. Sleep well.”
The Crown Prince left the room.
After he was gone, Se-non—who had been bowing until the sound of footsteps disappeared—lit a new candle.
“Let’s return to your room. You’ll catch a cold if you stay here.”
“Ah, Se-non—wait.”
I took the candle from his hand.
Ignoring his puzzled look, I brought my hand close to the flame.
Se-non tried to stop me, but I raised my arm to block him.
“…As I thought.”
“Pardon? What is it?”
“Nothing.”
It wasn’t hot.
It was only warm.
Just warm.
When I returned to my room, it was already almost time for bed.
As a night person, I wasn’t thrilled, but I had to prepare for sleep.
After changing into sleepwear, I found Se-non already preparing a basin of warm water and towels.
Apparently, at the end of the day, a direct attendant is supposed to wash and massage the master’s hands and feet. A very thorough and professional role, when I think about it.
“You don’t have to go this far.”
“It is the law. A direct attendant exists for exactly this purpose.”
“You’ve been emphasizing ‘direct attendant’ a lot lately.”
“Have I been caught? I think I’ve grown fond of you, Lord Ryu-an. Please give me your foot first. I’m confident in massage.”
Knowing I’d lose this argument, I complied.
Se-non soaked my feet in warm water and began pressing carefully along pressure points.
Oh… he’s good. He knows exactly where the fatigue builds up.
“Did you learn massage somewhere?”
“No. It would be more accurate to say I taught myself. I studied books when I was young to gain my father’s attention.”
“Oh… I’m sure he was happy.”
“No. He didn’t pay me any attention at all. It was a pointless effort.”
“…Ah.”
I had nothing to say, so I just looked down at his hands.
“I’ve thought this since we first met, but you really are beautiful. Don’t you ever think so when you look in the mirror?”
Se-non tried to lighten the mood.
“Not really. I wish I were more rugged. Taller, more muscular.”
“A beauty shouldn’t say things like that. If I told someone you were actually a girl, no one would doubt it.”
Damn it. If my identity is exposed, he’s responsible for at least 70% of it.
When I only glared at him in silence, he laughed again.
“Stop laughing. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“But you keep defying my expectations. It’s entertaining. I don’t meet many people like you. You should be proud.”
“Your standards must be low.”
“Not at all. My standards are very high.”
“Oh right. How was His Highness?”
“Extremely handsome.”
Se-non lowered his head and chuckled again.
Is this guy broken or something?
Then I continued.
“And… he’s quite different from what I expected. I thought a Crown Prince would be stern and heavy, but he seemed rather cheerful.”
Maybe it was because of what I had heard about him—or because of my situation—but I had imagined him as cold and ruthless.
Someone who would immediately declare my death upon meeting me.
But the Crown Prince today felt surprisingly human.
Still… I couldn’t let my guard down.
People like that are often the most dangerous.
I could have sworn Se-non’s eyes flickered for a moment.
“Then why didn’t you mention what happened in the forest? You could have reported me.”
Se-non was now massaging my hand.
It hurt more than when he had massaged my feet.
“If I had spoken, Your Highness would have taken your side anyway. And it wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“Why wouldn’t it?”
“I’ll tell you tomorrow. May I ask you something as well?”
“Of course. Ask gently. It hurts if you press too hard.”
“…Se-non.”
“Yes, sorry.”
Honestly, Se-non is a strange one too. Very.
“I’ll bring you a night drink. We have juice, wine, herbal tea, cocoa—anything you want.”
“Do you have something like yuja tea or sujeonggwa from the Eastern Empire?”
“Yes. We prepared some Eastern Empire beverages since you’re from there. We might not have yuja tea, but we do have sujeonggwa.”
Se-non returned shortly with a beautiful cup filled with the drink.
“This is made from ginger and cinnamon imported directly from the Eastern Empire. The method is slightly different, but the taste should be similar.”
“Thank you. I haven’t really had Eastern Empire food since I left.”
“I’m glad I prepared it. If you like, I can prepare more in the future.”
I took a sip, then looked up.
“It might just be my imagination, but… didn’t you feel something strange during dinner with my brother?”
