IWTGHFW CHAPTER 11

Episode 11

“Your Highness, your voice is too loud.”

Grumbling about what would happen if someone overheard, Yen volunteered to keep watch outside and left.

Left alone with Mishy, the crown prince’s grin stretched from ear to ear.
If anyone used to his usual icy demeanor saw him now, they’d probably faint backward.

“Brother, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, yes. You must be tired from the trip. What do you want to drink? Black tea? Cocoa? Ah, right—you like tea leaves, so… here it is! Sage tea leaves I’ve been saving just to drink with you!”

Proudly shaking the tea tin, the crown prince began brewing the tea himself.
When Mishy stood to do it instead, the crown prince waved him back into his seat, insisting that his precious younger brother should sit still.

Humming a cheerful tune, he poured one cup for Mishy and one for himself, then pulled out a pile of sweet cookies from his desk drawer and stacked them in front of him.

“I feel like I’m disturbing you when you’re busy.”

“What nonsense! There’s no one more important to me than you, Mishy. Just wait a bit. Once I become emperor, I’ll bring you straight out of that West Palace.”

“It’s fine. I like it there—it’s quiet. And I enjoy tending the garden.”

“You mean with those delicate hands of yours? My precious brother, who should never let a drop of water touch his skin, tending a garden himself…”

Sensing that the crown prince was about to burst into tears, Mishy quickly steered the conversation to the main point.

“Lately, I’ve made a new friend.”

“A friend?! Who is this wonderful person?”

From the way he spoke, it seemed that if Mishy named the person, the crown prince would be ready to buy them a house, a carriage, and even grant them a title. Mishy chuckled softly.

“Her name is Ail. She works in administrative duties for the knights. She’s really small—about this tall…”

“For a man, that’s quite short.”

“No, Ail’s a woman.”

“…A woman?”

The crown prince almost dropped his teacup, gripping the handle tightly.

At last! My little brother’s springtime has come! I knew this day would arrive someday… but still, it stings a little.

Seeing the obvious thoughts written all over the crown prince’s face, Mishy waved his hands, insisting it wasn’t like that. But it seemed the crown prince had already decided Mishy and Ail were that kind of relationship, for he nodded solemnly.

“So what if she’s a commoner? If you like her, that’s enough for me! When I’m emperor, I’ll grant her a suitable title.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

But the crown prince’s expression said his mind was made up.
Mishy smiled helplessly, then sobered and got to the real issue.

“I think that friend went missing last night.”

“Missing?”

“Yes. She left the palace in the evening, but apparently didn’t show up for work at the knights’ office the next morning. Sir Ron came by early today to ask if I knew where she was. Could you look into it for me?”

When Mishy added, “Of all the people I know, you’re the most capable,” the corner of the crown prince’s lips twitched. Pounding his chest, he said he could easily find out such a thing—
—but then he paused, feeling something odd.

“Wait… so she comes and goes from your palace already?”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

I pushed open the office door, only to find it completely empty. I tilted my head.

At this time of day, I’d expected Ron to be storming around, accusing me of slacking off again.

Guess he’s busy.

Brushing the question aside, I sat down at my desk. It looked like Mien had been there until just a moment ago—the place was a mess.

“Let’s see… time to look at today’s paperwork.”

Humming, I picked up the top sheet—
—and froze.

At that exact moment—

BANG—!

The door burst open with a loud crash, as if it might break right off its hinges.
And in came a very familiar head of red hair.

“Aaaaaaaiiiiiiiil!”

It had been a while since I last heard Ron’s lion’s roar. I clamped my hands over my ears and turned my head away.

Here we go—now he’s going to start rampaging.

I was already sick of it, but surprisingly, Ron stayed silent after that first roar. Curious, I turned to look.
He was staring at me with a strange, complicated expression.

“Captain?”

“What? Why?”

“…You came looking for me, didn’t you?”

“Oh, that… Where on earth have you been?!”

Wiping away his mixed expression, Ron raised his voice as he loomed over me.

Hmm… could I tell him Count Poison gave me a diamond to be friends with Mishy?
No, that just sounds insane.

Maybe thinking my hesitation meant something else, Ron’s face grew serious.

“Did Count Poison—”

“No. Nothing like that.”

“I wasn’t even finished—”

“Anyway, no. I just overslept.”

“I went to your quarters earlier and you weren’t there.”

“Why’d you even go all the way there? I just… slept somewhere else.”

“Where? You left the West Palace around eight, right? Then you couldn’t have left the imperial grounds.”

“You sure did a thorough background check for someone just being late.”

Ron looked indignant, but I spoke quickly, not letting him interrupt.
If it’s come to this, I’ll go on the offensive—people like him tend to fluster when the other person gets angry.

“What, you think just because I’m a commoner you can snoop on me like that? I know being late was my fault, but it’s not okay for a superior to dig into my personal movements.”

After firing off the words in rapid succession, I glanced at him cautiously.
Even if Ron’s easygoing, he’s still a noble—there must be a line I shouldn’t cross.
If he looked like he was about to blow up, I’d bow and apologize immediately.

But instead of getting angry or apologizing, he just gave me that same complicated, unreadable look as before.

He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again—
—and finally said something I truly hadn’t expected.

“I was worried about you.”

“…What?”

Leaving those words hanging, Ron slumped a little and trudged out of the office.
I just stared at the closing door, my mouth half open.

Worried?
About me? Why?

Well, I am one of only two people in the administrative support team, and the only one who actually works, so I guess he could worry about that.

That’s what my logic said.
But my feelings clearly disagreed.

I had to press my hot cheeks with both hands to calm my racing heart.

When he says it in that downcast voice, with that “drenched puppy” expression…

That’s… cheating.

After Ron left behind that strange atmosphere, Mien finally strolled in, long after she’d disappeared somewhere.
Seeing me sitting there blankly, she tilted her head.

“Ail, have you finally lost your mind?”

“That makes it sound like you want me to lose it.”

“Perish the thought.”

Shrugging, Mien sat down and pulled out a mirror.

In the glass, behind her pretty face framed by neatly braided, glossy brown hair, I caught sight of myself—messy silver-gray hair and an untidy face that screamed bookworm.
After staring for a moment, I stood up.

When you’re restless like this, a haircut is the answer.

“Where are you going?”

“To get my hair trimmed.”

“Finally, a good idea. I’ll watch the office for you. Oh, and—”

She got up and approached me. Mien was about a hand’s span taller than me; I was a bit shorter than the average woman, while she was a bit taller than average.

She reached out her delicate hand, lifting my bangs and sweeping them back. She carefully tucked away stray hairs sticking out on the sides. I didn’t know exactly what my face looked like now, but Mien stared down at me with a curious expression. Her brown eyes seemed especially clear.

“There are a lot of salons along the road to the palace dining district. Look for Madame Uwein.”

“Uwein?”

“She’ll know how to properly refine a face you’ve been carelessly wasting.”

“She’ll revive a face that met the wrong owner,” Mien added before returning to her seat.

I didn’t quite get what she meant, but it sounded like a compliment.

Shrugging, I headed toward a salon near the dining district.

If the palace dining district was where chefs who’d lost out in the head-chef competition opened restaurants for palace staff, then this place was where royal designers who’d missed the top spot opened salons.
Along with the dining district, the whole area was called Bomaine Street—basically the palace’s version of Gangnam’s trendiest spot.

That’s what the sign at the entrance said, anyway. Not literally “Gangnam” or “hot place,” of course. Just the idea.

“Let’s see… Uwein… ah, there it is!”

Walking down the street, which felt like its own small city, I spotted Uwein’s sign and cautiously stepped inside.

Her shop wasn’t big compared to the others, but it radiated an air of elegance and refinement.
Even the gold ornament at the entrance—wait, was that real gold? If it was, how much would that even be worth?

For a moment I almost felt intimidated about the price, but then I remembered Mien saying, Your salary can handle it, and calmed my racing heart.

Even the tea and cookies they served while I waited were exquisite.
Nibbling a cookie from a silver tray, I looked around, when the door opened and a woman in a red dress approached.
Just from a glance, she looked like the madame of the place, so I rose and gave a polite greeting.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Madame Uwein.”

“Oh, yes. I’m Ail, from the Administrative Support Team. I just wanted to get my hair trimmed…”

Before I could even finish, Uwein’s eyes lit up and she stepped closer.
When I tensed, she patted my shoulder reassuringly and examined me closely.

She made a series of odd little noises—“hm,” “hoh,” “aha,” “hoo”—before gripping my shoulders firmly.

“Miss Ail, you’re a gold mine!”

“…A gold mine?”

“I’ll give you a complete makeover. Mary! Bring me my scissors!”

As the excited Uwein and her staff bustled about, cold sweat trickled down my back.

Uh… I just wanted a trim…

To be continued