Chapter 68

“This is hard.”

“I know.”

“Louise, why did we suddenly start exercising?”

“You dragged me into this last time…”

“Ah.”

“Hah… Why did Kyle suddenly leave his position, making us do this…”

Since Kyle suddenly said he was going somewhere alone, I, with nothing to do, exercised with Elin.

Although it was really tough the last time I did it, I still felt that exercise was necessary.

Of course, since Elin seemed to struggle too much last time, I made it a bit easier this time.

If it had been the same level as last time, she probably couldn’t even talk right now.

“Still, you’re following better than last time.”

“That’s because you’re making it easier than before.”

“That’s true.”

Normally, I would have been following Kyle right now.

Well, without Kyle, I really had nothing to do, so I had to spend time like this.

“Hah… I was planning to just stay in my room… There’s no lesson with Adela today either!!”

“But… Louise, if I don’t drag you here, you’d just sleep in your room!”

“No, I wouldn’t!?”

I brought Louise along because I felt it was unfair to be exhausted alone.

Also because she’s someone who doesn’t exercise.

If Louise had been good at exercising, I wouldn’t have brought her.

Then I’d be the only one struggling, right?

“I really feel like I’m going to die… Why are you only tormenting me! You could have called Adela, or brought the Imperial Princess!”

“That’s a bit…”

I’m not close with them.

With Adela, I really just make small talk.

She’s not as close as Kyle, Louise, or Elin.

“Eeek…!”

“I’m sorry, but wasn’t it fun?”

“No, it wasn’t! I almost died from exhaustion!?”

Anyway, that’s how we exercised diligently.

Kyle returned to the castle only by evening that day.

Even when I asked what he was doing, he didn’t answer at all, so I was just curious.

“Her Highness the Imperial Princess is calling for you. Please follow me.”

“Eh?”

I was on my way to Kyle’s room to wake him up in the morning.

Suddenly, a person wearing an extremely fancy formal suit stopped me.

“Her Highness the Imperial Princess?”

That woman?

Me?

Why?

“Yes. Please follow me.”

“Um…”

I needed to go wake up Kyle.

“Could you wait a moment? It’s time for me to wake up the young master…”

“…”

There’s no need to go quickly anyway.

It’s just morning, why the rush?

The man in the suit in front of me said he would wait for a moment.

“Since the young master is now awake, I’ll go to Her Highness the Imperial Princess.”

“Yes, go well. I’ll wait in the room.”

“Understood.”

After waking Kyle, I followed the man in the suit to the room where the Imperial Princess was.

The Imperial Princess was waiting for me in the reception room, not in her sleeping quarters.

She must have woken up as early as I did, because despite it being morning, her hair was perfectly arranged.

“Ah, you’re here. Let’s skip the formalities, sit down in front.”

“… Yes.”

I was about to kneel on one knee to greet her, but was stopped.

Well, it’s more comfortable for me if I don’t have to do it.

Anyway, I faced the Imperial Princess while seated.

She’s disgustingly beautiful.

She had looks that would only appear in anime.

Not like cosplay, but really like that.

The chemistry between her blonde hair and purple eyes was strangely beautiful.

“Why did you call for me?”

“Hmm… First, I’ll call you Sofia. Is that okay?”

“Of course. Please call me whatever makes you comfortable, Your Highness.”

It’s not like she’s calling me a bitch or a whore or a fucking fat pig, she’s just calling me by my name.

Besides, the Imperial Princess is my superior.

“First, let me ask you something. What do you think of Young Lord Kyle?”

“The young master? I think he’s a good person.”

“Hmm… That’s not what I mean. What do you think of him as a man?”

“…?”

As a man…?

Why is she asking me this?

I don’t know.

“What I think of the young master as a man… I don’t understand the intent of the question.”

“It’s literally what I’m asking. What do you think of Young Lord Kyle as a man? How do you see him as a potential romantic partner?”

“…”

Kyle as a man…

I don’t know.

“I don’t know.”

I’ve never really thought of Kyle as a man.

I’ve only thought of Kyle as a younger brother.

It’s strange for me to think of Kyle as a romantic interest.

I haven’t recognized anyone as a romantic interest.

“I’ve never particularly thought of the young master as a romantic interest. I just think of him as the person I assist.”

“Hah… Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“How should I handle this…”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you really have no thoughts about the young lord? I think Young Lord Kyle is a very good man, don’t you think so, Sofia?”

“Someone like the young master is indeed a good man. I have no intention of refuting that.”

“Then why can’t you think of him as a romantic interest?”

The reason I can’t think of Kyle as a romantic interest?

It’s simple.

I’ve known Kyle since he was 12, and in my past life, I was a man, so it’s difficult to think of a man as a romantic interest.

“The young master is the young master.”

“…”

“I’ve been teaching and assisting the young master for nearly 10 years. I think it would be more difficult to think of the young master as a romantic interest…”

“That’s… well, it seems that way.”

“Do you have anything else to say? If not, I will take my leave.”

I don’t understand why she suddenly talked about Kyle.

Is she trying to check up on me because she has feelings for Kyle?

Hmm…

I somewhat understand since she’s been sticking close to Kyle.

If you stick close to Kyle, you might develop feelings for him.

Kyle is a man with many good qualities.

I understand why the Imperial Princess of the empire would be attracted to him.

“Ah, if Your Highness has feelings for the young master, it might be difficult. The young master said he has someone he likes.”

“Ha.”

A somewhat disdainful laugh.

What is it?

Confidence that she can win?

Well, she’s fucking beautiful, so it’s understandable.

“Anyway, that’s the conversation we had. It seems Her Highness the Imperial Princess likes you, young master.”

“…”

When I returned to Kyle’s room, Kyle had changed clothes and was waiting for me.

He could have gone straight to breakfast, but he was waiting.

He must be curious about what we talked about.

“Otherwise, there would be no reason for her to suddenly ask me what I think of you. According to my intuition, it’s certain.”

“So do you think I’m a good man?”

“Of course. Men like you are not common.”

Regardless of not seeing Kyle as a romantic interest, men like Kyle were truly rare.

How many people are tall, handsome, muscular, capable, and have high social status?

The Imperial Prince, perhaps?

I don’t know since I haven’t met him, but judging by the Imperial Princess’s level, I can roughly predict.

“I think it would take quite a while to find a man as charming as you in the empire.”

“Thanks… for the compliment.”

“Yes.”

That’s how Kyle and I started the day.

It seemed like a lot had happened, but since we hadn’t even started breakfast, we went to have breakfast first.

During breakfast, Kyle and the Imperial Princess quietly had a lot of conversation from the morning, with so much to talk about.

“Still, I felt good.”

“No, now is not the time for that!?”

“At least it’s better than when she only thought of me as a younger brother, isn’t it?”

“If you think of it that way… I guess you’re right…”

I already knew that Miss Sofia didn’t have strong feelings for me.

Whether she hasn’t realized her feelings, or there are none, I don’t know.

At least, the fact that she evaluated me as a good man made me feel good.

Who wouldn’t like it when the person they like calls them a charming man?

The situation was really better than when she didn’t think of me in that way at all.

It’s a bit disappointing that only Miss Sofia herself doesn’t know that I like her, when everyone else knows.

“So are you really going to confess?”

“Yes.”

“I think it might be too hasty…”

“I think this is the most normal method. At least compared to the methods Her Highness suggested.”

“Ah.”

No matter how I think about it, it’s a better method compared to what Her Highness the Imperial Princess suggested.

Compared to erotic literature, aphrodisiacs, sex magic, and various other strange and sexual methods.

“And if I confess, at least she’ll know my feelings.”

“Hmm…”

“I think Miss Sofia just can’t imagine that I would like her. So I think it’s good to first correct that with this opportunity.”

“Alright. Just hurry up and do what you’ve prepared.”

“Yes.”

I can only proceed once the task I assigned is completed.

Confessing without anything would be lacking in style.

“Hah… Hurry up. I need to go back soon, and I want to see it before I go.”

“…”

If I were to say “If you don’t like it, you could stay longer,” I’d probably get my head cut off.

Even if my head isn’t cut off, she would definitely get angry.

I had no intention of dying young, so I didn’t say such things.

“I’ll try my best.”

Since I assigned it yesterday, it should be done in a few days.

Since I didn’t entrust it in raw stone form, but in a somewhat processed form, I predict it will be completed quickly.

A ring as red and beautiful as Miss Sofia’s eyes.

It would surely suit her well.

“Young Lord, I’m sorry to say this, but honestly, I don’t like your expression right now.”

“Haha…”