Chapter 75

That sudden village inspection was cleanly resolved.

It wasn’t like monsters had appeared like crazy, it was just a few appearing that were safely dealt with.

On top of that, we just handled some minor issues that had occurred in the village.

So we’ve just returned to the castle now.

“Miss Sofia.”

“Yes.”

“I like you.”

“Ugh…”

Kyle talking nonsense from the morning.

I don’t understand why he’s saying this kind of thing from the morning.

It’s not like anything special happened, I just entered Kyle’s room to wake him up.

A confession coming in a situation with absolutely no atmosphere or preparation.

Of course, it doesn’t bother me?

Nevertheless, anyone would be surprised to hear such words from the morning.

It’s not that I’m strange.

Anyone would be surprised and feel strange if a man suddenly confessed like that.

Thump-thump…

“Young master, please say such things after you’ve put on clothes first.”

What’s with confessing with his top off?

“Even if you confess like that, it won’t have any effect, so please put on your clothes first.”

I said that while handing Kyle his shirt.

When I handed him his clothes, Kyle finally changed from his shirtless state to having his shirt unbuttoned.

“Sigh… Why have you been like this lately?”

He wasn’t like this before.

He’s been doing this continuously since he confessed once.

Whenever he does something, he looks at me and gives me a warm smile, says I’m pretty, and keeps doing strange things.

No, in fact, it might not be since he confessed.

Actually, Kyle always smiled when he looked at me and said nice things.

“…”

Ah fuck.

My thoughts suddenly went in a strange direction again.

Why do I suddenly have these thoughts?

“Miss Sofia?”

“Yes.”

“Please help me with this.”

“Yes.”

As Kyle asked, I tied his necktie.

As always.

It was just an ordinary act like that.

But when our eyes naturally met as I was tying his necktie, I lowered my gaze from Kyle’s face to look at the necktie.

“Miss Sofia?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you looking?”

“I’m just looking at the necktie.”

It’s absolutely not because I felt burdened by making eye contact with Kyle, or had a strange feeling.

It’s just because my neck hurt.

It’s absolutely not like that.

That’s how the morning started.

A day no different from the usual routine.

Ah, if there was any change, it would be the Imperial Princess and Kyle teasing me.

Especially the Imperial Princess.

She kept saying strange things like when would I date Kyle.

There’s no way that would happen, but she kept saying it.

But it’s not like I could do anything about it.

Both the Imperial Princess and Kyle were clearly my superiors.

All I could do was ask for their understanding or plead with them to take it easy.

If I were to tell them to stop… my head might fly off.

“Hah…”

“So? Why did you come to me?”

“Well…”

I was honestly angry because I kept being treated unfairly.

What did I do wrong to keep being played by Kyle and made fun of by the Imperial Princess?

I just diligently assisted Kyle!

“Is there any way to get revenge on the two of them…?”

I was so wronged that I came to Louise.

I’m not thinking of doing anything bad.

I just wanted to get a little revenge on them with some minor action.

Both Kyle, who makes me feel strange whenever he sees me, and the Imperial Princess, who keeps teasing me by linking me with Kyle.

Honestly, I was displeased.

I’m several years older than them.

Even Kyle.

“Revenge?”

“Yes. Nothing severe, just enough to make them a bit angry. Is there anything?”

“…”

That’s really all I wanted.

Just enough to make them feel strange like I did, or make them a bit angry.

Apart from being displeased, I didn’t want to see them get hurt.

Ah, of course, just Kyle.

The Imperial Princess wasn’t someone I was that close with yet.

“What specifically do you want to take revenge for?”

“Hmm… Well…”

That’s how I started making secret plans with Louise in her room.

Louise’s expression looked extremely enjoyable, so I also smiled as I came up with the plan.

It must be an expression to comfort her friend’s unfair treatment.

Indeed, is Louise my only ally in this castle?

Yes, there’s a saying about the value of friends for a reason.

“Your Highness the Imperial Princess.”

“Yes? What is it?”

Miss Sofia suddenly returning and speaking to Her Highness the Imperial Princess.

The two of them had some level of conversation normally.

But those conversations all started with Her Highness initiating them.

Miss Sofia never approached Her Highness the Imperial Princess separately to speak first or request a conversation.

That’s because she’s Her Highness the Imperial Princess.

How could one casually approach the second most powerful person in the empire after the Crown Prince?

It was an understandable aspect.

“Could you spare me a moment of your time?”

“Time?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

After returning, Miss Sofia continues speaking to Her Highness without making eye contact with me even once.

Why is she suddenly requesting time?

Does she have something to talk about separately?

“Of course. I don’t know what this is about, but it seems interesting.”

“Thank you.”

Miss Sofia answering with a slight smile at Her Highness’s words.

It was disappointing that the smile was directed at Her Highness, not at me.

“Then, just a moment…”

Miss Sofia approaching Her Highness more closely.

What is she trying to do?

Does she have something to say?

“…”

I don’t know what it is, but one thing was certain.

Miss Sofia is smiling right now.

Lately, it seems like I’ve only seen her embarrassed or troubled…

That expression of seeming enjoyment still suited her well.

“Your Highness the Imperial Princess.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll hold your hand first.”

“…?”

Miss Sofia said that and first took the hand of Her Highness who was sitting.

Yes, it was Miss Sofia’s hand that I had already held several times.

Surely it’s okay to hold hands?

“Huhu… Your Highness’s hand is very warm. It feels good to hold it like this.”

“Um…?”

“You must treat the empire’s people with a heart as warm as this hand. I’ve always respected you.”

“Thank you…?”

Miss Sofia continuing to speak while kneeling and holding Her Highness’s hand.

Unlike the atmosphere she’s been showing lately, it had a somewhat serious atmosphere.

Something that couldn’t be seen when she was with me recently.

“Your Highness’s eyes are beautiful today as well.”

“Y-Yes-“

“They are so beautiful that I think I’m envious, such captivating eyes. No, Your Highness’s brilliantly shining, beautiful hair is also like that. If it’s not rude, may I get a little closer to Your Highness?”

“Um…?”

“…”

Miss Sofia saying words that seemed to praise Her Highness’s appearance before Her Highness could even finish speaking.

Why is she suddenly saying such things?

Yes, it’s true that Her Highness the Imperial Princess has beautiful looks.

Objectively speaking, that was the case, separate from my liking of Miss Sofia.

But why on earth is she doing this?

She’s someone who hasn’t been looking at Her Highness with a particularly good view until now.

She didn’t say it directly, but I know it all.

“Yes, that’s fine…”

And Her Highness, who shyly grants Miss Sofia’s request, what on earth…

As soon as Her Highness’s permission was given, Miss Sofia immediately stood up and approached Her Highness more.

Close enough for Miss Sofia’s hair to touch the shoulders or chest of Her Highness who was sitting, close enough for Miss Sofia’s chest to touch Her Highness the Imperial Princess’s face.

“Your Highness, what do you think of me?”

“What?!”

“I mean it literally, Your Highness.”

“…”

For a moment, I didn’t understand what I was seeing and hearing.

It felt like my brain was stopping.

Miss Sofia saying such things…?

No, and not to me but to Her Highness the Imperial Princess, whom she’s met just over a week ago?

“I… Her Highness the Imperial Princess….”

“Stop!”

I involuntarily shouted.

I did it despite knowing that shouting like this in front of Her Highness the Imperial Princess was a breach of etiquette.

No, I had no choice.

I didn’t want to hear what was about to come out of Miss Sofia’s mouth.

“K.K.. Young Lord Kyle? Sofia is acting strange…!”

It appears so.

I’d like to just go with that.

I’d like it if Miss Sofia had drunk something and was saying strange things because of that.

“Your Highness, I am perfectly normal. And I’m sorry.”

And Miss Sofia smiling brightly as she looks at Her Highness.

That appearance was beautiful.

But at the same time, I had thoughts of regret, of being robbed, of not wanting to show it.

Could this be the emotion called jealousy?

“Miss Sofia.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Let’s stop the joke.”

“Hmm…? Joke? I truly believe Her Highness the Imperial Princess…”

“Sofia.”

“Is a model example of a good member of the imperial family.”

“…”

Only then did Miss Sofia reveal a playful smile.

Only upon seeing that smile did I realize.

Ah, it was a joke.

That’s a relief.

Really.

If Miss Sofia had really meant it…

She might not have been able to walk properly tomorrow.

“Sofia…? You shouldn’t play such jokes…?”

“Yes, I’m sorry. If you’re very upset, my head…”

“No… there’s no need for that… so… um…”

“…”

Her Highness the Imperial Princess’s condition has worsened.

Her face has reddened, and her eyes keep looking back and forth between Sofia and me.

I learned once again how strong Miss Sofia’s so-called seduction is.

In fact, I seriously wonder if she has a succubus among her ancestors.

I was deeply concerned.

And… I also thought that if she puts on such a surprise show again, I would have to discipline her more severely than last time.