episode_0024

Rubbing the bulging mole on his forehead, Deron glanced at Jeongsuri.

Since he never imagined she would actually hit him, the unexpected pain that followed was worse than he had imagined.

“You’re violent.”

There was a sharp sound just now.

As tears welled up in his eyes, Deron lowered his head.

“Consider yourself lucky that it ended with just one punch, even though you habitually slandered the royal family.”

“…Yes.”

He was a cold-hearted brat who had no intention of apologizing for hitting someone.

“…You two seem really close.”

As Astel, who had been silently watching us, spoke, Deron and I looked at each other and simultaneously sighed.

“Well, we are close in a way. After all, we’re friends.”

“…I hope you don’t have any strange misunderstandings, Princess.”

We must be careful to avoid any strange misunderstandings.

Especially not the kind of misunderstanding that is so terrible.

I absolutely do not want the grotesque misunderstanding that I am dating a man.

“The most ideal relationship between me and the prince is that of friends.”

“…You’ve been acting strange since the other day.”

What do you mean by strange?

As if something was bothering him, I looked at Deron, who was furrowing his brow.

“It’s natural for me to feel bad when I’m with you.”

“Yes, I know.”

Although it was quite unpleasant, I didn’t want to argue further, so I just nodded quietly.

Deron reached out and started poking my cheek with his finger.

“But why do you hate me?”

“Uh…?”

“Just because I hate you, doesn’t mean you should hate me too, right?”

“…Why?”

“Even if you don’t like being involved with royalty, there’s no reason to hate it.”

Is that so?

Certainly, in general, that might be the case.

Naturally, royalty is wealthy.

Their authority is higher than ever, even if they were to remove the title of royalty.

Deron was a pretty decent guy.

It’s a bit ambiguous to say to a 10-year-old, but he was handsome.

If he grows up, he will probably become even more handsome.

Just as it is natural for me, as the female lead, to be pretty.

Deron, as the male lead, is also expected to be handsome.

“He’s rich, powerful, handsome, and his personality isn’t bad either…”

“…Why are you suddenly mumbling like that?”

“…He was outstanding in terms of ability.”

Most of the incidents in the novel were resolved quickly when the prince intervened.

“Indeed, the prince is probably a 9 out of 10 as a husband.”

“…What about the other 1 point?”

“There’s no such thing as perfection in this world.”

If we consider perfection as 10 points, then Deron’s statement meant that he was a 9 out of 10 as a husband.

“Anyway, it’s not that I hate the prince because he’s lacking. It’s just that I’m exceptional.”

I shrugged.

I’ve never had the delusion of dating a man, and even if I were to imagine it, it would only be awkward.

And even if, by some chance, I were to actually start liking a man, Deron would never be the one.

After all, considering my current age and the age in reality, 10 + 20 = 30.

The age difference between the 10-year-old prince and me was a whopping 20 years.

With that much of an age gap, there would be nothing to say even if I were to be taken advantage of.

Hmm.

I shrugged my shoulders at Deron, who seemed to be at a loss for words, and we walked through the merchant district together.

“But why did the prince come to buy something?”

“…A sword.”

“A sword?”

“I was thinking of buying a new one because the sword I have is not suitable for club activities, but I didn’t find anything that caught my eye.”

Indeed, using the royal family’s sword for club activities would be strange.

“But if it’s a swordsmanship club, shouldn’t you have a sword?”

“I do. But I came out separately because I didn’t like the ones available.”

Ah, they do provide swords, but the quality is so bad that I just came out to buy one with my own money.

“As expected, anything given for free is usually not good quality.”

“The balance is off, it looks like it’s been used by someone, the handle is slightly sticky, and the blade is a bit dull.”

“Why would the largest club in the academy have swords like this?”

I know that club funding is based on size and performance.

In that sense, the swordsmanship club may not have the best performance, but in terms of size, it was larger than the magic research department.

Naturally, they must have received a lot of funding, so if something like this happened…

“Someone is embezzling funds…!”

“…No.”

“…No?”

I thought it was natural for someone to be embezzling funds here.

I bowed my head in self-reflection, realizing that I was the only one with such a pessimistic thought.

“Giving newbies a bad sword is a luxury – that’s the message behind deliberately choosing a sword in poor condition.”

If you want a good sword, improve your skills.

“…Even though you know that’s the intention behind giving it to you, you still want to buy a new sword…?”

If that’s the case, it’s more common to improve your skills and prove yourself to receive a better sword rather than buying one with money.

“If you have the money, there’s no need to use a bad sword.”

“That’s… true.”

No one would choose to use a worse option when they have access to a better one.

Nodding my head in agreement, I expressed my approval, and Deron glanced at me a few times.

“So, what did you come here to buy?”

“Oil, bedding, and various other things?”

I explained my plan to Deron, and after hearing everything, he looked back and forth between me and Astel with a subtle expression.

“…Normally, people learn quickly and plan to leave the Concentration Management Department, right?”

“Princess may plan to leave like that, but I have a very good understanding of my subject.”

With hands on my waist and chest slightly puffed out, I confidently spoke.

“I’ll be in the Concentration Management Department for at least six months!”

Although I was known to learn quickly, there was simply not enough time to fully grasp a new language.

“It doesn’t seem like you should be so confident about that.”

The prince glanced at Astel with eyes filled with complex emotions, then whispered to me so only I could hear.

“Don’t transfer your foolishness to the princess.”

“…That’s mean.”

He suddenly lowered his voice, and I thought he was going to say something important, but apparently this was what he wanted to say.

“Chief is not a fool.”

“…Huh?”

Astel, who had been quietly following us, suddenly spoke up.

“Chief is just a little lacking, not a fool.”

It seemed like that was the case, but considering my low position, it was not appropriate to argue.

Although I was a bit more familiar with Deron, as we were friends, and I smiled awkwardly at the lack of a response, Deron spoke up instead.

“…Anyway, if you want to buy bedding, I know a place.”

“Oh, if it’s recommended by the prince, it must be reliable, right?”

Awkwardly trying to change the subject, Deron and I both nodded slightly.

“But if it’s recommended by the prince, isn’t it going to be very expensive?”

“There’s a reason why cheap things are cheap, and expensive things are expensive.”

“Uh… I thought you said you don’t indulge in luxuries here.”

“If you force yourself to buy something that doesn’t fit your needs, then it’s indulgence, but that’s not the case here.”

That’s true, but am I misunderstanding something right now?

“Right now, you’re not buying this for yourself, but for me and the princess. You’ll be reimbursed, right?”

It’s common sense, but naturally, more expensive things are usually of better quality.

However, the issue of whether we can afford the bedding recommended by the prince is completely different.

Even if I have close to 900,000 leafs, I couldn’t use all of that money.

Because you never know when you might need money.

I think I should at least leave around 300,000 leafs.

So, the total funds I can use are 900,000 leafs, minus 600,000 leafs.

If I borrow money from Astel, he said there would be 600,000 leafs, so a maximum of 300,000 leafs.

I was planning to use a total of 900,000 leafs.

It’s not a small amount of money, but it’s not a lot either.

“…I’ll buy it.”

“…Why?”

“…Why… do you ask?”

I did ask if he would lend me money, but I didn’t expect this kind of response.

It was just a simple grumble.

Are you really going to buy it for me?

“…Um, did I do something wrong…?”

We’ve become friends, but I’ve been nagging too much lately.

Even as I shrunk back, I glanced at Deron, who looked at me as if he was puzzled.

“…Don’t people usually like it when someone buys something for them?”

“Remember, Your Highness.”

“What?”

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

I shivered.

Just looking at the reason why I entered the academy is enough to see that.

It’s because I fell asleep after eating the free candy my father gave me.

Even within families, there are traps set with free things.

Those who are more distant than family should be wary of the freebies they offer.

“If it’s a price, I’ve already paid it.”

“…When did I?”

Instead of speaking, Deron gestured towards Astel.

Compared to the value of a life, it’s cheap.

“…Ah.”

So, this isn’t a freebie, but a repayment for what I did before?

I didn’t expect this kind of thing.

It’s not an unfounded freebie, and I’m not so wealthy as to refuse a reasoned repayment.

“…Then, I’ll leave it to you!”

“…Sure.”

“It’s not much of a favor, but come visit our club room sometimes! You can use the bed too!”

Since Deron bought it, it was only natural that he also had the right to use the bed.

“…Huh?”

After blurting out those words, I looked at Deron and Astel, feeling like my words were a bit strange.

“…Wow.”

Astel exclaimed with his mouth slightly agape.

Deron blushed heavily and glared at me.

“…Heh.”

He stuck out his tongue and smiled cutely.

I made a ridiculous slip of the tongue, but I couldn’t spit on a smiling face.