CATB Chapter 32

"So you see, this monster subjugation will have to be handled by you, Grand Duke."

"......"

"Since it's on the way back to your territory anyway, it shouldn't be too difficult. Didn't you handle the monsters splendidly this time as well? Actually, this time the monsters aren't as violent, so you should be able to resolve it quite easily."

Even with the king's smooth praise, no response came back. The king looked at Belkellion anxiously.

"......"

"Grand Duke?"

"Your Majesty."

"Yes?"

"I believe I need to stay in the capital a bit longer."

"Why suddenly? Haven't you finished all your business? If there's anything left that the royal family needs to handle, I'll resolve it for you."

"It's personal business."

"Per... personal... Can't you tell me about it?"

Belkellion raised his indifferent face to look at the king. Raphael III unconsciously flinched and stepped back.

"I... I see. You have no obligation to report personal matters to me. Ahem, I made a mistake."

"Not at all."

"Then when do you think it will be finished? I'll delay the subjugation party for the Grand Duke's sake."

Having failed to send Alexa, and now with the Grand Duke camping out in the capital as well, his nerves were more than a little frayed. The king asked Belkellion with gleaming eyes.

"Didn't you say it was an urgent matter?"

"Huh? That... that's right. But what's the use of hurrying to send them when there's no leader capable of leading the subjugation party? I was counting only on Alexa, but she flatly refused. She showed no sense of responsibility as a member of the royal family. Tsk tsk... She's my daughter, but she's so disappointing... I suppose I failed at raising children. Sigh..."

"......"

When Belkellion's eyes met his again, seeming to read his inner thoughts completely, the king quickly added:

"There's simply no one comparable to you, Grand Duke. These young nobles only know how to show off but accomplish nothing properly."

"......"

"When I think that these children will have to lead Pellipe in the future, I can't even sleep at night."

"Are there trees that are fully grown from the beginning?"

"Huh?"

"They grow into strong trees by weathering cold rain and harsh winds."

"That... that's right?"

The king agreed cautiously with an uneasy face. He couldn't grasp what Belkellion's intention was.

"Send Prince Wilhelm."

"What... what did you say?"

"It will serve as good foundation for the prince's development as Pellipe's ruler. As Your Majesty said, since it's not a particularly difficult subjugation, it won't be dangerous either."

"Even so, to send Wilhelm..."

"Since the prince is leading the young nobles, he should be able to perform the role of leader smoothly as well. He's someone who will soon become the leader of all of Pellipe, so he'll surely lead them well with a sense of royal responsibility."

"That... that is..."

When he systematically pointed out all the points the king had mentioned in his even tone, the king couldn't find words to refute him.

"If you give permission, I will take charge of training until the prince departs with the subjugation party. Just tell me the deadline and I'll prepare immediately."

"......"

The king stared at Belkellion, at a loss for words. Even without raising his voice, this felt like being swept along by the situation, making it difficult to judge properly.

"Understood. I'll consider it."

When the king raised his hand in a shooing gesture to dismiss him, Belkellion finished with a brief farewell and left the room. He maintained the same neat and stable appearance as when he first entered.

Silence settled over the office after he left.

"This one and that one..."

The king's voice trembled with anger that seemed to boil up from within. His slender fingers, thick for his frame, gripped the edge of the table tightly. The marble table and the brilliant rings on the king's fingers clashed together, making a clear sound. His face darkened in an instant.

Crash!!!!

The beautiful patterned teacups that had been neatly arranged on the table were pushed off and shattered on the floor. The broken glass pieces reflected the light, sparkling brilliantly in contrast to his dark face.

"Nothing goes my way!!!!!"

"Princess, Grand Duke Belkellion has arrived."

"Huh? Already?"

I, who had been drowsily basking in the sunlight in a sleepy haze, bolted upright.

"Didn't he say he'd come at three o'clock?"

"Princess, it's three o'clock now."

Lily whispered softly.

"Then you should have woken me up earlier!!! I thought I had an hour left!"

"I kept telling you, but you said you knew."

"When you're sleeping, you say anything! How can I speak with my eyes closed! Oh, what should I do!"

"Princess, you were sleeping with your eyes open!"

Leaving Lily, who was quietly grumbling in protest behind me, I bustled around the terrace.

"Oh, what should I do? I haven't done my makeup... I need to fix my hair and my dress..."

"Um... Princess."

"Is the tea ready? Where did you seat the Grand Duke? Oh, eye makeup takes a long time!!!"

"Princess Alexa..."

"Why do you keep calling me!!!"

When I snapped at Jen, who kept calling me in a weak voice, Jen started tearing up and pointed behind me.

"...Princess, this is the reception room terrace."

"......"

"You said your room terrace was stuffy and you wanted to nap somewhere spacious..."

'Shit.'

I muttered a mild curse and slowly turned around.

Soon, a beautiful black figure standing tall in the center of the reception room came into my sight.

I gritted my teeth, put on a pretty smile, and curtsied.

'Shit, I'm still in my nightgown.'

'Shit!!!'

"Belkellion."

"Alexa."

Belkellion slowly approached and bent down to kiss the back of my hand.

"Per... perhaps how long have you been here... no, why so early today... um... I'm currently..."

Disorganized words spilled out of my mouth. Belkellion lifted his lips from my hand and looked up at me. 'Ugh, seeing him unprepared is an attack on my heart...'

"I'm glad you look healthy, Alexa."

Come to think of it, this was the first time he and I had met since the hunting competition. I gracefully responded to his words.

"You too, Belkellion. Nothing happened to you?"

He nodded.

"I heard you were sick."

I had told some lies to avoid the calls from nobles trying to involve the king and me, and it seemed that had reached Belkellion's ears.

"Oh, that... you don't need to worry. I'm healthy."

I smiled as broadly as possible at Belkellion, who was still carefully looking me over to see if I was hurt anywhere. This man is truly kind.

"Um, Princess..."

Jen, who had been quietly watching us both, spoke up. 'Damn, it was just our world...'

Belkellion let go of my hand and said: (The fact that I internally screamed at the warmth that had been holding my wrist until then was a secret only I knew.)

"Take your time getting ready. I'll wait here."

"Well... but... Belkellion's schedule... I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

Even without flowery compliments about how this was fine or how pretty I looked, his touch as he carefully tucked my fallen hair behind my ear made me feel good.

"I'll get ready quickly and come back, okay? Don't go anywhere and wait right here!"

"Yes."

After earnestly instructing the maids in the reception room to serve the Grand Duke with utmost care, I left the reception room.

"Jen, quickly quickly!! Lily, quickly quickly!!"

"Oh my, it's been so long since I've seen the princess in such a good mood."

Seeing the smile on my face as I constantly urged them on, Jen added with a laugh.

"The Grand Duke also seems quite different from the rumors."

"That's right. I thought I'd be cursed just by making eye contact with him."

"You two..."

"No, Princess! We don't think that way anymore!! We just meant that's how we used to think!"

"Of course! We don't judge people based on rumors and what others say anymore. You taught us how dangerous that can be."

Since there was no falsehood visible on Jen and Lily's faces, I felt relieved. I would have been very upset if my people disliked Belkellion.

"Belkellion is a good person."

"He's also incredibly handsome!"

"Right! I was too scared to look at his face properly before, but seeing him today, he's really really handsome."

'Hmm... I think I'm seeing some face-obsessed tendencies in my maids?'

"Even compared to Sir Berford, he's handsome enough to hold his own."

"If only he weren't from the demon race, really..."

Hearing them praise Belkellion's appearance made me feel somewhat proud but also strange. What is this slightly unpleasant feeling?

This is like that contradictory sulkiness and disappointment you feel when a singer only you know becomes famous...

"You two hurry up, the Grand Duke is waiting."

"Yes, yes~ We'll make you completely beautiful."

"You really have to make me pretty, okay?"

'Otherwise Belkellion might look even prettier.' I chewed on my inner words as I looked at my face from various angles in the mirror.

A faint smile continued to hang on the corners of my mouth.