RAMHM Chapter 86

The Ellaconian Prince

Beside the mischievous-eyed Ninth Prince stood a man slightly taller than him.

An attendant from Ellaconia?

Darker skin than the Ronteaux people. Ash-gray eyes. A muscular build. And contrasting with all that, short pink hair that created a military-like atmosphere.

He too had as many ornaments on his hands and wrists as Epero. He looked like someone from a country where gemstones rolled around like pebbles. I blinked slowly at the dazzling appearance, and in that blink, the pink-haired man strode right up to me. The Crown Prince was opening his mouth to introduce him.

"That person is from Ellaconia……."

"Woman. You. Famous. In Ellaconia."

Huh? Clumsy Imperial language was bluntly tossed right at me.

"……Pardon?"

"Woman. You. Like. Ellaconia. People."

"Ah……?"

While I stood there flustered, mouth opening and closing, the pink-haired man as massive as a bear grasped my shoulders without hesitation and pressed his cheeks against both of mine in succession, making kissing sounds.

"Want. Good relationship."

The Crown Prince's eyes were clearly widening before me as he watched us. From behind where Rhodness stood, I could feel a burning gaze even without looking.

"Viktor. In Ronteaux, that greeting is only done between close acquaintances."

"Not knew."

Did he know or not know? Too flustered, I stepped back slightly, and immediately felt a hot, solid body right against my back. When I turned my head back, Rhodness had pressed his body flush against my back, glaring at the man called Viktor before me.

"Who is that rude person?"

"Brother, can this Epero not be seen?"

Rhodness had asked the Crown Prince, but Epero interjected abruptly.

"You are excessively visible. Who is that fellow you brought along—your pet dog?"

When the pink-haired man tilted his head as if not understanding the word "pet dog," Epero burst into loud laughter.

"My apologies, noble lady. This fellow is called Viktor Bansheike from Ellaconia."

Bansheike! I instantly snapped to attention and examined the pink-haired man again.

"He is an Ellaconian prince and also a close friend I became acquainted with throughout my studies."

It meant Ninth Prince Epero had returned with the Ellaconian prince.

"Brother Rhodness. Should you not also introduce the person who came with you?"

Epero's languid speech pattern was almost like a street thug's, yet the content itself was polite, giving an odd impression.

"According to those well-versed in Imperial affairs, that lady is Brother's this……."

Revealing sharp canine teeth slightly, he smiled and held up his pinky finger. Large gemstone rings fitted on each knuckle glittered. It was frivolous behavior impossible to believe from a prince of a nation. Rhodness's facial muscles twisted with displeasure.

"Epero, you little……."

"I apologize, but Second Prince His Highness and I are friends. Ninth Prince Your Highness."

I spoke firmly to the impossibly rude Epero. When I stepped forward, Epero raised his eyebrow with a slight scar as if surprised, then sneered. His face seemed to ask how a noble lady and a prince could be "friends." But did I need to explain to him? Feeling no need to explain, I remained still, and Viktor, who had been wanting to join the conversation all along, suddenly approached me again. He bent his massive body and brought his face right up to mine, examining my face thoroughly as if appraising a gemstone.

"Not understand. Woman. Beautiful. How friends?"

—"Rhodness Second Prince. Me. We. Friends."

I looked directly into Viktor's ash-gray eyes and responded using Ellaconian in the same manner he used. My Ellaconian conversation skills were still terrible, which meant I was at a remarkably similar level to this pink-haired bear prince. Viktor's eyes with thin double eyelids blinked slowly several times. He eventually laughed so loudly it seemed the audience chamber might lift off. Behind him, the Ninth Prince's eyes widened as if this were quite surprising.

"You. Like. Me too. Friends."

"I refuse."

The answer poured down not from my mouth but from above the crown of my head. Rhodness, who had been gripping my arm tightly, pulled me behind him in an instant as if hiding me. It was solid strength that gave no chance to stumble. A body as massive as the bear-like Ellaconian prince stood towering before me like a wall.

"In Ronteaux, friends—that is not something just anyone does. Prince."

With his arms clasped behind his back, gripping my arm, I tried to shake off Rhodness and look ahead, but he was holding on so firmly I could not get out.

"……Your Highness!"

Even when I called out in a low voice only he could hear, Rhodness did not budge.

"Oh-. It has been truly a long time since I saw Brother make such a face. Is that not right, Brother Bardenaldo? Had I known there would be such entertaining spectacle, I should have come a bit earlier to enjoy it leisurely."

"You send not a single word of contact, then suddenly come and cause trouble?"

Rhodness responded coolly instead of the Crown Prince.

"Father's birthday is just around the corner, yet Brother Bardenaldo and Uncle were so insistent about how I could not show my face even once that I pretended I could not resist and came."

"……Uncle?"

Rhodness immediately turned his gaze to the Crown Prince as if not understanding. The Crown Prince's face looked completely drained. Unable to reproach Epero for why he had come or blame the Grand Duke confined in the north, he seemed to have nothing to say in response.

I smiled slightly, using Rhodness's broad back as a shield. I had calculated precisely that the Crown Prince would react this way.

By abandoning Novian, he had won the hearts of both the West and the East simultaneously, but if Epero—the hope of the aristocratic faction—arrived, he could not help but be concerned. The Ninth Prince was the legitimate son of current Empress Grace and held pro-Ellaconian leanings. Traditionally, the Empire tended to look down on Ellaconia as beneath them, but they could not simply dismiss as a small country Ellaconia, which possessed vast resources and focused on military expansion. This was even more true since they had suffered a major defeat in military friction with Ellaconia a few years ago. Ninth Prince Epero had been a sacrifice of such war.

Ellaconia gave the Empire a large gemstone mine in a disputed territory, while the Empire sent young Ninth Prince Epero—the legitimate son of the current Empress—to study in Ellaconia to foster new friendship. The exchange, which had been somewhat humiliating, changed when Ninth Prince Epero adapted to Ellaconia better than expected and won those people's hearts. The friendship between Ronteaux and Ellaconia strengthened further, and young Prince Epero rapidly rose as the person serving as the bridge between them.

Naturally, the Crown Prince's faction could not help but be wary that he might be targeting the Crown Prince position using that as leverage. At a time when it was difficult to distinguish who was enemy and who was ally, with no Grand Duke present, the Crown Prince's faction would clearly waver if the Crown Prince appeared anxious. If he assigned someone completely his own to Epero's side, those around would surely think there was some scheme, and if he assigned someone completely from the aristocratic faction to Epero's side, the Crown Prince himself would be anxious. Peeking my head out just slightly to observe the situation, I pinched Rhodness's arm hard and pushed my body out while he flinched.

"Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, may I ask why you summoned me here today?"

"……I wish to ask you to take charge of Epero's attendance, Madam."

Not a man but a woman. Not unmarried but a married noble lady. Someone who had become famous for successfully holding a welcoming ceremony for the Ellaconian delegation. The Crown Princess's lady-in-waiting and simultaneously someone who had nearly become the wife of the Grand Duke the Crown Prince had cast out. It would be difficult to find anyone more suitable than me in such an ambiguous position. Epero roughly tousled his already carelessly arranged hair and grinned.

"I specially requested it. This pink bear-like human I have to accompany said he absolutely wanted to meet you, and I was also curious about Brother's lover."

There was also the calculation that since there were few nobles bold enough to openly support Epero, Epero would likely seek me out as well, having built connections with the Ellaconian envoys.

"Epero. Did you not learn Ellaconian in Ellaconia, only how to bark?"

Epero responded to Rhodness's cool voice with a light wink. But that fresh expression only stoked Rhodness's anger further.

"The palace is full of people to attend your kind—dragging in someone unnecessary……."

I shook my head slightly toward Rhodness, who looked ready to draw his sword. Then I shifted my gaze to the Crown Prince, who had turned pale between his two rough younger brothers, and straightened my back.

"Are you asking as Your Highness's assistant?"

I conveyed my meaning precisely with my eyes. It was the same look from that day when I had said I was certain he would need my help.

"……I ask this of you."

The Crown Prince exhaled like a sigh, his reluctance clearly evident. I gathered all the warmth within me and smiled. Epero, whom I had summoned to become the Crown Prince's assistant, was looking at me with fascinated eyes.

"Request. Well."

Though the Ellaconian prince who had tagged along was not part of the plan.

Before leaving the Crown Prince's palace, the Crown Prince personally saw us off, asking that we please provide maximum convenience not only to Epero but also to the Ellaconian prince. Since I had intended to do so anyway, the Crown Prince's request was no problem. The problem was Rhodness. Throughout the entire ride back together to the Grand Ducal Estate, Rhodness wore an expression so hardened it was difficult to speak to him.

"……Is friends something you do with just anyone?"

After staring out the innocent window with a hardened face for quite some time, those were the first words Rhodness spoke.

"An Ellaconian prince would be a good person to have as a friend. He is someone I need right now."

Though I had taken a risky move to become the Crown Prince's assistant, Prince Viktor whom Epero had brought was a good variable for me.

"Perhaps…… I might be able to learn more about Bliea."

I hesitated before finally speaking, but it did not reach Rhodness at all. The brow that had looked displeased since earlier twitched as if about to furrow.

"Bliea was a sorceress from Ellaconia. No matter how much Your Highness and I investigate here, there will be limits to learning about Bliea. If I become close with Viktor Bansheike, I might be able to investigate the Ellaconian side more. Moreover, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince also seems to need my help right now, so I intend to carry out the task he has entrusted to earn His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince's trust."

The Crown Prince had entrusted me with their welcoming ceremony to be held two days later. Originally such matters were the domain of the Empress and Crown Princess who oversaw the inner palace, but it was so sudden that they could not prepare on a large scale, and they were already busy preparing for the Emperor's birthday celebration just around the corner.

Doris will be quite heated.

She might be pleased for now that she does not have to work, but I was curious how she would react the moment she learned I had organized that welcoming ceremony.

As the Crown Prince's assistant, not as her lady-in-waiting.

My mind raced as busily as I remained silent, so absorbed that I did not realize the carriage had stopped for quite some time.

"You're doing nothing, yet you look busy."

"Ah, when did we arrive? Goodness, I have a mountain of tasks—I may have to stay up all night tonight."

Though Rhodness recognized I had regained my senses, he showed absolutely no intention of opening the carriage door and getting out.

"Um…… Your Highness should return to the palace immediately as well, should you not? I would like to offer you at least a cup of tea, but the welcoming ceremony is only two days away."

Even at my excuse made with urgency, Rhodness simply lifted his chin and kept watching me quietly. The silence made me more anxious.

"……Do you have…… something to say?"

"Do you have nothing to say to me?"

Though the weather was clearly cold, his gaze was extremely persistent and hot. I nervously clutched the front of my fur cloak tightly. Rhodness's intense gaze immediately followed there.

"Wh-what should I say……?"

"That you secretly ki…… did that to me and ran away."

Ah. Like water boiling beneath the surface, that quiet, hot gaze licked at my lips as if tasting them.