Chapter 28
Fortunately—or perhaps not—the First Prince shook his head.
“No. I have no intention of going that far.”
“Then, Your Highness, shall we stop visiting the Third Princess starting today…?”
“That’s not it.”
Hearing what he said next, I stopped brushing the ferrets’ fur.
“If I make an appointment like that, it would feel like I’m forcing Asphodel to meet me. That’s not how I want to see her.”
The First Prince’s attendant fell silent as if at a loss for words.
Margaret was the same.
But the way she looked back at me hiding behind the display cabinet seemed to carry many meanings.
Margaret appeared to be deeply impressed by the First Prince’s character and consideration.
“Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll come again next time.”
“Yes, Your Highness the First Prince. May the Sun’s blessing be upon the Star of Rosantina.”
After Margaret escorted the First Prince out, I quickly got up and dashed out through the back door before she returned.
Tch. Somehow it felt like Margaret had been swayed by the First Prince.
If she saw my face now, she would probably try to persuade me again—saying things like it would be better to reconcile with the First Prince, or that, whatever the reason, it might be best to meet and talk with him.
But I hadn’t fought with the First Prince, so there was nothing to reconcile.
‘More importantly, I thought he came to confront me.’
Recalling the First Prince’s words, I found them somewhat unexpected.
Who would dare say things the First Prince didn’t want to hear?
And from his perspective, I had suddenly changed and told him to get lost, so he must have thought it was abrupt.
So I had assumed he’d be offended—but seeing him today, he didn’t seem particularly angry, which was strange.
‘Hmph, still… any small amount of goodwill he had toward me is probably gone. He’s such a cold person. Maybe the reason he keeps coming back so persistently is just stubbornness.’
I had long ago learned it was better not to expect anything from others, including the First Prince.
So for now…
‘I should focus on finding capable people who will help my future!’
I dashed toward the divine beast nest at full speed—
“Princess?”
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
—but once again, I was caught by palace attendants before I could leave through the back exit.
“Uh, I was just….”
“Perhaps our princess is bored. Would you like to join us in the playroom?”
“No….”
“Then how about a walk in the garden? Shall we play hide-and-seek with the ferrets?”
“No!”
That’s not what I want!
Sigh… being free isn’t easy.
“Princess! Don’t tell me you were planning to leave the palace alone while leaving me behind, Margaret?”
In the end, Margaret found me too.
Realizing I had been trying to sneak out again, she began lecturing me.
After enduring her nagging with one ear and letting it out the other, I finally made my way to the divine beast nest.
“Kyaaa!”
“Kyaa, over here~!”
Soft, rice-cake-like creatures bounced toward me in a lively swarm.
Awww, my babies are so cute today too!
“Good job, good job, my babies! Ohooo!”
“Kkyang kkyang!”
Today as well, I enthusiastically waved the pink reed grass and played with the young divine beasts.
“Third Princess, you’re playing with the divine beasts very well today as always.”
Ah—!
I had gotten so absorbed that I forgot someone was watching.
Realizing too late, I froze stiffly in embarrassment.
“U-uh… Joshua, do you want to try too?”
“I’m not as athletic as you, Princess….”
“What are you talking about! This kind of thing is done with the heart!”
“I-is that so?”
I forcibly placed the pink reed grass into Joshua’s hands.
He awkwardly began to wave it.
“Good, good.”
Wow, that sounded stiff. He looked like a robot speaking.
“Poom!”
“Kyaa!”
As expected of someone loved by divine beasts, the fluffy creatures swarmed Joshua the moment he waved the pink tuft a little.
“U-uaaah!”
Wow, instant defeat.
Time it took for Joshua to get buried under the baby divine beasts… one second.
“Joshua, you really have no athletic ability.”
“Princess….”
Joshua looked embarrassed at my remark.
By now, Joshua would often greet me first when we met, and we could even have small conversations.
That was because I repeatedly told him things like: the divine beasts like you, you have the kind of face they like.
At first, he would awkwardly squirm whenever I said such things, as if receiving compliments that didn’t quite fit him. But now, he would sometimes smile shyly at the same words.
Honestly, I also treated him kindly because I felt a bit sorry for him.
I could tell he was having a rather difficult time here.
But I pretended not to notice, worried that he might miss his chance to form a contract with a divine beast.
I rationalized it to myself: rather than living a life like in my previous life—failing to form a contract and sinking into low self-esteem—this might be better for him.
‘I wish that event would happen soon. I have no idea when the trigger for forming a contract with a divine beast will occur.’
“Joshua, come here. Let’s eat this together. You skipped lunch again today, didn’t you?”
“Yes… actually… Thank you very much as always, Third Princess.”
Joshua gratefully accepted the snack I brought.
In truth, I didn’t have many chances to spend even brief moments like this with Joshua.
If I hung around idly with the princess, I might get criticized by seniors again…
So I only approached when no one else was around or when he was on a short break.
As they say, hunger leaves no room for pride. Even though I wasn’t as starving as Joshua, I had worked up an appetite playing with the baby divine beasts.
So we sat crouched together for a while, silently munching snacks.
“Asphodel.”
It was then that a gloomy voice called out to me.
A shadow suddenly fell above my head.
I looked up, a large snack still in my mouth, feeling puzzled.
“So it was you after all. I thought as much when I saw you heading toward the divine beast enclosure two days ago.”
Gasp!
Standing before me was none other than the First Prince!
Behind him, it almost seemed like a vision of cold snow was swirling violently.
The First Prince glanced alternately at me, seated with a snack in my mouth, and Joshua beside me.
Wherever his gaze passed, an icy chill seemed to spread.
Come to think of it, the First Prince’s usual training grounds were near the divine beast enclosure?
Joshua, finally regaining his senses, jumped to his feet.
“Y-Your Highness the First Prince! May the Star of Rosantina receive the Sun’s blessing!”
“Yes. I have something to discuss with my sister, so you may go now.”
The First Prince issued a cold dismissal.
His eyes seemed to be fixed on the snack in Joshua’s hand.
Joshua hurriedly bowed to me as well and quickly left.
After sending Joshua away, the First Prince frowned and looked back at me.
“Asphodel, why on earth—hey! Where are you going?!”
But I had already stood up and dashed away to put distance between us.
“Wait! I have something to say to you!”
“I don’t!”
“I do!”
The First Prince, standing there in disbelief, finally seemed to lose his temper and shouted before chasing after me.
Damn it, the difference in stride alone decides everything!
As expected, no matter how fast I was, I was five years old, while he was nine.
It was impossible for me to outrun him.
Still, fortunately—or not—I spotted a useful shield before he could catch me.
A delicate boy like a pink flower: the Second Prince, Rubelio.
Walking along the royal path near the entrance of the divine beast enclosure, Rubelio spotted me and jumped in shock.
“What, what the—why are you suddenly popping out there?!”
It seemed the headbutt I gave him last time had left quite a trauma, as he shuddered dramatically.
“Don’t come any closer! What are you planning to do to me again, you devil…! Uaaah!”
But before he could avoid me, my hand reached him first.
I grabbed his clothes, moved behind him in one motion, and used him as a shield, holding him in front of me.
“Asphodel!”
Suddenly forced to stand in front of the First Prince, Rubelio looked utterly bewildered.
“Why are you avoiding me so much? I just want to talk for a moment—do you really have to go this far?”
The First Prince looked very wronged.
He also seemed a little angry at me.
But right now, I wanted nothing less than to see him as much as he wanted to see me.
So I firmly pushed him away with a blunt refusal.
“Damn it, stop following me and go away! I hate you! Honestly, I like this guy more than you…!”
In other words: “You’re even worse than this third-rate villain!”
