* * *
“Your Highness, why are you laughing?”
“Hahaha.”
Crown Prince Aihin chuckled as he held a letter from the Duchess of Graham.
His aide was appalled to see the prince laughing for so long just because of a letter, but Aihin couldn’t stop.
“Who do I have scheduled for tea time tomorrow?”
The aide quickly checked the schedule.
“No one, Your Highness.”
“Perfect. Send an invitation to the Duke and Duchess of Graham for tea tomorrow.”
The aide’s mouth fell open.
Was he finally going to meet the Duchess from all the rumors?
Not long ago, word had spread that the Duke had strolled through a general store with his mysterious wife, appearing remarkably affectionate.
It was said that he had spent enough money that day to buy a large mansion in the capital.
Every shop they visited had nothing but praise for the couple, calling them a match made in heaven and marveling at how gentle and kind the Duchess was.
“The Duke of Graham truly is an exemplary man when it comes to self-discipline.”
“Do you really think the Duke went to that store on a whim?”
“What else could it be? There’s no way the Duke is truly in love with his wife.”
The aide, who had seen the Duke often, shook his head vehemently.
Zeroth Graham and love?
Even passing birds would laugh at the idea.
“Want to make a bet?”
“No, thank you.”
The aide rejected the prince’s offer immediately.
“Why not?!”
“Because you’ve probably already snooped around behind my back and found something.”
Predictable.
The aide urged him to hurry and send the invitation if he was going to do it anyway.
“I didn’t realize you had so little faith in me. I’m disappointed in you, my aide.”
“Oh, Your Highness, I don’t believe a single word you say.”
Covering his ears, the aide reviewed the documents before him.
“You write the reply. Just tell them to come tomorrow.”
“…That’s all you’re going to say?”
The Duchess’s letter had also been blunt, simply extending an invitation.
There was no reason for him to respond politely when they hadn’t done so either.
Aihin smirked and tapped the letter.
Ignoring all etiquette, the letter had likely been written under Zeroth’s guidance.
The Duchess hadn’t even known how to greet him properly.
Typically, when meeting a member of the royal family for the first time, one was required to kneel on one knee and bow their head in respect.
But the Duchess of Graham had only managed a hasty bow, looking thoroughly flustered.
The Crown Prince could never forget the way the Duke had glared at him in that moment.
He wasn’t sure if it had been a joke or sincere, but one thing was clear—if he shook the Duchess, he could shake the Duke as well.
How amusing was that?
An Omega once disregarded even by their own family had now become a duchess, receiving love beyond what they deserved.
Watching the prince chuckle to himself, the aide sighed deeply and began composing an elegant response to the Duchess.
“Zeroth! Zeroth!”
Zeroth lowered his sword when he saw Sylvian running toward the training grounds.
His face was flushed, as if he had sprinted all the way from the mansion.
His cheeks, warmed from the exertion, were brimming with joy.
Not wanting the knights to see Sylvian like this, Zeroth subtly shifted his body to block their view.
“What’s the matter?”
The knights had also stopped their training and were sneaking glances at the approaching Duchess.
They, too, had only seen the Duchess from afar.
He’s so small and adorable.
The knights watched with amusement as the tiny Duchess bounced excitedly in front of the Duke, holding an envelope.
They barely held back their laughter at Whisen’s deadpan expression as he trailed behind.
“A reply from His Highness the Crown Prince arrived!”
Beaming with pride, Sylvian made Zeroth clear his throat and cover his mouth.
“You could have just opened it.”
Even Zeroth hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to respond so quickly.
Usually, replies were sent within two or three days.
Receiving one on the same day it was sent was rare.
“I wanted to read it with you!”
Sylvian hopped in place, clutching the letter, so Zeroth picked him up and strode toward the mansion.
Whisen followed behind.
“Whisen! Have you ever received a letter from His Highness?”
“No.”
Watching Sylvian ask every passing person the same question made Zeroth’s lips curl into a smirk.
“I have no reason to send letters to His Highness.”
Whisen’s stiff reply made Sylvian glance at Zeroth, his eyes full of curiosity—why didn’t Whisen send letters?
“He is my knight. Unless there’s an extraordinary circumstance, he has no reason to send letters to the Crown Prince.”
“Oh.”
Hearing this, Sylvian’s chest puffed up.
He acted as if receiving a reply made him special.
A ghost of a smile flickered across Whisen’s lips.
Despite his grown-up body, he was still a child at heart.
Whisen realized he had been overly concerned about helping someone so young and dismissed the thought.
“Can I show the letter to others after you read it?”
“Personal letters shouldn’t be shared with just anyone.”
“Not even Elgana and Luai?”
Zeroth hesitated at the way Sylvian’s eyes sparkled.
If he allowed it, the letter wouldn’t just be shown to those two—it would end up in Whisen’s hands, the other guards’ hands, and even the aides near the office.
“That would go against etiquette.”
Hearing Zeroth’s firm response, Sylvian immediately looked disappointed.
“Well, in that case, I’ll just read it with you.”
As he was carried to the office, Sylvian kept turning the letter over in his hands.
He wasn’t aiming to seduce a powerful figure, but if maintaining good relations could turn the prince into an ally, then frequent visits to the royal palace would be worth it.
The Crown Prince had a nasty personality, but he hated Zeroth, which meant he could be useful when needed.
Once the main protagonist appeared, the prince would surely become obsessed with him.
Sylvian planned to trade information about the protagonist in the duke’s estate in exchange for the prince’s assistance.
Not that the protagonist had any real chance, but he figured he might as well help him give up sooner rather than later.
Brimming with excitement, Sylvian sat on the office sofa and took the letter opener from Zeroth.
“I’ll open it now.”
He swallowed nervously and carefully slit open the envelope.
The Crown Prince’s purple wax seal looked impressive.
Sylvian forced his lips into a constant smile, hoping his face wouldn’t look too stiff.
“I only sent one page, but… there are three replies.”
Regret washed over him—he should’ve ignored Zeroth’s advice.
He should’ve written something ridiculous like, ‘You’re so handsome. Even though I only saw you once, your beauty is unforgettable!’
“It’s fine. His Highness is likely just apologizing for his rudeness and granting your request. Nothing more.”
Zeroth poked Sylvian’s cheek as he watched him scan the pages with shaky eyes.
“The letter is yours. Read it first.”
Nodding, Sylvian took a deep breath and slowly read each word.
The Crown Prince didn’t seem like the type to write such long letters.
Sylvian silently offered sympathy to whoever had been forced to draft this response.
“He invited me to tea! Tomorrow!”
He almost laughed at the exaggerated flattery about his graceful poise and noble demeanor despite the prince having only met him once.
But he ignored all of that and excitedly announced the most important part.
Then, with an air of triumph, he handed the letter to Zeroth.
“Hm. Tomorrow, huh.”
“Is that a problem?”
* * *
