* * *
The raccoon looked at me with sparkling eyes, suddenly full of affection.
It seemed ready to leap into my arms at any moment.
Hah, and this after six years of indifference.
A single act of healing, and it’s acting all chummy now?
I have no intention of hugging a shedding animal.
Watching its plump tail wag, I turned my head away.
ꔚ
“We can’t let it get out that animals from the Magic Tower were injured. What’s the status of the two?”
“They’ll recover soon.”
“How did they get hurt?”
“…They were stabbed.”
“That makes it even more imperative to keep this quiet.”
Cloden nodded solemnly.
Meanwhile, the raccoon had jumped off the cushion and was circling my ankles.
When I stepped back, it clung to the hem of my robe and was dragged along.
“…Cloden.”
When I called his name, he picked up the raccoon like a parent handling a mischievous child.
The raccoon wore a puzzled expression, as if unable to understand why it couldn’t approach me.
Its face resembled that of someone watching cotton candy dissolve in water.
“I’ll conduct a thorough investigation. To be honest, the guards thought it was a trivial matter and omitted it from their report to you. However… it seems the Fourth Prince visited the Tower late last night.”
Of course.
If suspicion falls anywhere, it would naturally point to Ateol.
“Even so, they left out a record of the prince’s visit?”
“Yes… Since it wasn’t a formal request, they likely dismissed it as another one of his eccentricities. The guards will face severe punishment for this.”
I clicked my tongue softly.
It seems Ateol is indeed the overlooked prince of the imperial family.
“Summon the Fourth Prince tomorrow. To the Narcissus Garden.”
ꔚ
The next day, Ateol and I sat across a meticulously set tea table.
He appeared composed, and I feigned the same outwardly.
I held the raccoon, bracing myself for the inevitable shedding.
This raccoon might have died yesterday by Ateol’s blade.
The other raccoon played boisterously at my feet.
“The Magic Tower keeps animals?”
“Yes.”
“Two raccoons, to be exact.”
“…I see.”
I petted the raccoon’s head demonstratively, observing Ateol.
His gaze fixed on the animal, his expression unreadable.
Was it: What’s this? or Seriously?
Maybe even What the heck?
‘…’
Clearly, my suspicions were off.
If Ateol had shown even a hint of unease or tried to mask it, I’d have been more convinced of his guilt.
But his look was one of pure bewilderment.
It was written all over his face: Why are you showing me this raccoon?
A faint undertone of ‘Has he lost it?’
lingered, about 10% visible.
There might even have been a touch of curiosity.
Meanwhile, the clueless raccoon reached out with its short, stubby paw, demanding to be held.
Its fluffy tail thumped against my arm.
The sound of rain cascading against the greenhouse windows provided a fitting soundtrack, easing the awkward tension between us.
Stroking the raccoon, I finally broke the silence.
“Their names are Ray and Roy.”
“…I see.”
The third I see… which sounded more and more like ‘So what?’
Ateol raised an eyebrow, staring at Ray nestled in my arms, then muttered.
“I didn’t know you were fond of animals.”
“You didn’t know the Magic Tower kept them?”
“No, I was aware of that. I just didn’t realize the Tower Master was so fond of them.”
Hmm… If he’d claimed ignorance, I’d have latched onto that thread of doubt.
But it seems Ateol wasn’t behind last night’s attack on the animals.
His surprise was genuine—directed solely at the fact I was petting a raccoon.
Then suddenly, the status window flickered.
[Event Triggered!
Ateol returned soaked in the cold rain last night. Why not comfort him?]
What nonsense.
He came uninvited, knowing full well he’d be turned away.
Isn’t that his fault?
Besides, he’s partially to blame for the suspicion surrounding him…
Though, thinking about it, I felt a twinge of guilt.
After all, he’s a prince—a Fourth Prince at that—yet he was driven away by the guards, soaked in the rain, and now being eyed as a would-be raccoon killer.
“Last night.”
Ateol lifted his head.
“Why did you come?”
The sound of rain overlapped with my memory of the previous night.
Ateol’s distant expression came to mind as vividly as if I’d seen it up close.
He narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“If I said I suddenly wanted to see you, would you believe me?”
Never mind. Feeling guilty for Ateol is a waste of time.
“I don’t like jokes.”
“Is that so?”
“Why did you come?”
Ateol shrugged.
As I grabbed Ray to stop him from snatching a treat, Ateol’s gaze lingered on me, as if deliberating his words.
Peeking under my hood, I watched him carefully.
“To be honest, it wasn’t entirely a joke.”
“…Then what was it?”
“I really felt the need to see you.”
…Did his affection level rise?
I glanced between the status window and Ateol’s head, but the number remained stuck at 22%.
Maybe he had a dream where we frolicked in a meadow together and decided he liked me.
No, that’s unlikely.
“What made you feel that way?”
“I don’t know.”
“So you came in the middle of the night, in the rain, without knowing why?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Not sure.”
He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table and smiling.
“Isn’t that how love begins sometimes?”
“……”
Of course, the favorability level remained unchanged.
Ha, truly a dangerous man.
Without the favorability system, I would have been deluded into thinking he had feelings for me.
My heart pounded loudly.
With Ateol peering so closely at me, I couldn’t help but feel terrified.
Even though he was pretending to be harmless right now, he was still my judge, jury, and executioner.
“Come up with a more plausible excuse.”
I spoke while stroking Rey’s soft fur to calm myself.
Ateol gave a smile whose meaning I couldn’t decipher and leaned back against his chair.
“I’m not sure myself.”
“……Hmm.”
Fine, that excuse might make slightly more sense, but it was still hard to accept.
I narrowed my eyes.
Even though the hood obscured my face, Ateol shook his head as if he could see my expression.
ꔚ
“Truly. I’m… well, I doubt you remember much about me, but to be honest, I’m a rather impulsive person. I sometimes act irrationally. This time was no exception—if you understand it that way, I’d be glad.”
“Like when you walked into the ballroom holding a wolf’s head?”
“Yes, exactly like that.”
It didn’t seem like a lie, but something about it left me feeling uneasy.
I cleared my throat awkwardly and took a sip of tea to moisten my throat.
As I set the cup down after a few slow sips, Ateol opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting for that moment.
ꔚ
“Did my visit at dawn upset you?”
“It’s not something I’d be upset about.”
You should worry about yourself.
Right now, unbeknownst to you, you’re under suspicion for attempting to harm the creatures in the Tower.
“Then, did you call me here because you pitied me for walking back in the rain?”
“……”
That wasn’t the reason at all, but since Ateol wasn’t asking sincerely, it didn’t really matter.
I sighed, scooped up Roy from the floor, and stood.
Ateol’s gaze followed me.
“I’ve taken enough of your time. You can leave now.”
“…May I ask why you called me in the first place?”
“Just because.”
Ateol tilted his head, puzzled.
“Just because. I’m impulsive too sometimes.”
And with that, I left Ateol alone in the greenhouse and walked out.
Asking whether he’d tried to harm the animals seemed like a worse option.
* * *
