* * *
“There’s no room.”
Cedric rejected him immediately.
He clearly didn’t want to give an inch.
But Castian wasn’t one to back down so easily.
“Then I’ll prepare a bigger, better carriage.”
He was annoyingly smooth about it.
“Fox, you don’t mind if I join you, right?”
Castian suddenly turned to me.
I was caught off guard.
To be honest, the only one here who could even attempt to oppose the prince was Cedric.
So even if he asked me…
“Do as you wish, Your Highness.”
…that was the only answer I could give.
Castian’s eyes curved in satisfaction.
Worried about Cedric’s reaction, I glanced beside me—and sure enough, he looked incredibly displeased.
Liette… gave me a wry smile, as if she understood exactly how I felt.
And just like that, it was decided.
As soon as breakfast ended, we informed the coachman and porter.
They were clearly overwhelmed but still guided Castian to the carriage.
Cedric boarded first, followed by Castian and Liette.
Since Cedric and Liette took the seats beside and across from Castian, I naturally ended up beside Cedric.
Coincidence or not, I’ve been finding myself next to Cedric a lot lately.
“Then let’s depart!”
Shortly after the coachman’s call, the carriage started to move.
“……”
“……”
Silence settled inside.
The carriage was more spacious than Cedric had claimed, and there was no need for anyone to be uncomfortably close—but still…
‘Ugh. This is awkward.’
The issue wasn’t physical—it was emotional.
Cedric was clearly showing his dislike toward Castian, and I couldn’t help feeling like it was my fault for allowing this.
Meanwhile, Castian, either oblivious or pretending to be, seemed totally unaffected as he casually turned to speak to me.
“Which territory are we arriving at next?”
“Uh… what was it again?”
“The Lisnel estate,” Liette answered for us, as she had taken charge of the map and schedule in place of me and Cedric.
Castian’s voice followed.
“Lisnel—perfect. I know the lord there quite well. Shall I ask if we can stay at his manor for a night? If it’s me asking, he’ll agree.”
“Really? That would be amazing!”
Liette’s eyes sparkled.
I nodded eagerly in agreement.
A nobleman’s manor would surely mean larger, cleaner rooms and servants to assist us.
Castian curled his lips into a lazy smile.
“Right. I’ll tell them to treat us as honored guests when we arrive. By the way, if you’re attending the Evening Ball, you must’ve received the dance pieces already, right?”
“Yes. Sonata of Romance and Waltz No. A-11.”
“‘Favorit’ and a waltz, huh.”
“His Highness also attended three years ago, didn’t he?”
To Liette’s question, Castian gave a nod.
Being twenty-three, three years older than us, he was already experienced with the Evening Ball.
“What did you dance back then?”
“Nerita and a waltz.”
“So the waltz is basically mandatory, huh.”
Thanks to Liette smoothly guiding the conversation, the awkward air lightened a little, and I could finally breathe.
But only for a moment…
Curious about Liette’s dance partner, Castian turned the same question toward me.
“Fox, you have a dance partner too, right?”
“Uh, yes. I do.”
“Who is it?”
“Me.”
Cedric, who hadn’t said a single word until then, suddenly interjected.
Just like yesterday, it was another situation begging for misunderstanding.
I hastily waved my hands.
“We couldn’t decide on other partners! So we just said, ‘Let’s go together as friends,’ and that’s how it happened.”
“Hm.”
“It’s the truth!”
The longer I spoke, the deeper Castian’s smile grew.
I nervously glanced his way. I was terrified he’d drop another conspiracy-laced remark like before.
Especially since Liette was here listening—I didn’t want him asking if Cedric and I were dating or anything equally mortifying.
Thankfully, he asked a different question.
“Are you seeing anyone?”
…That question was uncomfortable in a whole different way.
“No, I’m not.”
“Then how about dating me?”
“…Excuse me?”
Just like that?
This guy… really isn’t normal.
“You’re insane,” Cedric muttered, apparently thinking the same thing I was.
Even so, saying that to a prince felt like going too far, so I pinched Cedric’s thigh under the table to make him stop.
“Please don’t joke like that, Your Highness.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Then I’m sorry. I’ll have to decline.”
“You told me to do as my heart pleases.”
What kind of twisted logic is that?
“Your Highness, that’s…”
“He’s clearly uncomfortable. Please stop.”
Cedric added sharply.
While it was comforting to have him step in, I was starting to get scared this would escalate into an actual fight.
Thankfully, Castian just gave a short chuckle and let it slide.
As the conversation ground to an awkward halt, a heavy silence fell.
Liette, catching on like me, quickly changed the topic to break the tension.
Time passed in that tight atmosphere without me even realizing it.
When I came to my senses, night had already fallen.
Somehow, after what felt like the longest and most exhausting leg of our journey, we finally reached our next destination.
‘Phew.’
The air I inhaled after stepping off the carriage had never felt so refreshing.
Maybe we really should prepare a second carriage… and throw Cedric and Castian in it together.
Yeah.
Right around then, a soldier who’d been speaking with Castian at the entrance of the Lisnel estate dashed into the manor, and shortly after, the count himself rushed out to greet us.
“Oh my, Your Highness! It’s been too long!”
“Yes, it has, Count Lisnel.”
The count’s attention was entirely fixed on Castian.
From how eager he seemed to please, it was clear he owed Castian quite a few favors.
“I’d like to stay just for one night.”
“As long as you’d like! Please, come in, make yourselves at home.”
Wearing a beaming smile, the count motioned for us to follow him into the manor.
The coachmen and porters were directed to a separate lodging while we were guided into the main building.
The rooms assigned to us were spacious, clean, and well-maintained.
Thanks to that, I felt like I could finally get some decent sleep tonight.
‘Whew. Feels like I can finally breathe.’
After tidying up my things, I threw myself onto the bed.
I was enjoying a quiet moment of comfort when—
“Eddy.”
A knock, and Liette’s voice came from outside.
I quickly sat up and told her to come in.
She peeked her head through the door.
“Are you getting ready for bed already?”
“No, not yet.”
“Then… do you want to talk for a bit?”
“Huh? Talk about what?”
With a sly smile, Liette gently closed the door and came in.
When a cute girl smiled like that right in front of me, I got this strange fluttery feeling and had to look away.
Then came her voice again.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
…Something she’s been meaning to ask?
What could it be?
The tone of her voice suggested it might be a serious conversation.
I turned back toward her and waited quietly.
Liette sat at the edge of the bed and hesitated for a moment before asking in a low voice—
“Eddy… how are things between you and Cedy these days?”
“Cedy? We’re just… the same as usual, I guess.”
“Really? It seems like you’ve gotten a lot closer lately.”
“Ah.”
True. Saying “the same as usual” was misleading.
Compared to the old me who used to keep a cold, guarded distance from Cedric, things had definitely changed.
Liette must’ve sensed that change and grown curious.
“…Maybe. Yeah, I guess we’ve gotten a bit closer.”
Liette brightened at my answer.
Looking back, we’ve always been tied together under the label of “childhood friends,” yet for years, the emotional distance between us never seemed to shrink.
Liette, caught in the middle, must have felt uneasy about that.
Now, she smiled like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and started chatting away.
“See? Cedric’s not that bad once you get to know him.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve honestly been wondering when you were finally going to accept him properly. It’s been years since you two first met!”
“Haha…”
She probably thinks I’ve just been too shy or slow to warm up to people.
But the truth is, the real reason I couldn’t close that distance sooner was something I could never tell her.
“I’m glad though. That you two are getting along now.”
“You worried about it that much?”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. I mean, I was the one who introduced you guys…”
Her words trailed off, as if there was more she wanted to say but decided against it.
I tilted my head in curiosity—
Knock knock.
Another knock.
I told them to come in, and this time it was the count.
I was surprised to see him, but he had come to discreetly inform us that Castian and Cedric had gone down to the training grounds—at this hour—to spar.
He had come out of concern, in case something went wrong.
‘They sure have energy, sparring this late at night.’
I wasn’t sure why the two of them had chosen to come to the training ground at this hour, but without a word of protest, I followed Liette alongside the head butler’s guidance toward the outdoor arena.
How long had we been walking?
Soon, I spotted Castian and Cedric facing each other on the field, wooden swords in hand.
Noticing us first, Castian grinned.
“You’re quick with the news. Here to watch?”
“A bit of observation and a bit of spectating. Is that alright?”
“Haha, I don’t mind. Right, Lord Soliwen?”
At Liette’s question, Castian responded and turned to Cedric.
Cedric glanced silently in our direction.
For a brief moment, our eyes met.
It felt awkward, and while I looked away, shifting my gaze here and there, Cedric turned back to Castian and gave a short reply.
“I don’t mind.”
“Then allow me to learn a thing or two!”
With a competitive grin, Castian lowered his stance, pointing his sword toward Cedric.
Fortunately, it was the stance used in sparring, the kind of swordsmanship nobles usually learned for sport, not for real combat.
Cedric mirrored the stance without a hint of wavering.
The Soliwen ducal house is renowned for swordsmanship—some even call them the “Sword of the Empire.”
For the sake of his family’s pride alone, he couldn’t afford to lose.
Soon, the two blades clashed.
Watching them, Liette settled into a chair brought by the butler and murmured in admiration.
“His Highness isn’t being pushed back at all.”
It was true.
Despite asking Cedric to teach him, Castian didn’t look at a disadvantage in the slightest.
As someone with no talent for swordsmanship and poor physical instincts, I found both of them amazing—almost unreal.
After a while, I silently looked over at Liette.
Her rosy eyes were focused solely on Cedric and Castian.
Suddenly, I grew curious about what she was thinking.
“…Hey, Liette. About what we were talking about earlier.”
“Mm?”
She turned to me. Her eyes, catching the moonlight, sparkled even more brightly than usual, stealing my breath for a moment.
…Cedric must have gazed into those eyes with affection in the original story.
I’d bet anything he couldn’t help but fall for them.
Even if he’d indirectly said he had no feelings for her, the truth was—Cedric must still…
‘Pretending not to, but still in love with her.’
That thought came to mind.
Just then—
As I hesitated, my lips parting without sound, the butler reappeared from the mansion, pushing a tray.
Our conversation paused there.
“I brought some refreshments. Please help yourselves if you’d like. Since the night might be chilly, I’ve also placed a blanket under the tray.”
“Oh, thank you.”
The butler bowed politely and withdrew.
I took the blanket from the tray and draped it over Liette.
She smiled brightly, then picked up a caramel-coated almond and popped it into my mouth.
I accepted it without thinking. Sweet.
“It’s good.”
“Right? So—what were you about to say earlier?”
“Mmm… mmm.”
I pretended to be too busy chewing the almond to speak and dragged out the sound… then slowly opened my mouth.
* * *
Thanks for the update!