Chapter 40
Bastian didn’t come to my palace for quite some time. It seemed the writing of Mia that he had seen while visiting my palace had shocked him that much.
‘I thought it was kind of fun, though…’
The punishment given to Mia and Emily ended with burning that notebook and cutting their pay. It was such leniency that, if others found out, they might suspect the tyrant had turned over a new leaf. But if I hadn’t asked, both of them would have been in real danger. That much was certain.
However, there was an unexpected side effect.
“Brother. His Highness the Prince is asking after your well-being.”
I spoke to Bastian in his office.
“You used to come often, but since you suddenly stopped, he was wondering if you were even still alive.”
At that, Bastian, who had been reading documents, snorted dismissively.
“Since when were we on terms of seeing each other every day? Why would he want to see me?”
“Still, since you saw each other often, it seems His Highness has grown attached to you.”
Bastian frowned deeply.
“Attached, my foot. I don’t want to see him for the time being.”
It wasn’t like Daniel had done anything wrong. Why was he acting like this?
Only one thing came to mind. I asked cautiously.
“Brother… is it possible that the contents of that writing are still bothering you—”
“No. I didn’t even read it properly. I don’t remember a single thing.”
His face looked like he desperately wanted it erased from his memory. The suffering of having seen something he shouldn’t have. It was obvious Bastian felt awkward around Daniel now.
‘So that’s why he hasn’t come all this time…’
It felt like yet another reason had been added for the two of them to never grow close.
“I arranged a meal with His Majesty.”
But Bastian was still Bastian. After pestering him a few times, he finally agreed.
‘What’s so hard about having one meal with the Prince? Fine! I’ll eat with him.’
And so I went to Daniel to suggest a long-overdue dinner.
“Very well. It has been a while since I last dined with Your Highness.”
Daniel accepted my suggestion without much difficulty. After thinking for a moment, he asked me,
“By the way, have you heard any news related to the Empire?”
It seemed he was curious about what was happening on the Nerha side. I shook my head.
“Not yet. If something happened, I’d have heard about it too. There really hasn’t been any news at all.”
“I see.”
Daniel scooped up some ice cream, his face not looking particularly disappointed. If something happened, it happened; if not, it didn’t—he looked that indifferent.
Was he really not worried? I tilted my head and asked,
“You must be worried about His Majesty, who is bedridden, right?”
“Ah.”
Daniel set his teaspoon down.
“I am worried.”
His expression darkened as if on cue. He spoke with a hint of regret.
“Especially after what happened last time, this quietness makes me uneasy…”
That was coming from someone who had been enjoying his ice cream just moments ago.
It didn’t really seem convincing.
Still, I decided to pretend to believe him.
“Nothing will happen. Once His Majesty wakes up, everything will be resolved.”
Daniel nodded.
“Thank you for saying that. I’ve been drying up day by day with worry for the Empire and His Majesty…”
I looked at Daniel’s smooth, radiant face.
No matter how I looked at it, he seemed to be doing just fine without a single worry.
Still wearing a gloomy expression, Daniel said,
“But since the Princess says so, I’ll trust you and put my mind at ease.”
He picked up his spoon again, and the moment he did, all the gloom vanished from his face. He smiled brightly.
“The ice cream is quite delicious.”
I tilted my head as I watched him.
He really didn’t look worried at all.
The next evening was the day of the dinner I’d promised Bastian. This time, I brought Daniel with me to the Aguila Palace.
Daniel looked surprised that it was just the three of us eating together. Bastian, eyeing Daniel with visible discomfort, replied in a gruff voice,
“I let you join a meal I was planning to have with Clara, so be grateful.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Normally, Bastian would spit venom even at a smiling face, but at Daniel’s smile, he only twisted his expression and said nothing.
‘Let’s just eat quietly and go home.’
I thought as I looked between the two of them.
Fortunately, the meal passed peacefully. After finishing dinner, it was time for dessert.
Today’s dessert was a pie made by layering several thin sheets of dough. I cut off a small piece with my knife and put it in my mouth—and was shocked.
Why does this taste like this?
It was the worst thing I’d ever eaten in the royal palace.
‘It’s incredibly bitter!’
Daniel, who had been watching me, asked,
“Princess, what’s wrong?”
“No, it just tastes a little strange…”
“Strange?”
“What’s strange about it?”
Bastian also asked. Both of them were eating the dessert just fine. It seemed I was the only one who found something wrong.
Had my sense of taste gone off?
That couldn’t be! Feeling uneasy, I asked them,
“The dessert tastes bitter. Are you two okay?”
Both of them looked at me as if they didn’t understand at all.
What was going on? Bitter instead of sweet?
‘Why only mine?’
But that wasn’t the real problem. Heat began to rise through my body, and my mind slowly grew hazy—
as if I’d been drinking alcohol.
“Huh?”
Why am I suddenly dizzy? Clara tilted her head.
‘I only drank juice.’
My back grew warm like I’d had alcohol, and soon my face felt hot as well.
Did someone spike it…?
Clara kept tilting her head in confusion.
‘It’s warm.’
She should have thought something was wrong, but before she knew it, a silly smile spread across her face. For no reason at all, she felt incredibly good. It had been so long since she’d felt this kind of intoxication.
“Why are you suddenly smiling?”
Daniel asked when he noticed. Clara blinked at her plate, then looked up at Daniel. Maybe it was because she felt so good—Daniel seemed to be sparkling.
Without realizing it, Clara laughed.
“Ahahaha…”
Why was she laughing all of a sudden? Daniel tilted his head.
Then Clara suddenly asked,
“Your Highness, why are you so handsome?”
“Pardon?”
If Clara were in her right mind, she would never have said something like that. Daniel’s eyes widened, and Bastian almost spit out the drink he was having. The only one laughing here was Clara.
‘Did I say something strange?’
Clara felt nothing odd at all. She was just ridiculously happy. She covered her mouth with both hands and laughed softly.
“I guess just looking at a handsome man makes me smile. I’m glad we’re sitting face to face, right?”
Resting her chin on her hands, Clara giggled.
Seeing her seriously adorable 모습, Daniel seriously started thinking.
This wasn’t the kind of thing the Princess would say.
‘Besides, I’m completely different from her ideal type!’
Daniel, who firmly believed the fake “ideal type” Clara had once mentioned, narrowed his eyes and asked,
“Princess, are you perhaps drunk?”
“No! Did I drink alcohol? I’m not drunk at all!”
Her tongue was slightly slurred—she looked drunk no matter how you saw it. This time, Bastian asked,
“Did you eat something wrong?”
What do you mean, eat something wrong?! Clara bristled.
“What kind of thing is that to say to your sister…? That’s so mean!”
Bastian’s eyebrow twitched as he looked at Clara pouting. She clenched her fists and started banging the table.
“If you’re the king of a nation, you should use polite and proper words! I worry every single day. Brother, your temper is so—so awful! If you act like that, who would ever marry you?”
“Ugh—”
Daniel almost burst out laughing. Bastian stared, mouth hanging open.
“My temper is awful?”
Bastian was notorious for his bad temper throughout the kingdom, but he’d never heard it said so bluntly to his face. He’d just been hit with the truth in the middle of a banquet.
“Yes! You know it too!”
At Clara’s confident words, Daniel collapsed forward onto the table, his shoulders shaking.
‘Why is His Highness acting like that…?’
Of course, Clara had no idea what she’d just said. She wasn’t in her right mind. With a smug expression, she looked at Bastian and grinned.
“If no one takes you… well, it can’t be helped. You’ll have to live with me. I’ll sing you a lullaby every day! Sleep tight, my baby~”
She actually started singing a lullaby.
“Sleep well, my baaaby~”
Daniel shot upright when he heard that.
“I think she definitely ate something wrong.”
Daniel was smiling brightly. Clara stopped singing and insisted she wasn’t drunk, but no one believed her. Bastian, still reeling from her earlier words, glared at Daniel.
“Clara ate something wrong, and you find this funny?”
Well, she did just say he had a terrible personality. Daniel quickly stopped laughing.
Because the atmosphere turned stiff, Clara shrank back a little. She fiddled with her fingers and muttered,
“But the Prince looks nicer when he smiles…”
Looking at Daniel, Clara stood up. With her mind hazy, the instincts she’d been suppressing burst free. She trotted over to Daniel and stopped right in front of him, looking down at his face. It was as if God Himself had carefully sculpted it.
Clara smiled again. Her heart was pounding.
“Good things should be seen up close.”
Daniel glanced at Bastian.
‘What on earth did Your Majesty feed the Princess?’
‘How would I know? What are you doing with Clara right now?’
Despite having felt awkward before, Bastian and Daniel were now having a silent conversation with just their eyes.
Clara laughed softly and said to Daniel,
“Won’t you smile for me? Your Highness… you’re even more handsome when you smile.”
Then she leaned down and planted a quick kiss on Daniel’s cheek.
