Chapter 114
“No?”
“No?”
“…You mean no?”
“…I mean no?”
“So, you’re saying you’re not the Crown Prince?”
“So… you’re saying you’re not the Magic Saint Sena?”
“Nope.”
“Nope.”
“…….”
“…….”
I looked up at Arden.
Arden looked down at me.
“…….”
“…….”
I could feel my eyes narrowing sharply. And it was the same with Arden.
Completely different from the adult-like man who had walked into the Crown Prince’s office or the cold commands he gave to the city guards at the Opera Sernier.
Now, anyone could see it: young Arden, sulking, slowly opened his mouth.
“Ah… so you’re not, huh.”
Who would say that?
“Got it~ understood.”
Who would say that!
“Yeah. A pervert running across the rooftops in a skirt couldn’t possibly be you. I must’ve been mistaken.”
Ha…
No, Seraphina.
Don’t fall for a kid’s provocation.
“W-Why… why would you think I’m the Magic Saint Sena?”
I lifted my chin and tried to deny it.
My voice shook a little, but it was because I was pretending to be indignant. It was genuine acting.
Arden shrugged.
“Well… maybe you know the reason better than I do.”
“I-I don’t know?”
“If you don’t know, then never mind.”
“…….”
There was no escaping this.
Arden was sure of it.
I had been found out.
But…
“I wasn’t caught in the act. Once again, as long as I keep denying it, Arden has no way to prove it.”
Then I would deny it to the very end.
Because!
This was my only option!
I couldn’t go to jail!
“Act like you don’t know. Act like you don’t know.”
I promised myself this and lifted my head proudly.
I thought he would press further, but Arden didn’t. He kept staring at me silently, then suddenly changed the subject.
“Are your ankles or your back okay?”
“…Huh? Uh… yeah, I’m fine.”
“No injuries? No aches or anything?”
“No… nothing.”
“You know it’s dangerous to fall from a high place, right?”
This guy, leading questions now.
“I know! But it has nothing to do with me! Because I’m not the Magic Saint Sena!”
“That’s not why I asked.”
“…….”
“You really seem like someone guilty.”
“…….”
“Even if you’re not injured, you should still see a doctor. The impact from a fall can show symptoms a few days later.”
“…….”
“Of course, you’re not the Magic Saint Sena.”
“…….”
“But… what do you mean that I’m the Crown Prince?”
Ah, right.
I narrowed my eyes again and glared at Arden. This time, Arden broke into a sweat and tried to look elsewhere.
“Well… maybe you know the reason better than anyone, Arden?”
“I don’t know… though.”
“Oh, really?”
“…….”
Rorolol. The sound of Arden rolling his eyes to avoid my gaze.
I stared at him with my arms crossed.
I knew why I had been found out, but this guy was probably completely confused in his head right now.
“Uh… how… did you… come up with that… guess… theory… anyway?”
“Oh, that’s…”
I clapped my hands sharply.
I kept staring at Arden as I walked and nearly ran into a streetlamp. Arden tugged me slightly.
Holding onto his sleeve, I kept walking while he pressed the issue.
“Remember the blonde woman who came to the costume room the other day? I happened to find out… she’s a princess of the kingdom.”
“…….”
“But wasn’t she here to get engaged to you?”
Oh my! The princess coming all the way from another country to get engaged to a common knight!
“Unbelievable!”
If that common knight wasn’t actually the Crown Prince, it wouldn’t make sense!
I widened my eyes and covered my mouth.
There were many other proofs I had seen with my own eyes, but I couldn’t lay them all out now, so I stopped here.
I looked at Arden with a warning in my eyes.
Arden tilted his head.
“That’s strange. Only the Magic Saint Sena knows that woman is a princess.”
“…Huh?”
“How could you ‘happen’ to know that? Very curious indeed.”
“Ugh…”
I almost said, “Don’t lie, even the city guards know…” but I stopped myself.
I could see the corner of Arden’s eye twitch slightly.
This guy is setting a trap again…
“Well, I don’t know. Because I’m not the Magic Saint Sena.”
“…….”
“So why is the princess chasing after you to get engaged?”
Try to explain that one! I shouted inside my head.
“If you tell me how you found out, I’ll tell you.”
“I’ll tell you if you tell me first.”
“I asked first.”
“I’m older than you, so I die tomorrow. So you should go first.”
“Die?! Don’t say such horrible things!”
“…You said it, though.”
“When did I!”
“Hey!”
“…….”
“…….”
No answer.
We glared at each other for a long time.
Arden, looking down at me with his lips pouted (as if thinking what did I do well!) finally asked after the silence.
“So, you really are not, right?”
“Yeah. Not me.”
Actually, it was true. But if I admitted it, he’d arrest me.
If he were just a royal guard like the captain said, fine. But he’s the Crown Prince!
How could the Crown Prince ignore the Magic Saint right in front of him?!
I’d be in the Loire women’s prison instantly!
If you have a record, you can’t get a government job!
He should understand!
“Arden, you’re really not either, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Unlike my confidence, Arden hesitated a little. He fluttered his eyelashes like he was still considering it, then pressed his lips tightly.
“So, if it’s not you, it’s not me either.”
That’s how it goes.
I sharply pushed Arden’s hand away.
“Cowardly!”
“Who are you calling coward!”
“You’re more cowardly than me!”
“I have my reasons!”
“What reasons!”
“If I tell you, it wouldn’t be a reason!”
“Seriously!”
“Hmph!”
Angry, I pushed Arden hard. Arden, pushed against the wall, yelled, “You’re strong! Like the Magic Saint!”
Ignoring him, I stomped and slammed the boarding house door.
Normally, it’s really far from the palace to our boarding house, but we had already arrived while fighting!
So frustrating!
As I closed the door, Arden, pounding behind me just like me, shouted.
“Are you going to sleep now?!”
“Yeah!”
“Good night!”
“You too!”
“Sleep safely! This place is safe!”
“Of course! Because you’re here!”
Probably safer than the palace!
“That’s not it!”
“Hmph!”
“See the doctor tomorrow!”
“I will!”
Ridiculous. He knows everything, yet doesn’t speak?!
Of course, I wasn’t speaking either!
If I got caught, I’d go to jail!
He doesn’t!
Who said, “Being with royalty is stressful! I’d rather stand in the middle of a street with a bomb than with royalty!”
“Why won’t you admit it even if you die!” I stamped the broom I had leaned against the door on the ceiling.
A little later, something tapped at my window.
“What now!”
I opened it and saw a cicada made of folded paper, tied to a string and sent from upstairs.
“Ugh!”
I tore it to pieces and threw it.
The shredded paper flew into the air. Immediately, a scolding came from above.
“Don’t throw trash on the street!”
Right, it’s the streets of your country!
Grumbling, I was about to go pick it up…
But I heard Arden going down to the first floor before me, so I just opened the window and watched.
In the dim alley with barely any streetlights, a blonde head bent down picking up trash, muttering, “Ugh!”
I watched for a while, then slammed the window shut.
“Why does this close so well?!”
It was definitely broken before!
Annoying!
I went to bed without even covering myself with a blanket.
If Cassian had seen this whole mess, he would’ve said:
“…It’s me who’s hurt, so why is no one worrying about me?”
