Chapter 23
I’ll Become the Tyrant’s Tutor
Prim hesitated for a moment before taking the rose from him.
“I wish you’d said it a bit more kindly.”
“…You’re trying to teach me even now, huh.”
“I am a teacher, after all.”
“Cut it out.”
The awkward atmosphere loosened a little. Only then was Prim able to smile comfortably.
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”
“…If it wilts, throw it away.”
“I can’t throw it away.”
How could she? It was the very first gift she’d received from the prince.
Smiling at the thought, Prim looked down at the rose—
“Huh?”
Her surprised voice made Rayne lift his head in curiosity.
Before they realized it, the rain had stopped. Over the rain-soaked rose garden, a rainbow arched in the sky.
“There’s a rainbow!”
“…”
Rayne followed her gaze upward.
“Do you know what a rainbow is? It’s seven colors spreading out in a curve like that. You might only see red now, but soon you’ll be able to see all the colors.”
“…”
“When you do see them, you have to tell me how it makes you feel, okay?”
Prim smiled brightly as she spoke.
She didn’t know that her smile stung his eyes. She didn’t know the waves that rippled through his heart.
‘I’ll return to you the rainbow I took away.’
That was what Prim thought.
Once again, Prim stood before the heavy door. She clenched her fist lightly and knocked—knock, knock, knock—before swinging it open.
“Good morning, Your Highness! It’s a beautiful day!”
Beaming brightly, she walked toward him. Rayne glanced at her briefly, then turned his eyes back to his book.
To a stranger, it might’ve looked like he was ignoring her. But Prim could tell—since their visit to the temple, his attitude had softened, if only a little.
“Oh! It’s the same again today?”
“…”
The strawberry tart placed in front of her for several days in a row was proof enough.
“They said it was freshly made, so I brought it.”
Rayne spoke casually, as if it were nothing.
Liar.
Prim smiled faintly as she looked at the tart.
There’s no way he’s been eating the same dessert for days. Especially not a prince.
She smiled and nodded.
“I’ll enjoy it. Thank you.”
“…I didn’t prepare it myself. You don’t need to thank me.”
“Yes, yes.”
“I said, I didn’t.”
“Got it.”
So cute, my little beast. Moments like this reminded her that he was still sixteen.
Prim smiled and took a bite of the tart.
The sweetness of the syrup and the juiciness of the strawberries blended perfectly. The whipped cream melted softly on her tongue.
This is what living feels like!
Her face lit up with happiness.
“…”
Rayne’s gaze, fixed on the book, shifted toward her.
Is it really that good?
Anyone else would be tired of eating the same thing every day, but Prim looked genuinely happy each time.
It was embarrassing to admit, but he was glad he’d gone through the trouble of preparing it.
He didn’t want to admit it, yet seeing her smile wasn’t so bad.
Before he knew it, his chin was resting on his hand as he watched her chew. He stared quietly at her moving lips before muttering in a tone of feigned disinterest:
“That thing you said before.”
“Mm?”
Prim tilted her head, cheeks full of tart and a bit of cream on her lips.
How clumsy.
Rayne brushed his finger lightly along the edge of his book, as if wiping the cream from her lips.
“You said something about fate, or whatever it was.”
Prim swallowed and nodded eagerly. Rayne turned another page, pretending not to care.
“…Tell me about your homeland—the one you mentioned before.”
Prim froze mid-movement, her hand suspended in the air as she reached for another piece of tart.
“You mean now…?”
Her eyes widened in shock.
“…”
“Oh my gosh…”
Prim clapped her hands over her mouth, overcome with emotion.
He was the one asking questions about her—without her even prompting him!
“I’m so happy, Your Highness! I have to write this in my journal tonight! All that hard work is finally paying off—!”
“Just answer the question.”
He cut her off coldly. Prim pouted. His attitude was as chilly as ever.
“It’s called Radica.”
“Still sounds unfamiliar. Radica… never heard of such a place. It wasn’t on the map, either.”
Of course not, Prim thought to herself. She’d made the name up on the spot to avoid trouble. The country didn’t exist—there would be no record of it anywhere.
“It’s really small. It’d be hard to find unless you looked closely. Hardly anyone even knows about—”
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence when she realized something. Rayne gave her a questioning look.
“Wait… did you try to look for it?”
“…What?”
He blinked, caught off guard, as Prim’s face lit up with excitement.
“…”
And then, slowly, his face flushed red.
He was embarrassed! It was the first time she’d seen such an expression from him, and Prim’s heart pounded wildly.
“Oh my gosh! I’m so happy, my beast!”
“Quiet. It’s not like that.”
Rayne’s firm denial didn’t reach the ecstatic Prim, who was practically glowing.
Her sparkling eyes only made the tips of his ears turn even redder.
“You could’ve just asked me directly! Don’t tell me you memorized the entire map trying to find it?”
“I told you, it’s not like that.”
“Well, since we’re at it, you can ask me anything! Don’t you have any other questions about me?”
She teased playfully.
Who did this beast take after to be this cute? Prim’s cheeks flushed just like his.
“…”
Rayne shut his mouth tight, like a child caught doing something wrong. After a long pause, he spoke slowly.
“…What does it mean to be ‘kind’?”
“Kind?”
The unexpected question made Prim tilt her head.
“Hmm, kindness….”
She thought for a moment, eyes darting in thought.
“It’s easier than you think. Just do what I do.”
“…”
“First, you have to make eye contact. Don’t frown while doing it, either.”
Like this.
She leaned forward over the table, meeting his eyes. His gray pupils wavered slightly.
“Like that?”
“There’s more. After you make eye contact…”
Just as she was about to continue—
“…”
Rayne mirrored her movement, leaning closer across the table. Their faces drew nearer.
“And then?” he asked quietly.
Prim forgot to answer.
“And then….”
Her lips parted slightly.
…Was his mouth always this red?
Rayne’s gaze dropped to her lips—intense, unflinching.
Then—
Knock, knock.
The sudden knocking shattered the heavy atmosphere. Prim blinked rapidly, as if waking from a trance.
Rayne leaned back against his chair, his expression tight with irritation.
“Come in.”
At his word, the door opened.
It was Marianne.
“Your Highness, look at this!”
She ran in excitedly, waving something in her hand—fine parchment, clearly high-quality.
Rayne took it from her with his usual detached expression, untied the ribbon, and read the writing. Then, he glanced briefly at Prim.
“So the rumors were true?” Marianne asked, her face glowing.
Rayne set the parchment down on the table.
“Yeah.”
At that confirmation, Marianne nearly jumped for joy.
“Finally! You’re finally going! I can’t believe it!”
She looked as if something wonderful had happened, which made Prim curious.
Glancing between them, she carefully picked up the parchment from the table. Rayne didn’t stop her.
Prim slowly unfolded it.
“This is…”
It was an official document—permission for the 8th Prince to attend the 7th Princess’s birthday celebration in a few days.
It even bore the imperial seal, proving it came directly from the Emperor.
Prim tilted her head.
But the invitation had been sent out days ago. That was why they were doing all these intensive lessons now, wasn’t it?
Then why is this arriving only now…?
She looked up at Rayne. Their eyes met. Unlike her confusion, his face remained perfectly calm.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
Prim shook her head blankly.
“No, I just… wondered why it came so late. Didn’t you—”
“The letter was just delayed, that’s all,” he said firmly.
Was it? She still felt uneasy, as if there was something she wasn’t being told.
“This isn’t the time for that, Prim.”
Marianne’s voice broke into her thoughts.
“There’s so much to prepare. Help me out!”
“Huh? Prepare what?”
“For the trip, of course! You’re going too!”
“Me?”
Prim’s eyes widened. At her reaction, Rayne glanced toward her.
“You’re not going?”
“No, of course I’m going! It’s just… you both sounded so sure of it.”
Honestly, she’d already planned to go no matter what.
Obviously—I can’t let him go where there might be beautiful women!
She would stick to Rayne’s side like glue. She’d keep her eyes peeled for beauties everywhere.
Speaking of which, her chosen “beauty candidate,” Elina, had also been invited. It was the perfect chance to introduce them naturally.
Though, thinking about Daphes’s face still makes me nervous…
She remembered dragging Elina away right in front of Daphes.
What was I thinking back then?
If Elina hadn’t been there, Daphes probably would’ve killed her on the spot. She unconsciously touched her neck.
“You don’t want to go?”
Rayne raised an eyebrow, misreading her hesitation.
“No, of course I do!”
Prim shook her head quickly. Sure, Daphes scared her, but he wouldn’t dare do anything crazy in front of so many people.
“I’ll stay right by your side, Your Highness!”
She declared proudly, eyes shining.
“After all, I’m a professional at finding beauties!”
“…Beauties?”
Marianne tilted her head. Rayne sighed and shook his head.
“She always says that.”
“Just leave it to me, my beast!”
“…Beast?”
“She always says that, too.”
