Of course, if Zeroth’s side remained intact, this was inevitable, but I hoped Nayfield would realize that Lycan was up to something. Then, he’d gradually start thinking about Lycans.
They’re hyenas, overly greedy yet able to step back and observe. They’re relaxed yet surprisingly perceptive. They never miss the benefits that come to them.
So, it’s likely they knew Zeroth’s actions were foolish and dangerous.
As I was lost in thought, I felt Camilla’s gaze subtly on me. I quietly stood up.
“I’ll go back. If I find anyone, please contact Lycan.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~
I opened the door and stepped out, and oh my, what a surprise. Ban, who had been leaning against the wall, jerked up and began to examine me from head to toe.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“Not a single one? Um, I just came here to ask you a favor.”
His mouth opened and closed, as if about to say something.
“Well, I do know a lot about Nayfield.”
And the danger.
You’re worried, you rascal.
Somehow feeling better, I smirked and quickly linked arms with Ban.
“Don’t worry, you’re not hurt.”
He let out a small laugh.
“It’s still daylight, and we’re in the city center. Why don’t we go shopping?”
I had to come up with a reasonable excuse to the two silver wolves who didn’t know about this outing. I held up the purse I’d snatched from Anna and smiled broadly.
“I’ll buy you lots of delicious food.”
“It doesn’t matter to me, but do you have anything to buy?”
“…Um, I already have someone to give you a present for.”
I glanced at Ban.
“It’s a surprise gift for you.”
I’d always thought about it. I’d provided him with many benefits in the name of my family, but I’d never given him a gift in my own name. His charred eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“A gift? Who?”
“A friend who’d been indebted to me in the past.”
“A friend? Who?”
Why was the question so persistent? Why were you so curious about who it was?
“Um, well, I just have a friend like that.”
We were just coming out of the cafe onto the main street. I gave a vague answer and pointed to the first high-end men’s clothing store I saw.
“Let’s go into that store.”
Suddenly, Ban crossed his arms and stood awkwardly.
“A men’s clothing store? Is your friend a man?”
The slight grinding of teeth between the words must have been an illusion. I simply brushed the thought aside and nodded gently.
“Yes.”
“You’re introverted and socially awkward, but you know a lot of men. And you’re so close that you even go buy them gifts yourself.”
“What’s wrong?”
Having aged enough in his past life, he wasn’t completely oblivious. The man’s reaction now was clearly jealous.
However, even if mountains collapsed and oceans rose, there was no reason for Ban to be jealous, so I buried that possibility. Instead, I diligently explored other possibilities and came up with a pretty good hypothesis.
“Ban doesn’t really like noble men, so maybe he doesn’t like buying them gifts.”
I tapped the man’s shoulder, as if to comfort him, as he stamped his foot and made no secret of his displeasure.
“Ban, I’m not really close with noble men. And the gift I’m giving you isn’t one of them.”
“Who is he?”
“…Well.”
I looked around. Then I spotted a pink-haired knight. It was Sir Lauren, a commoner. His birthday was coming up soon, so it was a perfect excuse.
I pointed to Lauren and whispered to Ban.
“Sir Lauren, my knight-guard, who always protects me valiantly. It’s my birthday, so I’m going to give him a present.”
Ban’s gaze followed my finger and then stopped.
“That guy?”
“…that guy?”
What’s really wrong with him?
~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~
Putting aside my attempts to guess Van’s strange reaction, I entered a high-end men’s clothing store.
But he began to nitpick every single piece of clothing and accessory, as if he didn’t like anything. I hadn’t even asked him for his opinion.
“Miss, what do you think of this? It’s a cravat that’s trendy among men these days. It’s silk with sapphires.”
“It’s tacky.”
The owner frowned at his reaction. I glared at Ban and quickly said.
“It’s definitely trendy. It’s beautiful. Do you have anything else?”
“How about this tie? The delicate silver and gold embroidery is getting rave reviews.”
“Rave reviews? I guess everyone’s eyes are focused on the back of their heads.”
The owner’s face brightened at my words, but Ban’s words darkened it again. I gently stepped on Ban’s instep and smiled warmly at the owner.
“It’s beautiful, just as you said. Please give me both the cravat and the tie in different colors.”
“I-Is that true?”
“Of course. I’m planning to give them to my brothers.”
“Excellent choice!! The cravat suits the gentle Duke Lycan, and the tie suits the bold Sword Emperor!”
Why should I be concerned about the shop owner’s feelings? I turned to glare at Ban, then whispered softly to him.
“Look, if you’re going to help, you should use kind words. Why would you hurt someone like that? And you’re both really cool.”
“The one receiving the gift is a knight. What good would he do with something like that?”
“Even knights sometimes wear things like this on dates.”
“…”
Half remained silent at my words, as if he’d swallowed honey, but he couldn’t help but feel so embarrassed.
“I bought this for you, but you don’t seem to like it.”
While I was chewing my lip in thought, Half walked over and knocked on the glass panel. Inside was a pair of men’s earrings with large sapphires.
“I like these the best. Take these as a gift. Take these.”
“…Half, are you serious?”
Of course, there are people who like that kind of thing, so they’re probably available in this shopping district. But it’s a very minor taste. Furthermore, they were too flashy for a man, and the gemstones were large.
You could tell just by looking at the five guards outside, their eyes wide. But Ban continued to pound on the glass, insisting firmly.
“Get rid of the stereotype that men dislike accessories.”
“There’s no such stereotype. I’m just saying… Ban. Do you really like it?”
Because I’m going to give it to you as a gift.
Ban, oblivious to my intentions, nodded with a look of utter sincerity.
“Of course. I want it. If I were to receive a gift, it would be this. So give this to that Lorenton, Loran, or whatever. It has to be this.”
“…Master?”
The master, who had been wrapping the items I’d mentioned earlier, looked over.
“Wrap this for me.”
“…Huh?”
His expression asked if I was crazy. He then, as if trying to save someone, slyly placed a cover over the glass panel.
“Um, Your Majesty, you might not know this, but these earrings aren’t for sale—”
“Hey, Master.”
But Ban snatched the cover away with a firm hand. He then grinned.
“The Princess wants to buy them, so why are you so noisy? Take them out quickly. Right, Princess Irselia?”
You’re really being strange today, aren’t you? I squinted, but ultimately, it’s best if the recipient likes them.
I paid for the earrings and the items I mentioned earlier. Even as I was buying gifts, Ban was staring intently at Laurendo, who was waiting outside the shop.
It was almost as if he was going to kill me.
“…I don’t know why.”
While Ban was fixated on Laurendo, I quickly ran to the clothing section and bought another pair of gloves. They were ornate gentleman’s gloves, made of thin white silk and decorated with jewels and gold and silver thread.
Why, maybe Laurendo really didn’t like me and just picked anything to spite me. I don’t know why.
And… ‘Gloves’ were also the gift I really wanted to give him.
Thankfully, Ban didn’t even glance at me until the owner wrapped the gloves. I quickly took them and breathed a sigh of relief.
~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~
After paying for the items and exploring the city until evening, we returned to the ducal residence.
I wondered when I should give him the gift, but luckily, there was an opportunity. Anna had brought a fruit tart she’d made for dessert.
I invited Ban to join me and then called him to the ducal residence’s pride and joy, the greenhouse garden.
“Ban.”
Ban, already dressed in a light dressing gown, was sitting under a beautiful night sky, almost overflowing with stars. He sat on a white bench, his eyes slightly closed, as if enjoying the breeze.
“Are you here?”
He opened his eyes.
“What were you doing?”
Pushing Anna and Hayley aside, I sat down in front of him.
“Nothing in particular. I just thought the flowers were pretty.”
“Do you like flowers?”
“I don’t, but I can think they’re pretty.”
Convinced that dry comment was typical of him, I placed the gift I had brought on the table.
“Ban, here’s your present.”
I handed him a small, ornate case containing earrings, and he looked at me quizzically.
“Didn’t you say this was a gift from a knight named Lauren?”
“Actually, it was a surprise I had prepared for you. I prefer to give you something you want, so I asked if you’d like it… Is there a problem?”
In that moment, his mouth snapped shut. The corners of his closed mouth trembled slightly, and my lips formed a subtle arc.
“…No, nothing.”
Ahem, really?
~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~
Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉
Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
~~~Next Chapter~~~
Next chapter will be released on October, 22.
See you then!!
