Chapter 40
“Joshua, take the cucumber out of mine. Replace it with bell pepper. And slice the meat for me. Both mine and yours.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I remembered last time that he couldn’t eat cucumbers at all, so I told him in advance before the food was brought out.
My right arm still felt so heavy that just lifting it was difficult. I glanced at Joshua’s hand, and thankfully, it looked like the injuries on his fingertips were somewhat healed.
“You remembered.”
“Yes.”
Seeing him smile so innocently made me happy. I wish there were more people as pure as Joshua in this palace.
“You seem full. Judging by the picky eating.”
“Why are you picking a fight, Sir Francis?”
“Oh, nothing. I just momentarily forgot my position.”
“Forgot what? I took it out. Why are you acting like that again, Sir Francis?”
When I shot him a probing look, his expression turned sullen again. Lately, it seemed he was restraining his anger more than usual.
Could it be that he’s impatient because things aren’t going well with my sister?
“Next time…”
“…”
“Next time, have dinner just the two of us.”
“If I behave today, that is.”
“…Yes.”
He looked like a greyhound, ears drooping. Come to think of it, his legs are long, his body stretched, and with his muscular build and running ability, he resembles one. Though Clayton runs better.
“Are you not as fast as Clayton?”
I suddenly wondered. He ran so hard, yet in the end, he couldn’t catch up.
“Your Majesty…”
This time, his ears perked up. Why did he keep looking so cute? I shouldn’t think that, but I couldn’t help it.
“You wanted to be alone with him, didn’t you? That’s why you ran fast…”
“Hahaha… You heard all of that?”
“Yes.”
So he let it slip on purpose. That makes sense.
“Then, if the two of you raced, who would win?”
“I don’t know. I won’t lose anymore.”
With his hair brushed back, he looked cleaner and more impressive than usual. Perhaps because his eyes were visible, his expressions were easy to read.
“I envy your martial skills. I’ve never had proper training, only basic fitness exercises since I was young.”
Joshua smiled as he spoke. His cheerful grin coupled with such a statement left both Francis and me speechless.
“Me too. Hey, Joshua.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s train together at the practice yard…”
“No, you can’t.”
Francis responded quickly.
“Why does Sir Francis decide that?”
“Because you can’t.”
“Then why not?”
He glanced at Joshua, seeming unsure whether he should speak. Was he being considerate of Joshua, or glaring because he disliked it?
“Do you think His Majesty would like it?”
“My father would probably enjoy sword fighting with me, so it wouldn’t bother him.”
“Oh, that’s true, but… Your Majesty…”
Francis moved his lips as if struggling to speak, then sighed.
“Your Majesty… if Crown Prince Joshua Daylred catches His Majesty’s attention…”
“…”
“He said he’d burn the Daylred Kingdom to the ground.”
“What… why?”
I didn’t have the courage to look at Joshua, so I deliberately looked at Francis, who seemed like his neck might snap from turning so much.
Then he leaned close and whispered softly.
“It was because of the initial refusal to share a bed… His Majesty was enraged.”
Damn… nothing is ever easy.
“Ah, Master. I’m fine.”
I didn’t like that he said he was fine when he clearly wasn’t. He smiled beautifully, though his eyes were red from earlier tears. It made it hard to scold him, and I couldn’t help but feel pity.
“I’m happy just being by your side.”
Why? I wish he’d be angry. I didn’t do anything, yet I felt guilty and sorry.
“Even in the kingdom, I wasn’t treated with such kindness.”
“That story…”
“Yes.”
“Are you telling me because you want to, or because you’re afraid I’ll abandon you?”
His eyes widened in surprise, trembling, then quickly dropped to the floor.
“I won’t abandon you. Never. So don’t bring up something you don’t want to. You look troubled talking about it.”
“Ah… um…”
I saw something sparkling fall as he lowered his head.
“Speak to me when you really want to. It’s okay.”
“Ugh… yes…”
The food arrived. Adrian and the guards had caught a bear that had appeared in the capital, and it was served. It was my first time eating bear meat. It wasn’t too strange—slightly gamey, but edible.
“I’ll feed you.”
“Why?”
“Master, it looks like your right arm is hurting.”
Even though he’d been crying earlier, he smiled beautifully despite his red eyes. Too pretty to get mad at, yet the pity made him even more unforgettable.
“But then you can’t eat.”
“If you can’t eat, I don’t want to either.”
Everything he said came out beautifully. I could tell how much thought and caution went into it. Others might not notice, but refusing Joshua was hard.
“Alright.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
He took some of my food with his fork and offered it to me. I ate it as he smiled like sunlight.
“You’re too beautiful, I can’t focus on eating.”
“Hahaha. Really?”
“Yes.”
“Have I become prettier?”
“Yes. Much prettier. You were already beautiful, but now… in daylight, you’re like the sun.”
Hearing him say it with such joy, I blurted out my embarrassment without realizing. I needed to change the topic.
“You remember what Adrian plans to do?”
“I want to hear it again. In your voice. Would you dislike me asking that?”
“No, it’s not hard at all.”
I chewed on what he offered and swallowed, then spoke.
“We’re going to set up a free legal service under Adrian’s tribunal. Only Daylred citizens can apply.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“Clayton too…”
“Yes.”
“Clayton is rebuilding the dam at the Ber River.”
He nodded shyly. I gestured for him to eat. Hesitant, he chewed slowly.
“They hired Daylred citizens as workers. Welfare isn’t bad, meals are excellent, and more citizens are applying.”
“I see.”
“There are minor accidents… but I’ll check again, so don’t worry.”
He moved his lips, paused, then seemed to gather his courage.
“Master… if I… if I go with you…”
“I wouldn’t mind. Let’s go together. But are you sure?”
Clayton had brought victory in the war against the Daylred Kingdom. It wouldn’t be easy, especially with Princess Gracie involved.
“If you don’t want to see Clayton, should I keep you out of it?”
If Clayton was told to leave, he’d back off on his own.
“No! Don’t do that!”
“Are you okay with it?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
By now, I could distinguish when Joshua was genuinely smiling versus faking it. Genuine smiles reached his eyes, while fake ones stretched only his lips. Subtle, but noticeable.
“That green ring…”
“This? I refused Clayton’s proposal.”
“Oh.”
His eyes curved like a half-moon.
“Master.”
I wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask, but his voice had become sweet again.
“Could I ask… how many times Duke de Lavois proposed?”
“Gah…!”
Francis choked at the question.
Cough, cough!
I wanted to pat his back, but my right arm weighed 50 kg.
“Sir Francis, are you okay?”
“Ugh… yes…”
“Why are you surprised, Sir Francis?”
I wasn’t supposed to laugh, but I did. Joshua looked like he was debating whether to pat him or not. It made it even funnier.
“Wahaha!”
“Your Majesty…!”
With his left hand, Joshua picked up broccoli from his plate.
“Ah, Master!”
Surprised, I offered it to him. He smiled widely, stretching his lips.
Why a fake smile?
So I stopped giving it.
“Joshua.”
“Yes, Master. P-please feed me. Okay?”
“…”
The unexplained unease I’d been feeling seemed tied to Joshua’s expression.
“Joshua Daylred.”
“Yes, Master.”
Ahem…
I lazily watched Francis, who seemed to finally calm down, then looked at Joshua again.
“I said I won’t abandon you.”
“…”
“Say what you need to say to me.”
